Intense, energetic electron beam assisted X-ray generator

Claim 1

An electron beam assisted x-ray generator comprising a plasma generator; a source of high energy electrons; and a sealed beam forming and guiding section interconnecting said source of high energy electrons and said plasma generator; and control means for the plasma generator, the sealed beam forming and guiding section, and the source of high energy electrons, said plasma generator having a chamber therein that is filled with a gas including hydrogen and said gas being subjected to high Z material in said plasma generator chamber to cause x-rays to be produced from the interaction of a hot plasma produced by the plasma generator and electrons from said source of high energy electrons, said beam forming and guiding section being a sealed linear pinch tube device and said control means for said beam forming and guiding section and said plasma generator including a chargeable capacitor bank for each of said beam forming and guiding section and said plasma generator, and control means for simultaneously firing each said capacitor bank to cause said plasma generator to produce a plasma and said sealed linear pinch tube device to produce a current sheath for guiding electrons from said source of high energy electrons to said hot plasma, said control means for said source of high energy electrons including means responsive to the current sheath produced in said sealed linear pinch tube device to cause said source of high energy electrons to be emitted in reponse to a predetermined current sheath condition being established, and said sealed linear pinch tube device being filled with a gas selected from argon and helium.