The X-ray emission from 2 kJ plasma focus and application as a backlighter

Summary form only given, as follows. Experiments were performed to characterize the X-ray emission from a small 2 kJ, 200 kA ´micro´ plasma focus. In deuterium, nitrogen, and neon discharges, the plasma focus produced a pinched plasma column, whereas in argon and xenon discharges, the focus was in the form of a series of bright spots. In these observations, the gas pressure was adjusted to give collapse at current maximum. The optimum X-ray emission of 70 J was obtained in neon discharges with a 5 cm length anode. Spectrally resolved observations show that the neon emission is mainly due to helium like 1s/sup 2/-2s2p transitions. To assess the plasma focus for X-ray backlighter applications, a wire mesh positioned 30 cm from the focus was backlit and a pinhole camera (100 m diameter) was used to image the mesh with a magnification of 2. Backlit images of carbon, aluminium and tungsten wire pinches powered by a 150 kA current generator will be presented.