Compton Backscattering Focusing X-Ray System for Nondestructive Evaluation/Testing

To address the U.S. Army PEO Missiles and Space need for complementary Nondestructive Evaluation/Testing, (NDE)/(NDT), radiography techniques for the Stockpile Reliability Program of the U.S. Army tactical missile system, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new unique, affordable, portable, non-scanning Compton Backscattered Focusing X-ray NDE/NDT System (COFOX) for determining the dimensions, proper assembly, and flaws (voids/inclusions/cracks), corrosion, and other defects of tactical missile systems that consist of heterogeneous materials (explosives, adhesives, electronics, composites, plastics, etc). This proposed device is based on the POC’s innovative Lobster-Eye X-ray focusing lens and the registration of X-ray Compton backscattered photons to provide one-sided in situ NDE/NDT of the missile systems. The COFOX includes a portable X-ray source, Lobster-Eye lens, and an X-ray CCD camera, with a portable computer providing X-ray image processing integrated in a compact handheld housing. The COFOX system will provide NDE/NDT with a quality level better than 1/4–1/4T (0.25% density sensitivity and 0.25% thickness resolution). In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the COFOX system by using its prototype for the NDE/NDT of heterogeneous materials. In Phase II, POC plans to design, fabricate, and test a prototype of the commercial variant of the COFOX system.