Plasma focus based repetitive source of fusion neutrons and hard x-rays

Raspa, V.; Lorenzo, F. Di; Knoblauch, P.; Lazarte, Alejandro I.; Tartaglione, Aureliano; Clausse, Alejandro; Moreno, C.

doi:10.1186/1754-0410-2-5

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(33 reference statements)

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“…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.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Niranjan¹,

Srivastava²,

Joycee³

et al. 2021

Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion

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A pulsed DD neutron generator based on the plasma focus (PF) device has been developed. The PF device was assembled using a single energy storage capacitor (10 µF) and a triggerable spark gap switch in a compact geometry. The anode of the PF device was made of SS304 material with its tip modified using a high purity tungsten insert. Excluding the power supply, the size of the overall system was 0.6 × 0.6 × 1.0 m and the weight was less than 100 kg. A maximum DD neutron yield of (3.1 ± 0.2) × 108 neutrons/pulse and average DD neutron yield of (2.24 ± 0.16) × 108 neutrons/pulse (pulse duration = 35 ± 4 ns) into 4π sr were observed at a capacitor bank energy of 3.1 kJ (25 kV) and at 4.5 mbar D2 gas filling pressure. The experimentally observed average neutron yield was found to be around 30% more than the estimated yield obtained using scaling laws for neutrons (Y n ≈ 1.7 × 10−10 I 0 3.3; I 0 is the peak discharge current in A). For a peak discharge current of 258 kA at 3.1 kJ, the neutron yield was estimated to be 1.23 × 108 neutrons/pulse. The higher neutron production was attributed to the efficient design of the PF device as well as to the low erosion of the anode tip because of the tungsten insert. Using the time-of-flight method, maximum neutron energy was calculated to be 3.91 ± 0.16 MeV in the radial direction at 4.5 mbar filling pressure. Numerical parametrization using the five-phase Lee model code was performed and found to be similar to PF devices developed across the world.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Niranjan¹,

Srivastava²,

Joycee³

et al. 2021

Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion

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“…It was further tried to achieve a 50-Hz repetition rate from the similar capacitor bank of 75 J in the plasma focus system without filling it with the deuterium gas, i.e., in vacuum [2]. Repetitive operation of plasma focus at 3 and 16 Hz [3], 0.2 Hz [4], [5], 1 Hz [6], 60 Hz (X-ray) [7], and 10 Hz [8], [9] has been done in the past. In order to increase the neutron yield in the plasma focus, attempts are made to attain higher currents as scaling laws suggest the increase in neutron yields at the Manuscript higher currents [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Results of Ultracompact Plasma Focus Operating in Repetitive Burst-Mode

Shukla

Shyam

Verma

et al. 2015

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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The results of a miniature plasma focus are presented in this paper which is operated with energy less than or equal to 150 J. The miniature plasma focus is driven by a small capacitor bank and the peak current delivered in the focus is 75-80 kA. The deuterium gas is filled with a pressure range of 5-7 mbar inside the plasma focus chamber. The quartz glass is used for generating initial surface breakdown at a 4-5-kV discharge, which is a typical value for low-voltage plasma focus discharges. The repetitive operation (record 50 Hz) of the device is achieved by a combination of a simple and high power (5 kW) supply with the synchronized triggering of the capacitor bank at the time of isolation between supply and the capacitor bank. The diameter of cathode is 25 mm and anode diameter is 8-12 mm and both of them are made of stainless steel. The length of anode and gas pressure is adjusted in such a way that the pinching occurs at the time of occurrence of the peak of current. It enhances the neutron emission from the device. The time-of-flight diagnostic is used to distinguish neutron and X-ray emission from the plasma focus. The neutron measurement using a helium-3 detector and also a fast-scintillator-backed photomultiplier tube demonstrates production of neutron pulses in the time separated by nearly 20 ms, which corresponds to 50 Hz in the burst mode. The device can serve the purpose of being a portable and compact repetitive neutron source for various applications as the flux of the radiation is comparable with that of bigger plasma focus operating at the similar current.Index Terms-Plasma devices, plasma sheath, pulse power systems.

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“…There are also many significant attempts that have invested in PFDs with a bank energy in the order of a few kilojoules to achieve repetitive operation mode, creating a high time-averaged neutron or X-ray yields. The NX1 PFD (2.2 kJ, 12 kV) and the NX2 PFD (1.9 kJ, 11.5 kV), a small chamber Mather-type PFD (4.7 kJ, 30 kV), and a mobile and repetitive PFD (6 kJ, 21 kV) are operating at a repetitive frequency mode on 3 and 16 Hz [9], 0.2 Hz [10], and 1 Hz [11], respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Voltage Pulsed-Power Supply Operating at Repetitive Discharge Mode for Driving Very Small Plasma Focus Devices

Jafari

Habibi

Vaneghi

2015

IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci.

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He is currently a Ph.D. Student Fellow with the Amirkabir University of Technology. His current research interests include high voltage pulsedpower engineering, power electronic technology, and development of very small plasma focus devices as portable radiation sources. Morteza Habibi received the B.Sc. degree from Mazandaran University, Babolsar, Iran, in 2001, the M.Sc. degree from the K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2003, and the Ph.D. degree from the Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, in 2008. He joined the Faculty of Nuclear Engineering and Physics, Amirkabir University of Technology, as an Assistant Professor, in 2009. He has commissioned the Fusion Laboratory, where he constructed the APF plasma focus device and also a 200J plasma focus device. His current research interests include pulsed-power systems, detection of X-ray and ions from plasmas, dense plasma physics, and TOKAMAK engineering. Hamid Reza Aali Vaneghi received the B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from Azad University South Branch, Tehran, Iran, in 1993, and the M.Sc. degree in fusion engineering from the Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, in 2012.His current research interests include power electronics, pulsed-power supply, and applications.

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Plasma focus based repetitive source of fusion neutrons and hard x-rays

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

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

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

Results of Ultracompact Plasma Focus Operating in Repetitive Burst-Mode

High-Voltage Pulsed-Power Supply Operating at Repetitive Discharge Mode for Driving Very Small Plasma Focus Devices

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Plasma focus based repetitive source of fusion neutrons and hard x-rays

Cited by 10 publications

References 26 publications

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

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

Results of Ultracompact Plasma Focus Operating in Repetitive Burst-Mode

High-Voltage Pulsed-Power Supply Operating at Repetitive Discharge Mode for Driving Very Small Plasma Focus Devices

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

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

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