@article{discovery10185409,
       publisher = {Optical Society of America (OSA)},
          volume = {32},
           month = {February},
           pages = {4839--4856},
            note = {Published by Optica Publishing Group under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title,
journal citation, and DOI.},
           title = {Framework to optimize fixed-length micro-CT systems for propagation-based phase-contrast imaging},
            year = {2024},
          number = {4},
         journal = {Optics Express},
            issn = {1094-4087},
          author = {Lioliou, G and BUCHANAN, I and Astolfo, A and Endrizzi, M and Bate, D and Hagen, CK and Olivo, A},
             url = {https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.510317},
        abstract = {A laboratory X-ray imaging system with a setup that closely resembles commercial micro-CT systems with a fixed source-to-detector distance of {$\sim$}90 cm is investigated for single distance propagation-based phase-contrast imaging and computed tomography (CT). The system had a constant source-to-detector distance, and the sample positions were optimized. Initially, a PTFE wire was imaged, both in 2D and 3D, to characterize fringe contrast and spatial resolution for different X-ray source settings and source-to-sample distances. The results were compared to calculated values based on theoretical models and to simulated (wave-optics based) results, with good agreement being found. The optimization of the imaging system is discussed. CT scans of two biological samples, a tissue-engineered esophageal scaffold and a rat heart, were then acquired at the optimum parameters, demonstrating that significant image quality improvements can be obtained with widely available components placed inside fixed-length cabinets through proper optimization of propagation-based phase-contrast.}
}