Abstract: A particle accelerator system for producing a charged particle beam having pulses of charged particles that have different energy levels from pulse to pulse. The system enables independent adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof without adjustment of the RF power generated by an RF source. Such independent adjustment enables the RF power provided to the first accelerating section to be maintained at a level appropriate for optimal particle capturing therein and for producing a tightly bunched beam of particles having different energy levels from pulse to pulse, while enabling the RF power provided to the second accelerating section to be varied in order to vary the energy levels of the charged particles of the charged particle beam from pulse to pulse.

Abstract: A radiographic inspection system for inspecting subject objects using charged particle beams having pulses of charged particles with different energy levels from pulse to pulse. A phase shifter thereof enables adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof from a single RF source without adjustment of the RF power generated by the RF source. The system also enables the generation of images of the contents of a container from multiple directions and in multiple planes, and allows the discrimination of materials present in the container.

Abstract: A non-intrusive inspection system, including apparatuses and methods, for non-intrusively inspecting containers such as, without limitation, those employed to transport items in international commerce. The non-intrusive inspection system is configured to generate and scan a container with multiple bremsstrahlung, or x-ray, beams having multiple spectra and directed at the container in multiple directions and planes separated by one or more angle(s). Using data collected from such scanning, software of the non-intrusive inspection system generates three-dimensional images of the items present in a container, calculates the volumes and densities of such items, computes effective “Z” numbers, and distinguishes between multiple materials, or elements, of such items.

Abstract: A cryptographic container security system for enabling the secure transportation of a container from a sender site to a receiver site. The system includes, in the exemplary embodiment, apparatuses and methods for generating pre-transportation and post-transportation fingerprints of a container being transported, for encrypting and decrypting the pre-transportation fingerprint, and for comparing pre-transportation and post-transportation fingerprints, and for comparing the decrypted pre-transportation fingerprint and the pre-transportation fingerprint. The pre-transportation and post-transportation fingerprints are generated from fingerprint data, including, without limitation, the aggregate gamma flux and aggregate effective Z-number determined for the container by multi-energy scanning systems located, respectively, at sender and receiver sites.

Abstract: A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, that is configurable through repositioning of shorting devices therein to operate at different charged particle beam currents while maintaining optimum transfer of electromagnetic power from electromagnetic waves to one or more accelerating sections thereof, and reducing or eliminating reflections of electromagnetic waves. The particle accelerator system includes at least two accelerating sections and an electromagnetic drive subsystem with portions of the electromagnetic drive subsystem being interposed physically between the accelerating sections, thereby making the particle accelerator system compact. The electromagnetic drive subsystem includes, among other components, a 3 dB waveguide hybrid junction having a coupling window in a narrow wall thereof which is shared by the junction's rectangular-shaped waveguides.

Abstract: A non-intrusive inspection system, including apparatuses and methods, for non-intrusively inspecting containers such as, without limitation, those employed to transport items in international commerce. The non-intrusive inspection system is configured to generate and scan a container with multiple bremsstrahlung, or x-ray, beams having multiple spectra and directed at the container in multiple directions and planes separated by one or more angle(s). Using data collected from such scanning, software of the non-intrusive inspection system generates three-dimensional images of the items present in a container, calculates the volumes and densities of such items, computes effective “Z” numbers, and distinguishes between multiple materials, or elements, of such items.

Abstract: A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, for producing a beam of bunched charged particles at high intensities and with minimal energy dispersion comprises a bunching section having a plurality of bunching cavities, an accelerating section having a plurality of accelerating and coupling cavities, and an electromagnetic drive subsystem having a single radio-frequency (RF) generator coupled to the accelerating section at a single location. The accelerating and bunching sections are directly coupled and share a common wall, which may have a resonant coupling cavity therein, such that charged particles bunch in the bunching section and travel through the common wall into the accelerating section where they are accelerated and exit the particle accelerator system as a beam of bunched charged particles. Preferably, a phase shift of one hundred-eighty degrees (180°) (or ? radians) is created between the electric fields of successive bunching cavities in the bunching section.

