Abstract

The development of practical "table-top" sources of soft x-ray laser radiation will have a very important impact in many disciplines of science and technology. In the decade that followed the first successful soft x-ray amplification experiments [1,2], large soft x-ray amplification and significant laser output energy could only be obtained using large optical lasers as the energy source. Much progress was accomplished using as pump the same type of lasers utilized in fusion research. However, the widespread use of these sources is limited by their very large size, high cost and low accessibility. These limitations motivates the development of compact soft x-ray laser sources that can impact applications.

© 1997 Optical Society of America