X-RAY TUBE WITH MULTIPLE ELECTRON SOURCES AND COMMON ELECTRON DEFLECTION UNIT

摘要

It is described an X-ray tube (100, 200) for moving a focal spot within a wide range. The X-ray tube (100, 200) comprises a first electron source (105), which is adapted to generate a first electron beam projecting along a first beam path (107a, 107b), a second electron source (110), which is adapted to generate a second electron beam projecting along a second beam path (112a, 112b) and an anode (120), which is arranged within the first beam path (107a, 107b) and within the second beam path (112a, 112b) such that on a surface (121) of the anode (120) the first electron beam (307a) generates a first focal spot (308) and the second electron beam (412a) generates a second focal spot (413). The X-ray tube (100, 200) further comprises a common deflection unit (130, 330, 430), which is adapted to deflect the first (307a) and the second electron beam (412a), such that the positions of the first (308) and the second focal spot (413) is shifted. The electron sources (105, 110) may be arranged within a linear array allowing for a simple mechanical support of the X-ray sources.