High-Resolution Hard X-ray Holography by Unconfined Atomic Layer Deposited Phase-Shifting 3D References

Abstract: We demonstrate high-resolution non-iterative holographic coherent diffraction imaging with hard X-rays using a novel phase-shifting reference, fabricated by atomic layer deposition to produce nanosharp 3D structure. The method surpasses the limitations associated with absorbing substrates predominantly employed in soft X-ray holography using extended, customized and point-source references. The unconfined experimental setup relaxes the technical constraints, allows effective data correction, and enables independent sample translation and rotation for data averaging and tomography. Applicable to single-shot measurements, phase and amplitude reconstructions of samples are retrieved with single-pixel resolution and differential contrast by simple non-iterative computation.