Single shot twin x-ray microscopic imaging using simultaneously produced laser-plasma x-ray sources

A simple technique of single shot x-ray microscopic imaging is reported usi ng two simultaneously produced laser-plasma x-ray sources. Twin x-ray image s are recorded by placing the sample in a proximity gap with a photoresist and exposing it to two equivalent point x-ray sources. Characterization of the technique is carried out using a carbon fiber as a test sample and x-ra y emission (h nu greater than or equal to1 keV) from laser produced copper plasmas. A spatial resolution of similar to 300 nm is observed, consistent with the geometrical parameters of the imaging system. This method may be u seful in obtaining a single shot comparison of spectral and temporal charac teristics of a sample by using different x-ray filters or plasma targets fo r the two imaging paths and a temporal delay in generation of the two x-ray sources, respectively. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.