Effect of nonequilibrium ionization process on gain of neon-like argon x-ray laser

In connection with fast plasma heating in capillary discharges, transient ionization effect on the gain of J=0-->1 transition (lambda=46.9 nm) in optically thin neon (Ne)-like argon (Ar IX) x-ray laser has been theoretically investigated using the reduced time-dependent collisional-radiative model. Results indicate that the gain value at nonequilibrium ionization regime is significantly affected by the relaxation process of different ionization states, and fast heating enables us to obtain higher gain compared with the steady-state plasma. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.