X-Ray Parametric Down-Conversion in the Langevin Regime

Abstract

We experimentally and theoretically study the coincidence count rate for down-converted x-ray photons. Because of photoionization, parametric down-conversion at x-ray wavelengths generally involves loss and the theoretical description requires a Langevin approach. By working in a transmission geometry (Laue) rather than in the Bragg geometry of previous experiments, we obtain an improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio of 12.5, and find agreement between experiment and theory.