Patent ID: 7412033

Claim:
An x-ray radiator comprising: an evacuated housing mounted for rotation around an axis; a cathode disposed in said housing; a laser source that emits a laser beam from a stationary location outside of said vacuum housing onto a spatially stationary laser focal spot on said cathode, said laser source emitting said laser beam with a laser power that heats said cathode to cause said cathode to thermionically emit electrons; an anode disposed in said housing on which said electrons are incident that emits x-rays upon being struck by said electrons; an insulator forming a part of said vacuum housing that separates said cathode from said anode; terminals for application of voltage between said anode and said cathode to accelerate said electrons from said cathode toward said anode as an electron beam; a drive in driving engagement with said housing to rotate said housing around said axis; and a cooling arrangement in thermal communication with at least one of said anode, said cathode and said housing to conduct heat therefrom.