Abstract: A mounted x-ray window 10 and 20 can include an x-ray window 18 mounted on the flange 11f of a housing 11. The x-ray window 18 can include the following layers: a top strong layer 17, a stress-relief layer 16, a bottom strong layer 15, an adhesive layer 14 then a support ring 13. These layers can have a material composition and thickness for optimizing x-ray window low gas permeability, low outgassing, high strength, low visible and infrared light transmission, high x-ray flux, low atomic number materials, corrosion resistance, high reliability, and low-cost.

Abstract: A filament assembly 10 for an x-ray tube 20 can include a planar filament 11 electrically-coupled between and substantially-encircled by a pair of collector plates C1 and C2. The pair of collector plates C1 and C2 can support the planar filament 11 so that it does not twist or warp and align the filament assembly 10 within a cathode cup 33. The pair of collector plates C1 and C2 can block electrons emitted from a back side of the filament. Without the collector plates C1 and C2, back side electrons can change direction by about 180°, hit the target, and distort a target electron spot. Each collector plate C1 or C2 can include holes H1 and H2. These holes H1 and H2 can aid in alignment of the collector plates C1 and C2 with electrodes 31 and electrode 32, can allow welding at a lower temperature, and can facilitate weld inspection.

Abstract: The waveplates herein (A) can have high performance across a broad wavelength range and broad range of incident angles; (B) can be thin; and (C) can withstand a high temperature. The waveplates can include ribs 12 on a substrate 11 with a channel 13 between each pair of adjacent ribs 12. Each rib 12 can include the following layers in the following order moving outward from the substrate: a bottom-medium-layer BM (nBM), a high-layer H (nH), then a top-medium-layer TM (nTM). Each rib 12 can be located on a bottom-low-layer BL (nBL). A top-low-layer TL (nTL) can be located on a face TMF of the top-medium-layer TM farthest from the substrate 11. Relationships between indices of refraction of these layers can be nBL<nBM<nH and nTM<nTM<nH.

Abstract: Optical devices with different regions or pixels can form an image. An opaque-region 14 can be used to separate different pixels. Sometimes the optical device needs to be flexible, for elongation or stretching onto a curved surface. But, the opaque-region 14 can be damaged as it is stretched. A flexible optical device can include a modified opaque-region 14 for improved flexibility. The opaque-region 14 can include a thin-film 12 with multiple cavities 13, multiple zones 63, or both. Each zone 63 can have a shape optimized to both block incoming light and for flexibility. Each zone 63 can be encircled and separated from adjacent zones 63 by a groove 62. The cavities 13 and the separate zones 63 can allow the opaque-region 14 to bend or stretch without cracking or delamination of the thin-film 12.

Abstract: An x-ray window 60 or 70 can include a thin film 61 sealed to a support structure 10. The support structure 10 can include an outer ring 11 encircling an outer ring aperture 15, an inner ring 12 encircling an inner aperture, and multiple spokes 13. The inner ring 12 can be located in the outer ring aperture 15. The inner ring 12 can be attached to the outer ring 11 by the multiple spokes 13. The support structure 10 shapes can optimize strength and percent open area.

Abstract: The wire grid polarizers 10 and 30 described herein, and wire grid polarizers made by methods described herein, can have high performance across a broad range of the ultraviolet spectrum and across a broad angle of incidence. These polarizers can be durable (resistant to heat, moisture, ultraviolet light, and oxidation). The polarizer can include an array of wires 15 on a substrate 11. Each wire 15 can have a silicon core 12 and a pair of silicon dioxide ribs 13. The core 12 can be sandwiched between the pair of ribs 13, with each rib 13 adjacent to a sidewall 12s of the core 12. A rib width W13 can be ?4 nm. Each wire 15 can also include a silicon dioxide cap 14. The core 12 can be encircled by a silicon dioxide ring 17.

Abstract: A collimator for an x-ray tube can be a monolithic, integral structure. The collimator can include a proximal-end closest to a cathode and a distal-end farthest from the cathode. The proximal-end can adjoin a vacuum inside of the x-ray tube. The distal-end can adjoin the air. The collimator can include an aperture extending therethrough. An x-ray window can be mounted across the aperture. The aperture can include a collimation-region between the x-ray window and the distal-end, and a drift-region between the x-ray window and the proximal-end. X-rays can be generated inside of the collimator.

Abstract: Optical metasurfaces can manipulate a light wavefront without traditional lenses. They can include pillars with subwavelength dimensions on a substrate. The pillars can vary in size, shape, and spacing across a surface of the substrate. Each pillar size and shape can diffract incident light and provide a unique electromagnetic response. The metasurface can provide desired light wavefront manipulation without the thickness of traditional lenses. The metasurface can overcome the aberration problem of traditional lenses. An overcoat layer can be located at a distal-end of the pillars. Pillar pitch can be adjusted for uniform spacing between pillars, and uniform overcoat coverage. The overcoat layer can protect the pillars. An alternative to the overcoat layer is a solid fill-material filling gaps between the pillars.

Abstract: A metasurface optical device can include an array of pillars 13 on a first-side 11f of a substrate 11 aligned with an aperture 15 of, or proximate to, a blocking-layer 12. The blocking-layer 12 can located on the first-side 11f of the substrate 11, on a second-side 11s of the substrate 11 opposite of the first-side 11f, or both. The blocking-layer 12 can prevent light from transmitting through the device in undesirable locations. The blocking-layer 12 can be opaque to incident light and can include an absorptive-layer. Thus, the blocking-layer 12 can have dual functions—blocking and absorbing light.

