Abstract: A method of obtaining in image of the phase change introduced by an object in penetrating radiation incident on the object includes irradiating the object with penetrating radiation having high lateral spatial coherence, and receiving at least a portion of the radiation at a detector after the radiation has merged from the object and thereby obtaining and storing at least two intensity records for the received radiation each including intensity values at predetermined intervals. These values are utilized to derive a grid of values defining an image of the phase change introduced by the object in the penetrating radiation. The intensity records are obtained at a uniform finite distance after the radiation has emerged from the object, and are for respective different energy distributions of the detected radiation. Apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sample cell for use in x-ray imaging, including structure defining a chamber for a sample and, mounted to said structure, a body of a substance excitable by an appropriate incident beam to generate x-ray radiation, the cell being arranged so that, in use, at least a portion of the x-ray radiation traverses said chamber to irradiate the sample therein and thereafter exits the structure for detection.

Abstract: A method of obtaining in image of the phase change introduced by an object in penetrating radiation incident on the object includes irradiating the object with penetrating radiation having high lateral spatial coherence, and receiving at least a portion of the radiation at a detector after the radiation has merged from the object and thereby obtaining and storing at least two intensity records for the received radiation each including intensity values at predetermined intervals. These values are utilized to derive a grid of values defining an image of the phase change introduced by the object in the penetrating radiation. The intensity records are obtained at a uniform finite distance after the radiation has emerged from the object, and are for respective different energy distributions of the detected radiation. Apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sample cell for use in x-ray imaging, including structure defining a chamber for a sample and, mounted to the structure, a body of a substance excitable by an appropriate incident beam to generate x-ray radiation, the cell being arranged so that, in use, at least a portion of the x-ray radiation traverses the chamber to irradiate the sample therein and thereafter exits the structure for detection.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an image of a boundary of an object, the boundary representing a refractive index variation, the method including irradiating the boundary with penetrating radiation having high lateral spatial coherence and a propagation component transverse to the refraction index variation, and receiving at least a portion of the radiation on an image plane so as to form the image, the radiation having been refracted by the boundary such that the boundary is represented on the image by a corresponding intensity variation.