XUV optics for attosecond applications

Among X-ray and extreme ultraviolet light sources able to produce shorter and shorter, coherent and intense pulses, High order harmonics generated in rare gases are currently the unique way to generate attosecond pulses. However, the manipulation and transport of attosecond pulses require the development of dedicated optics for reaching specific characteristics in terms of amplitude but also in terms of spectral phase control. We present here a multilayer design for chirp compensation of attosecond pulses. We also present an application of these multilayers mirrors for attosecond train 14 pulse holography experiment with high harmonics. This experience took benefit of both temporal and spatial phase properties of high harmonics. A resolution of 750 nm has been achieved by using a 350 as train pulse for the reference wave constituted of four consecutive harmonics (lambda=28 nm to lambda=41 nm). This new method will allow making ultra fast movies with attosecond resolution of transient phenomena with quasi-3D resolution.