3D-CT imaging using characteristic X-rays and visible lights produced by ion micro-beam bombardment

Abstract We improved the spatial resolution of a 3D-CT imaging system consisting of a micro-beam and an X-ray CCD camera of 1 mega pixels (Hamamatsu photonics C8800X), whose element size is 8 μm × 8 μm providing an image size of 8 mm × 8 mm. A small ant of ∼6 mm body length was placed in a small tube, rotated by a stepping motor, and a spatial resolution of 4 μm for X-ray micron-CT using characteristic Ti-K-X-rays (4.558 keV) produced by 3 MeV proton micro-beams was obtained. We applied the X-ray micron-CT to a small ant’s head and obtained the fine structures of the head’s interior. Because the CCD is sensitive to visible light, we also examined the capability of light micron-CT using visible red light from an Al 2 O 3 (Cr) ruby scintillator and applied the micron-CT to a small red tick. Though the red tick is highly transparent to Ti-K-X-rays, visible red light does not penetrate through the red tick. The most serious problem was dispersion of lights due to Thomson scattering resulting in obscure projection images.