Scientists make stronger X

This method shapes them in a specific way so the path of the particles matches and overlaps the highly structured positions of the material's atoms. The result of this method is that the X-rays are now emitted at increasingly higher intensities and can be controlled, depending on their needed directions. 

When the fired electrons collide with the atoms of the material, they tend to become deflated and emit X-rays in a process known as braking radiation or bremsstrahlung. However, the X-rays are emitted in different directions and are highly diffused. A team of scientists then challenged themselves to overcome these challenges, focusing on changing the fired electrons' travel paths.

Science of Electron Waveshipping

Using the specially designed device called a "phase plate," which also has current flowing through it to develop a voltage, the scientists simulated the electrons to an ultra-thin material made of graphene about 1,000 times thinner than a strand of hair. This effectively increased the probability that the electrons would collide with the atoms, leading to more simulations and higher radiation intensity, which could also be adjusted with minor changes to the phase plate.

This method allowed the X-rays to be emitted in different directions or focused in one general direction, giving room for future X-ray-generating devices to be more flexible.

This discovery by the science team led by Nanyang Assistant Professor Wong Liang Jie from NTU's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. has marked a significant advancement in X-ray generation technology, opening up potential applications across several fields.

The other researchers are from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, Stanford University, Technion–Israel Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

In the medical field, it could enable practitioners to have more precise and detailed imaging, which could help in the early detection of diseases and a more focused treatment plan. The X-ray produced through electron waveshaping can be finely controlled, whether diffused or focused, as it is more flexible. Hence, it could also improve the capabilities of radiation therapy, enabling more effective cancer treatments. 

This discovery could also help industries that perform non-destructive testing to have a more precise and efficient inspection of components, ensuring better quality and enhanced safety.

Assistant Professor Wong said in the peer-reviewed publication by Light Publishing Center: "The precision of electron waveshaping is crucial to the generated X-rays. We believe with the rapid advancement of electron-waveshaping techniques, our proposed mechanism can be fully implemented for intense and highly tunable table-top X-ray technology."