Patent ID: 6566667
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B82Y,G03F,H05G,H05H

Abstract:
A high energy photon source comprising:A a vacuum chamber, B at least two electrodes mounted coaxially within said vacuum chamber and defining an electrical discharge region and arranged to create high frequency plasma pinches at a pinch site upon electrical discharge, C a working gas comprising an active gas and a buffer gas, said buffer gas being a noble gas, and said active gas being chosen to provide light at least one spectral line, D an active gas supply system for supplying the active gas to said discharge region, and E a pulse power system providing electric pulses of at least 12 J per pulse at repetition rates of at least 2000 Hz, said system comprising: 1) a charging capacitor bank, 2) a fast charger for charging said charging capacitor bank in time periods of less than about 0.5 milliseconds, 3) a charging capacitor voltage control means for controlling the charge on the charging capacitor bank, 4) a magnetic compression circuit comprising at least one capacitor bank and at least one saturable inductor, 5) a charging capacitor bank trigger for discharging said charging capacitor bank into said magnetic compression and 6) a pulse transformer for increasing pulse voltages by at least a factor of 4 comprising at least three one-turn primary windings and a single one-turn secondary winding.