The Next Generation of MeV Energy X-ray Sources for use in the Inspection of Additively Manufactured Parts for Industry

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel high-energy X-ray source based on laser-plasma acceleration for inspecting additively manufactured metal parts, offering improved imaging capabilities over traditional methods.

Contribution

It introduces the first application of an inverse Compton scattering X-ray source driven by laser-plasma acceleration for industrial component imaging.

Findings

Produced 380 keV X-rays for imaging

Successfully imaged Inconel 718 parts

Potential for enhanced inspection of superalloy components

Abstract

For the first time, we demonstrate the application of an inverse Compton scattering X-ray Source, driven by a laser-plasma accelerator, to image an additively manufactured component. X-rays with a mean energy of 380 keV were produced and used to image an additively manufactured part made of an Inconel (Nickel 718) alloy. Because inverse Compton scattering driven by laser-plasma acceleration produces high-energy X-rays while maintaining a focal spot size on the order of a micron, the source can provide several benefits over conventional X-ray production methods, particularly when imaging superalloy parts, with the potential to revolutionise what can be inspected.