Same X-Ray Spot Size - 10 Times the Power!
X-rays are produced when an electron beam strikes a metal anode. However, only a small fraction, typically less than 1%, of the kinetic energy of the electron beam is transformed into x-rays. The rest of the energy is converted into heat.
A conventional microfocus x-ray source utilizes a solid metal plate as target for the electron beam. If the power load on the metal plate exceeds ~1 W/μm, i.e. 1 W of electron beam power per micrometer of beam diameter, the anode melts and the x-ray source is damaged.
Excillum has developed a metal-jet anode that has the capacity to sustain power loads of ~10 W/μm. This revolutionary electron beam target concept makes it possible to reduce exposure times by a factor of ten, which drastically increases throughput and thus saves time and money for the end user.
Additional information about the basic principles and source characteristics of the Excillum microfocus x-ray source can be found in these two articles published by the research group at the Royal Institute of Technology:
Phase-contrast x-ray imaging with a liquid-metal-jet-anode microfocus sourceAppl. Phys. Lett. 91, 074104 (2007)
A 9 keV electron-impact liquid-gallium-jet x-ray source
Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, 016102 (2008)
Copyright 2008 American Institute of Physics. These articles may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and the American Institute of Physics.
The original articles appeared in "Tuohimaa et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 074104 (2007)" and "Otendal et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, 016102 (2008)", and may be found at Tuohimaa et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 91, 074104 (2007) and Otendal et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 79, 016102 (2008)
