Visibility in differential phase-contrast imaging with partial coherence source

This paper gives theoretical analysis of visibility of fringes, which is influenced by distances, temporal and spatial coherence of source, in hard x-ray differential phase-contrast imaging with microfocus x-ray source. According to the character of longitudinal periodicity of the interferogram, the setup is insensitive to mechanical drift and vibrations. The effect of temporal coherence of x-ray source is investigated and its related bandwidth is derived. Based on the theory of partially coherent light, it shows that the requirement for the spatial coherence of x-ray source is not strict and can be met by the general microfocus x-ray tube for x-ray differential phase-contrast imaging.     

X-ray spatial harmonic imaging of phase objects

Refractive index gradients in materials or at material interfaces lead to x-ray diffraction. Interference of this radiation with adjacent x-ray waves causes phase contrast that can be used for imaging purposes if an x-ray source with sufficient spatial coherence is used. The imaging modality presented here uses hard x radiation diffracted at interfaces, but requires only little spatial coherence. We report experiments showing, first, that image contrast is not diminished by motional blurring, and second, that contrast can be increased by orders of magnitude relative to in-line x-ray phase-contrast imaging. These properties substantially broaden the applicability of phase-sensitive imaging to moving samples and very weak density gradients.     

Transverse spatial coherence of a transient nickellike silver soft-x-ray laser pumped by a single picosecond laser pulse

The degree of spatial coherence in the direction perpendicular to the target surface is reported for a transient nickellike silver x-ray laser at 13.9 nm. An x-ray laser plasma column was produced by irradiating a slab silver target with a single shaped picosecond laser pulse with energy less than 3 J. Young's double-slit method was applied to measure the fringe visibility as a function of the slit separation for different target lengths. The diameter of the equivalent incoherent source and the coherence radius of the output radiation were determined as well.     

微焦点源X射线相衬成像技术

 相衬成像方法利用硬X射线对低密度弱吸收物质成像,可获得高衬度图像。用菲涅尔衍射理论分析了X射线图像的形成机理。在频域中根据光学传递函数,对物像距离、样品空间频率等对图像相位衬度的影响进行了分析。分辨率和衬度是决定图像可见度的两个依据,分辨率主要依赖于光源的空间相干性,空间相干性又决定于源点尺寸,而时间相干性（单色性）是一个不重要的影响因子。利用多色微焦点源实现了X射线相衬成像技术,获得了有价值的相衬图像,如低原子序数低密度泡沫材料的硬X射线相衬图像,与吸收衬度成像相比,其图像质量得到了很大提高,能观察到泡沫材料的细微结构,分辨率可达μm量级。     

Highly coherent injection-seeded 13.2 nm tabletop soft x-ray laser

We report a dramatic improvement of the spatial coherence and beam divergence (0.66 mrad) of a 13.2 nm wavelength Ni-like Cd tabletop laser by injection seeding the soft x-ray laser amplifier with high-harmonics pulses generated in a Ne gas jet. This phase coherent laser is an attractive light source for at-wavelength interferometry of extreme ultraviolet lithography optics and other applications.     

Coherence properties of individual femtosecond pulses of an x-ray free-electron laser

Measurements of the spatial and temporal coherence of single, femtosecond x-ray pulses generated by the first hard x-ray free-electron laser, the Linac Coherent Light Source, are presented. Single-shot measurements were performed at 780?eV x-ray photon energy using apertures containing double pinholes in "diffract-and-destroy" mode. We determined a coherence length of 17 μm in the vertical direction, which is approximately the size of the focused Linac Coherent Light Source beam in the same direction. The analysis of the diffraction patterns produced by the pinholes with the largest separation yields an estimate of the temporal coherence time of 0.55?fs. We find that the total degree of transverse coherence is 56% and that the x-ray pulses are adequately described by two transverse coherent modes in each direction. This leads us to the conclusion that 78% of the total power is contained in the dominant mode.     

Quantitative phase-contrast imaging of cells with phase-sensitive optical coherence microscopy

We describe a method for en face phase-contrast imaging of cells with a fiber-based differential phase-contrast optical coherence microscopy system. Recorded en face images are quantitative phase-contrast maps of cells due to spatial variation of the refractive index and (or) thickness of various cellular components. Quantitative phase-contrast images of human epithelial cheek cells obtained with the fiber-based differential phase-contrast optical coherence microscopy system are presented.     

