X-Ray Energy Spectrum Measurement of Wire-Shorted Rod-Pinch Diode Using a Compact Absorption Spectrometer

Rod-pinch diode with its AK-gap shorted by metal wire(s)1 is plasma-prefilled through electrical explosion upon adequate current discharge, featuring a maximum impedance of ~ 1
$\Omega$
. Compared to classical vacuum-gap RPD with typical impedance tens of ohms, the wire-shorted RPD favors the increase of electron current in the diode and therefore the increase of radiation dose, which is a promising load configuration for flash X-ray radiography on pulsed power facilities with low impedance and high power density. In this work, high quality hard X-ray spot is achieved with wire-shorted RPD on a two-stage LTD at relatively low charging voltage
$(\pm$
45 kV per stage). The hard X-ray spectrum is measured using a compact absorption spectrometer consisting of LiF thermoluminescent dosimeters and various metallic filters.