Variable angle collimator

摘要

A system for producing a controllable beam of radiation is controllable electronically, and includes no parts that must move relative to one another while in operation to form the beam. The direction and cross-section of the beam may be controlled electronically by controlling an electron beam. Various embodiments provide an X-ray collimator that allows forming a scanning X-ray beam of desired size and flux independently of the aperture material thickness without requiring movement of the aperture or physical components that create the aperture. Some embodiments provide an X-ray collimator that allows forming a scanning X-ray beam of desired size and flux independently of the beam angle.

主权项

1. A system for producing a steerable beam of radiation, comprising:
a radiation source configured to produce radiation at an angle, relative to a collimator, wherein the angle is electronically controllable; and a collimator comprising material opaque to the radiation produced by the radiation source, the collimator having a compound aperture defined by a cooperation between a first aperture in a first collimator surface and a second aperture in a second collimator surface by which a projection of the first aperture intersects the second aperture at a non-zero angle, the compound aperture configured to receive radiation from the radiation source at a plurality of incident angles, and configured to pass a portion of the radiation through the collimator at each of the plurality of incident angles, so as to form a collimated beam of radiation having a beam cross-section; wherein the collimator and radiation source are configured to remain stationary with respect to one another when producing a steerable beam of radiation.