Cathodes for medical purpose X-ray tubes

Results of own works of the authors and works of the Russian, Japanese, Korean and American experts in creation nanocomposites of refractory metals with increased strength characteristics for cathodes are analyzed in this report. It is shown, that though monocrystals have shown the better characteristics in comparison with traditional polycrystals as cathodes, more radical way of increase of operational characteristics of the X-ray tubes is application refractory nanostructural materials. Some results of investigations in which the work function electrons of nanocrystal tungsten is lower by 0.8 eV than that of traditional tungsten are given. This effect is able to increase the intensity of X-radiation considerably (by a factor of more than 5) at the same cathode temperatures or decrease the temperature of a cathode by 400 degrees C at the same intensity of X-radiation.