Influence of electrode and insulator materials on the neutron emission in a low energy plasma focus device

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1995 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.476488· OSTI ID:203668

Rout, R K; Garg, A B; Shyam, A; Srinivasan, M ^[1]

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1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay (India). Neutron Physics Div.

Insertion of internal impurities is one of the factors for the degradation of neutron output in plasma focus devices. In this context, neutron emission measurements were carried out in a 2.2 kJ (7.2 {mu}F, 25 kV) Mather type squirrel cage plasma focus device with various combinations of electrode and insulator materials. The neutron yield was measured by silver activation detector. The results indicate that a central electrode of low erosion rate material produces maximum neutron yield with the highest anisotropy factor. A time integrated X-ray pinhole image shows that focus corresponding to the highest neutron yield material is the most compressed. The dielectric constant of the ceramic insulators has, at best, a very weak correlation with neutron output. The nonceramic insulators like perspex, nylon, or teflon neither produce focus nor neutron.

• OSTI ID: 203668
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 23, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1995
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
PLASMA FOCUS DEVICES
PERFORMANCE
ELECTRODES
ELECTRICAL INSULATORS
MATERIALS
PLASMA IMPURITIES
ACTIVATION DETECTORS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
DESIGN