Propagation based X-ray phase-contrast imaging technique for the microstructure analysis of biological soft tissues

X-ray phase-contrast imaging (PCI) technique is an emerging method for the study of the biological soft tissues, carbon composite materials, polymers, low-Z material science, etc. We have set up an experimental facility using a combination of X-ray CCD detector and a microfocus X-ray source. We demonstrate that sufficient contrast and intensity can be achieved for biological soft tissues with the X-ray source in the standard operation mode. Based on the cylindrical fiber and pigeon feathers imaging experiments, the boundary information was observed successfully in the light element materials and extremely low absorption material. This shows that X-ray phase-contrast imaging in this area will have a brilliant future.     

Optimization of analysis of soft X-ray spectromicroscopy at the Ca 2p edge

Absorption saturation frequently occurs in X-ray absorption spectroscopy whenever transmission detection is used and the sample is too thick. This can strongly distort X-ray absorption spectra, particularly for transitions which have very high intensity and narrow line width relative to the instrumental resolution. This problem is particularly severe at the strong 2p → 3d resonances at the Ca 2p edge, such that there are detectible absorption saturation effects for mineral samples as thin as 30 nm. We describe methods to identify such spectral distortion in scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and avoid its effects when generating reference spectra by selecting spatial regions with undistorted spectra. We also show that taking absorption saturation into account is critical when STXM is applied to systems with thick regions. We outline an approach which can provide accurate thickness maps even in the regions where the thickness is such the absorption is saturated at the resonance peaks. Environmental samples such as biofilms, soil samples, sediments, and precipitates are typically heterogeneous in both composition and thickness. They often contain regions thicker than the saturation threshold, yet one would still like to analyse such samples correctly and quantitatively. By excluding the peak energies where absorption saturation distortion occurs, we show it is possible to achieve a meaningful quantitative analysis. We demonstrate the advantages of this approach in the context of mapping two different CaCO₃ species biomineralized within a natural river biofilm.     

基于光子筛的软X光谱仪

 介绍了采用新型软X光谱学光子筛作为分光元件的软X光谱仪的原理和结构参数设计。新谱仪理论测量范围为100 eV~2 keV,光谱分辨力达0.35 nm。应用该谱仪在SILEX-Ⅰ装置上测量了飞秒激光与固体铜靶相互作用产生的X射线发射谱。实验结果表明,该谱仪主要性能指标达到设计要求,适合于激光与等离子体相互作用产生的软X射线研究。     

Beam-induced effects in soft X-ray photoelectron emission microscopy experiments

The beam-induced effects, a consequence of the high photon flux density used in soft X-ray photoelectron emission microscopes in operation at the 3rd generation synchrotron sources, are discussed and illustrated using some representative results obtained with the microscopes at the laboratory Elettra. The focus is on the photon-induced charge potential and chemical degradation, which might be a severe problem for photon-sensible specimens. The possible steps to avoid, reduce or even make use of the beam-induced effects are outlined.     

激光软X—射线近贴显微技术初步研究

描述了用高功率脉冲激光打靶产生的等离子体作为软X-射线源而进行的近贴显微研究,并得到了分辨率好于1μm的结果.     

Exploring nanomagnetism with soft X-ray microscopy

Magnetic soft X-ray microscopy images magnetism in nanoscale systems with a spatial resolution down to 15 nm provided by state-of-the-art Fresnel zone plate optics. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (X-MCD) is used as the element-specific magnetic contrast mechanism similar to photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM), however, with volume sensitivity and the ability to record the images in varying applied magnetic fields which allows study of magnetization reversal processes at fundamental length scales. Utilizing a stroboscopic pump-probe scheme one can investigate fast spin dynamics with a time resolution down to 70 ps which gives access to precessional and relaxation phenomena as well as spin torque driven domain wall dynamics in nanoscale systems. Current developments in zone plate optics aim for a spatial resolution towards 10 nm and at next generation X-ray sources a time resolution in the fs regime can be envisioned.     

Soft X-ray spectromicroscopy of phase-change microcapsules

A synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM) is used to investigate Micronal^® phase-change microcapsules. Prolonged X-ray illumination of the specimen leads to the breaking of the microcapsules’ protective polymer shell and a partial separation of the core–shell species occurs. The paraffin wax and acrylic polymer components are characterized by carbon K-edge near X-ray edge absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy and components distribution mapping of the beam-damaged specimen is performed.     

