Generation of runaway electrons in a nonuniform electric field by applying nanosecond voltage pulses with a frequency of 100–1000 Hz

Generation of runaway electrons and X-ray radiation in helium and air under the action of a pulsed-periodic discharge in a nonuniform electric field is studied. Positive and negative voltage pulses with a repetition rate of up to 1 kHz, a duration on the order of 1 ns, and an incident wave amplitude of 12.5 kV are applied to a needle-plane gap. For both polarities of the main voltage pulse and a helium pressure from several Torr to several tens of Torr, the arrival of negative reflected voltage pulses at the gap is shown to be accompanied by an electron beam generation. X-ray radiation is detected in a wide range of pressure, including under normal pressure of helium and air.