Super time-resolved tomography

Abstract

Understanding 3D fundamental processes is crucial for academic and industrial applications. Nowadays, X-ray time-resolved tomography, or tomoscopy, is a leading technique for in-situ and operando 4D (3D+time) characterization. Despite its ability to achieve 1000 tomograms per second at large-scale X-ray facilities, its applicability is limited by the centrifugal forces exerted on samples and the challenges of developing suitable environments for such high-speed studies. Here, we introduce STRT, an approach that has the potential to enhance the temporal resolution of tomoscopy by at least an order of magnitude while preserving spatial resolution. STRT exploits a 4D DL reconstruction algorithm to produce high-fidelity 3D reconstructions at each time point, retrieved from a significantly reduced angular range of a few degrees compared to the 0-180 degrees of traditional tomoscopy. Thus, STRT enhances the temporal resolution compared to tomoscopy by a factor equal to the ratio between 180 degrees and the angular ranges used by STRT. In this work, we validate the 4D capabilities of STRT through simulations and experiments on droplet collision simulations and additive manufacturing processes. We anticipate that STRT will significantly expand the capabilities of 4D X-ray imaging, enabling previously unattainable studies in both academic and industrial contexts, such as materials formation and mechanical testing.