Yoshio Shimanuki

Electronic zooming TV readout system for an x-ray microscope

The electronic zooming TV readout system using the x-ray zooming tube has been developed for purposes of real time readout of very high resolution x-ray image, e.g., the output image from an x-ray microscope. The system limiting resolution is 0.2 to approximately 0.3 micrometers and it is easy to operate in practical applications.

Soft X-ray microscope with zone plate at UVSOR

Abstract A soft X-ray microscope with zone plates was set up at UVSOR [synchrotron radiation facility (750MeV, 200mA) at Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki, Japan]. A 50nm line & space pattern could be resolved at λ=3.2nm. With an environmental chamber (wet cell) using SiN windows, wet biological specimens, such as letus protoplasts, rabbit myofibrils, tubulin of COS cell and Deinococcus radiodurans strains, could be observed at λ=2.5nm. In the present microscope, the numerical aperture of the condenser was much smaller than that of the objective. To adjust both the numerical apertures, an ellipsoidal condenser mirror system was tested, and preliminary result (an image of Cu mesh, 12.7μm pitch) was obtained.

Focusing and Imaging Properties of a Nickel Phase Zone Plate

A nickel phase zone plate made for a wavelength of 1.76 nm was experimentally examined in terms of the X-ray focusing and imaging properties. The focusing efficiency of the phase zone plate was 1.6 times that of an ordinary Fresnel zone plate. Images of a copper mesh #2000 and a Fresnel zone plate at a resolution of 1.2 pm were made with the phase zone plate.

Observation of wet biological specimen by soft X-ray microscope with zone plates at UVSOR

With an environmental chamber (wet cell) using polypropylene foils as windows, wet specimens were observed at a wavelength of 4.6 nm with a zone plate imaging X-ray microscope installed at the beamline 8 A of UVSOR (synchrotron radiation facility at Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki, Japan). Images of spicule of trepang, human blood cells and cultured protoplast of plant cell stained by methyl mercury were observed with good contrast.

Soft X-Ray Microscope with Zone Plates at UVSOR I: Performance

A soft X-ray microscope with zone plates was set up at UVSOR (synchrotron radiation facility at Institute for Molecular Science, Okazaki). A 0.41 µm line-and-space pattern was clearly distinguished using an objective zone plate with the outermost zone width of 0.41 µm. Modulation transfer functions were measured at wavelengths of 3.1 nm and 5.4 nm, and compared with theoretical calculations. The experimental results corresponded fairly well with the theoretical ones, taking into account that a point spread function of a microchannel plate and fluorescent plate assembly used as a detector had a full width at half-maximum of 50 µm. A theoretical calculation of an intensity–wavelength distribution of illumination at an object plane was performed and compared with experimental results. Nonuniformity of illumination can be explained in terms of a distance between a specimen and a pinhole in front of it.

X-Ray Microscope with Grazing Incidence Mirrors and a High Resolution X-Ray Imaging Apparatus

Wolter type-I grazing incidence mirrors were fabricated and imaging tests were carried out at UVSOR at the Institute for Molecular Science. Resolution of better than 0.51μm was obtained at the wavelength of about 1.3nm.

Imaging Soft X-Ray Microscopy with Zone Plates in Parallel Use of Optical Microscope for Wet Bio-Specimens in Air at UVSOR

Soft X-ray microscope, a specimen holder of which was placed in air, was constructed at UVSOR, synchrotron radiation facility at Institute for Molecular Science, Japan. This made possible to investigate a specimen without impairing the vacuum of the microscope and to prefocus a specimen with an optical microscope incorporated in the microscope. Dry and wet specimens could be observed at a wavelength of 0.94 nm.

Soft x-ray microscope with zone plates at UVSOR

A soft x-ray microscope with zone plates was set up at UVSOR (Okazaki, Japan). A 0.41 micrometers line and space pattern was clearly distinguished using an objective zone plate with the outermost zone width of 0.41 micrometers . Modulation transfer functions were measured at wavelengths of 3.1 nm and 5.4 nm, and compared with theoretical calculations. Considering the resolution of a microchannel plate used as a detector, the agreement is fairly good. With this microscope, some biological specimens such as diatoms, spicule of trepang, crab and rabbit muscles, human blood cells, human chromosomes, and magnetotactic bacterium were observed at 3.1 nm and 5.4 nm. With an environmental chamber (wet cell) using polypropylene foils as windows, wet specimens were observed at a wavelength of 4.6 nm. Images of spicule of trepang, human blood cell, and cultured protoplast of plant cell stained by methyl mercury were observed with good contrast.

Fabrication and Focal Test of a Free-Standing Zone Plate in the VUV Region

Much effort has been put into developing X-ray microscopy in the wavelength region between 2.37 and 4.47 nm (absorption edges of oxygen and carbon, respectively), because of the high contrast of biological materials against water. In the longer wavelength region, however, relatively few efforts have been made. We have studied the feasibility of sorting out the importance of the development of X-ray microscopy in longer wavelength region, and point out possiblities of the utilization of VUV light, such as the use of the phosphor absorption edge [1,2].

Feasibility Study for the Observation of Biological Materials in VUV Wavelength Regions. Using Zone Plates Fabricated by Electron and Ion Beam Lithographies

In biological system, the important things is to find out what really we should know. There are so many phenomena spreading in wide scale in space (10−11 – 102m) and in time (10−13 – 107sec) in biological world. A purpose of biological science is to explain such various biological phenomena (or more appropriately biological function) in terms of more established concepts in physical science such as thermodynamics and/or conformation. It should be stressed that the observation of biological substances is not the goal of biology, but merely the start of the understanding of the complicated biological systems in various space and time scale as desired. However it will be very much helpful in the fundamental understanding of biological function. This is the reason why we require methods to enlarge or reduce sizes in space and in time.