SBIR-STTR Award

Overall proposed program is aimed on development and construction of X-ray-simulator for a nuclear weapon testing. The X-simulator based on plasma focus with a low-voltage (V<50kV), fast capacitor bank (1micro-s)is expected to serve as pulsed (40ns)and intense (0.1-1 MJ/4p) source of soft (~1keV) and warm (~50keV) X-rays with Hz's pulse repetition rate. In phase-I will be carried on a limited tests of performance and scaling of the SXR and WXR production using existing APF-50 and Ne static filling. Obtained results should allow for realistic planning of the size and parameters of the intermediate scale X-simulator. Such X-simulator will serve as demonstration unit for full size machine and optionally for adaptation of the electrode system to a large pulsed power sources such as ACE-4 or Shiva Star. In addition to applications as X-simulator, the technology could be useful for X-ray lithography as it was already proven in a microscale experiments. If adapted, APF-50 will have an impact on further development of microelectronic and quantum wires.

Keywords:
Plasma Focus, X-Ray Simulators, X-Ray Lithography, Plasma Fusion, Low Voltage Pulsed Power