Modeling of pseudospark pulsed plasma x-ray generation for portable medical devices

Summary form only given. Modern x-ray devices typically rely on a high energy electron beam impinging on a target. Thermal requirements, due to the high energy source, impede the miniaturization of these devices to be used in portable applications. Plasma-based electron sources allow the generation of bremsstrahlung radiation while reducing the necessary beam power. Therefore, an investigation of pseudospark pulsed plasma x-ray generation will be conducted. Modeling of this device will be conducted in two stages. First, a plasma model of the pseudospark electron beam will be simulated using XOOPIC to determine the beam spot-size and amount of current impinging on a high-Z material target. Second, the Integrated TIGER Series (ITS) codes will be used to determine bremsstrahlung x-ray energies, spot-size and direction. Modeling results will be used to optimize a portable medical imaging device.