X-ray phase imaging with a grating interferometer

Using a high-efficiency grating interferometer for hard X rays (10-30 keV) and a phase-stepping technique, separate radiographs of the phase and absorption profiles of bulk samples can be obtained from a single set of measurements. Tomographic reconstruction yields quantitative three-dimensional maps of the X-ray refractive index, with a spatial resolution down to a few microns. The method is mechanically robust, requires little spatial coherence and monochromaticity, and can be scaled up to large fields of view, with a detector of correspondingly moderate spatial resolution. These are important prerequisites for use with laboratory X-ray sources.

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• ES
  European Synchrotron Radiation Facility
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
• PS
  Paul Scherrer Institut
• RA
  RWTH Aachen University