  Off-axis X-ray holography is a lensless imaging technique that allows
unambiguous retrieval of an object's exit-wave function with high fidelity. It
has been used with great success to study nanoscale phenomena and
spatio-temporal dynamics in solids, with sensitivity to the phase component of
electronic and magnetic textures. However, the method requires patterning a
nanostructured holography mask directly onto the sample. This invasive
fabrication process is labor-intensive and defines a fixed field of view,
limiting the range of applicable samples and diminishing the signal-to-noise
ratio at high-resolution. In this work, we propose using wavefront-shaping
X-ray diffractive optics to create a spatially structured probe with full
control of its phase at the sample plane, obviating the need for a holography
mask. We demonstrate in silico that the method can image nanoscale structures
and magnetic textures. The proposed holography route can image extended regions
of interest, enabling the investigation of a broad range of physical phenomena
at the nanoscale including magnetism and electronic phase coexistence in
quantum materials. We further envisage applications in phase-contrast imaging
of other weakly absorbing objects in the realm of soft and biological matter
research.
