Pulsed high-energy radiographic machine emitting x-rays: PHERMEX

Conference · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.932946· OSTI ID:7339294

Dick, R D

The PHERMEX facility that is used to provide radiography of explosives and explosive-driven systems is described. This facility allows precision flash radiography of large objects containing high atomic number materials. The facility consists of a high-current, three-cavity, 27-MeV linear electron accelerator; a 13.5-MW radiofrequency power source; a timing, firing, and signal detection system; and a data acquisition system. PHERMEX was built in the early part of the 1960s to complement other hydrodynamics facilities at Los Alamos and to implement studies related to shock waves, detonation, and other hydrodynamic phenomena. After 15 y of operation and several thousand explosive shots later, PHERMEX has proven to be a very important diagnostic tool in the study of hydrodynamic systems. The attractive features of PHERMEX are the following: very intense submicrosecond 27-MeV bremsstrahlung radiation; 1-mm diam spot size; 100 R at 1 m from a 200-ns pulse; precise determination of edges, discontinuities, and areal mass distribution; and flash radiographs of large explosive systems close to the target.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7339294
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-76-1426; CONF-760914-2; TRN: 76-021270
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 0312; Conference: American Society for Nondestructive Testing Flash X-Ray symposium, Houston, TX, USA, 27 Sep 1976
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
42 ENGINEERING
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY
EXPLOSIVES
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
MATERIALS TESTING
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
TESTING
450100* - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Chemical Explosions & Explosives
420500 - Engineering- Materials Testing