Diffraction-enhanced beam-focusing for X-rays in curved multi-plate crystal cavity.

Unusual x-ray focusing effect is reported for parabolic curved multi-plate x-ray crystal cavities of silicon consisting of compound refractive lenses (CRL). The transmitted beam of the (12 4 0) back reflection near 14.4388 keV from these monolithic silicon crystal devices exhibits extraordinary focusing enhancement, such that the focal length is reduced by as much as 18% for 2-beam and 56% for 24-beam diffraction from the curved crystal cavity. This effect is attributed to the presence of the involved Bragg diffractions, in which the wavevector of the transmitted beam is bent further when traversing several curved crystal surfaces.

Dynamical calculation for X-ray 24-beam diffraction in a two-plate crystal cavity of silicon.

The X-ray back diffraction of (1240) in a monolithic two-plate silicon cavity occurs at photon energy 14.4388 keV, at which 24 beams are simultaneously excited. Based on the dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction, a theoretical approach has been developed for solving the fundamental equation of dynamical theory to investigate this back diffraction and the interference patterns generated by the Fabry-Perot-type resonance that produces intensity undulation in both transmitted and back-reflected beams. The section of dispersion surface and its associated linear absorption coefficients, wavefield intensities and excitation of mode are calculated. The calculated intensity distribution of the transmitted beam is in a good agreement with the observed one. Details about the interaction between the multiply diffracted X-rays and cavity resonant photons are also reported. Procedures of computer programming are also provided.

X-ray resonance in crystal cavities: realization of Fabry-Perot resonator for hard x rays.

X-ray back diffraction from monolithic two silicon crystal plates of 25-150 microm thickness and a 40-150 microm gap using synchrotron radiation of energy resolution DeltaE = 0.36 meV at 14.4388 keV clearly show resonance fringes inside the energy gap and the total-reflection range for the (12 4 0) reflection. This cavity resonance results from the coherent interaction between the x-ray wave fields generated by the two plates with a gap smaller than the x-ray coherence length. This finding opens up new opportunities for high-resolution and phase-contrast x-ray studies, and may lead to new developments in x-ray optics.