Single-exposure X-ray phase imaging microscopy with a grating interferometer.

The advent of hard X-ray free-electron lasers enables nanoscopic X-ray imaging with sub-picosecond temporal resolution. X-ray grating interferometry offers a phase-sensitive full-field imaging technique where the phase retrieval can be carried out from a single exposure alone. Thus, the method is attractive for imaging applications at X-ray free-electron lasers where intrinsic pulse-to-pulse fluctuations pose a major challenge. In this work, the single-exposure phase imaging capabilities of grating interferometry are characterized by an implementation at the I13-1 beamline of Diamond Light Source (Oxfordshire, UK). For comparison purposes, propagation-based phase contrast imaging was also performed at the same instrument. The characterization is carried out in terms of the quantitativeness and the contrast-to-noise ratio of the phase reconstructions as well as via the achievable spatial resolution. By using a statistical image reconstruction scheme, previous limitations of grating interferometry regarding the spatial resolution can be mitigated as well as the experimental applicability of the technique.

LED as laboratory test source for astronomical intensity interferometry.

The challenge of astronomical intensity interferometry is to detect the small photon-bunching signals of distant sources with a broad optical bandwidth. We have built a Hanbury Brown-Twiss-like laboratory intensity interferometer with a focus on a relatively broad bandwidth (1nm FWHM optical filter) and high photon rates (up to 10MHz) per channel compared to typical (non-astronomical) intensity interferometry applications. As a light source we use a green LED to simulate starlight. The LED has proven to be a compact high-power source of stochastic light with a special advantage of a small emission area, which favours spatial coherence. Using single-photon correlations, we detect a bunching signal in the second-order correlation function with a coherence time of <1ps and an amplitude of <4⋅10-4 and describe signal and background quantitatively for a 40 hours measurement. In this paper we show our setup, present the correlation measurements and compare them to theoretical expectations.

Reconstruction of scalar and vectorial components in X-ray dark-field tomography.

Grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging is a novel technique for obtaining image contrast for object structures at size scales below setup resolution. Such an approach appears particularly beneficial for medical imaging and nondestructive testing. It has already been shown that the dark-field signal depends on the direction of observation. However, up to now, algorithms for fully recovering the orientation dependence in a tomographic volume are still unexplored. In this publication, we propose a reconstruction method for grating-based X-ray dark-field tomography, which models the orientation-dependent signal as an additional observable from a standard tomographic scan. In detail, we extend the tomographic volume to a tensorial set of voxel data, containing the local orientation and contributions to dark-field scattering. In our experiments, we present the first results of several test specimens exhibiting a heterogeneous composition in microstructure, which demonstrates the diagnostic potential of the method.

Designing the phase grating for Talbot-Lau phase-contrast imaging systems: a simulation and experiment study.

The performance of a Talbot-Lau interferometer depends to a great extent on its visibility. This means, to obtain high quality phase-contrast and dark-field images a high visibility is mandatory. Several parameters influence the visibility of such a system, like for example the x-ray spectrum, the inter-grating distances or the parameters of the three gratings. In this multidimensional space, wave field simulations help to find the optimal combination of the grating specifications to construct a setup with a high visibility while retaining a fixed angular sensitivity. In this work we specifically analyzed the influence of the G1 grating duty cycle in simulations and experiments. We show that there is a lot of room for improvement by varying the duty cycle of the phase-shifting grating G1. As a result, by employing a third-integer duty cycle we can increase the visibility to up to 53 % in a laboratory setup with a polychromatic spectrum. The achieved visibility is more than two times higher compared to the result with a standard-type setup. This visibility gain allows a dose reduction by a factor of 5 preserving the same image quality.

Simulation framework for coherent and incoherent X-ray imaging and its application in Talbot-Lau dark-field imaging.

