A spark gap including a capacitive energy store is provided. The spark gap is fed via a multiplicity of capacitors arranged in a form of a ring, wherein the capacitors are electrically connected to the anode and the cathode via ring-shaped and conical or funnel-shaped conductors. As a result, sudden changes in impedance can be avoided. At the same time, it is possible to realize as large a cross-sectional area of the conductor as possible within a very small space. Therefore, the spark gap has a switching response with a high rate of rise of the voltage pulse as soon as the spark gaps flash over. This results in an easily predictable switching response of the spark gap. The spark gap can be used, for example, to generate pulses of monochromatic X-ray radiation.

A spark gap including a capacitive energy store is provided. The spark gap is fed via a multiplicity of capacitors arranged in a form of a ring, wherein the capacitors are electrically connected to the anode and the cathode via ring-shaped and conical or funnel-shaped conductors. As a result, sudden changes in impedance can be avoided. At the same time, it is possible to realize as large a cross-sectional area of the conductor as possible within a very small space. Therefore, the spark gap has a switching response with a high rate of rise of the voltage pulse as soon as the spark gaps flash over. This results in an easily predictable switching response of the spark gap. The spark gap can be used, for example, to generate pulses of monochromatic X-ray radiation.

An x-ray source in which monochromatic x-rays can be produced is provided. A method for producing X-rays and to the use of the x-ray source for x-raying bodies is also provided. A metallic film is arranged in a housing as a target which is bombarded with the electron beam. As a result, the metallic film is excited for emitting monochromatic x-rays, the relatively thin-walled target being modified such that the intended use for producing monochromatic x-rays is no longer possible. Therefore, advantageously, the production device can be pivoted for producing the electron beam as well as being able to wind the target on rollers.

A radiotherapy system includes an X-ray target configured to convert an incident electron beam into a therapeutic X-ray beam, a purging magnet configured to redirect unwanted particles emitted from the X-ray target away from the therapeutic X-ray beam, and a particle collector configured to absorb the unwanted particles subsequent to redirection by the purging magnet. The particle collector may be configured to dissipate at least 50% of the energy of the incident electron beam.

A radiotherapy system includes an X-ray target configured to convert an incident electron beam into a therapeutic X-ray beam, a purging magnet configured to redirect unwanted particles emitted from the X-ray target away from the therapeutic X-ray beam, and a particle collector configured to absorb the unwanted particles subsequent to redirection by the purging magnet. The particle collector may be configured to dissipate at least 50% of the energy of the incident electron beam.

It would be advantageous to reduce weight and size of high voltage power supplies, to increase frequency of pulses of high voltage, and to improve control of magnitude of high voltage. The embodiments of high voltage power supplies described herein can solve these problems. The high voltage power supply can be used with an x-ray tube. The high voltage power supply can comprise an array of planar transformers each defining a stage with an AC input and a DC output. Each stage can comprise a pair of flat, coil windings adjacent one another and including a primary winding electrically-coupled to the AC input and configured to induce a current in a secondary winding. At least two stages can be electrically-coupled together in series with the DC output of one stage electrically-coupled to an input of the other stage such that a voltage is amplified across the stages.

Systems and methods for generating tunable x-ray emissions including a tunable x-ray source that includes a driver, such as a laser, configured to generate one or more driver pulses, such as one or more laser pulses, and a target source configured to emit a target material. The target source is arranged so that the emitted target material intersects a propagation axis of the driver pulse(s) and the target source may be configured so that the emitted target material has a tailored density profile along the propagation axis of the driver pulse(s), the tailored density profile along the propagation axis having a first density peak region followed by a lower density region followed by a second density peak region, e.g., in an “M” shape.

Systems and methods for generating tunable x-ray emissions including a tunable x-ray source that includes a driver, such as a laser, configured to generate one or more driver pulses, such as one or more laser pulses, and a target source configured to emit a target material. The target source is arranged so that the emitted target material intersects a propagation axis of the driver pulse(s) and the target source may be configured so that the emitted target material has a tailored density profile along the propagation axis of the driver pulse(s), the tailored density profile along the propagation axis having a first density peak region followed by a lower density region followed by a second density peak region, e.g., in an “M” shape.

A receptacle for receiving a plug connector of a high-voltage cable for a microfocus X-ray tube with a cathode, which has a metal filament and grid cap. The receptacle has a ceramic insulator with three contiguous cavities. The first cavity near the filament includes electrical contacts for the filament and the grid cap. The second cavity includes spring contacts for supplying current to the filament and a center pin for supplying voltage to the grid. The third cavity receives the plug connector. The insulator has a removable grid mounting which is conductively connected to the grid cap of the cathode. The first and second cavities are surrounded in the radial direction by the grid mounting. An air gap extends radially between grid mounting and ceramic body. At the end of the grid mounting remote from the filament is a circumferential groove in the axial direction between the grid mounting and the ceramic insulator.

A receptacle for receiving a plug connector of a high-voltage cable for a microfocus X-ray tube with a cathode, which has a metal filament and grid cap. The receptacle has a ceramic insulator with three contiguous cavities. The first cavity near the filament includes electrical contacts for the filament and the grid cap. The second cavity includes spring contacts for supplying current to the filament and a center pin for supplying voltage to the grid. The third cavity receives the plug connector. The insulator has a removable grid mounting which is conductively connected to the grid cap of the cathode. The first and second cavities are surrounded in the radial direction by the grid mounting. An air gap extends radially between grid mounting and ceramic body. At the end of the grid mounting remote from the filament is a circumferential groove in the axial direction between the grid mounting and the ceramic insulator.