用于软X射线图像诊断的CMOS探测系统

通过将闪烁体光纤面板与CMOS图像传感器耦合,研制了在线诊断X射线图像的CMOS探测系统。通过XOP软件计算,确定了响应能区为1~10 keV的CsI闪烁体厚度为30 m。在微点X射线源平台上,基于标准的Typ 18-d型分辨率板对CMOS探测系统的空间分辨能力进行了实验测试,结果为60 m。在神光Ⅲ原型激光装置上,利用该套CMOS探测系统在流体力学不稳定性与混合实验中对钛背光源的光谱进行了诊断,获得了清晰的类氢和类氦光谱图像。数据分析显示,实测的谱分辨为442,与理论分析符合较好。CMOS探测系统小巧轻便,性价比高,适合各大高校与科研院所用于在线诊断软X射线图像。     

六通道掠入射软X射线针孔照相技术

在对平面反射镜高能X射线截止原理分析研究的基础上,为传统的针孔照相系统配置了光学滤片加平面反射镜组成的滤波系统,消除了大部分的高能尾部的影响。介绍了六通道掠入射软X射线针孔相机的结构设计、工作原理及性能。将光源按光子能量切割成6个能段分别进行记录,滤波后各通道的出射光为窄带软X射线。在阳加速器上对六通道掠入射软X射线针孔相机系统进行考核,加速器输出电流为779 kA,电流上升时间为75 ns,使用的负载为16根环形W丝阵,成功获取了6个通道的针孔照相图像,并结合Dante谱仪相应通道测得的功率时间谱进行了对比分析,确定了部分Z箍缩辐射热点的图像与功率发射谱的对应关系。     

Radiation damage in soft X-ray microscopy

The rates of chemical transformation by radiation damage of polystyrene (PS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and fibrinogen (Fg) in a X-ray photoemission electron microscope (X-PEEM) and in a scanning transmission X-ray microscope (STXM) have been measured quantitatively using synchrotron radiation. As part of the method of dose evaluation in X-PEEM, the characteristic (1/e) sampling depth of X-PEEM for polystyrene in the C 1s region was measured to be 4 ± 1 nm. Critical doses for chemical change as monitored by changes in the X-ray absorption spectra are 80 (12), 280 (40) and 1230 (180) MGy (1 MGy = 6.242*ρ eV/nm³, where ρ is the polymer density in g/cm³) at 300 eV photon energy for PMMA, Fg and PS, respectively. The critical dose for each material is comparable in X-PEEM and STXM and the values cited are thus the mean of the values determined by X-PEEM and STXM. C 1s, N 1s and O 1s spectroscopy of the damaged materials is used to gain insight into the chemical changes that soft X-rays induce in these materials.     

A note on grating based soft X-ray monochromators

A few facts related to the aberrations for toroidal and plane gratings are presented. Some design aspects of the plane grating-based monochromator devised by Petersen (1982) are discussed. We also point out that for a cylindrical grating astigmatic correction can be reduced and suggest that following Petersen’s scheme some improvements in the monochromator performance could be achieved with such a grating.     

X射线光栅微分相衬成像视场分析

X射线光栅微分相衬成像对由轻元素构成的物质的内部探测具有传统吸收成像无法比拟的优势, 尤其在癌症的早期诊断和轻元素材料及器件的无损检测等领域应用潜力巨大. 大视场成像是影响该技术从实验室走向实际应用的重要因素. 针对大视场成像的客观需求, 基于菲涅耳衍射原理和光栅结构特征, 建立了量化物理模型用于分析影响成像视场的因素, 提出了实现大成像视场的有效途径, 为未来大视场光栅微分相衬成像方法的设计和应用提供理论依据.     

