Fourier transform holography in the context of coherent diffraction imaging with hard X-rays

Coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) with 8 keV X-rays is used to image a gold nanostructure. Experimental details are given and frequently encountered problems such as missing low spatial frequency information and parasitic slit scattering are discussed. As a possible remedy, hard X-ray Fourier transform holography (FTH) is presented and its robustness with respect to the diffraction pattern quality is demonstrated. It is shown that even with a few-second exposure to an unfocussed beam, the object structure can be clearly recognised. FTH in combination with CDI is ideal for single-shot imaging of micron-sized objects using femtosecond flashes of hard X-rays at the upcoming free-electron laser facilities in the USA, Japan and Germany.