David A Kerns

US Patent:

63339684, Dec 25, 2001

Filed:

May 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/566239

Inventors:

Robert R. Whitlock - Bethesda MD
Michael I. Bell - Rockville MD
David V. Kerns - Waltham MA
Sherra Kerns - Waltham MA
Jimmy L. Davidson - Brentwood TN
Weng Poo Kang - Nashville TN

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01J 912

US Classification:

378136

Abstract:

The transmission cathode for X-ray generation is a device wherein an electrical current generated by a low voltage power supply produces an electron flow from the transmission cathode that is accelerated by a high voltage power supply towards an anode where X rays are emitted on impact. As the X rays are emitted, a primary beam passes through the cathode striking a sample placed outside the tube. The transmission cathode is X comprised of an electron emitter structure, preferably, an electron field emitter diode or thermionic emitter or a photoemitter or a nanotube or a pyroemitter or a piezoemitter, fabricated, preferably of elements of atomic numbers of 14 (silicon) or below, with electrically conductive components or conductive mechanical structural components, preferably, conductive silicon or diamond or aluminum or beryllium metal, and non-conductive electrical insulators or non-conductive mechanical structural components, preferably, diamond or silicon dioxide or boron carbide. The transmission cathode is transmissive to those X rays that freely flow through the transmission cathode.