Abstract
In the last decade X-ray imaging based on phase contrast greatly advanced thanks to the use of unmonochromatic synchrotron hard X-rays. The recent advances are going beyond microradiology and microtomography to reach nanometre scale. This paper reviews basic theory and selected applications to biomedical and materials sciences. The forthcoming improvements in phase contrast X-ray imaging will lead to even better imaging of many different phenomena at nanometre level. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.