Accelerated electrons and hard X-ray emission from X-pinches

Hard X-rays from hybrid X pinches

“…On the other hand the hard x-ray images (Eγ>11 keV) made with an Al filter 400µm thick have very different quality. In the case of the standard X pinch, the contrast and spatial resolution of the images are very low as was typically observed with standard X pinches in the past [4,5]. In the HXP image, the mesh is clearly seen and spatial resolution is much better.…”

“…Higher energy X-ray radiation in the 8-100 keV range is also emitted [4,5]. In a standard X-pinch, beginning immediately after the soft X-ray burst, this higher energy ("hard") X-ray radiation is emitted which is attributed to energetic electrons accelerated in the gap that develops in the plasma at the X-pinch cross point immediately after the X-ray burst.…”

“…The first one lasts 1-2 ns and occurs as the gap opens up after the hot spot radiative explosion. The second hard X-ray component is associated with the completion of the gap opening up to form a "minidiode" between dense plasma electrodes, lasts more than 10 ns and has much bigger spatial dimensions [4,5]. Thus, electron beams are an inherent attribute of an X pinch because they are always present to a larger or smaller extent in all X pinch experiments, and so studies of such beams are necessary to better understand X-pinch dynamics at the time of, and immediately after the soft X-ray burst.…”

Magnetized hybrid X-pinch

“…In the MHXP with the Bz configuration, the bright radiating spot was more likely to be observed on the cathode side of the diode gap, but the resulting plasma conditions did not reach parameters required to be considered a "hot spot" (small size, short lifetime, intense continuum) as defined in references [4,5]. Most of the radiation was caused by accelerated electrons in minidiode [6,7]. Better results were obtained in the MHXP with the "cusp" configuration both on the XP (Fig.…”

Investigation of High-Temperature Bright Plasma X-ray Sources Produced in 5-MA X-Pinch Experiments

“…5 that is consistent with a time-integrated 6-9 keV source size of 5 µm diameter. The slit measurements were very difficult to obtain due to background from high-energy diffuse sources (e.g., post-pinch electron beams [27,28]), so only some tests succeeded in this direct measurement.…”