Two‐dimensional quantitative imaging of multicomponent samples using polychromatic X‐rays

We present the theoretical formalism and an experimental demonstration of a technique for two-dimensional quantitative imaging of two-component samples using polychromatic X-rays. The technique takes into account the full spectral information of the incident polychromatic beam to quantify the total X-ray attenuation, due to each component presented in the sample, as functions of both energy and thickness. As a result, this technique is able to effectively ameliorate the effects of beam hardening. Here, we demonstrate the application of this technique to a two-component sample. The technique makes it possible for laboratory-based polychromatic X-ray sources to be used for critical quantitative purposes.