Open AccessTheory and preliminary experimental verification of quantitative edge illumination x-ray phase contrast tomography
Author(s) -
Charlotte K. Hagen,
Paul C. Diémoz,
Marco Endrizzi,
Luigi Rigon,
Diego Dreossi,
Fulvia Arfelli,
F. C. M. Lopez,
Renata Longo,
Alessandro Olivo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.22.007989
Subject(s) - attenuation , optics , phase contrast imaging , contrast (vision) , phase (matter) , tomography , iterative reconstruction , computer science , tomographic reconstruction , attenuation coefficient , enhanced data rates for gsm evolution , computer vision , artificial intelligence , physics , phase contrast microscopy , quantum mechanics
X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) methods are sensitive to phase in addition to attenuation effects and, therefore, can achieve improved image contrast for weakly attenuating materials, such as often encountered in biomedical applications. Several XPCi methods exist, most of which have already been implemented in computed tomographic (CT) modality, thus allowing volumetric imaging. The Edge Illumination (EI) XPCi method had, until now, not been implemented as a CT modality. This article provides indications that quantitative 3D maps of an object's phase and attenuation can be reconstructed from EI XPCi measurements. Moreover, a theory for the reconstruction of combined phase and attenuation maps is presented. Both reconstruction strategies find applications in tissue characterisation and the identification of faint, weakly attenuating details. Experimental results for wires of known materials and for a biological object validate the theory and confirm the superiority of the phase over conventional, attenuation-based image contrast.