Design and development of a portable flash X-ray source driven by battery powered compact Marx generator

The design, construction and operational characteristics of a portable flash X-ray source driven by battery-powered compact Marx is reported. The novel configuration of compact Marx utilizes hollow capacitors in successive stages to enhance the erection reliability. The characteristic impedance of this system is ~200Ω. At discharge of ~22kV, >200kV output pulse of 60ns duration (FWHM) with rise time of <;5ns (10%-90%) is produced. The pulser requires Nitrogen gas pressurization up to 3atm for operation at maximum rating. The Marx generator assembly is fitted in to a stainless steel tube of 10cm diameter and 1.2m length. While using a demountable sealed X-ray tube of matched impedance, this device produces an X-ray pulse of approximately ~30ns duration and has maximum energy of ~200keV. This true tabletop device is able to produce dose up to 100mR per shot, measured at the distance of 30cm from output window. The focal spot size has been passively confirmed to be in the sub-millimeter (<;1mm) range.