Several recent papers have shown the implementation of analyzer based X-ray phase contrast imaging (ABI) with conventional X-ray sources. The high flux is always a requirement to make the technique useful for bio-medical applications. Here, we present and discuss three important parameters, which need to be taken into account, when searching for the high flux ABI: anisotropic magnification, double image, and source size spread due to intrinsic dispersive diffraction by asymmetrically cut crystals. These parameters, if not well optimized, may cause important features in the acquired images which can mislead the interpretation. A few ways to minimize these effects are implemented and discussed, including some experimental results.

Spherical analyzers are well known instruments for inelastic X-ray scattering (IXS) experiments. High-resolution IXS experiments almost always use Si single crystals as monochromators and spherical analyzers. At higher energies (>20 keV) Si shows a high energy resolution (<10 meV), at an exact symmetric back-diffraction condition, since the energy resolution is given by the real part of the susceptibility or polarizability. However, at low energies (<10 keV), high energy resolution is difficult to achieve with Si. α-SiO₂ (quartz) can be an option, since it offers high energy resolution at low energies. In this work, the characterization of high-quality α-SiO₂ is presented. Such characterization is made by high-resolution rocking curve, topography and lattice parameter mapping in different samples from a single block. X-ray optics with α-SiO₂ for IXS at lower energies (from 2.5 to 12.6 keV) with medium to high energy resolution (from 90 to 11 meV) are proposed and theoretically exploited.

Pull-out tests combined with an in situ radiographic movie are presented in order to investigate bond properties between steel rebar and concrete during tests on concrete reinforcement samples. Rebar relative displacement and other theoretically anticipated properties during the loading process, such as regions inside the concrete with maximum compression and longitudinal cracks, could be visualised and detected. Future studies on corrosion of reinforcement using such a combined technique are envisaged.