Simulation is a valuable tool for designing and evaluating the performance of x-ray imaging systems. In previous work, a hybrid CT+XRD imaging system was developed for improved identification of threat objects in checked baggage. Through large-scale simulations of this hybrid CT+XRD system, we can investigate the impact of various parameters on system performance. These parameters include varying energy resolution, multi-energy acquisitions, and additional system views. We will report on our findings and evaluate the system performance resulting from these and other variations of the simulated system as well as discuss how these findings may inform future system design.
X-ray phase contrast imaging has the potential to improve image contrast and better differentiate between weakly attenuating materials. Current implementations, however, focus on small biological samples and coherent sources. Here we propose asymmetric illumination as a low complexity variation of x-ray differential phase contrast imaging. With this method, we would utilize angular filtration of the signal at the detector to convert the phase shifts into intensity variation. We will report our findings as we test the feasibility of this method through simulation as well as discuss ongoing efforts in the development of the system.
Photon counting detectors with energy resolving capabilities have the potential to improve computed tomography (CT) imaging and x-ray diffraction (XRD) systems. In order to better understand the use of these detectors in the CT and XRD application spaces, we have experimentally investigated the detector performance of two newly-released photon counting detectors: the Redlen LDA detector and the Kromek D-Matrix v2 detector. Detector performance involves a complicated interplay of semiconductor physics and readout electronics, and the outcome can depend crucially on the properties of the incoming X-rays—specifically the flux and spectral content. Although the LDA and D-Matrix v2 detectors differ in many ways, particularly in the manner in which they collect spectroscopic information, both are of interest for CT and XRD modalities. We report on our analysis of the detector performance, including the noise statistics, detector quantum efficiency, response linearity, and energy resolution of the detectors as well as discuss how our findings influence the use of these detectors in diffraction and transmission measurements.
X-ray Phase Contrast Imaging (XPCI) is an imaging method that can provide quantitative information about the change in phase of X-ray wavefronts as they pass through an object. XPCI can image objects that cannot be easily seen in conventional absorption imaging, such as thin, weakly-absorbing objects. Most exploration into XPCI has involved synchrotron sources, which are large, fixed facilities and not widely available. Several tabletop methods exist, but these generally rely on interferometric methods or complicated gratings. We began investigating Edge-Illumination (EI), a non-interferometric, inexpensive XPCI method that can use a standard x-ray tube. However, EI requires at least two different spatial shifts, with small aperture openings and precise beam alignment, thereby increasing the complexity of the method. Due to the limitations of EI and the rise in availability of spectrally sensitive detectors, we propose a variant of EI, called Spectrally Responsive Edge Illumination (SREI), which relies on a diversity of X-ray energies instead of spatial shifts. Our goal is to develop an XPCI method that is simple, robust, and easily implementable with commercially available equipment. I will report on our progress.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.