Study of the anatomy of the x-ray and neutron production scaling laws in the plasma focus (particle energy spectrum and optimization criteria). Final technical report, 1 October 1978-30 September 1979

Technical Report · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1979

OSTI ID:6633346

Nardi, V; Bostick, W H; Prior, W

Optimum conditions for plasma focus operations have been experimentally analyzed in terms of (A) The fine structure of the axial-current channel during maximum of compression. (B) Correlation coefficient, for neutron yield n (by D2 discharges) and the multiplicity of the electron beam pulses; (C) Different values of the electrode voltage. The current distribution near the axial plasma column during the explosive decay of the column has been monitored and correlated with the electron beam production. Plasma focus discharges by our mode of operation generate high-intensity neutron beams (approximate 100,000 amp) with a > or approximate 300-keV-peaked spectrum and electron beams, with an energy distribution similarly peaked at 300-400 keV. The energy spectrum is determined by two independent methods (time of flight and target-damage data). The spectrum varies from shot to shot but the main features are observed in all discharges. In each discharge we observe on a time interval of 100-300 nanosec a sequence of beam pulses (1-10), with the same multiplicity of the peak in the rate of change (dI/dt) of the electrode current I. The filamentary structure of the electron beam and the internal structure of the filament have been analyzed with a space resolution better than approximate 1 micrometers.

• Research Organization: Stevens Inst. of Tech., Hoboken, NJ (USA). Dept. of Physics
• OSTI ID: 6633346
• Report Number(s): AD-A-084967
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA FOCUS
EMISSION SPECTRA
ELECTRIC DISCHARGES
ELECTRON BEAMS
NEUTRONS
PULSES
SCALING LAWS
X RADIATION
BARYONS
BEAMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
FERMIONS
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
LEPTON BEAMS
NUCLEONS
PARTICLE BEAMS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
700104* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Plasma Kinetics-Experimental- (-1987)