Miniature X-ray source based on carbon nanotube field emission

Abstract

The invention discloses a miniature X-ray source based on carbon nanotube field emission. A field emission cathode is low in working temperature, is low in power consumption, is easy to achieve the miniaturization of the X-ray source, and is suitable for on-orbit calibration of an X-ray detector. There is no time delay on field electron emission, and a generated pulse X-ray is greatly high in temporal resolution. Moreover, the X-ray can be transmitted in a programmable manner, so the field electron emission is suitable for the calibration of time characteristics of the X-ray detector. The carbon nanotube field emission is high in efficiency, is stable in performance, and is longer in service life. Moreover, a stronger electron beam flow can be generated with no need of too high electric field intensity of a cathode surface. The operation that the electron beam generated by field emission impacts on a focal spot of an anode target can be controlled through a voltage of a focusing electrode, thereby improving the emission efficiency and stability of the X-ray. An emergent window is made of materials (Al) which are the same as the material of the anode target, achieves the monochromatization of the X-ray, and can be used for the calibration of the energy characteristics of the X-ray detector.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to the field of aerospace precision opto-mechanical technology, in particular to a carbon nanotube field emission-based miniature X-ray source, which is suitable for on-orbit calibration of X-ray pulsar navigation detectors. Background technique [0002] Detectors used in X-ray pulsar navigation and space science exploration must be calibrated on-orbit to verify whether the detector can work normally after entering orbit and whether the performance indicators of the detector have changed, and to calibrate on-orbit detection on a regular basis The key indicators of the sensor provide guarantee for the validity of the extracted on-orbit detection data. Regular calibration of the X-ray pulsar navigation detector by carrying a standard miniature X-ray source is one of the important methods of on-orbit calibration. The key indicators that need to be calibrated for various X-ray pulsar navigation detectors include: energy response matr...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Because the filament itself needs to consume a certain amount of energy, the power is relatively large, and the compact electron emission device is not conducive to heat loss. The hot filament undergoes long-term sublimation, oxidation and ion sputtering, which shortens the life of the X-ray tube and is not suitable for X-rays. On-orbit calibration of detectors

X-ray tubes using photocathode, because the photocathode requires additional lasers for excitation, there is additional energy consumption, and the structure and control of X-ray tubes are relatively complicated, and it is not suitable for on-orbit calibration of X-ray detectors

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