Evaluation of ultrafast laser-based hard x-ray sources for phase-contrast imaging

The 2D projection phase-contrast imaging performance of the ultrafast laser-based x-ray (ULX) source has been investigated. The potential of such a novel x-ray source has been assessed by imaging a reference object (Contrast Detail Evaluation phantom) in the in-line holography geometry and by applying a simple 1D numerical model to the data analysis. The results indicate that the ULX is a promising technique for 2D projection phase-contrast imaging and for implementation of phase-contrast micro-Computed Tomography (μ-CT). This is because by using high contrast laser pulse ULX simultaneously provides a very small x-ray source size along with a high average x-ray flux. In addition, due to the ultrashort x-ray burst duration, ULX might allow practical implementation of ultrafast phase-contrast stroboscopy and time-of-flight based electronic scatter rejection. This technique is also of interest for time resolved radiography to follow shock waves and radiative fronts propagating in an opaque matter.