A simulation framework for coherent X-ray imaging, based on scalar diffraction theory, is presented. It contains a core C++ library and an additional Python interface. A workflow is presented to include contributions of inelastic scattering obtained with Monte-Carlo methods. X-ray Talbot-Lau interferometry is the primary focus of the framework. Simulations are in agreement with measurements obtained with such an interferometer. Especially, the dark-field signal of densely packed PMMA microspheres is predicted. A realistic modeling of the microsphere distribution, which is necessary for correct results, is presented. The framework can be used for both setup design and optimization but also to test and improve reconstruction methods.

Detection of non-classical space-time correlations with a novel type of single-photon camera.

During the last decades, multi-pixel detectors have been developed capable of registering single photons. The newly developed hybrid photon detector camera has a remarkable property that it has not only spatial but also temporal resolution. In this work, we apply this device to the detection of non-classical light from spontaneous parametric down-conversion and use two-photon correlations for the absolute calibration of its quantum efficiency.

Energy weighted x-ray dark-field imaging.

The dark-field image obtained in grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging can provide information about the objects' microstructures on a scale smaller than the pixel size even with low geometric magnification. In this publication we demonstrate that the dark-field image quality can be enhanced with an energy-resolving pixel detector. Energy-resolved x-ray dark-field images were acquired with a 16-energy-channel photon-counting pixel detector with a 1 mm thick CdTe sensor in a Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometer. A method for contrast-noise-ratio (CNR) enhancement is proposed and validated experimentally. In measurements, a CNR improvement by a factor of 1.14 was obtained. This is equivalent to a possible radiation dose reduction of 23%.

Increasing the darkfield contrast-to-noise ratio using a deconvolution-based information retrieval algorithm in X-ray grating-based phase-contrast imaging.

A novel information retrieval algorithm for X-ray grating-based phase-contrast imaging based on the deconvolution of the object and the reference phase stepping curve (PSC) as proposed by Modregger et al. was investigated in this paper. We applied the method for the first time on data obtained with a polychromatic spectrum and compared the results to those, received by applying the commonly used method, based on a Fourier analysis. We confirmed the expectation, that both methods deliver the same results for the absorption and the differential phase image. For the darkfield image, a mean contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) increase by a factor of 1.17 using the new method was found. Furthermore, the dose saving potential was estimated for the deconvolution method experimentally. It is found, that for the conventional method a dose which is higher by a factor of 1.66 is needed to obtain a similar CNR value compared to the novel method. A further analysis of the data revealed, that the improvement in CNR and dose efficiency is due to the superior background noise properties of the deconvolution method, but at the cost of comparability between measurements at different applied dose values, as the mean value becomes dependent on the photon statistics used.

Projection angle dependence in grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging of ordered structures.

Over the recent years X-ray differential phase-contrast imaging was developed for the hard X-ray regime as produced from laboratory X-ray sources. The technique uses a grating-based Talbot-Lau interferometer and was shown to yield image contrast gain, which makes it very interesting to the fields of medical imaging and non-destructive testing, respectively. In addition to X-ray attenuation contrast, the differential phase-contrast and dark-field images provide different structural information about a specimen. For the dark-field even at length scales much smaller than the spatial resolution of the imaging system. Physical interpretation of the dark-field information as present in radiographic and tomographic (CT) images requires a detailed look onto the geometric orientation between specimen and the setup. During phase-stepping the drop in intensity modulation, due to local scattering effects within the specimen is reproduced in the dark-field signal. This signal shows strong dependencies on micro-porosity and micro-fibers if these are numerous enough in the object. Since a grating-interferometer using a common unidirectional line grating is sensitive to X-ray scattering in one plane only, the dark-field image is influenced by the fiber orientations with respect to the grating bars, which can be exploited to obtain anisotropic structural information. With this contribution, we attempt to extend existing models for 2D projections to 3D data by analyzing dark-field contrast tomography of anisotropically structured materials such as carbon fiber reinforced carbon (CFRC).

Grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging with a multi energy-channel photon-counting pixel detector.

