Study of Multicellular Living Organisms by SXCM (Soft X-Ray Contact Microscopy)

Abstract

Soft X-ray Contact Microscopy (SXCM) of Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes wit typical length 800 μm and diameter 30 μm has been performed using the PALS laser source of wavelength λ = 1.314 μm and pulse duration τ (FWHM) = 400 ps. Pulsed soft X-rays were generated using molybdenum and gold targets with laser intensities I ≥ 1014 W/cm2. Images have been recorded on PMMA photo resists and analyzed using an atomic force microscope operating in contact mode. Cuticle features and several internal organs have been identified in the SXCM images including lateral field, cuticle annuli, pharynx, and hypodermal and neuronal cell nuclei.