Interference between resonant and non-resonant channels in ultrafast intense x-ray scattering

Motivated by recent experimental efforts to enhance scattering efficiency and improve spatial resolution in single-particle imaging experiments by controlling Rabi dynamics of inner-shell electrons and exploiting excited state properties, we study the effect of rabi oscillations on the resonant scattering of intense ultrafast x-rays from Ne⁺. Using a coherent treatment of the x-ray matter interaction, we theoretically study the interference between the resonant fluorescence (A.P)² and elastic scattering (A²) channels when it manifests in the single atom response. The dependence of the interference on the pulse area, the scattering angle and the photon energy is examined. The role of interference in increasing the scattering cross section is studied for different incident pulse parameters. The effect is explored for elements heavier than Ne⁺ and its applications in x-ray imaging are examined.