Tabletop Soft X-rays for Coherent Imaging

Since their invention centuries ago, we have used microscopes to understand ourselves and the world around us. Some of today’s most advanced microscopes use coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) with soft X-rays. Soft X-rays provide excellent resolution and natural contrast with microorganisms in their native state, while CDI is quantitative, minimizes radiation dose, and optimizes resolution. Soft X-ray CDI requires a coherent light source and is currently confined to accelerator facilities with limited access. This thesis covers the development of a tabletop source based on high harmonic generation of a custom laser, which is the first to accomplish soft X-ray CDI.