title: Differential interference contrast x-ray microscopy with twin zone plates.
abstract: X-ray imaging in differential interference contrast (DIC) with submicrometer optical resolution was performed by using a twin zone plate (TZP) setup generating focal spots closely spaced within the TZP spatial resolution of 160 nm. Optical path differences introduced by the sample are recorded by a CCD camera in a standard full-field imaging and by an aperture photodiode in a standard scanning transmission x-ray microscope. Applying this x-ray DIC technique, we demonstrate for both the full-field imaging and scanning x-ray microscope methods a drastic increase in image contrast (approximately 20x) for a low-absorbing specimen, similar to the Nomarski DIC method for visible-light microscopy.
authors.affiliation: X-Ray Microscopy Section, ELETTRA-Sincrotrone Trieste, Basovizzo-Trieste, Italy. kaulich@elettra.trieste.it
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kaulich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilhein
authors.forename: Fabrizio Enzo
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Romanato
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altissimo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabrini
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fayard
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Susini