Hard X-rays from Exploding Wires

Abstract

DURING the past year correlated electrical and X-ray measurements of exploding wires in vacuum have been performed at this laboratory. The wire was axially suspended between the electrodes of a vacuum tube which was coaxially arranged on the energy storage capacitor (ASEA type CTU1, 100 kV, 0.1 µF). A triggered air spark gap, fitted between the vacuum tube and the capacitor, initiated the discharge. The loop inductance, calculated from the frequency of the energy oscillations, was about 150 nH. The tube was continuously evacuated by an oil diffusion pump. The tube pressure was maintained at 1.5 × 10−6 mm of mercury.