Power optimization of XUV frequency combs for spectroscopy applications [Invited]

We address technical impediments to the generation of high-photon flux XUV frequency combs through cavity-enhanced high harmonic generation. These difficulties arise from mirror damage, cavity nonlinearity, the intracavity plasma generated during the HHG process, and imperfect phase-matching. By eliminating or minimizing each of these effects we have developed a system capable of generating > 200 mu W and delivering similar to 20 mu W of average power for each spectrally separated harmonic (wavelengths ranging from 50 nm - 120 nm), to actual comb-based spectroscopy experiments. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America