Observation of inside structures of live biological cells by laser plasma X-ray microscope

Kado, Masataka

Soft X-ray microscope is expected as a powerful tool to observe cellular organelles and to investigate radiation effects on biological cells. However in vivo observation of cellular organelles were not realized because long exposure time was needed due to insufficient X-ray intensity. Combining high intense soft X-ray sources, which were generated by irradiating high power laser onto thin foil gold target, to contact X-ray microscopy we have developed a laser plasma soft X-ray microscope which can observe cellular organelles of live biological cells with high spatial resolution. As a result we have observed mitochondria surrounding nucleus and chromatin structures inside.