Tailoring the time response of a Bragg reflection to short X-ray pulses.

The rather complicated time response of a crystal reflection to short incident pulses has been investigated by several authors. In this paper schemes are given to simplify this time response. In the Bragg case a small enough crystal thickness shortens the response considerably. In the Laue case the use of two successive reflections is very promising.

Diffraction of short X-ray pulses in the general asymmetric Laue case - an analytic treatment.

After briefly describing the concept of short X-ray pulses (delta-function), the diffraction of such a short pulse by a crystal in the asymmetric Laue case is given. The results of the dynamical theory are adopted and an analytic result for the intensity distribution behind the crystal in the diffracted direction as well as in the forward direction is given and discussed in detail. The incoming delta pulse is no longer infinitely short but shows a pronounced structure over a limited temporal or spatial region which is connected to the well known Pendellösung effect. Also the limitations of these findings are critically inspected.

Characterization of implanted semiconductors by means of white-beam and plane-wave synchrotron topography.

Al(x)Ga(1-x)As epitaxic layers, with x = 0.43 and GaAs single crystals implanted with various doses of high-energy Se and Si ions, and silicon single crystals implanted with high-energy light ions were studied by means of different X-ray diffraction methods employing either a strongly limited white beam or a highly collimated monochromatic beam. The methods provided complementary characterization of lattice parameter changes and lattice deformation in the implanted layers. The synchrotron rocking curves recorded with a small-diameter beam provided a very good separation of interference maxima and enabled determination of the strain profile. A characteristic difference in strain depth distributions between the implanted A(III)B(V) compounds and silicon was noticed. Ion implantation in A(III)B(V) compounds produced a relatively thick layer with an almost constant and distinctly increased lattice parameter in regions close to the surface, whereas, in the case of silicon, shot-through layers with almost unchanged lattice spacing were observed. Other important information obtained from the synchrotron micro-Laue pattern was that the interference fringes caused by crystal curvature or strain gradient are located in the plane of diffraction, while parts of the Laue spot corresponding to the deformed regions are usually displaced.

In situ measurement of iron overload in liver tissue by dual-energy methods.

The errors for determining liver iron content by dual-energy computed tomography (dual-energy CT) are calculated for the ideal case where only monochromatic x-ray beams are used. Because of the strong influence of spatial resolution on the radiation dose needed to reduce the error to a given level, we have also calculated the error in dual-energy transmission measurements alone, where the spatial information along the beam path is lost. The prediction of error was tested by simulations and measurements using x-rays emitted by radioactive isotopes and synchrotron radiation. Good agreement between calculation, simulation and measurement was found. It is shown that concentrations of liver iron content (disregarding variation of tissue composition) can be studied with a skin dose of about 30 mGy using dual-energy CT and even with much lower dose using dual-energy transmission measurements. However, there are sources of error besides photon noise, especially errors caused by variation of tissue composition. For example dual-energy CT, although suggested to avoid artifacts caused by fat in the case of a fatty liver, still is affected by fat. The magnitude of these errors is discussed qualitatively, and possibilities for their reduction are suggested. For a definitive estimate of errors of iron content measurements with optimized apparatus more experimental data for well defined variations of body tissue, especially in the case of haemochromatosis, are needed.

Intravenous coronary angiography with dichromography using synchrotron radiation.

Dichromography represents a digital subtraction angiography mode based on energy substraction which allows imaging of fast moving subjects like the heart. For logarithmic subtraction 2 images with X-rays just below and above the iodine K-edge (33.17 keV) are simultaneously obtained in a line scan mode. Monochromatic X-rays of sufficient intensity to visualize coronary arteries of 1 mm diameter with extremely low iodine concentrations (1 mg/cm2) after venous injection is only provided by synchrotron radiation. The system NIKOS (non-invasive coronary arteriography with synchrotron radiation) at the Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY) consists of 6 components: a wiggler, a monochromator, a safety system, a scanning device, a detector and a computer system. After experimental studies in dogs patients are imaged since 1990. Initial results demonstrate feasibility and safety of synchrotron radiation coronary angiography. Large scale studies are designed to further evaluate sensitivity and specificity. When compact synchrotron radiation sources become available, this technique could be used for follow-up studies and for evaluation of certain high coronary risk populations.

[New possibilities for structural analysis of bone biopsies using microcomputer tomography (muCT)]. / Neue Möglichkeiten der Strukturanalyse von Knochenbiopsien bei Anwendung der Mikrocomputertomographie (muCT).

