Carbon nanotube based microfocus field emission x-ray source for microcomputed tomography
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 (United States)
Microcomputed tomography is now widely used for in vivo small animal imaging for cancer studies. Achieving high imaging quality of live objects requires the x-ray source to have both high spatial and temporal resolutions. Preliminary studies have shown that carbon nanotube (CNT) based field emission x-ray source has significant intrinsic advantages over the conventional thermionic x-ray tube including better temporal resolution and programmability. Here we report the design and characterization of a CNT based field emission x-ray source that also affords a high spatial resolution. The device uses modified asymmetric Einzel lenses for electron focusing and an elliptical shaped CNT cathode patterned by photolithography. Stable and small isotropic x-ray focal spot sizes were obtained.
- OSTI ID:
- 20883217
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 89, Issue 10; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2345829; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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