High-resolution ab initio three-dimensional x-ray diffraction microscopy.
Coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy is a method of imaging nonperiodic isolated objects at resolutions limited, in principle, by only the wavelength and largest scattering angles recorded. We demonstrate x-ray diffraction imaging with high resolution in all three dimensions, as determined by a quantitative analysis of the reconstructed volume images. These images are retrieved from the three-dimensional diffraction data using no a priori knowledge about the shape or composition of the object, which has never before been demonstrated on a nonperiodic object. We also construct two-dimensional images of thick objects with greatly increased depth of focus (without loss of transverse spatial resolution). These methods can be used to image biological and materials science samples at high resolution with x-ray undulator radiation and establishes the techniques to be used in atomic-resolution ultrafast imaging at x-ray free-electron laser sources.
Chapman
Henry N
HN
University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 94550, USA. henry.chapman@llnl.gov
Barty
Anton
A
Marchesini
Stefano
S
Noy
Aleksandr
A
Hau-Riege
Stefan P
SP
Cui
Congwu
C
Howells
Malcolm R
MR
Rosen
Rachel
R
He
Haifeng
H
Spence
John C H
JC
Weierstall
Uwe
U
Beetz
Tobias
T
Jacobsen
Chris
C
Shapiro
David
D
D000465:Algorithms; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*