Ultrafast imaging of isolated objects with nanometric spatial resolution is a great challenge in our time. The lensless imaging techniques have shown great potential to answer this challenge. In lensless imaging, one can reconstruct sample images from their diffraction patterns with computational algorithms, which replace the conventional lens systems. Using ultrafast and coherent light sources, such as free electron laser and high order harmonics, one can investigate dynamic phenomena at the femtosecond time scale. In this thesis work, I present the lenless imaging experiments using XUV radiation provided by a laser driven high order harmonic beamline. The manuscript is composed of an introduction, a chapter of theoretical background, three chapters of main research work and a general conclusion with perspectives. The first part of this work concerns the development of the harmonic beamline to optimize the illumination condition for lensless imaging. The second part concentrates on the imaging techniques: the Coherent Diffraction Imaging (CDI), the Fourier Transform Holography (FTH) and the Holography using extended references (HERALDO). The reconstructions have achieved 78 nm spatial resolution in case of CDI and 112 nm resolution in case of HERALDO, both in single-shot regime corresponding to a temporal resolution of 20 fs. The third part presents the first physical application on the harmonic beamline using the lensless imaging. Samples with magnetic nano-domains have been studied with sub-100 nm spatial resolution, which paves the way for ultrafast magnetic dynamic studies. At the end, single-shot 3D imaging and further beamline development have been discussed.
Ultrafast coherent XUV diffractive imaging at nanometer scale