Abstract
We experimentally demonstrated an enhanced translation of an x-ray beam nearly parallel to the diffracting planes over millimeter distances in a deformed silicon crystal. This effect is a consequence of the Berry-phase effect in phase space [K. Sawada et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 154802 (2006)], which enables an interplay between the gap in the dispersion surface in momentum space and the atomic displacements in real space. Such an interplay in phase space enhances the beam translation by some 5 orders of magnitude, leading to the macroscopic effect.
- Received 21 December 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.244801
©2010 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Geometric phase kicks x rays down a new path
Published 14 June 2010
A small crystal distortion can dramatically translate the path of an x-ray beam, an effect that could be useful in the development of x-ray optics.
See more in Physics