Submicrometre resolution phase-contrast radiography with the beam from an X-ray waveguide

Experimental data with unprecedented submicrometre resolution obtained in a phase-contrast radiography experiment in a magnifying configuration are presented. The term `phase contrast' here indicates that the phase retardation of coherent light in matter was utilized as the contrast mechanism. The coherent and divergent beam exiting an X-ray waveguide was used in a lensless configuration to magnify spatial variations in optical path length up to several hundred times. The defocused image of a nylon fibre was measured with a resolution of 0.14 µm at the object. Sufficient contrast was found for exposure times of 0.1 s, i.e. in the regime for real-time studies.