Multi-spectral X-ray imaging with a laser-plasma accelerator

Abstract: This master thesis focuses on the creation of an algorithm to perform multispectral imaging of a metallic target using X-rays. The generation of an ultrashort high-power low-divergent X-ray beam is performed by means of a Ti:Sapphire laser driven wake-field plasma accelerator. The X-rays result from synchrotron radiation, and are therefore broadband. The spectrum will be characterized, along with the transmittance of a variety of different metals, using a technique called "single-photon counting". An X-ray sensitive 4 MP CCD camera is used to perform a statistical analysis of the x-ray beam spectrum, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is used in order to identify a "fingerprint" for each metal. It is demonstrated that the proposed system allows multi-spectral imaging of a Ross filter, being capable of detecting a series of different metals with good spatial resolution.