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Generation and characterization of focused helical x-ray beams
Lars Loetgering1,2, Margarita Baluktsian3, Kahraman Keskinbora3
1Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography, Science Park 106, 1098 XG Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Science Advances
|February 29, 2020
Summary
Researchers generated helical soft x-ray beams using diffractive optics, enabling controlled orbital angular momentum (OAM) for advanced microscopy and applications.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- X-ray Science
- Quantum Optics
Background:
- Orbital angular momentum (OAM) is crucial for applications like optical tweezers and free-space communication.
- Controlling OAM in x-ray and electron beams has been challenging due to limitations in wavefront shaping optics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally observe helical soft x-ray beams.
- To demonstrate a method for imparting controlled OAM on x-ray radiation.
- To establish a technique for shaping complex focused beams at short wavelengths.
Main Methods:
- Holographically designed diffractive optical elements were used to generate helical soft x-ray beams.
- Ptychography was employed to measure beam vorticity and coherent mode structure.
- The rotation of beams as a function of propagation distance was demonstrated.
Main Results:
- Experimental observation of helical soft x-ray beams was achieved.
- The generated beams exhibited rotation dependent on propagation distance.
- Vorticity and coherent mode structure were successfully measured.
Conclusions:
- A novel approach for controlling and shaping complex focused x-ray beams was established.
- This work opens possibilities for short-wavelength scanning microscopy.
- It facilitates OAM-driven applications in the x-ray regime.
