Abstract: A high energy imaging system provides a "slotted" or "slot-shaped" or "rectangular cross-section" beam of illumination to intercept an annular region of an object of revolution as it is rotated. A detector array is located to intercept the illumination beam emanating from the object. The detector array includes an opto-electric transducer imaging a plurality of scintillating optical fiber or fiber bundles. The optical fiber or fiber bundles are located substantially parallel to each other with longitudinal axes substantially perpendicular to the direction of the illuminating radiation and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the object being imaged.

Abstract: Computerized axial tomography is employed with respect to large relatively dense objects such as a solid fuel rocket engine. High energy X-rays, such as a 15 MeV source is used. To develop clean images, a collimator is employed with a relatively minute acceptance angle. Acceptance angles on the order to 1.degree., and in a preferred embodiment 7 minutes of a degree, are used. In a preferred embodiment, the collimator may be located between the object and the detector, although in other embodiments, a pre-collimator may also be used, that is between the X-ray source and the object being illuminated.