Spectroscopy
Computed tomography
X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) is a valuable 3D volume imaging technique to understand internal structures of a wide range of materials.
At the Swiss Light Source, we provide micro-XCT and nano-XCT using synchrotron x-rays. Spatial resolutions for micro-XCT are in the range 100 µm to 10 µm and for nano-XCT are in the range 100 nm to 15 nm.
High spatial resolutions combined with superior image contrasts that are beyond the capabilities of laboratory-based XCT are used for industrial applications such as detection of voids in fibre composites, cracks in glass, and visualisations of sub-micrometre connections in integrated circuits. Materials that can be studied include plastics, ceramics, composites, metals, soft tissues, and fossils.
Image acquisition takes a few minutes for micro-XCT allowing for high-throughput measurements. High-speed acquisition has also been used to collect up to 20 micro-tomograms per second to watch real-time dynamics as materials are cooled, heated, compressed, or pulled.
APPLICATION SECTORS
Healthy ageing
Energy
Advanced materials
Environment & climate science
Chemistry
Cybersecurity