Plasma focus as a powerful hard X-ray source for ultrafast imaging of moving metallic objects

Abstract

Using high energy, pulsed X-rays, generated by a 4.7 kJ Plasma Focus operated with deuterium -argon admixtures, images of fast rotating metallic pieces were obtained. This illustrates the potential application of Plasma Focus devices for non invasive scanning of moving metallic objects. The samples for radiographic imaging were located outside the plasma focus chamber. High-sensitivity, fast-response commercial radiographic film was used as X-ray detector. The use of small doses of argon helps to enhance both the neutron production and the hard X-ray emission. By analyzing the mean attenuation of the studied radiation in different metals, an X-ray effective energy of about 100 keV was obtained.

Effective hard x-ray spectrum of a tabletop Mather-type plasma focus optimized for flash radiography of metallic objects

“…High sensitivity orthochromatic Agfa x-ray film along with a terbium-doped gadolinium oxisulfide ͑Gd 2 O 2 S:Tb͒ intensifying screen, which is one of the most widely used film-screen sets for general purpose radiography as well as for hard x-ray imaging, [11][12][13][14] was used as a hard x-ray detector.…”

“…12. More recently, a tabletop plasma focus facility was used as a hard x-ray source for 50 ns resolution radiography of metallic objects either in fast rotation 13 or through as much as 22-mm-thick metallic walls. 14 While the spectral characteristics of the soft x-ray output of plasma focus devices were intensively investigated in great detail, the spectrum of the radiation involved in the above-mentioned hard x-ray applications received less attention.…”

Preliminary Results of the 115 kJ Dense Plasma Focus Device IR-MPF-100

“…Every day increments in the applications and new achievements in the field of PF machine [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] was the reason for the design and construction of a 100 kJ PF. Besides the formation and acceleration of the current sheath, the discreet characters of dense and hot pinched plasma and consequently the formation of hot spots (plasmoides) in PFs is encouraging, particularly for their use in nuclear fusion of the hydrogen-boron fuel [15,16].…”

Plasma focus based repetitive source of fusion neutrons and hard x-rays

“…Introspective images of small metallic pieces [16,17] even through several millimeter thick metallic walls [18] were also produced. Additionally, a radiography of an aluminum turbine rotating at 6120 rpm using a plasma focus pulse was reported [19]. The tomographic reconstruction of both surface and volume of small metallic objects was investigated as another non-conventional imaging application of the hard x-ray emission of plasma focus devices [16,20].…”