Simulation study of a Ni-like Mo X-ray laser at 18.9 nm driven by ultra-short laser pulses

Abstract. The Ni-like Mo x-ray laser at 18.9 nm was investigated numerically using a one-dimensional hydrodynamic code MED 103 coupled with an atomic data package. Simulations are performed for a Mo planar target irradiated by a 1 ns prepulse followed by a 1 ps, 1015W/cm2 drive pulse from a Ti: sapphire laser. The energy levels, radiative transition rates, and collisional excitation rates are calculated using the Cowan code. The optimization calculations are performed in terms of the intensity of the prepulse and the delay time between the prepulse. The relative output intensity of the x-ray laser is predicted using the ray-tracing method. We predicted that the Ni-like Mo soft x-ray laser at 18.9 nm could possibly be generated using a table-top Ti:sapphire laser system.