A Compact X-Ray Laser

The advanced technology described in this proposal promises to increase the performance of laboratory and, specifically, tabletop x-ray lasers by up to an order of magnitude. Such gains in performance coupled with compact technology will lead to the introduction of the world s first table-top, commercial x-ray laser. Tetra proposes to develop an advanced driver for the laboratory laser based upon an advanced pulsed power topology. This topology offers high energy storage density, short pulse width, high voltage gain, and extremely high pumping power. The proposed technology is capable of delivering pulsed powers which are nearly an order of magnitude greater than what has been achieved to date in similar systems. High pump powers and fast pulse risetimes are the key to making laboratory x-ray lasers work.