Laser technology: source of coherent kiloelectronvolt X-rays.
Generating X-rays that have the properties of laser light has been a long-standing goal for experimental science. Here we describe the emission of highly collimated, spatially coherent X-rays, at a wavelength of about 1 nanometre and at photon energies extending to 1.3 kiloelectronvolts, from atoms that have been ionized by a 5-femtosecond laser pulse. This means that a laboratory source of laser-like, kiloelectronvolt X-rays, which will operate on timescales relevant to many chemical, biological and materials problems, is now within reach.
Seres
J
J
Institut für Photonik, Technische Universität Wien, 1040 Wien, Austria.
Seres
E
E
Verhoef
A J
AJ
Tempea
G
G
Streli
C
C
Wobrauschek
P
P
Yakovlev
V
V
Scrinzi
A
A
Spielmann
C
C
Krausz
F
F