Laser gain calculations for soft X-ray and XUV radiation emitted from copper-like ions by electron collisional pumping

Electron impact excitation rate coefficients, level population densities, and gain coefficients for six excited ions with Z = 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 in the copper isoelectronic sequence have been calculated. The electron collisional excitation rate coefficients are calculated according to the analytical formulas of Vriens and Smeets. Fine structure energy levels, transition probabilities, and oscillator strengths needed in the calculations have been calculated using Cowan atomic structure code with relativistic corrections for [Ar]3d10nl with n = 4–7 and l = 0–6. The level population densities are calculated by solving the coupled rate equations involving 30 levels. Positive gain coefficients of the possible emitted lines are obtained at three selected electron temperatures, namely 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 of the ionization energy. The present calculated data show promising values for the production of soft X-ray and XUV laser by collisional pumping for the transitions 5p–5s and 6d–5f with wavelengths between 108 and 571 Å. The values of the maximum gain coefficient are found to increase with atomic number and their order of magnitude ranges from102to 104cm−1.