Scanning near-field optical microscopy images of microradiographs stored in lithium fluoride films with an optical resolution of λ∕12

• Published in: Applied physics letters Vol. 88; no. 14
• Main Authors: Ustione, Alessandro, Cricenti, Antonio, Bonfigli, Francesca, Flora, Francesco, Lai, Antonella, Marolo, Tiziana, Maria Montereali, Rosa, Baldacchini, Giuseppe, Faenov, Anatoly, Pikuz, Tatiana, Reale, Lucia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 03-04-2006
• ISSN: 0003-6951; 1077-3118
• DOI: 10.1063/1.2193654

Here we show a new, simple method to observe soft x-ray microradiographs of biological material. A thin film of lithium fluoride (LiF) works as image detector, storing the microradiograph obtained exposing biological samples to extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray radiations. To read the stored image, collecting the optically stimulated visible luminescence emitted by the LiF active color centers locally produced by the x rays, a scanning near-field optical microscope is used with an optical aperture of 50nm, i.e., λ∕12, where λ is the wavelength of the collected photoluminescence.