We report an application of the prepulse technique which uses a low-intensity prepulse before the main optical drive pulse to prepare the plasma prior to lasing in low-Z, Ne-like ions. Ne-like x-ray lasers are now available over a previously inaccessible range of wavelengths. As an illustration of this technique we report an observation of lasing in ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{14+}$ and ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{16+}$ on the Ne-like J=0→1, 3p→3s transitions at 285 and 255 Å as well as gain measurements for ${\mathrm{Ti}}^{12+}$.

• Received 4 February 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.48.4682