A comparison of an elliptical multipole wiggler and crystal optics for the production of circularly polarized x-rays

Abstract

Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in polarization modulated x-ray diffraction and spectroscopy techniques. In particular, the importance of photon helicity in spin-dependent magnetic interactions has expanded the need for high quality circularly polarized x-ray sources with fast switching capabilities. Because circularly polarized photons couple differently with the magnetic moment of an atom than do neutrons, they are able to provide unique magnetic information not accessible by neutron techniques. The development of experiments utilizing circularly polarized x-rays, however, has been hampered by the lack of efficient sources. Two different approaches for the production of circularly polarized x-rays have attracted the most attention; (i) employing specialized insertion devices, and (ii) utilizing x-ray phase retarders based on perfect crystal optics. For soft x-rays (0.1--3.0 keV), source development has centered primarily on insertion devices because there are currently no crystal or multilayer polarizing optics available that cover that full energy range. For harder x-rays (>3.0 keV), however, phase retarding optics have been demonstrated, but whether these optics or insertion devices provide the most efficient circularly polarized x-ray source in this energy regime has remained a matter of contention. Advocates of each method have made qualitative statements about their advantages, i.e., insertion devices provide a larger flux and phase retarders provide a higher degree of circular polarization, yet a detailed quantitative comparison has been lacking. In this paper, we attempt to provide such a comparison by examining the efficiencies of an elliptical multipole wiggler (EMW) and a standard undulator followed by phase retarding crystal optics.