Quantitative phase contrast and X-ray scattering micro-tomography with the 9.2 keV liquid metal jet anode: applications on materials and life science

Grating-based X-ray phase contrast and scattering contrast tomography were pioneered at synchrotron beamlines and are well established as laboratory applications. The interpretation and appropriate signal reconstruction of scattering contrast (so called dark-field image contrast DIC) long remained an issue vividly discussed in the scientific community. Based on its interpretation as ultra-small angle scattering by microscopic interfaces (e.g., fibers, pores or particles) we present examples from various micro-structured materials imaged with our specific setup equipped with a liquid metal jet X-ray source and a high and medium resolution detector. Besides DIC, grating based phase contrast further provides the complementary contrast modes of attenuation and differential phase contrast. From these two contrasts, a comparison of propagation based phase contrast (in-line phase contrast) and differential phase contrast will be shown.