Laser gain by electron collisional pumping of Ar VII–V XII

Gain coefficients have been calculated for transitions of singlet levels ns–np of orbital n=4 and n=5 in magnesium-like ions with atomic numbers Z=18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Population inversions for 4p and 5p levels in these ions were also calculated, via electron collisional excitation, for electron temperature range of 93–231 eV and electron density range of 1016–1017 cm−3. Under these plasma conditions, the maximum gain that occurred for 4s–4p transition was at electron temperature of ∼231 eV and electron density of ∼4×1017 cm−3. Scaling of the maximum gain coefficients with atomic number Z and the plasma parameters is also presented.