Enhanced Soft X-Ray Emission in a Dense Plasma Focus with Additional HighZGas Puff

Abstract

A plasma focus device with a fast acting valve is designed for additional high z gas puff and is successfully operated to produce intense soft X-rays. Using the fast acting valve, high z gas is injected to the pinch region just before the discharge to decouple the initial phase for the current sheath formation from the pinch formation phase. Quantitative measurement of soft X-ray intensity and the observation of the plasma behavior were simultaneously carried out for the additional gas puff discharge and the conventional gas-filled discharge. Experimental results show the enhancement of the soft X-ray emission in two order of the intensity.