Fast plasma discharge capillary design as a high power throughput soft x-ray emission source
- Facultad de Fisica, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Ave. Vicuna Mackenna 4860, Santiago (Chile)
We present the experimental details and results from a low energy but high repetition rate compact plasma capillary source for extreme ultraviolet and soft x-ray research and applications. Two lengths of capillary are mounted in two versions of a closely related design. The discharge operates in 1.6 and 3.2 mm inner diameter alumina capillaries of lengths 21 and 36 mm. The use of water both as dielectric and as coolant simplifies the compact low inductance design with nanosecond discharge periods. The stored electrical energy of the discharge is approximately 0.5 J and is provided by directly charging the capacitor plates from an inexpensive insulated-gate bipolar transistor in 1 {mu}s or less. We present characteristic argon spectra from plasma between 30 and 300 A as well as temporally resolved x-ray energy fluence in discrete bands on axis. The spectra also allow the level of ablated wall material to be gauged and associated with useful capillary lifetime according to the chosen configuration and energy storage. The connection between the electron beams associated with the transient hollow cathode mechanism, soft x-ray output, capillary geometry, and capillary lifetime is reported. The role of these e-beams and the plasma as measured on-axis is discussed. The relation of the electron temperature and the ionization stages observed is discussed in the context of some model results of ionization in a non-Maxwellian plasma.
- OSTI ID:
- 22055724
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 81, Issue 9; Other Information: (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ARGON
CAPACITORS
CAPILLARIES
DIELECTRIC MATERIALS
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON BEAMS
ELECTRON TEMPERATURE
ENERGY STORAGE
EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
HOLLOW CATHODES
INDUCTANCE
IONIZATION
PLASMA
PLASMA PRODUCTION
SOFT X RADIATION
TRANSISTORS
X-RAY SOURCES