Phase-Contrast Imaging Using Radiation Sources Based on Laser-Plasma Wakefield Accelerators: State of the Art and Future Development

Hoeschen, C. et al. (2015) Phase-Contrast Imaging Using Radiation Sources Based on Laser-Plasma Wakefield Accelerators: State of the Art and Future Development. In: Medical Imaging 2015: Physics of Medical Imaging, Orlando, FL, USA, 21 Feb 2015, 94120J. ISBN 9781628415025 (doi: 10.1117/12.2082088)

Abstract

Both the laser-plasma wakefield accelerator (LWFA) and X-ray phase-contrast imaging (XPCi) are promising technologies that are attracting the attention of the scientific community. Conventional X-ray absorption imaging cannot be used as a means of imaging biological material because of low contrast. XPCi overcomes this limitation by exploiting the variation of the refraction index of materials. The contrast obtained is higher than for conventional absorption imaging and requires a lower dose. The LWFA is a new concept of acceleration where electrons are accelerated to very high energy (~150 MeV) in very short distances (mm scale) by surfing plasma waves excited by the passage of an ultra-intense laser pulse (~1018 Wcm-2) through plasma. Electrons in the LWFA can undergo transverse oscillation and emit synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation in a narrow cone around the propagation axis. The properties of the betatron radiation produced by LWFA, such as source size and spectrum, make it an excellent candidate for XPCi. In this work we present the characterization of betatron radiation produced by the LWFA in the ALPHA-X laboratory (University of Strathclyde). We show how phase contrast images can be obtained using the betatron radiation in a free-space propagation configuration and we discuss the potential and limitation of the LWFA driven XPCi.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Maneuski, Dr Dima
• Authors: Hoeschen, C., Kontos, D., Flohr, T. G., Reboredo, D., Cipiccia, S., Grant, P.A., Welsh, G.H., Grant, D.W., McKendrick, G., Subiel, A., Maneuski, D., Wiggins, S.M., and Jaroszynski, D.A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• ISSN: 0277-786X
• ISBN: 9781628415025

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
59257	1	CRITICAL MASS: Collective radiation-beam-plasma interactions at high intensities	Valentine O'Shea	Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/J018171/1	P&A - PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY