Patent ID: 8340251

Claim:
A system for generating a bremsstrahlung beam containing photons of energy of at least 1 MeV for illuminating a downstream target, comprising: a) an electron source, b) a radiator layer, c) one supporting tube, and d) a fluid, wherein the radiator layer is disposed directly on an exterior wall of the one supporting tube, wherein the radiator layer and the one supporting tube are positioned such that an entire cross-section of an electron beam from the electron source is incident successively upon the radiator layer and the exterior wall of the one supporting tube, and wherein the radiator layer comprises a material with Z>70, wherein the supporting tube comprises a material with Z<31, wherein the fluid circulates in the supporting tube, wherein the electron source provides an electron beam comprising electrons of energy of at least 1 MeV, wherein a tube interior radius is larger than a thickness of the one supporting tube exterior wall at all points on the exterior wall; and wherein a tube interior diameter is larger than a width of the radiator layer.