Small-size pulsed X-ray source for measurements of scintillator decay time constants

A small-size short-pulsed X-ray source is described whose main components are a three-electrode X-ray tube operating at 30 kV and 0.5 A and a fast GaAs modulator connected coaxially to the tube grid. The ultimate parameters of the source are subnanosecond pulse duration and 100-kHz repetition pulse rate. The detection system allows the measurements to be carried out in the 200-800 nm spectral range over the time intervals from 0.5 ns to 50 /spl mu/s with resolution not worse than 0.1 ns. The decay time curves of an organic scintillator and CdI/sub 2/, Gd/sub 2/O/sub 2/S:Pr, and Cs/sub 2/NaCeCl/sub 6/ crystals are presented.