Characterization of neutron emission and measurement of the electronic density in a plasma focus device of 400J

Abstract

Experimental results of anisotropy in the distribution of neutron flux and his mean energy in the radial direction (90°), and measurements of the electron density in a very small plasma focus device, PF-400J (880 nF, 30 kV, 120 kA, 400 J, 300 ns time to peak current, dI/dt∼4 × lO11 A/s) are presented. The following diagnostics were applied in deuterium: Time of Flight (ToF) to estimate the neutron mean energy. An array of CR-39 (C12H16O7) nuclear track detectors covered with polyethylene located radially at several positions (between -90° to 90°) in order to determinate the angular distribution of the neutron emission. The measurements of the electron density were realized in hydrogen, and the plasma discharge was synchronized with a pulsed Nd-YAG laser (∼6ns FWHM at 532nm) in order to obtain interferometric diagnostics. Discharges were performed with a charging voltage of 30±2 KV (∼400J).