Standing wave electron linear accelerator with continuously adjustable energy

A standing wave electron linear accelerating apparatus comprising:

• an electron gun configured to generate electron beams;
• a first pulse power source configured to provide a first pulse power signal;
• a second pulse power source configured to provide a second pulse power signal;
• a first accelerating tube arranged downstream from the electron gun, coupled to the first pulse power source and configured to accelerate the electron beams with the first pulse power signal;
• a second accelerating tube arranged downstream from the first accelerating tube, and configured to receive the second pulse power signal from the second pulse power source and accelerate the electron beams with the second pulse power signal;
• a phase shifter coupled to an output of the first pulse power source and/or output of the second pulse power source and configured to continuously adjust a phase difference between the first pulse power signal and the second pulse power signal so as to generate accelerated electron beams with continuously adjustable energy at an output of the second accelerating tube;
• and
• a target arranged downstream from the second accelerating tube and configured to be hit by the accelerated electron beams to generate X-rays;
• wherein the target is mounted on a rotatable base so that an angle of an incident direction of the accelerated electron beams with respect to a surface of the target varies with the energy of the electron beams;
• wherein the target is mounted in a vacuum box that is fixed on the rotatable base, wherein the side of the vacuum box includes an X-ray window and the second accelerating tube is coupled to the vacuum box via a corrugated pipe.

A method for use in a standing wave electron linear accelerating apparatus comprising steps of:

• generating electron beams;
• accelerating the electron beams with a first pulse power signal in a first accelerating tube;
• accelerating the electron beams with a second pulse power signal in a second accelerating tube which is arranged downstream from the first accelerating tube;
• continuously adjusting a phase difference between the first pulse power signal and the second pulse power signal so as to generate accelerated electron beams with continuously adjustable energy at an output of the second accelerating tube;
• and
• hitting a target arranged downstream from the second accelerating tube with the accelerated electron beams to generate X-rays,
• wherein the target is mounted on a rotatable base so that an angle of an incident direction of the accelerated electron beams with respect to a surface of the target varies with the energy of the electron beams,
• wherein the target is mounted in a vacuum box that is fixed on the rotatable base, wherein the side of the vacuum box includes an X-ray window and the second accelerating tube is coupled to the vacuum box via a corrugated pipe.