Neutron generation dynamics inside a MA-class dense plasma focus Z-pinch

Goyon, C.; Link, A. J.; Drury, O. B.; Youmans, A. E.; Angus, J.; Jiang, S.; Rocco, S.; Chapman, S. F.; Cooper, C. M.; McMahon, M.; Jibodu, A.; Max, D.; Anaya, R.; Campbell, P. C.; Park, J.; Shaw, B.; Sin, J.; Schmidt, A. E.

doi:10.1063/5.0253547

Neutron generation dynamics inside a MA-class dense plasma focus Z-pinch

Journal Article · Mon Mar 17 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0253547· OSTI ID:2531031

; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; Max, D.; Anaya, R.; Campbell, P. C.; ; ; Sin, J.;

Dense plasma focii (DPFs) are appealing as energy efficient sources of short pulses of ions, neutrons, and x rays. The output of these sources is expected to scale with input current (I4), but has been shown to drop at the MA level [S. K. H. Auluck, “On the failure of neutron yield scaling in the dense plasma focus,” Phys. Plasmas 30, 080701 (2023)]. New results on the MegaJOuLe Neutron Imaging Radiography DPF showed neutron yield production in agreement with the input current scaling beyond the previously observed drop. This work provides insight into the pinch formation on a DPF and reports on the two different mechanisms leading to neutron generation inside a DPF using a combination of kinetic simulations and experimental data. A combination of particle-in-cell (PIC) and 1D shock theory results are used to describe the pinch formation and disassembly and the corresponding thermonuclear and beam-target mechanisms. The temporal evolution of the pinch column predicted by the PIC simulations shows qualitative agreement with the experimental data from plasma photon emission as well as temporal neutron pulse shapes. In MJ-class DPFs, both thermonuclear and beam-target mechanisms can occur over the course of the implosion and contribute to the total neutron production. Hence the neutron source size of a DPF will change throughout the implosion. Experimental neutron radiographs show the increase in source size as the pinch breaks apart, in agreement with simulation's prediction.

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Research Organization:: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC52-07NA27344

OSTI ID:: 2531031

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2562733

Report Number(s):: LLNL--JRNL-2001426; 033105

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 32; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of PhysicsCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Neutron generation dynamics inside a MA-class dense plasma focus Z-pinch

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