Scaling to high average powers of a flash x-ray source producing nanosecond pulses

Abstract

Described here is the scaling of a repetitively pulsed, flash x-ray source to yield 140-mW average power in 15-ns pulses of radiation near 1 Å. Interchangeability of discharge anodes has provided for a significant fraction of the output to be extracted in the K lines of Cu, Mo, Nb, and Ag. In less than 1 min of experimental time, a peak spectral density is radiated that exceeds 1×1018 keV/keV. For some applications this device can offer a tabletop alternative to laser plasma x rays and to synchrotron radiation.