Phase stepping for differential phase contrast and/or dark field x-ray imaging using a switchable grating in which particles in a reservoir are aligned into wall-like x-ray absorbing structures by inducing a standing wave in a medium in the reservoir. The standing wave is modified by a second ultrasound generator that modifies the standing wave such that the pressure nodes of the first standing wave shift position.

In one embodiment, an automated high-speed X-ray inspection tool may emit, by an X-ray source, an X-ray beam to an object of interest with a portion of the X-ray beam penetrating through the object of interest. The automated high-speed X-ray inspection tool may capture, by an X-ray sensor, one or more X-ray images of the object of interest based on the portion of the X-ray beam that penetrates through the object of interest. Each of the X-ray images may be captured with a field of view of at least 12 million pixels.

A grating structure is provided with arc-shaped stabilizing bridging structures on the lamellae that allow for bending the grating to account for stresses and deformations induced by the bending process to obtain a more stable curved grating structure more efficiently.

In this patent, we teach methods to generate coherent X-ray and UUV rays beams for X ray and UUV microscopes using intense femtosecond pulses resulting the Ultra-Supercontinuum (USC) and Higher Harmonic Generation (HHG) from χ3 and χ.sup.5 media produce from electronic and molecular Kerr effect. The response of n.sub.2 (χ3) and n.sub.4 (χ5) at the optical frequency from instantaneously response of carrier phase of envelope results in odd HHG and spectral broadening about each harmonic on the anti-Stokes side of the pump pulse at wo typically in the visible, NIR, and MIR. From the slower molecular Kerr response on femtosecond to picosecond from orientation and molecular motion on n.sub.2 and n.sub.4 which follow the envelope of optical field of the laser gives rise to extreme broadening without HHG. The resulting spectra extend on the Stokes side towards the IR, RF to DC covering most of the electromagnetic spectrum. These HHG and Super broadening covering UUV to X rays and possibly to gamma ray regime for microscopes.

The invention relates to a control module for controlling an x-ray system (140) during the acquisition of step images for phase imaging. The control module comprises a step image quantity providing unit (111) for providing a step image quantity, a detector dose providing unit (112) for providing a target detector dose, an applied detector dose determination unit (113) for determining an applied detector dose absorbed by a part of the detector (144) during the acquisition of a step image, and a step image acquisition control unit (114) for controlling the x-ray imaging system (140) during the acquisition of each step image based on the applied detector dose, the target detector dose and the step image quantity. The control module allows to control the x-ray imaging system such that the target detector dose is not exceeded while at the same time ensuring a sufficient quality of the step images.

In this X-ray phase imaging apparatus, at least one of a plurality of gratings is composed of a plurality of grating portions arranged along a third direction perpendicular to a first direction along which a subject or an imaging system is moved by a moving mechanism and a second direction along which an X-ray source, a detection unit, and a plurality of grating portions are arranged. The plurality of grating portions are arranged such that adjacent grating portions overlap each other when viewed in the first direction.

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a structured grating, a corresponding structured grating component (1) and an imaging system. The method comprising the steps of: providing (110, 120, 130) a catalyst (30) on a substrate (20), the catalyst (20) having a grating pattern; growing (140) nanostructures (50) on the catalyst (30) so as to form walls (52) and trenches (54) based on the grating pattern; and filling (160) the trenches (54) between the walls (52) of nanostructures (50) using an X-ray absorbing material (70). The invention provides an improved method for manufacturing a structured grating and such structured grating component (1), which is particularly suitable for dark-field X-ray imaging or phase-contrast imaging.

The invention concerns a method for processing energy spectra of radiation transmitted by an object irradiated by an ionising radiation source, in particular X-ray radiation, for medical imaging or non-destructive testing applications. The method uses a detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel being capable of acquiring a spectrum of the radiation transmitted by the object. The method makes it possible, based on a plurality of detected spectra, to estimate a spectrum, referred to as the scattering spectrum, representative of radiation scattered by the object. The estimation involves taking into account a spatial model of the scattering spectrum. Each acquired spectrum is corrected taking into account the estimated scattering spectrum. The invention makes it possible to reduce the influence of the scattering, by the object, of the spectrum emitted by the source.

A radiation capturing system includes the following. A radiation source, a plurality of gratings, and a radiation detector, are provided aligned in a radiation irradiating axis direction. A Talbot interferometer or a Talbot-Lau interferometer captures a moire fringe image for generating a reconstructed image. A low visibility capturing unit performs capturing of the moire fringe image with visibility of a moire fringe reduced more than in capturing of the moire fringe image for generating the reconstructed image. A generating unit generates an absorptive image based on the moire fringe image captured by the low visibility capturing unit.

An electron source irradiates a target by inclining an electron beam at a predetermined irradiation angle θ with respect to a perpendicular to a target substrate. In this way, it is possible to extract grating-shaped X-rays in a direction perpendicular to the target substrate. The target substrate includes a substance containing a light element. On a surface of the target substrate, a plurality of grooves periodically disposed in a one-dimensional or two-dimensional direction to have a grating shape is formed. X-ray generating portions are arranged in a grating shape by being embedded in the plurality of grooves formed in the target substrate. The X-ray generating portions are made of a metal including W, Ta, Pt or Au or an alloy thereof. A depth M of the X-ray generating portions arranged in the grating shape is set within a predetermined range. The generation efficiency of X-rays for phase imaging is improved.