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 comprising an 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, the collimator comprising:
a first member comprising a first surface, the first surface being one of a hyperbolic paraboloid surface or a modified hyperbolic paraboloid surface; anda second member com risin a second surface the second surface being one of a hyperbolic paraboloid surface or a modified hyperbolic paraboloid surface;the first member disposed relative to the second member such that the first surface faces the second surface, the first surface and second surface separated by a gap so as to define the aperture through the collimator; wherein the collimator and radiation source are configured to remain stationary with respect to one another when producing a steerable beam of radiation.