Abstract
An x-ray micro-imaging technique to visualize high-resolution structure of cultural heritages made of iron or copper has been developed. It utilizes high-energy x-rays from a bending magnet at the SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility. A white x-ray beam was attenuated by 0.5 mm tungsten and 2.0 mm lead absorbers resulting in the peak energy of 200 keV. The tungsten absorber eliminated the photon energy peak below the absorption edge of lead. A sample was rotated over 180 degrees in 500 s and projection images were continuously collected with an exposure time of 500 ms by an sCMOS camera equipped with a scintillator. Tomographic reconstruction of an ancient sword containing of both copper and iron was successfully obtained at a voxel size of 14.8 μm. Beam hardening was found to cause 2.5 % differences in density in a reconstructed image of a homogeneous stainless-steel rod. Ring artefacts were reduced by continuously moving the absorbers. This work demonstrates feasibility of high-energy, high-resolution imaging at a synchrotron beamline which may be generally useful for inspecting metallic objects.
Highlights
Humans began to make use of metals as tools, weapons and ornaments in Mesopotamia about 5000 BC
Imaging systems with MeV x-rays is available.[2]. Such high-voltage systems are usually designed for large objects which do not require high spatial resolution
We describe an imaging system using the high-energy (200 keV peak energy) nonmonochromatized x-rays from a bending magnet at SPring-8, which has been developed to visualize inner structure of metallic cultural heritages
Summary
Humans began to make use of metals as tools, weapons and ornaments in Mesopotamia about 5000 BC. Since humans have been using metals for so many years, there are many historic and archaeological artefacts and works of fine art made of metals For such studies, x-ray computed tomography (CT) is an indispensable tool because it allows us to investigate inner structure of objects non-destructively.[1] In such studies, high-energy x-rays are required to penetrate a metal object that has high density. X-ray computed tomography (CT) is an indispensable tool because it allows us to investigate inner structure of objects non-destructively.[1] In such studies, high-energy x-rays are required to penetrate a metal object that has high density For this purpose, one can use industrial CT systems. Imaging systems with MeV x-rays is available.[2] such high-voltage systems are usually designed for large objects which do not require high spatial resolution. High-energy x-rays are necessary for other techniques that are used to study metallic cultural objects such as fluorescence analysis or diffraction.[3,4]
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