A Gigawatt High-Voltage Generator for Coherent Soft X-Ray Generation

A fast gigawatt high-voltage generator was developed to drive an argon-filled capillary for the generation of pulses of coherent short wavelength radiation in the extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray region. A four-stage double Marx bank that is capable of delivering voltage pulses of 150 to 350 kV at 290-ns transition duration was used to pulse charge a 5-Omega-impedance water-filled pulse-forming line. A fast current pulse with amplitude ranging from 9 to 21 kA and 35-ns transition duration was generated through a 20-cm-long and 3-mm-diameter alumina channel filled with argon. Laser emissions in the Ne-like Ar at 46.9 nm have been observed in the pressure range of 0.14-0.38 mbar. It was also observed that over the spectral range from 20 to 70 nm, no other transitions, except the 46.9-nm line, experienced high gain and strong amplification.