Fresnel coherent diffractive imaging: treatment and analysis of data

Fresnel coherent diffractive imaging (FCDI) is a relatively recent addition to the suite of imaging tools available at third generation x-ray sources. It shares the strengths of other coherent diffractive techniques: resolution limits that are independent of focusing optics, single-plane measurement and high dose efficiency. The more challenging experimental geometry and detailed reconstruction algorithms of FCDI provide enhanced numerical stability and convergence properties to the iterative algorithms commonly used. Experimentally, a diverging beam is utilized, which facilitates sample alignment and allows the imaging of extended samples. We describe the underlying physics and assumptions that give rise to the FCDI iterative reconstruction algorithms, as well as their implications for the design of a successful FCDI experiment. 4 Current address: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, USA. 5 Author to whom any correspondence should be addressed. New Journal of Physics 12 (2010) 03502