ANKAphase: software for single-distance phase retrieval from inline X-ray phase-contrast radiographs

Abstract

A computer program namedANKAphaseis presented that processes X-ray inline phase-contrast radiographs by reconstructing the projected thickness of the object(s) imaged. The program uses a single-distance non-iterative phase-retrieval algorithm described by David Paganinet al.[(2002),J. Microsc.206, 33–40]. Allowing for non-negligible absorption in the sample, this method is strictly valid only for monochromatic illumination and single-material objects but tolerates deviations from these conditions, especially polychromaticity.ANKAphaseis designed to be applied to tomography data (although it does not perform tomographic reconstruction itself). It can process series of images and perform flat-field and dark-field correction. Written in Java,ANKAphasehas an intuitive graphical user interface and can be run either as a stand-alone application or as a plugin toImageJ, a widely used scientific image-processing program. A description ofANKAphaseis given and example applications are shown.