We have carried out grating-based x-ray differential phase-contrast measurements with a hybrid pixel detector in 16 energy channels simultaneously. A method for combining the energy resolved phase-contrast images based on energy weighting is presented. An improvement in contrast-to-noise ratio by 58.2% with respect to an emulated integrating detector could be observed in the final image. The same image quality could thus be achieved with this detector and with energy weighting at 60.0% reduced dose compared to an integrating detector. The benefit of the method depends on the object, spectrum, interferometer design and the detector efficiency.

Electromagnetic pulse protective shielding for digital x-ray detectors.

Laser-driven x-ray backlighting can be used to image fast dynamic processes like the propagation of laser-driven shock waves in matter. We demonstrate and evaluate the feasibility of operating the JUNGFRAU detector designed by PSI, a direct detecting x-ray detector, in environments with extreme electromagnetic pulses. The electromagnetic pulse-protective housing is specifically designed for this detector and optimized for pump-probe experiments at the Petawatt High-Energy Laser for Heavy Ion EXperiments (PHELIX) facility at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH. The beryllium x-ray entrance window of the protective housing has a high x-ray transmission of 94% at 8 keV. Measurements have shown that the housing simultaneously provides a relative damping of the electromagnetic field on average higher than 1000 in the frequency range of 100 MHz to 5 GHz. The results demonstrate the feasibility of operating digital detectors in experiments where strong electromagnetic pulses are present.

X-ray Dark-Field Imaging for Improved Contrast in Historical Handwritten Literature.

If ancient documents are too fragile to be opened, X-ray imaging can be used to recover the content non-destructively. As an extension to conventional attenuation imaging, dark-field imaging provides access to microscopic structural object information, which can be especially advantageous for materials with weak attenuation contrast, such as certain metal-free inks in paper. With cotton paper and different self-made inks based on authentic recipes, we produced test samples for attenuation and dark-field imaging at a metal-jet X-ray source. The resulting images show letters written in metal-free ink that were recovered via grating-based dark-field imaging. Without the need for synchrotron-like beam quality, these results set the ground for a mobile dark-field imaging setup that could be brought to a library for document scanning, avoiding long transport routes for valuable historic documents.

Noise in x-ray grating-based phase-contrast imaging.

PURPOSE: Grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging is a fast developing new modality not only for medical imaging, but as well for other fields such as material sciences. While these many possible applications arise, the knowledge of the noise behavior is essential. METHODS: In this work, the authors used a least squares fitting algorithm to calculate the noise behavior of the three quantities absorption, differential phase, and dark-field image. Further, the calculated error formula of the differential phase image was verified by measurements. Therefore, a Talbot interferometer was setup, using a microfocus x-ray tube as source and a Timepix detector for photon counting. Additionally, simulations regarding this topic were performed. RESULTS: It turned out that the variance of the reconstructed phase is only dependent of the total number of photons used to generate the phase image and the visibility of the experimental setup. These results could be evaluated in measurements as well as in simulations. Furthermore, the correlation between absorption and dark-field image was calculated. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide the understanding of the noise characteristics of grating-based phase-contrast imaging and will help to improve image quality.

Noise Reduction for Single-Shot Grating-Based Phase-Contrast Imaging at an X-ray Backlighter.

X-ray backlighters allow the capture of sharp images of fast dynamic processes due to extremely short exposure times. Moiré imaging enables simultaneously measuring the absorption and differential phase-contrast (DPC) of these processes. Acquiring images with one single shot limits the X-ray photon flux, which can result in noisy images. Increasing the photon statistics by repeating the experiment to gain the same image is not possible if the investigated processes are dynamic and chaotic. Furthermore, to reconstruct the DPC and transmission image, an additional measurement captured in absence of the object is required. For these reference measurements, shot-to-shot fluctuations in X-ray spectra and a source position complicate the averaging of several reference images for noise reduction. Here, two approaches of processing multiple reference images in combination with one single object image are evaluated regarding the image quality. We found that with only five reference images, the contrast-to-noise ratio can be improved by approximately 13% in the DPC image. This promises improvements for short-exposure single-shot acquisitions of rapid processes, such as laser-produced plasma shock-waves in high-energy density experiments at backlighter X-ray sources such as the PHELIX high-power laser facility.

