X-rays from a microsecond X-pinch

The characteristics of x-rays emitted by X-pinches driven by discharging a current of similar to 320 kA with a quarter period of 1 mu s in crossed 25 mu m wires have been investigated. The x-ray emissions are studied using filtered silicon photodiodes, diamond radiation detectors, and pinhole cameras. The results show that predominantly x-rays from the microsecond X-pinch tend to be emitted in two distinct sets of bursts. The first is predominantly soft, i.e., with photon energy h nu < 5 keV, followed by a second set of bursts beginning up to 100 ns following the initial bursts, and usually consisting of higher photon energies. Our results show, however, that the x-ray emissions do not contain a significant component with h nu > 10 keV as might be expected from electron beam activity within the plasma or from the X-pinch diode. High-resolution images obtained with the observed x-rays suggest a well-defined small source of soft x-rays that demonstrates the potential of the microsecond X-pinch. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.