• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.477-486
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of reconstruction filters, X-ray source trajectories and intervals in the quality of digital tomosynthesis (DT) images, and the results was clinically validated. The filtered back-projection was implemented by using Ramp, Shepp-Logan, Cosine, Hamming, Hann and Blackman filters, and the X-ray source trajectories were simulated with 1 × 36, 2 × 18, 3 × 12, 4 × 9 and 6 × 6 arrays. The X-ray source intervals were 5, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mm. The depth resolution, spatial resolution and noise of DT image were evaluated by measuring artifact spread function (ASF), full width at half maximum (FWHM) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), respectively. The results showed that the spatial resolution and noise properties of DT images were maximized by the Ramp and Blackman filters, respectively, and the depth resolution and noise properties of the DT images obtained with a 1 × 36 X-ray source trajectory were superior to the other trajectories. The depth resolution and noise properties of DT images improved with an increase of X-ray source intervals, and the high X-ray source intervals degraded the spatial resolution of DT images. Therefore, the characteristics of DT images are highly dependent on reconstruction filters, X-ray source trajectories and intervals, and it is necessary to use optimal imaging parameters in accordance with diagnostic purpose.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2013.02a
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• pp.639-639
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• 2013

In this research we report the significant contribution of the as-spun multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) on the x-ray images formation using a low tube voltage x-ray source. The MWCNT, which was used for the fabrication of the spun CNT, was grown using a microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition machine. Electrical-optics simulation software was utilized to determine the electron field emission trajectory of the triode-structure-as-spun CNT-based x-ray source. It was shown that a significant amount of converging electrons hit the target anode producing a clear x-ray image. These x-ray images where produced at a small amount of anode current of 0.67 mA at a tube voltage of 5 kV with the gate voltage of 0 V. Also, comparisons of the radiographs at various exposure times of the sample where analyzed with and without an x-ray dose filter. Results showed that spatially-resolved images were formed using the as-spun CNT at a low tube voltage with a $54-{\mu}m$ Al x-ray filter. This study can be used for low-voltage medical applications.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.433-433
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• 2016

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) emitter has widely become an attractive mechanism that draws growing interests for cold cathode field emission. CNT yarns have demonstrated its potential as excellent field emitters. It was demonstrated that a small focal spot size was achieved by manipulating some electrical parameters, such as applied bias voltage at the mesh gate, and electrostatic focal lenses, geometrical parameters, such as axial distances of the anode, and the electrostatic focal lens from the cathode assembly, and the dimension of the opening of the electrostatic lens. Electrical-optics software was used to systematically investigate the behavior of the electron beam trajectory when the aforementioned variables were manipulated. The results of the experiment agree with the theoretical simulation results. Each variable has an individual effect on the electron beam focal spot size impinging on the target anode. An optimum condition of the parameters was obtained producing good quality of X-ray images. Also, MWCNT yarn was investigated for field emission characteristics and its contribution in the X-ray generation. The dry spinning method was used to fabricate MWCNT yarn from super MWCNTs, which was fabricated by MW-PECVD. The MWCNT yarn has a significant field emission capability in both diode and the triode X-ray generation structure compared to a MWCNT. The low-voltage-field emission of the MWCNT yarn can be attributed to the field enhancing effect of the yarn due to its shape and the contribution of the high-aspect-ratio nanotubes that protrude from the sides of the yarn. Observations of the use of filters on the development of X-ray images were also demonstrated. The amount of exposure time of the samples to the X-ray was also manipulated. The MWCNT yarn can be a good candidate for use in the low voltage field emission application of X-ray imaging.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.3026-3034
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• 2021

Multi-target X-ray tube is a new type X-ray source, and can be applied in many fields such as sensitive X-ray fluorescence analysis and medical imaging. In this work, we report an electric field modulation multi-target X-ray tube, which contains four targets (Cr, Ni, Au, Mo) coated on a Beryllium (Be) window. A four-valve electric field deflector was developed to deflect the electron beam to bombard the corresponding targets. Particle dynamics analysis software was employed to simulate the particle tracking of electron beam. The results show that the 30 keV electron beam could get a 6.7 mm displacement on the target plane by 10⁵ V/m electric field. The focus areas are about 2 mm × 5 mm and 4 mm × 2.5 mm after deflection in two directions. Thermal behavior calculated by ANSYS shows that the designed target assembly could withstand a 10 W continuous power. The optimum target thicknesses and emission spectra were obtained by Geant4 when the thickness of Be window was 300 mm and the electron beam incident angle was 0.141 rad. The results indicate that this multi-target X-ray tube could provide different X-ray sources effectively.