Monochromatic x-ray imaging systems and methods
According to some aspects, a monochromatic x-ray source is provided. The monochromatic x-ray source comprises an electron source configured to generate electrons, 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, and a secondary target comprising at least one layer of material capable of producing monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to incident broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the primary target.
1. A monochromatic x-ray source comprising:
an electron source configured to generate electrons;
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; and
a secondary target comprising at least one layer of material that produces monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to absorbing incident broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the primary target,
wherein the secondary target comprises at least one conical or frustoconical shell formed, at least in part, by the at least one layer.
2. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of material comprises a plurality of layers of material.
3. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of layers of material comprises at least four layers of material.
4. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shell is at least partially open at a distal end of the secondary target.
5. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one shell is at least partially open at a proximal end of the secondary target.
6. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conical or frustoconical shell is oriented with its apex toward a distal end of the secondary target.
7. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conical or frustoconical shell is oriented with its apex toward a proximal end of the secondary target.
8. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one conical or frustoconical shell comprises a plurality of conical or frustoconical shells, and wherein at least one of the plurality of conical or frustoconical shells is oriented with its apex toward a distal end of the secondary target and at least one of the plurality of conical or frustoconical shells is oriented with its apex toward a proximal end of the secondary target.
9. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the secondary target comprises a plurality of nested shells.
10. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of nested shells are arranged so that the secondary target comprises at least four layers along an axis orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the monochromatic x-ray source.
11. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the plurality of shells has a height-to-base aspect ratio of at least 2:1 and/or an apex angle of approximately 30 degrees or less.
12. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of material has a thickness between 5 and 200 microns.
13. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of material has a thickness between 10-75 microns.
14. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the secondary target has a maximum diameter of less than or equal to approximately 15 mm and greater than or equal to approximately 1 mm.
15. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the secondary target has a maximum diameter of less than or equal to approximately 8 mm and greater than or equal to approximately 2 mm.
16. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of material comprises silver, tin, molybdenum, palladium, antimony, dysprosium, holmium, tantalum, tungsten, gold, platinum and/or uranium.
17. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of material comprises at least one foil layer.
18. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one layer of material comprises at least one deposited layer of material provided via a sputtering process, and evaporation process and/or an electroplating process.
19. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one substrate configured to support the at least one layer of material.
20. The monochromatic x-ray source of claim 1 , wherein the at least one substrate comprises material substantially transparent to x-ray radiation.
21. A monochromatic x-ray source comprising:
an electron source configured to generate electrons;
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; and
a secondary target comprising at least one layer of material that produces monochromatic x-ray radiation in response to absorbing incident broadband x-ray radiation emitted by the primary target,
wherein the secondary target comprises at least one spiral shell formed, at least in part, by the at least one layer.