Dr. W. Yashiro (University of Tokyo, Japan) and his colleagues recently reported an interesting application of X-ray Talbot interferometry, which usually gives absorption and differential-phase images. As micro-structures of the sample distort X-ray wave fronts, the research group quantitatively discusses how visibility reduction is caused and influenced. They also experimentally demonstrate that this new type of experimental method using visibility contrast is feasible for imaging micro-structures, which have been studied by ultra small angle X-ray scattering so far. For more information, see the paper, "On the origin of visibility contrast in x-ray Talbot interferometry", W. Yashiro et al., Optics Express, 18, 16890 (2010). For more information on visibility contrast, see the paper, "Hard x-ray dark-field imaging using a grating interferometer", F. Pfeiffer et al., Nature Materials, 7, 134 (2008).
