X-ray tube
An X-ray tube that may include a cathode that is configured to generate an electron beam; an anode having a cavity that has an opening; wherein the anode is configured to receive the electron beam through the opening and to emit, through the opening, in response to the receiving of the electron beam, an X-ray beam from the opening; and electron optics that are configured to direct the electron beam towards the opening following a path that outside the cavity and in a vicinity of the opening, differs from a path of propagation the X-ray beam.
1. An X-ray tube, comprising:
a cathode that is configured to generate an electron beam;
an anode having a cavity comprising: (a) an opening having a two-dimensional (2D) shape defined on a surface of the anode, and (b) one or more walls, which extend from the opening into a body of the anode, wherein, in response to receiving the electron beam, the cavity is configured to emit an X-ray beam having a 2D spot, including shaping the 2D spot in a two-dimensional Gaussian distribution; and
electron optics, comprising a bending magnet that is configured to bend the electron beam by ninety degrees and to direct the electron beam toward the opening in a propagation path, which is perpendicular to the opening.
2. The X-ray tube according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more walls of the cavity are shaped into the body of the anode to control at least one of an intensity, the shape and a direction of the emitted X-ray.
3. The X-ray tube according to claim 2 , wherein the body is made of at least one metallic element.
4. The X-ray tube according to claim 2 , wherein the body comprises different parts that differ from each other by composition.
5. The X-ray tube according to claim 4 , wherein the different parts comprise a first part and a second part, wherein a tip of the cavity is located at the border between the first part and the second part.
6. The X-ray tube according to claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises a base and an active area, wherein the active area is configured to emit the X-ray beam in response to the receiving of the electron beam, wherein the base is thermally coupled to the active area, and wherein the base has a thermal conductivity that exceeds a thermal conductivity of the active area.
7. The X-ray tube according to claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a synthetic diamond.
8. The X-ray tube according to claim 6 , further comprising an electron transparent material, wherein the active area is positioned between the electron transparent material and the base.
9. The X-ray tube according to claim 1 , wherein the 2D shape of the opening has a radial symmetry.
10. The X-ray tube according to claim 1 , wherein the cavity passes only through a part of a length of the anode.
11. The X-ray tube according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the walls of the cavity has a wall-surface comprising a non-planar topography.
12. A method for generating an X-ray beam, the method comprises:
generating an electron beam, and bending the electron by ninety degrees using a bending magnet;
illuminating at least a cavity of an anode with the bent electron beam such that the electron beam passes through an opening of the cavity, wherein the cavity comprises: (a) an opening having a two-dimensional (2D) shape defined on a surface of the anode, and (b) one or more walls, which extend from the opening into a body of the anode;
emitting through the opening, in response to receiving the electron beam into the cavity, an X-ray beam having a 2D spot, including shaping the 2D spot in a two-dimensional Gaussian distribution; and
directing the electron beam toward the opening in a propagation path, which is perpendicular to the opening.
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the one or more walls of the cavity are shaped into the body of the anode to control at least one of an intensity, the shape and a direction of the emitted X-ray.
14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the body is made of at least one metallic element.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the body comprises different parts that differ from each other by composition.
16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the anode comprises a base and an active area, wherein the method comprises emitting, by the active area, the X-ray beam in response to the receiving of the electron beam, wherein the base is thermally coupled to the active area, and wherein the base has a thermal conductivity that exceeds a thermal conductivity of the active area.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the base comprises a synthetic diamond.
18. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising an electron transparent material, wherein the active area is positioned between the electron transparent material and the base.