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A Compact, Portable, Low-Voltage Linear Photoelectron Accelerator

Technology Benefits

Advantages:Low voltageDecreased design and operating costsCompact and portableIncreased energy and flux Potential Applications:Radiation for:Radiosurgery devices (less size constraints on equipment)Tabletop and lab-on-a-chip devicesImaging of containers and packages for security applicationsOn-site scientific, industrial, art, and archeological materials analysisNon-destructive materials analysisOn-site medical x-ray imaging of injuriesMaterial surface modification and isotope manufacturing

Detailed Technology Description

None

Application No.

20160035449

Others

State Of Development

An experiment for proof-of-concept has recently been completed.

Background

Electromagnetic radiation generators are in high demand in the scientific, industrial, and medical field. For example, radiation generators with high energy and flux are necessary for stereotactic radiosurgery, such as the CyberKnife, where targeted tissue can be destroyed without the need for surgical incision. The ideal generator is portable, compact, low-voltage, and produces radiation of sufficient energy and flux. While compact mechanoluminescent x-ray generators have recently been demonstrated, they have been fundamentally limited in their energy and flux. Various types of linear accelerators are capable of producing radiation with sufficient energy and flux, but their size limits their portability and use. A compact, portable, low-voltage, linear accelerator could produce radiation of sufficient energy and flux for a variety of medical, scientific, industrial, and security needs.

Innovation

Professor Putterman and colleagues have developed a compact, portable, low-voltage, linear accelerator that circumvents the limitations seen in mechanoluminescent x-ray generators. Using a novel technique based on triboelectricity to produce a strong electric field, electrons are seeded into the field using a secondary electron source. By using a secondary source, the driving electric field and resulting radiation energy can be increased. Furthermore, the flux generated can approach the theoretical limit based on the triboelectric charge density. This low-voltage solution will enable the development of highly compact and portable linear accelerators with much higher radiation energy and flux than achievable with the currently available mechanoluminescent x-ray generators.

Related Materials

Hird, J. R., Camara, C. G., Putterman, S. J., "A triboelectric x-ray source," Applied Physics Letters, vol.98, no.13, pp.133501,133501, 2011
Camara, C. G.; Escobar, J. V., Hird, J. R., Putterman S. J., "Correlation between nanosecond x-ray flashes and stick-slip friction in peeling tape," Nature, vol. 455, issue 7216, pp.1089-1092, 2008
Camara, C. G., Escobar, J. V., Hird, J. R., Putterman, S. J., "Mechanically driven millimeter source of nanosecond X-ray pulses," Applied Physics B, vol. 99, no. 4, pp. 613-617, 2010

Additional Technologies by these Inventors

• Observation of Nuclear Fusion Driven by a Pyroelectric Crystal
• Ferroelectric Electron and Ion Generator for Small Applications

Tech ID/UC Case

23677/2012-105-0

Related Cases

2012-105-0

*Abstract

UCLA researchers in the department of Physics and Astronomy have developed a pocket-sized linear accelerator based on the novel triboelectric effect.

*IP Issue Date

Feb 4, 2016

*Principal Investigator

Name: Jonathan Hird

Department:

Name: Brian Naranjo

Department:

Name: Seth Putterman

Department:

Country/Region

USA