Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray source comprising an electron source (1) for the emission of electrons (E), a target (4) for the emission of characteristic, substantially monochromatic X-rays (C) in response to the incidence of the electrons (E) and an outcoupling means (11) for outcoupling of the X-rays. To achieve characteristic, substantially monochromatic X-rays with a high power loadability electrons are incident on a metal foil (5) of a thickness of less than 10 ?m and a base arrangement (7, 12) is arranged wherein the metal of said metal foil (5) has a high atomic number allowing the generation of X-rays (C) and the material substantially included in the base arrangement (7, 12) has a low atomic number not allowing the generation of X-rays (C).

Abstract: In conventional material discrimination, for example in baggage inspection, the attenuation coefficient of an item of baggage is used to identify the material in the baggage. However, the result can be ambiguous since there are often dangerous and non-dangerous materials having the same attenuation coefficient. According to the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided combining the information obtained from CT and Coherent Scatter Computed Tomography to better determine whether there are dangerous materials in the baggage or not. Hence, according to the present invention the attenuation coefficient and the diffraction pattern of the item of baggage are used to determine whether the baggage can be cleared or not.

Abstract: A secondary collimator for an X-ray scattering device with horizontal plates and vertical plates arranged perpendicular thereto, the vertical plates being arranged parallel to one another and being inclined by a pre-determinable scattering angle to a transmission direction of an X-ray beam, and the horizontal plates being aligned fan-shaped onto a single point, namely to the X-ray source, and the horizontal plates with the vertical plates forming a rectangular grid with the vertical plates and being combined to form a collimator unit. Moreover, the invention relates to an X-ray scattering device for baggage check with an X-ray source, with a primary collimator which only lets through a fan beam, with a secondary collimator for projecting an area of an item of luggage and with a scattering detector, the secondary collimator being arranged between the item of luggage to be examined and the scattering detector and being developed as mentioned above.

Abstract: In a solution polymerization process the increase in gel content in the solution at one or more locations may be detected by monitoring the structure of a spectrum obtained by analyzing the reaction at said one or more locations using a spectrometer selected from the group consisting of infrared spectrometers, near infrared spectrometers and Raman spectrometers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating X-rays (57). The device comprises a source (7) for emitting electrons (53) and a liquid metal for emitting X-rays as a result of the incidence of electrons. The device further comprises a displacing member (11) for displacing the liquid metal through an impingement position (55) where the electrons emitted by the source impinge upon the liquid metal. As a result of the flow of liquid metal through the impingement position the heat, which is generated in the impingement position as a result of the incidence of the electrons upon the liquid metal, is transported away from the impingement position. According to the invention, the displacing member (11) has a contact surface (61), which is in contact with the liquid metal in the impingement position (55), and a driving member (31) for moving the contact surface in a direction which, in the impingement position, is substantially parallel to the contact surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for measuring the pulse transmission spectrum of X-ray quanta that are elastically scattered in an examination zone for containers according to the preamble of claim 1. Corresponding systems that are based on the principle of examination with coherent scattered radiation are known from the prior art and from our previous application EP 11 06 227. These systems are problematic in that the electronic system required for controlling the X-ray capacity of the different focal points is too complicated and the measuring time is relatively long as only one focus is active at a time. This results in a low detection efficiency as the voxel geometry allows for non-scanned areas so that objects looked for in the container can be overlooked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating X-rays (31). The device has a source (5) for emitting electrons (27) accommodated in a vacuum space (3). The X-rays are emitted by a liquid metal as a result of the incidence of the electrons. The liquid metal flows through a constriction (13) where the electrons emitted by the source impinge upon the liquid metal. The constriction is bounded by a thin window (23), which is made from a material which is transparent to electrons and X-rays and which separates the liquid metal in the constriction from the vacuum space.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray source which is provided with a liquid metal target (3) which flows through a system of ducts (6) and is conducted through a duct section (8) whose flow cross-section is reduced relative to that of the system of ducts. The X-ray source is characterized notably in that there is provided a pressure source (12, 13; 14; 16) for acting on the liquid metal target (3) in such a manner that in the operating condition of the X-ray source the pressure in the liquid metal target (3) at the area of the reduced flow cross-section equals essentially a selectable reference value (Ps) or remains essentially in a pressure range between selectable limit values (Ps1, Ps2) of the pressure. A comparatively small thickness of a window which is transparent to an electron beam can thus be realized in conjunction with a comparatively high flow speed, that is, without having to accept the risk of cavitations. The invention also relates to an X-ray apparatus provided with an X-ray source of this kind.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus which includes a scanning unit which is rotatable, relative to an examination zone (13), around an axis of rotation (14) which extends through the examination zone (13), and also includes a radiation source (S) for generating a primary fan beam (41) which traverses the examination zone (13), and a two-dimensional detector array (D) which includes a plurality of detector elements and a part of the measuring surface of which detects primary radiation from the primary fan beam (41) whereas an other part of its measuring surface detects scattered radiation produced in the examination zone (13). In order to avoid reconstruction artefacts as much as possible in a computed tomography apparatus of this kind, in accordance with the invention it is proposed to arrange a modulation unit (33) between the radiation source (S) and the examination zone (13) in order to realize a temporally and spatially periodic modulation of the primary fan beam (41).

