THE FEASIBILITY OF DESIGNING HIGH VOLTAGE X-RAY TUBES AS INTENSE GAMMA AND NEUTRON SOURCES.
Abstract
The concept pursued in this program of very high voltage FX (Flash X-ray) tube development involves the use of clean smooth field emission points in a moderate vacuum; an approach compatible with a quickly demountable tube. Points can be kept atomically clean and smooth by operation at 2400 K, and at 0.000001 torr the re-adsorption time for 1 monolayer is about 1 sec. Techniques were developed for heating isolated field emission points to high temperature within a tube envelope of low vapor pressure materials, capable of withstanding pulses of several megavolts. The experiments performed in accomplishing these goals and in studying tube performance are described. A rugged tube configuration capable of multi-shot performance at high levels has been achieved. The available information on photoneutron production pertinent to the 'flash' neutron application is sparse, and experiments were conducted during the program using a linear accelerator to provide data on both the bremsstrahlung and photoneutron yields at 6 MeV electron energy. A FX system concept is presented. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0476590
Entities
People
- A. S. Denholm
- S. V. Nablo