1
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Barone V, Ellingson RJ, Khare SV. Bandgap tuning in ZnxCd1-xTe superlattices through variable atomic ordering. J Chem Phys 2024; 161:064703. [PMID: 39132796 DOI: 10.1063/5.0221674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
We explore the entire search space of 32-layer ZnxCd1-xTe superlattices to find the structures that minimize and maximize the bandgap at each possible zinc concentration. The searching is accomplished through an accurate and efficient combination of valence force field dynamics, the empirical pseudopotential method, and the folded spectrum method. We also describe the use of an alternate preconditioner that improves the robustness and efficiency of the locally optimal preconditioned conjugate gradient's solutions to the folded spectrum method. The physical properties of these superlattices, such as their formation energies, bandgaps, densities of states, effective masses, and optical response functions, are investigated with density functional theory paired with hybrid functionals and compare well to available experimental measurements. It is revealed that the bandgap of ZnxCd1-xTe may change by up to 0.2 eV depending on how the layers in the superlattice are ordered. Stacking order has a large, irregular effect on the effective masses, but optical response functions seem insensitive to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Barone
- Department of Physics, Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA
| | - R J Ellingson
- Department of Physics, Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA
| | - S V Khare
- Department of Physics, Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio 43606, USA
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2
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Ajeer A, Khong JC, Wilson MD, Moss RM. Hybrid energy and angle dispersive X-ray diffraction computed tomography. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:12944-12954. [PMID: 37157443 DOI: 10.1364/oe.480664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Pixelated energy resolving detectors enable acquisition of X-ray diffraction (XRD) signals using a hybrid energy- and angle- dispersive technique, potentially paving the way for the development of novel benchtop XRD imaging or computed tomography (XRDCT) systems, utilising readily available polychromatic X-ray sources. In this work, a commercially available pixelated cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector, HEXITEC (High Energy X-ray Imaging Technology), was used to demonstrate such an XRDCT system. Specifically, a novel fly-scan technique was developed and compared to the established step-scan technique, reducing the total scan time by 42% while improving the spatial resolution, material contrast and therefore the material classification.
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3
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Iovea M, Stanciulescu A, Hermann E, Neagu M, Duliu OG. Multi-Energy and Fast-Convergence Iterative Reconstruction Algorithm for Organic Material Identification Using X-ray Computed Tomography. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:1654. [PMID: 36837279 PMCID: PMC9962467 DOI: 10.3390/ma16041654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In order to significantly reduce the computing time while, at the same time, keeping the accuracy and precision when determining the local values of the density and effective atomic number necessary for identifying various organic material, including explosives and narcotics, a specialized multi-stage procedure based on a multi-energy computed tomography investigation within the 20-160 keV domain was elaborated. It consisted of a compensation for beam hardening and other non-linear effects that affect the energy dependency of the linear attenuation coefficient (LAC) in the chosen energy domain, followed by a 3D fast reconstruction algorithm capable of reconstructing the local LAC values for 64 energy values from 19.8 to 158.4 keV, and, finally, the creation of a set of algorithms permitting the simultaneous determination of the density and effective atomic number of the investigated materials. This enabled determining both the density and effective atomic number of complex objects in approximately 24 s, with an accuracy and precision of less than 3%, which is a significantly better performance with respect to the reported literature values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Iovea
- Accent Pro 2000 srl, 25A, Mărășești Str., 077125 Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
| | | | - Edward Hermann
- Accent Pro 2000 srl, 25A, Mărășești Str., 077125 Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
| | - Marian Neagu
- Accent Pro 2000 srl, 25A, Mărășești Str., 077125 Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
| | - Octavian G. Duliu
- Accent Pro 2000 srl, 25A, Mărășești Str., 077125 Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
- Department of Structure of Matter, Earth and Atmospheric Physics, Astrophysics, Faculty of Physics, University of Bucharest, 405, Atomistilor Str., 077125 Magurele (Ilfov), Romania
- Geological Institute of Romania, 1, Caransebes Str., 012271 Bucharest, Romania
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4
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Mele F, Quercia J, Abbene L, Benassi G, Bettelli M, Buttacavoli A, Principato F, Zappettini A, Bertuccio G. Advances in High-Energy-Resolution CdZnTe Linear Array Pixel Detectors with Fast and Low Noise Readout Electronics. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:2167. [PMID: 36850765 PMCID: PMC9960822 DOI: 10.3390/s23042167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Radiation detectors based on Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) compounds are becoming popular solutions thanks to their high detection efficiency, room temperature operation, and to their reliability in compact detection systems for medical, astrophysical, or industrial applications. However, despite a huge effort to improve the technological process, CZT detectors' full potential has not been completely exploited when both high spatial and energy resolution are required by the application, especially at low energies (<10 keV), limiting their application in energy-resolved photon counting (ERPC) systems. This gap can also be attributed to the lack of dedicated front-end electronics which can bring out the best in terms of detector spectroscopic performances. In this work, we present the latest results achieved in terms of energy resolution using SIRIO, a fast low-noise charge sensitive amplifier, and a linear-array pixel detector, based on boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman-grown B-VB CZT crystals. The detector features a 0.25-mm pitch, a 1-mm thickness and is operated at a -700-V bias voltage. An equivalent noise charge of 39.2 el. r.m.s. (corresponding to 412 eV FWHM) was measured on the test pulser at 32 ns peaking time, leading to a raw resolution of 1.3% (782 eV FWHM) on the 59 keV line at room temperature (+20 °C) using an uncollimated 241Am, largely improving the current state of the art for CZT-based detection systems at such short peaking times, and achieving an optimum resolution of 0.97% (576 eV FWHM) at 1 µs peaking time. The measured energy resolution at the 122 keV line and with 1 µs peaking time of a 57Co raw uncollimated spectrum is 0.96% (1.17 keV). These activities are in the framework of an Italian collaboration on the development of energy-resolved X-ray scanners for material recycling, medical applications, and non-destructive testing in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Mele
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Sezione di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 22133 Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Quercia
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
| | - Leonardo Abbene
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giacomo Benassi
- Due2lab s.r.l., Via Paolo Borsellino 2, 42019 Scandiano, Italy
| | | | - Antonino Buttacavoli
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Principato
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Bertuccio
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering (DEIB), Politecnico di Milano, Via Anzani 42, 22100 Como, Italy
- National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN), Sezione di Milano, Via Celoria 16, 22133 Milan, Italy
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5
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Warr R, Handschuh S, Glösmann M, Cernik RJ, Withers PJ. Quantifying multiple stain distributions in bioimaging by hyperspectral X-ray tomography. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21945. [PMID: 36535963 PMCID: PMC9763266 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23592-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical staining of biological specimens is commonly utilised to boost contrast in soft tissue structures, but unambiguous identification of staining location and distribution is difficult without confirmation of the elemental signature, especially for chemicals of similar density contrast. Hyperspectral X-ray computed tomography (XCT) enables the non-destructive identification, segmentation and mapping of elemental composition within a sample. With the availability of hundreds of narrow, high resolution (~ 1 keV) energy channels, the technique allows the simultaneous detection of multiple contrast agents across different tissue structures. Here we describe a hyperspectral imaging routine for distinguishing multiple chemical agents, regardless of contrast similarity. Using a set of elemental calibration phantoms, we perform a first instance of direct stain concentration measurement using spectral absorption edge markers. Applied to a set of double- and triple-stained biological specimens, the study analyses the extent of stain overlap and uptake regions for commonly used contrast markers. An improved understanding of stain concentration as a function of position, and the interaction between multiple stains, would help inform future studies on multi-staining procedures, as well as enable future exploration of heavy metal uptake across medical, agricultural and ecological fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Warr
