Development of a Soft X-Ray Laser for the Study of Metal and Semi-metal Oxide Nanoclusters

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9512282 Rocca This research proposes to develop a unique table-top soft X-ray laser for photochemistry and photophysics studies. This innovative instrument is made feasible by a recent demonstration by the researchers of large soft X-ray amplification in the plasma created by a compact electrical discharge. This breakthrough offers the opportunity for the development of a new type of soft X-ray laser of significantly reduced size and increased simplicity that can operate repetitively. The laser will provide high peak power beams (circa 10 microjoules per nanosecond pulse) of high energy photons (26.5 electron volts) that will permit extension of laser photochemistry and photophysics studies of molecules, clusters, and surfaces to the soft X-ray region. %%% The development of this innovative soft X-ray laser will benefit numerous applications and open new areas of research. These applications include the diagnostics of material surfaces, the testing of optical coatings and soft X-ray optics, diagnostic of dense plasmas and of nuclear detector materials, and high resolution imaging. The compact soft X-ray laser source can also impact basic studies in atomic physics and nonlinear optics. ***