Temporal and spatial structure of the X-ray emission in a low-energy vacuum spark

Two distinct phases of X-ray emission in a small vacuum spark with a plasma trigger have been identified. The first phase of emission is associated with the trigger plasma and originates from beam-target X-rays issued from the pointed anode. The source of electrons at this period is from the trigger plasma. The second phase of emission is associated with the breakdown of the main gap. The source of X-rays is a combination of beam-target and beam-plasma X-rays. It is observed that the angular distribution is constant. The X-ray energies vary regularly with the applied voltage, and the triggered vacuum spark as a high brightness