Rod Loewen

Bio: Rod Loewen is an academic researcher from Stanford University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Particle accelerator & Linear particle accelerator. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 43 publications receiving 701 citations. Previous affiliations of Rod Loewen include Siemens.

Hard X-ray phase-contrast imaging with the Compact Light Source based on inverse Compton X-rays

Abstract: The first imaging results obtained from a small-size synchrotron are reported. The newly developed Compact Light Source produces inverse Compton X-rays at the intersection point of the counter propagating laser and electron beam. The small size of the intersection point gives a highly coherent cone beam with a few milliradian angular divergence and a few percent energy spread. These specifications make the Compact Light Source ideal for a recently developed grating-based differential phase-contrast imaging method.

Monochromatic computed tomography with a compact laser-driven X-ray source

Abstract: A laser-driven electron-storage ring can produce nearly monochromatic, tunable X-rays in the keV energy regime by inverse Compton scattering. The small footprint, relative low cost and excellent beam quality provide the prospect for valuable preclinical use in radiography and tomography. The monochromaticity of the beam prevents beam hardening effects that are a serious problem in quantitative determination of absorption coefficients. These values are important e.g. for osteoporosis risk assessment. Here, we report quantitative computed tomography (CT) measurements using a laser-driven compact electron-storage ring X-ray source. The experimental results obtained for quantitative CT measurements on mass absorption coefficients in a phantom sample are compared to results from a rotating anode X-ray tube generator at various peak voltages. The findings confirm that a laser-driven electron-storage ring X-ray source can indeed yield much higher CT image quality, particularly if quantitative aspects of computed tomographic imaging are considered.

Diagnosing and Mapping Pulmonary Emphysema on X-Ray Projection Images: Incremental Value of Grating-Based X-Ray Dark-Field Imaging

Abstract: Purpose: To assess whether grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging can increase the sensitivity of X-ray projection images in the diagnosis of pulmonary emphysema and allow for a more accurate assessment of emphysema distribution. Materials and Methods: Lungs from three mice with pulmonary emphysema and three healthy mice were imaged ex vivo using a laser-driven compact synchrotron X-ray source. Median signal intensities of transmission (T), dark-field (V) and a combined parameter (normalized scatter) were compared between emphysema and control group. To determine the diagnostic value of each parameter in differentiating between healthy and emphysematous lung tissue, a receiver-operating-characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed both on a per-pixel and a per-individual basis. Parametric maps of emphysema distribution were generated using transmission, dark-field and normalized scatter signal and correlated with histopathology. Results: Transmission values relative to water were higher for emphysematous lungs than for control lungs (1.11 vs. 1.06, p<0.001). There was no difference in median dark-field signal intensities between both groups (0.66 vs. 0.66). Median normalized scatter was significantly lower in the emphysematous lungs compared to controls (4.9 vs. 10.8, p<0.001), and was the best parameter for differentiation of healthy vs. emphysematous lung tissue. In a per-pixel analysis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the normalized scatter value was significantly higher than for transmission (0.86 vs. 0.78, p<0.001) and dark-field value (0.86 vs. 0.52, p<0.001) alone. Normalized scatter showed very high sensitivity for a wide range of specificity values (94% sensitivity at 75% specificity). Using the normalized scatter signal to display the regional distribution of emphysema provides color-coded parametric maps, which show the best correlation with histopathology. Conclusion: In a murine model, the complementary information provided by X-ray transmission and dark-field images adds incremental diagnostic value in detecting pulmonary emphysema and visualizing its regional distribution as compared to conventional X-ray projections. (Less)

Multimodal hard X-ray imaging of a mammography phantom at a compact synchrotron light source.

Abstract: The Compact Light Source is a miniature synchrotron producing X-rays at the interaction point of a counter-propagating laser pulse and electron bunch through the process of inverse Compton scattering. The small transverse size of the luminous region yields a highly coherent beam with an angular divergence of a few milliradians. The intrinsic monochromaticity and coherence of the produced X-rays can be exploited in high-sensitivity differential phase-contrast imaging with a grating-based interferometer. Here, the first multimodal X-ray imaging experiments at the Compact Light Source at a clinically compatible X-ray energy of 21 keV are reported. Dose-compatible measurements of a mammography phantom clearly demonstrate an increase in contrast attainable through differential phase and dark-field imaging over conventional attenuation-based projections.