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
| | - Stephan Handschuh
- grid.6583.80000 0000 9686 6466VetCore Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Glösmann
- grid.6583.80000 0000 9686 6466VetCore Facility for Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert J. Cernik
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
| | - Philip J. Withers
- grid.5379.80000000121662407Henry Royce Institute, Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
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6
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Bohlen S, Brümmer T, Grüner F, Lindstrøm CA, Meisel M, Staufer T, Streeter MJV, Veale MC, Wood JC, D'Arcy R, Põder K, Osterhoff J. In Situ Measurement of Electron Energy Evolution in a Laser-Plasma Accelerator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2022; 129:244801. [PMID: 36563240 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.244801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
We report on a novel, noninvasive method applying Thomson scattering to measure the evolution of the electron beam energy inside a laser-plasma accelerator with high spatial resolution. The determination of the local electron energy enabled the in-situ detection of the acting acceleration fields without altering the final beam state. In this Letter we demonstrate that the accelerating fields evolve from (265±119) GV/m to (9±4) GV/m in a plasma density ramp. The presented data show excellent agreement with particle-in-cell simulations. This method provides new possibilities for detecting the dynamics of plasma-based accelerators and their optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bohlen
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Universität Hamburg and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Brümmer
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - F Grüner
- Universität Hamburg and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - C A Lindstrøm
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Meisel
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Universität Hamburg and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - T Staufer
- Universität Hamburg and Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, Luruper Chaussee 149, 22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - M J V Streeter
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, BT7 1NN, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - M C Veale
- UKRI STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - J C Wood
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - R D'Arcy
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - K Põder
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - J Osterhoff
- Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Notkestraße 85, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
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7
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Jayarathna S, Moktan H, Cho SH. Use of the Fully Spectroscopic Pixelated Cadmium Telluride Detector for Benchtop X-Ray Fluorescence Computed Tomography. IEEE ACCESS : PRACTICAL INNOVATIONS, OPEN SOLUTIONS 2022; 10:105074-105083. [PMID: 36274671 PMCID: PMC9583747 DOI: 10.1109/access.2022.3210590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we integrated a commercially-available fully-spectroscopic pixelated cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector system as a two-dimensional (2D) array detector into our existing benchtop cone-beam x-ray fluorescence computed tomography (XFCT) system. After integrating this detector, known as High-Energy X-ray Imaging Technology (HEXITEC), we performed quantitative imaging of gold nanoparticle (GNP) distribution in a small animal-sized phantom using our benchtop XFCT system. Owing to the upgraded detector component within our benchtop XFCT system, we were able to conduct this phantom imaging in an unprecedented manner by volumetric XFCT scans followed by XFCT image reconstruction in 3D. The current results showed that adoption of HEXITEC, in conjunction with a custom-made parallel-hole collimator, drastically reduced the XFCT scan time/dose. Compared with the previous work performed with our original benchtop XFCT system adopting a single crystal CdTe detector, the currently observed reduction was up to a factor of 5, while achieving comparable GNP detection limit under similar experimental conditions. Overall, we demonstrated, for the first time to the best our knowledge, the feasibility of benchtop XFCT imaging of small animal-sized objects containing biologically relevant GNP concentrations (on the order of 0.1 mg Au/cm3 or 100 parts-per-million/ppm), with the scan time (on the order of 1 minute)/x-ray dose (on the order of 10 cGy) that are likely meeting the minimum requirements for routine preclinical imaging applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandun Jayarathna
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hem Moktan
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sang Hyun Cho
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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8
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Buttacavoli A, Principato F, Gerardi G, Bettelli M, Zappettini A, Seller P, Veale MC, Zanettini S, Abbene L. Ballistic Deficit Pulse Processing in Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Pixel Detectors for High-Flux X-ray Measurements. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22093409. [PMID: 35591099 PMCID: PMC9103549 DOI: 10.3390/s22093409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
High-flux X-ray measurements with high-energy resolution and high throughput require the mitigation of pile-up and dead time effects. The reduction of the time width of the shaped pulses is a key approach, taking into account the distortions from the ballistic deficit, non-linearity, and time instabilities. In this work, we will present the performance of cadmium−zinc−telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors equipped with digital shapers faster than the preamplifier peaking times (ballistic deficit pulse processing). The effects on energy resolution, throughput, energy-linearity, time stability, charge sharing, and pile-up are shown. The results highlight the absence of time instabilities and high-energy resolution (<4% FWHM at 122 keV) when ballistic deficit pulse processing (dead time of 90 ns) was used in CZT pixel detectors. These activities are in the framework of an international collaboration on the development of spectroscopic imagers for medical applications (mammography, computed tomography) and non-destructive testing in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Buttacavoli
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.)
| | - Fabio Principato
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.)
| | - Gaetano Gerardi
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.)
| | - Manuele Bettelli
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Andrea Zappettini
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Paul Seller
- UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK; (P.S.); (M.C.V.)
| | - Matthew C. Veale
- UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK; (P.S.); (M.C.V.)
| | | | - Leonardo Abbene
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.)
- Correspondence:
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9
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Abbene L, Principato F, Buttacavoli A, Gerardi G, Bettelli M, Zappettini A, Altieri S, Auricchio N, Caroli E, Zanettini S, Protti N. Potentialities of High-Resolution 3-D CZT Drift Strip Detectors for Prompt Gamma-Ray Measurements in BNCT. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:1502. [PMID: 35214414 PMCID: PMC8878856 DOI: 10.3390/s22041502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Recently, new high-resolution cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) drift strip detectors for room temperature gamma-ray spectroscopic imaging were developed by our group. The CZT detectors equipped with orthogonal anode/cathode collecting strips, drift strips and dedicated pulse processing allow a detection area of 6 × 20 mm2 and excellent room temperature spectroscopic performance (0.82% FWHM at 661.7 keV). In this work, we investigated the potentialities of these detectors for prompt gamma-ray spectroscopy (PGS) in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The detectors, exploiting the measurement of the 478 keV prompt gamma rays emitted by 94% 7Li nuclides from the 10B(n, α)7Li reaction, are very appealing for the development of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) systems and Compton cameras in BNCT. High-resolution gamma-ray spectra from 10B samples under thermal neutrons were measured at the T.R.I.G.A. Mark II research nuclear reactor of the University of Pavia (Italy).
