The inhomogeneity issue for X-ray lasers

Summary form only given. Temperature and density homogeneity along X-ray laser line plasmas is important for the optimization of the gain. Irradiation nonuniformities are usually present in experiments and produce large-scale inhomogeneities in the plasma emission along the amplification axis. The authors have investigated the evolution of such inhomogeneities on Ne-like Ge line plasmas and their effect on the gain with a space- and time-resolved monochromatic imaging technique, for both uniform and nonuniform laser irradiation. In particular, they have studied 3d-3p lasing at 199 /spl Aring/ and the quadrupole E2 (8.031 /spl Aring/) and dipole 3A (8.371 /spl Aring/) line emissions originating from its upper and lower states, respectively.