X-ray Ptychography with a Laboratory Source

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first successful implementation of X-ray ptychography using a laboratory source, achieving sub-micron resolution with a liquid metal-jet X-ray source and single photon-counting detector.

Contribution

It introduces a novel laboratory-based X-ray ptychography setup, enabling high-resolution phase contrast imaging without large-scale synchrotron facilities.

Findings

Achieved sub-micron spatial resolution in laboratory setting

Demonstrated feasibility with liquid metal-jet X-ray source

Produced clear phase images of test patterns

Abstract

X-ray ptychography has revolutionised nanoscale phase contrast imaging at large-scale synchrotron sources in recent years. We present here the first successful demonstration of the technique in a small-scale laboratory setting. We conducted an experiment with a liquid metal-jet X-ray source and a single photon-counting detector with a high spectral resolution. The experiment used a spot size of 5 microns to produce a ptychographic phase image of a Siemens star test pattern with a sub-micron spatial resolution. The result and methodology presented show how high-resolution phase contrast imaging can now be performed at small-scale laboratory sources worldwide.