Simultaneous sample and spatial coherence characterisation using diffractive imaging

We demonstrate an algorithm that reconstructs the complex transmission function of an object from experimental X-ray diffraction data using partially coherent 1.4 keV X-rays that does not require a priori input of the coherence function. The quality of the reconstruction is significantly better than that obtained by assuming that the illumination is fully coherent. Our approach can be readily applied to diffraction imaging problems where a model for the spatial coherence can be assumed. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3650265]