High-resolution imaging of a soft-X-ray laser beam by color centers excitation in lithium fluoride crystals

¹ Dipartimento di Fisica, Università dell'Aquila, gc LNGS dell' INFN, INFM 67010 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy
² ENEA Dipartimento Innovazione, Divisione Fisica Applicata, CRE Frascati C.P. 65, 00044 Frascati, Italy
³ Department of Experimental Physics, University of Pecs Ifjusag u. 6, Pecs, 7624, Hungary
⁴ MISDC of VNIIFTRI - Mendeleevo, Moscow Region, 141570, Russia
⁵ Institute of Physical Engineering, University of Technology Brno, Technicka 2, 616 69 Brno, Czech Repuplic

Received: 17 April 2003
Accepted: 27 June 2003

Abstract

Stable color center production in lithium fluoride crystals has been applied to single-shot high-spatial-resolution imaging of a 2 long, 46.9 capillary discharge soft-X-ray laser pulse. Images of the unfocused beam and of the beam focused by a multi-layer mirror were recorded. The crystal sensitivity was sufficient to impress high-contrast photo-luminescent patterns with single-pulse irradiation on an area up to 40. Interference fringes due to the soft-X-ray laser coherence were observed. The results demonstrate the potential of crystals and films as a sub-micrometer resolution two-dimensional imaging tool for single-shot soft-X-ray laser applications.