Submicrosecond, synchronizable x-ray source
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorRobert R. Whitlock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In the submicrosecond, synchronizable x-ray source a high intensity pulsed laser is focused onto a negatively biased laser target, at high irradiance in a vacuum, producing high temperature plasma from which electrons are emitted. The emitted electrons are accelerated in a electric field formed by impressing a potential difference across a laser target-electron target gap. The positively biased electron target collects the emitted electrons, which upon impact with the electron target cause x-rays to be emitted synchronously with the incident laser pulse.
Claims17
A synchronizable x-ray source for generating x-rays within a vacuum housing that are collected upon a sample, comprising:
- a laser source capable of generating a high irradiance laser light;
- a means for receiving the high irradiance laser light within the vacuum chamber to generate plasma emissions;
- means for receiving said plasma emissions to generate x-rays;
- and
- means for allowing said x-rays to exit said vacuum housing to be collected by said sample.
A synchronizable x-ray source for generating x-rays that are collected upon a sample comprised of:
- vacuum housing;
- laser source generating a pulsed laser beam projected into the vacuum housing;
- laser target within the vacuum housing from which plasma electrons are emitted when the pulsed laser beam strikes the laser target;
- electron target within the vacuum housing for collecting the plasma electrons emitted from the laser target and causing x-rays to be emitted that are synchronized with the laser beam pulses;
- and
- a sample window through which the x-rays pass to be collected upon the sample.
A synchronizable x-ray source for generating x-rays that are collected upon a sample comprised of:
- vacuum housing;
- laser source generating a pulsed laser beam with a power of 10.sup.9 watts/cm.sup.2 projected into the vacuum housing;
- laser target within the vacuum housing from which plasma electrons are emitted when the pulsed laser beam strikes the laser target;
- electron target within the vacuum housing for collecting the plasma electrons emitted from the laser target and causing x-rays to be emitted that are synchronized with the laser beam pulses;
- and
- a sample window through which the x-rays pass to be collected upon the sample.
A method for producing x-rays comprising the steps of:
- focusing a high intensity synchronizable laser beam onto a laser target within a vacuum housing thereby producing electron-emitting ablation plasma;
- generating electron emissions from the plasma when the laser beam strikes the laser target;
- collecting the electrons on an electron target;
- emitting x-rays from the electron target when the emitted electrons strike the electron target;
- and
- collecting the x-rays on a sample.
A synchronizable x-ray source, for generating x-rays collected upon a sample comprised of:
- vacuum housing;
- first electrical power source for generating a pulsed electrical current;
- electrical conductor inside of said vacuum housing having a gap in said conductor;
- electrical conductor means across the gap in the first electrical conductor for conducting the pulsed electrical current so as to generate a flow of plasma electrons when the pulsed electrical current flows through the electrical conductor means;
- electron target within the vacuum housing for collecting the plasma electrons emitted from the electrical conductor means and causing x-rays to be emitted that are synchronized with the pulsed electrical current;
- second power supply for producing a static electrical field potential between the second electrical current conductor and electron target for accelerating the plasma electrons;
- and
- sample window through which the x-rays pass.
A method for producing x-rays comprising the steps of:
- generating a capacitively discharged high current electrical pulse across a gap in an electrical conductor containing a electrical conductor means within a vacuum vessel to generate a flow of plasma electrons;
- impressing a static field potential across the separation between the electrical conductor means and a positively biased electron target to accelerate the flow of the plasma electrons to the electron target;
- collecting the plasma electrons on the positively biased electron target;
- emitting x-rays from the electron target when the plasma electrons strike the electron target;
- and,
- allowing the x-rays to pass outside of the vacuum vessel through a sample window to be collected by a sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.