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Interferometric phase detection at x-ray energies via Fano resonance control

K. P. Heeg, C. Ott, D. Schumacher, H.-C. Wille, R. Röhlsberger, T. Pfeifer, and J. Evers
Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 207401 – Published 18 May 2015
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Abstract

Modern x-ray light sources promise access to structure and dynamics of matter in largely unexplored spectral regions. However, the desired information is encoded in the light intensity and phase, whereas detectors register only the intensity. This phase problem is ubiquitous in crystallography and imaging and impedes the exploration of quantum effects at x-ray energies. Here, we demonstrate phase-sensitive measurements characterizing the quantum state of a nuclear two-level system at hard x-ray energies. The nuclei are initially prepared in a superposition state. Subsequently, the relative phase of this superposition is interferometrically reconstructed from the emitted x rays. Our results form a first step towards x-ray quantum state tomography and provide new avenues for structure determination and precision metrology via x-ray Fano interference.

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  • Received 6 November 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.207401

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

K. P. Heeg1, C. Ott1, D. Schumacher2, H.-C. Wille2, R. Röhlsberger2, T. Pfeifer1, and J. Evers1

  • 1Max-Planck-Institut für Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestrasse 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany

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Vol. 114, Iss. 20 — 22 May 2015

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