Evolving approaches to pulsed X-ray sources

Production of pulsed radiation in the keV-to-MeV range for simulation of the nuclear weapon effects uses pulsed power generators of 1 - 10 TW. Radiation in the high-energy (gamma and hot) part of the spectrum has been obtained using intense electron beams incident on the solid target of high Z material to produce radiation with continuous bremsstrahlung spectrum. Magnetically driven plasma implosions have been used to obtain radiation in the keV (cold) part of the spectrum, characterized by strong line emission. The efficiency of radiation, required for DTRA tasks, relative to stored pulser energy, is only a few percent. Radiation yields in the range of 5 to 60 keV are especially low, regardless of which method of radiation production is used. This article discusses pulsed power diodes employed for production of pulsed x-rays.