Apparatus and method for inhibiting the generation of excessive radiation

An apparatus for generating electron radiation or X-ray radiation, said apparatus comprising:

• accelerator means including an electron injector for emitting injector pulses having a low intensity level in case of generation of electron radiation and having high intensity level in case of generation of X-ray radiation, an electron gun for receiving said injector pulses, a waveguide for receiving electrons from said electron injector and emitting electrons, and a high frequency source for supplying RF signals for the generation of an electric field for accelerating said electrons in said waveguide and generating said electron beam;
• sensing means coupled to said electron injector for sensing said injector pulses and generating sensing signals having a characteristic representative to the amplitude of said injector pulses;
• inhibiting means coupled to said accelerator means and responsive to said sensing signals for inhibiting the generation of said electron beam if, in case of generation of electron radiation, said sensing signal characteristic exceeds a said first reference value assigned to said low intensity level and if, in case of generation of X-ray radiation, said sensing signal characteristic exceeds said second reference value assigned to said high intensity level.

A method for preventing the generation of excessive electron radiation upon impingement of an electron beam having a predetermined intensity level on a scattering foil, said method comprising the steps of:

• sensing the amplitudes of injector pulses supplied to an electron gun which emits electrons to a waveguide for generating said electron beam;
• and inhibiting the generation of said electron beam if the amplitudes of said injector pulses exceed a first predetermined reference value assigned to said predetermined intensity level.