Development of a coherent X-ray
multispectral microscopy system

project code: T1EDK-04549

HELLENIC MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERSITY (HMU)

TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY of CRETE (TUC)

IKNOWHOW SA (IKH)

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Project XMMaS: aims to the development of a system for multispectral microscopy in the region of “soft” X-rays, based on the research achievements of:

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• Institute of Plasma Physics & Lasers of the Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Center (IPPL-HMU), on the generation and characterization of ultrafast laser-generated high harmonics

• School of Electrical & Computer Engineering of the Technical University of Crete (TUC-HMMY), on the development of optical and optoelectronic systems, and multispectral imaging systems

• IKnowHow (IKH), on the technical expertise of the company on the design, development and implementation of automated industrial systems

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The rapid growth of nanotechnology has increased the need for fast nanoscale imaging. X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facilities currently provide such coherent sources of directional and high brilliance x-ray radiation. These facilities require large financial investments for development, maintenance and manpower and thus only a few exist worldwide. XMMaS aims to the development of a table-top prototype system of ultrafast soft X-ray multispectral microscopy imaging for nanostructured materials with enormous potential and a broad range of applications in up-to date technologies.  The special characteristics of the extreme-UV source (XUV) provide a very high added value to the final prototype system and cover imaging aspects unachievable by the existing conventional coherent light sources.

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Laboratory prototype features:

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• Stable and characterized XUV ultrafast coherent light source

• Filtering of appropriate XUV spectrum

• Demonstration of coherent, multispectral diffraction X-ray imaging (CDI) with spatial resolution of 100 nanometers and temporal resolution of femtoseconds

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​Industrial prototype advantages (Blueprints):

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• An industrial product with high added value, extroverted economic and commercial character

• A High-Tech system that meets the technological needs of diagnosis & imaging in the nanoscale

• Applied science and technology competitive to experimental XFEL imaging facilities since:

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• ​expensive synchronous or free electron laser systems are NOT demanded

• the produced compact X-ray source is of broad bandwidth, stable and ultrafast

• soft X-ray ultrafast multispectral nano-imaging will be demonstrated