A wide-beam X-ray source suitable for diffraction enhanced imaging applications

Research in diffraction-enhanced imaging (DEI), using a synchrotron source with an X-ray flux of 1.4×1012 ph/mm2/s, has shown strong potential in obtaining high-resolution images as compared to conventional radiographs. This research investigates the feasibility of developing a large area circular X-ray source with fluxes comparable to a synchrotron source. The source should be capable of integration into a compact system with peak powers not to exceed 200 kW to be feasible for use in a major medical facility, industrial complex or screening facility (such as cargo or airport). A computational study of a circular concentric filament wide-beam area X-ray source has been investigated in this research. The design features are based on generating electrons from three concentric circular filaments to provide an area electron flux, with a 60 kV accelerating potential and a beam current of up to 3 A. The X-ray target is a grounded stationary oxygen-free copper target with a layer of molybdenum. This target feature differs from standard rotating X-ray targets in conventional X-ray systems. Studies of electron trajectories and their distribution on the target were conducted using the SIMION 3D code. Heat loading and thermal management were studied using heat transfer modules from the coupled FEMLAB multi-physics and MATLAB codes. The Monte Carlo code MCNP 5 was used to obtain the X-ray flux and energy distribution for aluminum and beryllium windows. This computational study shows that this target configuration generates X-rays with photon flux comparable to synchrotron source and sufficient for DEI applications. The maximum target temperature rise is 1357 K after 70 s when cooling the back of the target to liquid nitrogen temperature using cold finger contact, and 325 K for an invaded target, in which liquid nitrogen circulates inside the target.