High-resolution spectroscopy as an X-ray laser plasma diagnostic

Summary form only given, as follows. A number of experiments have been performed using a high-resolution XUV (extreme ultraviolet) spectrometer to measure the spectral widths of X-ray laser lines from several elements. These experiments used yttrium, selenium, niobium, and zirconium targets, and included an investigation of the effects of gain and saturation on X-ray laser line widths and the measurement of hyperfine splitting effects on X-ray laser line shapes. The relevance of the data obtained to the understanding of the physics of X-ray laser plasmas and high-temperature laser-produced plasmas in general has been examined.