Propagation-based phase-contrast imaging method for full-field X-ray microscopy using advanced Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors

We demonstrate a propagation-based phase-contrast imaging method for full-field X-ray microscopy based on advanced Kirkpatrick–Baez (AKB) mirrors to achieve high-contrast observations of weak phase objects and correct field curvature aberrations. Through a demonstration performed at SPring-8, the phase contrast of weak phase objects such as polystyrene spheres and chemically fixed cells was successfully observed with high sensitivity (∼0.03 rad). Furthermore, the field of view of the AKB mirrors was expanded to the full area of the obtained images (25 × 30 µm) by correcting the field curvature aberration using reconstructed complex wavefields.