X-ray Flashes and Pulsating Electron Flow in X-Ray Generators Based on SBN-61 Crystals

Abstract

In an X-ray generator based on a ferroelectric crystal of barium-strontium niobate Sr0.61Ba0.39Nb2O6 (SBN-61) at a temperature of about 50oC, pulsations of the electron flux and X-ray radiation were detected with an increase in gas pressure in the range 2·10-2-10-1 Torr. The electron flux had the shape of a cross in the crystal plane. The flash duration did not exceed 0.04 seconds. The pulsation period varied from 0.2 seconds at the beginning and up to 5-10 s at the end at a pressure of ~0.1 Torr. The observed effect is explained by the movement of domain boundaries on the depolarized crystal face in vacuum conditions, resulting in a large surface charge and, accordingly, an electric potential, leading to the formation of a pulsed electron flux. Keywords: X-ray radiation, electron flux, SBN-61 crystal, ferroelectric domains.