Liquid metal anode x-ray tube

摘要

A novel type of electron-impact x-ray source based on the interaction of energetic electrons with a turbulently flowing liquid metal target is presented. The electrons enter the liquid through a thin (several microns thick) window, separating the liquid from the vacuum region in which the cathode is situated. Several electron window materials including diamond, tungsten and molybdenum were tested in combination with the liquid metal GalnSn. Satisfactory agreement has been obtained between the predictions of thermal transport models and the measured dependence of the loadability on fluid velocity. The liquid metal technology appears to represent a significant improvement in continuous loadability relative to stationary anode x-ray tubes.