Evaluation of the Weighted Mean X-ray Energy for an Imaging System Via Propagation-Based Phase-Contrast Imaging.

For imaging events of extremely short duration, like shock waves or explosions, it is necessary to be able to image the object with a single-shot exposure. A suitable setup is given by a laser-induced X-ray source such as the one that can be found at GSI (Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH) in Darmstadt (Society for Heavy Ion Research), Germany. There, it is possible to direct a pulse from the high-energy laser Petawatt High Energy Laser for Heavy Ion eXperiments (PHELIX) on a tungsten wire to generate a picosecond polychromatic X-ray pulse, called backlighter. For grating-based single-shot phase-contrast imaging of shock waves or exploding wires, it is important to know the weighted mean energy of the X-ray spectrum for choosing a suitable setup. In propagation-based phase-contrast imaging the knowledge of the weighted mean energy is necessary to be able to reconstruct quantitative phase images of unknown objects. Hence, we developed a method to evaluate the weighted mean energy of the X-ray backlighter spectrum using propagation-based phase-contrast images. In a first step wave-field simulations are performed to verify the results. Furthermore, our evaluation is cross-checked with monochromatic synchrotron measurements with known energy at Diamond Light Source (DLS, Didcot, UK) for proof of concepts.

Discrimination analysis of breast calcifications using x-ray dark-field radiography.

BACKGROUND: X-ray dark-field radiography could enhance mammography by providing more information on imaged tissue and microcalcifications. The dark field signal is a measure of small angle scattering and can thus provide additional information on the imaged materials. This information can be useful for material distinction of calcifications and the diagnosis of breast cancer by classifying benign and malign association of these calcifications. METHODS: For this study, institutional review board approval was obtained. We present the evaluation of images acquired with interferometric grating-based x-ray imaging of 323 microcalcifications (166 malign and 157 benign associated) in freshly dissected breast tissue and compare the results to the information extracted in follow-up pathological evaluation. The number of imaged calcifications is sufficiently higher than in similar previous studies. Fourteen calcification properties were extracted from the digital images and used as predictors in three different models common in discrimination analysis namely a simple threshold model, a naive Bayes model and a linear regression model, which classify the calcifications as associated with a benign or suspicious finding. Three of these fourteen predictors have been newly defined in this work and are independent from the tissue background surrounding the microcalcifications. Using these predictors no background correction is needed, as in previous works in this field. The new predictors are the length of the first and second principle component of the absorption and dark-field data, as well as the angle between the first principle component and the dark-field axis. We called these predictors data length, data width, and data orientation. RESULTS: In fourfold cross-validation malignancy of the imaged tissue was predicted. Models that take only classical absorption predictors into account reached a sensitivity of 53.3% at a specificity of 81.1%. For a combination of predictors that also include dark field information, a sensitivity of 63.2% and specificity of 80.8% were obtained. The included dark field information consisted of the newly introduced parameters, data orientation and data width. CONCLUSIONS: While remaining at a similar specificity, the sensitivity, with which a trained model was able to distinguish malign from benign associated calcifications, was increased by 10% on including dark-field information. This suggests grating-based x-ray imaging as a promising clinical imaging method in the field of mammography.

Assessment of the additional clinical potential of X-ray dark-field imaging for breast cancer in a preclinical setup.

