Spatial distributions of x-ray lasing spectral linewidth and electron density in a lithiumlike silicon plasma

Abstract

The spatial distribution of the spectral linewidth of lithiumlike silicon ions in the 5f-3d transition line at 88.84 Å is presented in this letter, and it shows that Stark broadening is the dominant line-broadening mechanism for lithiumlike Si11+ ions on recombination x-ray lasers. Spatial distribution of the electron density of the x-ray lasing gain medium is calculated using the linear Stark theory, which shows that the electron density is ∼1019/cm3 in the gain region. A large linewidth at the gain peak (i.e., at 450 μm from the target surface) is 0.21 Å and the corresponding electron density and population inversion are 2.9×1019/cm3 and 5.5×1016/cm3, respectively.