Measurements of X-ray imaging performance of granular phosphors with direct-coupled CMOS sensors

For Gd₂O₂S:Tb granular phosphor screens having a wide range of mass thicknesses, we have investigated the fundamental imaging performance in terms of modulation-transfer function (MTF), noise-power spectrum (NPS) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE). As an optical photon readout device, a CMOS photodiode array with a pitch of 48 μm was used. Under the representative radiation quality, RQA 5, recommended by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission, Report 1267), the MTF was measured using a slanted-slit method to avoid aliasing and the NPS was determined by two-dimensional (2D) Fourier analysis of white images. The DQE was assessed from the measured MTF, NPS and the estimated photon fluence. Figure-of-merit (FOM) curves are presented to describe the tradeoff between the X-ray sensitivity and spatial resolution of screens as a function of mass thickness. This study will be useful for the selection guidance of Gd₂O₂S:Tb phosphors for the relevant imaging tasks of digital radiography.