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Abbene
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (A.B.); (G.G.)
| | - Fabio Principato
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (A.B.); (G.G.)
| | - Antonino Buttacavoli
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (A.B.); (G.G.)
| | - Gaetano Gerardi
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (L.A.); (A.B.); (G.G.)
| | - Manuele Bettelli
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Andrea Zappettini
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Saverio Altieri
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia and Nuclear Physics National Institute (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Via Agostino Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.A.); (N.P.)
| | | | - Ezio Caroli
- INAF/OAS Bologna, 40129 Bologna, Italy; (N.A.); (E.C.)
| | | | - Nicoletta Protti
- Department of Physics, University of Pavia and Nuclear Physics National Institute (INFN), Unit of Pavia, Via Agostino Bassi 6, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (S.A.); (N.P.)
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10
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Buttacavoli A, Principato F, Gerardi G, Cascio D, Raso G, Bettelli M, Zappettini A, Seller P, Veale MC, Abbene L. Incomplete Charge Collection at Inter-Pixel Gap in Low- and High-Flux Cadmium Zinc Telluride Pixel Detectors. SENSORS 2022; 22:s22041441. [PMID: 35214342 PMCID: PMC8875842 DOI: 10.3390/s22041441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The success of cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors in room-temperature spectroscopic X-ray imaging is now widely accepted. The most common CZT detectors are characterized by enhanced-charge transport properties of electrons, with mobility-lifetime products μeτe > 10−2 cm2/V and μhτh > 10−5 cm2/V. These materials, typically termed low-flux LF-CZT, are successfully used for thick electron-sensing detectors and in low-flux conditions. Recently, new CZT materials with hole mobility-lifetime product enhancements (μhτh > 10−4 cm2/V and μeτe > 10−3 cm2/V) have been fabricated for high-flux measurements (high-flux HF-CZT detectors). In this work, we will present the performance and charge-sharing properties of sub-millimeter CZT pixel detectors based on LF-CZT and HF-CZT crystals. Experimental results from the measurement of energy spectra after charge-sharing addition (CSA) and from 2D X-ray mapping highlight the better charge-collection properties of HF-CZT detectors near the inter-pixel gaps. The successful mitigation of the effects of incomplete charge collection after CSA was also performed through original charge-sharing correction techniques. These activities exist in the framework of international collaboration on the development of energy-resolved X-ray scanners for medical applications and non-destructive testing in the food industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Buttacavoli
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Fabio Principato
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Gaetano Gerardi
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Donato Cascio
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Giuseppe Raso
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Manuele Bettelli
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Andrea Zappettini
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Paul Seller
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Oxon OX11 0QX, UK; (P.S.); (M.C.V.)
| | - Matthew C. Veale
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Oxon OX11 0QX, UK; (P.S.); (M.C.V.)
| | - Leonardo Abbene
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)—Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale Delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (F.P.); (G.G.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Moktan H, Panta RK, Cho SH. Bias-voltage dependent operational characteristics of a fully spectroscopic pixelated cadmium telluride detector system within an experimental benchtop x-ray fluorescence imaging setup. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2021; 8. [PMID: 34874017 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac3d9c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Commercially available fully spectroscopic pixelated cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector systems have been adopted lately for benchtop x-ray fluorescence (XRF) imaging/computed tomography (XFCT) of objects containing metal nanoprobes such as gold nanoparticles (GNPs). To date, however, some important characteristics of such detector systems under typical operating conditions of benchtop XRF/XFCT imaging systems are not well known. One important but poorly studied characteristic is the effect of detector bias-voltage on photon counting efficiency, energy resolution, and the resulting material detection limit. In this work, therefore, we investigated these characteristics for a commercial pixelated detector system adopting a 1-mm-thick CdTe sensor (0.25-mm pixel-pitch), known as HEXITEC, incorporated into an experimental benchtop cone-beam XFCT system with parallel-hole detector collimation. The detector system, operated at different bias-voltages, was used to acquire the gold XRF/Compton spectra from 1.0 wt% GNP-loaded phantom irradiated with 125 kVp x-rays filtered by 1.8-mm Tin. At each bias-voltage, the gold XRF signal, and the full-width-at-half-maximum at gold Kα2XRF peak (∼67 keV) provided photon counting efficiency and energy resolution, respectively. Under the current experimental conditions, the detector photon counting efficiency and energy resolution improved with increasing bias-voltage by ∼41 and ∼29% at -300V; ∼54 and ∼35% at -500V, respectively, when compared to those at -100V. Consequently, the GNP detection limit improved by ∼26% at -300V and ∼30% at -500V. Furthermore, the homogeneity of per-pixel energy resolution within the collimated detector area improved by ∼34% at -300V and ∼54% at -500V. These results suggested the gradual improvements in the detector performance with increasing bias-voltage up to -500V. However, at and beyond -550V, there were no discernible improvements in photon counting efficiency and energy resolution. Thus, the bias-voltage range of -500 to -550V was found optimal under the current experimental conditions that are considered typical of benchtop XRF/XFCT imaging tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hem Moktan
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Raj Kumar Panta
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
| | - Sang Hyun Cho
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America.,Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States of America
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12
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Enhanced hyperspectral tomography for bioimaging by spatiospectral reconstruction. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20818. [PMID: 34675228 PMCID: PMC8531290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00146-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we apply hyperspectral bright field imaging to collect computed tomographic images with excellent energy resolution (~ 1 keV), applying it for the first time to map the distribution of stain in a fixed biological sample through its characteristic K-edge. Conventionally, because the photons detected at each pixel are distributed across as many as 200 energy channels, energy-selective images are characterised by low count-rates and poor signal-to-noise ratio. This means high X-ray exposures, long scan times and high doses are required to image unique spectral markers. Here, we achieve high quality energy-dispersive tomograms from low dose, noisy datasets using a dedicated iterative reconstruction algorithm. This exploits the spatial smoothness and inter-channel structural correlation in the spectral domain using two carefully chosen regularisation terms. For a multi-phase phantom, a reduction in scan time of 36 times is demonstrated. Spectral analysis methods including K-edge subtraction and absorption step-size fitting are evaluated for an ex vivo, single (iodine)-stained biological sample, where low chemical concentration and inhomogeneous distribution can affect soft tissue segmentation and visualisation. The reconstruction algorithms are available through the open-source Core Imaging Library. Taken together, these tools offer new capabilities for visualisation and elemental mapping, with promising applications for multiply-stained biological specimens.