Abstract: A radiographic inspection system for inspecting subject objects using charged particle beams having pulses of charged particles with different energy levels from pulse to pulse. A phase shifter thereof enables adjustment of the RF power delivered to first and second accelerating sections thereof from a single RF source without adjustment of the RF power generated by the RF source. The system also enables the generation of images of the contents of a container from multiple directions and in multiple planes, and allows the discrimination of materials present in the container.

Abstract: A particle accelerator system, including apparatuses and methods, for producing a beam of bunched charged particles at high intensities and with minimal energy dispersion comprises a bunching section having a plurality of bunching cavities, an accelerating section having a plurality of accelerating and coupling cavities, and an electromagnetic drive subsystem having a single radio-frequency (RF) generator coupled to the accelerating section at a single location. The accelerating and bunching sections are directly coupled and share a common wall, which may have a resonant coupling cavity therein, such that charged particles bunch in the bunching section and travel through the common wall into the accelerating section where they are accelerated and exit the particle accelerator system as a beam of bunched charged particles. Preferably, a phase shift of one hundred-eighty degrees (180°) (or it radians) is created between the electric fields of successive bunching cavities in the bunching section.

Abstract: Radiation systems, including apparatuses and methods, for providing multiple independent RF electron accelerators with RF power from a single RF generator. The radiation systems may be employed in radiation treatment systems for treating subject objects by irradiating them from different directions and in inspection systems for producing images of the contents of a container or other volume in multiple planes using RF electron accelerators that receive RF electromagnetic power from a single RF generator. The radiation systems include RF drive subsystems each having a 3 dB directional coupler connected between an RF generator and RF electron accelerators. Each 3 dB directional coupler divides RF electromagnetic power received from the RF generator into equal or unequal portions for delivery to respective RF electron accelerators.

Abstract: A system, including apparatuses and methods, for removing sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) present in a stream of gases via a dual-stage irradiation process employing a pulsed electron accelerator in the first stage to remove a substantial majority of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the stream of gases before removing a substantial majority of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from the stream of gases in the second stage. In an exemplary embodiment, the system comprises a stack gas decontamination system having a reactor with a first portion in which a pulsed electron accelerator initiates a first series of ionmolecular reactions in an ammonia-rich environment to convert the sulfur dioxide (SO2) into sulfuric acid salts and a second portion in which at least one direct current electron accelerators initiates a second series of ion-molecular reactions in an ammonia-rich environment to convert the nitrogen oxides (NOx) into nitric acid salts.

Abstract: A RF linear electron accelerator system for generating a beam of accelerated electrons bunched in pulses having different energy spectra from pulse to pulse. The system is operable to generate a beam of high energy X-rays from such beam of accelerated electrons, using a conversion target, with pulses of the X-ray beam having energy spectra which are different from X-ray pulse to X-ray pulse. Preferably, the pulses of the electron beam have energy spectra which alternate from pulse to pulse and, correspondingly, the pulses of the X-ray beam have energy spectra which alternate from pulse to pulse. Also preferably, the current of electrons injected into the system's accelerating section and the frequency of the pulse RF power supplied to the accelerating section are changed in a synchronized manner to generate the electron beam. The system is employable in an inspection system for discriminating materials present in containers by atomic numbers.

Abstract: A RF linear electron accelerator system for generating a beam of accelerated electrons bunched in pulses having different energy spectra from pulse to pulse. The system is operable to generate a beam of high energy X-rays from such beam of accelerated electrons, using a conversion target, with pulses of the X-ray beam having energy spectra which are different from X-ray pulse to X-ray pulse. Preferably, the pulses of the electron beam have energy spectra which alternate from pulse to pulse and, correspondingly, the pulses of the X-ray beam have energy spectra which alternate from pulse to pulse. Also preferably, the current of electrons injected into the system's accelerating section and the frequency of the pulse RF power supplied to the accelerating section are changed in a synchronized manner to generate the electron beam. The system is employable in an inspection system for discriminating materials present in containers by atomic numbers.