Application of compact laser-driven accelerator X-ray sources for industrial imaging

摘要

X-rays generated by betatron oscillations of electrons in a laser-driven plasma accelerator were characterised and applied to imaging industrial samples. With a 125TW laser, a low divergence beam with 5.2 ± 1.7 ×107 photons mrad_2 per pulse was produced with a synchrotron spectrum with a critical energy of 14.6 ±1.3 keV. Radiographs were obtained of a metrology test sample, battery electrodes, and a damage site in a composite material. These results demonstrate the suitability of the source for non-destructive evaluation applications. The potential for industrial implementation of plasma accelerators is discussed.