Demonstration of a desk-top size high repetition rate soft x-ray laser based on a fast capillary discharge

The demonstration of laser amplification in transitions of Ne-like ions in a capillary discharge plasma column opened the possibility to develop very compact short wavelength lasers for applications. We report a new type of high repetition rate 46.9 nm Ne-like Ar capillary discharge laser that fits on top of a small desk and that it does not require a Marx generator for its excitation [1]. The relatively low voltage required for its operation allows a reduction of nearly one order of magnitude in the size of the pulsed power unit relative to previous capillary discharge lasers. Laser pulses with an energy of $\sim $13 $\mu $J are generated at repetition rates up to 12 Hz. About (2-3) x 10 $^{4}$ laser shots can be generated with a single capillary. This new type of portable laser is an easily accessible source of intense short wavelength laser light for applications. Work supported by the NSF EUV ERC and DOE. \newline \newline [1] S. Heinbuch, M. Grisham, D. Martz and J.J. Rocca. Optics Express, \textbf{13}, 4050 (2005).