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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Photoelectric X-ray tube

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5967734

An X-ray generating device is described, comprising: a vacuum envelope, the entire envelope being rotatable as a sealed unit about an axis, the envelope comprising: a metallic anode electrode having an X-ray emitting surface symmetric with respect to the axis, a photocathode electrode symmetric with respect to the axis spaced from and facing the anode; means for cooling the anode from outside the vacuum envelope including a heat conduction path from an exterior face of the envelope to the X-ray emitting surface; means for rotating the vacuum envelope about the axis comprising at least one axial bearing; means for focusing a beam of light from the stationary source outside the vacuum envelope through the window onto a first stationary region through which the photocathode is rotatable as the envelope is rotated by the means for rotating; and means for focusing a beam of photoelectrons from the first stationary region onto a second stationary region through which the X-ray emitting surface of the anode is rotatable as the envelope is rotated by the means for rotating.

Assignee:
Varian Associates, Inc., Palo Alto, CA
Patent Number(s):
US 4821305
OSTI ID:
5967734
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English