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13
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Buttacavoli A, Gerardi G, Principato F, Mirabello M, Cascio D, Raso G, Bettelli M, Zappettini A, Seller P, Veale MC, Abbene L. Energy Recovery of Multiple Charge Sharing Events in Room Temperature Semiconductor Pixel Detectors. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21113669. [PMID: 34070426 PMCID: PMC8197486 DOI: 10.3390/s21113669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Multiple coincidence events from charge-sharing and fluorescent cross-talk are typical drawbacks in room-temperature semiconductor pixel detectors. The mitigation of these distortions in the measured energy spectra, using charge-sharing discrimination (CSD) and charge-sharing addition (CSA) techniques, is always a trade-off between counting efficiency and energy resolution. The energy recovery of multiple coincidence events is still challenging due to the presence of charge losses after CSA. In this work, we will present original techniques able to correct charge losses after CSA even when multiple pixels are involved. Sub-millimeter cadmium–zinc–telluride (CdZnTe or CZT) pixel detectors were investigated with both uncollimated radiation sources and collimated synchrotron X rays, at energies below and above the K-shell absorption energy of the CZT material. These activities are in the framework of an international collaboration on the development of energy-resolved photon counting (ERPC) systems for spectroscopic X-ray imaging up to 150 keV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonino Buttacavoli
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Gaetano Gerardi
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Fabio Principato
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Marcello Mirabello
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Donato Cascio
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Giuseppe Raso
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
| | - Manuele Bettelli
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Andrea Zappettini
- IMEM/CNR, Parco Area delle Scienze 37/A, 43100 Parma, Italy; (M.B.); (A.Z.)
| | - Paul Seller
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton OX11 0QX, UK; (P.S.); (M.C.V.)
| | - Matthew C. Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton OX11 0QX, UK; (P.S.); (M.C.V.)
| | - Leonardo Abbene
- Department of Physics and Chemistry (DiFC)-Emilio Segrè, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (A.B.); (G.G.); (F.P.); (M.M.); (D.C.); (G.R.)
- Correspondence:
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Charge Sharing and Charge Loss in High-Flux Capable Pixelated CdZnTe Detectors. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21093260. [PMID: 34066764 PMCID: PMC8125915 DOI: 10.3390/s21093260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium zinc telluride (CdZnTe) detectors are known to suffer from polarization effects under high photon flux due to poor hole transport in the crystal material. This has led to the development of a high-flux capable CdZnTe material (HF-CdZnTe). Detectors with the HF-CdZnTe material have shown promising results at mitigating the onset of the polarization phenomenon, likely linked to improved crystal quality and hole carrier transport. Better hole transport will have an impact on charge collection, particularly in pixelated detector designs and thick sensors (>1 mm). In this paper, the presence of charge sharing and the magnitude of charge loss were calculated for a 2 mm thick pixelated HF-CdZnTe detector with 250 μm pixel pitch and 25 μm pixel gaps, bonded to the STFC HEXITEC ASIC. Results are compared with a CdTe detector as a reference point and supported with simulations from a Monte-Carlo detector model. Charge sharing events showed minimal charge loss in the HF-CdZnTe, resulting in a spectral resolution of 1.63 ± 0.08 keV Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) for bipixel charge sharing events at 59.5 keV. Depth of interaction effects were shown to influence charge loss in shared events. The performance is discussed in relation to the improved hole transport of HF-CdZnTe and comparison with simulated results provided evidence of a uniform electric field.
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Jayarathna S, Ahmed MF, O'Ryan L, Moktan H, Cui Y, Cho SH. Characterization of a Pixelated Cadmium Telluride Detector System Using a Polychromatic X-Ray Source and Gold Nanoparticle-Loaded Phantoms for Benchtop X-Ray Fluorescence Imaging. IEEE ACCESS : PRACTICAL INNOVATIONS, OPEN SOLUTIONS 2021; 9:49912-49919. [PMID: 33996343 PMCID: PMC8117933 DOI: 10.1109/access.2021.3069368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pixelated semi-conductor detectors providing high energy resolution enable parallel acquisition of x-ray fluorescence (XRF) signals, potentially leading to performance enhancement of benchtop XRF imaging or computed tomography (XFCT) systems utilizing ordinary polychromatic x-ray sources. However, little is currently known about the characteristics of such detectors under typical operating conditions of benchtop XRF imaging/XFCT. In this work, a commercially available pixelated cadmium telluride (CdTe) detector system, HEXITEC (High Energy X-ray Imaging Technology), was characterized to address this issue. Specifically, HEXITEC was deployed into our benchtop cone-beam XFCT system, and used to detect gold Kα XRF photons from gold nanoparticle (GNP)-loaded phantoms. To facilitate the detection of XRF photons, various parallel-hole stainless steel collimators were fabricated and coupled with HEXITEC. A pixel-by-pixel spectrum merging algorithm was introduced to obtain well-defined XRF + scatter spectra with parallel-hole collimators. The effect of charge sharing addition (CSA) and discrimination (CSD) algorithms was also investigated for pixel-level CS correction. Finally, the detector energy resolution, in terms of the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) values at two gold Kα XRF peaks (~68 keV), was also determined. Under the current experimental conditions, CSD provided the best energy resolution of HEXITEC (~1.05 keV FWHM), compared with CSA and no CS correction. This FWHM value was larger (by up to ~0.35 keV) than those reported previously for HEXITEC (at ~60 keV Am-241 peak) and single-crystal CdTe detectors (at two gold Kα XRF peaks). This investigation highlighted characteristics of HEXITEC as well as the necessity for application-specific detector characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandun Jayarathna
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Md Foiez Ahmed
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Liam O'Ryan
- Quantum Detectors Ltd., Oxford OX11 0QX, U.K
| | - Hem Moktan
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yonggang Cui
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| | - Sang Hyun Cho
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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16
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Connolley T, Magdysyuk OV, Michalik S, Allan PK, Klaus M, Kamm PH, Garcia-Moreno F, Nelson JA, Veale MC, Wilson MD. An operando spatially resolved study of alkaline battery discharge using a novel hyperspectral detector and X-ray tomography. J Appl Crystallogr 2020; 53:1434-1443. [PMID: 33304221 PMCID: PMC7710487 DOI: 10.1107/s1600576720012078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An experimental technique is described for the collection of time-resolved X-ray diffraction information from a complete commercial battery cell during discharging or charging cycles. The technique uses an 80 × 80 pixel 2D energy-discriminating detector in a pinhole camera geometry which can be used with a polychromatic X-ray source. The concept was proved in a synchrotron X-ray study of commercial alkaline Zn-MnO2 AA size cells. Importantly, no modification of the cell was required. The technique enabled spatial and temporal changes to be observed with a time resolution of 20 min (5 min of data collection with a 15 min wait between scans). Chemical changes in the cell determined from diffraction information were correlated with complementary X-ray tomography scans performed on similar cells from the same batch. The clearest results were for the spatial and temporal changes in the Zn anode. Spatially, there was a sequential transformation of Zn to ZnO in the direction from the separator towards the current collector. Temporally, it was possible to track the transformation of Zn to ZnO during the discharge and follow the corresponding changes in the cathode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Connolley
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Oxana V. Magdysyuk
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Stefan Michalik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, United Kingdom
