An x-ray tube includes an electron emitter and a cathode cup having a recess that holds the electron emitter. The recess has a bottom surface, and a shield is positioned in the recess between the electron emitter and the bottom surface. The shield is configured to receive deposited sublimated emitter material and to maintain the sublimated emitter material away from the electron emitter.

In embodiments, a linac electron beam excited X-ray source weighing less than 50 pounds, and having a volume less than 1 cubic foot, injects electrons from an RF-excited, diamond tip cathode into a dielectric accelerator tube of diameter less than 10 mm, where the electrons are RF-accelerated to 1-4 MeV. A focusing channel having a plurality of annular permanent magnets can surround the dielectric tube, and a vacuum can be maintained in the tube by a getter pump. The accelerating RF can be 10 GHz or higher. The X-ray source can be powered by a rechargeable battery for more than an hour. Embodiments can be transported within a case having a display attached to an interior surface of its lid. An X-ray head can be removed from the case and extended up to 10 feet while remaining interconnected with the case by a flexible conduit.

An electron gun includes a cathode including an electron emitting portion, an extraction electrode for extracting electrons emitted from the electron emitting portion, and a focusing electrode for focusing the electrons extracted by the extraction electrode. The focusing electrode includes an outside electrode having a tubular shape, and an inside electrode arranged inside the outside electrode. The inside electrode defines a first space having a columnar shape, and includes a first surface on a side of the cathode, and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface. An inside surface of the outside electrode and the second surface of the inside electrode define a second space. The inside electrode includes an electron passage hole, and a communicating portion which makes the first space and the second space communicate with each other.

In the present invention, a pressure measurement device for determining the vacuum level within the evacuated housing of a vacuum electrode device is provided that includes an electrically conductive enclosure secured to an interior surface of the housing, an electrically conductive electrode extending through an aperture in the housing, the electrode having a tip at one end positioned within the interior of the housing inside the enclosure to define a gap between the tip and the enclosure and a conductive lead at a second end disposed outside of the housing, and a voltage source connected to the conductive lead to supply a voltage potential to the tip of the electrode. A voltage difference produced between the electrode and the enclosure ionizes gas within the enclosure causing a measurable current to flow between the electrode and the enclosure which can be used to determine the vacuum level in the housing.

A method for generating X-ray radiation, the method including providing a liquid target in a chamber, directing an electron beam towards the liquid target such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target to generated X-ray radiation, estimating a number of particles produced from the interaction between the electron beam and the liquid target by measuring a number of positively charged particles in the chamber and eliminating a contribution from scattered electrons to the estimated number of particles, and controlling the electron beam, and/or a temperature in a region of the liquid target in which the electron beam interacts with the target, such that the estimated number of particles is below a predetermined limit. Also, a corresponding X-ray source.

Disclosed herein are a high-voltage generator for an x-ray source, an x-ray gun, an electron beam apparatus, a rotary vacuum seal, a target assembly for an x-ray source, a rotary x-ray emission target, and an x-ray source. These various aspects may separately and/or together enable the construction of an x-ray source which can operate at energies of up to 500 kV and beyond, which is suitable for use in commercial and research x-ray applications such as computerized tomography. In particular, the high-voltage generator includes a shield electrode electrically connected intermediate of a first voltage multiplier and a second voltage multiplier. The electron beam apparatus includes control photodetectors and photo emitters having a transparent conductive shield arranged therebetween. The rotary vacuum seal includes a pumpable chamber at a position intermediate between high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a bore for a rotating shaft. The rotary target assembly is configured such that when a torque between a bearing housing and a vacuum housing exceeds a predetermined torque, the bearing housing rotates relative to the vacuum housing. The rotary x-ray emission target has a plurality of target plates supported on a hub, the plates being arranged on the hub to provide an annular target region about an axis rotation of the hub. The x-ray gun is provided with a shield electrode maintained at a potential difference relative to the x-ray target different to the electron beam emission cathode.

