NanoXcan at ELI Beamlines: Testing Compact X-Ray Diffraction Imaging

A NanoXcan team recently carried out an experiment at the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) facility in Prague, exploring new approaches to diffraction imaging using a compact laser-based X-ray source.

The experiment took place at the PXS beamline, where a small section of the laser-plasma source’s focus was sampled to improve spatial coherence. This partial beam was then used to probe a sample through a mask, generating random speckle patterns that guide image reconstruction — reducing the need for scanning, as required in ptychographic schemes.

This technique shows promise for diffraction imaging using low-brilliance sources, which is central to NanoXcan’s goal of developing compact, lab-scale X-ray imaging solutions.