Method and apparatus for generating X-ray
AssigneeJapan Science and Technology Agency
InventorsKoji Hatanaka, Hiroshi Fukumura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus for generating X-rays in which continuous X-rays can be generated by irradiating a focused laser in the air using a liquid as a target, thereby generating plasma. A high concentration electrolyte aqueous solution, such as CsCl and RbCl, is circulated by means of a pump (2) and the surface of a jet of high concentration electrolyte aqueous solution injected from a glass nozzle (3) is exposed to an irradiation of focused femtosecond laser pulse (6) via an objective lens (7), thereby generating X-ray pulses.
Claims4
A method of generating X-rays comprising the steps of:
- generating a continuously downward flow of an electrolyte aqueous solution in air;
- irradiating the flow of the electrolyte aqueous solution with a focused femtosecond laser pulse via an objective lens so as to generate a plasma, thus generating continuous white X-rays of about 3–40 keV as bremsstrahlung due to loss of energy occurring mainly when an electron orbit is bent by ions;
- and
- circulating upward electrolyte aqueous solution accumulated on a downside from a point of plasma generation by means of a pump.
An apparatus for generating X-rays, comprising:
- (a) a unit configured to supply a flow of an electrolyte aqueous solution in air;
- (b) a pump configured to circulate the electrolyte aqueous solution;
- (c) a unit configured to irradiate a focused femtosecond laser via an objective lens onto the flow of the electrolyte aqueous solution in the air;
- and
- (d) a unit configured to allow plasma to be generated in the electrolyte aqueous solution thereby generating continuous white X-rays of about 3–40 keV as bremsstrahlung due to loss of energy occurring mainly when an electron orbit is bent by ions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.