Development of the intense short wavelength Ni-like soft X-ray lasers towards the water window

We report experimental results on Ni-like x-ray laser at the wavelength as short as 4.4 nm. The performance of x-ray lasing pumped by various types of pulse trains which were composed of 100 ps pulses was investigated with a double slab targets which were placed in series to double the gain length. Two opposing laser beams irradiated the double targets with a suitable time difference for quasi traveling wave pumping. The well collimated double target amplification was successfully demonstrated with two beam irradiation for Yb and Hf lasing at 5.0 nm and 4.7 nm whose gain length products were 11 and 6, respectively. The Ni-like lasing line of Ta have been also observed at 4.5 nm. Based on these results, we will report the suitable pumping condition for the saturated water window x-ray lasers.