Pulsed high voltage power supply radiography system having a one to one correspondence between low voltage input pulses and high voltage output pulses

A pulsed high voltage power supply for use in a radiography system having a non-gridded X-ray tube with an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the pulsed high voltage power supply comprising:

• a high voltage step up transformer having a primary winding with first and second ends and a secondary winding connected to at least one of the anode and cathode electrodes, wherein the high voltage step up transformer has a turns ratio of greater than about 50:1;
• a low voltage substantially direct current power source coupled to the first end of the primary winding;
• and
• a switching circuit coupled to the second end of the primary winding that generates a switching signal having a series of low voltage pulses, wherein each pulse from the series of low voltage pulses causes the high voltage step up transformer to apply a high voltage pulse to one of the anode and cathode electrodes to form a series of substantially uniform high voltage pulses across the anode and cathode electrodes and wherein the substantially uniform high voltage pulses repeat at a rate of greater than about 25 per second to form a high voltage pulse waveform having a duty cycle of less than about 20%.