ABSTRACT
Abstract. We performed computer modelling of a pinching discharge in a nitrogen-filled alumina capillary in order to discover discharge system parameters that may lead to efficient recombination pumping of H-like nitrogen ions during the pinch decay. The inversion population was found at the Balmer a-transition of N6+ ions. A gain factor of 1 cm"1 spanning the time interval of 1 ns was found for an optimised arrangement with capillary radius 1.5 mm, peak current 50 kA, quarter period 40 ns and filling gas pressure 0.5 kPa. It is pointed out that even higher values of the gain factor may be achieved with thinner capillaries and shorter current pulses.
