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

本研究提出开发一种独特的桌面软x射线激光器，用于光化学和光物理研究。最近，研究人员在紧凑的放电产生的等离子体中进行了大型软x射线放大的演示，使这种创新仪器成为可能。这一突破为开发一种新型的软x射线激光器提供了机会，这种激光器的尺寸大大减小，并且更加简单，可以重复操作。该激光器将提供高能光子（26.5电子伏特）的峰值功率光束（每纳秒脉冲约10微焦耳），这将允许将分子、簇和表面的激光光化学和光物理研究扩展到软x射线区域。这种创新的软x射线激光器的发展将有利于许多应用并开辟新的研究领域。这些应用包括材料表面的诊断，光学涂层和软x射线光学的测试，密集等离子体和核探测器材料的诊断，以及高分辨率成像。紧凑的软x射线激光源也可以影响原子物理和非线性光学的基础研究。＊＊＊

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. ***