Photo emitter X-ray source array (PeXSA)

Abstract

A photo-emitter x-ray source is provided that includes a photocathode electron source, a laser light source, where the laser light source illuminates the photocathode electron source to emit electrons, and an X-ray target, where the emitted electrons are focused on the X-ray target, where the X-ray target emits X-rays. The photocathode electron source can include alkali halides (such as CsBr and CsI), semiconductors (such as GaAs, InP), and theses materials modified with rare Earth element (such as Eu) doping, electron beam bombardment, and X-ray irradiation, and has a form factor that includes planar, patterned, or optically patterned. The X-ray target includes a material such as tungsten, copper, rhodium or molybdenum. The laser light source is pulsed or configured by light modulators including acousto-optics, mode-locking, micro-mirror array, and liquid crystals, the photocathode electron source includes a nano-aperture or nano-particle arrays, where the nano-aperture is a C-aperture or a circular aperture.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.