X-ray tensor tomography(a)(a)The authors declare no competing financial interests

• Published in: Europhysics letters Vol. 105; no. 3
• Main Authors: Malecki, A., Potdevin, G., Biernath, T., Eggl, E., Willer, K., Lasser, T., Maisenbacher, J., Gibmeier, J., Wanner, A., Pfeiffer, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences, IOP Publishing and Società Italiana di Fisica 21.02.2014
• ISSN: 0295-5075; 1286-4854
• DOI: 10.1209/0295-5075/105/38002

Here we introduce a new concept for x-ray computed tomography that yields information about the local micro-morphology and its orientation in each voxel of the reconstructed 3D tomogram. Contrary to conventional x-ray CT, which only reconstructs a single scalar value for each point in the 3D image, our approach provides a full scattering tensor with multiple independent structural parameters in each volume element. In the application example shown in this study, we highlight that our method can visualize sub-pixel fiber orientations in a carbon composite sample, hence demonstrating its value for non-destructive testing applications. Moreover, as the method is based on the use of a conventional x-ray tube, we believe that it will also have a great impact in the wider range of material science investigations and in future medical diagnostics.