Moderate energy flash x rays with large dose‐area product produced by Aurora

Compton backscatter of Aurora’s flash gamma rays produces a pulse of moderate energy x rays over a 1 m2 area, dose per shot of 25 Gy (2.5 krad), and uniformity better than 20%. The x‐ray spectrum is similar to direct bremsstrahlung from a 1‐MeV electron beam, with an additional low‐amplitude tail of high‐energy photons beyond 1 MeV. Advantages of the Compton backscatter technique over direct bremsstrahlung include a high shot rate, 6–8 shots per day at Aurora, and a spectrum that does not vary during the shot or from shot to shot.