Differential Phase Contrast imaging (DPC)

What it tells you: what your overall sample looks like

DPC provides phase contrast images of your sample, which can give added context to your XRF data. Linked to density, DPC computes an image from variations in the transmitted beam.

It can be collected at the same time as XRF data… If your sample is sufficiently thin (~50 microns or less, depending on what it is made of).

This technique is helpful if you have a low Z element structure with a higher Z element feature within it (e.g. Fe crystals in a biological cell).

Things to consider: For samples made of very low Z elements or with minimal changes in density, you may not be able to produce a very clear image.

More info: https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600577522010633.