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Abstract

This invention is directed towards a scalable X-ray laser comprising means for providing an active medium of lithium-like atoms or ions, means for producing in the active medium a population of low density ions in an excited intermediate metastable state and a visible or near infrared laser to stimulate X-ray lasing by resonant or non-resonant antistokes Raman process to the ground state of the ions. The irradiation of the ions by the laser provides phased or traveling wave excitation which produces the desired directivity. Production of the metastable state is provided by directing energy from a suitable source, such as a high power short pulse laser beam, onto a target material and causing it to radiate as a black body, filtering this radiation to derive radiation in the soft X-ray region, and directing this filtered radiation into the lithium-like vapor.

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First Claim