An X-ray generation apparatus includes an electron gun having a cathode emitting an electron beam, a first housing accommodating the electron gun, a target on which the electron beam emitted from the electron gun is incident, a second housing accommodating the target, and an electron passage extending between the first housing and the second housing and configured to transfer the electron beam from a first internal space of the first housing to a second internal space of the second housing. The electron passage includes a diameter-reduced end portion decreasing in diameter toward the target. The first housing is provided with a first exhaust flow path for evacuating the first internal space in the first housing. The second housing is provided with a second exhaust flow path for evacuating the second internal space in the second housing.

The X-ray tube disclosed herein includes an electron emission unit including an electron emission element using a cold cathode; an anode unit disposed opposite to the electron emission unit, with which electrons emitted from the electron emission unit collide; and a focus structure disposed between the electron emission unit and a target unit disposed on a surface of the anode unit that is opposed to the electron emission unit. The electron emission unit is divided into a first region and a second region which can independently be turned ON/OFF. The X-ray tube is focus-designed such that collision regions, at the anode unit, of electron beams emitted from the respective first region and second region substantially coincide with each other.

The X-ray tube disclosed herein includes an electron emission unit including an electron emission element using a cold cathode; an anode unit disposed opposite to the electron emission unit, with which electrons emitted from the electron emission unit collide; and a focus structure disposed between the electron emission unit and a target unit disposed on a surface of the anode unit that is opposed to the electron emission unit. The electron emission unit is divided into a first region and a second region which can independently be turned ON/OFF. The X-ray tube is focus-designed such that collision regions, at the anode unit, of electron beams emitted from the respective first region and second region substantially coincide with each other.

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.

An x-ray source includes an anode assembly having at least one surface configured to rotate about an axis, the at least one surface in a first region. The x-ray source further includes an electron-beam source configured to emit at least one electron beam configured to bombard the at least one surface of the anode assembly. The electron-beam source includes a housing, a cathode assembly, and a window. The housing at least partially bounds a second region and comprises an aperture. The cathode assembly is configured to generate the at least one electron beam within the second region. The window is configured to hermetically seal the aperture, to maintain a pressure differential between the first region and the second region, and to allow the at least one electron beam to propagate from the second region to the first region

The object of the present invention is to provide a cold cathode X-ray tube capable of being driven stably over a long period of time by preventing temporal reduction in anode current. A cold cathode X-ray tube 1 comprises an electron emission part 10 including an electron emission element using a cold cathode, an anode part 11 disposed opposite to the electron emission part 10, a target 12 disposed on a part of a surface of the anode part 11, a housing 15 in which the electron emission part 10, the anode part 11, and the target 12 are disposed, and a hydrogen generation part 14 that is made of a material that generates hydrogen when receiving collision of electrons and disposed on a portion other than the surface of the target 12 out of surfaces existing in the housing 15.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cold cathode X-ray tube capable of being driven stably over a long period of time by preventing temporal reduction in anode current. A cold cathode X-ray tube 1 comprises an electron emission part 10 including an electron emission element using a cold cathode, an anode part 11 disposed opposite to the electron emission part 10, a target 12 disposed on a part of a surface of the anode part 11, a housing 15 in which the electron emission part 10, the anode part 11, and the target 12 are disposed, and a hydrogen generation part 14 that is made of a material that generates hydrogen when receiving collision of electrons and disposed on a portion other than the surface of the target 12 out of surfaces existing in the housing 15.

An X-ray source and a corresponding method for generating X-ray radiation are disclosed. The X-ray source includes a chamber comprising an interaction region, and a first electron source operable to emit a first electron beam, including electrons of a first energy, towards the interaction region such that the first electron beam interacts with a target to generate X-ray radiation. The X-ray source further includes a second electron source adapted to be independently operated to emit a second electron beam including electrons of a second energy for ionising particles in the chamber, and an ion collection tool that is adapted to remove the ionised particles from the chamber by means of an electromagnetic field. By ionising particles and preventing them from moving freely in the chamber, problems related to contamination of the chamber may be mitigated.

An X-ray source and a corresponding method for generating X-ray radiation are disclosed. The X-ray source includes a chamber comprising an interaction region, and a first electron source operable to emit a first electron beam, including electrons of a first energy, towards the interaction region such that the first electron beam interacts with a target to generate X-ray radiation. The X-ray source further includes a second electron source adapted to be independently operated to emit a second electron beam including electrons of a second energy for ionising particles in the chamber, and an ion collection tool that is adapted to remove the ionised particles from the chamber by means of an electromagnetic field. By ionising particles and preventing them from moving freely in the chamber, problems related to contamination of the chamber may be mitigated.

Disclosed is a low pressure wire ion plasma discharge source including an elongated ionization chamber housing at least two parallel anode wires extending longitudinally within the ionization chamber. A first of the at least two anode wires is connected to a DC voltage supply and a second of the at least two anode wires is connected to a pulsed voltage supply.