X-ray’s New Image

University of Houston researchers recently debuted a groundbreaking advancement in X-ray technology that enhances image contrast. The breakthrough makes imaging more accessible and practical, and leads to better diagnostics and improved security screening.

Mini Das, Moores Professor at the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Cullen College of Engineering, and Jingcheng Yuan, a physics graduate student, unveiled the technology in a paper featured on the cover of Optica, a leading journal in theoretical and applied optics and photonics.

“Older X-ray technology relies on X-ray absorption to produce an image,” Das says. “But this method struggles with materials of similar density, leading to low contrast and difficulty distinguishing between different materials, which is a challenge across medical imaging, explosive detection and other fields.”

Das and Yuan’s new light transport model enables an understanding of contrast formation and how multiple contrast features mingle in acquired data. It allows for the retrieval of images with two distinct types of contrast mechanisms from a single exposure — a significant advancement over traditional methods. Their design uses an X-ray mask with periodic slits, creating a compact setup that enhances edge contrast.

According to Das, the next step is to integrate the technology into portable systems and retrofit existing imaging setups to test it in real-world environments, such as hospitals, materials and industrial engineering.

“Our research opens up new possibilities for X-ray imaging by providing a simple, effective and low-cost method for enhancing image contrast, which is a critical need for nondestructive deep imaging,” she says.