Sharp X-ray images despite imperfect lenses

Explainer video / Erklärvideo: Physical Review Letters, Jakob Soltau, Markus Osterhoff, and Tim Salditt: Coherent Diffractive Imaging with Diffractive Optics PRL 128, 223901 (2022) (Deutsche Fassung weiter unten) X-rays make it possible to explore inside human bodies or peer inside objects. The technology used to illuminate the detail in microscopically small structures is the same as that used in familiar situations – such as medical imaging at a clinic or luggage control at the airport. X-ray microscopy enables scientists to study the three-dimensional structure of materials, organisms or tissues without cutting and damaging the sample. Unfortunately, the performance of X-ray microscopy is limited by the difficulties in producing the perfect lens. A team from the Institute for X-ray Physics at the University of Göttingen has now shown that, despite the manufacturing limitations of lenses, a much higher image quality and sharpness than ever before can be achieved using a special expe