Differential phase contrast X-ray imaging system and components
A differential phase contrast X-ray imaging system includes an X-ray illumination system, a beam splitter arranged in an optical path of the X-ray illumination system, and a detection system arranged in an optical path to detect X-rays after passing through the beam splitter.
1. A method for X-ray illumination, comprising:
providing a poly-energetic X-ray beam for illuminating an object to be imaged;
reflecting a first portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam, the first portion comprising X-rays that have energies less than a lower pass-band energy;
transmitting a second portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam
attenuating said first portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam;
reflecting a third portion of said second portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam, said third portion comprising X-rays that have energies less than an upper pass-band energy;
attenuating a fourth portion of said second portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam, the fourth portion comprising X-rays that are not reflected; and
providing said third portion of said second portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam to illuminate said object to be imaged, wherein said third portion comprises X-rays having energies between said upper pass-band energy and said lower pass-band energy.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said reflecting said first portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam and said transmitting said second portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam further comprises:
directing said poly-energetic X-ray beam to be incident upon a membrane X-ray mirror comprising a reflecting layer that comprises a high-Z material on a support layer that comprises a low-Z material,
wherein Z is an atomic number,
wherein said high-Z material includes atomic elements with Z at least 42, and
wherein said low-Z material includes atomic elements with Z less than 14.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said reflecting said first portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam and said transmitting said second portion of said poly-energetic X-ray beam further comprises:
directing said poly-energetic X-ray beam to be incident upon a membrane X-ray mirror comprising a reflecting layer that comprises a first material on a support layer that comprises a second material.
4. The method according to claim 3 ,
wherein said first material is a high-Z material,
wherein Z is an atomic number,
wherein said high-Z material includes atomic elements with Z at least 42.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said first material is at least one of Rh, Pt, or Au.
6. The method according to claim 3 ,
wherein said second material is a low-Z material,
wherein Z is an atomic number,
wherein said low-Z material includes atomic elements with Z less than 14.
7. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said second material is at least one of C, Si, quartz, or glass.