X-ray microscopy with soft X-rays is well suited for investigations of aqueous samples of some microns thickness when the resolution is required to be better than in visible light microscopy an not better than 30 nm. Sample preparation is as simple as for light microscopy, i.e. no fixation or metal coating is needed.

In Aarhus, an X-ray microscope is used for investigations in fields as biology, medicine and soil sciences. A ray diagram of the Aarhus X-ray microscope is shown in Fig.l. Synchrotron radiation at a wavelength of 2.4 nm from the Aarhus Storage Ring is focused by a condenser zone plate onto an object. Another zone plate as an objective behind the object forms the image on a CCD camera. Objects are located under atmospheric pressure. For dry samples, almost any kind of holder can be mounted in the microscope. Wet samples are placed between thin silicon foils in a sealed chamber. With typical liquid layer thickness of 5-15 µm, samples can be kept in the chamber for many hours without drying out.