Observation of Phase Objects by Using an X‐ray Microscope with a Foucault Knife‐Edge

An x‐ray microscope with a zone plate was assembled at the synchrotron radiation source of BL3C, Photon Factory. A Foucault knife‐edge was set at the back focal plate of the objective zone plate and phase retrieval was tested by scanning the knife‐edge. A preliminary result shows that scanning the knife‐edge during exposure was effective for phase retrieval. Phase‐contrast tomography was investigated using differential projection images calculated from two Schlieren images with the oppositely oriented knife‐edges. Fairly good reconstruction images of polystyrene beads and spores could be obtained.