APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING X-RAYS FOR USE IN IMAGING

Title:

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING X-RAYS FOR USE IN IMAGING

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/017645

Kind Code:

A3

Abstract:

An apparatus for producing x-rays for use in imaging applications is provided having a piezoelectric or pyroelecthc crystal with an upper surface and a conducting film coating the upper surface of the crystal. The crystal includes a plurality of field emitters formed as micrometer-scale exposed regions in the crystal having a one or more sharp peaks or ridges. In one embodiment, parallel trenches within the crystal form a wedge shaped emitter. The crystal is alternately heated and cooled over a period of several minutes with a heater/cooler adjacent the crystal so that spontaneous charge polarization occurs in the crystal. The spontaneous charge polarization causes a perpendicular electric field to arise on the crystal's top and bottom faces, in which case at the exposed surface of the crystal the electric field is enhanced by the sharp peaks or ridges, thereby causing field emission of surface electrons from that location. X-rays are produced when the emitted electrons strike a target material located adjacent to the emitting face, and may be filtered or collimated.

Inventors:

TRAVISH GIL (US)
YODER RODNEY B (US)
ROSENZWEIG JAMES (US)

Application Number:

PCT/US2010/044762

Publication Date:

June 09, 2011

Filing Date:

August 06, 2010

Export Citation:

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Assignee:

UNIV CALIFORNIA (US)
TRAVISH GIL (US)
YODER RODNEY B (US)
ROSENZWEIG JAMES (US)

International Classes:

H05G1/52; G01N23/20

Foreign References:

JP2004040121A	2004-02-05
JP2002075858A	2002-03-15
US20070202673A1	2007-08-30
JP2002134050A	2002-05-10

Other References: