An X-ray tube includes a cathode, which is configured to generate an electron beam, and a round anode, which is configured to rotate such that the electron beam impinges on a rotating surface of the anode so as to emit at least one X-ray beam. An array of gas pipes is configured to direct gas onto the surface so as to cool the anode.

An X-ray tube includes a cathode, which is configured to generate an electron beam, and a round anode, which is configured to rotate such that the electron beam impinges on a rotating surface of the anode so as to emit at least one X-ray beam. An array of gas pipes is configured to direct gas onto the surface so as to cool the anode.

In one embodiment, an X-ray source target is provided that includes two or more layers of X-ray generating material at different depths within a source target for an electron beam. In one such embodiment the X-ray generating material in each layer does not extend fully across an underlying substrate surface.

An X-ray source with optical indication of radiation, which can be used in various measuring devices for parameters control and visualization of structure of industrial and biological objects, is proposed. The source comprises a vacuum housing, an anode irradiated by electrons and generating the divergent flux of radiation, an exit window for X-ray radiation, means for optical indication of X-ray radiation beam including a source of optical radiation and an optical mirror. The anode is made composite in the form of a thin film and a radiolucent substrate luminescent in the optical range. The anode structure is an exit window of the source, and behind it the coaxially arranged means of collimation and focusing of X-ray and optical radiation and means of optical visualization of X-ray focus are mounted. The proposed device significantly increases the accuracy and informativity of optical indication of X-ray radiation parameters.

In various embodiments, a multi-layer X-ray source target is provided having two or more layers of target material at different depths and different thicknesses. In one such embodiment the X-ray generating layers increase in thickness in relationship to their depth relative to the electron beam facing surface of the source target, such that X-ray generating layer further from this surface are thick than X-ray generating layers closer to the electron beam facing surface.

The present invention is directed toward an X-ray scanner that has an electron source and an anode. The anode has a target surface with a series of material areas spaced along it in a scanning direction. The material areas are formed from different materials. The electron source is arranged to direct electrons at a series of target areas of the target surface, in a predetermined order, so as to generate X-ray beams having different energy spectra.

An X-ray imaging apparatus and a method of operating the X-ray imaging method are provided. The X-ray imaging apparatus includes a first panel configured to contact an object; an X-ray generator configured to maintain a uniform distance with the first panel and configured to generate an X-ray; a second panel facing the first panel and configured to contact the object; and an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-ray transmitted to the object.

A composite target is provided and is interacted with an electron to generate an X-ray, and an energy of the electron can be changed by controlling a tube voltage at least. The composite target includes a target body and an interposing layer which is connected with the target body. The interposing layer moves a highest peak of an energy spectrum of the X-ray toward a high energy direction. The interposing layer may be a single metal or a metal mixture. Not only a low energy photon of the X-ray can be filtered by the interposing layer, but also a distribution of the low energy photon of the X-ray can be increased by increasing a thickness of the interposing layer. As the tube voltage is enhanced, an amount of a high energy photon of the X-ray generated is dramatically increased. An X-ray tube containing the above composite target is also provided.

A converter for generating photons from an electron beam is provided. The converter may include a plurality of converter plates (i) positioned perpendicular to an axis and (ii) arranged sequentially in a direction along the axis from a first converter plate of the plurality of converter plates to a last converter plate of the plurality of converter plates. The first converter plate may be configured to receive an electron beam traveling in the direction along the axis. Further, the first converter plate may have a thickness smaller than a thickness of the last converter plate, wherein a thickness of a particular converter plate is measured along the axis.

A system includes a stage for supporting a sample having at least first and second atomic elements. The first atomic element has a first characteristic x-ray line with a first energy and the second atomic element has a second characteristic x-ray line with a second energy, the first and second energies lower than 8 keV and separated from one another by less than 1 keV. The system further includes an x-ray source of x-rays having a third energy between the first and second energies and at least one x-ray optic configured to receive and focus at least some of the x-rays as an x-ray beam to illuminate the sample.