| | - Phoebe K. Allan
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Haworth Building, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Manuela Klaus
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, Berlin, 14109, Germany
| | - Paul H. Kamm
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, Berlin, 14109, Germany
| | - Francisco Garcia-Moreno
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Hahn-Meitner-Platz 1, Berlin, 14109, Germany
| | | | - Matthew C. Veale
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew D. Wilson
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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17
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Zannoni EM, Wilson MD, Bolz K, Goede M, Lauba F, Schöne D, Zhang J, Veale MC, Verhoeven M, Meng LJ. Development of a multi-detector readout circuitry for ultrahigh energy resolution single-photon imaging applications. NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH. SECTION A, ACCELERATORS, SPECTROMETERS, DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT 2020; 981:164531. [PMID: 32968332 PMCID: PMC7505227 DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2020.164531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we present the design and preliminary performance evaluation of a novel external multi-channel readout circuitry for small-pixel room-temperature semiconductor detectors, namely CdZnTe (CZT) and CdTe, that provide an excellent intrinsic spatial (250 and 500 μm pixel size) and an ultrahigh energy resolution (~1% at 122 keV) for X-ray and gamma-ray imaging applications. An analog front-end printed circuit board (PCB) was designed and developed for data digitization, data transfer and ASIC control of pixelated CZT or CdTe detectors. Each detector unit is 2 cm × 2 cm in size and 1 or 2 mm in thickness, being bump-bonded onto a HEXITEC ASIC, and wire-bonded to a readout detector module PCB. The detectors' front-end is then connected, through flexible cables of up to 10 m in length, to a remote data acquisition system that interfaces with a PC through USB3.0 connection. We present the design and performance of a prototype multi-channel readout system that can read out up to 24 detector modules synchronously. Our experimental results demonstrated that the readout circuitry offers an ultrahigh spectral resolution (0.8 keV at 60 keV and 1.05 keV at 122 keV) with the Cd(Zn)Te/HEXITEC ASIC modules tested. This architecture was designed to allow easy expansion to accommodate a larger number of detector modules, and the flexibility of arranging the detector modules in a large and deformable detector array without degrading the excellent energy resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Maria Zannoni
- Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Matthew D. Wilson
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, United Kingdom
| | - Krystian Bolz
- aSpect Systems GmbH, Eisenbahnstrasse 2, 01097 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mario Goede
- aSpect Systems GmbH, Eisenbahnstrasse 2, 01097 Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Lauba
- aSpect Systems GmbH, Eisenbahnstrasse 2, 01097 Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniel Schöne
- aSpect Systems GmbH, Eisenbahnstrasse 2, 01097 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jiajin Zhang
- Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
| | - Matthew C. Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ling-Jian Meng
- Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
- Nuclear, Plasma and Radiological Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States of America
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18
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Schuemann J, Bagley AF, Berbeco R, Bromma K, Butterworth KT, Byrne HL, Chithrani BD, Cho SH, Cook JR, Favaudon V, Gholami YH, Gargioni E, Hainfeld JF, Hespeels F, Heuskin AC, Ibeh UM, Kuncic Z, Kunjachan S, Lacombe S, Lucas S, Lux F, McMahon S, Nevozhay D, Ngwa W, Payne JD, Penninckx S, Porcel E, Prise KM, Rabus H, Ridwan SM, Rudek B, Sanche L, Singh B, Smilowitz HM, Sokolov KV, Sridhar S, Stanishevskiy Y, Sung W, Tillement O, Virani N, Yantasee W, Krishnan S. Roadmap for metal nanoparticles in radiation therapy: current status, translational challenges, and future directions. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:21RM02. [PMID: 32380492 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab9159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This roadmap outlines the potential roles of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) in the field of radiation therapy. MNPs made up of a wide range of materials (from Titanium, Z = 22, to Bismuth, Z = 83) and a similarly wide spectrum of potential clinical applications, including diagnostic, therapeutic (radiation dose enhancers, hyperthermia inducers, drug delivery vehicles, vaccine adjuvants, photosensitizers, enhancers of immunotherapy) and theranostic (combining both diagnostic and therapeutic), are being fabricated and evaluated. This roadmap covers contributions from experts in these topics summarizing their view of the current status and challenges, as well as expected advancements in technology to address these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Schuemann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, United States of America
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19
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Abbene L, Principato F, Gerardi G, Buttacavoli A, Cascio D, Bettelli M, Amadè NS, Seller P, Veale MC, Fox O, Sawhney K, Zanettini S, Tomarchio E, Zappettini A. Room-temperature X-ray response of cadmium-zinc-telluride pixel detectors grown by the vertical Bridgman technique. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2020; 27:319-328. [PMID: 32153270 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577519015996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this work, the spectroscopic performances of new cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) pixel detectors recently developed at IMEM-CNR of Parma (Italy) are presented. Sub-millimetre arrays with pixel pitch less than 500 µm, based on boron oxide encapsulated vertical Bridgman grown CZT crystals, were fabricated. Excellent room-temperature performance characterizes the detectors even at high-bias-voltage operation (9000 V cm-1), with energy resolutions (FWHM) of 4% (0.9 keV), 1.7% (1 keV) and 1.3% (1.6 keV) at 22.1, 59.5 and 122.1 keV, respectively. Charge-sharing investigations were performed with both uncollimated and collimated synchrotron X-ray beams with particular attention to the mitigation of the charge losses at the inter-pixel gap region. High-rate measurements demonstrated the absence of high-flux radiation-induced polarization phenomena up to 2 × 106 photons mm-2 s-1. These activities are in the framework of an international collaboration on the development of energy-resolved photon-counting systems for high-flux energy-resolved X-ray imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Abbene
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica (DiFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Principato
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica (DiFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaetano Gerardi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica (DiFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonino Buttacavoli
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica (DiFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Donato Cascio
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica (DiFC), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | | | | | - Paul Seller
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Chilton, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Matthew C Veale
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Chilton, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Oliver Fox
- B16 Beamline, Diamond Light Source, Fermi Avenue, Didcot, UK
| | - Kawal Sawhney
- B16 Beamline, Diamond Light Source, Fermi Avenue, Didcot, UK
| | - Silvia Zanettini
- due2lab s.r.l., Via Paolo Borsellino 2, Scandiano, 42019 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Elio Tomarchio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 7, 90128 Palermo, Italy
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20
