Apparatus for generating a source of plasma with high radiation intensity in the X-ray region

US4596030A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Stiftung · DE

Inventors

• Gerd Herziger · Rosdorf, DE
• Willi Neff · Kelmis, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 7, 1984
• Grant date: Jun 17, 1986
• Expiry date: Sep 7, 2004

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E30/10
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A virtually punctiform plasma source of high-intensity radiation in the X-ray region is produced at the open downstream end of a gas-filled discharge space defined by and between concentric cylindrical inner and outer electrodes. At the closed upstream end, the electrodes which define this discharge space are directly connected to a low-inductance high-power switch which serves for momentarily connecting the electrodes to a source of stored electric energy. At the closed end of the discharge space, the inner electrode is concentrically surrounded by an insulator which has a high coefficient of secondary-electron emission. In closely opposed adjacency to the insulator region of the inner electrode is an annular emission electrode which is at the potential of the outer electrode, the emission electrode being positioned at close radial offset from the insulator, and the offset being less than the mean free path in the gas of the discharge space. A gas discharge is produced in the discharge space at a well-defined distance downstream from the emitter electrode, and the discharge in a homogeneous plasma layer, which moves toward the open downstream end of the discharge space and there f…