Open AccessCompact hard x-ray split-delay system based on variable-gap channel-cut crystals
Author(s) -
Yanwen Sun,
Nan Wang,
Sanghoon Song,
Peihao Sun,
Matthieu Chollet,
Takahiro Sato,
Tim B. van Driel,
S. Nelson,
Rajan Plumley,
Jordi Montana-Lopez,
Samuel W. Teitelbaum,
Johann Haber,
J. B. Hastings,
Alfred Q. R. Baron,
M. Sutton,
P. H. Fuoss,
A. Robert,
Diling Zhu
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics letters/optics index
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.524
H-Index - 272
eISSN - 1071-2763
pISSN - 0146-9592
DOI - 10.1364/ol.44.002582
Subject(s) - optics , physics , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , scattering , beam (structure) , coherence length , channel (broadcasting) , focus (optics) , diffraction , photon , computer science , condensed matter physics , computer network , superconductivity , quantum mechanics
We present the concept and a prototypical implementation of a compact x-ray split-delay system that is capable of performing continuous on-the-fly delay scans over a range of ∼10 ps with sub-100 nanoradian pointing stability. The system consists of four channel-cut silicon crystals, two of which have gradually varying gap sizes from intentional 5 deg asymmetric cuts. The delay adjustment is realized by linear motions of these two monolithic varying-gap channel cuts, where the x-ray beam experiences pairs of anti-parallel reflections, and thus becomes less sensitive in output beam pointing to motion imperfections of the translation stages. The beam splitting is accomplished by polished crystal edges. A high degree of mutual coherence between the two branches at the focus is observed by analyzing small-angle coherent x-ray scattering patterns. We envision a wide range of applications including single-shot x-ray pulse temporal diagnostics, studies of high-intensity x-ray-matter interactions, as well as measurement of dynamics in disordered material systems using split-pulse x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy.