High-resolution X-ray imaging by polycapillary optics and lithium fluoride detectors combination

¹ INFN - LNF, XLab Frascati - Via E. Fermi, 40, I-00044 Frascati (Rome), Italy, EU
² Università di Roma “Sapienza”, Dipartimento di SBAI - Via A. Scarpa, 14, I-00161 Rome, Italy, EU
³ RAS P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute and National Research Nuclear University - Moscow, Russia
⁴ Università di Roma 3, Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche - Largo San Leonardo Murialdo, 1, Rome, Italy, EU
⁵ ENEA C.R. Frascati, Photonics Micro- and Nano-strucures Laboratory - Via E. Fermi, 45, I-00044 Frascati (Rome), Italy, EU

^a dariush.hampai@lnf.infn.it

Received: 1 October 2011
Accepted: 7 November 2011

Abstract

Novel results on high-resolution X-ray imaging by a table-top laboratory system based on lithium fluoride (LiF) imaging radiation detectors and a X-ray tube combined with polycapillary optics are reported for the first time. In this paper, imaging experiments of reference objects, as well as thick geological samples, show some of the potentialities of this approach for the development of a compact laboratory X-ray microscopy apparatus. The high spatial resolution and dynamic range of versatile LiF imaging detectors, based on optical reading of photoluminescence from X-ray–induced color centers in LiF crystals and films, allow us to use very simple contact imaging techniques. Promising applications can be foreseen in the fields of bio-medical imaging diagnostics, characterization of X-ray sources and optical elements, material science and photonics.