A target assembly for generating radiation may comprise a target, a substrate and a window. The target may be capable of generating first radiation when impinged by a beam. The window may be at least partially permeable to the beam. The window and the substrate may form at least part of a hermetically sealed chamber and the target may be positioned in the chamber. The chamber may be filled with air having a normal or reduced content of oxygen.

During operation of a reflection target x-ray source, heat must be removed from many components. The electron beam must be steered to the target and may interact with structures along this path. There is also heat generated in the target itself. This can be excessive, since only a very small percentage of the electron beam's energy is transformed into x-rays. Finally, the x-rays must exit the vacuum through the window, which can also be heated both by the x-rays, reflected electrons, and radiant heat from the target. A water cooled reflective x-ray source provides for water or other fluid cooling of the centering aperture, x-ray target, and/or exit window.

A cooling system used in an X-ray generator having a cathode and anode that includes a target having a focal spot, wherein heat is generated in the anode and focal spot during operation of the X-ray generator. The system includes a heat transfer element attached to the anode wherein the heat transfer element includes a plurality of fin elements that transfer heat from the anode to surrounding air to cool the anode. The system also includes a liquid channel formed in the anode, wherein the liquid channel includes a cooling liquid. The liquid channel is located adjacent the target wherein heat from the focal spot is transferred to the cooling liquid to cool the focal spot wherein the heat transfer element, liquid channel and anode are unistructurally formed. Further, the cooling system includes a circulation pump that moves the cooling liquid in the liquid channel.

A MBFEX tube (1) for an x-ray device comprises, in a vacuum tube (20), an anode (30) designed as a cooling finger and securely arranged in the vacuum tube, and a plurality of securely arranged cathodes (40, 41, 42), wherein the vacuum tube (20) comprises a plurality of cathode feed lines (50) and no more than two high-voltage bushings (51, 52), in a high-voltage bushing (52) a coolant pipe (31) is passed through by an internal coolant inner pipe (32), the coolant pipe (31) and the coolant inner pipe (32) are provided for cooling the anode (30) with a liquid coolant, the cathodes (40, 41, 42) are provided for field emission of electrons and are arranged on the anode (30) for generating x-ray sources (Q).

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 system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; an anode support structure penetrating the vacuum enclosure and including a plurality of first cooling passages; and an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure, coupled to and supported by the anode support structure, and including: a target; and a plurality of second cooling passages; wherein: each of the second cooling passages is coupled to a corresponding first cooling passage; and the anode is coupled to the anode support structure on a side of the anode different from a side of the anode including the target and different from axial ends of the anode on a major axis of the anode.

An X-ray tube has a cathode housing having a radiation exit window, a cooled anode, a hot cathode, an insulation body, a supply line for coolant to the anode and a discharge line for coolant from the anode. The supply and discharge lines have a plurality of turns in the insulation body. The potted body has an inner and outer mold. The anode, the cathode housing and the potted body are fastened on the ceramic body. At least one plastic directing body aligns the hoses separated from the outer and inner mold. The potting space is filled with a plastic potting compound in a cured state so that the intermediate spaces between the turns on the one hand and the outer mold and the inner mold on the other hand are occupied by the plastic of the at least one directing body and/or the plastic of the potting compound.

During operation of a reflection target x-ray source, heat must be removed from many components. The electron beam must be steered to the target and may interact with structures along this path. There is also heat generated in the target itself. This can be excessive, since only a very small percentage of the electron beam's energy is transformed into x-rays. Finally, the x-rays must exit the vacuum through the window, which can also be heated both by the x-rays, reflected electrons, and radiant heat from the target. A water cooled reflective x-ray source provides for water or other fluid cooling of the centering aperture, x-ray target, and/or exit window.

Embodiments include a system, comprising: a vacuum enclosure; an anode support structure penetrating the vacuum enclosure and including a plurality of first cooling passages; and an anode disposed within the vacuum enclosure, coupled to and supported by the anode support structure, and including: a target; and a plurality of second cooling passages; wherein: each of the second cooling passages is coupled to a corresponding first cooling passage; the anode is coupled to the anode support structure on a side of the anode different from a side of the anode including the target and different from axial ends of the anode on a major axis of the anode; and the anode is a linear anode.

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.