Comparing image quality of synchrotron and laboratory nano-CT scans: a round robin study

This study presents a comprehensive comparison of image quality between synchrotron-based and laboratory-based nano-computed tomography (nano-CT) systems, using a standardized 3D test phantom composed of monodisperse silica spheres. A round-robin approach was employed across multiple international facilities to benchmark performance across various imaging modalities and setups, including absorption and phase contrast techniques. Image quality was quantitatively assessed using three-dimensional signal-to-noise ratio (SNR_3D), detection effectiveness (DE_3D) and modulation transfer function (MTF_3D) metrics. The results reveal that, while synchrotron-based nano-CT consistently delivers superior spatial resolution and shorter scan times, laboratory-based systems demonstrate competitive image quality at the cost of extended acquisition durations. Beyond the experimental comparison, the main contribution of this work is a standardized, open-source analysis framework that quantifies nano-CT image quality using SNR_3D, DE_3D and MTF_3D of a specific phantom. This combination of metrics provides a reproducible basis for cross-platform benchmarking of synchrotron and laboratory nano-CT implementations and can be readily applied to future instruments.