NSRL: Breakthrough on X-ray Phase-contrast Imaging

National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) University of Science and Technology of China made a great breakthrough in X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography (CT) recently.

The simple, fast and low radiation dose X-ray phase-contrast CT technique was newly put forward by the research team led by Prof. WU Ziyu, director of NSRL. It is developed based on the principle that the absorption contrast is the same but the refraction contrast opposite between front projection and back projection. The new technique set the prerequisites for fast and low-dose phase-contrast X-ray imaging techniques in the future. The findings were published in PNAS, 107, 31, 13576-13581 (2010).

In comparison, the existing X-ray phase-contrast imaging technique is subjected to long exposure time, high radiation dose and complicated operation, which impairs its wide application. Experiments show that the new technique can address all these shortages with lower radiation dose and simpler operation.

With its distinct advantages, the new technique has drawn worldwide attention. NSRL was invited to deliver a report on it in the 10th International Conference on X-ray Microscopy (XRM) in Chicago in August, 2010. The report was highly praised by famous experts who believed that the new technique would show great promise in the future.

During the conference, NSRL along with Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility won the bid for hosting the next XRM conference (XRM 2012 Shanghai-Hefei ).