Patent Number: 052221130
Section: claims

1. An X-ray microscope for investigating a specimen, the X-ray microscope comprising: a pulsed X-ray radiation source for supplying an intensive line radiation and defining an optical axis along which the line radiation travels;  reflecting condenser means for focussing the radiation on the specimen;  an X-ray detector mounted on said axis downstream of said reflecting condenser means; and,  zone plate means for imaging the specimen on said detector with high resolution.  focussing the radiation of a pulsed X-ray radiation source on a specimen by means of a reflecting condenser;  generating an image of the specimen with a triggered pulse of X-radiation;  imaging the specimen on a camera with a zone plate; and,  reading out the camera synchronously with the pulsed X-ray radiation source after a generated pulse of said radiation. 2. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, said reflecting condenser means including a reflecting condenser defining a reflective surface; and, a multiple layer disposed on said surface for increasing reflectivity. 3. The X-ray microscope of claim 2, said reflecting condenser being configured to focus said X-radiation onto the specimen at grazing incidence to ensure total reflection. 4. The X-ray microscope of claim 2, said reflecting condenser being a segment of an ellipsoid. 5. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, said X-ray source being a plasma-focus source. 6. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, said zone plate means being a phase zone plate. 7. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, further comprising foil means for protecting said reflecting condenser means and being permeable to said radiation. 8. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, said reflecting condenser means being adapted to image said source into the specimen. 9. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, said X-ray detector being a semiconductor camera. 10. The X-ray microscope of claim 1, further comprising electronic means for synchronizing said detector and said X-ray source so as to cause an image to be read out of said detector after a pulse of said radiation. 11. A method of generating microscopic images of high resolution in the light of X-radiation, the method comprising the steps of: