Phase-retardation and full-polarization analysis of soft-x-ray synchrotron radiation close to the carbon K edge by use of a multilayer transmission filter

• DOI: 10.1364/ao.33.002624
• Publication Date: 2009-03-20T12:44:06Z
• Authors: S. Di Fonzo; W. Jark; F. Schäfers; H. Petersen; A. Gaupp; J. H. Underwood
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy

We have produced a multilayer transmission filter with 100 periods of Cr/C to achieve a significant phase retardation while maintaining good transmission for photon energies just below the carbon K edge. This device was installed into a polarimeter behind the SX700/3 monochromator at the Berlin synchrotron radiation laboratory, BESSY. The phase-retardation properties were observed as theoretically predicted. Agreement between experiment and calculation could be obtained by introduction of a rather small interface roughness in the simulation code (σ = 0.65 nm rms). An observed phase retardation of 5° was sufficient to permit, for the first time we believe, a complete and unambiguous polarization analysis of soft-x-ray synchrotron radiation (265-eV photon energy) with primary standards.