Modeling the generation of hole-state population inversion in intense laser-produced xenon cluster plasmas

Summary form only given. A highly amplified line emission has been observed at 2.86 ?? in plasmas that are created when an intense laser pulse >10²⁰ W cm^-2 irradiates a gas of xenon clusters. In this talk, we study one mechanism by which such an amplified emission could be generated. A gain model is constructed along lines first suggested by Duguay. Emissions from the L-shell ionization stages of xenon are used to photo-ionize inner shell electrons in the M-shell of xenon. In particular, the population dynamics in the Ni- and Co-like ionization stages under the influence of these photo-ionizations is studied under a variety of plasma conditions.