Minimum data set requirements for ion microtomography

Data acquisition and analysis rates and data set size seriously affect the practicality of conducting ion microtomography studies that map out material densities of extended objects in three dimensions. For the promise of today's fine spatial resolution capabilities to be met, huge data sets must be acquired, processed, and analyzed efficiently. In this paper, we present the results of an experimental parametric study exploring the limits of minimizing the amount of data required for tomographic reconstruction. We consider data acquisition system resolution and the effect of limited accuracy of stopping powers. We show graphically the specific results of variation of parameters affecting minimum data set size. (orig.)