BACKGROUND: Mammography can identify calcifications up to 50-100 µm in size as a surrogate parameter for breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Microcalcifications measuring <50 µm are also associated with breast cancer or DCIS and are frequently not detected on mammography, although they can be detected with dark-field imaging. This study examined whether additional breast examination using X-ray dark-field imaging can increase the detection rate of calcifications. Advances in knowledge: (1) evaluation of additional modality of breast imaging; (2) specific evaluation of breast calcifications.Implications for patient care: the addition of X-ray dark-field imaging to conventional mammography could detect additional calcifications. METHODS: Talbot-Lau X-ray phase-contrast imaging and X-ray dark-field imaging were used to acquire images of breast specimens. The radiation dosage with the technique is comparable with conventional mammography. Three X-ray gratings with periods of 5-10 µm between the X-ray tube and the flat-panel detector provide three different images in a single sequence: the conventional attenuation image, differential phase image, and dark-field image. The images were read by radiologists. Radiological findings were marked and examined pathologically. The results were described in a descriptive manner. RESULTS: A total of 81 breast specimens were investigated with the two methods; 199 significant structures were processed pathologically, consisting of 123 benign and 76 malignant lesions (DCIS or invasive breast cancer). X-ray dark-field imaging identified 15 additional histologically confirmed carcinoma lesions that were visible but not declared suspicious on digital mammography alone. Another four malignant lesions that were not visible on mammography were exclusively detected with X-ray dark-field imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Adding X-ray dark-field imaging to digital mammography increases the detection rate for breast cancer and DCIS associated lesions with micrometer-sized calcifications.The use of X-ray dark-field imaging may be able to provide more accurate and detailed radiological classification of suspicious breast lesions.Adding X-ray dark-field imaging to mammography may be able to increase the detection rate and improve preoperative planning in deciding between mastectomy or breast-conserving therapy, particularly in patients with invasive lobular breast cancer.

Talbot-Lau x-ray phase-contrast setup for fast scanning of large samples.

Compared to conventional attenuation x-ray radiographic imaging, the x-ray Talbot-Lau technique provides further information about the scattering and the refractive properties of the object in the beam path. Hence, this additional information should improve the diagnostic process concerning medical applications and non-destructive testing. Nevertheless, until now, due to grating fabrication process, Talbot-Lau imaging suffers from small grating sizes (70 mm diameter). This leads to long acquisition times for imaging large objects. Stitching the gratings is one solution. Another one consists of scanning Talbot-Lau setups. In this publication, we present a compact and very fast scanning setup which enables imaging of large samples. With this setup a maximal scanning velocity of 71.7 mm/s is possible. A resolution of 4.1 lines/mm can be achieved. No complex alignment procedures are necessary while the field of view comprises 17.5 × 150 cm2. An improved reconstruction algorithm concerning the scanning approach, which increases robustness with respect to mechanical instabilities, has been developed and is presented. The resolution of the setup in dependence of the scanning velocity is evaluated. The setup imaging qualities are demonstrated using a human knee ex-vivo as an example for a high absorbing human sample.

Exploration of different x-ray Talbot-Lau setups for dark-field lung imaging examined in a porcine lung.

X-ray dark-field imaging is a promising technique for lung diagnosis. Due to the alveolar structure of lung tissue, a higher contrast is obtained by the dark-field image compared to the attenuation image. Animal studies indicate an enhancement regarding the detection of lung diseases in early stages. In this publication, we focus on the influence of different Talbot-Lau interferometer specifications while maintaining the x-ray source, sample magnification and detector system. By imaging the same porcine lung with three different grating sets, we analyze the contrast-to-noise ratio of the obtained dark-field images with respect to visibility and correlation length. We demonstrate that relatively large grating periods of the phase and of the analyzer grating are sufficient for high quality lung imaging at reasonable dose levels.

Single-shot Talbot-Lau x-ray dark-field imaging of a porcine lung applying the moiré imaging approach.

Talbot-Lau x-ray imaging provides additionally to the conventional attenuation image, two further images: the differential phase-contrast image which is especially sensitive to differences in refractive properties and the dark-field image which is showing the x-ray scattering properties of the object. Thus, in the dark-field image sub-pixeled object information can be observed. As it has been shown in recent studies, this is of special interest for lung imaging. Changes in the alveoli structure, which are in the size of one detector pixel, can be seen in the dark-field images. A fast acquisition process is crucial to avoid motion artifacts due to heartbeat and breathing of the patient. Using moiré imaging the images can be acquired with a single-shot exposure. Nevertheless, the spatial resolution is reduced compared to the phase-stepping acquisition. We evaluate the results of both imaging techniques towards their feasibility in clinical routine. Furthermore, we analyse the influence of artificial linear object movement on the image quality, in order to simulate the heartbeat of a patient.