Exo-interferometric phase determination in nuclear resonant scattering

• Published in: Europhysics letters Vol. 66; no. 4; pp. 506 - 512
• Main Authors: Sturhahn, W, L'abbé, C, Toellner, T. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IOP Publishing 01.05.2004; EDP Sciences
• Subjects: 42.87.Bg; 76.80.+y; 78.70.Ck; advanced photon source; INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; INTERFEROMETRY; PHASE STUDIES; RESONANCE SCATTERING
• ISSN: 0295-5075; 1286-4854
• DOI: 10.1209/epl/i2003-10235-7

The time-dependent phase change of X-rays after transmission through a sample has been determined experimentally. We used an X-ray interferometer with a reference sample containing sharp nuclear resonances to prepare a phase-controlled X-ray beam. A sample with similar resonances was placed in the beam but outside of the interferometer; hence our use of the term “exo-interferometric”. We show that the phase change of the X-rays due to the sample can be uniquely determined from the time-dependent transmitted intensities. The energy response of the sample was reconstructed from the phase and the intensity data with a resolution of 23$\un{neV}$.