Provided is an X-ray generator having: an anode that faces a cathode which generates electrons; a plurality of X-ray generation zones; a casing housing the cathode and the anode; an anode support body for supporting the anode; an air cylinder for producing advancing and retreating movement of the anode support body with respect to the casing; and a stopper device that halts the movement of the anode support body when the anode support body moves in a direction approaching the casing. The stopper device has a rotating plate equipped with a section that enters and exits from between the anode support body and the casing due to rotation, a motor for driving the same, and a plurality of stop members provided in a peripheral section of the rotating plate and having mutually different heights.

A rotatable anode target for an X-ray tube (1) of the present invention includes a metallic disc (2) which includes a first crystal structure; a metallic cylinder (3) which is joined with the metallic disc and includes a second crystal structure, where a first average aspect ratio of first crystal grains positioning at a first region within 2 mm from an interface between the metallic disc and the metallic cylinder is less than 2, and a second average aspect ratio of second crystal grains positioning at a second region within 2 mm from the interface is 2 or more and 8 or less. It is thereby possible to provide an X-ray tube target which has high heat release performance and where thermal deformation is difficult to occur.

The invention relates to an electron antenna as an anode for a micro- or nano-focus X-ray generation comprising an antenna base and an antenna element arranged on the antenna base such that the antenna element protrudes from a front surface of the antenna base, wherein the antenna is arranged to guide and attract the electrons in its vicinity to the top the antenna element.

A method, target, and apparatus are disclosed for investigating a specimen using X-ray tomography. The specimen in mounted on a specimen holder. An X-ray target has a substrate of relatively low-atomic-number material carrying an array of mutually isolated nuggets of a relatively high-atomic number material. X-rays are generated by irradiating a single nugget in the target with a charged particle beam, which then illuminates the specimen along a first line of sight through the specimen. A flux of X-rays transmitted through the specimen is detected to form a first image. The illumination process is repeated for a series of different lines of sight through the specimen, to produce a series of images. A mathematical reconstruction on the series of images is then performed to produce a tomogram of at least part of the specimen.

An X-ray generation device which can be efficiently used is provided. The X-ray generation device has an electron gun, a target unit, a tubular portion, a reflected electron detector, and a coil unit. The target unit includes a plurality of targets and a plurality of mark portions having a predetermined relationship with the targets, wherein each mark portion having a surface area larger than a surface area of the target when said target unit is viewed from a direction which is normal to principal faces of the target unit.

A rotary x-ray anode with an integrated liquid metal bearing outer shell has an anode disc made of Mo or a Mo-based alloy formed with a hole, which is formed centrally in the region of the axis of rotation and extends in the axial direction at least through part of the anode disc, and a bearing bushing made of Mo or a Mo-based alloy. The bearing bushing is connected to the anode disc via a material bond and its inner wall extends the hole in the anode disc. At least an axial portion of an inner wall of the hole in the anode disc and at least an axial portion of an inner wall of the bearing bushing are formed circumferentially as a liquid metal bearing running surface and they form at least a part of a liquid metal bearing outer shell. There is also described a corresponding production method.

Provided is an anode capable of keeping the X-ray dose steady in an X-ray generating tube by preventing a crack in a connecting electrode layer, which electrically connects a target layer and an anode member. The anode includes a first bonding boundary where the connecting electrode layer, which electrically connects the target layer and the anode member, is bonded to a supporting substrate of a target, and a second bonding boundary where the connecting electrode layer is bonded to the anode member in which the connecting electrode layer is formed so that the first bonding boundary and the second bonding boundary are on the same side with respect to the connecting electrode layer.

The present invention relates to a rotating anode (100) comprising: an outer ring compound (6) comprising a first carbon material with a first material property and carbon fibers substantially aligned to a contour of the outer ring compound (6), wherein the outer ring compound (6) is configured to mechanically stabilize the rotating anode (100); an intermediate ring compound (5) comprising a second carbon material with a second material property differing from the first material property; a inner disc compound (2) comprising a layered fiber structure and a third carbon material with a third material property differing from the first and the second material property, wherein the inner disc compound (2) and the intermediate ring compound (5) are configured to provide a thermally conductive interface between the intermediate ring compound (5) and the inner disc compound (2); and an interface compound (3) comprising a metallic or a semi-metallic material, wherein the interface compound is coupled to the intermediate ring compound (5) and the inner disc compound (2).

Provided is a method for driving an X-ray source, which includes a cathode electrode, an electron source provided on the cathode electrode and configured to emit an electron beam, and an anode target including an electron beam irradiation surface with the electron beam irradiated thereto, the method including providing the electron beam in a plurality of main pulses, wherein each of the main pulses includes a plurality of short pulses having an idle time and a pulse time, and each of the idle time and the pulse time is shorter than a duration time of the main pulse, wherein applying the plurality of short pulses comprises irradiating the electron beam from the electron source towards the electron beam irradiation surface during the pulse time; and idling the electron beam during the idle time, wherein a duty cycle of the short pulse is 0.4 to 0.6, which is obtained by dividing the idle time by a sum of the pulse time and the idle time.

An anode for an X-ray tube can include a ceramic body, e.g., material that includes yttrium-oxide derivatives. Upon collision with an anode, the kinetic energy of an electron beam in an X-ray tube is converted to high frequency electromagnetic waves, i.e., X-rays. An anode with a ceramic body can reduce costs and/or weight, extend the life of the anode or associated components (e.g., bearings) and simultaneously provide a high heat storage capacity.