Design and characterization of high energy micro-CT with a laser-based X-ray source

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel high-energy micro-CT system utilizing a laser-driven X-ray source, demonstrating its potential for high-resolution imaging of dense objects, with a simulated spatial resolution of 64.9 micrometers.

Contribution

It develops a numerical model and optimization framework for laser-based high-energy micro-CT, enabling high-resolution imaging of dense materials, which was limited in conventional systems.

Findings

Simulated spatial resolution of 64.9 μm for dense objects

Feasibility demonstrated for laser-driven high-energy CT

System performance optimized through modeling and analysis

Abstract

The increasingly demand for machining accuracy and product quality excites a great interest in high-resolution non-destructive testing (NDT) methods, but spatial resolution of conventional high-energy computed tomography (CT) is limited to sub-millimeter because of large X-ray spot size. Therefore, we propose a novel high-resolution high-energy CT based on laser-driven X-ray source and prove its feasibility to allow high-spatial-resolution tomographic imaging of dense objects. A numerical model is developed with a consideration of realistic factors including parameter fluctuations, statistical noise and detecting efficiency. By using modulation transfer functions, the system performance is quantitatively characterized and optimized in terms of source characteristics, detector aperture, geometrical configuration and projection parameters. As a result, the simulated tomography for a high-density object (up to 19.35g/cm3) achieves a basic spatial resolution of 64.9{\mu}m. This concept expands the prospects of laser-based compact X-ray sources and shows a great potential to achieve high-perspectivity micro-CT imaging for various industrial applications.