Simulate coherent X-ray diffraction patterns using X-ray lenses and investigate object reconstruction

You will be part of developing an extension of the multi-scale hard X-ray microscope (HXM) situated at beamline ID06 at the ESRF synchrotron in Grenoble, France. This HXM instrument is used for materials research, which allows for non-destructive 3D characterization of materials. For the first time we are able to look inside all types of materials: energy materials, bio minerals, steel, and alloys. The main goal is to follow the material changes on multiple length scales during in-situ experiments, giving unique insights into the structural changes during treatment processes, e.g. heating.

We are pursuing several routes to push the achievable resolution, spanning all length scales from the sample size down to single defects. And in this project we are looking at pushing the resolution to as small as possible.

This project will be focusing on coherent X-ray diffraction techniques, where the sample object is reconstructed from measured diffraction patterns.

You will simulate the effects of different X-ray lenses on the diffraction pattern, using in-house developed MatLab simulation tools. You will run simulations varying different parameters of the lens, adding attenuation and phase disturbances. After mastering the reconstruction algorithm you will investigate the object reconstruction quality.

During the course of this project you will be introduced to the concepts of Fourier transforms (ubiquitous mathematical tool) and reciprocal space (concept used in several fields of physics, including solid state physics).