Fast three-dimensional phase retrieval in propagation-based x-ray tomography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a 3D post-reconstruction phase retrieval method for propagation-based X-ray tomography that improves noise suppression and reduces computational costs by localizing phase retrieval within the reconstructed volume.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel 3D post-reconstruction phase retrieval technique that enhances noise suppression and computational efficiency compared to traditional projection-based methods.

Findings

Modest noise reduction over conventional PB-CT methods.

Potential for significant computational savings in multi-material samples.

Elimination of multiple CT reconstructions and global phase retrieval steps.

Abstract

The following paper describes a method for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of multi-material objects based on propagation-based X-ray phase-contrast tomography (PB-CT) with phase retrieval using the homogenous form of the Transport-of-Intensity equation (TIE-Hom). Unlike conventional PB-CT algorithms that perform phase retrieval of individual projections, the described post-reconstruction phase-retrieval method is applied in 3D to a localised region of the CT-reconstructed volume. We demonstrate via numerical simulations the accuracy and noise characteristics of the method under a variety of experimental conditions, comparing it to both conventional absorption tomography and two-dimensional (2D) TIE-Hom phase retrieval applied to projection images. The results indicate that the 3D post-reconstruction method generally achieves a modest improvement in noise suppression over existing PB-CT methods. It is also shown that potentially large computational gains over projection-based phase retrieval for multi-material samples are possible. In particular, constraining phase retrieval to a localised 3D region of interest reduces the overall computational cost and eliminates the need for multiple CT reconstructions and global 2D phase retrieval operations for each material within the sample.