First X-ray phase contrast images obtained with conventional X-ray source under exposure conditions compatible with real-world applications

X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) is a novel technique that allows detecting small variations in structure and composition of objects that would be undetectable when employing conventional X-ray absorption imaging. We have recently proposed a modification of the technique, called coded-aperture XPCi, which allows recording phase contrast images using conventional laboratory X-ray sources. Unlike other methods based on conventional sources, the coded-aperture approach does not require any collimation or aperturing of the emitted beam to increase the source coherence, which would result in suppressing the source output thus leading to excessively long exposure times. This opens up the possibilities of using XPCi in various applications from medical imaging to security applications. Here we will present the results obtained with the laboratory coded-aperture XPCi setup that show drastic improvement in sensitivity compared to conventional absorption imaging.