Robust gas preionization system for Double EAGLE PRS experiments

Summary form only given, as follows. In a previous research, an azimuthally symmetric UV source was used to preionize the argon gas puffs in the DM2 plasma radiation source (PRS) experiment. It indicated that the preionization helped to improve the PRS K-shell yield and reduce shot to shot variations. It also revealed that the issues of survivability and replaceability must be addressed for such a preionization source to be used in super-power generator environments. Based on the evaluation of the previous preionizer, a robust new preionizer has been fabricated and fielded on Double-EAGLE during the PRS experiment. Design of the new preionizer and its performance on Double-EAGLE will be presented. Comparison with the previous preionizer will also be discussed.