A solid state x-ray source (14) for a computed tomograph (CT) imaging system (10) is presented. X-ray source (14) has a cathode (58) which is preferably formed of a plurality of addressable elements. The cathode is positioned within a vacuum chamber (74) so that electrodes emitted thereby impinge upon anode (68) spaced apart from cathode (58). An electron beam (82) is formed and moved along the length of cathode (58). The anode (68) is disposed within a cooling block portion (58) and operatively adjacent to an x-ray transmissive window (66). The anode (68) and x-ray transmissive window (66) are disposed within an elongated channel (64) of the cooling block portion (56).