C. Kottler

A two-directional approach for grating based differential phase contrast imaging using hard x-rays.

We report on a two-directional approach for grating based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging. In order to retrieve good quality and artifact-free phase images for quantitative analysis and image processing, particular emphasis is put on the algorithm for proper phase retrieval. Examples of application are discussed that demonstrate the functionality of the method even in cases where the one-dimensional phase integration fails completely.

High-resolution differential phase contrast imaging using a magnifying projection geometry with a microfocus x-ray source

Differential x-ray phase contrast imaging using a grating interferometer was combined with a magnifying cone beam geometry using a conventional microfocus x-ray tube. This brings the advantages of a magnifying cone beam setup, namely, a high spatial resolution in the micron range and the possibility of using an efficient, low resolution detector, into differential phase contrast imaging. The authors present methodical investigations which show how the primary measurement signal depends on the magnification factor. As an illustration of the potential of this quantitative imaging technique, a high-resolution x-ray phase contrast tomography of an insect is presented.

The fractional Talbot effect in differential x-ray phase-contrast imaging for extended and polychromatic x-ray sources

The influence of different physical parameters, such as the source size and the energy spectrum, on the functional capability of a grating interferometer applied for phase‐contrast imaging is discussed using numerical simulations based on Fresnel diffraction theory. The presented simulation results explain why the interferometer could be well combined with polychromatic laboratory x‐ray sources in recent experiments. Furthermore, it is shown that the distance between the two gratings of the interferometer is not in general limited by the width of the photon energy spectrum. This implies that interferometers that give a further improved image quality for phase measurements can be designed, because the primary measurement signal for phase measurements can be increased by enlargement of this distance. Finally, the mathematical background and practical instructions for the quantitative evaluation of measurement data acquired with a polychromatic x‐ray source are given.

Grating interferometer based scanning setup for hard x-ray phase contrast imaging

In x-ray radiography, particularly for technical and industrial applications, a scanning setup is very often favorable when compared to a direct two-dimensional image acquisition. Here, we report on an efficient scanning method for grating based x-ray phase contrast imaging with tube based sources. It uses multiple line detectors for staggered acquisition of the individual phase-stepping images. We find that the total exposure time does not exceed the time needed in an equivalent scanning setup for absorption radiography. Therefore, we conclude that it should be possible to implement the method into a scanning system without affecting the scanning speed or significant increase in cost but with the advantage of providing both the phase contrast and the absorption information at once.

Inspection of refractive x-ray lenses using high-resolution differential phase contrast imaging with a microfocus x-ray source

A refractive x-ray lens was characterized using a magnifying cone beam setup for differential phase contrast imaging in combination with a microfocus x-ray tube. Thereby, the differential and the total phase shift of x rays transmitted through the lens were determined. Lens aberrations have been characterized based on these refractive properties.