Abstract
The transitions between 4p and 4d levels have been studied to examine the possibility of laser wavelength production in the soft X-ray region. The oscillator strengths of the transitions 3p4p (S-3,P-3,D-3)-> 3p4d (P-3(o),D-3(o),F-3(o)) have been calculated using CIV3 code. Using calculated oscillator strengths, the excitation rate coefficients, reduced populations, and gain coefficients for Si-like Ni XV, Zn XVII, Ga XVIII, Ge XIX, and As XX at electron temperatures 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 the ionization potential have been calculated. The method by Palumbo and Elton has been used in the calculation of laser parameters. The present calculated data show promising values for the production of laser wavelengths in the soft X-ray region. The maximum values of the gain factor lie within the range alpha similar to 10(9) cm(-1) and wavelength lambda = 469 angstrom.