XUV Transmission Spectroscopy Using a Tabletop High-Harmonic Source

Abstract

High-harmonic generation (HHG) provides a coherent ultrashort-pulse light source in the extreme- ultraviolet (XUV) region and has potential applications in time-resolved spectroscopy and materials characterization. In this study, we constructed an HHG system using a Yb:KGW laser system (PHAROS, Light Conversion) as the driving source and Ar gas as the nonlinear medium. High-order harmonics were observed up to a photon energy of 70.6 eV, corresponding to the 59th harmonic order. As an application of the developed XUV source, we measured the transmission of a Mg thin film and a Si3N4 membrane. In addition, the surface chemical state of the Mg thin film was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and the results were compared with the transmission measured using the HHG source. This comparison was used to examine the relationship between the surface condition, including surface oxidation, and the XUV transmission of the Mg thin film. These results demonstrate the applicability of the developed Ar-based HHG source to the characterization of thin-film transmission in the XUV spectral region.