The development of high repetition x-pinches using a fast, compact pulsed power driver*

The x pinch is an excellent source for point-projection radiography. Its radiation source size is a few microns, the probing pulse duration is a few nanoseconds, and the brightness is sufficient to backlight warm dense matter samples or biological objects. However, the repletion rate of x pinches is limited, at best, to a few shots per hour.  Every time the x pinch is fired, wires are vaporized and the x pinch must be replaced. Here, we investigate a new way of creating x pinches inside the vacuum chamber. In this approach, a nano-particle metal powder is injected directly in the load section by mixing it inside a rapid flow of low-density inert gas. The inert gas is pre-ionized to create two virtual conical electrodes, and the current from a compact driver is applied to nano-particle gas flow. This approach eliminates the needs of electrode and wires potentially increasing the x-pinch repetition rate.