PARAMETRIC STUDY OF AN X-RAY PREIONIZER WITH PLASMA CATHODE

The construction characteristics and the performances of an x-ray diod e working at 200 Hz are described. The temporal behavior of both the p lasma cathode emission and the diode discharge has been studied, inclu ding the measurements of vacuum effects on the repetition rate and lif etime capability, preionization versus electrical features, and ioniza tion density versus dosage. This simple and low-cost x-ray diode has b een used to uniformly preionize a half-liter XeCl laser, delivering an output laser energy of 800 mJ/shot at a 100 Hz repetition rate.