X-ray source using electron impact excitation of high velocity liquid metal beam
US10473599B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2235/086
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An X-ray source uses excitation of a liquid metal beam of ions or ionized droplets to produce an X-ray output with higher brightness than conventional sources. The beam may be accelerated from a liquid metal source using an extraction electrode. The source may have an emitter tip, and the acceleration of the liquid metal may include field emission from a Taylor cone. An electrostatic or electromagnetic focusing electrode may be used to reduce a cross-sectional diameter of the beam. The liquid metal beam has a relatively high velocity as it does not suffer from flow turbulence, thus allowing for a more energetic excitation and a correspondingly higher brightness. A beam dump may also be used to collect the liquid metal beam after excitation, and may be concave with no direct sight lines to either an electron beam cathode or to X-ray windows of an enclosure for the source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.