A preliminary investigation of the potential of phase contrast x-ray imaging in the field of homeland security

A novel technique based on coded apertures which makes x-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCi) feasible with conventional sources has been recently developed at University College London. This technique is expected to enable for the first time real-world applications of XPCi in fields as diverse as medical, biological and scientific imaging, industrial inspections and security scans. This paper focuses on XPCi applications in homeland security. A simulation of coded-aperture XPCi, which was experimentally validated in a previous work, has been used to produce images of potential threat objects, and to quantitatively assess detail visibility improvements in terms of contrast and signal-to-noise ratio over conventional techniques based on absorption. Free-space propagation phase contrast images taken with synchrotron radiation (SR) are also presented. Although not directly related to the coded-aperture technique used in the simulation, these can be considered indicative of the image quality that would be made available through coded-aperture XPCi with conventional sources: previous studies have demonstrated that this technique provides image enhancements compatible with those obtained with free-space propagation phase contrast with SR. Substantial enhancements in image quality and improvement in detail detectability in cluttered environments are demonstrated in this way. The results presented in this study and the software used to generate them will provide the basis for the design and realization of a dedicated imaging prototype.