Disclosed is an x-ray tube including a hybrid electron emission source, which uses, as an electron emission source, a cathode including both a field electron emission source and a thermal electron emission source. An x-ray tube includes an electron emission source emitting an electron beam, and a target part including a target material that emits an x-ray as the emitted electron beam collides with the target part, wherein the electron emission source includes a thermal electron emission source and a field electron emission source, and emits the electron beam by selectively using at least one of the thermal electron emission source and the field electron emission source.

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for generating controllable beam of electrons using a hollow-cathode triode electron gun that substantially mitigate impact of back-streaming electrons. In one embodiment, a triode hollow-cathode electron gun is configured to provide electrons and substantially mitigates the impact of back-streaming electrons. The triode hollow-cathode electron gun includes a hollow cathode, a heating filament, an anode, a control grid, a shadow grid and a sleeve mechanically coupled to the hollow-cathode. The sleeve is substantially centered on the axis of the triode hollow-cathode electron gun and configured to maintain shape and trajectory of emitted beams of electrons.

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 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 (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.

A filament assembly can include: a button having a planar emitter region with one or more apertures extending from an emission surface of the planar emitter region to an internal surface opposite of the emission surface; an inlet electrical lead coupled to the button at a first side; an outlet electrical lead coupled to the button at a second side opposite of the first side; and a low work function object positioned adjacent to the internal surface of the planar emitter region and retained to the button. The planar emitter region can include a plurality of apertures. The low work function object can include a porous ceramic material having the barium, and may have a polished external surface. An electron gun can include the filament assembly. An additive manufacturing system can include the electron gun having the filament assembly.

A filament assembly can include: a button having a planar emitter region with one or more apertures extending from an emission surface of the planar emitter region to an internal surface opposite of the emission surface; an inlet electrical lead coupled to the button at a first side; an outlet electrical lead coupled to the button at a second side opposite of the first side; and a low work function object positioned adjacent to the internal surface of the planar emitter region and retained to the button. The planar emitter region can include a plurality of apertures. The low work function object can include a porous ceramic material having the barium, and may have a polished external surface. An electron gun can include the filament assembly. An additive manufacturing system can include the electron gun having the filament assembly.

An electron beam projector with a linear thermal cathode (7) for electron beam heating consists of a beam guide (1) which comprises a deflecting electromagnetic system (2) and accommodates an accelerating anode (3) fixed on it by a posts (10), where anode is connected by a high-voltage insulators (4) through a cathode plate (5) to a cathode assembly (6), that includes the linear thermal cathode (7) fastened in a cathode holders (8), and a focusing electrode (9). The accelerating anode (3) comprises a plate (11) rigidly fastened to it for hermetical separation of the cathode (7) and the beam guide (1) parts of the projector, wherein the common optical axis of a cathode assembly (6) and the accelerating anode (3) is deflected from a beam guide optical axis by an angle a that is equal to 1030.

An electron beam projector with a linear thermal cathode (7) for electron beam heating consists of a beam guide (1) which comprises a deflecting electromagnetic system (2) and accommodates an accelerating anode (3) fixed on it by a posts (10), where anode is connected by a high-voltage insulators (4) through a cathode plate (5) to a cathode assembly (6), that includes the linear thermal cathode (7) fastened in a cathode holders (8), and a focusing electrode (9). The accelerating anode (3) comprises a plate (11) rigidly fastened to it for hermetical separation of the cathode (7) and the beam guide (1) parts of the projector, wherein the common optical axis of a cathode assembly (6) and the accelerating anode (3) is deflected from a beam guide optical axis by an angle a that is equal to 1030.