Pavel Trtik

Stripe and ring artifact removal with combined wavelet — Fourier filtering

A fast, powerful and stable filter based on combined wavelet and Fourier analysis for the elimination of horizontal or vertical stripes in images is presented and compared with other types of destriping filters. Strict separation between artifacts and original features allowing both, suppression of the unwanted structures and high degree of preservation of the original image information is endeavoured. The results are validated by visual assessments, as well as by quantitative estimation of the image energy loss. The capabilities and the performance of the filter are tested on a number of case studies related to applications in tomographic imaging. The case studies include (i) suppression of waterfall artifacts in electron microscopy images based on focussed ion beam nanotomography, (ii) removal of different types of ring artifacts in synchrotron based X-ray microtomography and (iii) suppression of horizontal stripe artifacts from phase projections in grating interferometry.

Spatiotemporal computed tomography of dynamic processes

Modern computed tomography (CT) equipment allowing fast 3-D imaging also makes it possible to monitor dynamic processes by 4-D imaging. Because the acquisition time of various 3-D-CT systems is still in the range of at least milliseconds or even hours, depending on the detector system and the source, the balance of the desired temporal and spatial resolution must be adjusted. Furthermore, motion artifacts will occur, especially at high spatial resolution and longer measuring times. We propose two approaches based on nonsequential projection angle sequences allowing a convenient postacquisition balance of temporal and spatial resolution. Both strategies are compatible with existing instruments, needing only a simple reprograming of the angle list used for projection acquisition and care with the projection order list. Both approaches will reduce the impact of artifacts due to motion. The strategies are applied and validated with cold neutron imaging of water desorption from originally saturated particles during natural air-drying experiments and with x-ray tomography of a polymer blend heated during imaging.

Focussed ion beam nanotomography reveals the 3D morphology of different solid phases in hardened cement pastes

Due to the development of integrated low‐keV back‐scattered electron detectors, it has become possible in focussed ion beam nanotomography to segment not only solid matter and porosity of hardened cement paste, but also to distinguish different phases within the solid matter. This paper illustrates a method that combines two different approaches for improving the contrast between different phases in the solid matrix of a cement paste. The first approach is based on the application of a specially developed 3D diffusion filter. The second approach is based on a modified data‐acquisition procedure during focussed ion beam nanotomography. A pair of electron images is acquired for each slice in the focussed ion beam nanotomography dataset. The first image is captured immediately after ion beam milling; the second image is taken after a prolonged exposure to electron beam scanning. The acquisition of complementary focussed ion beam nanotomography datasets and processing the images with a 3D anisotropic diffusion filter allows distinguishing different phases within the hydration products.

Progress in High-resolution Neutron Imaging at the Paul Scherrer Institut - The Neutron Microscope Project

Here we report the recent advances in the Neutron Microscope project at the Paul Scherrer Institut. We demonstrate the recent improvement on the capability of neutron imaging that allows us to acquire neutron images with isotropic spatial resolution of about 5 micrometres.

Mass Density and Water Content of Saturated Never-Dried Calcium Silicate Hydrates

Calcium silicate hydrates (C-S-H) are the most abundant hydration products in ordinary Portland cement paste. Yet, despite the critical role they play in determining mechanical and transport properties, there is still a debate about their density and exact composition. Here, the site-specific mass density and composition of C-S-H in hydrated cement paste are determined with nanoscale resolution in a nondestructive approach. We used ptychographic X-ray computed tomography in order to determine spatially resolved mass density and water content of the C-S-H within the microstructure of the cement paste. Our findings indicate that the C-S-H at the border of hydrated alite particles possibly have a higher density than the apparent inner-product C-S-H, which is contrary to the common expectations from previous works on hydrated cement paste.

Quantification of a Single Aggregate Inner Porosity and Pore Accessibility Using Hard X-ray Phase-Contrast Nanotomography

The 3D structure of three individual aggregates composed of 165 nm polystyrene primary particles is revealed nondestructively by hard X-ray phase-contrast synchrotron nanotomography. Three-dimensional image analysis allows us for the first time to obtain the complex inner porosity of the entire aggregate. It is demonstrated that despite their rather compact structure, characterized by a fractal dimension equal to 2.7, the produced aggregates are still porous, with porosity increasing with its size. Generated pores have diameters from 100 nm to 3 μm and are almost completely interconnected.

Rotation axis demultiplexer enabling simultaneous computed tomography of multiple samples.

Graphical abstract

100 Hz neutron radiography at the BOA beamline using a parabolic focussing guide

Graphical abstract

Hard X-ray Phase-Contrast Tomographic Nanoimaging

Synchrotron‐based full‐field tomographic microscopy established itself as a tool for noninvasive investigations. Many beamlines worldwide routinely achieve micrometer spatial resolution while the isotropic 100‐nm barrier is reached and trespassed only by few instruments, mainly in the soft x‐ray regime. We present an x‐ray, full‐field microscope with tomographic capabilities operating at 10 keV and with a 3D isotropic resolution of 144 nm recently installed at the TOMCAT beamline of the Swiss Light Source. Custom optical components, including a beam‐shaping condenser and phase‐shifting dot arrays, were used to obtain an ideal, aperture‐matched sample illumination and very sensitive phase‐contrast imaging. The instrument has been successfully used for the nondestructive, volumetric investigation of single, unstained cells.

Broadband X-ray full field microscopy at a superbend

Over the last decade, synchrotron-radiation based X-ray Tomographic Microscopy (SRXTM) has established itself as a fundamental tool for non-invasive, quantitative investigations of a broad variety of samples, with application ranging from space research and materials science to biology and medicine. The beamline for TOmographic Microscopy and Coherent rAdiology experimenTs (TOMCAT) has been recently equipped with a full field, hard X-ray microscope with a theoretical pixel size down to 30 nm and a field of view of 50 microns. The nanoscope performs well at X-ray energies between 8 and 12 keV: here we illustrate the experimental setup and the performance of the instrument in both microscopy and tomography mode.