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The Dynamics of XUV Plasma Emission in a Low-Inductance Vacuum Spark at the Initial Stage of Discharge Development
The emission dynamics of a vacuum spark with a peak current of ~50 kA in the wavelength range of λ = 5–40 nm is analyzed. The radiation was detected by means of the microchannel-plate detectors with a frame temporal resolution of 20 ns. The technique of simultaneous acquisition of the spatial distribution and spectrograms of plasma emission allowed resolving characteristic stages of discharge development. At the initial stage (200–300 ns), strong emission of multiply charged iron ions Fe V – Fe VIII is detected. This emission disappears later (300–400 ns) and reappears again after 400 ns. The possible role of runaway electrons in the described phenomenon is discussed. The found regime of the discharge can be used upon development of the radiation sources in the extreme UV range.