无吸收光栅的X射线相位衬度成像实验研究

通过对基于空间相干源和具有分析光栅功能的X射线转换屏的微分干涉X射线相位衬度成像 系统的理论分析, 利用线发射体阵列结构阳极X射线管和光助电化学刻蚀技术 研制的相位光栅和具有分析光栅功能的X射线转换屏, 组建了一种无吸收光栅的X射线微分干涉相衬成像系统. 在此系统上开展了生物样品的实验研究, 获得了较传统吸收成像更为清晰和更多样品结构信息的相位衬度图像. 从而试验验证了该系统方案设计的可行性, 为X射线相衬成像技术从实验室走向临床应用提供了有效途径.     

免分析光栅一次曝光相位衬度成像方法

X射线光栅微分相位衬度成像技术可以观察到常规吸收衬度成像难以分辨的弱吸收物质的精细结构信息,因而在医学、材料学等研究领域具有巨大的应用前景.但传统的X射线光栅微分相位衬度成像技术由于采用分析光栅作为空间滤波器,需要采用相位步进法扫描分析光栅来获得样品的多张投影图像才能够分离出样品的吸收、折射和散射信息,因此存在样品曝光...     

Reduced absorption of neon-like bromine X-ray laser radiation in helium

We have measured the absorption of the 19.47-nm neon like bromine (J=2–1) X-ray laser line in low-pressure helium. The experiment was motivated by the coincidence of this line with the low-absorption wing of an autoionizing transition in helium. We observe that, with 1 mbar of helium, the continuum background and another bromine X-ray laser line at 19.82 nm are strongly reduced, enhancing the relative strength of the 19.47-nm laser line. Increasing the helium pressure to 1.5 mbar makes the continuum virtually disappear, resulting in an almost monochromatic emission of the X-ray laser line. An estimate of the absorption cross section for the 19.47-nm line is given as ≈3.9×10^-19 cm² and for the nearby continuum as 0.9–1.3×10^-18 cm². Received: 8 March 1999 / Revised version: 26 April 1999 / Published online: 11 August 1999     

A quasi-monochromatic X-rays source for art painting pigments investigation

Monochromatic X-ray sources can be used for several applications, like in medicine or in studying our cultural heritage. We are investigating imaging systems based on a tuneable energy band X-ray source, to obtain an element mapping of painting layers using the K-edge technique. The narrow energy band beams are obtained with conventional X-ray source via Bragg diffraction on a mosaic crystal; such an analysis has been performed at different diffraction angles, tuning the energy to investigate spectra of interest from the artistic point of view, like zinc and copper. In this paper the characteristics of the system in terms of fluence rate are reported, and first results of this technique on canvas samples and painting are presented.     

代数迭代重建算法在折射衬度CT中的应用

X射线折射衬度CT是一种基于相位衬度的断层成像技术,特别适合对由轻元素组成的生物、医学样品进行成像,可以观察到常规吸收衬度CT无法观察到的软组织内部微细结构,是一种具有巨大发展潜力的新成像方法.迭代重建算法和解析重建算法是计算机断层成像技术中并行发展的两种算法,虽然已经提出了几种X射线折射衬度CT的解析重建算法,可是还未见X射线折射衬度CT迭代重建算法的报道.研究了代数迭代重建算法在X射线折射衬度CT中的应用,比较分析了不同的投影数据排列方式对于折射衬度CT重建图像的影响,并对实验数据进行了图像重建,获得了满意的CT图像.研究结果表明,在相位衬度CT中,迭代重建算法相对于解析重建算法而言,能减少投影次数,降低曝光剂量,减少对生物样品的辐射损伤,在生物样品成像和投影数据不完整的情况下具有明显的优势. 关键词： 衍射增强成像 代数迭代算法 CT重建 同步辐射     

Radiographic method for measuring the continuum hard X-ray output spectrum of a Plasma Focus device

A radiographic method is proposed and then applied to infer the continuum part of the hard X-ray spectrum of a 4.7 kJ Plasma Focus from differential absorption measurements on metals. Copper, nickel, titanium and silver samples with thicknesses spanning between 0.1 and 10 mm were employed as filters. The X-ray radiation was detected using a standard radiographic screen-film system. The results show the presence of a dominant peak around 75 keV with significant spectral components in the range of 40 to 200 keV. The method is easy to follow, inexpensive, and allows for calibrated, single shot, spectral measurements.     