Abstract: A baggage inspection device based on coherent x-ray scatter has an x-ray source on one side of the scanning area and detectors on the other side of the scanning area. The detectors measure the energy of the scattered x-ray quanta. A primary ray collimator is arranged between scanning area and x-ray source. A secondary ray collimator for scattered rays is arranged between scanning area and detectors. The detectors are positioned on a Z axis forming an axis of symmetry for the secondary ray collimator. A point 0 on the Z axis forms the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system. The primary ray collimator allows passage only of x-ray beams impinging on the point 0. The x-ray source has an extended anode with a focus position controlled electronically about the anode length. Primary ray collimator and x-ray source extend cylindrically symmetrically about the symmetry axis or parallel to the Y axis in the X-Y plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for generating X-rays upon incidence of electrons (4), which arrangement includes a liquid metal zone (7) in which a liquid metal (9) is provided as an X-ray target in such a manner that it can flow past a zone of electron incidence (8). In order to allow a pump of reduced capacity to be employed in such a device in order to provide the movement of the liquid metal, in accordance with the invention it is proposed to realize a pressure zone (10) which is separate from the liquid metal zone (7) and is provided with a pressure medium (11) in such a manner that the pressure medium (11) can exert a pressure on the liquid metal (9) present in the liquid metal zone (7) in order to force the liquid metal (9) past the zone of electron incidence (8), the pressure zone (10) being provided with a pressure accumulator (R3) which can be replenished in order to apply the pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a window transparent to electron rays comprising a foil (1, 10, 300a) transparent to electron rays and separated from a carrier substrate as well as a retaining element (2, 300b) for supporting a peripheral region of the foil transparent to electron rays in the operational state, which retaining element (2, 300b) is made of a material which has a linear thermal expansion coefficient which matches the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the foil material. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a window transparent to electron rays and an X-ray device with such a window.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating X-rays (57). The device comprises a source (7) for emitting electrons (53) and a liquid metal for emitting X-rays as a result of the incidence of electrons. The device further comprises a displacing member (11) for displacing the liquid metal through an impingement position (55) where the electrons emitted by the source impinge upon the liquid metal. As a result of the flow of liquid metal through the impingement position the heat, which is generated in the impingement position as a result of the incidence of the electrons upon the liquid metal, is transported away from the impingement position.

