A Compact 5 MeV S-Band Electron Linac Based X-Ray Source for Industrial Radiography

A compact and reliable X-ray source, based on a 5 MeV, 1 kW, S-band electron linac, has been set up at the Dipartimento di Fisica, Universit´a di Messina. This source, coupled with a GOS scintillator screen and a CCD camera, represents an innovative transportable system for industrial radiography and X-ray tomography. Optimization of the parameters influencing the e-γ conversion and the X-ray beam characteristics have been studied by means of the MCNP-4C2 (Monte-Carlo-N-Particle, version 4C2) code. The converter choice is the result of the study of the e-γ conversion performances for different materials and material thicknesses. Also the converter position with respect to the linac exit window has been studied. The chosen converter consists in a W-Cu target inserted close to the linac window. In the final source project, a collimation system provides a 14 cm diameter X-ray spot at the sample position, and preliminary radiographic results have been obtained by inspecting different density materials and thicknesses.