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Liang AK, El-Mohri Y, Zhao Q, Koniczek M, Antonuk LE. Count rate capabilities of polycrystalline silicon photon counting detectors for CBCT applications-a theoretical study. Phys Med Biol 2020; 65:035009. [PMID: 31874461 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab6577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The signal-to-noise properties of active matrix, flat-panel imagers (AMFPIs) limit the imaging performance of this x-ray imaging technology under conditions of low dose per image frame. This limitation can affect cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) procedures where an AMFPI is used to acquire hundreds of image frames to form a single volumetric data set. An approach for overcoming this limitation is to replace the energy-integrating pixel circuits of AMFPI arrays with photon counting pixel circuits which examine the energy of each x-ray interaction and count those events whose signals exceed user-defined energy thresholds. A promising material for fabricating the circuits of such photon-counting detectors (PCDs) is polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si)-a semiconductor that facilitates economic manufacture of large area, monolithic arrays of the size presently provided by AMFPIs as well as provides good radiation damage resistance. In this paper, results are reported from a theoretical investigation of the potential for poly-Si PCDs to satisfy the count rate needs, while maintaining good energy resolution, of two CBCT applications-CBCT used for breast imaging and kilo-voltage CBCT used for providing localization information in image guided radiotherapy (referred to as BCT and kV-CBCT, respectively). The study focused on the performance of the critical first component of a PCD pixel circuit, the amplifier, under conditions relevant to the two applications. The study determined that, compared to the average input fluxes associated with BCT and kV-CBCT, a promising amplifier design employing poly-Si thin-film transistors can provide count rates two and four times in excess of those levels, respectively, assuming a dead time loss of 10%. In addition, calculational estimates based on foreseeable poly-Si circuit densities suggest that it should be possible to include sufficient circuitry to support 2 and 3 energy thresholds per pixel, respectively. Finally, prospects for further improvements are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert K Liang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
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21
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Dicken AJ, Evans JPO, Rogers KD, Prokopiou D, Godber SX, Elarnaut F, Shevchuk A, Downes D, Wilson M. Confocal energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction tomography employing a conical shell beam. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:19834-19841. [PMID: 31503738 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.019834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We introduce a new high-energy X-ray diffraction tomography technique for volumetric materials characterization. In this method, a conical shell beam is raster scanned through the samples. A central aperture optically couples the diffracted flux from the samples onto a pixelated energy-resolving detector. Snapshot measurements taken during the scan enable the construction of depth-resolved dark-field section images. The calculation of d-spacing values enables the mapping of material phase in a volumetric image. We demonstrate our technique using five ~15 mm thick, axially separated samples placed within a polymer tray of the type used routinely in airport security stations. Our method has broad analytical utility due to scalability in both scan size and X-ray energy. Additional application areas include medical diagnostics, materials science, and process control.
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22
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Li M, Abbaszadeh S. Influence of channel configuration on bandwidth of cadmium zinc telluride detector with a cross-strip pattern. Radiat Phys Chem Oxf Engl 1993 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2018.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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23
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Veale MC, Seller P, Wilson M, Liotti E. HEXITEC: A High-Energy X-ray Spectroscopic Imaging Detector for Synchrotron Applications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/08940886.2018.1528431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. C. Veale
- UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon, UK
| | - P. Seller
- UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon, UK
| | - M. Wilson
- UKRI Science & Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxon, UK
| | - E. Liotti
- Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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24
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Abbene L, Gerardi G, Principato F, Bettelli M, Seller P, Veale MC, Fox O, Sawhney K, Zambelli N, Benassi G, Zappettini A. Dual-polarity pulse processing and analysis for charge-loss correction in cadmium-zinc-telluride pixel detectors. JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION 2018; 25:1078-1092. [PMID: 29979169 DOI: 10.1107/s1600577518006422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Charge losses at the inter-pixel gap are typical drawbacks in cadmium-zinc-telluride (CZT) pixel detectors. In this work, an original technique able to correct charge losses occurring after the application of charge-sharing addition (CSA) is presented. The method, exploiting the strong relation between the energy after CSA and the beam position at the inter-pixel gap, allows the recovery of charge losses and improvements in energy resolution. Sub-millimetre CZT pixel detectors were investigated with both uncollimated radiation sources and collimated synchrotron X-rays, at energies below and above the K-shell absorption energy of the CZT material. The detectors are DC coupled to fast and low-noise charge-sensitive preamplifiers (PIXIE ASIC) and followed by a 16-channel digital readout electronics, performing multi-parameter analysis (event arrival time, pulse shape, pulse height). Induced-charge pulses with negative polarity were also observed in the waveforms from the charge-sensitive preamplifiers (CSPs) at energies >60 keV. The shape and the height of these pulses were analysed, and their role in the mitigation of charge losses in CZT pixel detectors. These activities are in the framework of an international collaboration on the development of energy-resolved photon-counting systems for spectroscopic X-ray imaging (5-140 keV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Abbene
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - Gaetano Gerardi
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | - Fabio Principato
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Chimica, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Edificio 18, Palermo 90128, Italy
| | | | - Paul Seller
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Matthew C Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Oliver Fox
- B16 Beamline, Diamond Light Source, Fermi Avenue, Didcot, UK
| | - Kawal Sawhney
- B16 Beamline, Diamond Light Source, Fermi Avenue, Didcot, UK
| | - Nicola Zambelli
- due2lab s.r.l., Via Paolo Borsellino 2, Scandiano, Reggio Emilia 42019, Italy
| | - Giacomo Benassi
- due2lab s.r.l., Via Paolo Borsellino 2, Scandiano, Reggio Emilia 42019, Italy
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25
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Making spectral shape measurements in inverse Compton scattering a tool for advanced diagnostic applications. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1398. [PMID: 29362472 PMCID: PMC5780516 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19546-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Interaction of relativistic electron beams with high power lasers can both serve as a secondary light source and as a novel diagnostic tool for various beam parameters. For both applications, it is important to understand the dynamics of the inverse Compton scattering mechanism and the dependence of the scattered light’s spectral properties on the interacting laser and electron beam parameters. Measurements are easily misinterpreted due to the complex interplay of the interaction parameters. Here we report the potential of inverse Compton scattering as an advanced diagnostic tool by investigating two of the most influential interaction parameters, namely the laser intensity and the electron beam emittance. Established scaling laws for the spectral bandwidth and redshift of the mean scattered photon energy are refined. This allows for a quantitatively well matching prediction of the spectral shape. Driving the interaction to a nonlinear regime, we spectrally resolve the rise of higher harmonic radiation with increasing laser intensity. Unprecedented agreement with 3D radiation simulations is found, showing the good control and characterization of the interaction. The findings advance the interpretation of inverse Compton scattering measurements into a diagnostic tool for electron beams from laser plasma acceleration.
