Measurement of the Spatial Coherence Buildup in a Discharge Pumped Table-Top Soft X-Ray Laser

Abstract

We have measured the variation of the spatial coherence with plasma column length in a saturated table-top 46.9-nm Ne-like Ar capillary discharge soft x-ray amplifier for lengths up to 16.4 cm. The measurements, which are in good agreement with time dependent wave-optics model computations, provide the first experimental evidence of a monotonic increase of the coherence with length in a soft x-ray amplifier. The variation of the coherence across the beam profile was also studied. Off axis, the coherence is larger in the tangential than in the radial direction.