1D and 2D X-ray waveguides: Optics and applications

X-ray waveguides offer a novel approach for nanobeam production, which may become useful in coherent beam imaging and phase contrast projection microscopy. Internal field enhancement, coherency properties, and coupling efficiency of these devices have been measured and compared to theoretic predictions. The fundamentals of X-ray wave guide optics can be derived from a scalar wave equation. Up to now, X-ray waveguide optics have exclusively been one-dimensional (1D), while many applications demand two-dimensionally (2D) confined point beams. We have recently demonstrated the first proof of principle that X-ray waveguide effects can be generalized to 2D devices using e-beam defined lithographic nanostructures, delivering of a coherent hard x-ray beam with nanometer sized cross-section (69 nm × 33 nm)