Generating circularly polarized radiation in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range at the free-electron laser FLASH

Clemens von Korff Schmising; David Weder; Tino Noll; Bastian Pfau; Martin Hennecke; Christian Strüber; Ilie Radu; Michael Schneider; Steffen Staeck; Christian M Günther; Jan Lüning; Alaa El Dine Merhe; Jens Buck; Gregor Hartmann; Jens Viefhaus; Rolf Treusch; Stefan Eisebitt

doi:10.1063/1.4983056

Generating circularly polarized radiation in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range at the free-electron laser FLASH

Rev Sci Instrum. 2017 May;88(5):053903. doi: 10.1063/1.4983056.

Authors

Clemens von Korff Schmising¹, David Weder¹, Tino Noll¹, Bastian Pfau¹, Martin Hennecke¹, Christian Strüber¹, Ilie Radu¹, Michael Schneider¹, Steffen Staeck², Christian M Günther², Jan Lüning³, Alaa El Dine Merhe³, Jens Buck⁴, Gregor Hartmann⁴, Jens Viefhaus⁴, Rolf Treusch⁴, Stefan Eisebitt¹

Affiliations

¹ Max-Born-Institut Berlin, Max-Born-Str. 2a, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
² Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
³ Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, UMR 7614, LCPMR, 75005 Paris, France.
⁴ Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany.

PMID: 28571434
DOI: 10.1063/1.4983056

Abstract

A new device for polarization control at the free electron laser facility FLASH1 at DESY has been commissioned for user operation. The polarizer is based on phase retardation upon reflection off metallic mirrors. Its performance is characterized in three independent measurements and confirms the theoretical predictions of efficient and broadband generation of circularly polarized radiation in the extreme ultraviolet spectral range from 35 eV to 90 eV. The degree of circular polarization reaches up to 90% while maintaining high total transmission values exceeding 30%. The simple design of the device allows straightforward alignment for user operation and rapid switching between left and right circularly polarized radiation.