Holographic x-ray detection: A method for high resolution, high efficiency x-ray detection with differential phase contrast

Abstract

Typical x-ray detectors have a fundamental trade-off between resolution and quantum efficiency (QE). High quantum efficiency x-ray detection requires a thick conversion medium, but decreases the resolution due to limited pixel aspect ratios for both direct and indirect x-ray detection. We present a method for x-ray detection, holographic x-ray detection, which uses photorefractive materials to create a high resolution and high efficiency detector. The x-ray image is recorded in the volume of the photorefractive material, bypassing the aspect ratio issue of typical x-ray detectors. Holographic x-ray detection operates in three stages: recording an x-ray hologram in a photorefractive crystal, reading the hologram with visible light, and then erasing the hologram using ultraviolet light. We have experimentally demonstrated holographic x-ray detection with a resolution of 208 lp/mm (80% QE at 40\u2009keV), an order of magnitude resolution improvement over commercially available x-ray detectors while maintaining\u2009>\u200980% QE.