A 109 neutrons/pulse transportable pulsed D-D neutron source based on flexible head plasma focus unit

Abstract

A 17 kJ transportable plasma focus (PF) device with flexible transmission lines is developed and is characterized. Six custom made capacitors are used for the capacitor bank (CB). The common high voltage plate of the CB is fixed to a centrally triggered spark gap switch. The output of the switch is coupled to the PF head through forty-eight 5 m long RG213 cables. The CB has a quarter time-period of 4 μs and an estimated current of 506 kA is delivered to the PF device at 17 kJ (60 μF, 24 kV) energy. The average neutron yield measured using silver activation detector in the radial direction is (7.1 ± 1.4) × 10(8) neutrons/shot over 4π sr at 5 mbar optimum D2 pressure. The average neutron yield is more in the axial direction with an anisotropy factor of 1.33 ± 0.18. The average neutron energies estimated in the axial as well as in the radial directions are (2.90 ± 0.20) MeV and (2.58 ± 0.20) MeV, respectively. The flexibility of the PF head makes it useful for many applications where the source orientation and the location are important factors. The influence of electromagnetic interferences from the CB as well as from the spark gap on applications area can be avoided by putting a suitable barrier between the bank and the PF head.

High yield (⩾108/pulse) DD neutron generator based on a compact, transportable and low energy plasma focus device

“…The outer diameter and the effective length (exposed to plasma) of the quartz sleeve were chosen to be 25 mm and 46 mm, respectively. The insulator dimensions were decided on based on the experience gained from developing other PF devices here [19][20][21][22][23][24]32] and comparison with other devices operating worldwide in the same energy range.…”

“…In view of its wide-ranging applications, the PF device has been extensively developed and characterized in different laboratories across the world at wide operating energy ranging from 0.1 J to MJ [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] since its inception in the early 1960s independently by J W Mather [13] and N V Filippov [14]. Even after more than six decades of intensive research and development, it is still being developed worldwide for various applications as mentioned above.…”

Генерация Узконаправленного Излучения Дд-Нейтронов В Плазмофокусном Разряде --- Открытие И Перспективы Исследования

“…В некоторых экспериментах [1][2][3] наблюдается аномально высокая степень анизотропии флюенса нейтронов -от 3.3 до 6. Энергия нейтронов в осевом направлении, как правило, не превышает 2.9 MeV, в направлении, перпендикулярном оси, составляет 2.5−2.6 MeV [4,5]. Обширный обзор и библиография работ по исследованию генерации нейтронов и потоков заряженных частиц в плазмофокусных устройствах приводится в работе [6].…”

Generation of narrowly focused radiation of neutrons in a plasma-focus discharge --- discovery and prospects of research

“…In some experiments [1][2][3] an abnormally high degree of neutron fluence anisotropy is observedfrom 3.3 to 6. The neutron energy in the axial direction usually does not exceed 2.9 MeV, in the direction perpendicular to the axis is 2.5−2.6 MeV [4,5]. An extensive review and bibliography of works on the study of neutron generation and fluxes of charged particles in plasma-focused devices is given in [6].…”