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Improved Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Laboratory-Based Phase Contrast Tomography

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 January 2012

Matthieu N. Boone ,
Yoni De Witte ,
Manuel Dierick ,
Ana Almeida  and
Luc Van Hoorebeke
Matthieu N. Boone*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Yoni De Witte
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Manuel Dierick
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Ana Almeida
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmaceutics, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
Luc Van Hoorebeke
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Proeftuinstraat 86, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: Matthieu.Boone@UGent.be
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Abstract

In conventional X-ray microtomography (μCT), the three-dimensional (3D) distribution of the attenuation coefficient of X-rays is measured and reconstructed in a 3D volume. As spatial resolution increases, the refraction of X-rays becomes a significant phenomenon in the imaging process. Although this so-called phase contrast was initially a cumbersome feature in lab-based μCT, special phase retrieval algorithms were developed to exploit these effects. Clear advantages in terms of visualization and analysis can be seen when phase retrieval algorithms are applied, including an increased signal-to-noise ratio. In this work, this is demonstrated both on simulated and measured data.

Keywords

phase contrastBronnikovμCTX-ray refractionimage analysispharmaceutics
Type
Techniques and Software Development
Information
Microscopy and Microanalysis , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 399 - 405
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2012

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References

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