Cautions in using x-ray measurements derived from broad spectral response functions to determine the peak voltage of flash bremsstrahlung sources

摘要

Because a direct measurement of the voltage (V) is pulsed power bremsstrahlung sources can be difficult, the energy spectrum of X- rays emitted is sometimes used to infer V. Both the voltage and current in such sources vary with time. Moreover, for modern x-ray simulators with multiple cathodes, multiple voltages may exist simultaneously. We demonstrate here how such sources lead to systematic errors in several types of simple-to-field x-ray voltage measurements, especially those with broad spectral response functions, when calibrated against constant-potential bremsstrahlung spectra. 11 refs.