Progress in optical-field-ionization soft X-ray lasers at LOA

Abstract : We give on overview of recent advances in collisionally pumped optical field-ionization soft X-ray lasers developed at LOA. Saturated amplification has been achieved on the 5d-5p transition in Xe^8+ at 41.8 nm, and on the 4d-4p transition in Kr^8+ at 32.8 nm. We demonstrate a significant increase of the energy output from the Xe^8+ laser driven within two types of wave-guide. Finally, we present results of a pioneering work aimed to set up and characterize the first true soft X-ray laser chain.