Imaging light atoms by X-ray holography

Abstract

We demonstrate here the imaging of light atoms by hard X-ray holography. Using intense synchrotron radiation for the excitation, the oxygen and nickel atoms in a nickel oxide sample are imaged in three dimensions with high resolution inside a volume of about 1,000 cubic ångströms. These remarkable characteristics mean that X-ray holography bridges the gap between diffraction, which relies on long-range order, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure, which gives information on the local environment of atoms.