Large-field high resolution X-ray monochromatic microscope, based on spherical crystal and high-repetition-rate laser-produced plasmas

The combination of a table-top laser produced plasma X-ray source and spherically bent crystals for the soft X-ray region is used in traditional X-ray microscopy schemes. The X-ray source is well localized both spatially (approximately 20 μm) and temporally (1 ps-10 ns, it depends on the used laser) and it is spectrally tunable in a relatively wide range (6-19 angstroms). High quality monochromatic (δλ/λ to approximately 10-5-10-3) images with high spatial resolution (up to approximately 4 μm) and in a large field of view (few mm) are presented. For many applications, these low-cost compact systems can offer a simple alternative to the larger installations which are usually used. It was demonstrated that the spherically bent crystals can be efficiently used in a wide (θ = 40-90°) range of reflection angles, thus allowing a wide wavelength selection. A very efficient concentration of monochromatic X-Ray radiation into different spot shapes (line, circle spot, etc) is demonstrated.