Accurate PSF determination in x ray image restoration.

When a source's focal spot is known, an x ray image can be significantly improved by a deconvolution algorithm with the point spread function (PSF). We propose a simple method to measure the PSF for image restoration using x ray speckle imaging. In this method, the PSF is reconstructed with intensity and total variation constraints from a single x ray speckle of an ordinary diffuser. Compared with the traditional time-consuming measurement with a pinhole camera, the speckle imaging method is fast and easy to execute. When the PSF is available, we use a deconvolution algorithm to reconstruct the sample's radiography image, and the result provides more structural details than the original images.

Quantitative analysis of fringe visibility in grating-based x-ray phase-contrast imaging.

The newly developed x-ray differential phase-contrast imaging technique has attracted increasing research interest. In this study, we quantitatively analyze the fringe visibility obtained in differential phase-contrast imaging. Numerical results of the visibility for polychromatic x rays with different structure heights of absorption gratings are shown and discussed. Furthermore, the fringe visibility of the nonabsorption grating approach is calculated, and based on the results, we conclude that this approach can potentially be applied for higher x-ray photon energies. These analytic results will be useful for designing a differential phase-contrast imaging system for different applications.

Sampling grating approach for X-ray differential phase contrast imaging.

Grating-based X-ray differential phase contrast imaging (GDPCI) typically employs the phase-stepping technique to extract an object's phase information. This method requires heavy radiation dosage and is time consuming. Another potential approach is the reverse projection (RP) method, which, however, relies on a synchrotron radiation source to obtain highly sensitive differential phase contrast(DPC) signal. Here, we present an alternative approach that enables the RP method to be used with a conventional X-ray source and substantially improves the sensitivity of the DPC signal by replacing the analyzer grating of the GDPCI with a sampling grating. This development represents a significant step towards obtaining fast and low-dosage DPC images in medical, biological, and industrial applications.

Approach for differential phase contrast imaging in x-ray microscopy.

We propose a differential phase contrast imaging method in x-ray microscopy by utilizing a biased derivative filter, which is structurally similar to that used in visible optics, except that phase changes by the filter cannot be ignored in the x-ray range. However, it is demonstrated that the filter's phase retardation does not disturb its function of phase contrast imaging, and even enhances the signals to some extent. Theoretical formulations and corresponding numerical simulations show that the approach is capable of performing characteristic differential microscopic phase imaging with nanometer-scale resolution. Manageable parameters are also examined in detail for pursuing a high image quality.

Analysis of field of view limited by a multi-line X-ray source and its improvement for grating interferometry.

X-ray phase-contrast imaging based on grating interferometry is a technique with the potential to provide absorption, differential phase contrast, and dark-field signals simultaneously. The multi-line X-ray source used recently in grating interferometry has the advantage of high-energy X-rays for imaging of thick samples for most clinical and industrial investigations. However, it has a drawback of limited field of view (FOV), because of the axial extension of the X-ray emission area. In this paper, we analyze the effects of axial extension of the multi-line X-ray source on the FOV and its improvement in terms of Fresnel diffraction theory. Computer simulation results show that the FOV limitation can be overcome by use of an alternative X-ray tube with a specially designed multi-step anode. The FOV of this newly designed X-ray source can be approximately four times larger than that of the multi-line X-ray source in the same emission area. This might be beneficial for the applications of X-ray phase contrast imaging in materials science, biology, medicine, and industry.

A low cost method for hard x-ray grating interferometry.

Grating interferometry is advantageous over conventional x-ray absorption imaging because it enables the detection of samples constituted by low atomic number elements (low-Z materials). Therefore, it has a potential application in biological science and medical diagnostics. The grating interferometry has some critical optics components such as absorption gratings which are conventionally manufactured by the lithography, electroplating, and molding (LIGA) technique and employing gold as the absorbent material in it. However, great challenge lies in its implementations for practical applications because of the cost and difficulty to achieve high aspect ratio absorbing grating devices. In this paper, we present a low-cost approach that involves using the micro-casting technique with bismuth (Bi) as the absorber in source grating and as well as filling cesium iodide thallium(CsI:Tl) in a periodically structured scintillator. No costly facilities as synchrotron radiation are required and cheap material is used in our approach. Our experiment using these components shows high quality complementary images can be obtained with contrast of absorption, phase and visibility. This alternative method conquers the limitation of costly grating devices for a long time and stands an important step towards the further practical application of grating interferometry.