Donepudi V. Rao

X- and gamma-ray tomography for nondestructive material testing

Various apparatus for x and (gamma) -ray computed tomography (CT) have been constructed by us during the last 20 years, with the aim of producing simple and low-cost systems for nondestructive testing. The first one was constructed in 1980 and used an Am241 radioactive source emitting 59.6 keV (gamma) -rays and a single NaI(Tl)-x ray detector. Successively, the radioactive source was substituted during the years by x-ray tubes, and the single detector by multi- detection system such as arrays of detectors and image intensifiers. The last CT-scanner employs a 160 kV x-ray tube and a 6 X 6 image intensifier coupled through a lens to a cooled CCD-camera. At the same time, also (gamma) CT-scanners were constructed for large size and/or high-density samples. These are based on Ir192 or Cs137 radioactive sources coupled to a single NaI(Tl)(gamma) -ray detector. The characteristics and properties of the CT-scanners based on the use of x-ray tubes, emitting x-rays in the energy range 20 - 100 keV, and on (gamma) emitting radioisotopes (Ir192 and Cs137) have been studied and will be described in this paper. Various types of objects have been studied: test objects and common objects such as tree trunks, wood fragments, nuts, ceramic samples, insulators and, etc. Samples have been imaged, after using iodine compounds as tracers.

X-RAY SCATTERING CROSS SECTIONS FOR MOLECULES, PLASTICS, TISSUES, AND FEW BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS

ABSTRACT Compton and Rayleigh scattering cross sections for bone, bakelite, polycarbonate, nylon, lucite, polystyrene, polyethylene, water, glycogen, fat, calcium hydroxyapatite and protein are calculated for various monoenergetic Kα X-ray energies covering the angular region from 0 to 180° using non-relativistic, relativistic, relativistic modified and molecular form factors and the non-relativistic incoherent scattering function. The scattered radiation from these materials will be very useful to develop a semianalytic model to investigate the potential applications of X-ray scatter imaging. The scatter model can be used as a tool for designing and optimizing X-ray imaging system. However, one particular area of interest is in Monte Carlo simulation of photon transport in applications to medical physics and radiography.

Medical imaging by fluorescent x-ray CT: its preliminary clinical evaluation

Fluorescent x-ray CT (FXCT) with synchrotron radiation (SR) is being developed to detect the very low concentration of specific elements. The endogenous iodine of the human thyroid and the non-radioactive iodine labeled BMIPP in myocardium were imaged by FXCT. FXCT system consists of a silicon (111) double crystal monochromator, an x-ray slit, a scanning table for object positioning, a fluorescent x-ray detector, and a transmission x-ray detector. Monochromatic x-ray with 37 keV energy was collimated into a pencil beam (from 1 mm to 0.025 mm). FXCT clearly imaged endogenous iodine of thyroid and iodine labeled BMIPP in myocardium, whereas transmission x-ray CT could not demonstrate iodine. The distribution of iodine was heterogeneous within thyroid cancer, and its concentration was lower than that of normal thyroid. Distribution of BMIPP in normal rat myocardium was almost homogeneous; however, reduced uptake was slightly shown in ischemic region. FXCT is a highly sensitive imaging modality to detect very low concentration of specific element and will be applied to reveal endogenous iodine distribution in thyroid and to use tracer study with various kinds of labeled material.

Doppler Broadening and its Contribution to Compton Energy-Absorption Cross Sections: An Analysis of the Compton Component in Terms of Mass-Energy Absorption Coefficient

Compton energy absorption cross sections are calculated using the formulas based on a relativistic impulse approximation to assess the contribution of Doppler broadening and to examine the Compton profile literature and explore what, if any, effect our knowledge of this line broadening has on the Compton component in terms of mass–energy absorption coefficient. Compton energy-absorption cross sections are evaluated for all elements, Z=1–100, and for photon energies 1 keV–100 MeV. Using these cross sections, the Compton component of the mass–energy absorption coefficient is derived in the energy region from 1 keV to 1 MeV for all the elements Z=1–100. The electron momentum prior to the scattering event should cause a Doppler broadening of the Compton line. The momentum resolution function is evaluated in terms of incident and scattered photon energy and scattering angle. The overall momentum resolution of each contribution is estimated for x-ray and γ-ray energies of experimental interest in the angular re...

