  Impulsive X-ray Raman excitations of Lithium, Neon, and Sodium are calculated
using the Multiconfiguration Time-Dependent Hartree-Fock method. Using linearly
polarized laser pulses without chirp, we determine the optimum central
frequency, intensity, and duration for maximum population transfer to valence
excited states. We demonstrate the existence of two local optima or "sweet
spots" for population transfer, either of which, depending on the system, may
be superior. For some systems we find that population transfer can be maximized
by nonresonant Raman transitions, red-detuned below K-edge, because such
detuning minimizes core-excited populations and ionization loss. For instance,
in Neon near the K-edge the global optimum for population transfer occurs at
high intensity (8 $\times$ 10$^{19}$ W cm$^{-2}$), short duration (82as
full-width-at-half-maximum), and 24eV red-detuned from the K-edge.
