Phase-matched enhancements of high-harmonic soft X-rays by adaptive wave-front control with a genetic algorithm

We demonstrate the enhancement of high-harmonic soft-X-ray generation by adaptive wave-front control of a 745-nm Ti:sapphire laser by use of a 59-channel membrane deformable mirror, combined with a genetic algorithm, for the first time to our knowledge. The harmonics ranging from 17 nm to 28 nm were enhanced by factors up to 13. The numerical calculations illustrate that the enhancements of the plateau harmonics are due to macroscopic phase-matching effect, whereas those of the cutoff harmonics are due to the increase in focal intensity.