Hard x-ray monochromator with milli-electron volt bandwidth for high-resolution diffraction studies of diamond crystals.

We report on design and performance of a high-resolution x-ray monochromator with a spectral bandwidth of ΔE(X) ≃ 1.5 meV, which operates at x-ray energies in the vicinity of the backscattering (Bragg) energy E(H) = 13.903 keV of the (008) reflection in diamond. The monochromator is utilized for high-energy-resolution diffraction characterization of diamond crystals as elements of advanced x-ray crystal optics for synchrotrons and x-ray free-electron lasers. The monochromator and the related controls are made portable such that they can be installed and operated at any appropriate synchrotron beamline equipped with a pre-monochromator.