Single shot phase contrast imaging using laser-produced Betatron x-ray beams

Opt Lett. 2011 Jul 1;36(13):2426-8. doi: 10.1364/OL.36.002426.

Abstract

Development of x-ray phase contrast imaging applications with a laboratory scale source have been limited by the long exposure time needed to obtain one image. We demonstrate, using the Betatron x-ray radiation produced when electrons are accelerated and wiggled in the laser-wakefield cavity, that a high-quality phase contrast image of a complex object (here, a bee), located in air, can be obtained with a single laser shot. The Betatron x-ray source used in this proof of principle experiment has a source diameter of 1.7 μm and produces a synchrotron spectrum with critical energy E(c)=12.3±2.5 keV and 10⁹ photons per shot in the whole spectrum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bees
  • Calibration
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Lasers*
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • X-Rays