Structure resolution Imaging light atoms by X-ray holography

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 407; no. 6800; p. 38
• Main Authors: Faigel, Gyula, Belakhovsky, Michel, Tegze, Miklós, Ulrich, Olivier, Marchesini, Stefano
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 07-09-2000
• Subjects: Holography; Nickel; Radiation
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/35024153

We demonstrate here the imaging of light atoms by hard X-ray holography.
Using intense synchrotron radiation for the excitation, the oxygen and nickel
atoms in a nickel oxide sample are imaged in three dimensions with high resolution
inside a volume of about 1,000 cubic ångströms. These remarkable
characteristics mean that X-ray holography bridges the gap between diffraction,
which relies on long-range order, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure,
which gives information on the local environment of atoms.