title: Noise robustness of a combined phase retrieval and reconstruction method for phase-contrast tomography.
abstract: Classical reconstruction methods for phase-contrast tomography consist of two stages: phase retrieval and tomographic reconstruction. A novel algebraic method combining the two was suggested by Kostenko et al. [Opt. Express21, 12185 (2013)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.21.012185], and preliminary results demonstrated improved reconstruction compared with a given two-stage method. Using simulated free-space propagation experiments with a single sample-detector distance, we thoroughly compare the novel method with the two-stage method to address limitations of the preliminary results. We demonstrate that the novel method is substantially more robust toward noise; our simulations point to a possible reduction in counting times by an order of magnitude.
authors.forename: Rasmus Dalgas
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Kongskov
authors.forename: Jakob Sauer
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.forename: Henning Friis
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: Per Christian
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hansen