Effect of the Drive Parameter on the Differential Fusion Products in Plasma Focus Devices

Abstract

A moving-boiler model is employed to study the branching ratio of two D-D reaction channels in plasma focus (PF) devices. This model is based on the thermal spreading of the pinched plasma toward the axial direction of the device. In this way, the experimental fusion cross sections of D(d, n)3He and D(d, p)3H reactions are used to calculate the velocity-averaged cross sections due to the penetration of the confined particles into the thermal boiler. The results obtained represent an indispensable effect of the drive parameter on the differential fusion yields. Obviously, an increment of the drive parameter has a high impact on the yields. However, this impact is dominantly in favor of proton yield particularly at lower drift velocity. Furthermore, a saturated condition is obtained at high drift velocity of the boiler. These facts are important for the optimization of fusion emissions in PFs for future applications, particularly in the field of short-lived radioisotope production.