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Title: X-ray phase contrast imaging of biological specimens with femtosecond pulses of betatron radiation from a compact laser plasma wakefield accelerator

Abstract

We show that x-rays from a recently demonstrated table top source of bright, ultrafast, coherent synchrotron radiation [Kneip et al., Nat. Phys. 6, 980 (2010)] can be applied to phase contrast imaging of biological specimens. Our scheme is based on focusing a high power short pulse laser in a tenuous gas jet, setting up a plasma wakefield accelerator that accelerates and wiggles electrons analogously to a conventional synchrotron, but on the centimeter rather than tens of meter scale. We use the scheme to record absorption and phase contrast images of a tetra fish, damselfly and yellow jacket, in particular highlighting the contrast enhancement achievable with the simple propagation technique of phase contrast imaging. Coherence and ultrafast pulse duration will allow for the study of various aspects of biomechanics.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;  [2]; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ (United Kingdom)
  2. Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22027733
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 99; Journal Issue: 9; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ABSORPTION; BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS; ELECTRONS; FISHES; FLIES; FOCUSING; IMAGES; JETS; LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA; PULSES; SYNCHROTRON RADIATION; WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS; X RADIATION

Citation Formats

Kneip, S, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, McGuffey, C, Dollar, F, Chvykov, V, Kalintchenko, G, Krushelnick, K, Maksimchuk, A, Mangles, S P. D., Matsuoka, T, Schumaker, W, Thomas, A G. R., Yanovsky, V, Bloom, M S, Najmudin, Z, Palmer, C A. J., and Schreiber, J. X-ray phase contrast imaging of biological specimens with femtosecond pulses of betatron radiation from a compact laser plasma wakefield accelerator. United States: N. p., 2011. Web. doi:10.1063/1.3627216.
Kneip, S, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, McGuffey, C, Dollar, F, Chvykov, V, Kalintchenko, G, Krushelnick, K, Maksimchuk, A, Mangles, S P. D., Matsuoka, T, Schumaker, W, Thomas, A G. R., Yanovsky, V, Bloom, M S, Najmudin, Z, Palmer, C A. J., & Schreiber, J. X-ray phase contrast imaging of biological specimens with femtosecond pulses of betatron radiation from a compact laser plasma wakefield accelerator. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3627216
Kneip, S, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109, McGuffey, C, Dollar, F, Chvykov, V, Kalintchenko, G, Krushelnick, K, Maksimchuk, A, Mangles, S P. D., Matsuoka, T, Schumaker, W, Thomas, A G. R., Yanovsky, V, Bloom, M S, Najmudin, Z, Palmer, C A. J., and Schreiber, J. 2011. "X-ray phase contrast imaging of biological specimens with femtosecond pulses of betatron radiation from a compact laser plasma wakefield accelerator". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3627216.
@article{osti_22027733,
title = {X-ray phase contrast imaging of biological specimens with femtosecond pulses of betatron radiation from a compact laser plasma wakefield accelerator},
author = {Kneip, S and Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109 and McGuffey, C and Dollar, F and Chvykov, V and Kalintchenko, G and Krushelnick, K and Maksimchuk, A and Mangles, S P. D. and Matsuoka, T and Schumaker, W and Thomas, A G. R. and Yanovsky, V and Bloom, M S and Najmudin, Z and Palmer, C A. J. and Schreiber, J},
abstractNote = {We show that x-rays from a recently demonstrated table top source of bright, ultrafast, coherent synchrotron radiation [Kneip et al., Nat. Phys. 6, 980 (2010)] can be applied to phase contrast imaging of biological specimens. Our scheme is based on focusing a high power short pulse laser in a tenuous gas jet, setting up a plasma wakefield accelerator that accelerates and wiggles electrons analogously to a conventional synchrotron, but on the centimeter rather than tens of meter scale. We use the scheme to record absorption and phase contrast images of a tetra fish, damselfly and yellow jacket, in particular highlighting the contrast enhancement achievable with the simple propagation technique of phase contrast imaging. Coherence and ultrafast pulse duration will allow for the study of various aspects of biomechanics.},
doi = {10.1063/1.3627216},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22027733}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
issn = {0003-6951},
number = 9,
volume = 99,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2011},
month = {Mon Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 2011}
}