Compact repetitive electron-beam and X-radiation generator. Part 1; a desktop generator; Part 2; a hand-carried X-ray apparatus

The authors describe the two generators which are powered from a 220-V 50-Hz supply line. The desktop generator has an output voltage ranging between 180 and 220 kV, a high-current-diode current of 0.1 to 1.8 kA with the voltage at a maximum, a half-height pulse duration of 25 to 30 ns, and a pulse repetition rate up to 50 pps. With the spacing from the target being 15 cm, the radiation dose as measured along the axis of the generator is as high as 3 milliroentgens per pulse. The generator is assembled from four switching chokes with a terminal peaking stage built on semiconductor opening switches (SOS). It has been found experimentally that the high-current vacuum diode performs stably at a pressure of 1 Pa and down. The power consumption is 25 J per pulse, the electron beam energy running into 7.2 J. The hand-carried generator has an output voltage ranging between 60 and 120 kV, a high-current-diode current up to 200 A, a half-height pulse duration of 15 to 25 ns, and a pulse repetition rate up to 1000 pps. The generator is assembled from three switching chokes with a terminal peaking stage built on semiconductor opening switches (SOS). The power consumption is 2.3 J per pulse, the electron beam energy running into 0.2 J. The generator is placed in a 150 x 150 x 560 mm oil-filled metal-made casing, with the total capacity amounting 12.6 1, and weighs 18 kg.