Robustness of a phase-retrieval approach based on phase-attenuation duality

Abstract

In this work we study the robustness of a phase-retrieval approach, which is based on the phase-attenuation duality. We discuss the critical importance of retrieval robustness for diagnostic imaging in perspective of the radiation dose limit and lesion-detection sensitivity. We compare the robustness of duality-based phase retrieval with that of the transport of intensity equation (TIE)-based phase-retrieval approach, and we show by means of simulation that the duality-based retrieval approach is superior to the TIE-based approach. A generalization of TIE per se is presented for incorporating the coherence degree of incident x-ray wavefield.