Russian scientists created a scanner that could detect even the smallest crack in an airplane

Physicists at Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) created Russia's first multi-contrast X-ray machine.

The device can detect even the smallest cracks in complex objects, for example, in materials for the aerospace industry, and restore the distribution of chemical elements by mass.

Traditional tomography shows the components that make up the object of study, focusing on their radiological absorption. However, at present, many materials are used to produce industrial, medical objects and a number of other areas including some components with low X-ray absorption or almost no other optical density. together. Therefore, it is difficult to see the defects in such objects using existing technologies, especially if the defects are very small in size. When the new tomography machine was built , the scientists used X-ray radiation in the form of particles to more closely examine objects of similar composition and density.

This device shows changes in phase effects, amplitude, wavelength and wave interference effects.

'We have developed a research tomography machine with different applications. In this device, using traditional X-ray tomography and dark-field scanning method to visualize the contour of the place with irregularity, as well as phase contrast method and spectral colorimetric method. With the colorimetric method, you can analyze how the chemical elements are distributed in the study object according to their ability to absorb X-ray radiation. The concept of tomography using many different methods allows you to quickly perform any experiments to meet the mission of industry, science or biomedical industry " - Project Manager Alexey Gogolev, deputy director of development at TPU University's High Energy Physics Research Institute, said.

According to Alexey Gogolev, the CT scan method developed by TDU experts allows tracking four parameters at once instead of one . This device not only counts quantum X-rays but also shows changes in phase effects, amplitude, wavelength and interference effects . Scanners with such features were created by several research groups in the United States, Europe and Japan. Never before in Russia had such devices been available.

Scientists are developing a facility of tools and software for this new scanner to improve the repeatability and accuracy of the research results. In the near future, this result could be used in other major Russian research projects, including international Mega Science research complexes.