A Shack-Hartmann sensor for single-shot multi-contrast imaging with hard X-rays

An array of compound refractive X-ray lenses (CRL) with 20x20 lenslets, a focal distance of 20 cm and a visibility of 0.93 is presented. It can be used as a Shack-Hartmann sensor for hard X-rays (SHARX) for wavefront sensing and permits for true single-shot multi-contrast imaging the dynamics of materials with a spatial resolution in the micrometer range, sensitivity on nanosized structures and temporal resolution on the microsecond scale. The object's absorption and its induced wavefront shift can be assessed simultaneously together with information from diffraction channels. This enables the imaging of hierarchical materials. In contrast to the established Hartmann sensors the SHARX has an increased flux efficiency through focusing of the beam rather than blocking parts of it. We investigated the spatiotemporal behavior of a cavitation bubble induced by laser pulses. Furthermore, we validated the SHARX by measuring refraction angles of a single diamond CRL, where we obtained an angular resolution better than 4 microrad

Generalized pupil function of a compound X-ray refractive lens

Quality of a refractive compound X-ray lens can be limited by imperfections in surfaces of unit lenses and stacking precision. In general case both the lens transmission and optical aberrations define properties of a beam in the lens exit plane; together they can be expressed in terms of the generalized pupil function. In this work we measure this function for a diamond single crystal compound refractive lens. Consequently, we apply the pupil function to evaluate the performance of the examined compound refractive X-ray lens. A number of practically important conclusions can be drawn from such analysis

Tofu : a fast, versatile and user-friendly image processing toolkit for computed tomography

Tofu is a toolkit for processing large amounts of images and for tomographic reconstruction. Complex image processing tasks are organized as workflows of individual processing steps. The toolkit is able to reconstruct parallel and cone beam as well as tomographic and laminographic geometries. Many pre- and post-processing algorithms needed for high-quality 3D reconstruction are available, e.g. phase retrieval, ring removal and de-noising. Tofu is optimized for stand-alone GPU workstations on which it achieves reconstruction speed comparable with costly CPU clusters. It automatically utilizes all GPUs in the system and generates 3D reconstruction code with minimal number of instructions given the input geometry (parallel/cone beam, tomography/laminography), hence yielding optimal run-time performance. In order to improve accessibility for researchers with no previous knowledge of programming, tofu contains graphical user interfaces for both optimization of 3D reconstruction parameters and batch processing of data with pre-configured workflows for typical computed tomography reconstruction. The toolkit is open source and extensive documentation is available for both end-users and developers. Thanks to the mentioned features, tofu is suitable for both expert users with specialized image processing needs (e.g. when dealing with data from custom-built computed tomography scanners) and for application-specific end-users who just need to reconstruct their data on off-the-shelf hardware

A Shack-Hartmann Sensor for Single-Shot Multi-Contrast Imaging with Hard X-rays

An array of compound refractive X-ray lenses (CRL) with 20 x 20 lenslets, a focal distance of 20 cm and a visibility of 0.93 is presented. It can be used as a Shack-Hartmann sensor for hard X-rays (SHARX) for wavefront sensing and permits for true single-shot multi-contrast imaging the dynamics of materials with a spatial resolution in the micrometer range, sensitivity on nanosized structures and temporal resolution on the microsecond scale. The object’s absorption and its induced wavefront shift can be assessed simultaneously together with information from diffraction channels. In contrast to the established Hartmann sensors the SHARX has an increased flux efficiency through focusing of the beam rather than blocking parts of it. We investigated the spatiotemporal behavior of a cavitation bubble induced by laser pulses. Furthermore, we validated the SHARX by measuring refraction angles of a single diamond CRL, where we obtained an angular resolution better than 4 μrad

Discharge plasma formation in square capillary with gas supply channels

A comprehensive model of processes in a discharge capillary is required in order to obtain nominal parameters of a preformed plasma channel suitable for the laser wake-field acceleration. We present three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics simulations of a hydrogen gas filling process and discharge plasma formation in a short square shaped capillary with gas supply channels. Time evolution of the gas pressure and the plasma density in the capillary channel for a chosen discharge current profile is analyzed. Performed simulations provide distributions of the electric current, the magnetic field, and the electron density along the whole channel, taking into account gas supply areas as well as areas outside of the capillary. Obtained results show that the presence of gas supplies leads to the inhomogeneous plasma density distribution along the capillary channel which has to be taken into account for generating an optimal laser-driven electron beam

Plasma equilibrium inside various cross-section capillary discharges

Plasma properties inside a hydrogen-filled capillary discharge waveguide were modeled with dissipative magnetohydrodynamic simulations to enable analysis of capillaries of circular and square cross-sections implying that square capillaries can be used to guide circularly symmetric laser beams. When the quasistationary stage of the discharge is reached, the plasma and temperature in the vicinity of the capillary axis have almost the same profile for both the circular and square capillaries. The effect of cross-section on the electron beam focusing properties was studied using the simulation-derived magnetic field map. Particle tracking simulations showed only slight effects on the electron beam symmetry in the horizontal and diagonal directions for square capillary

Clinical mammography and sonography of patient B.

<p>In-vivo mammography in mediolateral oblique projection before (A), after 4 cycles NAC (B) and after completion of NAC (C). Ultrasound before NAC (D). Tumor indicated by arrowheads. Please note the excessive calcifications (white spots in A–D) within the tumor. The exact tumor borders are not visible in mammography and sonography.</p

Linum virginianum L.

原著和名: キバナノマツバニンジン科名: アマ科 = Linaceae採集地: 千葉県 千葉市 千葉大学構内 (下総 千葉市 千葉大学構内)採集日: 1976/8/9採集者: 萩庭丈壽整理番号: JH045221国立科学博物館整理番号: TNS-VS-99522

Sample-holder used for PC-CT imaging.

<p>Photograph of the sample-holder with the sample in it.</p