Time-resolved x-ray phase-contrast tomography of sedimenting micro-spheres

Abstract

We have implemented a time-dependent (dynamic) x-ray tomography of sedimenting micro-spheres suspended in water. To achieve phase contrast at high magnification we use the divergent and highly coherent beam emitted from an x-ray waveguide. Holograms are recorded with 5 ms acquisition time while the sample is rotated at 1 Hz, over a run of 40 s. We show that under these conditions, more than 20 000 individual particle trajectories can be tracked. The analysis of the trajectories shows apparent super-diffusive behavior due to collective flow patterns, as also further evidenced by plotting the temporal averaged spatial distribution of particle densities and velocities.