We discuss a method to modulate an X-ray beam that relies on the scattering
of hard X-ray photons by a superlattice of optical phonons generated by ul
trafast laser pulses incident on a Bragg crystal. Using commercially availa
ble laser systems and well-developed techniques for pulse shaping, the crys
tal lattice motion can be controlled so that efficient Bragg diffraction is
switched on and off in a time comparable to a phonon oscillation period (t
ypically, 0.1-1 ps). A detailed proposal is given for the case of GaAs. (C)
1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.