Liquid metal anode x-ray tubes: interesting, but are they useful?

Geoffrey Harding

doi:10.1117/12.561615

26 October 2004 Liquid metal anode x-ray tubes: interesting, but are they useful?

Geoffrey Harding

Proceedings Volume 5541, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications VI; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.561615
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

An analysis is presented of factors affecting the specific loadability (W mm^-2 K^-1) of electron impact liquid metal anode x-ray sources (LIMAX). It is shown that in general, the limit to loadability is set by energy deposited in the electron window by inelastic electron scattering. Removal of this energy through convection cooling by the liquid metal stream represents the least efficient thermal transport process in LIMAX. As the electron window energy loss is approximately inversely proportional to the electron beam energy, the power loadability of a LIMAX source operated under otherwise constant conditions scales roughly with the square of the tube voltage. A comparison of the loadability of the liquid metal anode x-ray concept to conventional stationary anode x-ray tubes demonstrates the superiority of the former. The utility of LIMAX-based computed tomography in the field of air cargo container inspection is briefly discussed. In particular its characteristics relative to linac-based air cargo container inspection are highlighted: these include a higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR); compact radiation shielding and collimation; reduced detector cross-talk; improved image contrast; and the possibility of combining container CT with material-specific alarm resolution capability based on x-ray diffraction tomography.

Citation Download Citation

Geoffrey Harding "Liquid metal anode x-ray tubes: interesting, but are they useful?", Proc. SPIE 5541, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications VI, (26 October 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.561615

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
10 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Liquids

Metals

Electron beams

X-rays

Convection

Diffusion

Sensors

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years