The X-ray emission from vacuum discharge micro fragments at comparatively low applied voltages

The temporal evolution of X-ray emission of laser-induced discharges was in vestigated by means of a picosecond X-ray streak camera, Point-like structu res with a divergence of order 10(-7) and thin hot layers of intense X-ray radiation with life time from 30 ps to 1.5 ns in spectral range 100 eV-10 k eV have been found in a comparatively low voltage vacuum discharge (U = 150 V-2.7 kV) initiated by picosecond laser beam. Computer simulation shows th at such X-ray generation is connected with a matter transition into extreme states when in local microvolumes of dense current carrying plasma the pre ssures can exceed values of 5 Mbar and the specific internal energies epsil on greater than or equal to 1 MJ/g.