Abstract: X-rays can be used for material identification. X-ray beam purity, target adhesion the x-ray window, and a robust hermetic seal of the x-ray window are useful. To achieve these objectives, a target 17 can be mounted by an adhesion-layer 16 on the x-ray window. The adhesion-layer 16 can include chromium. A sealing-layer 13 can seal the x-ray window to a flange 19. Material of the sealing-layer 13 can be different from material of the adhesion-layer 16. There can be a gap 21 between the flange 19 and the target 17. There can be a conductive-layer 18 on the x-ray window 14 in the gap 21. A thickness Ts of the adhesion-layer 16 between the sealing-layer 13 and the x-ray window 14 can be different than a thickness Tt of the adhesion-layer 16 between the target 17 and the x-ray window 14.

Abstract: A planar filament for an x-ray tube can have a different cross-sectional area at different locations. In regions of smaller cross-sectional area, there can be higher current density, and thus increased heating and higher temperature of the wire. In regions of larger cross-sectional area, there can be lower current density, and thus decreased heating of the wire. Regions of larger cross-sectional area can also be stronger, thus reducing early filament failures. Wider regions can have increased area for electron emission. By adjusting the cross-sectional area and width of the wire at different locations, electron emission can be largely confined to a center of the filament, and filament life can increase.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate might be desirable for WGP flexibility or to aid in further processing of the WGP. Wires of the WGP can include flexible ribs to minimize or avoid defects such as cracks in the WGP. An etch stop layer in the wires can allow formation of the flexible ribs without delamination of a reflective portion of the wires. The WGP embodiments herein can have improved flexibility, stretchablility, compressibility, or combinations thereof with reduced cracking, collapse, and delamination of wires or ribs.

Abstract: As an x-ray tube expands and contracts during heating and cooling, its hermetic seal can be damaged. A more robust hermetic seal, particularly as the x-ray tube is heated and cooled, is desirable. The x-ray tube described herein can include a proximal-housing 13 and a distal-housing 14, which can be connected to each other by an interface-ring 15 for improved hermetic seal. Added x-ray tube weight, of material used for blocking x-rays, can make it difficult to transport the x-ray tube. Reducing this weight is desirable. A maximum outer diameter Dp of the proximal-housing 13 can be greater than a maximum outer diameter Dd of the distal-housing 14, for improved blocking of x-rays. This diameter difference can allow improved x-ray shielding with less material.

Abstract: An x-ray tube can include an x-ray window sealed to a mount. An inner-collimator can be adjacent to, but not sealed to, the x-ray window. The inner-collimator can be sandwiched between the x-ray window and an insulating-layer. The insulating-layer can span an inner-collimator-aperture of the inner-collimator, forming an isolated cavity at the inner-collimator-aperture. Walls of the cavity can include the x-ray window, the inner-collimator, and the insulating-layer. The x-ray tube can have a light weight, can block x-rays in undesirable directions, and can shape the x-ray beam.

Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (WGP) can include an array of support-ribs on a substrate. Sides of the support-ribs can be inclined to one side. A wire can be applied on an upper-side and distal end of each support-rib, each wire being separate from wires on adjacent support-ribs. The WGP can be made with reduced or no etching.

Abstract: A voltage-multiplier can be more compact by arrangement in a stack of separate voltage-multiplier-stages. Each of the voltage-multiplier-stages can include electronic-components on a planar-face of a circuit-board. The planar-face of each circuit-board can be parallel with respect to other circuit-boards in the stack. The electronic-components on each voltage-multiplier-stage can be configured to multiply an input-voltage to provide an output-voltage with a higher voltage than the input-voltage. Each voltage-multiplier-stage in the stack can be electrically coupled to two adjacent voltage-multiplier-stages, except that two outermost voltage-multiplier-stages of the stack can be electrically coupled to only one adjacent voltage-multiplier-stage of the stack.

Abstract: Each wire 12 of a wire grid polarizer can include a cap 22 on a reflective rib 21. The cap 22, with dimensions and material as specified herein, can protect the reflective rib 21 from corrosion and can improve performance of the wire grid polarizer. The cap 22 can be located on the distal end 21d and the pair of sidewalls 21S of the reflective rib 21. Cap 22 chemistry can include CO, C?O, COO, aluminum fluoride, and aluminum oxide. Each cap 22 can have a maximum thickness ThCS on the sidewall 21S of the reflective rib 21 in an upper 50% (above plane 31) of the wire 12 farthest from the substrate 11. Each cap 22 can have a maximum thickness ThCS on the sidewall 21S that is greater than a maximum thickness ThCD of the cap 22 on the distal end 21d.

Abstract: An x-ray window can include an adhesive layer sandwiched between and providing a hermetic seal between a thin film and a housing. The adhesive layer can include liquid crystal polymer. The liquid crystal polymer can be opaque, gas-tight, made of low atomic number elements, able to withstand high temperature, low outgassing, low leakage, able to relieve stress in the x-ray window thin film, capable of bonding to many different materials, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of making a polarizer can include applying a liquid with solid inorganic nanoparticles dispersed throughout a continuous phase, then forming this into a different phase including a solid, interconnecting network of the inorganic nanoparticles. This method can improve manufacturability and reducing manufacturing cost. This method can be used to provide an antireflective coating, to provide a protective coating on polarization structures, to provide thin films for optical properties, or to form the polarization structures themselves.

Abstract: In an x-ray source, an isolation circuit can isolate bias voltage at a cathode from a bias voltage at an alternating current source (AC source). The isolation circuit can transfer alternating current from the AC source to the cathode. The isolation circuit can be made repeatedly with minimal variation or failed parts, can be light, and can be small. The isolation circuit can include planar transformer(s). Each planar transformer can include a primary trace on a primary circuit board and a secondary trace on a secondary circuit board. The primary trace and the secondary trace can each include a spiral shape. The primary trace can be located in close proximity to the secondary trace such that alternating electrical current through the primary trace will induce alternating electrical current through the secondary trace.