Abstract
A lithium fluoride (LiF) crystal has been utilized as a new soft Xโray detector to image different biological samples at a high spatial resolution. This new type of image detector for Xโray microscopy has many interesting properties: high resolution (nanometer scale), permanent storage of images, the ability to clear the image and reuse the LiF crystal, and high contrast with greater dynamic range. Cells of the unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas dysosmos and Chlorella sorokiniana, and pollen grains of Olea europea have been used as biological materials for imaging. The biological samples were imaged on LiF crystals by using the soft Xโray contact microscopy and contact microโradiography techniques. The laser plasma soft Xโray source was generated using a Nd:YAG/Glass laser focused on a solid target. The Xโray energy range for image acquisition was in the waterโwindow spectral range for single shot contact microscopy of very thin biological samples (single cells) and around 1 keV for multishots microradiography. The main aim of this article is to highlight the possibility of using a LiF crystal as a detector for the biological imaging using soft Xโray radiation and to demonstrate its ability to visualize the microstructure within living cells. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2008. ยฉ 2008 WileyโLiss, Inc.