COMPACT SOURCE WITH VERY BRIGHT X-RAY BEAM

A device in accordance with the invention for the emission of X-rays, comprises a vacuum pump the sealed peripheral casing whereof contains a cathode for emitting a flux of electrons, a rotary anode mounted at the end of the shaft of the vacuum pump and a collection device for collecting an emitted electron beam. This considerably reduces the overall size of the X-ray source and, thanks to the very fast and stable rotation of the rotary anode attached to the rotor of the vacuum pump, a source of very great brightness is produced. The rotary anode may be moved axially to compensate the wear that it suffers through the impact of the incident electron beam coming from the cathode. According to the invention the device further comprises at least one cooling element fixed to the vacuum pump stator or to the sealed peripheral casing opposite one of the main radial faces of the rotary anode to absorb radiated heat energy emitted by the rotary anode in operation.