A sample radiographic imaging technique using coherently scattered photons

The angular or energy distribution of coherently scattered photons contain information regarding the atomic structure of the scattering medium. In crystalline solids this scattering manifests itself in diffraction and provides the basis of an inspection technique which can be used in a transmission geometry to investigate the properties of extended objects. This paper outlines such a technique whereby radiographic images are constructed by measuring the diffraction of 22 keV photons at angles, and therefore defined regions of momentum transfer, where diffraction from inclusive materials are maximized compared to the scattering from the surrounding matrix. The intention is to demonstrate the potential of coherent scatter techniques and such is purely qualitative, it does however show how contrast can be significantly improved to clearly indicate inclusive materials otherwise undetectable in conventional transmission radiography. Coherent scatter techniques, and in particular energy dispersive diffraction, are currently being developed for a wide range of clinical and industrial applications