Development of a Blumlein generator dedicated to a fast capillary discharge XUV source

After the feasibility of discharge pumped X-ray lasers was shown by J.J. Rocca et al., different experimental set-up have been proposed as fast capillary discharge drivers. At GREMI we develop a high voltage pulsed generator in order to drive a Z-pinch capillary discharge which is capable to create a plasma highly emissive in the XUV region. The generator is based on a Blumlein-like pulse forming line (PFL). Two transmission lines in parallel discharge through a polyacetal capillary which is 53.5 mm long and 3.5 mm in diameter. The discharge can be triggered by a low inductive surface switch. Rates of current rise time up to 1.4 . 1012 A . s-1 have been achieved. Electrical as well as time integrated spectroscopic investigations have been carried out. High degrees of ionization were obtained even at rather low stored energy (E=20 J). Argon ion lines have been identified up to Ar XII