X-ray beam generation system using a lead-bismuth alloy

A system for generating X-ray beams from a liquid target, comprising:

• a vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum chamber comprises an X-ray exit window;
• a thin diamond window assembly, wherein the thin diamond window assembly is positioned within the vacuum chamber;
• an electron source, wherein the electron source emits an electron beam towards the thin diamond window assembly, wherein the electron source is positioned within the vacuum chamber and the electron beam is aligned with the thin diamond window assembly;
• a target material flow system, wherein a molten alloy comprising lead and bismuth which is in thermal communication with a temperature control unit of the target material flow system passes into and out of the vacuum chamber along a pipeline of the target material flow system, wherein the molten alloy is a dynamic target material of the target material flow system, wherein the target material flow system includes a heating coil wrapped around the reservoir, the pump, and the pipeline;
• wherein the thin diamond window assembly is integrated into the target material flow system, wherein the beam of electrons contacts the dynamic target material through a diamond sheet of the thin diamond window assembly;
• the thin diamond window assembly being angularly positioned to the electron beam, wherein the thin diamond window assembly allows the electron beam to pass through and collide with the dynamic target material to generate an X-ray beam, wherein the angular positioning of the thin diamond window assembly allows the generated X-rays to be emitted towards the X-ray exit window;
• an X-ray detector/imager, wherein the X-ray detector/imager is positioned externally and adjacent the vacuum chamber;
• wherein the X-ray detector/imager is positioned perpendicular to a projection path of the electron beam from the electron source and is linearly aligned with the X-ray exit window;
• and
• the X-ray detector/imager being aligned with the X-ray exit window, wherein the electron source, the diamond window, the target material flow system and the X-ray exit window are positioned with respect to each other so that an X-ray beam generated at the thin diamond window assembly passes through the X-ray exit window toward the X-ray detector/imager passing through an imaging subject, and
• wherein the X-ray detector/imager is a solid state array detector.