Propagation-based Phase-Contrast X-ray Imaging at a Compact Light Source

Regine Gradl,Bernhard Gleich,Martin Dierolf,Franz Pfeiffer,Lorenz Hehn,Kaye Susannah Morgan,Benedikt Günther,Klaus Achterhold,Ali Önder Yildirim

doi:10.1038/s41598-017-04739-w

Abstract

We demonstrate the applicability of propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging at a laser-assisted compact light source with known phantoms and the lungs and airways of a mouse. The Munich Compact Light Source provides a quasi-monochromatic beam with partial spatial coherence, and high flux relative to other non-synchrotron sources (up to 1010 ph/s). In our study we observe significant edge-enhancement and quantitative phase-retrieval is successfully performed on the known phantom. Furthermore the images of a small animal show the potential for live bio-imaging research studies that capture biological function using short exposures.

Highlights

Until now the performance gap between synchrotrons and laboratory sources has been large
In order to investigate the potential of the Munich Compact Light Source (MuCLS) for time-sequence imaging of respiratory processes, we focus here on propagation-based imaging (PBI)
In this report we show that the flux and coherence of the quasi-monochromatic X-ray beam provided by the MuCLS allows phase-contrast imaging by increasing the sample-to-detector distance

Summary

Introduction

Until now the performance gap between synchrotrons and laboratory sources has been large. The low divergence of 4 mrad of the beam allows the X-ray detector to move several meters away from the source to increase the spatial coherence without compromising the available flux. This enables laboratory experiments which were previously limited to large scale synchrotron facilities. With the advent of synchrotrons several phase sensitive methods have arisen, including X-ray grating interferometry[6,7,8], analyser-based refraction contrast[9] and propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging[10, 11] These phase-contrast mechanisms are useful when imaging objects that deliver insufficient contrast in absorption imaging. They have been applied in biomedical research (e.g. imaging soft tissue, airways), material science (e.g. imaging low Z materials) and show potential as a new clinical diagnostic tool[2]

Methods

Results

Conclusion