Disclosed herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus (“apparatus”) for non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes an x-ray emitter that includes a vacuum tube, an x-ray shield enclosed within the vacuum tube. The x-ray shield includes at least one emission aperture. The apparatus also includes a cathode enclosed within the vacuum tube and that is operable to generate an electron stream. Also included is an anode, enclosed within the vacuum tube and located relative to the cathode, to receive the electron stream and convert the electron stream from the cathode to an x-ray stream, and located relative to the emission aperture to direct at least a portion of the x-ray stream through the at least one emission aperture. Also disclosed are a system and a method that utilize the apparatus.

Disclosed herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus (“apparatus”) for non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes an x-ray emitter that includes a vacuum tube, an x-ray shield enclosed within the vacuum tube. The x-ray shield includes at least one emission aperture. The apparatus also includes a cathode enclosed within the vacuum tube and that is operable to generate an electron stream. Also included is an anode, enclosed within the vacuum tube and located relative to the cathode, to receive the electron stream and convert the electron stream from the cathode to an x-ray stream, and located relative to the emission aperture to direct at least a portion of the x-ray stream through the at least one emission aperture. Also disclosed are a system and a method that utilize the apparatus.

An apparatus and method to generate distributed x-rays. A hot cathode of an electron gun is used in vacuum to generate electron beams having certain initial movement energy and speed. Periodic scanning is performed with the initial low-energy electron beams, which are thus caused to be reciprocally deflected. A current-limiting device is provided in the travel path of the electron beams along the direction of the reciprocal deflection. Through holes arranged in an array on the current-limiting device, only part of the electron beams targeting specific positions can pass to form sequential electron beam currents distributed in an array. These electron beam currents are accelerated by a high-voltage electric field to obtain high energy, bombard an anode target, and thus sequentially generate corresponding focus spots and x-rays distributed in an array at the anode target.

The present disclosure may provide a micro X-ray tube with a filter tube to filter X-rays and at the same time to serve as an insulator. For this, the X-ray tube may include a filter tube between a second electrode and a gate electrode, hence separating from each other. The second electrode may have a target and the gate electrode may accelerate an electron-beam to collide with the target. The filter tube includes an alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). The target is inclined to allow the X-rays to be directed toward the filter tube.

The present disclosure may provide a micro X-ray tube with a filter tube to filter X-rays and at the same time to serve as an insulator. For this, the X-ray tube may include a filter tube between a second electrode and a gate electrode, hence separating from each other. The second electrode may have a target and the gate electrode may accelerate an electron-beam to collide with the target. The filter tube includes an alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3). The target is inclined to allow the X-rays to be directed toward the filter tube.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube assembly includes a cathode, an anode target, a joint including an inflow part into which a coolant flows, a first cylindrical pipe to which the joint is connected at one end, and the anode target is joined at an outer bottom part of the other end, a second cylindrical pipe whose first end part is fitted into the inflow part, and whose second end part is arranged to eject the coolant toward the bottom part of the first cylindrical pipe, the second cylindrical pipe being placed inside the first cylindrical pipe and an elastic member provided between the first end part and the first cylindrical pipe.

A transmission-target x-ray tube can include an x-ray window 12 mounted on a window-housing 13. The window-housing 13 can be made of a high density material with a high atomic number, and can include an aperture 13.sub.a with an increasing-inner-diameter region 23 for blocking x-rays and electrons.

A transmission-target x-ray tube can include an x-ray window 12 mounted on a window-housing 13. The window-housing 13 can be made of a high density material with a high atomic number, and can include an aperture 13.sub.a with an increasing-inner-diameter region 23 for blocking x-rays and electrons.

A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield to substantially block x-rays from impinging on a hand of a user. The portable XRF analyzer includes a heat sink over an x-ray source and a heat sink over an x-ray detector. The heat sinks are separated from each other by a thermally insulative material.

A portable XRF analyzer includes a hand shield to substantially block x-rays from impinging on a hand of a user. The portable XRF analyzer includes a heat sink over an x-ray source and a heat sink over an x-ray detector. The heat sinks are separated from each other by a thermally insulative material.