Nano-resolution hard x-ray diffraction imaging with conventional laboratory sources.

The proposal will develop a desktop hard x-ray microscope. The system will display ultra high resolution combining advanced x-ray optics and data analysis algorithms, with conventional laboratory hard x-ray sources. The microscope will achieve a spatial resolution in the range 10-100 nm. I will apply the system to diverse fields such as materials science and engineering, nanotechnology and nanofluidics. Moreover I will perform in vivo microscopy of cells and other biological systems. The use of hard x-rays is highly complementary to other microscopy techniques. The project will close the gap between electronic and optical microscopy and x-ray microscopy, by significantly improving the resolution capabilities of table-top x-ray systems.