Design and performance of a pulsed power-driven x-ray source for flash radiography

Abstract

The design and test results of a pulsed power-driven X-ray source which is named Hawkeye-I are described. The Hawkeye-I is developed to execute flash X-ray radiography. It is a six-stage induction voltage adder and terminated by a positive polarity rod-pinch diode. The six stages are identical and the prime energy of each stage is provided by a tesla transformer elevating the output voltage from a discharge brick which consists of two 4 μF capacitors and a three-electrode gas switch. Comparing to the induction voltage adders driven by Marx generators, the numbers of gas switches and capacitors in the energy storage sections of Hawkeye-I decrease significantly. The Hawkeye-I can produce a maximum output voltage of about 4.2 MV. The corresponding X-ray source spot size and dose at 1 m are 1.4 mm and 17.9 rad, respectively. Fifty consecutive shots have been conducted to evaluate the reliability of the machine and 98% of the shots are successful. Furthermore, as the energy propagating in the accelerator is mainly determined by seven laser-triggered gas switches, the Hawkeye-I is capable of controlling the timing of the X-ray pulse accurately.