Prospects in x-ray science emerging from quantum optics and nanomaterials

The science of x-rays is by now over 125 years old, starting with Wilhelm Röntgen's discovery in 1895, for which Röntgen was awarded the first Nobel Prize Physics. X-rays have fundamentally changed world areas, including medical imaging, security scanners, industrial inspection, materials development, and drugs spectroscopy. X-ray has been so far responsible 25 Prizes Physics, Chemistry, Medicine/Physiology. With x-ray generation being a highly commercialized, widely adopted technology, it may appear that there little left to discover regarding fundamentals science. Contrary this notion, recent shown renewed interest research development innovative concepts. We highlight, Perspective, promising directions future result from advances quantum nanomaterials. Specifically, we describe three key opportunities advancing near future: (1) emerging material platforms generation, especially 2D their heterostructures; (2) free-electron-driven emission entangled photon–photon electron–photon pairs optics; (3) shaping free-electron wavepackets controllable emission. These could lead improvements resonance fluoroscopy, high-contrast stimulated coherent x rays, superradiance, other prospects optics.