Method and apparatus to identify functional issues of a neutron radiation generator

1. A method comprising:

providing a radiation generator and a processor coupled to the radiation generator, wherein said radiation generator comprises an ion source for generating ions, an extractor electrode for extracting the generated ions from the ion source, an acceleration member for accelerating the extracted ions to hit a target, and a radiation detector positioned in or near the ion source for detecting

receiving, in the processor, an operation extractor signal from the extractor electrode of the radiation generator;

determining, in the processor, a calculated extractor signal of the radiation generator from at least one of an operation acceleration signal from an acceleration member of the radiation generator, an operation electron beam signal from electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator, and an ion signal of an ion beam of the radiation generator; and

comparing, in the processor, the operation extractor signal to the calculated extractor signal.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the comparing comprises subtracting the operation extractor signal from the calculated extractor signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising generating an alert when a result of the subtracting of the operation extractor signal from the calculated extractor signal exceeds a threshold value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises determining the calculated extractor signal from the operation acceleration signal from the acceleration member of the radiation generator, the operation electron beam signal from electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator, and the ion signal of the ion beam of the radiation generator.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining further comprises:

calculating a first calibration value from a calibration electron beam signal and a calibration radiation signal from a radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator; and

ascertaining the operation electron beam signal from the first calibration value and an operation radiation signal from a radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining further comprises:

calculating a second calibration value from a calibration gas pressure in a chamber of the radiation generator, a calibration grid signal from a grid of the radiation generator, and a calibration ion signal of the ion beam of the radiation generator; and

ascertaining the ion signal from the second calibration value, an operation grid signal from the grid of the radiation generator, and an operation gas pressure in the chamber.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the determining further comprises:

calculating a third calibration value from the calibration gas pressure in the chamber and a calibration radiation signal from a radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator; and

ascertaining an operation gas pressure from the third calibration value and an operation radiation signal from the radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining further comprises:

calculating a first calibration value from a calibration electron beam signal and a calibration radiation signal from a radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator;

ascertaining the operation electron beam signal from the first calibration value and an operation radiation signal from the radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator;

calculating a second calibration value from a calibration gas pressure in a chamber and the calibration radiation signal from the radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator;

ascertaining an operation gas pressure from the second calibration value and the operation radiation signal from the radiation generated by electrons backstreaming in the radiation generator;

calculating a third calibration value from the calibration gas pressure in the chamber of the radiation generator, a calibration grid signal from a grid of the radiation generator, and a calibration ion signal of the ion beam of the radiation generator; and

ascertaining the ion signal from the third calibration value, an operation grid signal, and the operation gas pressure in the chamber.