High-temperature capillary-discharge X-ray laser design

Summary form only given. A capillary-discharge device newly designed specifically for X-ray lasing is described. This device can deliver a >150-kA; 3-ns-risetime, 24-ns-duration current pulse through a 1-mm-diameter. 1-cm-long capillary. The power density in the plasma will be≈10¹³ W/cm³. The driver consists of a pulse-forming coaxial 6-Ω transmission line charged from a 1-MV, 25-kA. 10-stage Marx generator. This charged line overvoltages a vacuum flashover switch. which is followed by a tapered feed line to deliver a 2.5-ns-risetime current pulse. A rate of one shot every 5 to 10 min is expected. Gain can be measured by varying the length of the active plasma constituent (other conditions held constant) and by comparing axial and off-axis soft X-ray intensities. Variations on the traditional cylindrical capillary geometry include narrow radial fins into which the cooling plasma can expand