Femtosecond coherent X-ray imaging of biological structures

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Developments in femtosecond laser technology have made the generation of ultrafast X-ray pulses using nonlinear optics a viable alternative to X-ray sources such as synchrotrons. A coherent lab-based X-ray source allows the development of new techniques such as coherent X-ray imaging, which combines the availability of new X-ray sources with new developments in computational algorithms to create images without the use of lenses. Our group has developed a femtosecond X-ray microscope based on radiation from high harmonic generation, and we have recently demonstrated its first ever application to imaging of biological structures. This project will look at the development of coherent X-ray microscopy of biological samples, such as biofilms or neurons, where the high resolution and new contrast mechanisms will be able to find new solutions to biological imaging problems. The project will combine high-power femtosecond lasers with cutting-edge computational algorithm design.