Monochromatic x-ray imaging systems and methods
According to some aspects, a carrier configured for use with a broadband x-ray source comprising an electron source and a primary target arranged to receive electrons from the electron source to produce broadband x-ray radiation in response to electrons impinging on the primary target is provided. The carrier comprising a housing configured to be removeably coupled to the broadband x-ray source and configured to accommodate a secondary target capable of producing monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation, the housing comprising a transmissive portion configured to allow broadband x-ray radiation to be transmitted to the secondary target when present, and a blocking portion configured to absorb broadband x-ray radiation.
1. A monochromatic x-ray device comprising:
a broadband x-ray source comprising:
an electron source configured to emit electrons;
a primary target configured to produce broadband x-ray radiation in response to incident electrons from the electron source;
a housing configured to be removeably coupled to the broadband x-ray source and configured to accommodate a secondary target configured to generate monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation, the housing for the secondary target comprising an aperture through which monochromatic x-ray radiation from the secondary target is emitted, the housing configured to position the secondary target so that at least some of the broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the primary target is incident on the secondary target so that, when the monochromatic x-ray device is operated, monochromatic x-ray radiation is emitted via the aperture having a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.7 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
2. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 1 , wherein, when the device is operated, monochromatic x-ray radiation is emitted via the aperture having a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.8 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
3. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 1 , wherein, when the device is operated, monochromatic x-ray radiation is emitted via the aperture having a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.9 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
4. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 1 , wherein, when the device is operated, monochromatic x-ray radiation is emitted via the aperture having a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.95 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
5. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises:
a transmissive portion configured to allow broadband x-ray radiation to be transmitted to the secondary target when present; and
a blocking portion configured to absorb broadband x-ray radiation.
6. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 5 , wherein the transmissive portion comprises at least a first transmissive material substantially transparent to the broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the broadband x-ray source.
7. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 6 , wherein the transmissive portion comprises at least one of aluminum, carbon, carbon fiber, boron, boron nitride, beryllium oxide, silicon and silicon nitride.
8. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 5 , wherein the blocking portion comprises at least a first blocking material substantially opaque to the broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the broadband x-ray source.
9. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 5 , wherein the housing is configured such that, when the secondary target is accommodated within the housing, at least a first portion of the secondary target is positioned within the transmissive portion of the housing and a second portion of the secondary target is positioned within the blocking portion of the housing.
10. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 9 , wherein the transmissive portion comprises a first cylindrical portion configured to accommodate the secondary target and the blocking portion comprises a second cylindrical portion configured to overlap the second portion of the secondary target when the first cylindrical portion accommodates the secondary target.
11. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 10 , wherein the secondary target is conical, wherein the first cylindrical portion is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a base of the conical secondary target, and wherein the second cylindrical portion is configured to overlap at least a portion of a tip of the conical secondary target.
12. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 10 , wherein the second cylindrical portion is configured to overlap at least 1 mm of the secondary target when the first cylindrical portion accommodates the secondary target.
13. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 10 , wherein the second cylindrical portion is configured to overlap at least 2 mm of the secondary target when the first cylindrical portion accommodates the secondary target.
14. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 10 , wherein the second cylindrical portion is configured to overlap at least 3 mm of the secondary target when the first cylindrical portion accommodates the secondary target.
15. The monochromatic x-ray device of claim 5 , wherein the housing is configured such that, when the secondary target is accommodated within the housing, the secondary target is positioned exclusively within the transmissive portion.
16. A method of generating monochromatic x-rays comprising:
placing a secondary target within a removeable housing, the secondary target configured to generate monochromatic x-ray radiation via fluorescence in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation;
coupling the removeable housing to a broadband x-ray source comprising an electron source and a primary target configured to produce broadband x-ray radiation in response to incident electrons from the electron source;
generating broadband x-ray radiation from the primary target;
generating monochromatic x-ray radiation from the secondary target in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation from the primary target;
emitting at least some of the monochromatic x-ray radiation via an aperture of the housing; and
blocking at least some of the broadband x-ray radiation such that the monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted via the aperture has a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.7 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted via the aperture has a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.8 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted via the aperture has a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.9 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the monochromatic x-ray radiation emitted via the aperture has a monochromaticity of greater than or equal to 0.95 across a field of view of at least approximately 15 degrees.