Multi-Energy X-Ray Radiography Source using Novel RF Technology

There is a need for advancing the art of x-ray inspection of objects of unknown content. The x-ray source will have a greater utility if it is compact and portable. Furthermore, these sources need to operate at energies up to 7MeV for deeper inspection of objects with dense contents. It is also desirable that the x-ray source have a variable energy over a wide range to enable material discrimination. X-ray sources with the above properties do not exist. A recent breakthrough in RF linac cell design and topologies has led to extremely efficient structures in terms of RF to beam efficiency. Hence, itĺs possible to envision linacs that reach up to 7MeV with compact RF system that allow the overall weight of the source to be below 200 pounds. We are using this technology together with other advances in high power RF systems that TibaRay exclusively licensed from Stanford University to design and build variable energy linac based x-ray source that operates from 2-7MeV. Furthermore, because of the high efficiency of the system, the linac can be powered with a compact battery powered high-voltage modulator for ultimate portability. The goal at the end of Phase I is to have a complete set of system specifications for a functional variable energy 7.0 MeV x-ray source. The main activities will include optimization of the linac, the RF manifold design and optimization, the power modulator, and the mechanical design of all the components and the full package. A full list of parts and an accurate cost estimate for the system will be provided at the end of Phase I. Our accelerator and RF component technology offer cost and size reductions for accelerator-based x-ray sources that are used for imaging, medical, security and industrial applications. Because of their efficiency and compactness, they can offer an attractive alternative for betatron-based mobile imaging systems. Our proposed multi-energy 7 MeV x-ray system will have commercial applications for inspections of infrastructure such as buildings and bridges. Also, there is interest from various federal government agencies for systems that can be used for non-intrusive inspection for security needs and for detecting contraband. The public benefit if we are successful are obvious; all the uses listed here have the potential to save lives by detecting problems, both natural and man-created, before these problems become unmanageable. Summary for Members of Congress: MeV-scale x-ray systems are needed to inspect for contraband and radiological materials and to inspect infrastructure. The proposed compact, portable x-ray source will provide multiple energy x-rays from 2.0 to 7.0 MeV for non-destructive security inspection of containers with unknown content and for inspection of infrastructure such as bridges.