Progress and prospects of coherent X-ray research using high power lasers in JAEA

Kawachi, Tetsuya; Nishikino, Masaharu; Sasaki, Akira; Ishino, Masahiko; Hasegawa, Noboru; Imazono, Takashi; Pikuz, T.; Faenov, A. Ya.*; Magnitskiy, S.*; Maruyama, Momoko; Tomita, Takuro*; Suemoto, Toru; Pirozhkov, A. S.; Bulanov, S. V.; Kiriyama, Hiromitsu; Kando, Masaki; Yamagiwa, Mitsuru; Kondo, Kiminori; Bolton, P.; Kato, Yoshiaki* 

Laser-driven X-ray sources are widely used in probing substances for new material development etc. Besides the laser-driven sources have potentials to downsizing and ultra-short duration, we carry out the coherent X-ray research, i.e., soft X-ray lasers and higher order harmonics generation (HHG) and their applications. In the source study, the first observation of X-ray mirage and HHG from relativistic plasma are presented. In the applications, we show the surface dynamics of fs laser ablation of metal observed by the X-ray interferometer. Finally we mention the prospects for the future: By the financial support from government, we started upgrade of J-KAREN laser toward PW level to realize keV coherent X-ray and high energy particle beams. By use of this high peak power laser and another high average power lasers, we will explore the possibility of ultra-short-duration short-wavelength lasers and open up new applications of high average power coherent X-rays.