Microsecond plasma opening switch as a bremsstrahlung generator

Experiments on efficiency increase of the X-ray sterilizer RS-20 are reported. Increase in X-ray output for a given wall plug power may be obtained due to growth of both electron energy and electron diode current. In the first experiment to increase the electron beam energy (up to 3 MeV) a coaxial POS in applied external magnetic field was utilized. An electron diode with anode-converter was parallel to POS. 25% of total current was transmitted to the diode. A dose per pulse was 0.024 Gy at 1 m from the converter. The second experiment used POS with planar anode in the open circuit regime so the anode was utilized for electron beam conversion into bremsstrahlung.