Zernike phase contrast in scanning microscopy with X-rays

Scanning X-ray microscopy focuses radiation to a small spot and probes the sample by raster scanning. It allows information to be obtained from secondary signals such as X-ray fluorescence, which yields an elemental mapping of the sample not available in full-field imaging. The analysis and interpretation from these secondary signals can be considerably enhanced if these data are coupled with structural information from transmission imaging. However, absorption often is negligible and phase contrast has not been easily available. Originally introduced with visible light, Zernike phase contrast(1) is a well-established technique in full-field X-ray microscopes for visualization of weakly absorbing samples(2-7). On the basis of reciprocity, we demonstrate the implementation of Zernike phase contrast in scanning X-ray microscopy, revealing structural detail simultaneously with hard-X-ray trace-element measurements. The method is straightforward to implement without significant influence on the resolution of the fluorescence images and delivers complementary information. We show images of biological specimens that clearly demonstrate the advantage of correlating morphology with elemental information.     

Optical characterisation of CuInSe2 thin films prepared by two-stage process

Optical absorption spectra of CuInSe₂ chalcopyrite semiconductor films prepared using a two-stage technique were investigated. In addition to absorption measurements, energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) and X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD) were also performed. Direct bandgap energy values for the CuInSe₂ films were derived from the variation of (αhν)² with energy. All the measurements were performed on samples with various Cu/In ratios. It was determined from the absorption measurements that the materials have strong absorption at the fundamental band edge. The E_g values showed an increasing trend with decreasing Cu/In ratios. Received: 26 May 2000 / Accepted: 31 October 2000 / Published online: 10 January 2001     

Rapid combinatorial screening by synchrotron X-ray imaging

An X-ray imaging system, which does not require any scans of the sample or an X-ray beam and which, therefore, dramatically reduces the amount of time required, was employed to evaluate combinatorial libraries efficiently. Two-dimensional X-ray fluorescence (XRF) images of an 8 mm × 8 mm area were observed for combinatorial substrates of manganese-cobalt spinel MnCo₂O₄ and lithium ferrite LiFeO₂ via an exposure time of 1-3 s using synchrotron X-rays. Thus, XRF signals from a whole substrate could be observed at once in a short space of time. In order to observe the chemical environment simultaneously for all materials arranged on the substrate, the fluorescent X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) was measured by repeating the imaging during the monochromator scans across the absorption edge for metals. This is extremely efficient because XAFS spectra for all materials placed on the common substrate are obtained from only a single energy scan. One can determine the valence numbers, as well as other aspects of the chemical environment of the metal included in each material, from the differences in spectral features and the energy shifts. Hence, combinatorial libraries can be screened very rapidly, and therefore efficiently, using the X-ray imaging system.     

Effects of metallization and bromination on nonlinear optical properties of diphenylporphyrins

Nonlinear refraction and nonlinear absorption of diphenylporphyrins with bromination and metallization were studied by Z-scan technique in nanosecond and picosecond regimes. Results show that both metallization and bromination of diphenylporphyrins can cause the regular change of magnitude and sign of nonlinear absorption. The transition between saturable absorption and reverse saturable absorption happens as bromine increases and metal ion changes. The effect of bromination on nonlinear refraction is small, the change of nonlinear refraction is mainly attributed to the metallization. Influences of photophysical parameters on nonlinear absorption and nonlinear refraction have been elucidated using five-level models.     

