Neutron yield saturation in plasma focus: A fundamental cause
- INTI University College, 71800 Nilai (Malaysia)
Plasma focus research in the direction of fusion energy faces the limitation of observed neutron saturation; the neutron yield Y{sub n} falls away from Y{sub n}{approx}E{sub 0}{sup 2}, the scaling deteriorating as storage energy E{sub 0} increases toward 1 MJ. Numerical experiments confirm that Y{sub n}{approx}E{sub 0}{sup 2} applies at low energies and drops to Y{sub n}{approx}E{sub 0}{sup 0.8} toward 25 MJ; deteriorating already at several hundred kilojoules. We point out that the cause is the dynamic resistance of the axial phase that is constant for all plasma foci. This dynamic resistance dominates the circuit as capacitor bank surge impedance becomes insignificant at large E{sub 0}, causing current, hence neutron 'saturation'.
- OSTI ID:
- 21294359
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 95, Issue 15; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3246159; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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