X-ray Phase-Contrast Imaging and X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Analysis using Parametric X-ray Radiation Generated at LEBRA, Nihon University

Abstract

X-ray phase-contrast imaging and X-ray absorption analysis, including X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analysis, were carried out using parametric X-ray radiation (PXR), which has unique characteristics such as monochromatic wavelength-tunable highly coherent X-ray radiation, generated at the Laboratory for Electron Beam Research and Application (LEBRA), Nihon University. Diffraction-enhanced imaging, a kind of phase-contrast imaging, was carried out using whole and sectioned teeth, a mouse kidney, and chicken and quail eggs. The obtained images showed some specific features that would be scarcely detected by other techniques. X-ray absorption edge analysis was applied to elemental analysis such as detecting arsenic in soil samples and strontium in fossil eggshells. A trial of XAFS was successfully carried out for metals and alloys. In this study, LEBRA-PXR was verified as a powerful and high ability X-ray source for X-ray phase-contrast imaging and absorption analysis, not only for hard tissues but also for soft tissues.