Saturation behavior of a discharge pumped soft X-ray amplifier

In summary, gain length products up to 14 have been measured in the J=0-1 line of Ne-like Ar in a capillary discharge. The maximum gl product was obtained in 15 cm long plasma columns, length above which the intensity is observed to saturate. This is the first time a discharge pumped XUV laser amplifier is operated with a gain length product approaching saturation.