Abstract

We analyze why high resolution images have not been obtained by previous x-ray holography. We think that the resolution limit of reconstructed images from Grabor and Leith holograms is restricted by the resolution limit of the recording media. The nonredundant recording method is suggested to match the information quantity of the recording films with that of the object. It is predicted that the resolution power of x-ray holography should reach its wavelength. The brightness of existing x-ray lasers is about 10⁷ times that of the synchrotron radiation. But its pulse width is only 10⁻¹⁰ sec. The brightness must be enhanced significantly to compete with synchrotron radiation. The synchrotron radiation can provide a wavelength ranging from 10 Å to 1 Å. This is another advantage of the synchrotron radiation. We show that x-ray laser divergence angle can be remarkably compressed, even to its diffraction limits; therefore the brightness can be enhanced. For this purpose, the gain–length product of a single oscillator must be sufficiently high.

© 1992 Optical Society of America