Editing X-ray microscope (section)

=== Liquid-metal-anode X-ray source ===

Extremely high-intensity sources of 9.25 keV X-rays (gallium K-alpha line) for X-ray phase-contrast microscopy, from a focal spot about 10&nbsp;um x 10&nbsp;um, may be obtained with an X-ray source which uses a liquid metal [[galinstan]] anode. This was demonstrated in 2003.<ref name="doi.org"/> The metal flows from a nozzle downward at a high speed and the high intensity electron source is focused upon it. The rapid flow of metal carries current, but the physical flow prevents a great deal of anode heating (due to forced-convective heat removal), and the high boiling point of galinstan inhibits vaporization of the anode. The technique has been used to image mouse brain in three dimensions at a voxel size of about one cubic micrometer.<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1038/srep42847|pmid = 28240235|pmc = 5327439|bibcode = 2017NatSR...742847T|title = Three-dimensional mouse brain cytoarchitecture revealed by laboratory-based x-ray phase-contrast tomography|year = 2017|last1 = Töpperwien|first1 = Mareike|last2 = Krenkel|first2 = Martin|last3 = Vincenz|first3 = Daniel|last4 = Stöber|first4 = Franziska|last5 = Oelschlegel|first5 = Anja M.|last6 = Goldschmidt|first6 = Jürgen|last7 = Salditt|first7 = Tim|journal = Scientific Reports|volume = 7|pages = 42847}}</ref>