XUV generation from plasma produced by a XeCl excimer laser on a Cu target

Laser plasma x-ray contact microscopy of living specimens using a chemically amplified epoxy resist

“…In the case of life sciences, SXCM enables the study of the ultrastructure of living hydrated specimens, without the need of dehydration or other chemical pretreatment, by using suitable pulsed x-ray sources such as laser plasmas. [1][2][3][4] The interest in using soft x rays, in the so called ''water window'' ͑2.3-4.4 nm or 280-530 eV͒, is based on the low attenuation at these wavelengths caused by water, as compared to the attenuation caused by organic matter. Indeed, just below the oxygen K edge ͑2.4 nm͒, 1 m water has only 20% absorption, while the carbon containing proteins have distinctively higher absorbance.…”