Medical Physics

We have developed a new approach to x-ray imaging that uses phase instead of attenuation to generate image contrast. This makes possible to detect features classically considered "x-ray invisible" and enhances significantly the details in an x-ray image. The technology can be applied to improved testing of nuclear materials and waste containers. Our methods are particularly sensitive to small cracks and small local variations of density, and can potentially pick up early signs of corrosion or other types of degradation. 

Current projects include

• dark field/ultra-small angle scatter imaging for the detection of sub-pixel microstructures
• X-ray phase contrast microscopy with laboratory sources
• extension of phase contrast methods to high x-ray energies for the imaging of high Z materials
• development of large area, scanning-based x-ray phase contrast systems for inspection of large objects
• development of synchrotron-based x-ray phase contrast imaging with enhanced sensitivity
• development of fast, multimodal x-ray tomography methods

Academic staff