Perturbed nuclear scattering of synchrotron radiation

Mössbauer spectroscopy in the time domain with SR as a source may become a powerful tool in investigations of time-dependent hyperfine interactions caused by external perturbations. This is firstly due to the easy possibility to synchronize the excitation of the nuclei with an external perturbation and secondly due to the insensitivity of Mössbauer time spectra to mechanical vibrations which are generated in samples by these perturbations. As a particular case of perturbed nuclear scattering, the coherent scattering under conditions of 90°- and 180°-switching of the magnetic hyperfine field direction is considered. The results of the first experimental studies are discussed.     

Coherent nuclear resonant scattering of X-rays: Time and space picture

Hyperfine Interactions - The problem of coherent resonant scattering of X-rays by an ensemble of nuclei is solved directly in time and space. In a first step the problem with a single coherently...     

X-ray Bragg diffraction in asymmetric backscattering geometry

We observe three effects in the Bragg diffraction of x rays in backscattering geometry from asymmetrically cut crystals. First, exact Bragg backscattering takes place not at normal incidence to the reflecting atomic planes. Second, a well-collimated (approximately 1 microrad) beam is transformed after the Bragg reflection into a strongly divergent beam (230 microrad) with reflection angle dependent on x-ray wavelength--an effect of angular dispersion. The asymmetrically cut crystal thus behaves like an optical prism, dispersing an incident collimated polychromatic beam. The dispersion rate is approximately 8.5 mrad/eV. Third, parasitic Bragg reflections accompanying Bragg backreflection are suppressed. These effects offer a radically new means for monochromatization of x rays not limited by the intrinsic width of the Bragg reflection.     

A proposal for an X-ray free-electron laser oscillator with an energy-recovery linac

We show that a free-electron laser oscillator generating x rays with wavelengths of about 1 A is feasible using ultralow emittance electron beams of a multi-GeV energy-recovery linac, combined with a low-loss crystal cavity. The device will produce x-ray pulses with 10{9} photons at a repetition rate of 1-100 MHz. The pulses are temporarily and transversely coherent, with a rms bandwidth of about 2 meV, and rms pulse length of about 1 ps.     

Shape resonances in slow electron scattering by aromatic molecules. I. Anthraquinone derivatives

A series of anthraquinone (C(14)O(2)H(8)) derivatives has been studied by means of electron capture negative ion mass spectrometry (ECNI-MS), photoelectron spectroscopy (PES), and AM1 quantum chemical calculations. Mean lifetimes of molecular negative ions M(-.) (MNI) have been measured. The mechanism of long-lived MNI formation in the epithermal energy region of incident electrons has been investigated. A simple model of a molecule (a spherical potential well with the repulsive centrifugal term) has been applied for the analysis of the energy dependence of cross sections at the first stage of the electron capture process. It has been shown that a temporary resonance of MNI at the energy approximately 0.5 eV corresponds to a shape resonance with lifetime 1-2.10(-13) s in the f-partial wave (l = 3) of the incident electron. The next resonant state of MNI at the energy approximately 1.7 eV has been associated with the electron excited Feshbach resonance (whose parent state is a triplet npi* transition). In all cases the initial electron state of the MNI relaxes into the ground state by means of a radiationless transition, and the final state of the MNI is a nuclear excited resonance with a lifetime measurable on the mass spectrometry timescale. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tests and characterization of a laterally graded multilayer Montel mirror

Multilayers are becoming an increasingly important tool in X‐ray optics. The essential parameters to design a pair of laterally graded multilayer mirrors arranged in a Montel‐type configuration for use as an X‐ray collimating device are provided. The results of X‐ray reflectometry tests carried out on the optics in addition to metrology characterization are also shown. Finally, using experimental data and combined with X‐ray tracing simulations it is demonstrated that the mirror meets all stringent specifications as required for a novel ultra‐high‐resolution inelastic X‐ray scattering spectrometer at the Advanced Photon Source.     

Inversion of Target Sequence in Nuclear Forward Scattering of Synchrotron Radiation

The radiation fields reemitted in nuclear forward scattering of synchrotron radiation by a system of two single-line targets of highly different linewidths mounted downstream behind each other were analyzed by applying a stepwise energy shift to one of the targets. The results reveal a pronounced dependence of the fields on target sequence, which demonstrates the important role of radiative coupling. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Backscattering mirrors for X-rays and Mössbauer radiation

Observation of exact backscattering of X-rays and studies of its energy and angular dependences; test of the validity of the dynamical theory of diffraction in the extreme case of exact backscattering; backscattering high-energy-resolution monochromators; backscattering interferometers, in particular of the Fabry–Pérot interferometer type; and precise, up to 5·10^—9 Å, measurements of crystal lattice parameters: these are central topics of the paper. Special attention is paid to the selection of crystals to be used as backscattering mirrors. Noncubic crystals like Al₂O₃, SiC, etc., allow backscattering for X-rays with practically any energy above 10 keV. Feasibility of backscattering mirrors for Mössbauer radiation of ⁵⁷Fe (14.4 keV), ¹⁵¹Eu (21.5 keV), ¹¹⁹Sn (23.9 keV), and ¹⁶¹Dy (25.6 keV) nuclei is demonstrated by Al₂O₃ crystals. A concrete design of a sapphire Fabry–Pérot–Bragg étalon is presented.

     

“X-ray Echo Spectroscopy: Opportunities and Feasibility” Workshop

A two-day workshop on “X-ray Echo Spectroscopy: Opportunities and Feasibility” was held at the Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National Laboratory, USA, September 9–10, 2016, attracting 42 attendees. The focus of the workshop was to explore the scientific potential and technical feasibility of the recently proposed X-ray echo spectroscopy and to discuss a path for its R&D and realization.