Speckle tracking phase-contrast computed tomography at an inverse Compton X-ray source.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• X-ray Physics
• Phase-Contrast Imaging

Background:

• Speckle-based X-ray imaging (SBI) enhances contrast for weakly absorbing objects, complementing traditional X-ray methods.
• Existing SBI methods require highly coherent X-ray sources like synchrotrons.
• Laboratory X-ray sources often lack sufficient coherence, hindering SBI performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate phase-contrast computed tomography using SBI with a laboratory-based inverse Compton X-ray source.
• To compare the effectiveness of synchrotron-based phase-retrieval algorithms (UMPA) with low-coherence methods (LCS) in this setting.
• To enable quantitative phase-contrast imaging in a low-coherence laboratory setup.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of Speckle-based X-ray imaging (SBI) on an inverse Compton X-ray source.
• Comparative analysis of Unified Modulated Pattern Analysis (UMPA) and a Low Coherence System (LCS) phase-retrieval algorithm.
• Computed tomography reconstruction of phantom and biological specimens.

Main Results:

• Successful retrieval of computed tomography data from phantoms and Galleria mellonella larvae using laboratory SBI.
• Demonstration of quantitative phase-contrast computed tomography with SBI in a low-coherence setup.
• Validation of LCS as a suitable phase-retrieval method for low-coherence SBI.

Conclusions:

• Speckle-based X-ray imaging is now feasible with laboratory X-ray sources, expanding its accessibility.
• The study validates quantitative phase-contrast imaging capabilities in a non-synchrotron environment.
• This advancement opens new avenues for high-contrast, detailed imaging in various research fields.