Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source
Multimodal imaging is valuable because it can provide additional information beyond that obtained from a conventional bright-field (BF) image and can be implemented with a widely available device. In this paper, we investigate the implementation of speckle-based transmission (T) and dark-field (DF)...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/8/2581 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849714262674505728 |
|---|---|
| author | Diego Rosich Margarita Chevalier Tatiana Alieva |
| author_facet | Diego Rosich Margarita Chevalier Tatiana Alieva |
| author_sort | Diego Rosich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multimodal imaging is valuable because it can provide additional information beyond that obtained from a conventional bright-field (BF) image and can be implemented with a widely available device. In this paper, we investigate the implementation of speckle-based transmission (T) and dark-field (DF) imaging in a laboratory X-ray setup to confirm its usefulness for material analysis. Three methods for recovering T and DF images were applied to a sample composed of six materials: plastic, nylon, cardboard, cork, expanded polystyrene and foam with different absorption and scattering properties. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and linear attenuation, absorption and diffusion coefficients obtained from BF, T and DF images are studied for two object-to-detector distances (ODDs). Two analysis windows are evaluated to determine the impact of noise on the image contrast of T and DF images and the ability to retrieve material characteristics. The unified modulated pattern analysis method proves to be the most reliable among the three studied speckle-based methods. The results showed that the CNR of T and DF images increases with larger analysis windows, while linear absorption and diffusion coefficients remain constant. The CNR of T images decreases with increasing ODD due to noise, whereas the CNR of DF images exhibits more complex behaviour, due to the material-dependent reduction in DF signal with increasing ODD. The experimental results on the ODD dependence of T and DF signals are consistent with recently reported numerical simulation results of these signals. The absorption coefficients derived from T images are largely independent of the ODD and the speckle-based method used, making them a universal parameter for material discrimination. In contrast, the linear diffusion coefficients vary with the ODD, limiting their applicability to specific experimental configurations despite their notable advantages in distinguishing materials. These findings highlight that T and DF images obtained from a laboratory X-ray setup offer complementary insights, enhancing their value for material analysis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a4d66088ad364c3aa80ff8d930ee876b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-a4d66088ad364c3aa80ff8d930ee876b2025-08-20T03:13:45ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-04-01258258110.3390/s25082581Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray SourceDiego Rosich0Margarita Chevalier1Tatiana Alieva2Physics Institute of Cantabria (IFCA-CSIC-UC), Av. de los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, SpainDepartment of Radiology, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Pl. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Optics, Faculty of Physics, Complutense University of Madrid, Pl. de las Ciencias 1, 28040 Madrid, SpainMultimodal imaging is valuable because it can provide additional information beyond that obtained from a conventional bright-field (BF) image and can be implemented with a widely available device. In this paper, we investigate the implementation of speckle-based transmission (T) and dark-field (DF) imaging in a laboratory X-ray setup to confirm its usefulness for material analysis. Three methods for recovering T and DF images were applied to a sample composed of six materials: plastic, nylon, cardboard, cork, expanded polystyrene and foam with different absorption and scattering properties. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and linear attenuation, absorption and diffusion coefficients obtained from BF, T and DF images are studied for two object-to-detector distances (ODDs). Two analysis windows are evaluated to determine the impact of noise on the image contrast of T and DF images and the ability to retrieve material characteristics. The unified modulated pattern analysis method proves to be the most reliable among the three studied speckle-based methods. The results showed that the CNR of T and DF images increases with larger analysis windows, while linear absorption and diffusion coefficients remain constant. The CNR of T images decreases with increasing ODD due to noise, whereas the CNR of DF images exhibits more complex behaviour, due to the material-dependent reduction in DF signal with increasing ODD. The experimental results on the ODD dependence of T and DF signals are consistent with recently reported numerical simulation results of these signals. The absorption coefficients derived from T images are largely independent of the ODD and the speckle-based method used, making them a universal parameter for material discrimination. In contrast, the linear diffusion coefficients vary with the ODD, limiting their applicability to specific experimental configurations despite their notable advantages in distinguishing materials. These findings highlight that T and DF images obtained from a laboratory X-ray setup offer complementary insights, enhancing their value for material analysis.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/8/2581X-ray speckle-based imaginglaboratory sourcedark-field imagingmultimodal X-ray imagingmaterial analysis |
| spellingShingle | Diego Rosich Margarita Chevalier Tatiana Alieva Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source Sensors X-ray speckle-based imaging laboratory source dark-field imaging multimodal X-ray imaging material analysis |
| title | Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source |
| title_full | Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source |
| title_fullStr | Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source |
| title_full_unstemmed | Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source |
| title_short | Speckle-Based Transmission and Dark-Field Imaging for Material Analysis with a Laboratory X-Ray Source |
| title_sort | speckle based transmission and dark field imaging for material analysis with a laboratory x ray source |
| topic | X-ray speckle-based imaging laboratory source dark-field imaging multimodal X-ray imaging material analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/8/2581 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diegorosich specklebasedtransmissionanddarkfieldimagingformaterialanalysiswithalaboratoryxraysource AT margaritachevalier specklebasedtransmissionanddarkfieldimagingformaterialanalysiswithalaboratoryxraysource AT tatianaalieva specklebasedtransmissionanddarkfieldimagingformaterialanalysiswithalaboratoryxraysource |