X-ray targets for generating x-ray radiation from a waveguide

This invention now proposes a novel X-ray source concept based on the direct emission of X-ray photons in X-ray waveguides. The inventors showed direct emission of characteristic and bremsstrahlung radiation into a waveguide. They directly generate x-rays inside a waveguide by an electron beam. This approach is fundamentally different from first generating the x-rays and then coupling into the waveguide and results in pronounced peaks in the angular far-field distribution which changes also with the distance between the exciting e-beam and the side edge of the waveguide. The radiation generated in the newly developed target is very brilliant, coherent and is emitted directionally. Thus, instead of first generating a beam in an X-ray tube and then laboriously coupling it into a waveguide, the X-ray photons are generated directly in a patterned anode target that also acts as an X-ray waveguide or waveguide array. The coherent and brilliant X-ray light generated in this way can be produced in a laboratory source and is therefore an alternative to synchrotron radiation, which is usually not available at all times due to fixed beam times that have to be requested.