Described herein is an x-ray backscatter apparatus for non-destructive inspection of a part. The apparatus includes an x-ray emitter and a zone plate. The x-ray emitter includes an x-ray shield, a vacuum tube, a cathode, and an anode. The x-ray shield has an emission aperture. The vacuum tube is within the x-ray shield. The cathode and anode are enclosed within the vacuum tube. The cathode generates an electron emission. The anode is located relative to the cathode to receive the electron emission and convert the electron emission to a hard x-ray emission and is located relative to the emission aperture to direct at least a portion of the hard x-ray emission through the emission aperture. The zone plate is external to the x-ray shield and located relative to the emission aperture to receive the portion of the hard x-ray emission and focus the portion into a focused hard x-ray emission.