High-speed hard x-ray phase-enhanced imaging

Conventional x-ray imaging relies on the differences in the absorption of the sample to provide image contrast. With the small source sizes and large source-sample distances at synchrotrons, an additional mechanism, phase contrast, can come into play. Phase effects, which include refraction and diffraction, can greatly enhance the image contrast. Phase contrast is particularly useful in cases where the absorption contrast is weak. Added to this, the high x-ray flux available at synchrotrons allows for unprecedented high-speed and high-resolution x-ray imaging. We demonstrate that high quality time resolved images with sub-microsecond temporal and micrometer spatial resolutions are feasible. The range of energy spectrum (5-150 keV) available at the Advanced Photon Source allows us to study a wide range of samples, from soft tissues to high-Z materials. We will present preliminary results from the steel automobile fuel injectors and liquid air sprays.