New Frontiers in Spectral X-Ray Image Science

Dr. Mini Das

Department of Physics

Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Houston, Houston, TX

Bausch & Lomb Room 109 or Remote Zoom

Recorded Talk

Abstract:  The field of X-ray imaging is undergoing a new revolution, fueled by X-ray optics, advanced detector technologies and computational methods. Phase-contrast imaging and phase-retrieval methods have significant advantages in X-ray imaging, but also pose considerable experimental burden. I will show that using the physics of light transport along with cutting-edge photon-counting spectral detectors, the difficult phase-retrieval problem can be tackled. I will also discuss novel material decomposition methods in spectral computed tomography (CT) with potential for several biomedical imaging applications. Finally, I will briefly touch upon the physics of image formation with regards to image science and psychophysics. Understanding visual perception in the context of task-based assessment of images can offer a feedback mechanism for future imaging system designs

 Bio: Mini Das is an associate professor of physics and biomedical engineering at the University of Houston (UH). Her research interests span areas of optical physics, imaging, inverse problems, advanced detectors, image science and psychophysics for applications in medicine and biology. She is a recipient of the NIH (National Cancer Institute) Career Development Award (2009), the Department of Defense CDMRP Breakthrough Award (2016), the National Science Foundation CAREER Award (2017), UH Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship (2018), UH Advance Fellowship (2019) and a 2020 Scialog Fellow for advancing bioimaging by the Research Corporation for Science Advancements.