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

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 Ec = 12.3 ± 2.5 keV and 10 9 photons per shot in the whole spectrum.

Observation of Betatron X-Ray Radiation in a Self-Modulated Laser Wakefield Accelerator Driven with Picosecond Laser Pulses

“…A source based on betatron emission from a laserplasma accelerator [1] is attractive for this purpose because it generates a small-divergence , broadband x-ray beam that can be used to backlight the target being studied. Betatron x-ray radiation has been used for biological and medical purposes, such as x-ray phase contrast imaging of insects [2][3][4] and hard x-ray radiography of bone [5]. Its unique properties also make it suitable for studying the dynamics of high-energy-density plasmas and warm dense matter, a state near solid densities,…”

Sources X : du multi-keV-ns au multi-MeV-ps

“…Leur petite taille de source permet d'avoir naturellement une très bonne résolution spatiale de l'objet à radiographier (de l'ordre de la taille de la source). Plusieurs preuves de principe ont déjà montré expérimentalement que ces sources permettaient d'observer des détails assez fins grâce à la technique de radiographie par contraste de phase [13].…”

Tomography of human trabecular bone with a laser-wakefield driven x-ray source

“…The favourable imaging properties of betatron sources were quickly recognised, illustrated previously by high-resolution radiography of insects [31,32], and more recently full phase-contrast tomography [33]. However the typical reported x-ray spectra of E crit < 10 keV would be too soft for many medical imaging applications, including bone imaging.…”