Measurement of resonance fluorescence in a laser-produced Al XII plasma

We demonstrate radiative resonant pumping using two spatially distinct laser-produced aluminum plasmas. An embedded microdot was irradiated to prepare a plasma that was predominantly in the Al XII 1{sup 1}{ital S}{sub 0} ground state. This plasma was then pumped by a photon flux at 7.757 A, the wavelength of the 1{sup 1}S{sub 0}--2 {sup 1}P{sub 1} transition. The absolute measurement of the resulting fluorescent signal was {approx}1.5{times}10{sup 11} photons/sr.