Research

4D X-ray Phase Tomography

One of advantages of X-ray Talbot interferometer is that continuous X-rays with a wide bandwidth are available. This fact allows us to realize high-speed X-ray phase imaging with a time resolution of msec if we use white synchrotron X-ray source and a high-speed X-ray camera [1][2]. High-speed X-ray phase tomography is also possible if a sample is rotated and a number of projection images are obtained [1][2]. This enables us to realize what is called 4D (time-resolved 3D) tomography, that is, movies of 3D structures inside samples can be obtained if change in the structure of the sample is sufficiently slow [2][3].

Figure 1 shows an example of dynamic observation using the 4D X-ray phase tomography [2]. Here a drop of glue is used as a sample. It can be seen that bubbles in the drop are growing due to illumination of white synchrotron X-rays. Thus, we can observe change in 3D structures inside samples with a time resolution of sub-second. Our high-speed X-ray phase imaging and tomography are expected to have wide applications in the fields of material and biological sciences.

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Fig. 1 Demonstration of 4D X-ray phase tomography using a drop of glue. It can be seen that volumes of bubbles in the drop is expanded due to illumination of white synchrotron X-rays (another demonstration of the 4D X-ray phase tomography using a living worm is given in [3]).


[1] A. Momose, W. Yashiro, H. Maikusa, and Y. Takeda, “High-speed X-ray phase imaging and X-ray phase tomography with Talbot interferometer and white synchrotron radiation”, Opt. Exp. 17 (2009) 12540-12545.
[2] A. Momose, W. Yashiro, S. Harasse, H. Kuwabara, and K. Kawabata, “Four-dimensional x-ray phase tomography with Talbot interferometer and white synchrotron light”, SPIE proceedings 7804 (2010) 780405.
[3] A. Momose, W. Yashiro, S. Harasse, and H. Kuwabara,“Four-dimensional X-ray phase tomography with Talbot interferometry and white synchrotron radiation: dynamic observation of a living worm”, Opt. Exp. 19 (2011) 8423-8432.