Abstract: A device (10) for producing high frequency radiation using a source of elliptically polarized radiation is disclosed based on: irradiating a frequency multiplication medium having a screw axis (16) symmetry of approximate Nth order symmetry, oriented so that said elliptically polarized radiation propagates in parallel to the screw axis (16). Also, a method for producing high frequency radiation is disclosed based on irradiating a frequency multiplication medium having a screw axis (16) of approximate Nth order symmetry with elliptically polarized radiation so that the elliptically polarized radiation propagates in parallel to the screw axis (16). Furthermore, a method of producing a beam of high frequency radiation composed of only a limited number of wavelengths is disclosed whereby the intensity of a beam (22) interacting with a frequency multiplication medium is selected so that only a limited number of wavelengths is emitted.

Abstract: A device (10) for producing high frequency radiation using a source of elliptically polarized radiation is disclosed based on: irradiating a frequency multiplication medium having a screw axis (16) symmetry of approximate Nth order symmetry, oriented so that said elliptically polarized radiation propagates in parallel to the screw axis (16). Also, a method for producing high frequency radiation is disclosed based on irradiating a frequency multiplication medium having a screw axis (16) of approximate Nth order symmetry with elliptically polarized radiation so that the elliptically polarized radiation propagates in parallel to the screw axis (16). Furthermore, a method of producing a beam of high frequency radiation composed of only a limited number of wavelengths is disclosed whereby the intensity of a beam (22) interacting with a frequency multiplication medium is selected so that only a limited number of wavelengths is emitted.

Abstract: A source of intense coherent high-frequency electromagnetic radiation such as soft x-rays. A circularly polarized incident beam of coherent radiation is directed at a frequency multiplication medium that includes constituents of approximate Cn symmetry, oriented so that the symmetry axes of the constituents are parallel to the incident beam. The interaction of the incident beam and the constituents of the medium produces higher harmonics of the incident frequency, up into the x-ray band. If the Cn symmetry of the medium constituents is exact then the harmonic frequencies are multiples ln±l of the frequency of the incident beam, where l is an integer. If the Cn symmetry is only approximate, then the harmonics are centered around these multiples. Suitable medium constituents include dipolar molecules of C5v symmetry and circular rings of nanoparticles.