X-ray technology has the incredible ability to penetrate almost any material and tissue, allowing the production of 2D or 3D images of human beings or objects. Both techniques are well-established and widespread, for instance in hospitals or airports, and are based on mature but proven technology, of X-ray tubes. Unfortunately, this technology faces physical limitations that have until now restricted high-resolution X-ray imaging to large synchrotron facilities. Hence the interest in ultrafast laser technology.
Ultrafast Lasers for Compact High-Brightness Sources
It has been rapidly identified in laboratories that ultrafast lasers have the ability to overcome those limitations thanks to a new physical process. A high-intensity beam focused on a solid target produces a hot plasma in a very confined space. The electrons present in the plasma are then converted into X-rays when they hit the target, like in conventional tubes, but with a much higher intensity when the correct laser parameters are selected.
This laser-based technique allows, among other things:
- Achievement of significantly greater brightness sources than X-ray tubes,
- Much higher spatial resolution together with a reduced deposited dose,
- Greater access for all to trustworthy results from synchrotron sources.
We are convinced that this new X-ray source will revolutionize the world of medical imaging, by giving access to high-resolution images in hospitals in the coming years.