Energetics X-Ray Burst Observation in the Collapse of an X-Pinch Conducted in a Small Capacitive Generator of Low Impedance

Abstract

In this paper, the experimental results of the behavior of an X-pinch plasma conducted in a small capacitive generator of low impedance and inductance are reported. The generator produces currents of the order of 120 kA in times about 500 ns, when a charging voltage of 24 kV, and wires as load are used. W, Al, and Cu X-pinches of different diameters were tested. The experimental observations show a similar global dynamic to those observed in experiments of higher current and shorter quarter period, with an intense emission of energetics X-rays (> 5 keV) generated by plasma dynamics in the cross point of wires. The fast plasma dynamic is evidenced from the strong change of frequency in the current-derivative signal, which is correlated with the X-ray signals observed from the radiation detectors. From the time-integrated pinhole images and time-integrated aperture images, filtered with different aluminum foils of different thicknesses, an estimated X-ray source size of 70 +/- 20 mu m with energies above 7 keV is obtained.