A detection pixel includes a material that is chosen so that its (averaged) atomic number density leads to the Compton process being the dominant scattering mechanism in response to incident photons, leading to production of Compton electrons with sufficient number and kinetic energy to produce an electric or magnetic response in the material. The incident photon and Compton electrons each have a characteristic travel distance in the material, and the detection pixel has at least one dimension that is selected according to a range defined by these characteristic travel distances. The detection pixels may be arranged in an array for imaging.

Provided is an apparatus and method for measuring a thickness of thin film using x-ray where a thickness of a thin film of nanometer_(nm) level can be accurately measured without destructing an target sample, through determination of thickness of thin film of the target sample, by determining a calibration curve by comparing a difference of intensities of signals scattered by a special component included in a base layer of the reference sample.

The invention relates to a device for identifying a material of an object having: a source of X photons and a spectrometric detector, the source irradiating the object with an incident beam and the detector measuring a magnitude of a backscattered beam from the incident beam after diffusion in a volume of the material and an energy of the X photons of the backscattered beam, the incident and backscattered beams forming an angle of diffusion (); a configuration for adjusting the position between the source, the detector and the object in order for the volume to be at different depths with a constant angle, a means for processing the two magnitudes in two positions and the energy in on position and for calculating an attenuation factor (materiau (E0, E1, )), a configuration for estimating the density (p) of the material.

A multi-modality imaging system allows for selectable photoelectric effect and/or Compton effect detection. The camera or detector is a module with a catcher detector. Depending on the use or design, a scatter detector and/or a coded physical aperture are positioned in front of the catcher detector relative to the patient space. For low energies, emissions passing through the scatter detector continue through the coded aperture to be detected by the catcher detector using the photoelectric effect. Alternatively, the scatter detector is not provided. For higher energies, some emissions scatter at the scatter detector, and resulting emissions from the scattering pass by or through the coded aperture to be detected at the catcher detector for detection using the Compton effect. Alternatively, the coded aperture is not provided. The same module may be used to detect using both the photoelectric and Compton effects where both the scatter detector and coded aperture are provided with the catcher detector. Multiple modules may be positioned together to form a larger camera, or a module is used alone. By using modules, any number of modules may be used to fit with a multi-modality imaging system. One or more such modules may be added to another imaging system (e.g., CT or MR) for a multi-modality imaging system.

A multi-modality imaging system allows for selectable photoelectric effect and/or Compton effect detection. The camera or detector is a module with a catcher detector. Depending on the use or design, a scatter detector and/or a coded physical aperture are positioned in front of the catcher detector relative to the patient space. For low energies, emissions passing through the scatter detector continue through the coded aperture to be detected by the catcher detector using the photoelectric effect. Alternatively, the scatter detector is not provided. For higher energies, some emissions scatter at the scatter detector, and resulting emissions from the scattering pass by or through the coded aperture to be detected at the catcher detector for detection using the Compton effect. Alternatively, the coded aperture is not provided. The same module may be used to detect using both the photoelectric and Compton effects where both the scatter detector and coded aperture are provided with the catcher detector. Multiple modules may be positioned together to form a larger camera, or a module is used alone. By using modules, any number of modules may be used to fit with a multi-modality imaging system. One or more such modules may be added to another imaging system (e.g., CT or MR) for a multi-modality imaging system.