Double pulse quasi-collinear high harmonic generation scheme as a tool for X-ray laser plasma gain probing

We have investigated high harmonic generation in an argon gas cell driven by two femtosecond laser pulses separated by a variable delay ranging from 500 fs to 100 ps. Experiments were performed at the LASERIX IR-EUV facility using an amplified 10 Hz CPA Ti:Sapphire laser system on a beamline delivering 50 fs pulses at 800 nm with energy up to 25 mJ. In the case of a non-zero time delay we studied the optimal conditions for equilibrated double pulse generation despite perturbation of the generating medium induced by the first pulse. We showed how high harmonic double pulse generation varies with the gas pressure, the excitation energy, the delay and the relative polarization between the two laser pulses.