An x-ray micro-beam radiation production system is provided having: a source of accelerated electrons, an electron focusing component configured to focus the electrons provided by the source, and a target which produces x-rays when electrons impinge thereon from the source. The electron focusing component is configured to focus the electrons provided by the source such that they impinge at a focal spot having a width δ formed on a surface of the target. The focusing component is configured to move the electron beam relative to the target such that the focal spot moves across the target surface in the width direction, and/or the target is movable relative to the focusing component such that the focal spot moves across the target surface in the width direction, the surface velocity of the focal spot across the target surface in the width direction being greater than v.sub.t where:formula (I), k, ρ and c denoting respectively the heat conductivity, the density and the heat capacity of the target material, and d denoting the electron penetration depth in the target material. $v_t=\frac{\pi k}{4\rho c}.Math.\frac{\delta }{d^2},$

Various methods and systems are provided for an x-ray imaging system. In one example, a method for decelerating a rotor of an x-ray tube of an imaging system includes controlling and/or monitoring a speed and position of the rotor, passing the rotor through a first position where a force exerted on the rotor, is less than Earth's gravitational pull, the force due to a combination of gravity and radial acceleration, and initiating a predefined deceleration profile to decelerate the rotor to a halt when the x-ray tube passes through the first position.

An X-ray generating tube includes: an anode including a target and an anode member electrically connected to the target; a cathode including an electron emitting source and a cathode member electrically connected to the electron emitting source; and an insulating tube joined at one end to the anode member and joined at the other end to the cathode member so that the target and the electron emitting portion face each other, in which an inner circumferential conductive film is formed on an inner surface of the insulating tube; an end surface conductive film extends from one edge of the inner circumferential conductive film on the one end side onto a surface of the one end of the insulating tube; and the end surface conductive film is sandwiched between the end surface and the anode member to be electrically connected to the anode member.

A laser-plasma-based acceleration system includes a focusing element and a laser pulse emission directing a laser beam to the focusing element to such that laser pulses transform into a focused beam and a chamber defining a nozzle having a throat and an exit orifice, emitting a critical density range gas jet from the exit orifice for laser wavelengths ranging from ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. the critical density range gas jet intersects the focused beam at an angle and in proximity to the exit orifice of the nozzle to define a point of intersection between the focused beam and the critical density range gas jet. In intersection with the critical density range gas jet, the pulsed focused beam drives a laser plasma wakefield relativistic electron beam. A corresponding method of laser-plasma-based acceleration is also described. The critical density range may include 2×10.sup.20 cm.sup.−3 to 5×10.sup.21 cm.sup.−3.

Embodiments of the disclosed system and method provide for generating a multiple-energy X-ray pulse. A beam of electrons is generated with an electron gun and modulated prior to injection into an accelerating structure to achieve at least a first and second specified beam current amplitude over the course of respective beam current temporal profiles. A radio frequency field is applied to the accelerating structure with a specified RF field amplitude and a specified RF temporal profile. The first and second specified beam current amplitudes are injected serially, each after a specified delay, in such a manner as to achieve at least two distinct energies of electrons accelerated within the accelerating structure during a course of a single RF-pulse. The beam of electrons is accelerated by the radio frequency field within the accelerating structure to produce accelerated electrons which impinge upon a target for generating Bremsstrahlung X-rays.

A radiation generator may include an elongate generator housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a target electrode within the elongate generator housing at the distal end thereof, a charged particle source within the elongate generator housing at the proximal end thereof to direct charged particles at the target electrode. A plurality of accelerator electrodes may be spaced apart within the elongate generator housing between the target electrode and the charged particle source to define a charged particle accelerator section. Each accelerator electrode may include an annular portion having a first opening therein, and a frustoconical portion having a base coupled to the first opening of the annular portion and having a second opening so that charged particles from the charged particle source pass through the first and second openings to reach the target electrode.

A radiation generator may include an elongate generator housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a target electrode within the elongate generator housing at the distal end thereof, a charged particle source within the elongate generator housing at the proximal end thereof to direct charged particles at the target electrode. A plurality of accelerator electrodes may be spaced apart within the elongate generator housing between the target electrode and the charged particle source to define a charged particle accelerator section. Each accelerator electrode may include an annular portion having a first opening therein, and a frustoconical portion having a base coupled to the first opening of the annular portion and having a second opening so that charged particles from the charged particle source pass through the first and second openings to reach the target electrode.

Provided is an X-ray photographing apparatus including an X-ray source for generating and irradiating an X-ray; a collimator for controlling an X-ray photographing area to which an X-ray is irradiated by the X-ray source; a projector for generating and projecting a visible ray image by using image signals; a reflection mirror for reflecting the visible ray image projected by the projector to an X-ray photographing area; and a main controller for controlling the projector to match a light irradiation field corresponding to the visible ray image projected to the X-ray photographing area to the X-ray irradiation field.

Provided is an X-ray photographing apparatus including an X-ray source for generating and irradiating an X-ray; a collimator for controlling an X-ray photographing area to which an X-ray is irradiated by the X-ray source; a projector for generating and projecting a visible ray image by using image signals; a reflection mirror for reflecting the visible ray image projected by the projector to an X-ray photographing area; and a main controller for controlling the projector to match a light irradiation field corresponding to the visible ray image projected to the X-ray photographing area to the X-ray irradiation field.

A system and corresponding method for detecting one or more high-atomic-number elements in a patient includes a Bremsstrahlung x-ray source that produces x-rays in an energy spectrum including an energy of at least 160 kiloelectron-volts (keV), a filter configured to absorb the x-rays in a region of the energy spectrum, and a collimator configured to receive the x-rays and output a collimated x-ray beam to be incident on a patient. The system and method can also include one or more collimated, energy-resolving x-ray detectors to detect fluorescent radiation emitted from the one or more high-atomic-number elements in the patient in response to the collimated x-ray beam incident on the patient. An alternative x-ray source can include a radioactive isotope. Scanning of the x-ray beam may also be performed. Embodiments enable practical clinical, in vivo measurements of lead in bone.