Dr. Thilo Michel
Department of Physics
Our research (Medical Physics Group in the Erlangen Centre for Astroparticle Physics) is focused on measurements and detection of ionising radiation in medicine. Project examples are: development of spectroscopic x-ray pixel detectors in collaboration with CERN, development of an eye lens x-ray dosimeter for interventional radiography, radiation monitoring in FLASH radiation therapy, gamma dosimetry in collaboration with Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt, interferometric x-ray imaging.
Research projects
- Development of spectroscopic x-ray pixel detectors in collaboration with CERN: Since many years, ECAP is member of the internaional Medipix collaborations with seat at CERN. There we develop ultra-fast, high-granularity photon-counting, spectroscopic pixel detectors for ionising radiation imaging and dose measurements. ECAP contributes with medical applications to the development of new detectors.
- Development of an eye lens x-ray dosimeter for interventional radiography: Here, we develop a small wearable electronics dosimeter to be used by radiologists in interventional radiography based on our own pixel detector Dosepix that has been developed in a collaboration between ECAP and CERN.
- Radiation monitoring in FLASH radiation therapy: Within the international UHD-pulse consortium, we will investigate the use of pixel detectors, e.g. the Dosepix, for flux monitoring/for beam control in ultra-high dose rate radiation therapy (FLASH).
- Gamma dosimetry in collaboration with Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt: Together with PTB in Braunschweig, we investigate the use of photon counting pixel detectors for measurements of equivalent doses in pulsed radiation fields and for high-flux spectroscopy.
- Interferometric x-ray imaging: Here, we use and develop Talbot-Lau x-ray interferometers (3 microstructured gratings in the beam path) to measure images of the phase shift of x-ray waves through the object and to measure the granularity of the object on the micrometer scale.
No projects found.
2025
- Rauch, C., Schreiner, S., Meyer, P., Ludwig, V., Schneider, M., Sowinski, C.,... Funk, S. (2025). Enhanced grating characterization method for absorbing x-ray gratings by bidirectional angular x-ray transmission. Measurement Science & Technology, 36(6). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6501/adde7c
- Wegert, L., Rauch, C., Schreiner, S., Schneider, M., Michel, T., Anton, G.,... Neumayer, P. (2025). Probing ultrafast foam homogenization with grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-30010-8
2024
- Schreiner, S., Rauch, C., Akstaller, B., Bleuel, P., Fröjdh, E., Ludwig, V.,... Funk, S. (2024). Design of a Talbot phase-contrast microscopy imaging system with a digital detector for laser-driven X-ray backlighter sources. Journal of Instrumentation, 19(5). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/19/05/P05004
- Wegert, L., Schreiner, S., Rauch, C., Albertazzi, B., Bleuel, P., Fröjdh, E.,... Funk, S. (2024). Demonstrating grating-based phase-contrast imaging of laser-driven shock waves. Matter and Radiation at Extremes, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0200440
2023
- Al Kharusi, S., Anton, G., Badhrees, I., Barbeau, P.S., Beck, D., Belov, V.,... Ziegler, T. (2023). Search for MeV electron recoils from dark matter in EXO-200. Physical Review D, 107(1). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.107.012007
- Al Kharusi, S., Anton, G., Badhrees, I., Barbeau, P.S., Beck, D., Belov, V.,... Ziegler, T. (2023). Search for two-neutrino double-beta decay of 136Xe to the excited state of 136Ba with the complete EXO-200 dataset. Chinese Physics C, 47(10). https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-1137/aceee3
- Beiser, F., Haag, D., Ballabriga, R., Behrens, R., Campbell, M., Fuhg, C.,... Michel, T. (2023). Active Personal Eye Lens Dosimetry with the Hybrid Pixelated Dosepix Detector. IEEE Transactions on Radiation and Plasma Medical Sciences, 1-1. https://doi.org/10.1109/TRPMS.2023.3301503
