Challenges to the development of the world’s first nondestructive inspection system

— Development of an inspection system with laser ultrasound and a cold cathode X-ray source —

Abstract

The social and industrial infrastructure built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, during a period of high economic growth, has become old. This infrastructure urgently needs inspection for the success of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As an AIST Start-up, we are conducting research and development of a new nondestructive inspection system based on the world’s first visualization technology using laser ultrasound and compact X-ray technology with carbon nanostructure cold cathode X-rays. Here we describe various challenges for its development.