Coherent X-Ray Diffraction Imaging of Non-Crystalline Particles

Abstract

Coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (CXDI) is a lens-less imaging technique that visualizes the structures of non-crystalline particles with micro- to sub-micrometer dimensions. In CXDI experiments, single spatially isolated particles are irradiated by X-ray beam with high transverse coherence. The projection images of the particles along the incident X-ray direction are then directly reconstructed from the diffraction amplitude using a phase retrieval algorithm. We recently developed a sample preparation system operated under a moisture controlled condition and a diffractometer to conduct cryogenic CXDI experiments at SPring-8 and the X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) facility called SACLA. Here we briefl y introduce the theoretical background and show the preliminary experimental data from samples prepared by the humidity-control system collected with the diffractometer at BL29XU of SPring-8 and the BL3 of SACLA.