Abstract

Experiments in hydrogen have been developed in an ultra miniature device for pinch discharges (nanofocus NF: 5nF, 5-10kV, 5-10kA, 60-250 mJ, 16 ns time to peak current). Sub-millimetric anode radii covered by coaxial insulators were used in the experiments. Evidence of pinch was observed in electrical signals in discharges operating at ∼100 mJ. A single-frame image converter camera (4 ns exposure) was used to obtain plasma images in the visible range. The dynamic observed from the photographs is consistent with a dynamic observed in conventional plasma focus discharges. In this article evidence of X-rays emission from this ultraminiature pinch plasma focus device that operates at only 100mJ per shot is shown. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.