Use of tapered Pyrex capillary tubes to increase the mechanical stability of multiwall carbon nanotubes field emitters

Proof‐of‐concept for a thin conical X‐ray target optimized for intensity and directionality for use in a carbon nanotube‐based compact X‐ray tube

“…Specific to X‐ray tubes that use pulsed radiation, cold cathodes provide fine, instantaneous control over the tube current via the applied electric field strength, allowing for high frequency duty cycles and precise intensity modulation 1,4,5 . The advent of the carbon nanotube (CNT)‐based field emitting cathode with its superior mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties has provided great advancements in electronic current stability, current density, mechanical stability, cathode lifetime, and spatial uniformity, as well as reduced fabrication complexity, required vacuum level, and threshold emission voltage 1–4,6–8 …”

“…1,4,5 The advent of the carbon nanotube (CNT)-based field emitting cathode with its superior mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties has provided great advancements in electronic current stability, current density, mechanical stability, cathode lifetime, and spatial uniformity, as well as reduced fabrication complexity, required vacuum level, and threshold emission voltage. [1][2][3][4][6][7][8] The benefits of the CNT "cold cathode" have prompted research and commercialization of miniaturized X-ray tubes.Applications of CNT-based X-ray tubes include electronic brachytherapy, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), and certain imaging techniques. 1,9 A comprehensive review of miniature X-ray tubes can be found from Filip et.…”