Pinhole interferometry with coherent hard X-rays

J Synchrotron Radiat. 2004 Mar 1;11(Pt 2):190-7. doi: 10.1107/S0909049503029169. Epub 2004 Feb 12.

Abstract

This paper discusses the experimental realisation of two types of X-ray interferometer based on pinhole diffraction. In both interferometers the beam splitter was a thin metal foil containing micrometer pinholes to divide the incident X-ray wave into two coherent waves. The interference pattern was studied using an energy-dispersive detector to simultaneously investigate in a large spectral range the diffraction properties of the white synchrotron radiation. For a highly absorbing pinhole mask the interference fringes from the classical Young's double-pinhole experiment were recorded and the degree of coherence of X-rays could be determined. In the case of low absorption of the metal foil at higher X-ray energies (>15 keV) the interference pattern of a point diffraction interferometer was observed using the same set-up. The spectral refraction index of the metal foil was determined.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Interferometry / instrumentation*
  • Interferometry / methods*
  • Radiometry / methods*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Synchrotrons / instrumentation*
  • X-Ray Diffraction / instrumentation*
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*
  • X-Rays