Disclosed is an electron beam generation source including: an electron discharge part extending on a desired axis and configured to discharge electrons; a movable part connected to one end of the electron discharge part; a support part configured to support the movable part to be movable along the axis; and a tension holding part configured to hold tension of the electron discharge part by applying a pressing force or a tensile force to the movable part. The movable part and the tension holding part are disposed on the axis.

opening edge surface (45a) of an emitter supporting unit female screw bore (45) provided at an emitter supporting unit (4) extends along radial direction of the emitter supporting unit female screw bore (45). An emitter supporting unit operation hole (32) provided at a flange portion (30a) of a vacuum enclosure (11) has shape into which one selected from a position adjustment shaft (6) and a pressing shaft (9) can be inserted from their shaft tip sides. The position adjustment shaft is provided, on an outer circumferential surface of its tip (61), with a tip side male screw portion (61a) that can be screwed into the emitter supporting unit female screw bore (45). The pressing shaft has, at its tip (91), a tip surface (91a) having a larger diameter than an opening diameter of the emitter supporting unit female screw bore (45) and extending along radial direction of the pressing shaft.

A vacuum container is configured so that an opening on one side and an opening on another side in the longitudinal direction of a cylindrical insulating body are sealed with an emitter unit and a target unit respectively; and a vacuum chamber is provided on the inner peripheral side of the insulating body. The emitter unit is provided with: a moving body located on the one side in the longitudinal direction in the vacuum chamber and supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction via a bellows; and a guard electrode located on the outer peripheral side of the moving body. An emitter section having an electron generating section is formed at a tip section of the moving body on the other side in the longitudinal direction by subjecting the surface of the tip section to film formation processing.

Various methods and systems are provided for a cathode of an X-ray imaging system, the cathode comprising a cup and a ceramic insulator having a convex outer surface mating with corresponding pockets on the cup surrounding the ceramic insulator.

A vacuum container is configured so that an opening on one side and an opening on another side in the longitudinal direction of a cylindrical insulating body are sealed with an emitter unit and a target unit respectively; and a vacuum chamber is provided on the inner peripheral side of the insulating body. The emitter unit is provided with: a moving body located on the one side in the longitudinal direction in the vacuum chamber and supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction via a bellows; and a guard electrode located on the outer peripheral side of the moving body. An emitter section having an electron generating section is formed at a tip section of the moving body on the other side in the longitudinal direction by subjecting the surface of the tip section to film formation processing.

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 emitter (3) and a target (7) are arranged so as to face each other in a vacuum chamber (1), and a guard electrode (5) is provided at an outer circumferential side of an electron generating portion (31) of the emitter (3). The emitter (3) is supported movably in both end directions of the vacuum chamber (1) by the emitter supporting unit (4) having a movable body (40). The emitter supporting unit (4) is operated by an operating unit (6) connected to the emitter supporting unit (4). By operating the emitter supporting unit (4) by the operating unit (6), a distance between the electron generating portion (31) of the emitter (3) and the target (7) is changed, and a position of the emitter (3) is fixed at an arbitrary distance, then field emission is performed with the position of the emitter (3) fixed.

Emitter (3) and target (7) are arranged so as to face each other in vacuum chamber (1), and guard electrode (5) is provided at outer circumferential side of electron generating portion (31) of emitter (3). Guard electrode (5) is supported movably in directions of both ends of vacuum chamber (1) by guard electrode supporting unit (6). To perform regeneration process of guard electrode (5), guard electrode (5) is moved to opening (22) side (to separate position) by operating guard electrode supporting unit (6), and a state in which field emission of electron generating portion (31) is suppressed is set, then by applying voltage across guard electrode (5), discharge is repeated. After performing regeneration process, by operating guard electrode supporting unit (6) again, guard electrode (5) is moved to opening (21) side (to emitter position), and a state in which field emission of electron generating portion (31) is possible is set.

Emitter (3) and target (7) are arranged so as to face each other in vacuum chamber (1), and guard electrode (5) is provided at outer circumferential side of electron generating portion (31) of emitter (3). Guard electrode (5) is supported movably in directions of both ends of vacuum chamber (1) by guard electrode supporting unit (6). To perform regeneration process of guard electrode (5), guard electrode (5) is moved to opening (22) side (to separate position) by operating guard electrode supporting unit (6), and a state in which field emission of electron generating portion (31) is suppressed is set, then by applying voltage across guard electrode (5), discharge is repeated. After performing regeneration process, by operating guard electrode supporting unit (6) again, guard electrode (5) is moved to opening (21) side (to emitter position), and a state in which field emission of electron generating portion (31) is possible is set.

An emitter (3) and a target (7) are arranged so as to face each other in a vacuum chamber (1), and a guard electrode (5) is provided at an outer circumferential side of an electron generating portion (31) of the emitter (3). The emitter (3) is supported movably in both end directions of the vacuum chamber (1) by the emitter supporting unit (4) having a movable body (40). The emitter supporting unit (4) is operated by an operating unit (6) connected to the emitter supporting unit (4). By operating the emitter supporting unit (4) by the operating unit (6), a distance between the electron generating portion (31) of the emitter (3) and the target (7) is changed, and a position of the emitter (3) is fixed at an arbitrary distance, then field emission is performed with the position of the emitter (3) fixed.