摘要
X-ray emission from metal cathodes in glow discharge （current is up to 300 mA, voltage is 1,500-4,300 V） experiments in the spectral range from 700 eV to 6 keV has been observed. The effect has been seen with a variety of different metal cathodes （including AI, Sc, Ti, V, Ni, Nb, Zr, Mo, Pd, Ta, W, and Pt）, as well as with different gasses （including D2, H2, Kr, Ar, and Xe） at low pressure （3-10 Torr）. We present results from a variety of diagnostics, including： pinhole camera imaging; thermo luminescent detector measurements; time-resolved scintillator measurements; and a curved mica spectrometer to register X-ray spectra. Both diffuse and collimated X-ray emission have been observed.. Diffuse emission occurs in bursts of X-rays; with up to 10^5 bursts per second, with up to 10^6 photons per burst during the discharge. Collimated X-ray emission appears in the form of beamlets directed normal to the cathodes surface with a very small angular divergence; with up to 104 bursts per second, and up to 1013 photons overall up to 20 h after discharge switch off. Based on these experimental results we propose a phenomenological model of processes.
