Analyzing the energy spectra of ion beams emitted from x-pinch plasma

Abstract

Summary form only given. Between the output electrodes of a 500 kV/400 kA/100 ns pulsed-power generator, two Al wires each with diameter of 10-100 mum crossing and touching at a single point constitute an x shape load. The cross position explodes first and then pinches axially to form so-called X-pinch plasma as current is delivered to the x wires. In order to analyze the energy spectra of ion beams emitted from x-pinch, a compact Thomson spectrometer was designed and constructed. It consists of an entrance window, a pair of small permanent magnets, an exit pinhole, and a high sensitive nuclear track detector of CR-39 plastic plate. Ion beams experience deflections in the electromagnetic field, and then hit the target (CR-39 plastic) at different positions and form craters, then the craters form different parabolic track with different ratio of ion mass to ion charge. By counting the track density of the parabolas, charge state resolved energy spectra of ion beams were obtained