- Kumar, K., Fachet, M., Al-Maatoq, M., Chakraborty, A., Khismatrao, R.S., Oka, S.V.,... Hoeschen, C. (2023). Characterization of a polychromatic microfocus X-ray fluorescence imaging setup with metallic contrast agents in a microphysiological tumor model. Frontiers in Physics, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2023.1125143
- Li, S., Ostrovskiy, I., Li, Z., Yang, L., Al Kharusi, S., Anton, G.,... Ziegler, T. (2023). Generative adversarial networks for scintillation signal simulation in EXO-200. Journal of Instrumentation, 18(6). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/18/06/P06005
- Schreiner, S., Rauch, C., Akstaller, B., Bleuel, P., Frojdh, E., Martynenko, A.S.,... Funk, S. (2023). Erratum: Publisher's Note: "Electromagnetic pulse protective shielding for digital x-ray detectors" [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 94, 075106 (2023) (The Review of scientific instruments (2023) 94 7 PII: 089902). Review of Scientific Instruments, 94(8). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0170081
- Schreiner, S., Rauch, C., Akstaller, B., Bleuel, P., Fröjdh, E., Martynenko, A.S.,... Funk, S. (2023). Electromagnetic pulse protective shielding for digital x-ray detectors. Review of Scientific Instruments, 94(7). https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0160120
2022
- Ackerman, N., Albert, J., Auger, M., Auty, D.J., Badhrees, I., Barbeau, P.S.,... Ziegler, T. (2022). The EXO-200 detector, part II: Auxiliary systems. Journal of Instrumentation, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/17/02/P02015
- Adhikari, G., Al Kharusi, S., Angelico, E., Anton, G., Arnquist, I.J., Badhrees, .,... Ziegler, T. (2022). nEXO: neutrinoless double beta decay search beyond 10(28) year half-life sensitivity. Journal of Physics G: Nuclear and Particle Physics, 49(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6471/ac3631
- Akstaller, B., Schreiner, S., Dietrich, L., Rauch, C., Schuster, M., Ludwig, V.,... Funk, S. (2022). X-ray Dark-Field Imaging for Improved Contrast in Historical Handwritten Literature. Journal of Imaging, 8(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging8090226
- Behrens, R., Hufschmidt, P., Roth, J., Akstaller, B., Hupe, O., Haag, D.,... Michel, T. (2022). Radiation measurements and simulations at the PHELIX laser facility, GSI. Journal of Instrumentation, 17(5). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/17/05/P05033
- Karl, S., Zmija, A., Richter, S., Vogel, N., Malyshev, D., Zink, A.,... Funk, S. (2022). Comparing different approaches for stellar intensity interferometry. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 512(2), 1722-1729. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac489
- Wolf, A., Akstaller, B., Cipiccia, S., Flenner, S., Hagemann, J., Ludwig, V.,... Funk, S. (2022). Single-exposure X-ray phase imaging microscopy with a grating interferometer. Journal of Synchrotron Radiation, 29, 794-806. https://doi.org/10.1107/S160057752200193X
- Zmija, A., Vogel, N., Anton, G., Malyshev, D., Michel, T., Zink, A., & Funk, S. (2022). Optical intensity interferometry lab tests in preparation of stellar diameter measurements at IACTs at GHz photon rates. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 509(3), 3113-3118. https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab3058
2021
- Akstaller, B., Schreiner, S., Hofmann, F., Meyer, P., Neumayer, P., Schuster, M.,... Funk, S. (2021). Single-shot grating-based phase-contrast imaging of a micrometer sample at a laser-driven x-ray backlighter source. Journal of Instrumentation, 16(6). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/16/06/P06021
- Al Kharusi, S., Anton, G., Badhrees, ., Barbeau, P.S., Beck, D., Belov, V.,... Ziegler, T. (2021). Search for Majoron-emitting modes of Xe-136 double beta decay with the complete EXO-200 dataset. Physical Review D, 104(11). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.104.112002
- Haag, D., Schmidt, S., Hufschmidt, P., Eberle, F., Michel, T., Anton, G.,... Wong, W. (2021). Personal Dosimetry in Continuous Photon Radiation Fields with the Dosepix Detector. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2021.3068832
