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Title: Dense plasma focus powered by flux compression generators

Abstract

A short summary is given of earlier Los Alamos work in which a Dense Plasma Focus was powered by Flux Compression Generators. Neutron yields obtained in the shot series scaled well with the fifth power of the current. The shot parameters were modeled surprisingly well through the plasma rundown phase by a simple snowplow model. It is shown, with the use of this model, that DPF currents in excess of 10 MA should be obtained with existing generators and initial energy sources. One new element is needed -- a high energy opening switch such as a fuse. Much more is known about fuse operation since the Los Alamos program was stopped, so development of this component should be relatively straightforward. If the yield-current scaling relation holds to this current level, then D-T neutron yields in excess of 10[sup 16] per burst would result, sufficient for some interesting pulsed radiography applications that involve rapidly moving components. Finally, in a sheer flight of fancy, it is shown that D-T yields approaching 10[sup 20] could be obtained, using FCGs not too much beyond the state of the art, provided the simple modeling and neutron-current scaling relations continue to hold, a rather unlikely supposition.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
6882936
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-92-3506; CONF-9105399-1
ON: DE93003781
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-36
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: International conference on progress and applications of plasma focus research, Hoboken, NJ (United States), 27-31 May 1991
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
07 ISOTOPES AND RADIATION SOURCES; NEUTRON SOURCES; PLASMA FOCUS DEVICES; DESIGN; MAGNETIC FLUX; NEUTRON GENERATORS; NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY; INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY; OPEN PLASMA DEVICES; PARTICLE SOURCES; RADIATION SOURCES; THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES; 070201* - Radiation Sources- Design, Fabrication & Operation

Citation Formats

Fowler, C M, Freeman, B L, Caird, R S, Erickson, D J, and Garn, W B. Dense plasma focus powered by flux compression generators. United States: N. p., 1992. Web.
Fowler, C M, Freeman, B L, Caird, R S, Erickson, D J, & Garn, W B. Dense plasma focus powered by flux compression generators. United States.
Fowler, C M, Freeman, B L, Caird, R S, Erickson, D J, and Garn, W B. 1992. "Dense plasma focus powered by flux compression generators". United States.
@article{osti_6882936,
title = {Dense plasma focus powered by flux compression generators},
author = {Fowler, C M and Freeman, B L and Caird, R S and Erickson, D J and Garn, W B},
abstractNote = {A short summary is given of earlier Los Alamos work in which a Dense Plasma Focus was powered by Flux Compression Generators. Neutron yields obtained in the shot series scaled well with the fifth power of the current. The shot parameters were modeled surprisingly well through the plasma rundown phase by a simple snowplow model. It is shown, with the use of this model, that DPF currents in excess of 10 MA should be obtained with existing generators and initial energy sources. One new element is needed -- a high energy opening switch such as a fuse. Much more is known about fuse operation since the Los Alamos program was stopped, so development of this component should be relatively straightforward. If the yield-current scaling relation holds to this current level, then D-T neutron yields in excess of 10[sup 16] per burst would result, sufficient for some interesting pulsed radiography applications that involve rapidly moving components. Finally, in a sheer flight of fancy, it is shown that D-T yields approaching 10[sup 20] could be obtained, using FCGs not too much beyond the state of the art, provided the simple modeling and neutron-current scaling relations continue to hold, a rather unlikely supposition.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6882936}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1992}
}

Conference:
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