Soft x-ray (97-eV) phase retardation using transmission multilayers

Abstract

Phase retardation as a function of incidence angle of 97-eV soft x rays from a laser plasma source on transmission through a free-standing molybdenum/silicon multilayer was measured using a multilayer polarizer and a polarization analyzer. The maximum retardation of 49° between σ and π components is over 2/3 that calculated for an ideal structure. At maximum retardation the transmittance ratio of σ- to π-amplitudes was 0.66 and the intensity transmittance, averaged for both components, was 20%. These multilayer structures will be useful in soft x-ray polarization applications.