X-ray imaging is a widely used technique to obtain images of the internal structure of objects. However, conventional X-ray imaging disregards scattering phenomena, which carry valuable information. Phase-contrast and coherent diffractive imaging (CDI) are techniques that use scattering to extract more information from a sample. Ptychography, a type of CDI, is a powerful method that produces high-resolution three-dimensional images of a sample's X-ray transmission function. Other techniques that combine imaging and scattering include dark-field imaging, scanning SAXS, and diffraction contrast tomography. Integrating scattering phenomena within X-ray imaging models is a challenging but crucial task to make imaging more robust and extract valuable information.
The goal of the S-BaXIT (Scattering-Based X-ray Imaging and Tomography) project is to use X-ray scattering phenomena for imaging applications. In the context of imaging, X-ray scattering is a powerful phenomenon that is however difficult to harness. The X-ray imaging community has yet to tap into the full potential of scattering phenomena, in most part because of the complex measurement tasks involved. Within this project, the general principle used to extract and disentangle information is to exploit data redundancy produced when taking multiple images with known variations, such as simple rotations or translations of the imaged object. Far from being confined to theoretical and algorithmic developments, this multidisciplinary research project includes experimental developments, validations, and applications, thus maximising its impact.
