Novel tunable narrow-band extreme ultraviolet laser source based on high-order harmonic generation with 300 ps near-infrared pulses

A novel table-top laser source delivering narrow-band extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) radiation is presented. This XUV source is based on high-order harmonic generation (HHG) in an atomic gas jet. The fundamental radiation is provided by a laser system generating high-energy Fourier-transform-limited (FT) pulses in the near-infrared (NIR). The pulse duration of 320 ps covers the intermediate region between Q-switched and mode-locked lasers, and provides high peak powers. A key element in the set-up is a pulse compressor, based on stimulated Brillouin scattering.