Dense capillary discharge plasma waveguide containing Ag ions

Interferometry of plasmas generated by fast discharge excitation of Ag/sub 2/S microcapillary channels shows the formation of dense plasma waveguides capable of guiding intense laser beams. Discharge ablation of capillaries, 330 /spl mu/m or 440 /spl mu/m in diameter, with 3-5.5-kA current pulses formed concave plasma density profiles with axial electron density >1/spl times/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. These dense plasma waveguides containing highly ionized metal atoms are of interest to the development of a longitudinally pumped soft X-ray lasers.