Optimization toward a high-average-brightness soft-x-ray laser pumped at grazing incidence

Area of Science:

• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics
• Plasma Physics
• X-ray Science

Background:

• Soft-X-ray lasers are crucial tools for high-resolution imaging and materials science.
• Achieving high repetition rates and brightness from compact laser systems remains a significant challenge.
• Grazing incidence pumping (GRIP) geometry offers a promising approach for compact laser development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the near-field imaging of a Ni-like 18.9 nm molybdenum soft-X-ray laser.
• To investigate the impact of varying the GRIP angle on the spatial characteristics of the soft-X-ray laser source.
• To optimize the GRIP geometry for generating a high-repetition-rate, high-brightness soft-X-ray laser.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a table-top laser driver to pump a Ni-like molybdenum soft-X-ray laser.
• Employed near-field imaging techniques for spatial characterization.
• Systematically varied the grazing incidence pumping (GRIP) angle and performed multiparameter optimization.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated a high-repetition-rate soft-X-ray laser at 10 Hz.
• Achieved pulse energies up to 3 microJ/pulse.
• Demonstrated average brightness of 6x10^17 photons/s/mm^2/mrad^2/(0.1% bandwidth) and peak brightness of 1x10^28 photons/s/mm^2/mrad^2/(0.1% bandwidth).

Conclusions:

• The GRIP geometry is effective for developing compact, high-performance soft-X-ray lasers.
• Optimized GRIP conditions enable routine generation of high-brightness, high-energy soft-X-ray pulses.
• The characterized laser source holds potential for advanced applications in imaging and spectroscopy.