Real-time and sub-wavelength ultrafast coherent diffraction imaging in the extreme ultraviolet.

ABSTRACT: Coherent Diffraction Imaging is a technique to study matter with nanometer-scale spatial resolution based on coherent illumination of the sample with hard X-ray, soft X-ray or extreme ultraviolet light delivered from synchrotrons or more recently X-ray Free-Electron Lasers. This robust technique simultaneously allows quantitative amplitude and phase contrast imaging. Laser-driven high harmonic generation XUV-sources allow table-top realizations. However, the low conversion efficiency of lab-based sources imposes either a large scale laser system or long exposure times, preventing many applications. Here we present a lensless imaging experiment combining a high numerical aperture (NA = 0.8) setup with a high average power fibre laser driven high harmonic source. The high flux and narrow-band harmonic line at 33.2?nm enables either sub-wavelength spatial resolution close to the Abbe limit (?r = 0.8?) for long exposure time, or sub-70?nm imaging in less than one second. The unprecedented high spatial resolution, compactness of the setup together with the real-time capability paves the way for a plethora of applications in fundamental and life sciences.

SUBMITTER: Zurch M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4258652 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature