Single-shot diffractive imaging with a table-top femtosecond soft x-ray laser-harmonics source

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Jul 10;103(2):028104. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.028104. Epub 2009 Jul 8.

Abstract

Coherent x-ray diffractive imaging is a powerful method for studies on nonperiodic structures on the nanoscale. Access to femtosecond dynamics in major physical, chemical, and biological processes requires single-shot diffraction data. Up to now, this has been limited to intense coherent pulses from a free electron laser. Here we show that laser-driven ultrashort x-ray sources offer a comparatively inexpensive alternative. We present measurements of single-shot diffraction patterns from isolated nano-objects with a single 20 fs pulse from a table-top high-harmonic x-ray laser. Images were reconstructed with a resolution of 119 nm from the single shot and 62 nm from multiple shots.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Lasers
  • X-Ray Diffraction / methods*