An improved gas puff design for a Z-pinch x-ray source

An analysis of the magnetically induced, compression gas puff has led to a new design which greatly enhances the performance of the Z-pinch, soft x-ray source incorporating this concept. It is shown that the improved gas puff design has resolved the problems related to the nonuniformity of the annular slit opening in the gas puff nozzle and to the poor coupling of the induction coil current with the gas in the nozzle plenum. Suggestions are made to further improve the design in order to reduce nozzle erosion due to arcing from the high-current Z-pinch discharge.