MRI-R2: Development of a high average power table-top extreme ultraviolet/soft x-ray laser beam line for science at the nanoscale

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"This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)" The objective of this research is to develop an extreme ultraviolet/soft x-ray laser for the table-top generation of high brightness coherent short wavelength light. The high average power and pulse energy produced by this light source will enable new nano-scale science and technology applications of high intensity soft x-ray light in a small laboratory setting. The approach combines recent advances in the amplification of soft x-ray light in dense plasmas with a high energy, high repetition rate, optical laser specifically designed to drive soft x-ray lasers. This bright table-top short wavelength laser will make possible the implementation of powerful microscopes that will visualize phenomena in materials, devices, and biological specimens with nanometer spatial resolution and picosecond temporal resolution; modify and characterize materials at the nanoscale, and investigate extreme states of matter that are beyond the reach of optical probes. Since lasers and imaging of the nano-world are subjects that resonate with the intellectual curiosity and interest amongst a broad group of students, the new light source will offer the opportunity to involve in research students ranging from K-12 to graduate school. In addition to exciting multi-disciplinary, cutting?edge thesis projects for graduate students, the proposed soft x-ray laser beam line will create new opportunities to engage undergraduates, high school students, and middle school teachers in scientific research and systems engineering. Diverse participation in the development and use of the proposed laser source will be facilitated by the collaboration with partner institutions serving populations that are underrepresented in science and engineering.