Dr. Charlotte Garing awarded NSF MRI grant to bring a micro-CT at UGA

Dr. Charlotte Garing has been awarded a grant of $1,177,779.00 from the Major Research Instrument program of the National Science Foundation. The award will fund the acquisition of a high-resolution x-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) system with in situ capabilities that will support the research, training, teaching, and outreach efforts of more than 30 investigators at UGA, Georgia Tech and Emory University in the biological sciences, physical sciences, archaeological sciences, geological and environmental sciences, engineering disciplines, and related fields. The ability to characterize internal microscopic features in intact natural and engineered materials in three dimensions (3D) and at high resolution will fill a critical gap in regional and national imaging capabilities. 

The state-of-the-art micro-CT system, Sigray's new PrismaXRM, will provide exceptional capabilities for 3D microstructural analysis that include submicron absorption tomography imaging down to 0.3 microns, tri-contrast interferometry that simultaneously provides absorption, phase, and scattering contrast tomography imaging down to 3 µm, with subresolution sensitivity, and an optimized design that enables 4D imaging of samples in controlled experimental environmental conditions. This micro-CT system will be the first of its kind hosted by an open-access facility, Georgia Electron Microscopy (GEM) at UGA, that will also provide physical and remote access to high computing resources for CT data analysis.