X射线衍射增强成像中吸收、折射以及散射衬度的计算层析

X射线相位衬度成像是一种新型的X射线成像技术,通过记录射线穿过物体后相位的改变对物体进行成像,可以提供比传统的X射线吸收成像更高的图像衬度以及空间分辨力。衍射增强成像方法(Diffraction enhancedimaging,DEI)是X射线相位衬度成像方法之一,利用一块放置在物体和探测器之间的分析晶体提取物体的吸收、折射以及散射信息并进行成像。将衍射增强成像方法与计算机断层成像技术(Computerized Tomography)进行结合,利用吸收、散射以及折射信息,分别采用滤波反投影以及雷登(Radon)变换,对昆虫样品——蜜蜂进行计算层析重建,获得了好于X射线吸收计算层析的重建结果,验证了衍射增强成像信息分离计算层析的优越性。     

Two-dimensional quantitative imaging of multicomponent samples using polychromatic X-rays

We present the theoretical formalism and an experimental demonstration of a technique for two-dimensional quantitative imaging of two-component samples using polychromatic X-rays. The technique takes into account the full spectral information of the incident polychromatic beam to quantify the total X-ray attenuation, due to each component presented in the sample, as functions of both energy and thickness. As a result, this technique is able to effectively ameliorate the effects of beam hardening. Here, we demonstrate the application of this technique to a two-component sample. The technique makes it possible for laboratory-based polychromatic X-ray sources to be used for critical quantitative purposes.     

Analysis of X-ray spectral data with genetic algorithms

An algorithmic method for the analysis of X-ray line spectra using genetic algorithms is presented. This technique permits the extraction of diagnostic information on the emitting medium from the spectral data. As an example of the method, plasma electron number density and temperature are extracted from the analysis of X-ray spectral data recorded in an Ar-doped inertial-confinement-fusion core. For the study of a sequence of gradually changing spectra, a combination of genetic algorithms and case-based reasoning that learns from experience is used to accelerate the analysis. The technique is general and can be applied to other plasma spectroscopy studies including analysis of spatially and temporally resolved line absorption or emission data.     

Improvement and error analysis of quantitative information extraction in diffraction-enhanced imaging

Diffraction-enhanced imaging （DEI） is a powerful phase-sensitive technique that provides higher spatial resolution and supercontrast of weakly absorbing objects than conventional radiography. It derives contrast from the X-ray absorption, refraction, and ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering （USAXS） properties of an object. The separation of different-contrast contributions from images is an important issue for the potential application of DEI. In this paper, an improved DEI （IDEI） method is proposed based on the Gaussian curve fitting of the rocking curve （RC）. Utilizing only three input images, the IDEI method can accurately separate the absorption, refraction, and USAXS contrasts produced by the object. The IDEI method can therefore be viewed as an improvement to the extended DEI （EDEI） method. In contrast, the IDEI method can circumvent the limitations of the EDEI method well since it does not impose a Taylor approximation on the RC. Additionally, analysis of the IDEI model errors is performed to further investigate the factors that lead to the image artifacts, and finally validation studies are conducted using computer simulation and synchrotron experimental data.     

Propagation based X-ray phase-contrast imaging technique for the microstructure analysis of biological soft tissues

X-ray phase-contrast imaging (PCI) technique is an emerging method for the study of the biological soft tissues, carbon composite materials, polymers, low-Z material science, etc. We have set up an experimental facility using a combination of X-ray CCD detector and a microfocus X-ray source. We demonstrate that sufficient contrast and intensity can be achieved for biological soft tissues with the X-ray source in the standard operation mode. Based on the cylindrical fiber and pigeon feathers imaging experiments, the boundary information was observed successfully in the light element materials and extremely low absorption material. This shows that X-ray phase-contrast imaging in this area will have a brilliant future.     

X射线光栅微分相衬成像视场分析

X射线光栅微分相衬成像对由轻元素构成的物质的内部探测具有传统吸收成像无法比拟的优势, 尤其在癌症的早期诊断和轻元素材料及器件的无损检测等领域应用潜力巨大. 大视场成像是影响该技术从实验室走向实际应用的重要因素. 针对大视场成像的客观需求, 基于菲涅耳衍射原理和光栅结构特征, 建立了量化物理模型用于分析影响成像视场的因素, 提出了实现大成像视场的有效途径, 为未来大视场光栅微分相衬成像方法的设计和应用提供理论依据.     

