X-ray waveguide for laboratory sources

A planar x-ray waveguide (WG) consisting of a diamond-like carbon layer sandwiched between two Ni layers is used to demonstrate for the first time the possibility of using WGs as optical elements with standard laboratory sources. The exit beam profile for the first two guided modes has been measured and analysed to demonstrate the high degree of beam coherence. The exit divergence and the beam size are reported and compared with theoretical predictions. Other relevant parameters, such as efficiency and gain have been measured. This opens up interesting perspectives for the production of nanometre-sized x-ray beams with table-top laboratory sources.