Femtosecond coherent X-ray imaging of biological structures

飞秒激光技术的发展使得使用非线性光学产生超快x射线脉冲成为同步加速器等x射线源的可行替代方案。基于实验室的相干x射线源允许开发新技术，例如相干x射线成像，它将新x射线源的可用性与计算算法的新发展相结合，从而在不使用透镜的情况下创建图像。我们的团队开发了一种基于高次谐波产生的辐射的飞秒x射线显微镜，我们最近首次展示了它在生物结构成像中的应用。该项目将着眼于生物样品（如生物膜或神经元）的相干x射线显微镜的发展，其中高分辨率和新的对比度机制将能够为生物成像问题找到新的解决方案。该项目将结合高功率飞秒激光器和尖端的计算算法设计。

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.