Quantitative analysis of surface amine groups on plasma-polymerized ethylenediamine films using UV-visible spectroscopy compared to chemical derivatization with FT-IR spectroscopy, XPS and TOF-SIMS

A quantitative analysis of the surface density of amine groups on a plasma-polymerized ethylenediamine thin film deposited on a platinum surface using inductively coupled plasma chemical vapor deposition method is described. UV-visible spectroscopy together with a chemical derivatization technique using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was used to obtain the quantitative information. Chemical tags of pentafluorobenzaldehyde were hybridized with the surface amine groups and were easily detected due to the characteristic absorption bands of C-F stretching, aromatic ring and CN stretching vibrations in the reflection-absorption FT-IR spectra. The surface amine density was reproducibly controlled as a function of deposition plasma power and quantified using UV-visible spectroscopy. A good linear correlation was observed between the FT-IR intensities of the characteristic absorption bands and the surface amine densities, suggesting the possibility of using this chemical derivatization technique to quantify the surface densities of specific functional groups on an organic surface. Chemical derivatization was also used with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on the same samples, and the results were compared with those obtained from FT-IR and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry. Although each analysis technique has different probing depths from the surface, the three different data sets obtained from the chemical tags correlated well with each other since each analysis technique measured the chemical tags on the sample surface.     

Soft X-ray microscopy in the spectral region of “carbon window” with the use of multilayer optics and a laser-plasma source

This paper reports on the fabrication and testing of multilayer mirrors for X-ray optical systems operating in the “carbon window” region (at wavelengths from 4.5 to 5.0 nm) and the results of their application in soft X-ray imaging of the internal structure of organic objects. The developed approaches to the fabrication and control of graded Co/C multilayer coatings have made it possible to create an X-ray multimirror system with a maximum known entrance aperture and throughput. The use of the developed high-spatial-resolution X-ray optics can significantly extend the field of practical application of soft X-ray absorption microscopy based on compact laser-plasma sources.     

高动态范围X射线成像检测方法

传统X射线数字成像方法通常固定X光机参数,但是受工件结构及材料衰减系数和光电器件物理动态范围的制约,当同一场景中透射X射线通量的最大值和最小值超出成像器件动态范围时,会出现通量大的区域高于成像器件的电荷容纳能力而达到饱和状态,当通量低的区域产生的光电荷低于设备热噪声水平时,该区域信息将淹没在噪声中而无法正常成像。为有效解决传统X射线数字成像技术在获取宽动态范围透射X光通量内容时的局限性,提出一种管电压递变高动态成像方法。首先分析了光电探测器电荷容量对有效透照厚度范围的影响;结合标准样块试验及相关数据分析,得到任意厚度特定材质试块达到最佳灵敏度时对应的透照X光管电压范围的关系函数,在此基础上提出管电压递变控制策略和有效子图提取方法。最终对0～20 mm厚度范围工件进行管电压递变高动态成像,结果表明：管电压递变高动态成像能够有效地实现透照厚度差异大的工件的高动态范围成像,最终融合结果能够保留较宽范围厚度上的细节信息。     

Observation of simultaneous reverse saturation absorption and saturation absorption in silver nanoparticles incorporated into europium oxide thin film

In this work, nano silver clusters incorporated into europium oxide thin films at a level of 3.8% and 12.5% have been prepared by a vacuum evaporation method on glass and silicon substrates. Samples were investigated by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and linear and nonlinear optical absorption methods. The X-ray diffraction reveals that the Eu oxide of these samples remains amorphous after pre-annealing at 400 °C. The linear optical absorption of the samples shows surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena, which varies with the Ag content of the samples. The optical nonlinear absorption properties of the prepared films were investigated using an open Z-scan technique with cw laser at wavelengths 476 nm and 514 nm. A changeover from reverse saturation absorption (RSA) to saturation absorption (SA) was observed. RSA is attributed to interband transition via two photon absorption. SA is attributed to plasmon bleach.