An algebraic iterative reconstruction technique for differential X-ray phase-contrast computed tomography.

Abstract: Iterative reconstruction has a wide spectrum of proven advantages in the field of conventional X-ray absorption-based computed tomography (CT) In this paper, we report on an algebraic iterative reconstruction technique for grating-based differential phase-contrast CT (DPC-CT) Due to the differential nature of DPC-CT projections, a differential operator and a smoothing operator are added to the iterative reconstruction, compared to the one commonly used for absorption-based CT data This work comprises a numerical study of the algorithm and its experimental verification using a dataset measured at a two-grating interferometer setup Since the algorithm is easy to implement and allows for the extension to various regularization possibilities, we expect a significant impact of the method for improving future medical and industrial DPC-CT applications

Fourier-transform method of fringe-pattern analysis for computer-based topography and interferometry

Abstract: A fast-Fourier-transform method of topography and interferometry is proposed. By computer processing of a noncontour type of fringe pattern, automatic discrimination is achieved between elevation and depression of the object or wave-front form, which has not been possible by the fringe-contour-generation techniques. The method has advantages over moire topography and conventional fringe-contour interferometry in both accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike fringe-scanning techniques, the method is easy to apply because it uses no moving components.

X-ray phase-contrast imaging: from pre-clinical applications towards clinics

Abstract: Phase-contrast x-ray imaging (PCI) is an innovative method that is sensitive to the refraction of the x-rays in matter. PCI is particularly adapted to visualize weakly absorbing details like those often encountered in biology and medicine. In past years, PCI has become one of the most used imaging methods in laboratory and preclinical studies: its unique characteristics allow high contrast 3D visualization of thick and complex samples even at high spatial resolution. Applications have covered a wide range of pathologies and organs, and are more and more often performed in vivo. Several techniques are now available to exploit and visualize the phase-contrast: propagation- and analyzer-based, crystal and grating interferometry and non-interferometric methods like the coded aperture. In this review, covering the last five years, we will give an overview of the main theoretical and experimental developments and of the important steps performed towards the clinical implementation of PCI.

A Review of Scientific Instruments

Abstract: Journal of Scientific Instruments Editor: Dr H R Lang Vol 28 and Supplement No 1, 1951 Pp xvi + 388 + iii + 80 (London: Institute of Physics, 1951) Bound, £3 12s; unbound, £3

Naturalness, weak scale supersymmetry, and the prospect for the observation of supersymmetry at the Fermilab Tevatron and at the CERN LHC

Abstract: Naturalness bounds on weak scale supersymmetry in the context of radiative breaking of the electroweak symmetry are analyzed. In the case of minimal supergravity it is found that for low $\mathrm{tan}\ensuremath{\beta}$ and for low values of fine-tuning $\ensuremath{\Phi},$ where $\ensuremath{\Phi}$ is defined essentially by the ratio ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}{/M}_{Z}^{2}$ where $\ensuremath{\mu}$ is the Higgs mixing parameter and ${M}_{Z}$ is the $Z$ boson mass, the allowed values of the universal scalar parameter ${m}_{0},$ and the universal gaugino mass ${m}_{1/2}$ lie on the surface of an ellipsoid with radii fixed by $\ensuremath{\Phi}$ leading to tightly constrained upper bounds $\ensuremath{\sim}\sqrt{\ensuremath{\Phi}}.$ Thus for $\mathrm{tan}\ensuremath{\beta}l~2(l~5)$ it is found that the upper limits for the entire set of sparticle masses lie in the range $l700 \mathrm{GeV} (l1.5 \mathrm{TeV})$ for any reasonable range of fine-tuning $(\ensuremath{\Phi}l~20).$ However, it is found that there exist regions of the parameter space where the fine-tuning does not tightly constrain ${m}_{0}$ and ${m}_{1/2}.$ Effects of nonuniversalities in the Higgs boson sector and in the third generation sector on naturalness bounds are also analyzed and it is found that nonuniversalities can significantly affect the upper bounds. It is also found that achieving the maximum Higgs boson mass allowed in supergravity unified models requires a high degree of fine-tuning. Thus a heavy sparticle spectrum is indicated if the Higgs boson mass exceeds 120 GeV. The prospect for the discovery of supersymmetry at the Fermilab Tevatron and at the CERN LHC in view of these results is discussed.