XUV digital in-line holography using high-order harmonics

A step towards a successful implementation of time-resolved digital in-line holography with extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation is presented. Ultra-short XUV pulses are produced as high-order harmonics of a femtosecond laser and a Schwarzschild objective is used to focus harmonic radiation at 38 nm and to produce a strongly divergent reference beam for holographic recording. Experimental holograms of thin wires are recorded and the objects reconstructed. Descriptions of the simulation and reconstruction theory and algorithms are also given. Spatial resolution of a few hundreds of nanometers is potentially achievable, and the micrometer resolution range is demonstrated.