Abstract: An x-ray head according to the invention includes an evacuated chamber in which a cathode and an anode are disposed and electrical connections from the anode and cathode extending through the wall of the evacuated chamber. The cathode may include a gated array of field emission elements, an array of solid state miniature thermionic cathodes, or ferroelectric cathodes. The anode is a metal producing x-ray radiation in response to the impact of electrons produced by the cathode. The anode may be a foil, a thin film of metal deposited on the inside surface of a wall of the evacuated chamber, or a self-supporting body of a metal that produces x-rays in response to electron impacts. The wiring may include conventional pins penetrating through and sealed to the wall of the chamber for connection to a flexible cable.

Abstract: A method of measuring an accelerating voltage applied to an x-ray source to produce x-rays includes applying an accelerating voltage to an x-ray source to produce x-ray radiation having an axis; diffracting first and second portions of the x-ray radiation that are symmetrically disposed relative to an axis with a body of a single crystal material having a curved surface symmetrically curved relative to a central axis of the x-rays to produce two spectra of the x-ray radiation, each spectrum including continuous x-ray radiation having an end point energy at the maximum energy of the x-ray radiation; forming an image of the spectra of the x-ray radiation including respective end point energies; and measuring the separation of the respective end point energies of the spectra of the image and, thereby, determining the accelerating voltage applied to the x-ray source.

Abstract: A method of measuring an accelerating voltage applied to an x-ray source to produce x-rays includes applying an accelerating voltage to an x-ray source to produce x-ray radiation having an axis; diffracting first and second portions of the x-ray radiation that are symmetrically disposed relative to an axis with a single crystal material to produce two spectra of the x-ray radiation, each spectrum including continuous x-ray radiation having an end point energy at the maximum energy of the x-ray radiation; forming an image of the spectra of the x-ray radiation including respective end point energies; and measuring the separation of the respective end point energies of the spectra of the image and, thereby, determining the accelerating voltage applied to the x-ray source.