TOMSK, Aug 1 – RIA Tomsk. "To transilluminate" the truck for only a few seconds and to
precisely define the forbidden substance hidden in baggage - Tomsk betatrons
are able to do that.
Customs complexes where
betatrons of Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) are the source of radiation can
be met on transport hubs of Russia, Great Britain, America, China, Germany and
other countries today. The equipment allows to see objects, as they say,
through and by that it helps in fight against terrorist threat.
The director of Institute of
Non-Destructive Testing Valery Borikov and the head of the Betatrons
Development Laboratory Valery Kasyanov told RIA Tomsk about the past and the
present, about disappointments and progress of the Tomsk center of the
betatronbuilding.
Intra vision
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In simple terms betatrons are
the "heart" of devices which are used for research of internal
structure of objects. By means of such installation it is possible to consider,
for example, from within the automobile engine, to see whether there are defects.
Experts call it "non-destructive control".
As it is specified in various
technical reference books, the betatron is a cyclic accelerator of electrons.
In it "electrons accelerate on a circular orbit to their deviation on a
target for creation of high-energy x-ray radiation". The first working
betatron was created in 1940-1941.
"In the 1940-1950th years
betatrons endured the real boom. It seemed that they could possible solve all
essential problems of a non-destructive testing and beam medicine. In Tomsk the
formation of betatrons is connected with a name of the rector Alexander
Vorobyov (the rector of Tomsk Polytechnic Institute from 1944 to 1970)", –
Kasyanov remembers.
Works were carried out at
first at physics and technology faculty, then at Institute of a non-destructive
testing of TPU. In 2010 it received the new name – Institute of Non-Destructive
Testing.
"The non-destructive
testing is a look inside, intra vision, and non-destructive control is "to
look at object, without destroying it". In fact, this is the same", –
Borikov says.
Competitors
According to Tomsk experts,
betatrons developed all these years. Works didn't stop even when accelerators
of other type – linear were around the world demanded. Kasyanov explains that
often "linears" are more powerful, and the used energy is stronger,
the received image of object is more accurate. At the same time linear
accelerators aren't suitable for universal application.
According to Borikov, linear
accelerators now are very expensive, especially of foreign production. In them
it is used difficult and high culture of production demanding technique of
ultrahigh frequencies.
Counter-terrorism
Kasyanov also considers that
betatrons experience a rebirth now.
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"It is connected with the
fact that there was a scope shift. If before they were used generally for
non-destructive control of products, then now it is anti-terrorism. The known
events in America (acts of terrorism) have given an impetus to development of
systems of examination of the person, transport, baggage. In this area
betatrons have occupied a strong niche", – Kasyanov tells.
"The big capacities, as
in "linears" aren't required. It is impossible to burn down people
with radiation, it has to be small, but its energy – has to be high. It is also
the advantage of betatrons – in their small dimensions it is possible to make
high energy, the picture will be good", – the scientist continues.
Residents of Tomsk received
the first big order for these purposes from Germany. Since 2000 TPU put
betatrons for customs complexes of the Smith Heimann GmbH company - about 100
pieces. The company releases among other things x-ray monitoring systems for
check of baggage, goods, containers and trucks.
"These betatrons are also
now used for viewing of transport. Since then it's tied up with this affairs,
the flow of customers begun. Now the institute has a good package of orders,
one may say, that we are even overloaded with work", – Kasyanov shares.
According to him, the main
consumers of Tomsk betatrons – are Great Britain, India, Germany, China. Many
companies make the latest customs complexes which deliver worldwide on the
basis of betatrons.
"The Russian market lags
behind. Our main consumers – the Russian federal nuclear centers of Sarov and
Snezhinsk. Betatrons are necessary to them for defectoscopy. We interact with
the Moscow companies, we work with military units and so on", – the
director of Institute of Non-Destructive Testing comments.
In general, from all volume of
the betatrons assembled in TPU, for the radiographic equipment there are about
15% of production.
"Diagnosis"
according to the picture
Tomsk Polytechnic University
together with Moscow Technological University created the first domestic
customs complex for heavy-load cars. "It was applied at the Sochi Olympic
Games. Final manufacturers of the complex are Muscovites. But its
"heart" – from Tomsk", – Borikov told.
Now two large installations
with Tomsk betatrons are involved on construction of Krymsky Bridge for
examination of trucks with construction materials.
"As a rule, we make the
"heart" – the betatron itself. But we can deliver, of course, and all
installation entirely. However for partners it is unprofitable. It is much more
favorable to produce a final complex on site", – he continues.
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Except betatrons TPU also
delivers specialized software.
"It allows to find by
means of our unique algorithms not only the unlawful inclusion (in baggage) –
as the weapon, for example, but also to define substance. That is it is
possible to determine nuclear number of this substance by the received picture,
and to further tell that it is water, explosive, gasoline and so on", – the
director of Institute of Non-Destructive Testing comments.
Five types of
"heart"
"We distinguish five
types of betatrons for the customers. The first one – is for carrying out
physical experiments. These are betatrons for Snezhinsk and Sarov. The second one
– is for the flaw detection equipment. Special demand at India: they conduct
active construction, and it is necessary to check support of bridges, iron
designs, also they are used for molding control", – Borikov tells.
The third type – are betatrons
for an inspection and customs complex. The fourth one – for tomographic
systems.
"All know what the
tomography is. People do it when are ill. Cars and products "are ill"
too. To look in what the problem is, the industrial tomograph is necessary.
With its help it is possible to see the car engine, the rocket assembled.
Anything", – the scientist explains.
The fifth type of betatrons
allows to treat oncological diseases.
"In scientific research
institute of oncology in Tomsk installation for intraoperative radiation works.
In due time we did installations for the English hospital, for the Chelyabinsk
oncology dispensary", – Kasyanov remembers.
"Cancer would always be
treated in the operational way if it was possible just to cut out a tumor and
not to leave any cancer cell. But how many it's need to cut out? If it's not
enough – it's again cancer, if you cut too much – it's hard to the person. And
there is an intraoperative radiation: there is an operation, the tumor cleans
up, in its bed obviously high dose of radiation "is rolled", cancer
cells are killed", – the scientist explains.
Babies and giants
"Our betatrons are
successful. They are cheaper than analogs. "Linears" cost under two
million euros. The betatron for complexes of the Sochi Olympic Games cost, for
example, 140 thousand dollars. We have orders, we are busy", – Borikov
tells.
He adds that many companies
prefer to make customs complexes on the basis of Tomsk betatrons just because
such equipment is simple in service and consumes an energy minimum. For
example, the tiny mobile customs complex with the betatron "eats"
energy as two electric kettles – about four kilowatts.
"The smallest
installation with the betatron – is the complex on 2,5 megaelectronvolts (MEV).
In comparison with other installations, this is the baby. It is used for
research of joints of pipes in petrochemical branch, on the nuclear reactor.
Our biggest betatron – on 10 MEV, weighs 170 kilograms. British have bought big
party, Russia takes it. Now we do two similar installations for China", –
he continues.
"All consider that we sit
and we just do the betatron which was created 50 years ago. It is not true. The
betatron – is the unique machine which develops as the child. The future will
show how this "child" can help people", – the scientist
summarizes.
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