1992 Volume 18 Issue 3 Pages 54-63
The repetitive flash x-ray generator utilizing a hot-cathode diode in conjunction with a two-cable-type Blumlein high-voltage pulser for soft radiography is described. This generator consisted of the following essential components: a constant negative high-voltage power supply, an energy-storage condenser of 97 nF, a high-voltage pulser, a DC power supply for the filament, and an x-ray tube. The x-ray tube was of a glass-enclosed diode and consisted of the following major devices: a plate target made of tungsten, a hot cathode (filament) made from a tungsten wire, a focusing electrode made of iron, and a glass tube body. The high-voltage pulser employed a modified Blumlein transmission line having two coaxial cable condensers with capacities of 1.0 nF without a matching resistor. The two cable condensers in the high-voltage pulser were charged from －40 to －60 kV, and the maximum voltages of the pulser output were about －1.8 times the charged voltage. The tube voltages were nearly equivalent to the pulser outputs, and the tube currents were considered to be a value of less than 0.9 A. The effective durations of the flash x rays were less than 6 μs, and the maximum x-ray intensity was 75 nC／kg at 0.5 m per pulse with a charged voltage of －60 kV. The maximum repetition rate of the flash x rays was about 50 Hz, and the sizes of the x-ray source were about 3.5×4.0 mm.
