Bent crystals can be used to direct energy
X-rays and gamma radiation are used for a number of imaging and engineering techniques. A novel way to generate hard X-ray and gamma radiation is by channelling high-energy particles into a crystalline undulator with deformed crystallographic planes. The crystals can steer charged particles more effectively than currently used superconductor magnets. EU-funded scientists are exploring the possibilities offered by crystalline undulators with work conducted for the project CUTE (Crystalline undulator: Theory and experiment). Electromagnetic radiation across the spectrum moves in waves; bending or deforming the planes of a crystal enables the crystal to induce or redirect these waves. Researchers produced crystalline undulators using various advanced chemistry techniques. The project then spent some time characterising each of the different crystals produced, investigating their strengths and weaknesses. Scientists also developed models to describe the physical processes governing crystal bending and simulations of particle channelling through periodically or uniformly bent structures. Further, CUTE produced a toolkit from these various models called DYNACHARM++ that researchers can use to predict interactions between high-energy particles and crystalline undulators. CUTE findings will help optimise manufacturing processes and lead to novel light and X-ray sources for a number of applications. Project results should find broad application in optoelectronics, biomedicine, security and more.
Keywords
Crystalline undulators, gamma radiation, imaging, engineering, high-energy particles
