X-ray radiography with highly charged ions
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorRoscoe E. Marrs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An extremely small (1-250 micron FWHM) beam of slow highly charged ions deexciting on an x-ray production target generates x-ray monochromatic radiation that is passed through a specimen and detected for imaging. The resolution of the x-ray radiograms is improved and such detection is achieved with relatively low dosages of radiation passing through the specimen. An apparatus containing an electron beam ion trap (and modifications thereof) equipped with a focusing column serves as a source of ions that generate radiation projected onto an image detector. Electronic and other detectors are able to detect an increased amount of radiation per pixel than achieved by previous methods and apparati.
Claims52
A radiographic imaging device comprising:
- a source of x-ray radiation generated from the deexcitation of slow highly charged ions at the surface of a target;
- and
- a detector for detecting said x-ray radiation from said source subsequent to said radiation passing through a specimen.
A radiographic imaging device comprising:
- a target for impingement by slow highly charged ions;
- a source of said slow highly charged ions that are capable of deexcitation at a surface of said target to generate x-ray monochromatic radiation and said source adapted for focusing a spot size of said radiation from about 10 to about 100 microns, full width at half maximum (FWHM);
- and
- an imaging detector for detecting said x-ray monochromatic radiation from said target subsequent to said radiation passing through a specimen.
A radiographic imaging device comprising:
- a source of a beam of slow highly charged ions from an electron beam ion source or trap;
- a focusing column for reducing a spot size of said beam;
- a target upon which said ions of said beam deexcite to generate x-ray monochromatic radiation;
- and
- an imaging detector for detecting said x-ray monochromatic radiation emitted from said target subsequent to said radiation passing through a specimen.
A method for producing a radiographic image, said method comprising:
- (1) positioning a specimen for exposure;
- (2) exposing said specimen to radiation generated from the deexcitation of slow highly charged ions;
- (3) detecting said radiation subsequently to said radiation passing through at least a portion of said specimen.
A method for producing a radiographic image, said method comprising:
- (1) positioning a specimen for exposure;
- (2) exposing said specimen to a predetermined x-ray monochromatic radiation generated from the deexcitation of slow highly charged ions and having a spot size from about 10 to about 100 microns;
- (3) detecting said radiation with a electronic digital imaging detector subsequently to said radiation passing through at least a portion of said specimen.
An ion beam focussing apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving an ion beam having a flux greater than 10.sup.8 ions per second;
- at least one lens for focusing said ion beam to a spot size of less than 100 microns FWHM;
- and
- means for projecting said ion beam to a target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.