X-ray source and the use thereof and method for producing X-rays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9761405-B2
Application number	US-201214407654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2012
Priority date	Jun 14, 2012
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An X-ray source having a housing in which a target is located that emits X-rays when being bombarded with an electron beam, wherein a metal foil is the target, and the electron beam is pivotable and the target is movable, such that the electron beam is capable of striking the target at a different location along a width of the target.

2. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal foil is made of at least one of a light metal and a plurality of light metals.

3. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal foil comprises at least one of a lanthanide, tungsten, molybdenum, and an alloy of at least two thereof.

4. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an anode is in a form of a tape, which is unwound from a first roller and wound onto a second roller.

5. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first roller and the second roller are housed in vacuum locks of the housing.

6. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the second roller is mechanically coupled to a drive that is attached on an outside of the housing.

7. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a production device for the electron beam is of a pivotable design.

8. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal foil has a thickness of 0.1 μm to 0.5 μm.

9. A method for producing X-rays, in which a target in a housing of an X-ray source is bombarded with an electron beam and emits X-rays, wherein a metal foil is used as the target, and the electron beam is pivotable and the target is movable, such that the electron beam is capable of striking the target at a different location along a width of the target.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , wherein monochromatic X-rays are produced using the target.

11. A method comprising:
utilizing an X-ray source emitting monochromatic X-rays as claimed in claim 1 for X-raying a body, which produces differentiable contrasts at a wavelength of the X-rays used.

12. The X-ray source as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the metal foil is comprised of aluminum.

Assignees

• Heid Oliver
• Hughes Timothy
• Sirtl Jennifer
• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Heid Oliver
• Hughes Timothy
• Sirtl Jennifer

Classifications

• H01J35/24

  Tubes wherein the point of impact of the cathode ray on the anode or anticathode is movable relative to the surface thereof · CPC title

• H01J35/22

  specially designed for passing a very high current for a very short time, e.g. for flash operation · CPC title

• H01J2235/087

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01J35/08

  Anodes; Anti cathodes · CPC title

• H01J2235/066

  Rotation · CPC title