Provided is a method for manufacturing an electric field emission device. The method for manufacturing the electric field emission device includes winding a carbon nanotube yarn around outer circumferential surfaces of a metal plate in a first direction, pressing both side surfaces of the metal plate through a pair of metal structures, wherein a top surface of the metal plate is exposed from the metal structures, and an area of the top surface of the metal plate is less than that of each of both the side surfaces of the metal plate, and cutting the carbon nanotube yarn at an edge portion of the top surface of the metal plate in the first direction to form a plurality of emitters.

A light modulated electron source utilizes a photon-beam source to modulate the emission current of an electron beam emitted from a silicon-based field emitter. The field emitter's cathode includes a protrusion fabricated on a silicon substrate and having an emission tip covered by a coating layer. An extractor generates an electric field that attracts free electrons toward the emission tip for emission as part of the electron beam. The photon-beam source generates a photon beam including photons having an energy greater than the bandgap of silicon, and includes optics that direct the photon beam onto the emission tip, whereby each absorbed photon creates a photo-electron that combines with the free electrons to enhance the electron beam's emission current. A controller modulates the emission current by controlling the intensity of the photon beam applied to the emission tip. A monitor measures the electron beam and provides feedback to the controller.

An X-ray radiator and an X-ray assembly are disclosed. The X-ray radiator according to an embodiment has an evacuated X-ray tube housing, mounted to be rotatable about a rotation axis, the X-ray tube housing including an anode and an electron source. The anode is arranged within the X-ray tube housing non-rotatably relative to the X-ray tube housing and is configured to generate X-ray radiation via electrons impacting upon a focal spot of the anode, the electron source being mounted substantially stationary within the X-ray tube housing relative to the rotation axis. The electron source has a main emitter and at least one subsidiary emitter for emitting electrons. The electron emission of the main emitter and/or of the at least one subsidiary emitter is controllable such that a spatial movement of the focal spot due to a movement of the electron source is reduced.

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.

A light modulated electron source utilizes a photon-beam source to modulate the emission current of an electron beam emitted from a silicon-based field emitter. The field emitter's cathode includes a protrusion fabricated on a silicon substrate and having an emission tip covered by a coating layer. An extractor generates an electric field that attracts free electrons toward the emission tip for emission as part of the electron beam. The photon-beam source generates a photon beam including photons having an energy greater than the bandgap of silicon, and includes optics that direct the photon beam onto the emission tip, whereby each absorbed photon creates a photo-electron that combines with the free electrons to enhance the electron beam's emission current. A controller modulates the emission current by controlling the intensity of the photon beam applied to the emission tip. A monitor measures the electron beam and provides feedback to the controller.

The present disclosure relates to a CNT X-ray source apparatus, and more particularly, to a CNT X-ray source apparatus configured to maximize utilization of the internal space of a CNT X-ray tube body, having grooves made of an insulating material, and provided with a base portion for supporting a plurality of electrodes. With this configuration, mass production is possible. The CNT X-ray source apparatus of the present disclosure includes a cathode electrode; an emitter provided on the cathode electrode and responsible for emitting electrons; a gate electrode disposed above the cathode electrode and spaced apart from the cathode electrode by a predetermined interval; a focusing electrode for preventing scattering of electrons emitted from the emitter; and a base portion responsible for supporting one or more of the cathode electrode, the gate electrode, and the focusing electrode and formed of an insulating material. In this case, one or more grooves for accommodating at least one of the cathode electrode, the gate electrode, and the focusing electrode are formed in the base portion.

A method is for spatially influencing a focal spot of an X-ray source that generates X-ray radiation, to an associated X-ray source, to an associated system and to an associated computer program product. The method according to at least one embodiment includes: producing a focal spot on an anode by way of an electron emitter including a plurality of emitter segments, individually controllable to emit electrons; determining at least one actual value of a spatial extent and/or of a position of the produced focal spot; comparing the at least one actual value with a specified reference value of the focal spot; and controlling the emitter segments based upon the comparison of the at least one actual value and the reference value such that the at least one actual value converges toward the reference value, thereby spatially influencing the focal spot of the X-ray source that generates X-ray radiation.

A radiation tube that is used in a radiation source for radiography includes: an electron emitting unit that includes a cathode unit having an emitter electrode which emits electrons and a gate electrode; an anode unit that has an anode surface facing the cathode unit and collides with the electrons to generate radiation; a constant voltage supply unit that supplies a constant driving voltage to the gate electrode; and a vacuum tube that accommodates the constant voltage supply unit, the electron emitting unit, and the anode unit.

Disclosed herein is an X-ray source, comprising: a cathode in a recess of a first substrate; a counter electrode on a sidewall of the recess, configured to cause field emission of electrons from the cathode; and a metal anode configured to receive the electrons emitted from the cathode and to emit X-ray from impact by the electrons on the metal anode.

Systems and methods for digitally switching x-ray emission systems include a digital switching unit operable to selectively connect a low voltage driving circuit to activate a field emission type electron emitting construct such that electrons are accelerated by a high voltage towards an anode target thereby generating a pulse of x-rays. The x-ray pulses directed towards a scintillator are detected by an optical imager when its shutter is open. Shutter signals and the activation signals may be synchronized to produce required x-ray detection profiles.