Ion-based high-order harmonic generation from water window to keV region with a transverse disruptive pulse for quasi-phase-matching

A scheme for ion-based high-harmonic generation from water window to keV x-ray is investigated. He¹⁺ ions with 54.42-eV ionization potential extend the harmonic cutoff energy to 1 keV. The transverse selective-zoning method of quasi-phase-matching is utilized to overcome the severe plasma dispersion in a highly ionized medium. The calculated conversion efficiency reaches about 15% of the perfect phase-matching condition. Wavelength tunability is achieved by incorporating a programmable spatial-light modulator to control the quasi-phase-matching pattern.