Disclosed herein are a high-voltage generator (120) for an x-ray source, an x-ray gun, an electron beam apparatus, a rotary vacuum seal, a target assembly for an x-ray source, a rotary x-ray emission target (500), and an x-ray source. These various aspects may separately and/or together enable the construction of an x-ray source which can operate at energies of up to 500 kV and beyond, which is suitable for use in commercial and research x-ray applications such as computerized tomography. In particular, the high-voltage generator includes a shield electrode (123a, 123b) electrically connected intermediate of a first voltage multiplier (122a, 122b) and a second voltage multiplier (122b, 122c). The electron beam apparatus includes control photodetectors (202a, 202bnot shown) and photo emitters (201a, 202a) having a transparent conductive shield (203a and 203b, 203cnot shown) arranged therebetween. The rotary vacuum seal includes a pumpable chamber (302) at a position intermediate between high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a bore (301) for a rotating shaft (401). The rotary target assembly is configured such that when a torque between a bearing housing (403) and a vacuum housing exceeds a predetermined torque, the bearing housing rotates relative to the vacuum housing. The rotary x-ray emission target (500) has a plurality of target plates (560) supported on a hub, the plates being arranged on the hub to provide an annular target region about an axis rotation of the hub. The x-ray gun is provided with a shield electrode (123a) maintained at a potential difference relative to the x-ray target different to the electron beam emission cathode.

Disclosed herein are a high-voltage generator for an x-ray source, an x-ray gun, an electron beam apparatus, a rotary vacuum seal, a target assembly for an x-ray source, a rotary x-ray emission target, and an x-ray source. These various aspects may separately and/or together enable the construction of an x-ray source which can operate at energies of up to 500 kV and beyond, which is suitable for use in commercial and research x-ray applications such as computerized tomography. In particular, the high-voltage generator includes a shield electrode electrically connected intermediate of a first voltage multiplier and a second voltage multiplier. The electron beam apparatus includes control photodetectors and photo emitters having a transparent conductive shield arranged therebetween. The rotary vacuum seal includes a pumpable chamber at a position intermediate between high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a bore for a rotating shaft. The rotary target assembly is configured such that when a torque between a bearing housing and a vacuum housing exceeds a predetermined torque, the bearing housing rotates relative to the vacuum housing. The rotary x-ray emission target has a plurality of target plates supported on a hub, the plates being arranged on the hub to provide an annular target region about an axis rotation of the hub. The x-ray gun is provided with a shield electrode maintained at a potential difference relative to the x-ray target different to the electron beam emission cathode.

Disclosed herein are a high-voltage generator for an x-ray source, an x-ray gun, an electron beam apparatus, a rotary vacuum seal, a target assembly for an x-ray source, a rotary x-ray emission target, and an x-ray source. These various aspects may separately and/or together enable the construction of an x-ray source which can operate at energies of up to 500 kV and beyond, which is suitable for use in commercial and research x-ray applications such as computerised tomography. In particular, the high-voltage generator includes a shield electrode electrically connected intermediate of a first voltage multiplier and a second voltage multiplier. The electron beam apparatus includes control photodetectors and photo emitters having a transparent conductive shield arranged therebetween. The rotary vacuum seal includes a pumpable chamber at a position intermediate between high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a bore for a rotating shaft. The rotary target assembly is configured such that when a torque between a bearing housing and a vacuum housing exceeds a predetermined torque, the bearing housing rotates relative to the vacuum housing. The rotary x-ray emission target has a plurality of target plates supported on a hub, the plates being arranged on the hub to provide an annular target region about an axis rotation of the hub. The x-ray gun is provided with a shield electrode maintained at a potential difference relative to the x-ray target different to the electron beam emission cathode.

Disclosed herein are a high-voltage generator for an x-ray source, an x-ray gun, an electron beam apparatus, a rotary vacuum seal, a target assembly for an x-ray source, a rotary x-ray emission target, and an x-ray source. These various aspects may separately and/or together enable the construction of an x-ray source which can operate at energies of up to 500 kV and beyond, which is suitable for use in commercial and research x-ray applications such as computerised tomography. In particular, the high-voltage generator includes a shield electrode electrically connected intermediate of a first voltage multiplier and a second voltage multiplier. The electron beam apparatus includes control photodetectors and photo emitters having a transparent conductive shield arranged therebetween. The rotary vacuum seal includes a pumpable chamber at a position intermediate between high-pressure and low-pressure ends of a bore for a rotating shaft. The rotary target assembly is configured such that when a torque between a bearing housing and a vacuum housing exceeds a predetermined torque, the bearing housing rotates relative to the vacuum housing. The rotary x-ray emission target has a plurality of target plates supported on a hub, the plates being arranged on the hub to provide an annular target region about an axis rotation of the hub. The x-ray gun is provided with a shield electrode maintained at a potential difference relative to the x-ray target different to the electron beam emission cathode.