Development and test of a multi-target transmission X-ray tube based on the electron deflection in an electric field

The multitarget X-ray tube has special advantage for the X-ray fluorescence analysis of complex sample. The current paper reports on a four-target transmission X-ray tube based on the electron deflection in an electric field. It consists of four 90° sector targets, which are Cr, Ni, Au, Mo. The electron trajectory is selectively bent by the deflection field to bombard the desired target. The emission spectrum was detected by the silicon drift detector (SDD) at 1.1 W (−22 kV, 50 μA). The results showed the characteristic X-rays of the corresponding target produced clearly, especially for the Cr or Au target with a high intensity. The focal spot size was tested using the pinhole camera method. The results showed the electrons were bent effectively, the corrected area of real focal spot was between about 4 mm2 to 9 mm2. This multitarget X-ray tube will provide the selective X-ray spectrum of the application for the sample analysis. •The development of the transmission four-target X-ray tube.•The electron is selectively deflected to bombard the corresponding target areas.•Different characteristic X-rays is produced just by the deflection electric field.