Patent ID: 8019047

Claim:
An apparatus for Flash X-ray irradiation of material, comprising: a) a Flash X-ray source comprised of an electron source and an anode; b) the electron source comprising a field-emission cold-cathode having an electron emitting surface, and a grid for controlling electron flow from the cathode to the anode; an electrical connection for biasing the grid; c) the anode having an electron-receiving main surface and an X-ray emitting, oppositely facing main surface; the X-ray emitting surface emitting X-radiation into an irradiation volume; d) the X-ray emitting surface of the anode having orthogonally oriented first and second dimensions of greater than 2 millimeters each; e) a high voltage pulse power supply for powering the Flash X-ray source; f) the electron source, anode and high voltage pulse power supply being so constructed as to create sufficient X-radiation in said irradiation volume to achieve a desired level of irradiation of material in said volume sufficient to induce a change in state of said material; and g) a vacuum housing for the cathode, grid and anode of the Flash X-ray source maintained at a high vacuum; wherein h) the linear dimensions of the electron-emitting surface of the cathode and the electron-receiving main surface of the anode, along the main axis of the anode, are approximately the same when the anode has an elongated cylindrical shape; or i) the electron-emitting surface of the cathode and the electron-receiving main surface of the anode are approximately the same size when the X-ray emitting surface of the anode is shaped without a closed loop and is shaped so as to avoid enclosing that portion of the irradiation volume normal to the foregoing surface.