Optical converters for circularly polarized VUV and soft-x-ray radiation (invited)(abstract)

Abstract

During the last few years considerable effort was spent at various laboratories to evaluate the possibilities of optical devices to generate circularly polarized synchrotron radiation. These instruments convert linearly polarized radiation by utilizing the phase-shifting properties of multiple reflectors or multilayer transmission optics. In the VUV and soft-x-ray range, the figure of merit TP2, where P is the degree of circular polarization and T the optical transmission, of specially tailored reflection coatings or multilayer structures can be considerably higher than what can be achieved with conventional insertion devices such as the crossed field undulator. In addition to being considerably less expensive, the various optical designs have the great advantage of not being an integral part of the storage ring and, as such, completely transparent to the operation and other users of the storage ring. Various phase-shifter designs will be discussed in terms of their performance, e.g., optical throughput, degree of polarization, and capabilities to modulate between left and right circular light. Recent MCD experiments utilizing optical phase shifters not only demonstrate the proof of principle, but also provide strong evidence of the potential capabilities of ‘‘optical insertion’’ devices as an alternative tool to generate variably polarized synchrotron radiation.