X射线相衬成像光子筛

基于 Zernike相衬成像原理和光瞳切趾原理,提出一种将相位板和切趾光子筛集成为一个相衬显微物镜的 X射线相衬成像光子筛的设计方法.这种 X射线相衬成像物镜可以实现生物体组织或者其他弱吸收材料的高分辨率和高衬度成像.通过优化光子筛透镜的衍射结构,可以抑制成像系统的点扩展函数的旁瓣和消除高阶衍射焦点,从而提高成像分辨率;另外,将光子筛透镜和变相板合为一体,克服了成像透镜和变相板难以对准的缺陷.以高斯切趾光子筛为例,实验验证了设计方法的可行性. 关键词： X射线显微技术 相衬成像 光瞳切趾 光子筛     

Current status of the TwinMic beamline at Elettra: a soft X‐ray transmission and emission microscopy station

The current status of the TwinMic beamline at Elettra synchrotron light source, that hosts the European twin X‐ray microscopy station, is reported. The X‐ray source, provided by a short hybrid undulator with source size and divergence intermediate between bending magnets and conventional undulators, is energy‐tailored using a collimated plane‐grating monochromator. The TwinMic spectromicroscopy experimental station combines scanning and full‐field imaging in a single instrument, with contrast modes such as absorption, differential phase, interference and darkfield. The implementation of coherent diffractive imaging modalities and ptychography is ongoing. Typically, scanning transmission X‐ray microscopy images are simultaneously collected in transmission and differential phase contrast and can be complemented by chemical and elemental analysis using across‐absorption‐edge imaging, X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure or low‐energy X‐ray fluorescence. The lateral resolutions depend on the particular imaging and contrast mode chosen. The TwinMic range of applications covers diverse research fields such as biology, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacology, environment, geochemistry, food, agriculture and materials science. They will be illustrated in the paper with representative results.     

基于超环面晶体的X射线成像诊断

设计了可用于X射线成像用的聚焦型超环面晶体谱仪,讨论了基于布拉格几何结构的超环面及球面弯曲晶体聚焦特性,给出了基于超环面晶体X射线2维单能成像的光源、晶体及探测器的最佳位置,在中国工程物理研究院激光聚变研究中心进行了X射线背光成像实验.利用超环面弯曲晶体作为成像器件,其弧矢及子午平面的曲率半径分别为290 mm及190...     

相干X射线衍射成像的数字模拟研究

相位重建是实现X 射线相干衍射成像的关键, 它利用远场采集的样品傅里叶相干衍射花样、结合过采样理论,再采用迭代算法复原样品的相位信息. 文中采用数字模拟的方法, 利用小尺寸二维非周期性图形作为物场, 研究了过采样比对重构结果的影响, 研究发现, 迭代次数为1000 次时最佳过采样比的范围是3—7 之间. 利用噪声模拟方法, 研究了噪声对相位重建的影响, 找到了完成相位重建的噪声限是信噪比不能低于10. 分析了重构结果中孪生像以及随机平移的产生原因, 并给出了相应的解决办法, 结果表明, 此方法可有效地提高重构图像的质量. 关键词： 相干X射线衍射成像 过采样 相位重建算法 显微成像     

软X射线光导纤维传输特性

 为优化设计软X射线聚束透镜,使之与软X射线源配合能最大限度地获得高强度软X射线束,在北京同步辐射装置软X光站3W1B束线上,对不同能量软X射线（50～1 500 eV）在不同规格毛细管光导纤维中的传输特性进行研究。研究结果表明：玻璃毛细管对软X光有较高的传输效率,毛细管内径越小,曲率越小,光子能量越小,则传输效率越大;使用含硼（B）量高的DM308型号玻璃材料拉制成内直径为0.45 mm﹑外直径为0.6 mm的毛细管组成的软X光聚束透镜有较高的传输效率,该规格毛细管可以将能量为250 eV的X射线传播方向改变26°后,其出射能量是入射能量的12%;使用由该规格毛细管设计的软X射线聚束透镜同软X射线点光源组合,收光角可以达到30°,透镜焦点处的功率密度是不使用透镜时的104倍。     

一种透射式软X光带通方法研究

基于微通道板(MCP)X射线光学, 提出了一种透射式软X光带通方法. 通过三种通道结构的MCP-X光传输特性比较, 给出了带通设计方法. 利用北京同步辐射装置开展了方孔MCP和滤片标定. 结果表明, MCP透射谱具有宽能带选择范围和高效率的特点, 并且在1 keV以下可以在多个多能点实现100 eV带宽的带通设计. 关键词： X射线光学 微通道板 软X光带通