X-ray source provided with a liquid metal target

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.