Generation of neutrons from Z pinch discharges in a deuterated gas medium has been studied. It is shown that a power law energy dependence of the number of high energy deuterons in Z pinch plasma explains the observed broadening of the neutron spectrum in these systems. It is established that, at an average ion energy below 3 keV in Z pinch plasma, neutrons are mostly generated due to the interaction of high energy (~100 keV) deuterons with the main plasma components.

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