X-ray Emission Accompanying Cathode Microdischarge

Electrical discharge in vacuum is accompanied by X-ray radiation. Knowledge of the generation mechanism of radiation may lead to its practical use. The analysis of this phenomenon indicates that it is only at the discharge development phase until the moment of the anode plasma generation that the proper conditions for X-ray generation are satisfied. The intensity of radiation is dependent on the field current intensity on the cathode surface as well as on the value of the electron current supplying the anode. The anode current at the vacuum discharge development phase has a pulse character, and the pulse amplitude is dependent on the cathode plasma density. The radiation intensity may be increased by increasing the current amplitude, e.g. by artificial plasma generation in the trigger system.