Abstract: A window transparent to electron rays is provided which includes a foil which is transparent to electron rays and an element for supporting a peripheral region of the foil in an operational state. The element is made from a material having a greater linear thermal expansion coefficient than the foil material. The window transparent includes an intermediate layer between the foil and a retaining element. The retaining element acts as a support element and consists of a material having a linear thermal expansion coefficient which is equal or similar to the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the foil material and smaller than the linear thermal expansion coefficient of the material of the retaining element over a processing temperature range. A method of manufacturing a window which is transparent to electrons and an X-ray device with a window transparent to electrons are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray source for generating substantially monochromatic fluorescent X-rays by means of a primary and a secondary target. The radiation source is characterized in that the primary target (10) is a liquid metal or a liquid metal alloy which is conducted between a first window (2) which is transparent to an electron beam and a second window (6) which is transparent to X-rays and is adjoined by the secondary target (11) in such a manner that the electrons which are incident on the primary target via the first window produce X-rays which have a maximum energy which corresponds essentially to an absorption edge of the secondary target when they reach the secondary target, so that substantially monochromatic fluorescent X-rays are excited in the secondary target.

Abstract: A baggage inspection device based on coherent x-ray scatter has an x-ray source on one side of the scanning area and detectors on the other side of the scanning area. The detectors measure the energy of the scattered x-ray quanta. A primary ray collimator is arranged between scanning area and x-ray source. A secondary ray collimator for scattered rays is arranged between scanning area and detectors. The detectors are positioned on a Z axis forming an axis of symmetry for the secondary ray collimator. A point 0 on the Z axis forms the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system. The primary ray collimator allows passage only of x-ray beams impinging on the point 0. The x-ray source has an extended anode with a focus position controlled electronically about the anode length. Primary ray collimator and x-ray source extend cylindrically symmetrically about the symmetry axis or parallel to the Y axis in the X-Y plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for generating X-rays upon incidence of electrons (4), which arrangement includes a liquid metal zone (7) in which a liquid metal (9) is provided as an X-ray target in such a manner that it can flow past a zone of electron incidence (8). In order to allow a pump of reduced capacity to be employed in such a device in order to provide the movement of the liquid metal, in accordance with the invention it is proposed to realize a pressure zone (10) which is separate from the liquid metal zone (7) and is provided with a pressure medium (11) in such a manner that the pressure medium (11) can exert a pressure on the liquid metal (9) present in the liquid metal zone (7) in order to force the liquid metal (9) past the zone of electron incidence (8), the pressure zone (10) being provided with a pressure accumulator (R3) which can be replenished in order to apply the pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an X-ray source that is provided with a liquid metal target and an electron source (3) for the emission of an electron beam (4) through a window (23) of a duct section (51) wherethrough the liquid metal target flows in the operating condition. The X-ray source is notably characterized in that the duct section (51) is formed by a first duct segment (10, 20) that includes the window (23) and wherethrough the liquid metal target flows, and by a second duct segment (30, 40) wherethrough a cooling medium flows and which is connected to the first duct segment in such a manner that the area in which the electron beam acts on the first duct segment is cooled.

Abstract: A computed tomography apparatus includes a scanning unit which is rotatable relative to an examination zone, about an axis of rotation extending through the examination zone, a radiation source for generating a radiation beam, a diaphragm arrangement which is arranged between the radiation source and the examination zone in order to form a fan beam traversing the examination zone from the radiation beam, and a two-dimensional detector arrangement including a plurality of detector elements and a part of the measuring surface of which detects primary radiation from the fan beam whereas another part of its measuring surface detects scattered radiation produced in the examination zone. Perfect acquisition of the momentum transfer spectrum is achieved in that a collimator arrangement with a plurality of lamellas is arranged between the examination zone and the detector arrangement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a computed tomography apparatus which includes a scanning unit which is rotatable, relative to an examination zone (13), around an axis of rotation (14) which extends through the examination zone (13), and also includes a radiation source (S) for generating a primary fan beam (41) which traverses the examination zone (13), and a two-dimensional detector array (D) which includes a plurality of detector elements and a part of the measuring surface of which detects primary radiation from the primary fan beam (41) whereas an other part of its measuring surface detects scattered radiation produced in the examination zone (13). In order to avoid reconstruction artefacts as much as possible in a computed tomography apparatus of this kind, in accordance with the invention it is proposed to arrange a modulation unit (33) between the radiation source (S) and the examination zone (13) in order to realize a temporally and spatially periodic modulation of the primary fan beam (41).