Pulse duration dependence of opacity effects in Ni-like W TCE X-ray lasers

Abstract
A compact simulation code is modified and used to investigate the effects of opacity on the 4.3-nm nickellike tungsten soft-x-ray laser, which includes the change in the escape factor with time. Result shows that the maximum gain depends only weakly on the opacity and the pump pulse duration below 1-ps. The above results predict that a 1-ps, 4-joule KrF laser pulse is sufficient for the saturated operation of the 4.3-nm laser, and that special methods to decrease opacity effects are not necessary.