European XFEL Science Seminar

"When X-rays go Quantum: New Perspectives for Spectroscopy and Imaging"

by Ralf Röhlsberger (DESY)

Europe/Berlin
E1.173 (Campus Schenefeld, XHQ)

E1.173

Campus Schenefeld, XHQ

Description
In recent years we have witnessed the transfer of concepts in quantum and nonlinear optics into the regime of hard X-rays. A particular role in this field has been taken by the ultrasharp resonances of Mössbauer isotopes as almost ideal two-level systems to explore quantum optical concepts. In the first part of my talk I will review recent developments in nuclear quantum optics and give a perspective on future applications at synchrotrons and X-ray lasers sources. Another boost in this field has been initiated by applying the quantum theory of optical coherence to the X-ray regime. We have shown recently that intensity correlations within incoherently scattered radiation can be used for imaging applications with radiation from free-electron lasers. The methods promises atomic-resolution images by using fluorescence radiation emitted from metal atoms in biomolecules, for example.