Observations of soft x-ray production in the speed 2 plasma focus

Abstract

A new soft x-ray source has been developed and investigated. Argon is injected into a plasma focus through a hole in the anode. The pinch emits several Joules per shot of soft x rays at λ<0.5 nm from multiple micropinches well aligned along the axis of symmetry. When viewed end-on the pinch appears as a small source of 700 μm diam. The micropinches have the following characteristics: Range of size 40–250 μm (depending on radiation wavelength), density 1028 m−3, temperature 1.5 keV, and lifetime typically less than 1 ns. The helium-like emission from single micropinches lasts for 250 ps only, which is much shorter than previously reported.