Applications for a neutron-emitting plasma focus
- Centrus Plasma Technologies, Inc., Denton, TX (United States)
- Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
- Univ. of North Texas, Denton, TX (United States)
The plasma focus device produces the smallest source size, highest instantaneous flux, pulsed neutron source of any fusion-reaction based system when it is operated in the high pressure mode. Neutron yields as high as {ge} 10{sup 12} neutrons/pulse (n/p) have been produced from the D(D,n){sup 3}He reaction (DD). The scaling of such yields to their equivalent D(T,n){sup 4}He neutron (DT) yields by a factor of 80 to 100 has been demonstrated. The pulse width of these neutron yields is {le} 100 ns, from many measurements. Therefore, the plasma focus can produce DD neutron yields of {ge} 10{sup 12} n/p and DT neutron yields of {approximately} 10{sup 14} n/p without any extension of this machine`s demonstrated operating range. At the upper end of these yields, the DT reaction provides instantaneous fluxes of {approx_gt} 10{sup 21} n/s, neutron densities of {approx_lt} 10{sup 9} n/cm{sup 2} at 1m from the source, and instantaneous flux densities of {approx_lt} 10{sup 16} n/cm{sup 2}-s. Given these characteristics as a starting point, such a neutron source can be utilized for several applications within the presently recognized operating bounds of the plasma focus. With scaling, several other applications are possible.
- OSTI ID:
- 445565
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960634-; TRN: 97:005187
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1996 IEEE international conference on plasma science, Boston, MA (United States), 3-5 Jun 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of IEEE conference record -- Abstracts: 1996 IEEE international conference on plasma science; PB: 324 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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