System and method for compact laminography utilizing microfocus transmission x-ray source and variable magnification x-ray detector

An x-ray computed laminography imaging system configured to generate a transmission image of a region of interest of an object, the system comprising:

• a transmission x-ray source configured to generate x-rays at an x-ray source focal spot, at least some of the x-rays propagating along an x-ray propagation axis extending from the x-ray source focal spot through the region of interest of the object;
• a stage assembly comprising at least one rotation stage configured to rotate the object about a rotation axis extending through the region of interest, the rotation axis at an angle relative to a normal to the x-ray propagation axis in a range of 10 degrees to 60 degrees;
• at least one x-ray detector configured to intercept at least some of the x-rays propagating along the x-ray propagation axis, the at least one x-ray detector comprising at least one optical subsystem and a two-dimensional pixelated imaging circuitry comprising an imaging area configured to receive a two-dimensional image from the at least one optical subsystem, the at least one optical subsystem comprising:
• a scintillator having a surface normal and a thickness that are parallel to the x-ray propagation axis within ±10 degrees, the scintillator configured to generate visible light in response to x-rays impinging the scintillator;
• and
• at least one optical lens configured to receive the visible light from the scintillator and to focus the visible light into the two-dimensional image, the at least one optical lens having a depth of focus, the thickness of the scintillator in a range of 1 to 20 times the depth of focus.