Phase-contrast imaging with a novel X-ray source

A novel X-ray source based on Parametric X-ray radiation (PXR) has been employed for phase-contrast imaging at the Laboratory for Electron Beam Research and Application (LEBRA), Nihon University, Japan. The PXR X-rays were generated by the 100 MeV electron beam passing through a Si single crystal. The X-rays in the 16-34 keV range were chosen for imaging of biological samples. The quasi-monochromatic, tunable, and coherent X-ray source is appropriate for this application. In addition, the large X-ray beam irradiation field of approximately 100 mm in diameter, which was achieved without special optics, suggests that the PXR is applicable to imaging for medical diagnostics.