Computed tomographic images using tube source of x rays: interior properties of the material

An image intensifier based computed tomography scanner and a tube source of x-rays are used to obtain the images of small objects, plastics, wood and soft materials in order to know the interior properties of the material. A new method is developed to estimate the degree of monochromacy, total solid angle, efficiency and geometrical effects of the measuring system and the way to produce monoenergetic radiation. The flux emitted by the x-ray tube is filtered using the appropriate filters at the chosen optimum energy and reasonable monochromacy is achieved and the images are acceptably distinct. Much attention has been focused on the imaging of small objects of weakly attenuating materials at optimum value. At optimum value it is possible to calculate the three-dimensional representation of inner and outer surfaces of the object. The image contrast between soft materials could be significantly enhanced by optimal selection of the energy of the x-rays by Monte Carlo methods. The imaging system is compact, reasonably economic, has a good contrast resolution, simple operation and routine availability and explores the use of optimizing tomography for various applications.

Images of the Rat bone, Vertebra and Test phantom Using Diffraction-Enhanced Imaging Technique with 20, 30 and 40 keV Synchrotron X-rays

Images of rat bone of different age groups (8, 56 and 78 weeks), lumbar vertebra and calcium hydroxyapatite phantom are obtained utilizing the diffraction‐enhanced imaging technique. Images obtained with DEI are of superior quality and this novel technique may be an excellent choice for better visualization of the microstructure and the embedded spongiosa. Our motivation is to develop the optimizing tomography with the use of the data obtained at multiple energies.

Measuring Techniques for Compton, Rayleigh and Fluorescence Cross-Sections Excited by keV Photons : Potential Use for Various Applications

Compton, Rayleigh and fluorescence cross-sections for low, medium and high Z atoms are measured at low photon energies (<100 keV) using an X-ray tube with secondary target. A new approach is developed to estimate the solid angle approximation and geometrical efficiency for a system with experimental arrangement using X-ray tube and secondary target as excitation source. Using this arrangement basic interaction cross-section measurements are performed in vacuum and reasonable monochromacy is achieved. Our motivation is mainly based on fundamental radiation interactions and radiology in mind. The present X-ray system considering the geometrical effects of the measuring system is more advantageous as far as the reduction of incoherently scattered background and improvement of monochroamcy is concerned. The variation of the solid angle is studied by changing the radius and length of the collimators towards and away from the source and sample. From these values the variation of the solid angle and geometrical efficiency is deduced and the optimum value is used for the experimental work. The experimental system is very simple in design, compact and economical. Experimental results based on these systems are compared with theoretical estimates and good agreement is observed in between them.

Importance of Doppler broadening in Compton scatter imaging techniques

Compton scattering is a potential tool for the determination of bone mineral content or tissue density for dose planning purposes, and requires knowledge of the energy distribution of the X-rays through biological materials of medical interest in the X-ray and (gamma) -ray region. The energy distribution is utilized in a number of ways in diagnostic radiology, for example, in determining primary photon spectra, electron densities in separate volumes, and in tomography and imaging. The choice of the X-ray energy is more related to X-ray absorption, where as that of the scattering angle is more related to geometry. The evaluation of all the contributions are mandatory in Compton profile measurements and is important in X-ray imaging systems in order to achieve good results. In view of this, Compton profile cross-sections for few biological materials are estimated at nineteen K(alpha) X-ray energies and 60 keV (Am-241) photons. Energy broadening, geometrical broadening from 1 to 180 degree(s), FWHM of J(Pz) and FWHM of Compton energy broadening has been evaluated at various incident photon energies. These values are estimated around the centroid of the Compton profile with an energy interval of 0.1 keV and 1.0 keV for 60 keV photons. The interaction cross sections for the above materials are estimated using fractions-by-weight of the constituent elements. Input data for these tables are purely theoretical.