Traveling Wave LINAC Pulse Width Modulation for X-Ray Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dual energy x-ray inspection systems using standing wave linear accelerators are vulnerable to frequency and power jitter, leading to unstable beam energy and image artifacts, resulting in false positives and negatives during cargo inspection.
Innovation Solution
A traveling wave linear accelerator (TW LINAC) is configured to modulate pulse-to-pulse intensity by adjusting electron beam pulse width and injection time, ensuring energy stability and reducing beam loading transients, using an electron gun modulator and intensity controller to generate x-rays with varied intensities while maintaining constant energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a standing wave LINAC is used to generate x-rays for cargo inspection, then the system can provide high energy output for penetration, but the beam energy becomes unstable due to frequency and power jitter, causing image artifacts and false positives/negatives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters of the LINAC by transitioning from standing wave mode to traveling wave mode, and by dynamically adjusting pulse width and injection timing parameters to optimize beam energy stability while maintaining high power output for cargo inspection applications
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic control of the electron beam by continuously adjusting pulse width and injection timing based on real-time conditions, allowing the LINAC to adapt and maintain stable beam energy despite variations in operating conditions, thereby reducing image artifacts and false positives/negatives
2Measurement precision
If the x-ray dosage is varied to inspect dense cargo, then the inspection accuracy for dense materials improves, but the beam intensity becomes difficult to control precisely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control mechanisms that monitor beam intensity and automatically adjust pulse width and injection timing to achieve the desired dosage levels for inspecting dense cargo, making the system easier to operate while maintaining high inspection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic modulation of the electron beam pulse width and injection timing to vary x-ray dosage in a controlled manner, enabling precise intensity control for different cargo densities through rhythmic adjustments rather than continuous manual intervention
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dual energy LINAC is used to discriminate materials by Z number, then the material identification capability improves, but the system complexity increases and becomes more vulnerable to energy jitter
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single LINAC system capable of performing multiple functions by enabling it to operate at different energies and pulse widths, effectively replacing the need for separate single-energy and dual-energy systems while reducing overall system complexity and vulnerability to jitter
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the x-ray inspection process into multiple pulses with different energy levels and pulse widths, allowing material discrimination capability to be achieved through temporal separation of different energy measurements rather than requiring a permanently complex dual-energy configuration
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The TW LINAC achieves stable energy output for electron beams with varied intensities, reducing false positives and negatives, and enhancing the accuracy of cargo inspection by suppressing beam loading transients and maintaining energy stability.
Implementation Method 1
traveling wave linear accelerator (TW LINAC) is configured to modulate pulse-to-pulse intensity while outputting energy stable electron beams
Implementation Method 2
beams of electrons accelerated by the LINAC are directed at the sample or object of interest... These x-rays may be generated by directing the electron beams from the LINAC at an x-ray emitting target
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are systems and methods for operating a traveling wave linear accelerator to generate stable electron beams at two or more different intensities by varying the number of electrons injected into the accelerator structure during each pulse by varying the width of the beam pulse, i.e., pulse width.