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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Synchrotron X-ray Microdiffraction and Fluorescence Imaging of Mineral and Rock Samples
Published on: June 19, 2018
Refraction contrast 11x-magnified X-ray imaging of large objects by MIRRORCLE-type table-top synchrotron
Toru Hirai1, Hironari Yamada, Makoto Sasaki
1Faculty of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan.
Abstract:
The high-quality aspects of magnified X-ray images recorded using MIRRORCLE-6X are reported. MIRRORCLE-6X is inherently suitable for hard X-ray imaging owing to its magnified projection X-ray imaging, micrometre-size X-ray source point, wide radiation emission angle, X-ray spectrum ranging from 10 keV to 6 MeV, natural refraction contrast imaging and high flux output. Images produced with 11x geometrical magnification display a sharply enhanced edge effect when generated using a 25 microm rod electron target. Image contrast is enhanced 2x owing to refraction when compared with absorption contrast images. An imitation tumour implanted in a human chest phantom was made clearly visible by using edge enhancement on images. Soft tissue becomes highly visible as a natural consequence of refraction contrast when using hard X-rays for imaging. The authors believe that novel imaging provided by MIRRORCLE makes it a superior instrument for medical diagnosis.
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