X-ray spectra from weakly ionized linear copper plasma

Abstract

In the plasma flash X-ray generator, a 200 nF condenser is charged up to 50kV by a power supply, and flash X-rays are produced by the discharging. The X-ray tube is a demountable triode with a trigger electrode, and the turbomolecular pump evacuates air from the tube with a pressure of approximately 1 mPa. Target evaporation leads to the formation of weakly ionized linear plasma, consisting of copper ions and electrons, around the fine target, and intense Kα lines are left using a 10-μm-thick nickel filter. At a charging voltage of 50 kV, the maximum tube voltage was almost equal to the charging voltage of the main condenser, and the peak current was about 16kA. The K-series characteristic X-rays were clean and intense, and higher harmonic X-rays were observed. The X-ray pulse widths were approximately 300 ns, and the time-integrated X-ray intensity had a value of approximately 1.5mGy per pulse at 1.0m from the X-ray source with a charging voltage of 50kV. © 2006 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.