Ultrafast, laser-generated, X-ray radiography

Summary form only given. In 1992, it was demonstrated that hard X-rays can be produced in the high-intensity, >10/sup 18/ W/cm/sup 2/, focus of a relatively low energy, /spl sim/40 mJ, ultrashort pulse laser system. Measurements of X-ray yield through various filter materials provided a crude spectrum of the X-rays and indicated that the majority of the X-ray flux was at energies suitable for diagnostic radiography. Time-gated detection can be employed to reduce the effects of scattered radiation during radiography and to produce equivalent signal-to-noise images with less dose to the patient. The application of laser-generated X-rays and time-gated imaging is best suited to problems that require both high resolution, large scatter reduction, and relatively long wavelength radiation (<40 keV), which can be easily detected by MCP devices. Two applications are currently under investigation: coronary angiography and high-resolution mammography.