Holographic soft X-ray omni-microscopy of biological specimens.
Mask-based digital soft X-ray Fourier transform holography using coherent synchrotron radiation is applied to image diatoms and freeze-dried 3T3 fibroblast cells. At soft X-ray wavelengths between 4 nm and 8 nm we achieve spatial resolutions down to 450 nm over a 33.5 microm field of view. As holography records amplitude and phase of the scattered wavefield, images with different contrast mechanisms can be generated a posteriori by numerical processing of the holographic data ("omni-microscopy"). We present Zernike phase contrast, Schlieren phase contrast, differential interference and gradient contrast images based on amplitude and phase information. We discuss the potential of this approach for destructive single-shot imaging beyond dose limitations of biological samples at coherent femtosecond-pulsed X-ray sources.
Guehrs
Erik
E
Institut für Optik und Atomare Physik, Technische Universität Berlin, Hardenbergstr. 36, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
Günther
Christian M
CM
Könnecke
René
R
Pfau
Bastian
B
Eisebitt
Stefan
S
D000465:Algorithms; D006696:Holography / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction / Q000379:methods*