Quality evaluation of image recording strategies for limited angle tomography

In this paper we propose a new method for evaluating image recording strategies for limited angle tomography. In limited angle tomography exact three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction is not achievable. With this method a metric for the reachable reconstruction quality by defined X-ray source trajectories is calculated. The result of our method is independent of reconstruction algorithms. Our approach is based on the gradients of the scanned volume and their grade of determinability. Compared to simulated reconstruction accuracy with simultaneous algebraic reconstruction techniques, the method of evaluation shows the same dependencies on X-ray source trajectories. By using the proposed method different source trajectories for a limited angle range are comparable with respect to the reachabl e reconstruction quality.