Peculiarities of detecting pulses of runaway electrons and X-rays generated by high-voltage nanosecond discharges in open atmosphere

Journal Article · Mon Mar 15 04:00:00 EDT 2010 · Plasma Physics Reports

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063780X10030086· OSTI ID:21443587

Babich, L P; Loiko, T V ^[1]

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1. All-Russia Research Institute of Experimental Physics, Russian Federal Nuclear Center (Russian Federation)

Peculiarities of detecting pulses of high-energy runaway electrons and the accompanying X-rays generated by high-voltage nanosecond discharges at high overvoltages in dense gases are discussed. Methods for overcoming difficulties encountered in such measurements are demonstrated. Different techniques for detecting runaway electrons and X-rays generated by discharges in open atmosphere are described, and typical errors that may be done when interpreting measurement results are considered. Experiments with the use of a small-size generator of nanosecond pulses with the idle-running voltage of 250-270 kV and stored energy of {approx}0.5 J have been carried out. It is shown that, in measuring runaway electron pulses by using an experimental configuration with a grid anode, a major portion of the recorded signal is attributed to electromagnetic disturbances. It is found that X-rays are mainly generated due to the deceleration of runaway electrons in the anode, rather than in gas. The number of runaway electrons with energies {approx}300 keV does not exceed 10{sup 9} per shot, and the X-ray dose is 60-200 {mu}R/shot, depending on the anode material.

• OSTI ID: 21443587
• Journal Information: Plasma Physics Reports, Journal Name: Plasma Physics Reports Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 36; ISSN PPHREM; ISSN 1063-780X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ANODES
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTONS
PULSES
RADIATIONS
RUNAWAY ELECTRONS
X RADIATION