Innovation in X-Ray technology

Abstract

In the Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) industry, the mayor trends are from film and stand alone applications to digital and inline inspection. Furthermore the quality requirements are growing driven by pushing design and material limits. Especially for field applications based on security reasons as well as image quality, replacement of isotopes can be monitored. With the move to digital the need for small focal spots at increased power requirements brought new challenges to the x-ray supplier. With the move to inline inspection systems, requirements for high uptime, fast throughput at the best possible resolution became the key challenges for the x-ray industry. The target to replace isotopes brings high challenges for weight size and energy. The innovation program of COMET delivers solutions for those challenges. Comparison between 600 Kilovolts (kV) and conventional 450kV x-ray sources will show the advantages in penetration and resolution and with this in defect recognition. The resolution gain with adaptive focal spots compared to standard focal spots will be presented and the advantages of maintenance reduced high voltage cables will be shown.

Megavolt bremsstrahlung measurements from linear induction accelerators demonstrate possible use as a FLASH radiotherapy source to reduce acute toxicity

“…Short duty cycle (≈ 30 s) DC x-ray tubes using thermal inertia have achieved almost 200 kW-cm −2 69 . 25 Gy s −1 total requires a 6.25 A beam at a 10 kHz rate with 15 ns pulses on each of the converter targets (“ Methods ” section).…”

Megavolt Bremsstrahlung Measurements from Linear Induction Accelerators Demonstrate Possible Use as a FLASH Radiotherapy Source to Reduce Acute Toxicity

“…Short duty cycle (≈30 s) DC x-ray tubes using thermal inertia have achieved almost 200 kW-cm -2 [ 65]. 25 Gy-s -1 total requires a 6.25 A beam at a 10 kHz rate with 15 ns pulses on each of the converter targets (Methods section).…”

“…As stated earlier, our calculation is based on electrons to bremsstrahlung instantaneous dose rate scaling as: 1.7 10 4 2. 65 , where V is in MV and beam current I, is in kA and is a relatively good predictor for dose rate in Gy-s -1 for Ta at 1 m distance. Instantaneous dose rate is thus defined by the current and electron energy and average dose rate is determined by the pulse repetition rate and pulse width.…”

Brief history of X-ray tube patents

“…Thus, requirements for X-ray sources are still growing, specially in non-destructive testing applications. According to Schulz [15], the main features and respective benefits are: i) increased power with higher through put plus better contrast resolution; ii) Smaller focal spot with higher special resolution plus higher detectability; iii) Smaller size and lower weight with less space occupation plus easy to handle; iv) High energy with higher penetration. For example, contemporary CT tubes have power ratings of up to 100 kW and anode heat capacity of 6 MJ, yet retain an effective focal spot area of less than 1 mm 2 .…”