Soft X-Ray Ne-Like Argon Lasers Excited by Low-Voltage Capillary Discharges

The 46.9-nm Ne-like argon lasers with capillary Z-pinch discharge excitation employing four different excitation techniques have been investigated. Our objective was to create lasers that were excited by low-voltage pulses (U less than about 100 kV). A Marx bank that is directly discharged through a capillary filled with argon is used in the first method. The second excitation method employs a three-electrode longitudinal design of a double-gap Z pinch discharge. Utilizing a low-inductance impulse transformer is the basis of the third technique. The L-C inversion circuit with the pulse magnetic compression, which is common for ordinary TEA XeCl-excimer lasers, is used in the fourth system. The fourth technology is combined with the decrease of plasma inductance by using the bifilar phenomenon. The first, second and third excitation techniques provided the laser energy up to $1\ \mu \mathrm{J}$. The highest energy of $4\ \mu \mathrm{J}$ was obtained using the fourth method. Using our computer model, the plasma and laser processes have been simulated for several pumping parameters.