Abstract: An X-ray source, which includes a resonant cavity preferably of a cylindrical shape, is excited in a microwave mode TE11p and affected by a static and non-homogeneous magnetic field that grows longitudinally. An electron beam is injected longitudinally through one of the lateral walls of the cavity and is continuously accelerated until it reaches an energy sufficient to produce X-rays after the electrons bombard a metallic target located in the plane where they stop their longitudinal movement. The profile of the magnetic field grows in such a way that it maintains the conditions of electron cyclotron resonance along the helical paths of the electrons, The device can be used to obtain radiographic images and even produce hard X-rays.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an X-ray source which uses a rectangular cavity resonator, which is excited with a microwave TE10p mode. The present invention also can be used as a source of cyclotron radiation, using the cylindrical cavity, but carrying out some structural changes thereof to achieve this purpose. This system allows significantly increasing the energy of the electron beam by compensating the diamagnetic force by an axially symmetric electrostatic field. The electrostatic field is generated longitudinally by ring-type electrodes placed inside the cavity, preferably in the node planes of the TE11p electric field. The electrodes should be made transparent to the microwave field, such as graphite.