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

“该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案(公法111-5)资助的。”这项研究的目标是开发一种用于桌面高亮度相干短波长光的极端紫外线/软X射线激光器。这种光源产生的高平均功率和脉冲能量将使高强度软X射线光在小型实验室中的新的纳米级科学和技术应用成为可能。这种方法结合了在密集等离子体中放大软X射线光的最新进展，以及专门为驱动软X射线激光而设计的高能量、高重复频率的光学激光器。这种明亮的台式短波长激光将使实现强大的显微镜成为可能，这些显微镜将以纳米空间分辨率和皮秒时间分辨率可视化材料、设备和生物样本中的现象；在纳米尺度上修改和表征材料，并研究光学探测器无法触及的物质的极端状态。由于激光和纳米世界成像是与广大学生的求知欲和兴趣产生共鸣的学科，新光源将提供参与研究的机会，学生范围从K-12到研究生院。除了为研究生提供激动人心的多学科尖端论文项目外，拟议中的软X射线激光光束线还将创造新的机会，让本科生、高中生和中学教师参与科学研究和系统工程。与伙伴机构合作，为科学和工程专业任职人数不足的人群提供服务，将促进对拟议激光光源的开发和使用的多样化参与。

"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.