Double-Pass Amplification in Ge Soft X-Ray Laser with a Polarizing Half-Cavity

The control of polarization of soft X-ray lasers is presented. Double-pass amplification in a soft X-ray laser with a half-cavity comprising a multilayer polarizer and a normal incidence reflector has been tested. Successful results have been obtained using a curved-slab target for the lasing line at 19.6 nm due to the J=0–1 transition of the collisional-excitation neonlike germanium soft X-ray laser.