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Proposal for Generating Brilliant X-Ray Beams Carrying Orbital Angular Momentum

Journal Article · · Physical Review Letters
;  [1]
  1. Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass Avenue, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
We consider use of a variable polarizing undulator for generating brilliant x-ray beams carrying orbital angular momentum. We find that higher harmonics of the radiation correspond to Laguerre-Gaussian modes with azimuthal mode indices l equal to one less than the harmonic number when the undulator is operated to produce circularly polarized light. Beams with nonzero l carry orbital angular momentum quantized in units of l({Dirac_h}/2{pi}) per photon. When operated to produce linear polarization, the harmonics correspond to Hermite-Gaussian modes. Selection of these modes with conventional monochromator optics opens the door for new research with x-ray synchrotron and free-electron laser sources.
OSTI ID:
21123788
Journal Information:
Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 100; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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