EVIDENCE OF X-RAY EMISSION FROM AN ULTRA MINIATURE PINCH FOCUS DISCHARGE OPERATING OF AT 0.1 JOULES: NANOFOCUS

Abstract

Experiments in hydrogen have been developed in an ultra miniature device for pinch discharges (nanofocus NF: 5nF, 5–10kV, 5–10kA, 60–250 mJ, 16 ns time to peak current). Sub-millimetric anode radii covered by coaxial insulators were used in the experiments. Evidence of pinch was observed in electrical signals in discharges operating at ?100 mJ. A single-frame image converter camera (4 ns exposure) was used to obtain plasma images in the visible range. The dynamic observed from the photographs is consistent with a dynamic observed in conventional plasma focus discharges. In this article evidence of X-rays emission from this ultraminiature pinch plasma focus device that operates at only 100mJ per shot is shown.