A Fast Pulse, High Intensity Neutron Source Based Upon The Dense Plasma Focus

Journal Article · Wed Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2009 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3275668· OSTI ID:21371345

Krishnan, M; Bures, B; Madden, R; Blobner, F; Elliott, K Wilson ^[1]

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1. Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation, 3077 Teagarden St., San Leandro, CA, 94577 (United States)

Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation (AASC) has built a bench-top source of fast neutrons (approx10-30 ns, 2.45 MeV), that is portable and can be scaled to operate at approx100 Hz. The source is a Dense Plasma Focus driven by three different capacitor banks: a 40 J/30 kA/100 Hz driver; a 500 J/130 kA/2 Hz driver and a 3 kJ/350 kA/0.5 Hz driver. At currents of approx130 kA, this source produces approx1x10{sup 7} (DD) n/pulse. The neutron pulse widths are approx10-30 ns and may be controlled by adjusting the DPF electrode geometry and operating parameters. This paper describes the scaling of the fast neutron output with current from such a Dense Plasma Focus source. For each current and driver, different DPF head designs are required to match to the current rise-time, as the operating pressure and anode radius/shape are varied. Doping of the pure D{sub 2} gas fill with Ar or Kr was shown earlier to increase the neutron output. Results are discussed in the light of scaling laws suggested by prior literature.

• OSTI ID: 21371345
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1194, Issue 1; Conference: International conference on applications of nuclear techniques, Crete (Greece), 14-20 Jun 2009; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3275668; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ANODES
BEAM PRODUCTION
CAPACITORS
DEUTERIUM TARGET
DEUTERON REACTIONS
FAST NEUTRONS
MEV RANGE
NEUTRON BEAMS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRON SOURCES
NUCLEAR REACTION ANALYSIS
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA FOCUS
PULSED IRRADIATION
TRITIUM TARGET
BARYON REACTIONS
BARYONS
BEAMS
CHARGED-PARTICLE REACTIONS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
EQUIPMENT
FERMIONS
HADRON REACTIONS
HADRONS
IRRADIATION
NEUTRONS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEON BEAMS
NUCLEON REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PARTICLE SOURCES
PHOTOTUBES
RADIATION SOURCES
TARGETS