Supply of a liquid-metal target in X-ray generation
US8837679B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 3, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 16, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2235/1279
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Closed-loop circulation for providing liquid metal to an interaction region at which an electron beam is to impact upon the liquid metal to produce X-rays is presented. In a method according to the invention, the pressure of the liquid metal is raised to at least 10 bar using a high-pressure pump. The pressurized liquid metal is then conducted to a nozzle and ejected into a vacuum chamber in the form of a spatially continuous jet. After passage through the vacuum chamber, the liquid metal is collected in a collection reservoir, and the pressure of the liquid metal is raised to an inlet pressure, e.g. using a primer pump, suitable for the inlet of the high-pressure pump. The invention also relates to a corresponding circulation system and an X-ray source provided with such circulation system.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.