X-pinch x-ray sources driven by a 1 μs capacitor discharge

X pinches formed from tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, aluminum, and alloys, such as constantan and nichrome with diameters of 13-25 mu m, have been imploded with a 300 kA, 1 mu s quarter-period capacitor discharge and observed with an array of diagnostics including time-integrated optical photography, x-ray pinhole cameras, x-ray Si photodiodes, a flat crystal spectrograph, and a Nd:YAG laser interferometry/schlieren system. The results of these comprehensive observations are presented. When a single, central hot spot is formed with the right choice of wire and x-ray filter, it is observed to be highly localized, very bright and small enough that point projection radiography can be routinely demonstrated for a simple biological specimen. For an aluminum X pinch, spectroscopic measurements indicate that the hot spots have a plasma density and electron temperature consistent with similar to 10(20) cm(-3) and similar to 320-350 eV, respectively. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.