Nuclear Resonance Scattering of Circularly Polarized SR

Results of the experiments with nuclear resonance scattering of synchrotron radiation aiming at construction of the circularly polarized beam suitable for nuclear hyperfine studies are reported. Si(400) single crystal slab, 100 mum thick, was used as a quarter wave plate. Observed twofold reduction of the intensity in proposed geometry is due to the Si crystal itself. Hyperfine interactions are used to probe polarization state of the synchrotron beam. Too large angular beam divergence did not allow for achieving full circular polarization of photons. Consequently, further experiments are proposed to overcame beam divergence problems. A number of calculations presented in the paper show that cheap and easily available Si plate can serve as an effective desired polarizer.