The present technique provides a method for controlling an electron beam (e-beam) in an X-ray tube. The method comprises emitting electrons from an electron source to form the e-beam, accelerating the e-beam from a cathode through an aperture in a plate, focusing and steering the e-beam from the aperture through a plurality of field generating plates, and accelerating the e-beam from the plurality of the field generating plates to a target. Also provided are X-ray tubes and computed tomography systems.