Study of fine and low-dose medical imaging using quasi-monochromatic X-rays generated through the laser-Compton scattering process

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X-rays generated through the laser-Compton scattering process (LCS X-rays) are expected as suitable tools for fine and low-dose imaging in medicine due to their partial spatial-coherence and quasi-monochromaticity. Here we studied a method, which we call "multi-pulse LCS", to enhance the photon yield of LCS X-rays to a level sufficient in such an X-ray imaging. As a preliminary experiment for the medical application, the image of a human-head phantom including simulated blood vessels filled by Barium sulfate was taken with the LCS-X rays. As a result, the contrast of the blood vessels was clearly enhanced by tuning the X-ray energy to the K-edge of Barium. The Talbot interferometry is a kind of phase-contrast X-ray imaging scheme. In this scheme, small difference of X-ray phase brings a clear change of the moire fringe, which can visualize even the structure of objects composed of light elements. We applied our LCS-X ray system to the Talbot interferometry and found it useful.