A new method of phase-contrast microscopy of microobjects using a nanofocusing lens in synchrotron radiation

We present the first results of a new experimental method for phase-contrast microscopy of microobjects based on synchrotron radiation and a nanofocusing lens in a conical geometry. In the experiment, a secondary radiation source is formed at the lens focus, located at a short distance from the microobject, enabling the acquisition of its magnified image. Under near-field conditions, the structure of the microobject can be relatively easily retrieved from the experimental image using the transport-of-intensity equation. The experiment was conducted at the KISI-Kurchatov synchrotron radiation source. A model weakly absorbing microobject, namely a commercially available carbon fiber of grade VMN-4, was used. The fiber dimensions and structural features were obtained with submicron spatial resolution, in agreement with the electron microscopy results.