A shield around an x-ray tube, a voltage multiplier, or both can improve the manufacturing process by allowing testing earlier in the process and by providing a holder for liquid potting material. The shield can also improve voltage standoff. A shielded x-ray tube can be electrically coupled to a shielded power supply.

Disclosed is a ceramic shielding apparatus including at least one shield made of a ceramic material and provided inside or outside an X-ray tube to shield radiation; and supports configured to support the shield. According to such a configuration, disadvantages of conventional shielding materials such as lead can be addressed, so that a shield apparatus having excellent shielding properties while being harmless to the human body can be provided.

X-ray transparent insulation can be sandwiched between an x-ray window and a ground plate. The x-ray transparent insulation can include aluminum nitride, boron nitride, or polyetherimide. The x-ray transparent insulation can include a curved side. The x-ray transparent insulation can be transparent to x-rays and resistant to x-ray damage, and can have high thermal conductivity. An x-ray window can have high thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, high melting point, low cost, and matched coefficient of thermal conductivity with the anode. The x-ray window can be made of tungsten. For consistent x-ray spot size and location, a focusing plate and a filament can be attached to a cathode with an open channel of the focusing plate aligned with a longitudinal dimension of the filament. Tabs of the focusing plate bordering the open channel can be bent to align with a location of the filament.

The present application discloses an accelerator system for mineral component analysis and system and method for mineral component analysis. The accelerator system includes an electron gun for generating an electron beam; an accelerating tube for accelerating an electron beam emitted by the electron gun to a predetermined energy; a composite target for generating a radioactive ray on the composite target after receiving bombardment of the electron beam; and a shielding mechanism for shielding the radioactive ray.

According to some aspects, a monochromatic x-ray source is provided. The monochromatic x-ray source comprises an electron source configured to generate electrons, a primary target arranged to receive electrons from the electron source to produce broadband x-ray radiation in response to electrons impinging on the primary target, and a secondary target comprising at least one layer of material capable of producing monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the primary target.

An X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a rotatable gantry base; a housing that is fixed to the gantry base and that has an opening; an insert that is removably located in the housing and that includes a cathode that generates a thermal electron and an anode that receives collision of the thermal electron to generate an X-ray; and a blower that is removably attached to the side of the opening to flow air into the housing.

X-ray target element is comprised of a planar wafer. The planar wafer element includes a target layer and a substrate layer. The target layer is comprised of an element having a relatively high atomic number and the substrate layer is comprised of diamond. The substrate layer is configured to support the target layer and facilitate transfer of thermal energy away from the target layer.

In one embodiment, an x-ray tube 15 can be used closer to a sample. An angle A.sub.1 between an anode axis 02 and an electron-beam axis 01 can be 10 and 80 and an angle A.sub.2 between the anode axis 02 and an x-ray axis 03 can be 10 and 80. In another embodiment, a cap 20 on an anode 12 can block x-rays emitted in undesired directions. The cap 20 can include an internal cavity 24, an electron-beam hole 21, an anode hole 22, and an x-ray hole 23. In another embodiment, an electrical connection between an x-ray tube 15 and a power supply 18 can be reliable and easy to manufacture. The anode 12 can include a hole 31 at an end of the anode 12 sized and shaped for insertion of an electrical connector 32.

In one embodiment, an x-ray tube 15 can be used closer to a sample. An angle A.sub.1 between an anode axis 02 and an electron-beam axis 01 can be 10 and 80 and an angle A.sub.2 between the anode axis 02 and an x-ray axis 03 can be 10 and 80. In another embodiment, a cap 20 on an anode 12 can block x-rays emitted in undesired directions. The cap 20 can include an internal cavity 24, an electron-beam hole 21, an anode hole 22, and an x-ray hole 23. In another embodiment, an electrical connection between an x-ray tube 15 and a power supply 18 can be reliable and easy to manufacture. The anode 12 can include a hole 31 at an end of the anode 12 sized and shaped for insertion of an electrical connector 32.

An X-ray tube includes an electron gun unit, a target that generates X-rays, and a vacuum housing unit. The vacuum housing unit has a metal housing unit for supporting the target and a bulb unit formed of an insulating material and connected to the metal housing unit. The electron gun unit has a focusing electrode portion at an end portion on an emission side of the electrons, the focusing electrode portion having a tubular shape for focusing the emitted electrons. In the electron gun unit, at least a part of the focusing electrode portion is supported by the bulb unit so as to be located in the metal housing unit. When viewed from an X-ray generation position on the target, the focusing electrode portion blocks a line of sight from the X-ray generation position to the bulb unit.