NanoTube N1 60 kV
The highest resolution home-lab X-ray source

The Excillum NanoTube N1 is based on advanced electron optics and the latest tungsten-diamond transmission target technology. Automatic e-beam focusing and astigmatism correction ensures that the smallest possible, truly round spot is achieved at any voltage and current setting.

The NanoTube N1 also has the unique feature that it internally measures and reports the current spot size. In addition, advanced cooling and thermal design results in extreme stability over long exposures. All in all, this enables an unprecedented true resolution of 150 nm lines and spaces.

Features and benefits

Superior spot quality with automatic e-beam focusing and astigmatism correction
Internal absolute spot size measurement
Tungsten-diamond transmission target
LaB₆ long-life cathode

Integrated cooling for ultimate spot stability
Wedge shaped front for excellent geometrical access to X-ray spot
Controlled through user friendly GUI or
remotely through TCP/IP protocol

Technical specifications

Voltage	10-60 kV	Best resolution	150 nm (lines and spaces e.g. JIMA)
Max. emitted power	6 W	Target material	Tungsten (W) on diamond
Max. power abosrbed in anode¹	5 W	Target type	Transmission
Min. focus-object distance	100 µm	Long term spot stability²	< 50 nm

1) Assuming cathode mounted for max performace in high flux mode. Max power depends on cathode configuration. Cathode mounted for optimal performance in high resolution mode would yield Max. power absorbed < 1 WHowever, maximum output power of the 70 kV high-voltage-generator is 300 W.
2) Standard deviation over several hours after initial warm-up.

Main components

X-ray source head
Central controller
High-voltage generator
Generator controller

Chiller
High-voltage and communication cable kit
Software with graphical user interface

Resolution examples

NanoTube Resolution example
Projection radiographs of the standard JIMA RT RC-04 150 nm (left) and 200 nm (right) resolution pattern captured using the NanoTube.

Examples of 150 and 200 nm lines and spaces on the standard JIMA RT RC-04
resolution chart clearly resolved.
From experiment in collaboration with Fraunhofer EZRT using a Si Timepix detector.

SEM micrograph of a siemens star on the left, and a projection radiograph captured using the NanoTube on the right.

The true round spot of the NanoTube is demonstrated by the highly symmetric images of a Siemens-star resolution target. The innermost features are 150 nm.
From experiment in collaboration with Fraunhofer IIS (NanoCT systems) using a Dectris PILATUS3 X CdTe 300K-W detector.

Positional stability example

Thanks to the advanced e-beam system of the NanoTube N1 and the integrated thermal control, excellent long term stability is achieved. This graph illustrates the motion of the image (in object coordinates) of the Siemens star mentioned above over 400 exposures during 11 h. It is worth noticing that this image motion also includes motion of the complete setup with sample, stages and detector etc., so that the actual motion of the X-ray spot is smaller.

Excellent geometrical access

The end of the transmission target is the most protruding surface to allow for a sample to get as close as possible to the X-ray focal spot.

The front is furthermore cone-shaped to allow for a sturdy cone-shaped sample holder.

Data sheet

NanoTube N1 60 kV

Some NanoTube N1 60 kV application areas

excillum-attenuation-contrast-imaging

excillum-phase-contrast-imaging-cut-image

excillum-xray-microscopy

More applications

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Scientific publications

NanoTube N1 60 kV The highest resolution home-lab X-ray source