Abstract: A flat emitter configured for use in an X-ray tube is presented. The X-ray tube includes a first conductive section including a first terminal. Further, the X-ray tube includes a second conductive section including a second terminal. Also, the X-ray tube includes a third conductive section disposed between the first conductive section and the second conductive section, wherein the third conductive section is configured to emit electrons toward a determined focal spot, and wherein the third conductive section includes a plurality of slits subdividing the third conductive section into a winding track coupled to the first conductive section and the second conductive section, wherein at least two of the plurality of slits are interwound spirally to compose the winding track, and wherein the winding track is configured to expand and contract based on heat provided to the third conductive section.

Abstract: A well integrity inspection system configured to inspect a well structure including multiple concentric layers. The well integrity inspection system includes an inspection probe positioned in the well structure. The inspection probe includes a plurality of excitation assemblies for transmitting a plurality of radiation emissions into the well structure. The plurality of excitation assemblies includes at least a neutron excitation assembly and an X-ray excitation assembly. The inspection probe also includes a plurality of detection assemblies configured to receive a plurality of backscatter radiation returns from the well structure. The plurality of detection assemblies includes at least a neutron detection assembly and an X-ray detection assembly. The well integrity inspection system further including a processor operatively coupled to the inspection probe.

Abstract: An X-ray tube assembly is provided including an emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an emitter focusing electrode, an extraction electrode, and a downstream focusing electrode. The emitter focusing electrode is disposed proximate to the emitter and outward of the emitter in an axial direction. The extraction electrode is disposed downstream of the emitter and the emitter focusing electrode. The extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage setting at which the extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage with respect to the emitter. The downstream focusing electrode is disposed downstream of the extraction electrode, and has a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter. When the extraction electrode is at the negative bias voltage setting, the electron beam is emitted from an emission area that is smaller than a maximum emission area from which electrons may be emitted.

Abstract: An X-ray tube assembly includes an electron beam transport tube, a beam tube protection assembly, and a control module. The electron beam transport tube includes an opening configured for passage of an electron beam, and includes an inner surface bounding the opening along a length of the electron beam transport tube. The beam tube protection assembly includes a plurality of beam protection electrode segments disposed within the opening of the electron beam transport tube and configured to protect the inner surface of the electron beam transport tube from contact with the electron beam. The control module is configured to determine a direction of the electron beam responsive to information received from the beam tube protection assembly.

Abstract: An X-ray tube assembly is provided including an emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an emitter focusing electrode, an extraction electrode, and a downstream focusing electrode. The emitter focusing electrode is disposed proximate to the emitter and outward of the emitter in an axial direction. The extraction electrode is disposed downstream of the emitter and the emitter focusing electrode. The extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage setting at which the extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage with respect to the emitter. The downstream focusing electrode is disposed downstream of the extraction electrode, and has a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter. When the extraction electrode is at the negative bias voltage setting, the electron beam is emitted from an emission area that is smaller than a maximum emission area from which electrons may be emitted.

Abstract: An X-ray tube assembly includes an electron beam transport tube, a beam tube protection assembly, and a control module. The electron beam transport tube includes an opening configured for passage of an electron beam, and includes an inner surface bounding the opening along a length of the electron beam transport tube. The beam tube protection assembly includes a plurality of beam protection electrode segments disposed within the opening of the electron beam transport tube and configured to protect the inner surface of the electron beam transport tube from contact with the electron beam. The control module is configured to determine a direction of the electron beam responsive to information received from the beam tube protection assembly.

Abstract: A multiple spot x-ray generator is provided that includes a plurality of electron generators. Each electron generator includes an emitter element to emit an electron beam, a meshed grid adjacent each emitter element to enhance an electric field at a surface of the emitter element, and a focusing element positioned to receive the electron beam from each of the emitter elements and focus the electron beam to form a focal spot on a shielded target anode, the shielded target anode structure producing an array of x-ray focal spots when impinged by electron beams generated by the plurality of electron generators. The plurality of electron generators are arranged to form an electron generator matrix that includes activation connections electrically connected to the plurality of electron generators, wherein each electron generator is connected to a pair of the activation connections to receive an electric potential therefrom.

Abstract: A system for controlling a gas load imposed upon a high vacuum chamber includes a first chamber enclosing a high vacuum and positioned within an ambient environment, a second chamber enclosing a gas and positioned within the ambient environment adjacent to the first chamber, and a rotatable shaft having a first portion extending into the first chamber and a second portion extending into the second chamber. A ferrofluid seal is positioned about the rotatable shaft and positioned between the first portion and the second portion and the ferrofluid seal fluidically separates the first chamber from the second chamber. A control unit is attached to the second chamber and configured to control the gas enclosed in the second chamber such that a gas load in the first chamber is reduced.