- Schreiner, S., Akstaller, B., Dietrich, L., Meyer, P., Neumayer, P., Schuster, M.,... Funk, S. (2021). Noise reduction for single-shot grating-based phase-contrast imaging at an x-ray backlighter. Journal of Imaging, 7(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging7090178
- Stiegler, T., Sangiorgio, S., Brodsky, J.P., Heffner, M., Kharusi, S.A., Anton, G.,... Ziegler, T. (2021). Event reconstruction in a liquid xenon Time Projection Chamber with an optically-open field cage. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 1000. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2021.165239
- Wagenpfeil, M., Ziegler, T., Schneider, J., Fieguth, A., Murra, M., Schulte, D.,... Zeldovich, O. (2021). Reflectivity of VUV-sensitive silicon photomultipliers in liquid Xenon. Journal of Instrumentation, 16(8). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/16/08/P08002
2020
- Al Kharusi, S., Anton, G., Badhrees, I., Barbeau, P.S., Beck, D., Belov, V.,... Ziegler, T. (2020). Measurement of the Spectral Shape of the beta-Decay of Xe-137 to the Ground State of Cs-137 in EXO-200 and Comparison with Theory. Physical Review Letters, 124(23). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.232502
- Anton, G., Badhrees, I., Barbeau, P.S., Beck, D., Belov, V., Bhatta, T.,... Ziegler, T. (2020). Measurement of the scintillation and ionization response of liquid xenon at MeV energies in the EXO-200 experiment. Physical Review C - Nuclear Physics, 101(6). https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.101.065501
- Emons, J., Fasching, P., Wunderle, M., Heindl, F., Rieger, J., Horn, F.,... Jud, S. (2020). Assessment of the additional clinical potential of X-ray dark-field imaging for breast cancer in a preclinical setup. Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, 12. https://doi.org/10.1177/1758835920957932
- Emons, J., Fasching, P., Wunderle, M., Heindl, F., Rieger, J., Horn, F.,... Jud, S.M. (2020). Assessment of the additional clinical potential of X-ray dark-field imaging for breast cancer in a preclinical setup. In GEBURTSHILFE UND FRAUENHEILKUNDE (pp. E111-E111). STUTTGART: GEORG THIEME VERLAG KG.
- Ludwig, V., Akstaller, B., Schuster, M., Seifert, M., Wolf, A., Michel, T., & Anton, G. (2020). A phase-sampling method for an X-ray Talbot-Lau scanner with continuous grating movement. Journal of Instrumentation, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/15/01/P01010
- Lv, P., Cao, G.F., Wen, L.J., Kharusi, S.A., Anton, G., Arnquist, I.J.,... Ziegler, T. (2020). Reflectance of Silicon Photomultipliers at Vacuum Ultraviolet Wavelengths. IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, 67(12), 2501-2510. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNS.2020.3035172
- Nakarmi, P., Ostrovskiy, I., Soma, A.K., Retière, F., Kharusi, S.A., Alfaris, M.,... Ziegler, T. (2020). Reflectivity and PDE of VUV4 Hamamatsu SiPMs in liquid xenon. Journal of Instrumentation, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/15/01/P01019
- Njoya, O., Tsang, T., Tarka, M., Fairbank, W., Kumar, K.S., Rao, T.,... Ziegler, T. (2020). Measurements of electron transport in liquid and gas Xenon using a laser-driven photocathode. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2020.163965
- Rauch, T., Rieger, J., Pelzer, G., Horn, F., Erber, R., Wunderle, M.,... Anton, G. (2020). Discrimination analysis of breast calcifications using x-ray dark-field radiography. Medical Physics. https://doi.org/10.1002/mp.14043
- Seifert, M., Weule, M., Cipiccia, S., Flenner, S., Hagemann, J., Ludwig, V.,... Akstaller, B. (2020). Evaluation of the Weighted Mean X-ray Energy for an Imaging System Via Propagation-Based Phase-Contrast Imaging. Journal of Imaging, 6(7). https://doi.org/10.3390/jimaging6070063
- Zmija, A., Deiml, P., Malyshev, D., Zink, A., Anton, G., Michel, T., & Funk, S. (2020). LED as laboratory test source for astronomical intensity interferometry. Optics Express, 28(4), 5248-5256. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.28.005248