Coronary angiography using laser plasma sources: X-ray source efficiency and optimization of a bent crystal monochromator

Abstract

Coronary angiography using laser plasma sources: X-ray source efficiency and optimization of a bent crystal monochromatorAndersson, E; Holzer, G; Forster, E; Gratz, M; Kiernan, L; Sjogren, A; Svanberg, Sune Andersson, E., Holzer, G., Forster, E., Gratz, M., Kiernan, L., Sjogren, A., & Svanberg, S. (2001). Coronary angiography using laser plasma sources: X-ray source efficiency and optimization of a bent crystal monochromator. Applied Physics Reviews, 90(6), 3048-3056. DOI: 10.1063/1.1394904General rights Copyright and moral rights for the publications made accessible in the public portal are retained by the authors and/or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights.• Users may download and print one copy of any publication from the public portal for the purpose of private study or research.• You may not further distribute the material or use it for any profit-making activity or commercial gain • You may freely distribute the URL identifying the publication in the public portal Coronary angiography using laser plasma sources: X-ray source efficiency and optimization of a bent crystal monochromator A monochromator has been developed for coronary angiography, comprising a single bent crystal of silicon in Laue transmission geometry. K spectra of laser irradiated solid tin and tantalum ͑Zϭ50 and 73, respectively͒ targets were measured. The high resolution crystal spectrometer resolve the Sn and Ta K␣ doublets, allowing in a proof-of-principle experiment the absolute K␣ photon numbers emitted by the source to be determined. The Ta K␣ yield is measured as a function of the laser pulse energy, allowing an assessment to be made of the suitability of such sources for medical applications.

Some applications of ultrashort laser pulses in biology and medicine

“…To make the laser-based source advantageous over synchrotrons or conventional sources, some way to enhance the characteristic line emission over the bremsstrahlung continuum would have to be found. Then an intensityreducing x-ray monochromator [34] can be avoided. The greatest potential of the laser-based x-ray source seems to be for the gated-viewing reduction of scattered radiation, since even modest reductions in absorbed x-ray doses could mean substantial savings in radiation-damage-induced suffering and costs.…”

K-shell spectra from Ag, Sn, Sm, Ta, and Au generated by intense femtosecond laser pulses

“…Andersson et al [12] utilized a curved silicon crystal in Laué geometry to record the Sn and Ta K-shell spectra from targets irradiated by a fs duration Ti:sapphire laser focused to an intensity of 5 Â 10 17 W/cm 2 . Typically 300 laser shots were required to produce a well-exposed spectrum.…”

Differential absorption imaging for elemental analysis of thin samples using a soft laser-plasma X-ray source

“…For instance, it is currently under study for imaging of coronary arteries in order to detect cardiovascular anomalies. For this method, known as coronary angiography [2,[5][6][7], the contrast agent usually used is iodine. Such studies have already been carried out using monochromatic radiation emitted by different kinds of X-ray sources, such as synchrotron [2,3] or conventional X-ray tubes [6,8].…”