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.

A liquid metal jet X-ray source including an electromagnetic pump for pumping the liquid metal. The electromagnetic pump includes a core having a core diameter and an outer yoke with a thickness of at least 20% of the core diameter. Preferably, the thickness of the outer yoke is at least 20% of the core diameter plus 6% of a radial distance between an outside of the core and an inside of the yoke.

An electromagnetic pump for pumping an electrically conductive liquid, including a first conduit section and a second conduit section. The electromagnetic pump further includes a current generator arranged to provide an electric current through the liquid in the first conduit section and the liquid in the second conduit section such that a direction of the electric current is intersecting the flow of the liquid in the first conduit section and in the second conduit section, and a magnetic field generating arrangement arranged to provide a magnetic field passing through the liquid in the first conduit section and the second conduit section such that a direction of the magnetic field is intersecting the flow of the liquid and the direction of the electric current.

An x-ray anode for an x-ray emitter has a structured surface provided for impingement with electrons. According to an embodiment of the invention, the structured surface has a surface structure which alternates periodically at least in sections and which varies in the micrometer range with respect to its depth extension and periodicity.

An X-ray tube including a vacuum vessel, a cathode and an anode fixedly disposed inside the vacuum vessel, and a rotary mechanism that rotates the vacuum vessel, where the cathode is disposed on the circumference with a rotary shaft of the rotary mechanism as its center and includes multiple cathode parts that can individually be turned ON/OFF, and where the anode includes parts opposite to the multiple cathode parts, respectively.

An X-ray tube that may include a cathode that is configured to generate an electron beam; an anode having a cavity that has an opening; wherein the anode is configured to receive the electron beam through the opening and to emit, through the opening, in response to the receiving of the electron beam, an X-ray beam from the opening; and electron optics that are configured to direct the electron beam towards the opening following a path that outside the cavity and in a vicinity of the opening, differs from a path of propagation the X-ray beam.

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.

An x-ray source for a backscatter imager can include a first electron beam (e-beam) emitter for emitting a first e-beam and at least a second e-beam emitter for emitting at least a second e-beam. The first and second e-beam emitters can be powered by a at least one power supply, and can be configured to direct the first e-beam and the second e-beam toward an anode. An interaction of the anode with the first and second e-beams produces x-rays. The x-ray source is configured to output an amount of x-rays equivalent to a conventional x-ray source that includes a single e-beam emitter. However, because the x-ray source uses at least two e-beam emitters and a single anode, the power source required to power the e-beam emitters can operate at a lower wattage than a conventional power source powering the single e-beam emitter. The x-ray source is thus lighter in weight and outputs less radiation than conventional systems with a comparable x-ray output.

An x-ray source can have increased x-ray flux and can simultaneously provide characteristic peaks and from multiple, different chemical elements. The target can include multiple layers of different chemical compositions. These layers can be distinguished by a higher atomic number, a higher energy K-alpha x-ray characteristic line, and a higher density in one layer compared to another layer. The layer that is lower in these characteristics can face the x-ray window. The layers can be formed by sputter deposition.

According to some aspects, a carrier configured for use with a broadband x-ray source comprising an electron source and 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 is provided. The carrier comprising a housing configured to be removeably coupled to the broadband x-ray source and configured to accommodate a secondary target capable of producing monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation, the housing comprising a transmissive portion configured to allow broadband x-ray radiation to be transmitted to the secondary target when present, and a blocking portion configured to absorb broadband x-ray radiation.