15. Dense Plasma Focus

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the dense plasma focus. Dense plasma focus (DPF) is a plasma discharge with plasma densities n > l0 l9 /cm 3 and temperatures of a few kilo electron volts lasting 100 to 150 nsec. The focus is conjectured to be a short but finite two-dimensional z -pinch forming near or at the end of a coaxial plasma accelerator. The dense plasma focus accelerator requires, for optimum operation, simultaneous application of multiple condenser modules. Inclusion of other plasma heating mechanisms and real boundary conditions at the electrodes is needed for a closer fit to the experimental results. The inclusion of simple magnetic fields does inhibit plasma heating but leads to a more stable focused column. The intense neutron production can also be used to supplement the nuclear fission reactor neutron spectrum for medical research. More recently, the application of intense pulsed neutron sources to the assay of fissionable materials in the nuclear safeguards program has seemed possible.