Development of compact X-ray lasers and their applications

Summary form only given. Compact, kJ, Nd-glass lasers which can be used to pump all of the current Ne-like and Ni-like X-ray lasers produced at Livermore´s Nova 2 Beam Laser Facility are being designed. The author discusses the output characteristics of current X-ray lasers as well as those one can produce with a classroom-sized pump laser that will ultimately be available for 1-2 M$ per unit. These new technology pump lasers represent a vast improvement in efficiency, expense and practicality over the use of large ICF (inertial confinement fusion) facilities. This means that the X-ray laser can begin to be used for scientific applications where 10/sup 13-15/ ph/pulse of 5 /spl times/ 10/sup -5/ bandwidth X-ray sources are needed. One may also be able to produce high-average-power units which can be compete with the largest synchrotrons in terms of time-averaged photon yield.