A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

A shielded X-ray radiation apparatus is provided comprising an X-ray source, an X-ray attenuation shield including an elongate cavity to house the X-ray source and incorporating a region to accommodate a sample, a neutron attenuation shield, and a gamma attenuation shield. The neutron attenuation shield is situated adjacent to and substantially surrounds the X-ray attenuation shield and the gamma attenuation shield is adjacent to and substantially surrounds the neutron attenuation shield. In some embodiments a removable sample insertion means is provided to insert samples into the elongate cavity and which is composed of adjacent blocks of material, each respective block having a thickness and a composition which substantially matches the thickness and a composition of one of the X-ray attenuation, neutron attenuation and gamma-ray attenuation shields.

An X-ray generation tube includes: an anode including a target configured to generate X-rays under irradiation of electrons, and an anode member electrically connected to the target; a cathode including an electron emitting source configured to emit an electron beam in a direction towards the target, and a cathode member electrically connected to the electron emitting source; and an insulating tube extending between the anode member and the cathode member. The anode further includes an inner circumferential anode layer electrically connected to the anode member, the inner circumferential anode layer extending along an inner circumferential face of the insulating tube, and is remote from the cathode member.

An X-ray generation tube includes: an anode including a target configured to generate X-rays under irradiation of electrons, and an anode member electrically connected to the target; a cathode including an electron emitting source configured to emit an electron beam in a direction towards the target, and a cathode member electrically connected to the electron emitting source; and an insulating tube extending between the anode member and the cathode member. The anode further includes an inner circumferential anode layer electrically connected to the anode member, the inner circumferential anode layer extending along an inner circumferential face of the insulating tube, and is remote from the cathode member.

A high dose output, through transmission target X-ray tube and methods of use includes, in general an X-ray tube for accelerating electrons under a high voltage potential having an evacuated high voltage housing, a hemispherical shaped through transmission target anode disposed in said housing, a cathode structure to deflect the electrons toward the hemispherical anode disposed in said housing, a filament located in the geometric center of the anode hemisphere disposed in said housing, a power supply connected to said cathode to provide accelerating voltage to the electrons.

An X-ray imaging method including the following steps is provided. An X-ray source is provided, wherein the X-ray source includes a housing, a cathode, and an anode target. The housing has an end window. The cathode is disposed in the housing, and the anode target is disposed beside the end window. The cathode is caused to provide an electron beam. A portion of the electron beam hits at least a part of areas of the anode target to generate an X-ray and the X-ray is emitted out of the housing through the end window. The X-ray is caused to irradiate an object to generate X-ray image information. An image detector is used to receive the X-ray image information.

An X-ray imaging method including the following steps is provided. An X-ray source is provided, wherein the X-ray source includes a housing, a cathode, and an anode target. The housing has an end window. The cathode is disposed in the housing, and the anode target is disposed beside the end window. The cathode is caused to provide an electron beam. A portion of the electron beam hits at least a part of areas of the anode target to generate an X-ray and the X-ray is emitted out of the housing through the end window. The X-ray is caused to irradiate an object to generate X-ray image information. An image detector is used to receive the X-ray image information.

An X-ray fluorescence analyzer includes: a sample stage; an X-ray source; a detector; an X stage; a Y stage; a θ stage; and a shielding container, wherein the irradiation position with primary X-rays is set at an offset position from a movement center of the X stage and the Y stage, wherein an irradiation area that is irradiatable with the primary X-rays is set to a selected segmented area from among segmented areas that are defined by segmenting the surface of the sample into four parts with a virtual segment lines in the X direction and the Y direction passing through the movement center, and wherein the θ stage is configured to switch the selected segmented area into any one of the segmented areas by rotating the sample stage by every 90 degrees.

An X-ray fluorescence analyzer includes: a sample stage; an X-ray source; a detector; an X stage; a Y stage; a θ stage; and a shielding container, wherein the irradiation position with primary X-rays is set at an offset position from a movement center of the X stage and the Y stage, wherein an irradiation area that is irradiatable with the primary X-rays is set to a selected segmented area from among segmented areas that are defined by segmenting the surface of the sample into four parts with a virtual segment lines in the X direction and the Y direction passing through the movement center, and wherein the θ stage is configured to switch the selected segmented area into any one of the segmented areas by rotating the sample stage by every 90 degrees.

The present invention provides an X-ray generator including an X-ray tube 2 radiating primary X-rays X1 to a specimen S, a housing 3 accommodating the X-ray tube 2, an X-ray radiation area controller 4 limiting the radiation area of the primary X-rays X1 from the X-ray tube 2 to the specimen S, and a device holder 5 holding the X-ray radiation area controller 4 with respect to the housing 3. The X-ray tube includes a case 6, an electron ray source 7 generating electron rays, and a target unit 8 having a base fixed to the case and receiving electron rays through a protruding free end. The device holder has a fixed-base 5a fixed to the housing, directly under the base of the target unit, and a supporting extension 5b extending from the fixed-base in the protrusion direction of the target unit and supporting the X-ray radiation area controller.