Small-animal tomography with a liquid-metal-jet x-ray source

D. H. Larsson; U. Lundström; U. Westermark; P. A. C. Takman; A. Burvall; M. Arsenian Henriksson; H. M. Hertz

doi:10.1117/12.910777

8 March 2012 Small-animal tomography with a liquid-metal-jet x-ray source

D. H. Larsson, U. Lundström, U. Westermark, P. A. C. Takman, A. Burvall, M. Arsenian Henriksson, H. M. Hertz

Proceedings Volume 8313, Medical Imaging 2012: Physics of Medical Imaging; 83130N (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910777
Event: SPIE Medical Imaging, 2012, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

X-ray tomography of small animals is an important tool for medical research. For high-resolution x-ray imaging of few-cm-thick samples such as, e.g., mice, high-brightness x-ray sources with energies in the few-10-keV range are required. In this paper we perform the first small-animal imaging and tomography experiments using liquid-metal-jet-anode x-ray sources. This type of source shows promise to increase the brightness of microfocus x-ray systems, but present sources are typically optimized for an energy of 9 keV. Here we describe the details of a high-brightness 24-keV electron-impact laboratory microfocus x-ray source based on continuous operation of a heated liquid-In/Ga-jet anode. The source normally operates with 40 W of electron-beam power focused onto the metal jet, producing a 7×7 μm² FWHM x-ray spot. The peak spectral brightness is 4 × 10⁹ photons / ( s × mm² × mrad² × 0.1%BW) at the 24.2 keV In K_α line. We use the new In/Ga source and an existing Ga/In/Sn source for high-resolution imaging and tomography of mice.

Citation Download Citation

D. H. Larsson, U. Lundström, U. Westermark, P. A. C. Takman, A. Burvall, M. Arsenian Henriksson, and H. M. Hertz "Small-animal tomography with a liquid-metal-jet x-ray source", Proc. SPIE 8313, Medical Imaging 2012: Physics of Medical Imaging, 83130N (8 March 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.910777

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