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26
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Single-shot structural analysis by high-energy X-ray diffraction using an ultrashort all-optical source. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16603. [PMID: 29192189 PMCID: PMC5709386 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16477-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
High-energy X-rays (HEX-rays) with photon energies on order of 100 keV have attractive characteristics, such as comparably low absorption, high spatial resolution and the ability to access inner-shell states of heavy atoms. These properties are advantageous for many applications ranging from studies of bulk materials to the investigation of materials in extreme conditions. Ultrafast X-ray diffraction allows the direct imaging of atomic dynamics simultaneously on its natural time and length scale. However, using HEX-rays for ultrafast studies has been limited due to the lack of sources that can generate pulses of sufficiently short (femtosecond) duration in this wavelength range. Here we show single-crystal diffraction using ultrashort ~90 keV HEX-ray pulses generated by an all-optical source based on inverse Compton scattering. We also demonstrate a method for measuring the crystal lattice spacing in a single shot that contains only ~105 photons in a spectral bandwidth of ~50% full width at half maximum (FWHM). Our approach allows us to obtain structural information from the full X-ray spectrum. As target we use a cylindrically bent Ge crystal in Laue transmission geometry. This experiment constitutes a first step towards measurements of ultrafast atomic dynamics using femtosecond HEX-ray pulses.
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27
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Correlation of X-ray diffraction signatures of breast tissue and their histopathological classification. Sci Rep 2017; 7:12998. [PMID: 29021531 PMCID: PMC5636903 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13399-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
This pilot study examines the correlation of X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements with the histopathological analysis of breast tissue. Eight breast cancer samples were investigated. Each sample contained a mixture of normal and cancerous tissues. In total, 522 separate XRD measurements were made at different locations across the samples (8 in total). The resulting XRD spectra were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) in order to determine if there were any distinguishing features that could be used to identify different tissue components. 99.0% of the variation between the spectra were described by the first two principal components (PC). Comparing the location of points in PC space with the classification determined by histopathology indicated correlation between the shape/magnitude of the XRD spectra and the tissue type. These results are encouraging and suggest that XRD could be used for the intraoperative or postoperative classification of bulk tissue samples.
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28
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Dicken AJ, Evans JPO, Rogers KD, Prokopiou D, Godber SX, Wilson M. Depth resolved snapshot energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction using a conical shell beam. OPTICS EXPRESS 2017; 25:21321-21328. [PMID: 29041431 DOI: 10.1364/oe.25.021321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a novel imaging architecture to collect range encoded diffraction patterns from overlapping samples in a single conical shell projection. The patterns were measured in the dark area encompassed by the beam via a centrally positioned aperture optically coupled to a pixelated energy-resolving detector. We show that a single exposure measurement of 0.3 mAs enables d-spacing values to be calculated. The axial positions of the samples were not required and the resultant measurements were robust in the presence of crystallographic textures. Our results demonstrate rapid volumetric materials characterization and the potential for a direct imaging method, which is of great relevance to applications in medicine, non-destructive testing and security screening.
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29
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Pani S, Saifuddin SC, Ferreira FIM, Henthorn N, Seller P, Sellin PJ, Stratmann P, Veale MC, Wilson MD, Cernik RJ. High Energy Resolution Hyperspectral X-Ray Imaging for Low-Dose Contrast-Enhanced Digital Mammography. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL IMAGING 2017; 36:1784-1795. [PMID: 28541197 DOI: 10.1109/tmi.2017.2706065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) is an alternative to conventional X-ray mammography for imaging dense breasts. However, conventional approaches to CEDM require a double exposure of the patient, implying higher dose, and risk of incorrect image registration due to motion artifacts. A novel approach is presented, based on hyperspectral imaging, where a detector combining positional and high-resolution spectral information (in this case based on Cadmium Telluride) is used. This allows simultaneous acquisition of the two images required for CEDM. The approach was tested on a custom breast-equivalent phantom containing iodinated contrast agent (Niopam 150®). Two algorithms were used to obtain images of the contrast agent distribution: K-edge subtraction (KES), providing images of the distribution of the contrast agent with the background structures removed, and a dual-energy (DE) algorithm, providing an iodine-equivalent image and a water-equivalent image. The high energy resolution of the detector allowed the selection of two close-by energies, maximising the signal in KES images, and enhancing the visibility of details with the low surface concentration of contrast agent. DE performed consistently better than KES in terms of contrast-to-noise ratio of the details; moreover, it allowed a correct reconstruction of the surface concentration of the contrast agent in the iodine image. Comparison with CEDM with a conventional detector proved the superior performance of hyperspectral CEDM in terms of the image quality/dose tradeoff.
