Potential energy curves of the CO ground state (d), the intermediate core-ionized states of O 1s<sup>−1</sup> (a) and C 1s<sup>−1</sup> (b), and the final (valence ionized) states (c) of CO<sup>+</sup> [16, 17] Victor Kimberg Song Bin Zhang Nina Rohringer 10.6084/m9.figshare.1012416.v1 https://iop.figshare.com/articles/figure/_Potential_energy_curves_of_the_CO_ground_state_d_the_intermediate_core_ionized_states_of_O_1s_sup_1/1012416 <p><strong>Figure 1.</strong> Potential energy curves of the CO ground state (d), the intermediate core-ionized states of O 1s<sup>−1</sup> (a) and C 1s<sup>−1</sup> (b), and the final (valence ionized) states (c) of CO<sup>+</sup> [<a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-4075/46/16/164017/article#jpb465580bib16" target="_blank">16</a>, <a href="http://iopscience.iop.org/0953-4075/46/16/164017/article#jpb465580bib17" target="_blank">17</a>]. The energy scale is relative to the energy of the ground state of the neutral molecule.</p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>We theoretically demonstrate the feasibility of x-ray lasing in the CO molecule by the core ionization of the C K- and O K-shell by x-ray free-electron laser sources. Our numerical simulations are based on the solution of generalized Maxwell–Bloch equations, accounting for the electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom. The amplified x-ray emission pulses have an extremely narrow linewidth of about 0.1 eV and a pulse duration shorter than 30 fs. We compare x-ray lasing transitions to the three lowest electronic states of singly ionized CO. The dependence of the lasing efficiency on the spectral width of the x-ray fluorescence band, value and orientation of the electronic transition dipole moment, lifetime of the core-excited state and the duration of the pump pulse is analysed. Using a pre-aligned molecular ensemble substantially increases the amplified emission. Moreover, by controlling the molecular alignment and thereby the alignment of the transition dipole moment polarization, the control of the emitted x-ray radiation is achievable. Preparing the initial vibrational quantum state, the x-ray emission frequency can be tuned within the fluorescence band. The present scheme is applicable to other diatomic systems, thereby extending the spectral range of coherent x-ray radiation sources based on stimulated x-ray emission on bound transitions.</p> 2013-08-13 00:00:00 CO molecule moment polarization energy curves Ground State C 1 lasing efficiency vibrational quantum state fluorescence band O 1 emission core ionization pulse duration 30 fs transition CO ground state energy scale C K Atomic Physics Molecular Physics