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A laser driven pulsed X-ray backscatter technique for enhanced penetrative imaging

Article type: Brief Report

Authors: Deas, R.M.a | Wilson, L.A.b; * | Rusby, D.c | Alejo, A.d | Allott, R.b | Black, P.P.a | Black, S.E.a | Borghesi, M.d | Brenner, C.M.b | Bryant, J.e | Clarke, R.J.b | Collier, J.C.b | Edwards, B.f | Foster, P.b | Greenhalgh, J.b | Hernandez-Gomez, C.b | Kar, S.d | Lockley, D.a | Moss, R.M.a; g | Najmudin, Z.e | Pattathil, R.b | Symes, D.b | Whittle, M.D.a | Wood, J.C.e | McKenna, P.c | Neely, D.b; c

Affiliations: [a] Security Sciences Department, DSTL, Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK | [b] Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, UK | [c] SUPA Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK | [d] Department of Physics and Astronomy, Queens University of Belfast, Belfast, UK | [e] Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, London, UK | [f] Innovations, STFC, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, UK | [g] Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London, UK

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: L.A. Wilson, Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK. E-mail:[email protected]

Keywords: X-ray backscatter, X-ray radar, X-ray imaging systems, X-ray, detection

DOI: 10.3233/XST-150520

Journal: Journal of X-Ray Science and Technology, vol. 23, no. 6, pp. 791-797, 2015

Received 10 February 2015
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20 July 2015
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Accepted 21 August 2015
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Published: 2015
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Abstract

X-ray backscatter imaging can be used for a wide range of imaging applications, in particular for industrial inspection and portal security. Currently, the application of this imaging technique to the detection of landmines is limited due to the surrounding sand or soil strongly attenuating the 10s to 100s of keV X-rays required for backscatter imaging. Here, we introduce a new approach involving a 140 MeV short-pulse (< 100 fs) electron beam generated by laser wakefield acceleration to probe the sample, which produces Bremsstrahlung X-rays within the sample enabling greater depths to be imaged. A variety of detector and scintillator configurations are examined, with the best time response seen from an absorptive coated BaF2 scintillator with a bandpass filter to remove the slow scintillation emission components. An X-ray backscatter image of an array of different density and atomic number items is demonstrated. The use of a compact laser wakefield accelerator to generate the electron source, combined with the rapid development of more compact, efficient and higher repetition rate high power laser systems will make this system feasible for applications in the field.

Content includes material subject to Dstl (c) Crown copyright (2014). Licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@ nationalarchives.gsi.gov.uk

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