Application Prospects for Soft X-ray Lasers

Collision‐pumped soft x‐ray laser devices operating in quasi‐steady‐state mode in the 5–25 nm wavelength region now routinely produce saturated outputs, corresponding to about 1013 – 1014 photons in pulses of ∼50 psec duration. These partially coherent beams are extremely bright, single‐shot sources of radiation with a range of demonstrated and potential applications. Here, we review some recent developments in production and characterisation of Ne‐like and Ni‐like soft x‐ray lasers pumped by the Vulcan laser at the Central Laser Facility, UK. Stemming from this, we examine some application options including radiography, interferometry, Thomson scattering and non‐linear optics.