X-RAY RADIATION WITH MULTIPLE PHOTON ENERGIES

摘要

The present invention relates to X-ray radiation with multiple photon energies. To provide an X-ray tube capable of generating multiple-energy X-ray radiation with an improved switching capacity and a reduced design setup, a multiple-energy X-ray tube, comprises a cathode (12), an anode (14), and a switchable current controlling unit (16). The cathode comprises a first connection port (18), which is connectable with a negative terminal of a generator to be supplied with a high-voltage energy to generate a voltage potential between the cathode and the anode. The anode is an electrically floating isolated anode. The switchable current controlling unit is electrically arranged between the anode and a second connection port, which second connection port is connectable with a ground or positive terminal of the generator to provide an adjustable current transfer (30) from the anode via the switchable current controlling unit and the second connection port to the generator. Further, the switchable current controlling unit is controllably adaptable such that at least a first current transfer and a second current transfer are adjustable, wherein the second current transfer is different from the first current transfer. The first current transfer leads to a first voltage between the cathode and the anode resulting in an electron beam (86) which generates X-radiation with a first spectrum, and the second current transfer leads to a second voltage between the cathode and the anode resulting in an electron beam (86) which generates X-radiation with a second spectrum, wherein the first X-ray spectrum is different from the second X-ray spectrum.