Si Bragg-case transmission phase plate used for the production of circular polarized synchrotron radiation

A Bragg-case transition phase plate was used to convert linear polarized synchrotron radiation of 13.3 keV energy into highly circular polarized radiation. The degree of polarization was measured by comparing the results of XMCD experiments (a) using the Bragg phase plate and (b) using the standard 'inclined view technique'. A ray-tracing computer program is presented that allows calculation of obtainable intensity and degree of circular polarization for various types of phase plates and SR-sources. (orig.)