X-ray imaging inside the focal spot of polycapillary optics using the coded aperture concept.

We present a method for x-ray imaging of objects inside the focal spot of polycapillary optics that resolves details smaller than the focal spot dimensions. This method employs coded aperture imaging, in which the micro-structure of polycapillary optics is treated as the coding pattern. Projection of the object is decoded from a magnified x-ray image of the polycapillary structure which is specifically sharpened by the object. Field of view can be extended by scanning the object across the focal spot.