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Title: X-ray generator

Abstract

Apparatus and method for producing coherent secondary x-rays that are controlled as to direction by illuminating a mixture of high z and low z gases with an intense burst of primary x-rays. The primary x-rays are produced with a laser activated plasma, and these x-rays strip off the electrons of the high z atoms in the lasing medium, while the low z atoms retain their electrons. The neutral atoms transfer electrons to highly excited states of the highly striped high z ions giving an inverted population which produces the desired coherent x-rays. In one embodiment, a laser, light beam provides a laser spark that produces the intense burst of coherent x-rays that illuminates the mixture of high z and low z gases, whereby the high z atoms are stripped while the low z ones are not, giving the desired mixture of highly ionized and neutral atoms. To this end, the laser spark is produced by injecting a laser light beam, or a plurality of beams, into a first gas in a cylindrical container having an adjacent second gas layer co-axial therewith, the laser producing a plasma and the intense primary x-rays in the first gas, and the second gas containingmore » the high and low atomic number elements for receiving the primary x-rays, whereupon the secondary x-rays are produced therein by stripping desired ions in a neutral gas and transfer of electrons to highly excited states of the stripped ions from the unionized atoms. Means for magnetically confining and stabilizing the plasma are disclosed for controlling the direction of the x-rays.« less

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Los Angeles, CA
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC)
OSTI Identifier:
862565
Patent Number(s):
3,961,197
Application Number:
05/499221
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States Energy Research and Development Administration (Washington, DC)
DOE Contract Number:  
AT(11-1)-3073
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 1974 Aug 21
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
x-ray; generator; apparatus; method; producing; coherent; secondary; x-rays; controlled; direction; illuminating; mixture; z; gases; intense; burst; primary; produced; laser; activated; plasma; strip; electrons; atoms; lasing; medium; retain; neutral; transfer; highly; excited; striped; giving; inverted; population; produces; desired; embodiment; light; beam; provides; spark; illuminates; whereby; stripped; ones; ionized; injecting; plurality; beams; gas; cylindrical; container; adjacent; layer; co-axial; therewith; containing; atomic; elements; receiving; whereupon; therein; stripping; unionized; means; magnetically; confining; stabilizing; disclosed; controlling; coherent x-rays; neutral gas; producing coherent; laser spark; primary x-rays; gas containing; light beam; laser light; lasing medium; secondary x-rays; generator apparatus; cylindrical container; neutral atom; laser activated; intense burst; highly ionized; /378/372/376/

Citation Formats

Dawson, John M. X-ray generator. United States: N. p., 1976. Web.
Dawson, John M. X-ray generator. United States.
Dawson, John M. 1976. "X-ray generator". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862565.
@article{osti_862565,
title = {X-ray generator},
author = {Dawson, John M.},
abstractNote = {Apparatus and method for producing coherent secondary x-rays that are controlled as to direction by illuminating a mixture of high z and low z gases with an intense burst of primary x-rays. The primary x-rays are produced with a laser activated plasma, and these x-rays strip off the electrons of the high z atoms in the lasing medium, while the low z atoms retain their electrons. The neutral atoms transfer electrons to highly excited states of the highly striped high z ions giving an inverted population which produces the desired coherent x-rays. In one embodiment, a laser, light beam provides a laser spark that produces the intense burst of coherent x-rays that illuminates the mixture of high z and low z gases, whereby the high z atoms are stripped while the low z ones are not, giving the desired mixture of highly ionized and neutral atoms. To this end, the laser spark is produced by injecting a laser light beam, or a plurality of beams, into a first gas in a cylindrical container having an adjacent second gas layer co-axial therewith, the laser producing a plasma and the intense primary x-rays in the first gas, and the second gas containing the high and low atomic number elements for receiving the primary x-rays, whereupon the secondary x-rays are produced therein by stripping desired ions in a neutral gas and transfer of electrons to highly excited states of the stripped ions from the unionized atoms. Means for magnetically confining and stabilizing the plasma are disclosed for controlling the direction of the x-rays.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/862565}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976},
month = {Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1976}
}