An X-ray beam is generated in an interaction zone of an electron beam and a target, the zone being an annular layer of a molten fusible metal in an annular channel of a rotating anode assembly. The channel has a surface profile which prevents slopping of the molten metal in the radial direction and in both directions along the rotation axis. The liquid-metal target forms a circular cylindrical surface due to the centrifugal force acting thereupon. The linear velocity of the target is preferably higher than 80 m/s; in a vacuum chamber, a changeable membrane made of carbon nanotubes is installed in the X-ray beam path and a protective screen with apertures for electron beam entry and X-ray beam exit is arranged around the interaction zone. The technical result consists in an X-ray source with increased power, brightness, lifetime and ease of use.

A fluid injector for x-ray tubes and a method to provide a liquid anode by liquid metal injection, wherein the fluid injector includes a device to inject fluid from an opening in a chamber of the device as a fluid jet generated by an arrangement to change the volume within the chamber, and includes a reservoir to store the anode material, which is fluidically connected by a pipe with the chamber of the device, where the pipe has a part formed in the fluid flow direction that is shaped to block fluid flow from the chamber to the reservoir during injection, and where the includes injecting fluid in a direction towards an electron beam and refilling the chamber with liquid metal from the reservoir.

The invention relates to a source-detector arrangement (11) of an X-ray apparatus (10) for grating based phase contrast computed tomography. The source-detector arrangement comprises an X-ray source (12) adapted for rotational movement around a rotation axis (R) relative to an object (140) and adapted for emittance of an X-ray beam of coherent or quasi-coherent radiation in a line pattern (21); and an X-ray detection system (16) including a first grating element (24) and a second grating element (26) and a detector element (6); wherein the line pattern of the radiation and a grating direction of the grating elements are arranged orthogonal to the rotation axis; and wherein the first grating element has a first grating pitch varied dependent on a cone angle (β) of the X-ray beam and/or the second grating element has a second grating pitch varied dependent on the cone angle of the X-ray beam.

A multiple X-ray beam X-ray source includes an anode structure and a cathode structure. The anode structure includes a plurality of liquid metal jets providing a plurality of focal lines. The cathode structure provides an electron beam structure that provides a sub e-beam to each liquid metal jet. The liquid metal jets are each hit by the sub e-beam along an electron-impinging portion of the jet circumferential surface that is smaller than half of the circumference of a cross-section of the liquid metal jet.

A system for generating X-ray beams from a liquid target includes a vacuum chamber, a diamond window assembly, an electron source, a target material flow system, and an X-ray detector/imager. An electron beam from the electron source travels through the diamond window assembly and into a dynamic target material of the flow system. Preferably, the dynamic target material is lead bismuth eutectic in a liquid state. Upon colliding with the dynamic target material, X-rays are generated. The generated X-rays exit through an X-ray exit window to be captured by the X-ray detector/imager. Since the dynamic target material is constantly in fluid motion within a pipeline of the flow system, the electron beam always has a new target area which is at a controlled operational temperature and thus, prevents overheating issues. By providing a small focus area for the electron beams, the overall imaging resolution of the X-rays is also improved.

A method for controlling an X-ray source configured to emit, from an X-ray spot on a target, X-ray radiation generated by an interaction between an electron beam and the target, wherein the X-ray spot is determined by the field of view of an X-ray optical system of the X-ray source. The method includes providing the target, providing the electron beam forming an electron spot on the target and interacting with the target to generate X-ray radiation, and adjusting a width and total power of the electron beam such that a maximum of the power density profile in the electron spot is below a predetermined limit, and such that a total power delivered to the target in the X-ray spot is increased.

Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective generation and delivery of radiation. A radiation generation system can comprise: a particle beam gun, a high energy dissipation anode target (HEDAT); and a liquid anode control component. In some embodiments, the particle beam gun generates an electron beam. The HEDAT includes a solid anode portion (HEDAT-SAP) and a liquid anode portion (HEDAT-LAP) that are configured to receive the electron beam, absorb energy from the electron beam, generate a radiation beam, and dissipate heat. The radiation beam can include photons that can have radiation characteristics (e.g., X-ray wavelength, ionizing capability, etc.). The liquid anode control component can control a liquid anode flow to the HEDAT. The HEDAT-SAP and HEDAT-LAP can cooperatively operate in radiation generation and their configuration can be selected based upon contribution of respective HEDAT-SAP and the HEDAT-LAP characteristics to radiation generation.

The present inventive concept relates to an X-ray source comprising: a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target moving along a flow axis; an electron source configured to provide an electron beam; and a liquid target shaper configured to shape the liquid target to comprise a non-circular cross section with respect to the flow axis, wherein the non-circular cross section has a first width along a first axis and a second width along a second axis, wherein the first width is shorter than the second width, and wherein the liquid target comprises an impact portion being intersected by the first axis; wherein the x-ray source is configured to direct the electron beam towards the impact portion such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target within the impact portion to generate X-ray radiation.

A modular laser-produced plasma X-ray system includes a liquid metal flow system enclosed within a low-pressure chamber, the flow system including a liquid metal, wherein in at least one location on the liquid metal forms a metal target directly illuminated by laser pulses, a circulation pump within the liquid metal flow system for circulating the liquid metal, a laser pulse emitter configured to transmit laser pulses into the chamber via a laser window, focusing optics, located between the emitter and the metal target, the focusing optics directing the laser pulses to strike the metal target at a target location to form X-ray pulses, and an X-ray window positioned within the chamber to enable the X-ray pulses to exit the chamber.

An X-ray source including a liquid target source configured to provide a liquid target in an interaction region of the X-ray source, an electron source adapted to provide an electron beam directed towards the interaction region, such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target to generate X-ray radiation, and an electron collector arranged at a distance downstream of the interaction region, as seen along a travel direction of the electron beam. The electron collector includes an impact portion configured to absorb electrons of the electron beam impinging thereon, and the impact portion is arranged so as to be oblique with respect to the travel direction of the electron beam at the impact portion.