Developing a novel point X-ray source by regulating the formation of a micropinch with an imploding gas-puff plasma
Developing a novel point X-ray source by regulating the formation of a micropinch with an imploding gas-puff plasma lead image
Imploding gas-puff z pinches and hybrid X-pinches have attracted significant attention from researchers as they each have important uses in high energy density physics. Pulsed-power driven high-energy-density z-pinch plasmas are efficient sources of intense X-rays, but for certain applications, such as radiography, which require singular, small point sources of x-rays, gas-puff z-pinches are not suitable. Hybrid X-pinches, however, provide small, singular X-ray sources but require fast current rise times, have inconsistent formation timing, and must be reloaded after each pulse.
Elshafiey et al. have developed a method to get the best of both approaches where they control the timing, size, and location of the X-ray source by mediating the formation of a micropinch with an imploding gas-puff plasma.
“Unlike previous point X-ray sources that use small wires that must be reloaded after each shot, this gas-puff configuration can be operated repeatedly without manually reloading, enabling much higher repetition rates,” said author Ahmed Elshafiey. “Furthermore, the configuration can be driven efficiently by lower frequency current pulses, which can reduce the voltage, complexity, and cost of the driving generator.”
The team developed a novel point X-ray source by forcing a column of ionized gas (plasma) to rapidly implode onto and focus between two conical electrodes resembling an hourglass with a gap in the middle. The precise timing and size of the X-ray source can be controlled by adjusting the gas density and electrode gap distance, respectively.
“We envision that this novel configuration could be extremely useful in any application that requires X-ray imaging of small structures at high repetitions rates,” said Elshafiey. “One possible example of such an application could be quality control in the production of microelectronics.”
Source: “Implosion mediated gas-puff hybrid X-pinch,” by A. T. Elshafiey, E. S. Lavine, S. A. Pikuz, T. A. Shelkovenko, and D. A. Hammer, Physics of Plasmas (2020). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0032339 .
