Generalization of parallel ghost imaging based on laboratory X-ray source

Abstract

Ghost imaging is an imaging technique that achieves image reconstruction by measuring the intensity correlation function between the reference arm and the object arm. In parallel ghost imaging, each pixel of a position-sensitive detector is further regarded as a bucket detector, enabling the parallel acquisition of hundreds or thousands of ghost imaging subsystems in a single measurement, thus realizing high-resolution imaging with extremely low measurement counts. Relying on synchrotron radiation, we have achieved X-ray parallel ghost imaging with high pixel resolution, low dose, and ultra-large field of view. However, the dependence of X-ray parallel ghost imaging on synchrotron radiation has set extremely high thresholds for the dissemination and application of this technology. In this work, we broke away from synchrotron radiation facility and completed the pipeline-style acquisition of parallel ghost imaging using rough and inexpensive equipment in the most reproducible way for others. Eventually, we achieved ghost imaging with an effective pixel size of 8.03 μm, an image size of 2880 × 2280, and a minimum of 10 measurement numbers (a sampling rate of 0.62%) using a laboratory X-ray light source. It can be achieved merely by making minor modifications to any industrial CT device. With a total experimental cost of only $40, this work demonstrates great universality. We have put forward a comprehensive framework for the practical application of parallel ghost imaging, which is an essential prerequisite for the generalization of parallel ghost imaging to enter the commercial and practical arenas.