Compact X-ray generation device
An x-ray transmitter, which may be compact, may be in the form of a housing with an x-ray transparent window sputtered with a metal on one wall, and tribocharging electron source on another wall.
1. An x-ray emission device, comprising:
a housing configured to maintain a low fluid pressure environment, the housing having a a first wall with a window substantially transparent to x-rays and a second wall having a portion comprising an exterior surface of the housing comprising an electrically insulating material;
an electron target within the housing;
an electrically chargeable material within the housing; and
a contact material for frictionally contacting the electrically insulating material of the exterior surface of the housing, the contact material comprising a material such that frictional contact with the electrically insulating material generates a charge imbalance.
2. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the second wall comprising the electrically insulating material further comprises a metal interior to and in contact with the electrically insulating material, the metal electrically insulated from other portions of the housing.
3. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the electron target is metal on an interior surface of the window substantially transparent to x-rays.
4. The x-ray emission device of claim 3 , wherein the metal is gold sputtered onto to the window substantially transparent to x-rays.
5. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulating material comprises a dielectric.
6. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulating material comprises a membrane.
7. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 wherein the electrically chargeable material is a mesh.
8. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the electron target comprises a metal.
9. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the electron target comprises a ceramic compound.
10. The x-ray emission device of claim 1 , wherein the electron target comprises a rare earth compound.