Enhanced Soft X-Ray Emission in a Dense Plasma Focus with Additional High Z Gas Puff

Abstract

A plasma focus device with a fast acting valve is designedfor additional high z gas puff and is successfully operated to produceintense soft X-rays. Using the fast acting valve, high z gas isinjected to the pinch region just before the discharge to decouple theinitial phase for the current sheath formation from the pinchformation phase. Quantitative measurement of soft X-ray intensity andthe observation of the plasma behavior were simultaneously carried outfor the additional gas puff discharge and the conventional gas-filleddischarge. Experimental results show the enhancement of the soft X-rayemission in two order of the intensity.