Patent ID: 6075838
Filing Date: 2000-06-13
Classification: H05G

Abstract:
A plasma X-ray source comprising:a chamber defining a pinch region having a central axis;a gas supply for introducing a gas mixture, comprising a primary X-radiating gas and a low atomic number diluent gas, into said pinch region;a preionizing device disposed in proximity to said pinch region for preionizing the gas mixture in said pinch region to form a plasma shell that is symmetrical around said central axis; anda pinch anode and a pinch cathode disposed at opposite ends of said pinch region for producing a current through said plasma shell in an axial direction and for producing an azimuthal magnetic field in said pinch region in response to application of a high energy electrical pulse to said pinch anode and said pinch cathode, whereby said azimuthal magnetic field causes said plasma shell to collapse to said central axis and to generate X-rays in a spectral range from 100 angstroms to 150 angstroms.