Time-dependent continuum radiation spectrum of X-pinch bright spots

Summary form only given, as follows. An X-pinch plasma is produced by exploding two or more fine metal wires that cross and touch at a single point (in the form of an X) using a 200-400 kA, 100 ns current pulse. Near the original cross point of the wires, one or more micron scale micropinches form and emit subnanosecond bursts of 1-10 keV x-rays from very small source regions. From time-dependent x-ray streak camera measurements of the >1 keV radiation from X-pinches made with, for example, Mo wires, the basic shape of the continuum radiation spectrum has been studied. One method of estimating the shape of the continuum spectrum is to use a filter technique. The method is based on comparison of measured ratios of signals from x-ray detectors covered by different spectral filters with calculated ratios. Using a set of Be, Al, and Ti filters over the energy range of 1-10 keV, the intensity of the x-ray radiation from Mo X-pinches was obtained as a function of energy. This technique was realized using a fast Kentech streak camera. Calculations of the camera response have been made for bremsstrahlung and plankian x-ray spectra. The shape of the spectrum provides information about the X pinch plasma parameters.