Optimization of neon soft X-rays emission from 200 J fast miniature dense plasma focus device: A potential source for soft X-ray lithography

The neon soft X-ray (SXR) emission characteristics of a Fast Miniature Plasma Focus (FMPF-3) device have been investigated. The FMPF-3 device used for our experiment is of sub-kilojoule energy capacity, which is an order of magnitude lesser than the other well established plasma focus devices. The influence of different geometrical parameters of the anode and the pressure of the filling gas on the SXR emission was investigated to optimize the neon SXR yield and thereby make it a potential source for X-ray lithography. The SXR signal, solely from the desired, characteristic spectral range (900–1600) eV was selectively extracted and acquired using appropriate X-ray absorption filters on diode X-ray spectrometer. It was found that the neon SXR emission from 17 mm long cylindrical anode, which produced best neutron yields, was rather poor, in a very narrow pressure range and that too at low operating pressure. With decrease in the length of cylindrical anode, the optimum operating pressure shifts to higher pressure side, the working pressure range widens and the SXR yield also increases until the anode length is reduced to 12 mm, after which, the SXR yield and working pressure range start to degrade. The highest neon SXR yield of 1.1 J/shot, corresponding to a wall plug efficiency of 0.57%, was obtained for 12 mm long cylindrical anode. The tapered anodes with different length were also designed and tested, but they did not show any significant improvement in neon SXR yield. •One of first studies on soft X-ray (SXR) optimization from 200 J plasma focus.•Optimization of anode geometry and gas pressure for enhanced soft X-ray yield.•Maximum soft X-ray yield was from 12 mm long stainless steel cylindrical anode.•Numerical simulation validated optimum anode geometry for enhanced SXR yield.•Highest soft X-ray emission efficiency of 0.57% was achieved.