Flash x-ray source of intense nanosecond pulses produced at high repetition rates

Abstract

Described here is a repetitively pulsed, flash x-ray source capable of emitting 35-mW average power in 6-ns pulses of radiation near 1.5 A. From this device a significant fraction of the output is represented by the K lines of copper, so that in less than 1 min of experimental time a peak spectral density is radiated that exceeds 2×1017 keV/keV. For some applications this device can offer a laboratory alternative to laser plasma x rays or synchrotron radiation.