Evaluation of X-ray phase-contrast imaging with the Medipix

In the recent decade phase-contrast imaging in the X-ray regime has been developed as a competitive alternative to conventional absorption radiography and computed tomography Wilkins et al. (1996) [1]. As phase-contrast is an energy dependent phenomenon, the use of a spectroscopic detector like the Medipix is a key tool to characterize and optimize imaging methods such as in-line or interferometric phase-contrast imaging. In the following the energy dependency of interference patterns caused by phase shifts in a coherent wavefront will be shown. Moreover, the spatial coherence of X-rays, considered as wavefronts, is crucial for the formation of detectable interference effects. The newest generations of X-ray sources produce small but finite focal spot sizes, so that partial spatial coherence of the wave-field has to be taken into account. The contribution of partial coherence to the image recorded in the detector plane has been investigated and the outcome will be presented. For a fuller understanding of a complete phase-contrast imaging setup the incoherent scattering effects were additionally simulated with Monte-Carlo methods. Furthermore, to develop a realistic simulation-tool for X-ray phase-contrast imaging, a good comprehension of the detection system is needed. This was also achieved by Monte-Carlo simulations. The comparison with measurements of the simulations of a complete setup shows a very good agreement.