Propagation of an attosecond X-ray pulse in an atomic-scale waveguide

Abstract

The guiding of an attosecond (as) X-ray pulse in a two-dimensional atomic structure is analyzed. The results obtained from a simple model show that an atomic-scale waveguide which consists of a barium monoxide lattice where five rows of atoms have been removed can successfully guide pulses with duration 20 as and wavelength 10 Å. This is attributed to an improved total external reflection in the discrete atomic structure. When the carrier frequency is higher than the plasma frequency, the guide causes minor distortions in the pulse profile. For lower frequencies, the X-ray pulse is significantly affected by the guide dispersion. These results indicate that nano- and sub-nanostructures can be designed for transportation and processing of coherent attosecond-duration electromagnetic pulses, which is important for the newly emerging field of X-ray photonics.