Observation of Fringe Patterns from a Modulated Phase Grating X-ray Interferometry System

We have previously shown in simulations that X-ray Interferometry using Modulated Phase Gratings can create an interference pattern in clinical detectors. From this attenuation, differential phase, and dark-field contrast images can be formed. This interferometric technique is advantageous since it eliminates the need to use an absorption grating as compared to Talbot-Lau grating systems, providing better dose-efficiency. In this work we experimentally evaluated this modulated phase grating system using initial test gratings obtained from Microworks GmbH, Germany. Experiments with the MPG gratings were conducted at the monochromatic 8 keV beamline at the LSU Center for Advanced Microstructures and Devices (CAMD). After analyzing our fringe pattern and eliminating the effect of source grating (GO), we observed stable fringe patterns for our MPG system at different source grating (GO) to MPG distances. The fringe pattern results from these experiments that indicate the feasibility and potential of an X-ray MPG system that could be functional with only a single-phase grating (and source grating) as opposed to a standard interferometry system that additionally requires an absorption grating near the detector.