CT Scanner

X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) is a non-invasive, non-destructive imaging technique permitting the visualisation and quantification of the interior structure of an object in three dimensions. Its key principal is based on the attenuation of X-rays as they interact with the constituent materials of a sample. A series of radiographs (similar to such taken by a doctor to diagnose a broken limb) are recorded at a series of angular positions over 360º and are subsequently reconstructed using mathematical algorithms to give three dimensional volumetric data. This data can be visualised in a virtual cross sections (slice by slice nature) giving high resolution spatial maps of X-ray attenuation which is related to material density of the sample.

Key Features

The X-ray CT technology provides high resolution 3D images of the internal structure of a wide variety of objects, materials and environments. Those images are rich sources of information about the scanned samples, showing the structure of and boundaries between different material types. Accurate measurement of sample properties, however, can be challenging. Image processing and analysis tools are required which can recover the required information from large and complex CT images. The development of novel image analysis techniques and software is an active area of research within the Hounsfield facility.