A differential phase contrast X-ray imaging system (100) includes an X-ray illumination system (102), a beam splitter (104) arranged in an optical path (106) of the X-ray illumination system (102), and a detection system (108) arranged in an optical path (110) to detect X-rays after passing through the beam splitter (104). The X-ray imaging system (100) uses the Talbot-Lau interferometric configuration where the beam splitter (102) acts as a phase grating and the analyser grating has reflective strips parallel to the incident X-ray beam, said gratings being used both in glancing / grazing incidence.
