Abstract

Inner-shell photoionization of gases and vapors by soft x-rays from laser-produced plasmas is well suited for the generation of population inversion between excited levels in ions. In many cases, metastable levels are populated and cannot radiate directly to lower states. By population transfer to higher-lying levels with an additional laser, Raman or anti-Stokes Raman- type laser schemes may then be realized. Investigations of such anti-Stokes Raman-laser schemes in Hg⁺ and Sr⁺⁺ will be presented.

© 1991 Optical Society of America