Effect of Air Pressure on Parameters of Beam Current and X-Ray Radiation Generated in a Gas Diode

Abstract

Parameters of a beam of runaway electrons and X-ray radiation generated in a gas diode at different atmospheric pressures are studied. It is shown that the maximum beam currents and intensities of X-ray radiation are generated at an air pressure of about 10² Pa. Distribution of beam electrons with respect to energy is determined by the method of  attenuation of beam current using aluminum filters with different thicknesses. The maximum of such a distribution corresponds to an electron energy of about 100 keV. The maximum exposure dose of X-ray radiation behind a copper-foil anode with a thickness of 30 μm is about 107 mR. It is shown that the beam electrons absorbed by elements of an X-ray detector affect the shape and amplitude of the desired signal at beam currents of greater than 35 A/cm².