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Abstract

A Z-pinch plasma X-ray source includes a chamber having an insulating wall and defining a pinch region, a pinch anode and a pinch cathode positioned at opposite ends of the pinch region, a first conductor defining an edge in close proximity to or contacting an inside surface of the insulating wall and a second conductor disposed around an outside surface of the insulating wall. A surface discharge is produced on the inside surface of the insulating wall in response to application of a voltage to the first and second conductors. The surface discharge causes the gas to ionize and to form a plasma shell near the inside surface of the insulating wall. The pinch anode and the pinch cathode produce a current through the plasma shell in an axial direction and produce an azimuthal magnetic field in the pinch region in response to application of a high energy electric pulse to the pinch anode and the pinch cathode. The azimuthal magnetic field causes the plasma shell to collapse to the central axis and to generate X-rays.

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First Claim