Abstract: An x-ray tube is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes an anode assembly adapted to rotate generally about a rotational axis. The anode assembly includes a first target surface at least partially disposed at a first angle greater than 70 degrees with respect to the rotational axis and a second target surface at least partially disposed at a second angle greater than 70 degrees with respect to the rotational axis. The first target surface is adapted to emit a first x-ray beam and the second target surface is adapted to emit a second x-ray beam. A CT system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple spot x-ray generator is provided that includes a plurality of electron generators. Each electron generator includes an emitter element to emit an electron beam, a meshed grid adjacent each emitter element to enhance an electric field at a surface of the emitter element, and a focusing element positioned to receive the electron beam from each of the emitter elements and focus the electron beam to form a focal spot on a shielded target anode, the shielded target anode structure producing an array of x-ray focal spots when impinged by electron beams generated by the plurality of electron generators. The plurality of electron generators are arranged to form an electron generator matrix that includes activation connections electrically connected to the plurality of electron generators, wherein each electron generator is connected to a pair of the activation connections to receive an electric potential therefrom.

Abstract: A system for mitigating a gas load imposed upon a high vacuum chamber, thereby reducing the overall pressure, includes a device mounted onto a rotating gantry. The device has a first chamber enclosing a high vacuum and a first region in which anode bearings are positioned. A rotatable shaft has a first portion extending into the first chamber and a second portion extending into the first region. A ferrofluid seal is positioned about the rotatable shaft and positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the ferrofluid seal fluidically separating the first chamber from the first region. At least one pressure-reducing unit is fluidically connected to the first chamber.

Abstract: Systems and methods for highly collimated and temporally variable X-ray beams. Disclosed herein is a system for producing a collimated X-ray beam, the system including one or more distributed electron sources configured to produce electron beams, one or more X-ray production targets configured to receive the electron beams and to generate X-ray beams at X-ray focal spots, X-ray optics configured to collect the X-ray beams from the X-ray focal spots, wherein the X-rays optics are configured to focus the X-ray beams to a single virtual focal spot, and an X-ray collimator configured to collimate the X-ray beams from the virtual focal spot to generate the collimated X-ray beam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating high frequency electromagnetic energy using a secondary emission electron source. An x-ray source is therefore provided having a primary electron emitter, a secondary emission member, and an anode. The primary electron emitter provides a primary electron current directed to the secondary emission member. The secondary emission member then generates a secondary electron current which causes x-ray generation when impinging upon the anode.

Abstract: A system for mitigating a gas load imposed upon a high vacuum chamber, thereby reducing the overall pressure, includes a device mounted onto a rotating gantry. The device has a first chamber enclosing a high vacuum and a first region in which anode bearings are positioned. A rotatable shaft has a first portion extending into the first chamber and a second portion extending into the first region. A ferrofluid seal is positioned about the rotatable shaft and positioned between the first portion and the second portion, the ferrofluid seal fluidically separating the first chamber from the first region. At least one pressure-reducing unit is fluidically connected to the first chamber.

Abstract: A system for controlling a gas load imposed upon a high vacuum chamber includes a first chamber enclosing a high vacuum and positioned within an ambient environment, a second chamber enclosing a gas and positioned within the ambient environment adjacent to the first chamber, and a rotatable shaft having a first portion extending into the first chamber and a second portion extending into the second chamber. A ferrofluid seal is positioned about the rotatable shaft and positioned between the first portion and the second portion and the ferrofluid seal fluidically separates the first chamber from the second chamber. A control unit is attached to the second chamber and configured to control the gas enclosed in the second chamber such that a gas load in the first chamber is reduced.

Abstract: A method includes receiving x-ray data from a detector, and responding substantially in real time to the received data by controlling an object's exposure to x-rays.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided for various non-invasive medical and non-medical imaging. The imaging system includes a tunable X-ray source for emitting X-rays having a substantially monoenergetic spectrum and an energy discriminating detector for generating a detector output signal in response to the X-rays incident on the energy discriminating detector. The imaging system also includes a system controller comprising an X-ray controller for operating the tunable X-ray source and data acquisition circuitry for acquiring the detector output signal from the energy discriminating detector.

Abstract: A system for generating a tunable X-ray pulse comprises a first electron beam source configured to direct a first electron pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length towards a first interaction zone, a laser beam source configured to direct a first photon pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length towards the first interaction zone to interact with the first electron pulse. The first interaction produces a substantially monochromatic second photon pulse of higher photon energy directed towards a second interaction zone, and a second electron beam source configured to direct a second electron pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length towards the second interaction zone so that the second interaction produces an X-ray pulse of predetermined energy and pulse length in a cascaded inverse Compton scattering (ICS) configuration.

Abstract: A system and method for forming x-rays. One exemplary system includes a target and electron emission subsystem with a plurality of electron sources. Each of the plurality of electron sources is configured to generate a plurality of discrete spots on the target from which x-rays are emitted. Another exemplary system includes a target, an electron emission subsystem with a plurality of electron sources, each of which generates at least one of the plurality of spots on the target, and a transient beam protection subsystem for protecting the electron emission subsystem from transient beam currents, material emissions from the target, and electric field transients.

Abstract: A system and method for forming x-rays. One exemplary system includes a target and electron emission subsystem with a plurality of electron sources. Each of the plurality of electron sources is configured to generate a plurality of discrete spots on the target from which x-rays are emitted. Another exemplary system includes a target, an electron emission subsystem with a plurality of electron sources, each of which generates at least one of the plurality of spots on the target, and a transient beam protection subsystem for protecting the electron emission subsystem from transient beam currents and material emissions from the target.