This availability of a compact e-beam with low cost and lack of high voltage leads would be attractive for use in non-destructive evaluation (NDE), process control, and imaging. NDE applications continues to grow and place new requirements on the sources of X-rays. To evaluate thick cross sections, high energy X-rays are needed. In certain cases, access is also limited. This is especially true during periodic inspection of ships, airplanes, etc. In this SBIR Phase I proposal, a new device for the production of compact, high current (mA's), variable energy electron beams will be discussed. The device uses cyclotron acceleration of electrons. The acceleration takes place in a microwave cavity with an axial magnetic field. The resonant frequency of the cavity coincides with the electron cyclotron frequency. A high heat-flux capability target ( a heatpipe or a porous metal heat exchanger), is used to generate the X-rays. The energy of the electrons at the target may be varied by changing the radial location of the target.
