Subnanosecond pulsed X-ray source based on nanosecond discharge in air at atmospheric pressure

We have studied the characteristics of an X-ray source based on a gas diode filled with air at atmospheric pressure. Driven by a SLEP-150 pulser with a maximum voltage amplitude of $\sim$140 kV, a pulse full width at half maximum (FWHM) of $\sim$1 ns, and a leading front width of $\sim$0.3 ns, a soft X-ray source produces subnanosecond pulses with an FWHM not exceeding 600 ps and an exposure dose of $\sim$3 mR per pulse. It is shown that the main contribution to the measured exposure dose is due to X-ray quanta with an effective energy of $\sim$7.5 keV.