An x-ray window can include an adhesive layer sandwiched between and providing a hermetic seal between a thin film and a housing. The adhesive layer can include liquid crystal polymer. The liquid crystal polymer can be opaque, gas-tight, made of low atomic number elements, able to withstand high temperature, low outgassing, low leakage, able to relieve stress in the x-ray window thin film, capable of bonding to many different materials, or combinations thereof.

A radiation window foil for an X-ray radiation window comprises a mesh that defines a number of openings (902), said mesh having a first side surface (903) and a second side surface (904). A layer (906) spans said openings. Said layer (906) is on the first side of the mesh but spans said openings at a level closer to the second side surface (904) of the mesh than the first side surface (903) of the mesh.

For manufacturing a radiation window for an X-ray measurement apparatus, an etch stop layer is first produced on a polished surface of a carrier. A thin film deposition technique is used to produce a boron carbide layer on an opposite side of the etch stop layer than the carrier. The combined structure including the carrier, the etch stop layer, and the boron carbide layer is attached to a region around an opening in a support structure with the boron carbide layer facing the support structure. The middle area of carrier is etched away, leaving an additional support structure.

A mounted x-ray window 10 and 20 can include an x-ray window 18 mounted on the flange 11f of a housing 11. The x-ray window 18 can include the following layers: a top strong layer 17, a stress-relief layer 16, a bottom strong layer 15, an adhesive layer 14 then a support ring 13. These layers can have a material composition and thickness for optimizing x-ray window low gas permeability, low outgassing, high strength, low visible and infrared light transmission, high x-ray flux, low atomic number materials, corrosion resistance, high reliability, and low-cost.

A radiation window foil is provided for an X-ray radiation window. It includes a continuous window layer with a first side and a second side. A first mesh or grid layer is stacked on or bonded to the first side of the continuous window layer. A second mesh or grid layer is stacked on or bonded to the second side of the continuous window layer.

For manufacturing a radiation window for an X-ray measurement apparatus, and etch stop layer is first produced on a polished surface of a carrier. A thin film deposition technique is used to produce a structural layer on an opposite side of said etch stop layer than said carrier. The combined structure comprising said carrier, said etch stop layer, and said structural layer is attached to a region around an opening in a support structure with said structural layer facing said support structure. The carrier is etched away.

An object of the invention is to provide an X-ray generator having a simple configuration where heat generated in the irradiation window can be prevented from conducting to a desired portion in accordance with the purpose of use, the method of use or the structure of the X-ray tube. In an X-ray generator for releasing X-rays generated by irradiating a target placed in a vacuumed atmosphere within an X-ray tube with an electron beam from an electron source through an irradiation window of the X-ray tube, the irradiation window has thermal anisotropy where the thermal conductivity is different between the direction in which the irradiation window spreads and the direction of the thickness of the irradiation window, and therefore, the thermal conductivity in the direction in which the heat from the irradiation window is desired not to conduct is made relatively smaller.

In at least one embodiment an X-ray source includes an electron source configured to emit electrons, an acceleration set-up configured to accelerate the emitted electrons and a transmission window downwards of the acceleration set-up, the transmission window configured to let through X-rays generated by the accelerated electrons, wherein the transmission window incudes a carbon carrier, and wherein the carbon carrier includes sp2-hybridized carbon.

In an embodiment a radiation detector includes a semiconductor body configured to detect X-rays having a radiation entrance side, an electrically conductive window layer areally arranged to the radiation entrance side, the window layer having boron and/or carbon and having a thickness of at most 20 nm and an electrically conductive bar structure on the window layer and in electrical contact with the window layer.

In an embodiment a radiation window for a radiation detector or a radiation source includes a window element and a first protection film, wherein the first protection film at least partially covers a first main surface of the window element facing away from the detector or the radiation source, wherein the first protection film increases a robustness of the window element, wherein the window element is configured to sustain a pressure difference of at least 1 atm, and wherein a ratio between a Young's modulus and an indentation modulus of the window element is between 0.5 and 2.