FILIPPOV TYPE PLASMA-FOCUS AS INTENSE SOURCE OF HARD X-RAYS (E(X)SIMILAR-OR-EQUAL-TO-50 KEV)

This paper evaluates the use of a plasma focus machine (Filippov type) as a pulsed intense source of hard X-rays. It is shown experimentally that discharging a capacitor bank of W=50 kJ in the new arrangement o f the discharge parameters, one can deliver into the test cavity (volu me of 610(3) cm(3)) an average of phi(x)=8*10(-4) J/cm(2). The delive red energy fluence varies in the range of 210(-4) J/cm(2) less than o r equal to phi(x) less than or equal to 2.9 10(-3) J/cm(2), depending on the probe position, The X-ray energy spectra were established by t he differential absorption method using thermo-luminiscent detectors ( time-integrated spectral or plastic scintillators (time-resolved spect ral, The average energy of X-ray photons is 40 keV<E(x)(av)<50 keV (20 keV less than or equal to E(x) less than or equal to 170 keV) and rem ains quasi-constant during the main part of the pulse (similar to 40 n s). The electron energy that can produce such bremsstrahlung radiation is in the range of 95 keV less than or equal to E(e) less than or equ al to 170 keV. However, time-resolved experiments reveal that at each instant of time only one energy of electron beam occurs, The aforement ioned radiation characteristics reveal new potentials for the plasma-f ocus machine for a variety of applications. Some insight into the phys ics behind production mechanism of quasi-monoenergetic relativistic-el ectron beams will be concurrently reviewed.