PostHole
Compose
Login
Amplified X-ray laser pulses achieved using mirror set-up
- RESEARCH BRIEFINGS
- 25 February 2026
Amplified X-ray laser pulses achieved using mirror set-up
Current X-ray lasers require facilities that are kilometres long. A cavity-based set-up about 66 metres in length has been developed that uses highly reflective mirrors to enable the generation of high-intensity pulses of narrow-band X-ray radiation. This promises to overcome the limitations of current X-ray lasers.
Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe
This is a summary of: Rauer, P. et al. Lasing of a cavity-based X-ray source. Nature 650, 93–96 (2026).
Access options
Access through your institution
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
27,99 € / 30 days
cancel any time
Receive 51 print issues and online access
199,00 € per year
only 3,90 € per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00580-2
‘Expert opinion’ and the figure are published under a CC BY 4.0 licence.
References
Kondratenko, A. M. & Saldin, E. L. Part. Accel. 10, 207–216 (1980).
Margraf, R. et al. Nature Photon. 17, 878–882 (2023).
Rauer, P., Decking, W., Lipka, D., Thoden, D. & Wohlenberg, T. Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 26, 020701 (2023).
Read the paper: Lasing of a cavity-based X-ray source
Super-resolution spectroscopy with ‘spiky’ X-ray lasers
Liquid carbon formed using a high-energy laser
Subjects
Optics and photonics
Engineering
Latest on:
Optics and photonics
Engineering
[Cavity-altered superconductivity
Article 25 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10062-6)
[Integrated photonics enabling ultra-wideband fibre–wireless communication
Article 18 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10172-9)
[Laser writing in glass for dense, fast and efficient archival data storage
Article 18 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-10042-w)
[The secret of squeaky basketball shoes
News & Views 25 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00295-4)
[Pancreatic-targeted lipid nanoparticles based on organ capsule filtration
Article 25 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10158-7)
[Squeaking at soft–rigid frictional interfaces
Article 25 FEB 26](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-026-10132-3)
###
####
Jobs
Faculty Positions at Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University
Seeking scientists in pathobiology, immunology, vaccinology, epidemiology, drug discovery, focusing on microbial infections and inflammations.
Hangzhou, Zhejiang (CN)
Center for Infectious Disease Research, Westlake University
Faculty Positions at Institute of Physics (IOP), Chinese Academy of Sciences
IOP is China's premier research institution in condensed matter physics and related fields.
Beijing (CN)
Institute of Physics (IOP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Catalysis)
Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Catalysis) Location: Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Pune or Delhi Application Deadline: Marc...
Shanghai, Beijing, Nanjing, Pune or Delhi
Springer Nature Ltd
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Computational Science
Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Computational Science Organization: Nature Portfolio Location: Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin or Pune - Hybr...
Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin or Pune - Hybrid Working Model
Springer Nature Ltd
2026 Overseas Outstanding Young Scholars: NKU Invites Talents From Around the World
Nankai University sincerely invite outstanding talents at home and abroad to apply for the 2026 Overseas Outstanding Young Scholars Fund.
Tianjin, CN
Nankai University