Triton burnup in plasma focus plasmas

Journal Article · Sat Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871403· OSTI ID:165103

Brzosko, J S; Brzosko, Jr, J R ^[1]; Robouch, B V ^[2]; Ingrosso, L ^[3]

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1. Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 (United States)
2. Associazione EURATOM-ENEA, Centro Ricerche Energie, 00044-Frascati (Italy)
3. Via Gregorio XIII 7, 00040-Monte Porzio Catone (Italy)

Pure deuterium plasma discharge from plasma focus breeds 1.01 MeV tritons via the D({ital d},{ital p})T fusion branch, which has the same cross section as the D({ital d},{ital n}){sup 3}He ({ital E}{sub {ital n}}=2.45 MeV) fusion branch. Tritons are trapped in and collide with the background deuterium plasma, producing 14.1 MeV neutrons via the D({ital t},{ital n}){sup 4}He reaction. The paper presents published in preliminary form as well as unpublished experimental data and theoretical studies of the neutron yield ratio {ital R}={ital Y}{sub {ital n}}(14.1 MeV)/{ital Y}{sub {ital n}}(2.45 MeV). The experimental data were obtained from 1 MJ Frascati plasma focus operated at {ital W}=490 kJ with pure deuterium plasma (in the early 1980s). Neutrons were monitored using the nuclear activation method and nuclear emulsions. The present theoretical analysis of the experimental data is based on an exact adaptation of the binary encounter theory developed by Gryzinski. It is found that the experimentally defined value 1{center_dot}10{sup {minus}3}{lt}{ital R}{lt}3{center_dot}10{sup {minus}3} can be explained theoretically only if one considers that tritium burnup occurs in the plasma domains of very high density ({ital n}{gt}10{sup 21} cm{sup {minus}3}), high temperature ({ital kT}{gt}1 keV), and short trapping time ({ital t}{sub 0}{le}20 ns). These domains are known as efficient traps of MeV ions but are not the main source of D({ital d},{ital n}){sup 3}He fusion. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

• OSTI ID: 165103
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ALPHA PARTICLES
DEUTERIUM
DEUTERON REACTIONS
FUSION YIELD
HELIUM 3
NEUTRON SOURCES
NUCLEAR EMULSIONS
PLASMA FOCUS
PROTONS
TRITIUM
TRITON REACTIONS