Nitrogen soft X-ray source for imaging of biological objects

Abstract

Soft X-ray radiation sources usable for microscopy have been studied in the laboratory XUV at CTU Faculty of Biomedical Engineering. This thesis is focused on the optimization of generation quasi-monochromatic radiation with a water window wavelength of 2.88 nm. The source of radiation is a laser plasma created in Nitrogen gas-pu target. The optimization function is delineated in chapter 1.5.1. Gradually, the eect of system parameters on the output energy is investigated. For the microscopic imaging, we need high energy in a single shot at the output of the SXR source. The biggest eect on the output of pulse energy has a mass density spatial distribution in the gas-pu target. We studied it via laboratory experiments and computer modelling. In chapter 4.1, we supply information about the eect of nozzle ageing and investigation of double stream nozzle. We used Z star code to construct a complete model of the gas-pu target. In chapter 4.2, the results of computer modelling are compared with experimental data. This comparison is very important as the Z star code (developed for plasma magnetohydrodynamics) has not yet been used for gas ow simulations. Plasma radiation, modelled by the Z-star code, is given in chapter 5. The computer model of the source may be further used for the design of improved SXR source. We paid attention also to biological samples and after a literature search, we present results of SXR microscopy image of CT 26 broblasts, derived from colon carcinoma Mus musculus (strain BALB/c) in chapter 6.

Soft X-ray radiation sources usable for microscopy have been studied in the laboratory XUV at CTU Faculty of Biomedical Engineering. This thesis is focused on the optimization of generation quasi-monochromatic radiation with a water window wavelength of 2.88 nm. The source of radiation is a laser plasma created in Nitrogen gas-pu target. The optimization function is delineated in chapter 1.5.1. Gradually, the eect of system parameters on the output energy is investigated. For the microscopic imaging, we need high energy in a single shot at the output of the SXR source. The biggest eect on the output of pulse energy has a mass density spatial distribution in the gas-pu target. We studied it via laboratory experiments and computer modelling. In chapter 4.1, we supply information about the eect of nozzle ageing and investigation of double stream nozzle. We used Z star code to construct a complete model of the gas-pu target. In chapter 4.2, the results of computer modelling are compared with experimental data. This comparison is very important as the Z star code (developed for plasma magnetohydrodynamics) has not yet been used for gas ow simulations. Plasma radiation, modelled by the Z-star code, is given in chapter 5. The computer model of the source may be further used for the design of improved SXR source. We paid attention also to biological samples and after a literature search, we present results of SXR microscopy image of CT 26 broblasts, derived from colon carcinoma Mus musculus (strain BALB/c) in chapter 6.