X-ray Phase Imaging Using Lau Effect

X-ray phase imaging based on the Lau effect is demonstrated with an incoherent laboratory X-ray source. Its optical configuration resembles the inverse geometry of the X-ray Talbot–Lau interferometer, which employs a large-area amplitude grating. However, the proposed approach avoids the use and hence fabrication difficulty of such a grating, which is advantageous when constructing an X-ray phase imaging apparatus. With a Mo-target source, differential phase images of polymer spheres were successfully obtained and a design concept for downsizing the system is also described.