Zernike phase contrast in high-energy x-ray transmission microscopy based on refractive optics

Abstract

The current work represents the first implementation of Zernike phase contrast for compound refractive lens based x-ray microscopy, and also the first successful Zernike phase contrast experiment at photon energies above 12 keV. Phase contrast was achieved by fitting a compound refractive lens with a circular phase plate. The resolution is demonstrated to be sub-micron, and can be improved using already existing technology. The possibility of combining the technique with polychromatic radiation is considered, and a preliminary test experiment was performed with positive results.

Keywords: Compound refractive lenses; Hard x-ray microscopy; Phase contrast; Pink beam microscopy; X-ray microscopy; Zernike phase contrast.