An industrial X-ray/electron beam source includes an accelerator having a) a coaxial cavity b) an electron gun for emitting an electron beam to be accelerated, c) at least one deflection magnet positioned outside of the cavity, and d) a radio frequency power supply means for supplying power of a radio frequency to the cavity to induce TM.sub.010 mode as an accelerating mode in the cavity; and a beam irradiator having a two-dimensional scanning magnet which deflects accelerated beam by the accelerator, an extracting window for extracting the deflected electron beam to be irradiated to an object, and means for guiding the deflected beam toward a center of the extracting window in a radial direction. The source is advantageous in that the electron beams do not intersect inside the cavity, which can reduce beam loss, and that beams or X-rays are irradiated to the object spatially uniformly.

Disclosed here is a cyclotron having a beam phase selector capable of controlling phase widths of beams and improving beam permeability for increasing beam current. The cyclotron contains an acceleration voltage applying section and a beam blocking section, at least any one of the two sections has a movable structure. While a particle is passing across a gap between dee electrodes, the acceleration voltage applying section applies RF acceleration voltage to the particle, and further applies RF acceleration voltage having a phase different from the phase of previously applied RF acceleration voltage. The beam blocking section blocks undesired particles. Preferably, the acceleration voltage applying section at least has an electrode having an opening in a direction of the core of the cyclotron. Also preferably, operations on phase-width control can be performed outside the cyclotron, with vacuum condition in the cyclotron maintained.

A laser and method of producing laser light. The laser and method involve passing a high energy beam of particles through an evacuated chamber. A static electric or magnetic field is established in the chamber in a direction that is essentially perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the beam, but which is a periodically varying field in the direction of propagation. The velocity of the particles and the variation in the field is sufficient to pump the particles into a higher energy state and produce laser light at the output of the chamber.

The present invention is an RF cavity for accelerating electrons in imaging applications such as x-ray tubes and CT applications. An RF cavity having electron emitters placed therein accelerates the electrons across the cavity. The geometric shape of the cavity determines the electromagnetic modes that are employed for the acceleration of electrons. The fast electrons are used to generate x-rays by interacting with a target, either a solid or a liquid target. The electron accelerator may be used in an arc source for a stationary computed tomography application, in an x-ray tube, as a booster for an electron gun, and other imaging applications.

A system and method for generating X-rays comprising a waveguide having a cavity extending therethrough, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, the second sidewall having an opening extending therethrough forming or including a target therein. An electron emitter coupled to an inner surface of the first sidewall for emitting electrons into the cavity, microwaves coupled into the cavity generating an electric field for accelerating the electrons through the cavity and toward the target in the opening of the second sidewall for generating X-rays.