Patent ID: 7277526
Filing Date: 2007-10-02
Classification: G02B,G21K,H05G,H05H

Abstract:
1. A system for generating x-rays by Compton backscattering, comprising: an electron storage ring including steering elements, focusing elements, and at least one RF cavity configured to guide and maintain an electron bunch injected into said electron storage ring in a stable and closed orbit over an extended time period sufficiently long that an injected electron bunch has at least one attribute related to the emission of x-rays by Compton backscattering that degrades after initial injection according to a time response for degradation, the electron storage ring guiding a circulating electron bunch through an interaction point disposed along a portion of said electron storage ring; an injector for injecting electron bunches into said electron storage ring; an ejector for ejecting electron bunches from said electron storage ring; an optical system generating photon pulses coupled to said interaction point, said photon pulses synchronized to interact with corresponding electron bunches at said interaction point to generate x-ray radiation via Compton backscattering; and a timing system refreshing the electron bunch stored in the electron storage ring by directing said injector and said ejector to implement a schedule to replace an electron bunch in which said at least one attribute has degraded with a fresh electron bunch to reduce the degradation of said at least one attribute related to the emission of x-rays compared with steady-state operation, the system replacing degraded electron bunches with fresh electron bunches such that the electron storage ring nearly continuously stores an electron bunch available for Compton backscattering.