The liquid-metal-jet anode x-ray source

摘要

We introduce a novel electron-impact x-ray source based on a high-speed liquid-metal-jet anode. Basic thermal power load calculations indicate that this new anode concept potentially could increase the achievable brightness in compact electron-impact x-ray sources by more than a factor 100 compared to current state-of-the-art rotating-anode or micro-focus sources. A first, successful, low-power proof-of-principle experiment is described and the feasibility of scaling to high-brightness and high-power operation is discussed. Some possible applications that would benefit from such an increase in brightness are also briefly described.