Demonstration of a 100 Hz repetition rate gain-saturated diode-pumped table-top soft x-ray laser

We demonstrate the operation of a gain-saturated table-top soft x-ray laser at 100?Hz repetition rate. The laser generates an average power of 0.15?mW at λ=18.9 nm, the highest laser power reported to date from a sub-20-nm wavelength compact source. Picosecond laser pulses of 1.5?μJ energy were produced at λ=18.9 nm by amplification in a Mo plasma created by tailoring the temporal intensity profile of single pump pulses with 1?J energy produced by a diode-pumped chirped pulse amplification Yb:YAG laser. Lasing was also obtained in the 13.9?nm line of Ni-like Ag. These results increase by an order of magnitude the repetition rate of plasma-based soft x-ray lasers opening the path to milliwatt average power table-top lasers at sub-20?nm wavelengths.     

Direct measurement of transverse coherence length of hard X rays from interference fringes

We propose a simple interferometric technique for hard x-ray spatial coherence characterization, recording a Fresnel interference pattern produced by a round fiber or a slit. We have derived analytical formulas that give a direct relation between a visibility of interference fringes and either the source size or the transverse coherence length. The technique is well suited to third-generation synchrotron radiation sources and was experimentally applied to determine the spatial coherence length and the source size at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility.     

Compact soft x-ray microscope using a gas-discharge light source

We report on a soft x-ray microscope using a gas-discharge plasma with pseudo spark-like electrode geometry as a light source. The source produces a radiant intensity of 4 x 10(13) photons/(sr pulse) for the 2.88 nm emission line of helium-like nitrogen. At a demonstrated 1 kHz repetition rate a brilliance of 4.3 x 10(9) photons/(microm2 sr s) is obtained for the 2.88 nm line. Ray-tracing simulations show that, employing an adequate grazing incidence collector, a photon flux of 1 x 10(7) photons/(microm2 s) can be achieved with the current source. The applicability of the presented pinch plasma concept to soft x-ray microscopy is demonstrated in a proof-of-principle experiment.     

X-ray resonance in crystal cavities: realization of Fabry-Perot resonator for hard x rays

X-ray back diffraction from monolithic two silicon crystal plates of 25-150 microm thickness and a 40-150 microm gap using synchrotron radiation of energy resolution DeltaE = 0.36 meV at 14.4388 keV clearly show resonance fringes inside the energy gap and the total-reflection range for the (12 4 0) reflection. This cavity resonance results from the coherent interaction between the x-ray wave fields generated by the two plates with a gap smaller than the x-ray coherence length. This finding opens up new opportunities for high-resolution and phase-contrast x-ray studies, and may lead to new developments in x-ray optics.     

Highly coherent light at 13 nm generated by use of quasi-phase-matched high-harmonic generation

By measuring the fringe visibility in a Young's double pinhole experiment, we demonstrate that quasi-phase-matched high-harmonic generation produces beams with very high spatial coherence at wavelengths around 13 nm. To our knowledge these are the highest spatial coherence values ever measured at such short wavelengths from any source without spatial filtering. This results in a practical, small-scale, coherent, extreme-ultraviolet source that is useful for applications in metrology, imaging, and microscopy.     

K<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis></Subscript> x-ray emission characterization of 100 Hz, 15 mJ femtosecond laser system with high contrast ratio

We report K _α x-ray production with a high energy (110 mJ per pulse at 800 nm before compression/15 mJ at 400 nm after compression), high repetition rate (100 Hz), and high pulse contrast (better than 10⁻⁹ at 400 nm) laser system. To develop laser-based x-ray sources for biomedical imaging requires to use high-energy and high-power ultrafast laser system where compression is achieved under vacuum. Using this type of laser system, we demonstrate long-term stability of the x-ray yield, conversion efficiency higher than 1.5×10⁻⁵ with a Mo target, and the x-ray spot size close to the optical focal spot. This high-repetition K _α x-ray source can be very useful for x-ray phase-contrast imaging. S. Fourmaux and C. Serbanescu contributed equally to this work.     

Condenser for Koehler-like illumination in transmission x-ray microscopes at undulator sources

We report on a novel condenser for full-field transmission x-ray microscopes that use synchrotron radiation from an undulator source. The condenser produces a Koehler-like homogeneous intensity distribution in the sample plane and eliminates object illumination problems connected with the high degree of spatial coherence in an undulator beam. The optic consists of a large number of small linear diffraction gratings and is therefore relatively easy to manufacture. First imaging experiments with a prototype condenser were successfully performed with the Twinmic x-ray microscope at the Elettra synchrotron facility in Italy.     

