Diode for flash radiography
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsRaymond J. Allen, Gerald Cooperstein, Joseph W. Schumer
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Abstract
A flash radiography diode includes a cathode and an anode. The cathode includes a frustum member with a bore extending through the frustum member. The anode is a tapered anode made of an electrically conductive material and oriented toward the cathode. The anode and the cathode are housed in a chamber with a gap between the anode and the cathode. The cathode is configured to emit electrons to the tapered anode, which electrons strike the anode and create an anode plasma. The anode plasma creates X rays which propagate from the anode.
Claims34
A flash radiography diode, comprising:
- a cathode comprising a frustum member with a bore extending through the frustum member;
- a tapered anode comprising an electrically conductive material, the cathode and the tapered anode housed in a chamber, wherein the cathode is configured to emit an electrical pulse to the tapered anode;
- and
- a gap between the tapered anode and the frustum member.
A method of operating a flash radiography diode, comprising:
- providing an electrical pulse from a voltage pulse generator to a cathode;
- propagating electrons from an outer surface of a frustum member of the cathode across a gap to a tapered anode;
- and
- emitting an X ray from a tip of the tapered anode through a bore in the cathode, the bore comprising a smaller diameter close to the tapered anode and a larger diameter further from the tapered anode.
A method of generating ions, comprising:
- providing an electrical pulse from a voltage pulse generator;
- propagating electrons from a cathode to an anode, the cathode connected to the voltage pulse generator and the anode comprising an element to be ionized;
- and
- ionizing gas molecules emitted from the anode surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.