inventions and innovations in science 239
FIGURE 11.9
A solution to the academia–industry–investor puzzle — work on
three designs of compact X-ray sources.
A solution to the academia–industry–investor puzzle involving work on three designs of compact X-ray sources is
illustrated in Fig. 11.9.
Compton X-ray sources — the first type of source in the
solved puzzle — are now actively being developed and are a
lower-risk investment for industrial use. Yet a more challenging, but promising, Compton source requires superconduct- How to solve the academia–
ing acceleration to allow for a much higher electron beam cur- industry–investor puzzle? Workrent and X-ray brightness. This second option resides in the ing on a portfolio of compact
middle of the range for both the projected availability and light sources may give an anrisk/return.
swer.
The most challenging, but also the most promising source
is an X-ray source based on laser plasma acceleration — initially a betatron source, and ultimately, perhaps in less than a
decade, a free electron laser. If we properly schedule the relative progression of the different stages of research and development for these three types of X-ray sources, we could
balance the typical risks associated with the development of
innovative products, and the opportunities they offer.
Such work on compact X-ray sources fits into to the preferred direction of the Pasteur quadrant. Moreover, research
and development in this direction may result in the creation
FIGURE 11.9
A solution to the academia–industry–investor puzzle — work on
three designs of compact X-ray sources.
A solution to the academia–industry–investor puzzle involving work on three designs of compact X-ray sources is
illustrated in Fig. 11.9.
Compton X-ray sources — the first type of source in the
solved puzzle — are now actively being developed and are a
lower-risk investment for industrial use. Yet a more challenging, but promising, Compton source requires superconduct- How to solve the academia–
ing acceleration to allow for a much higher electron beam cur- industry–investor puzzle? Workrent and X-ray brightness. This second option resides in the ing on a portfolio of compact
middle of the range for both the projected availability and light sources may give an anrisk/return.
swer.
The most challenging, but also the most promising source
is an X-ray source based on laser plasma acceleration — initially a betatron source, and ultimately, perhaps in less than a
decade, a free electron laser. If we properly schedule the relative progression of the different stages of research and development for these three types of X-ray sources, we could
balance the typical risks associated with the development of
innovative products, and the opportunities they offer.
Such work on compact X-ray sources fits into to the preferred direction of the Pasteur quadrant. Moreover, research
and development in this direction may result in the creation