Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) is an X-ray microscopy technique that relies on the use of diffractive optics (Fresnel zone plates) to focus a monochromatic X-ray beam onto a spot of an X-ray transparent sample, and record the transmitted X-ray intensity with a suitable detector. By raster scanning the sample with a piezoelectric stage and recording the transmitted intensity at each point of the scan, a STXM image is then formed. STXM imaging combines the elemental sensitivity of monochromatic X-rays with the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) effect, allowing for the imaging of e.g. micro- and nanostructured magnetic materials, and multilayered magnetic systems. Depending on the employed zone plate, spatial resolutions on the order of 10 to 30 nm can be achieved with STXM imaging in the soft X-ray region. Time-resolved STXM imaging in the pump-probe regime is also possible. This is made possible by the use of avalanche photodiodes to detect the X-rays, and allows the achievement of temporal resolutions on the order of 50-100 ps.

See HXB/BESSY on MAXYMUS - MAgnetic X-raY Microscope with UHV SpectroscopySee HXB/BESSY on MYSTIIC (Microscope for x-raY Scanning Transmission In-situ Imaging of Catalysts)

References
Finizio, S.; Wintz, S.; Witte, K.; Watts, B.; Raabe, J.; Magnetic imaging with high spatial and temporal resolution at the PolLux endstation of the Swiss Light Source; International Conference on Magnetism, 15.-20.07.2018, San Francsisco, USA; https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-28673