X-ray radiator with thermionic emission of electrons from a laser-irradiated cathode

US7412033B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Jörg Freudenberger · Eckental, DE
• Sven Fritzler · Erlangen, DE
• Manfred Fuchs · Nuremberg, DE
• Detlef Mattern · Erlangen, DE
• Peter Röhrer · Bubenreuth, DE
• Peter Schardt · Simmerath, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 12, 2006
• Grant date: Aug 12, 2008
• Expiry date: Sep 12, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01J2235/162
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An x-ray radiator has a vacuum housing that can rotate around an axis, a cathode that thermionically emits electrons upon irradiation thereof by a laser beam, an anode that emits x-rays upon being struck by the electrons, an insulator that is part of the vacuum housing and that separates the cathode from the anode, electrodes or terminals to apply a high voltage between the anode and the cathode to accelerate the emitted electrons toward the anode to form an electron beam, a drive arrangement for rotation of the vacuum housing around its axis, an arrangement for cooling components of the x-ray radiator, and an arrangement that directs and focuses the laser beam from a stationary source that is arranged outside of the vacuum housing onto a spatially stationary laser focal spot on the cathode.