Single-shot femtosecond x-ray holography using extended references

Area of Science:

• Optics and photonics
• X-ray imaging techniques
• Holography

Background:

• X-ray lensless imaging offers high-resolution possibilities but faces challenges in signal efficiency and reconstruction.
• Fourier transform holography (FTH) is a key technique in this field.
• Developing efficient and practical holographic methods is crucial for advancing x-ray microscopy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel Fourier transform holography approach utilizing extended references for x-ray lensless imaging.
• To demonstrate high signal efficiency and direct object image reconstruction.
• To showcase the applicability of this method with a table-top coherent soft x-ray source.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of Fourier transform holography with extended holographic references.
• Utilizing a simple linear derivative for direct image reconstruction.
• Employing a table-top, laser-based coherent soft x-ray source for single-shot imaging.

Main Results:

• Achieved high signal efficiency in the holographic process.
• Demonstrated direct image reconstruction of the object.
• Obtained a spatial resolution of 110 nm with an extremely short integration time of 20 femtoseconds.

Conclusions:

• The presented extended reference Fourier transform holography is an efficient and practical method for x-ray lensless imaging.
• This technique facilitates direct image reconstruction and single-shot imaging capabilities.
• The method's ease of manufacturing and broad applicability make it suitable for various imaging experiments.