Defense Presentation

Mark Berrill

Ph.D. Preliminary
June 08, 2009, 9:00 AM
Engineering 120

Abstract:  Extreme ultraviolet lasers, with wavelengths about fifty times shorter than visible light, are a new and powerful tool for scientific applications. Due to their short wavelength and large photon energy, they are capable of interacting with matter in significantly smaller areas and new ways. This makes them particularly interesting for high resolution microscopy, lithography, nanotechnology, photophyiscs, and photochemistry applications. Key to their development is a proper understanding of the plasma physics and amplification behavior. For this purpose we have developed several computer models that simulate the plasmas used to generate the laser and the amplification of the light. These models allow for a complete understanding of the lasers and run on high performance computers. The current progress of the lasers and computer models is presented.

Adviser: Jorge Rocca
Co-adviser:
Non-ECE member: Siu Au Lee, Physics
Member3: Camen Menoni
Member4: Mario Marconi
Additional member:

Publications to be Reviewed:
1. Y. Wang, M. Berrill, F. Pedaci, M.M. Shakya, S. Gilbertson, Zenghu Chang , E. Granados, B.M. Luther, M. A. Larotonda, J.J. Rocca, “Measurement of 1 Picosecond Soft X-Ray Laser Pulses from an Injection-Seeded Plasma Amplifier,” ,” Physical Review A, 79, 023810, (2009).
2. M. Berrill, F. Brizuela, B. Langdon, H. Bravo, C.S. Menoni, and J.J. Rocca, “Warm Photoionized Plasmas Created by Soft X-Ray Laser Irradiation of Solid Targets,” Journal of the Optical Society of America B 25, B32, (2008). (This article has been selected for publication in the Virtual Journal of Ultrafast Science 2008.)
3. F. Pedaci, Y. Wang, M. Berrill, B. Luther, E. Granados, and J.J. Rocca, “Highly coherent injection-seeded 13.2 nm table-top soft x-ray laser,” Optics Letters 33, 491, (2008). (This article has been selected for publication in the Virtual Journal of Ultrafast Science 2008.)
4. Y. Wang, E. Granados, F. Pedaci, D. Alessi, B. Luther, M. Berrill, and J.J. Rocca, “Phase coherent, injection-seeded table-top soft x-ray lasers at 18.9 and 13.9,” Nature Photonics, 2, p. 94, (2008)
5. M. Berrill, Y. Wang, M.A. Larotonda, B.M. Luther, V.N. Shlyaptsev, and J.J. Rocca, “Pump pulsewidth of grazing incidence pumped transient collisional soft x-ray lasers,” Physical Review A 75, 063821 (2007).
6. B.A. Reagan, T. Popmintchev, M.E. Grisham, D.M. Gaudiosi, M. Berrill, O. Cohen, B.C. Walker, M.M. Murnane, J.J. Rocca, and H.C. Kapteyn, “Enhanced High Harmonic Generation from Xe, Kr, and Ar in a Capillary Discharge,” Physical Review A, 76, 013816, (2007).
7. Y. Wang, E. Granados, M.A. Larotonda, M. Berrill, B.M. Luther, D. Patel, C.S. Menoni, and J.J. Rocca, “High-Brightness Injection-Seeded Soft-X-Ray-Laser Amplifier Using a Solid Target,” Physical Review Letters 97, 123901, (2006).
8. D.M. Gaudiosi, B. Reagan, T. Popmintchev, M. Grisham, M. Berrill, O. Cohen, B.C. Walker, M.M. Murnane, H.C. Kapteyn, and J.J. Rocca, “High-Order Harmonic Generation from Ions in a Capillary Discharge,” Physical Review Letters 96, 203001, (2006).
9. M.A. Larotonda, Y. Wang, M. Berrill, B.M. Luther, J.J. Rocca, M.M. Shakya, S. Gilbertson, and Z. Chang, “Pulse duration measurements of grazing incidence pumped high repetition rate Ni-like Ag and Cd transient soft x-ray lasers,” Optics Letters 31, 3043, (2006).
10. B. M. Luther, Y. Wang, M. A. Larotonda, D. Alessi, M. Berrill, J. J. Rocca, J. Dunn, R. Keenan, V. N. Shlyaptsev, “High repetition rate collisional soft x-r


Program of Study:
EE 777: X-Ray Lasers
PH 652: Quantum Mechanics II
CS 520: Analysis of Algorithms
CS 575: Parallel Processing
M 676: Introduction for Numerical Methods for PDEs
M 676: Scientific Computing
PH 641: Electromagnetism I
PH 641: Electromagnetism II