X-ray nanointerferometer based on si refractive bilenses

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Aug 7;103(6):064801. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.064801. Epub 2009 Aug 3.

Abstract

We report a novel type of x-ray interferometer employing a bilens system consisting of two parallel compound refractive lenses, each of which creates a diffraction limited beam under coherent illumination. By closely overlapping such coherent beams, an interference field with a fringe spacing ranging from tens of nanometers to tens of micrometers is produced. In an experiment performed with 12 keV x rays, submicron fringes were observed by scanning and moiré imaging of the test grid. The far field interference pattern was used to characterize the x-ray coherence. Our technique opens up new opportunities for studying natural and man-made nanoscale materials.

MeSH terms

  • Interferometry / instrumentation*
  • Interferometry / methods*
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • X-Rays