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30
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Golovin G, Banerjee S, Liu C, Chen S, Zhang J, Zhao B, Zhang P, Veale M, Wilson M, Seller P, Umstadter D. Intrinsic beam emittance of laser-accelerated electrons measured by x-ray spectroscopic imaging. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24622. [PMID: 27090440 PMCID: PMC4835856 DOI: 10.1038/srep24622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent combination of ultra-intense lasers and laser-accelerated electron beams is enabling the development of a new generation of compact x-ray light sources, the coherence of which depends directly on electron beam emittance. Although the emittance of accelerated electron beams can be low, it can grow due to the effects of space charge during free-space propagation. Direct experimental measurement of this important property is complicated by micron-scale beam sizes, and the presence of intense fields at the location where space charge acts. Reported here is a novel, non-destructive, single-shot method that overcame this problem. It employed an intense laser probe pulse, and spectroscopic imaging of the inverse-Compton scattered x-rays, allowing measurement of an ultra-low value for the normalized transverse emittance, 0.15 (±0.06) π mm mrad, as well as study of its subsequent growth upon exiting the accelerator. The technique and results are critical for designing multi-stage laser-wakefield accelerators, and generating high-brightness, spatially coherent x-rays.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Golovin
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - S. Banerjee
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - C. Liu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - S. Chen
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - J. Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - B. Zhao
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - P. Zhang
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
| | - M. Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - M. Wilson
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - P. Seller
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science & Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - D. Umstadter
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE 68588, USA
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31
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Egan CK, Jacques SDM, Wilson MD, Veale MC, Seller P, Beale AM, Pattrick RAD, Withers PJ, Cernik RJ. 3D chemical imaging in the laboratory by hyperspectral X-ray computed tomography. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15979. [PMID: 26514938 PMCID: PMC4626840 DOI: 10.1038/srep15979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the development of laboratory based hyperspectral X-ray computed tomography which allows the internal elemental chemistry of an object to be reconstructed and visualised in three dimensions. The method employs a spectroscopic X-ray imaging detector with sufficient energy resolution to distinguish individual elemental absorption edges. Elemental distributions can then be made by K-edge subtraction, or alternatively by voxel-wise spectral fitting to give relative atomic concentrations. We demonstrate its application to two material systems: studying the distribution of catalyst material on porous substrates for industrial scale chemical processing; and mapping of minerals and inclusion phases inside a mineralised ore sample. The method makes use of a standard laboratory X-ray source with measurement times similar to that required for conventional computed tomography.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. K. Egan
- School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - S. D. M. Jacques
- School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- UK Catalysis Hub, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
| | - M. D. Wilson
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - M. C. Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - P. Seller
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - A. M. Beale
- UK Catalysis Hub, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Research Complex at Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0FA, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
| | - R. A. D. Pattrick
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - P. J. Withers
- School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - R. J. Cernik
- School of Materials, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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32
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Egan CK, Jacques SDM, Wilson MD, Veale MC, Seller P, Withers PJ, Cernik RJ. Full-field energy-dispersive powder diffraction imaging using laboratory X-rays. J Appl Crystallogr 2015. [DOI: 10.1107/s1600576715000801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
A laboratory instrument with the ability to spatially resolve energy-dispersed X-ray powder diffraction patterns taken in a single snapshot has been developed. The experimental arrangement is based on a pinhole camera coupled with a pixelated spectral X-ray detector. Collimation of the diffracted beam is defined by the area of the footprint of a detector pixel and the diameter of the pinhole aperture. Each pixel in the image, therefore, contains an energy-dispersed powder diffraction pattern. This new X-ray imaging technique enables spatial mapping of crystallinity, crystalline texture or crystalline phases from within a sample. Validation of the method has been carried out with a back-to-back comparison with crystalline texture mapping local to a friction stir weld in an aluminium alloy taken using synchrotron radiation.
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33
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Egan CK, Jacques SDM, Connolley T, Wilson MD, Veale MC, Seller P, Cernik RJ. Dark-field hyperspectral X-ray imaging. Proc Math Phys Eng Sci 2014; 470:20130629. [PMID: 24808753 DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2013.0629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent times, there has been a drive to develop non-destructive X-ray imaging techniques that provide chemical or physical insight. To date, these methods have generally been limited; either requiring raster scanning of pencil beams, using narrow bandwidth radiation and/or limited to small samples. We have developed a novel full-field radiographic imaging technique that enables the entire physio-chemical state of an object to be imaged in a single snapshot. The method is sensitive to emitted and scattered radiation, using a spectral imaging detector and polychromatic hard X-radiation, making it particularly useful for studying large dense samples for materials science and engineering applications. The method and its extension to three-dimensional imaging is validated with a series of test objects and demonstrated to directly image the crystallographic preferred orientation and formed precipitates across an aluminium alloy friction stir weld section.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simon D M Jacques
- School of Materials , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Thomas Connolley
- Diamond Light Source , Harwell Science and Innovation Campus , Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0DE, UK
| | - Matthew D Wilson
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Matthew C Veale
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Paul Seller
- Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Robert J Cernik
- School of Materials , University of Manchester , Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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34
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Boone MN, Garrevoet J, Tack P, Scharf O, Cormode DP, Van Loo D, Pauwels E, Dierick M, Vincze L, Van Hoorebeke L. High spectral and spatial resolution X-ray transmission radiography and tomography using a Color X-ray Camera. NUCLEAR INSTRUMENTS & METHODS IN PHYSICS RESEARCH. SECTION A, ACCELERATORS, SPECTROMETERS, DETECTORS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT 2014; 735:10.1016/j.nima.2013.10.044. [PMID: 24357889 PMCID: PMC3864699 DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2013.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
High resolution X-ray radiography and computed tomography are excellent techniques for non-destructive characterization of an object under investigation at a spatial resolution in the micrometer range. However, as the image contrast depends on both chemical composition and material density, no chemical information is obtained from this data. Furthermore, lab-based measurements are affected by the polychromatic X-ray beam, which results in beam hardening effects. New types of X-ray detectors which provide spectral information on the measured X-ray beam can help to overcome these limitations. In this paper, an energy dispersive CCD detector with high spectral resolution is characterized for use in high resolution radiography and tomography, where a focus is put on the experimental conditions and requirements of both measurement techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu N Boone
- Ghent University, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Proeftuinstraat 86; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Jan Garrevoet
- Ghent University, Dept. Analytical Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281/S12; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Tack
- Ghent University, Dept. Analytical Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281/S12; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Oliver Scharf
- IfG-Institute for Scientific Instruments GmbH, Rudower Chaussee 29/31; D-12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - David P Cormode
- University of Pennsylvania, Depts. Radiology, Cardiology and Bioengineering, O3400 Spruce St, 1 Silverstein; Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Denis Van Loo
- Ghent University, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Proeftuinstraat 86; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Elin Pauwels
- Ghent University, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Proeftuinstraat 86; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Manuel Dierick
- Ghent University, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Proeftuinstraat 86; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Laszlo Vincze
- Ghent University, Dept. Analytical Chemistry, Krijgslaan 281/S12; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Luc Van Hoorebeke
- Ghent University, Dept. Physics and Astronomy, Proeftuinstraat 86; B-9000 Gent, Belgium
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35
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Greenberg JA, Hassan M, Krishnamurthy K, Brady D. Structured illumination for tomographic X-ray diffraction imaging. Analyst 2014; 139:709-13. [DOI: 10.1039/c3an01641b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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36
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Greenberg JA, Krishnamurthy K, Brady D. Snapshot molecular imaging using coded energy-sensitive detection. OPTICS EXPRESS 2013; 21:25480-25491. [PMID: 24150387 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.025480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a technique for measuring the range-resolved coherent scatter form factors of different objects from a single snapshot. By illuminating the object with an x-ray pencil beam and placing a coded aperture in front of a linear array of energy-sensitive detector elements, we record the coherently scattered x-rays. This approach yields lateral, range, and momentum transfer resolutions of 1 mm, 5 mm, and 0.2 nm⁻¹, respectively, which is sufficient for the distinguishing a variety of solids and liquids. These results indicate a path toward real-time volumetric molecular imaging for non-destructive examination in a variety of applications, including medical diagnostics, quality inspection, and security detection.
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37
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Jacques SDM, Egan CK, Wilson MD, Veale MC, Seller P, Cernik RJ. A laboratory system for element specific hyperspectral X-ray imaging. Analyst 2013; 138:755-9. [DOI: 10.1039/c2an36157d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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