Liquid metal bearing assemblies and methods for operation of said assemblies are provided. One example liquid metal bearing assembly includes a channel fluidly coupling a liquid metal reservoir to a gap between a sleeve and a shaft, and the channel comprising a first section sloped at a first angle and a second section sloped at a second angle, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle, and a curved transition section is positioned between the first section and the second section.

Various methods and systems are provided for a liquid metal bearing assembly. In one embodiment, a liquid metal bearing assembly includes a fill port fluidly coupled to a liquid metal reservoir of the liquid metal bearing assembly, the fill port comprising an inlet diameter and an outlet diameter, the outlet diameter smaller than the inlet diameter, and a pin formed to fit inside the fill port and prevent liquid metal from leaving the liquid metal reservoir via the fill port.

An X-ray tube bearing assembly may include a bearing housing including an accommodating cavity; and a bearing core accommodated in the accommodating cavity. The bearing housing may include first and second portions. The second portion surrounds and forms a portion of the accommodating cavity to accommodate the bearing core. The first portion extends out of the second portion and surrounds and forms another portion of the accommodating cavity, and the other portion of the accommodating cavity forms an accommodating hollow cavity. The first portion may have a different structural rigidity to that of the second portion.