Safety question re electron beam curing device: dark current

[Lester.Slaback@nist.gov]

For those in the accelerator HP arena the following is obvious, but to
state the obvious....

Under certain conditions almost any accelerator, and particularly electron
 linear accelerators, can have a 'dark current' that can present very high
dose rates.  The Gaithersburg accident (1993 citation) is only the most
obvious evidence.  The manufacturer should be very specific about
maintenance procedures for the machine.  But basically if you have an
accelerating condition (high voltage or RF on) you certainly can have dark
current.  Even with that off the electron source can be a radiation
source.  All modes of operation and maintenance should be carefully
evaluated (analyzed on paper and surveyed).

-- 
the above are the personal musing of the author,
and do not represent any past, current, or future
position of NIST, the U.S. Government, or anyone else
who might think that they are in a position of authority.
NBSR Health Physics
NIST
Gaithersburg, MD 20899
301 975-5810
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Lester.Slaback@nist.gov
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