A new technique allows fainter features to be imaged by X-rays.

Conventional X-ray imaging relies on the absorption and scattering of X-ray photons by the object being imaged. But X-ray phase-contrast imaging instead detects changes in the photons' direction and velocity. Alessandro Olivo and his colleagues at University College London used a conventional X-ray source outfitted with grated masks — one in front of the object for imaging and one behind it. The masks were offset slightly from one another so that they filtered out some of the photons, reducing background noise. The detector measures by how much photons have deviated from their path, capturing different image data from conventional X-ray imaging and boosting the visibility of fine detail.

Credit: A. OLIVO ET AL.

The team used its technique to image biological specimens such as a beetle (pictured), as well as samples of interest for medical imaging, materials science and security inspection.

Appl. Optics 50, 1765–1769 (2011)