Coherence properties of an amplified spontaneous emission laser: experiments on a 10 Hz vacuum–ultraviolet H2-laser

Spatial coherence properties of a mirrorless laser, namely a 10 Hz Lyman-band molecular hydrogen laser pumped by femtosecond pulses of only 200 mJ, are studied. Assuming a Gaussian Schell-model source and using the generalized van Cittert–Zernike theorem we are able to measure both the coherence length arising from free-space propagation and the coherence length at the source plane. This analysis is particularly suitable to the study of the coherence properties of lasers operating in the amplified spontaneous emission regime and is particularly indicated for x-ray lasers. Measurements at various target lengths show a monotonic increase in the degree of spatial coherence and decrease in the source size versus length of the gain column. As a consequence, a monotonic decrease in the number of sustained transverse modes with length of the gain medium is observed, demonstrating the effects of gain guiding and refractive antiguiding.     

Full-field and single-shot quantitative phase microscopy using dynamic speckle illumination

We developed an off-axis quantitative phase microscopy that works for a light source with an extremely short spatial coherence length in order to reduce the diffraction noise and enhance the spatial resolution. A dynamic speckle wave whose coherence length is 440 nm was used as an illumination source. To implement an off-axis interferometry for a source of low spatial coherence, a diffraction grating was inserted in the reference beam path. In doing so, an oblique illumination was generated without rotation of the wavefront, which leads to a full-field and single-shot phase recording with improved phase sensitivity of more than a factor of 10 in comparison with coherent illumination. The spatial resolution, both laterally and axially, and the depth selectivity are significantly enhanced due to the wide angular spectrum of the speckle wave. We applied our method to image the dynamics of small intracellular particles in live biological cells. With enhanced phase sensitivity and speed, the proposed method will serve as a useful tool to study the dynamics of biological specimens.     

Role of spatial coherence in Goos-Hänchen and Imbert-Fedorov shifts

We present a theory for Goos-H?nchen (GH) and Imbert-Fedorov (IF) shifts for beams of light with arbitrary spatial coherence. By applying the well-known theory of partial spatial coherence, we can calculate explicitly spatial and angular GH and IF shifts for completely polarized beams of any shape and spatial coherence. For the specific case of a Gauss-Schell source, we find that only the angular part of GH and IF shifts is affected by the spatial coherence of the beam. A physical explanation of our results is given.     

Zone-plate interferometry at 13 nm wavelength

We report on interferometry using a two-zone-plate common-path interferometer operating at a wavelength of 13 nm. The interferometer was set up with a laser-driven high-harmonic source emitting radiation with the high degree of spatial and temporal coherence necessary for interferometry. The interferometer is suited for investigations of the coherence properties of the light source employed, as well as for simultaneous measurements of the real and imaginary part of the complex index of refraction in the 100 eV regime. This is demonstrated in a proof of principle experiment with a piece of Zr-foil as the phase-shifting and absorbing sample. PACS 41.50.+h; 42.65.Ky; 42.87.Bg; 07.60.Ly     

同轴X射线相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术研究

基于北京同步辐射装置(BSRF)开展了同轴X射线相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术(CT)研究.利用北京同步辐射的14 keV单色X射线作为光源,以高分辨能力的X射线胶片作为探测器,分别开展吸收衬度和同轴相位衬度成像的比较研究以及相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术研究.相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术重建采用Bronnikov提出的算法.结果显示,与传统的吸收衬度图像相比,相位衬度图像具有更好的衬度和更高的空间分辨力;实验获得人工样品和蝗虫的相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术重建图像.重建图像中可见样品的一些结构细节.实验结果表明,相位衬度X射线成像更适合于研究弱吸收或吸收差异很小的材料;利用北京同步辐射开展同轴X射线相位衬度计算机X射线断层摄影术研究是可行的.     

Fiber-based source of photon pairs at telecom band with high temporal coherence and brightness for quantum information processing

We experimentally demonstrate a bright pulsed source of correlated photon pairs at the 1550 nm telecom band by pumping 300 m dispersion-shifted fiber with a 4 ps pulse train. We investigate the coherence property of the source by measuring the second-order intensity correlation function g(2) of individual signal (idler) photons. A preliminary Hong-Ou-Mandel-type two-photon interference experiment with two such sources confirms the high temporal and spatial coherence of the source. The source is suitable for multiphoton quantum interference of independent sources, which is required in quantum information processing.