Single-shot dark field retrieval

Retrieving the dark-field signal in the classic “double-mask” edge-illumination imaging method requires the acquisition of multiple frames, which is particular inconvenient in tomography as these have to be acquired at each projection angle, imposing lengthier “step-and-shoot” acquisitions as opposed to fly-scan ones where the sample is continuously rotated. An approximated approach to “fuse” attenuation and dark-field signal through a single parameter representation of the sample overcomes this, allowing the extraction of dark-field contrast from a single exposure in a manner that is fully compatible with tomographic reconstruction.

Conventional multi-image dark-field (a) vs. single-shot (b) retrieval of the dark-field signal from a dried rat hear.