Abstract: A phase-shifting element for shifting a phase of at least a portion of a particle beam is described, as well as a particle beam device having a phase-shifting element of this type. In the phase-shifting element and the particle beam device having a phase-shifting element, components shadowing the particle beam are avoided, so that proper information content is achieved and in which the phase contrast is essentially spatial frequency-independent. The phase-shifting element may have at least one means for generating a non-homogeneous or anisotropic potential. The particle beam device according to the system described herein may be provided with the phase-shifting element.

Abstract: Device for the optical scanning of a recording medium, especially a phosphor storage plate (12), with a scanning head (10) which can move in relation to the recording medium and contains an imaging system in the form of an extended rotation-ellipsoidal mirror (14). The ellipsoidal mirror (14) has an inlet aperture (16) and an outlet aperture (18) at opposite ends. A scanning laser beam (30) impinges obliquely on the storage plate (12) moving past the inlet aperture (16). A reverse-tapering chamber (20) and a photodetector (24) are connected to the outlet aperture (18).