X-ray microtomography using correlation of near-field speckles for material characterization

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Life Sciences
• Physics

Background:

• Nondestructive microscale investigation is crucial in life and materials sciences.
• Current laboratory X-ray systems primarily use absorption-contrast imaging, missing valuable phase information.
• Synchrotron facilities offer advanced phase-sensitive methods but have limited accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an accessible laboratory-based X-ray method for advanced phase-sensitive imaging.
• To enable simultaneous quantitative 3D absorption and phase imaging.
• To broaden the capabilities of laboratory X-ray tomography.

Main Methods:

• Modification of a standard laboratory X-ray setup.
• Implementation of a single-shot method utilizing correlation of X-ray near-field speckles.
• Development of phase-sensitive X-ray imaging techniques.

Main Results:

• Simultaneous acquisition of quantitative 3D absorption and phase images.
• Demonstration of a method accessible outside of synchrotron facilities.
• Significant enhancement of imaging capabilities for laboratory X-ray tomography.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides valuable phase information complementary to absorption contrast.
• This advancement significantly broadens the applicability of laboratory X-ray tomography.
• Enables more sensitive visualization of features with small density differences in various scientific fields.