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Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Measurement of X-ray Beam Coherence along Multiple Directions Using 2-D Checkerboard Phase Grating
Published on: October 11, 2016
Manipulation of the orbital angular momentum of soft X-ray beams by consecutive diffractive optics
Abstract:
Production and manipulation of orbital angular momentum (OAM) of coherent soft X-ray beams is demonstrated utilizing consecutive diffractive optics. OAM addition is observed upon passing the beam through consecutive fork gratings. The OAM of the beam was found to be decoupled from its spin angular momentum (SAM). Practical implementation of angular momentum control by consecutive devices in the X-ray regime opens new experimental opportunities, such as direct measurement of the beam's OAM without resorting to phase-sensitive techniques, including holography. OAM analyzers utilizing fork gratings can be used to characterize the beams produced by synchrotron and free electron lasers sources; they can also be used in scattering experiments.
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