The combined histological and microcomputed analysis of human iliac crest biopsies leads to major advances in our understanding of three-dimensional bone architecture. Microcomputed tomography avoids the time-consuming reconstruction and artifacts of serial sections. Furthermore, its high resolution allows the recording of structural differences as low as 10 microns. Thus, three-dimensional analysis in combination with histological evaluation of cellular dynamics facilitates earlier and easier recording of changes of cancellous bone.

3D computed X-ray tomography of human cancellous bone at 8 microns spatial and 10(-4) energy resolution.

Human cancellous bone was imaged and its absorptive density accurately measured in three dimensions (3D), nondestructively and at high spatial resolution by means of computerized microtomography (microCT). Essential for achieving the resolution and accuracy was the use of monoenergetic synchrotron radiation (SR) which avoided beam hardening effects, secured excellent contrast conditions including the option of energy-modulated contrast, and yet provided high intensity. To verify the resolution, we selected objects of approximately 8 micron size that could be observed on tomograms and correlated them in a unique manner to their counter images seen in histological sections prepared from the same specimen volume. Thus we have shown that the resolution expected from the voxel size of 8 microns used in the microCT process is in effect also attained in our results. In achieving the present results no X-ray-optical magnification was used. From microCT studies of composites (Bonse et al., X-ray tomographic microscopy (XTM) applied to carbon-fibre composites. In: Materlik G, ed. HASYLAB Jahresbericht 1990. Hamburg: DESY, 1990; 567-568) we know that by including X-ray magnification a resolution below 2 microns is obtained. Therefore, with foreseeable development of our microCT method, the 3D and nondestructive investigation of structures in mineralized bone on the 2 micron level is feasible. For example, it should be possible to study tomographically the 3D distribution and amount of osteoclastic resorption in the surrounding bone structure.

High spatial resolution imaging of bone mineral using computed microtomography. Comparison with microradiography and undecalcified histologic sections.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The application of various high-resolution (< 100 microns) imaging techniques for in vitro bone mineral analysis is explored. METHODS: The techniques of contact microradiography and microtomography, using the x-ray spectrum filtered out of synchrotron radiation (SR) and conventional staining techniques, are compared to each other by presenting a variety of different samples. The relationship between radiation exposure and spatial resolution micro-computed tomography (CT) images of a finger bone is explored. The relevant properties of SR are explained. RESULTS: In CT images, a spatial resolution of 100 microns was obtained. New bone mineral induced by mechanical periosteal irritation in a rabbit tibia was quantified. In one case a microradiogram and a microtomogram of the same slice were taken for comparison. Histologic sections and microradiograms taken from a specimen of a human femur for comparison are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Microradiography and staining techniques require rather sophisticated sample preparation; quantitative image analysis is more difficult as the resulting image must be digitized. The CT technique requires almost no sample preparation and allows for accurate bone mineral quantification. However, CT images with a resolution of several microns limit the sample size to a few mm. Micro-CT and microradiography can be performed with conventional x-ray sources, but the use of SR is of particular interest in high resolution imaging, because its white spectrum allows for optimum x-ray energy selection and its high intensity for short scan times.

Synchrotron radiation white beam topography with an oscillating monochromator.

Drawbacks of white beam topography with synchrotron radiation, such as intense fluorescence background, thermal strain, and radiation damage, can be avoided by filtering the beam with an oscillating perfect crystal monochromator. The advantage of the white beam technique, namely the imaging of a sample of poor quality, is maintained. The image contrast is even improved due to the suppression of higher harmonics. Topographs of a LiF crystal demonstrate the feasibility of the method.

A fast low-noise line scan x-ray detector.

A fast, low-noise line scan detector (NIKOS) for digital radiography has been developed. It consists of an input x-ray phosphor screen that is coupled to a modified Reticon photodiode array by means of fiber optics with incorporated image intensifier. In its current version the detector can be operated with a maximum 500 Hz image acquisition rate for interlaced readout of two lines of 128 pixels each. Using a Gd2O2S:Tb x-ray input phosphor, an afterglow of 25% in the first subsequent readout was observed. We also conducted afterglow measurements on several other powder and single-crystal phosphors and the photodiode array. Using CdWO4, the afterglow of the detector is limited by the lag of the photodiode array of 4.5%. By modifying the readout electronics the noise of the photodiode array was reduced to below 1 Graylevel, corresponding to a signal-to-noise ratio of 5200. The detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the detector ranged from 0.18 to 0.4 for typical signal levels. The sensitivity was 10% saturation per 1.9 mR entrance dose. The modular design of the NIKOS detector allows for individual selection of each component to optimize performance for a given application.