A scheme for ultrashort X-ray lasing without inversion

A scheme for obtaining a laser without inversion in the deep X-ray regime is proposed based on the principle of gain without inversion. A ladder scheme is proposed in the Ar8+ system. In this system, conventional lasing with population inversion in a neonlike scheme is used. This lasing field is proposed for the drive field on the higher transition of the ladder. A coherent field obtained in the high harmonics ultrashort laser provides the probe field to be amplified. The ground level is incoherently pumped into the highest level, while the latter is incoherently depumped into the ground level, at a different adjustable rate. A detailed density matrix calculation of the ladder configuration is performed [3], and the conditions under which the system exhibits inversionless gain, as well as regular gain, are derived. Numerical calculations in the bare state picture exhibits gain without inversion both at resonance and at the generalized Rabi side bands. The probe lineshape is shown to be constructed of two symmetrical dispersionlike features each centered at the generalized Rabi side bands. This is evidence of the quantum interference occurring at these locations and the basis for the gain without inversion.