An X-ray generation device includes: a sealed X-ray tube including a cathode and an anode; a magnetic field generation portion applying a magnetic field to the electron beam, the magnetic field extending in a first direction, which crosses a traveling direction of the electron beam; and a rotary drive system configured to rotate the sealed X-ray tube, the anode having a surface including a first region and a second region arranged on one side and another side, with respect to a straight division line, the first region having a first metal arranged therein, and the second region having a second metal arranged therein, the second metal being different from the first metal, and by means of the rotary drive system rotating the sealed X-ray tube, the sealed X-ray tube being arranged with respect to the magnetic field generation portion so that the straight division line lies along the first direction.

Disclosed herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus (“apparatus”) for non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes an x-ray emitter that includes a vacuum tube, an x-ray shield enclosed within the vacuum tube. The x-ray shield includes at least one emission aperture. The apparatus also includes a cathode enclosed within the vacuum tube and that is operable to generate an electron stream. Also included is an anode, enclosed within the vacuum tube and located relative to the cathode, to receive the electron stream and convert the electron stream from the cathode to an x-ray stream, and located relative to the emission aperture to direct at least a portion of the x-ray stream through the at least one emission aperture. Also disclosed are a system and a method that utilize the apparatus.

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.

An X-ray tube according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a cathode structure; an anode structure spaced vertically from the cathode structure, a gate electrode structure disposed between the cathode structure and the anode structure, an emitter array disposed between the cathode structure and the gate electrode structure, a tube sheath configured to connect the cathode structure and the anode structure, and a fixing unit connected with the gate electrode structure. The cathode structure includes a first rotation shaft and a cathode connected with the first rotation shaft as one body. The gate electrode structure includes a second rotation shaft and a gate electrode connected with the second rotation shaft through a bearing, and the second rotation shaft is connected with the first rotation shaft by a coupling unit. The gate electrode includes a gate electrode substrate and a protruding part that protrudes from the gate electrode substrate toward an emitter. The protruding part of the gate electrode includes a gate hole that vertically overlaps the emitter. The fixing unit includes a ferromagnetic structure attached to one surface of the gate electrode substrate and disposed on an outer portion of the substrate and a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the ferromagnetic structure with the tube sheath therebetween.

An X-ray tube according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a cathode structure; an anode structure spaced vertically from the cathode structure, a gate electrode structure disposed between the cathode structure and the anode structure, an emitter array disposed between the cathode structure and the gate electrode structure, a tube sheath configured to connect the cathode structure and the anode structure, and a fixing unit connected with the gate electrode structure. The cathode structure includes a first rotation shaft and a cathode connected with the first rotation shaft as one body. The gate electrode structure includes a second rotation shaft and a gate electrode connected with the second rotation shaft through a bearing, and the second rotation shaft is connected with the first rotation shaft by a coupling unit. The gate electrode includes a gate electrode substrate and a protruding part that protrudes from the gate electrode substrate toward an emitter. The protruding part of the gate electrode includes a gate hole that vertically overlaps the emitter. The fixing unit includes a ferromagnetic structure attached to one surface of the gate electrode substrate and disposed on an outer portion of the substrate and a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the ferromagnetic structure with the tube sheath therebetween.

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.

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.

Disclosed herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus (“apparatus”) for non-destructive inspection of an object. The apparatus includes an x-ray emitter that includes a vacuum tube, an x-ray shield enclosed within the vacuum tube. The x-ray shield includes at least one emission aperture. The apparatus also includes a cathode enclosed within the vacuum tube and that is operable to generate an electron stream. Also included is an anode, enclosed within the vacuum tube and located relative to the cathode, to receive the electron stream and convert the electron stream from the cathode to an x-ray stream, and located relative to the emission aperture to direct at least a portion of the x-ray stream through the at least one emission aperture. Also disclosed are a system and a method that utilize the apparatus.

An X-ray generation device includes: a sealed X-ray tube including a cathode and an anode; a magnetic field generation portion applying a magnetic field to the electron beam, the magnetic field extending in a first direction, which crosses a traveling direction of the electron beam; and a rotary drive system configured to rotate the sealed X-ray tube, the anode having a surface including a first region and a second region arranged on one side and another side, with respect to a straight division line, the first region having a first metal arranged therein, and the second region having a second metal arranged therein, the second metal being different from the first metal, and by means of the rotary drive system rotating the sealed X-ray tube, the sealed X-ray tube being arranged with respect to the magnetic field generation portion so that the straight division line lies along the first direction.

An X-ray tube provides a reduced X-ray focal point without enlargement of the device. Relative to a rotating envelope X-ray tube an angle between an emission direction of an electron beam E and a target surface 4 of an anode 3 is at most 90 degrees and preferably, the incident angle is at most 25 degrees and more preferably at most 12 degrees, and in addition, an emitter 2 has a tabular (flat) electron emission element.