Phase retrieval for object and probe using a series of defocus near-field images.

Full field x-ray propagation imaging can be severely deteriorated by wave front aberrations. Here we present an extension of ptychographic phase retrieval with simultaneous probe and object reconstruction suitable for the near-field diffractive imaging setting. Update equations used to iteratively solve the phase problem from a set of near-field images in view of reconstruction both object and probe are derived. The algorithm is tested based on numerical simulations including photon shot noise. The results indicate that the approach provides an efficient way to overcome restrictive idealizations of the illumination wave in the near-field (propagation) imaging.