Bright High Harmonic X-Ray Generation Using UV Lasers
Abstract
The Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) is designed to improve the capabilities of U.S. Universities to conduct research and to educate scientists and engineers in selected technical areas of importance to national defense. DURIP funding provides for the acquisition of research equipment and instrumentation for this purpose. This proposal is for the upgrade of a laser system so that it can drive High Harmonic X-Ray Generation using both UV and mid-IR laser beams. The field of high harmonic generation (HHG) is rapidly expanding worldwide, because it represents a new light source that is already solving grand challenges across broad range of science and technology. Indeed, HHG represents the only current route for generating coherent x-ray beams at wavelengths < 6 nm in a tabletop scale setup. To date however, optimizing the conversion from laser light to soft X-rays demanded a trade-off between two competing factors. The emission from each atom is largest for ultraviolet (UV) driving lasers, due to reduced quantum diffusion of the radiating electron wave function. However, macroscopic, phase-matched, buildup of bright HHG beams in the soft X-ray region favors mid-infrared (IR) driving lasers, to ensure that the emission from many atoms adds constructively. Fortunately, in a surprising discovery, by changing the color of the driving laser from mid-IR to intense UV, the HHG spectra shift from broad supercontinua to even brighter, discrete, peaks. Using intense UV driving lasers at a wavelength of 0.27 µm, bright HHG emission can surprisingly extend well into the soft X-ray region of the spectrum. This proposal will upgrade our laser for enhanced energy, stability and beam quality to enhance HHG in the soft X-ray region. The P.I., Professor Margaret Murnane, of the University of Colorado will use the equipment to augment and enhance research capabilities in the area of High Harmonic Generation (HHG).
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510420
Entities
People
- Margaret M. Murnane
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Colorado Boulder