Field-emission-type x-ray source using carbon-nanofibers

An x-ray irradiation system of field-emission type has been constructed using carbon-nanofibers (CNFs) grown on a palladium wire that is 50 μm in diameter. The electron current emitted from the CNFs was approximately 1 mA and was stable within 10% for a long time t>5000 h. The electrons passing through a slit in the gate electrode were accelerated to the desired energy, and were made to impinge on the metal target (Ti, Cu, Mo, and W) for generating x rays. The x-rays transmitted through Be-window were characterized using energy analyzers and a dosimeter. At an acceleration voltage of Va=50 kV, the energy spectra of the x-rays were exclusively composed of characteristic signals except for the Mo-target, and the dose rates of x-rays were D=2.5-14 Gy/min, depending on the target metals. This system also provides sharp x-ray images of both biological and nonbiological materials