D-D neutron yield in the 125 J dense plasma focus Nanofocus

Abstract

We present here a very small transportable dense plasma focus with 125 J of energy able to be used mainly as an intense fast neutron source. The aim of this work was to design, construct and experimentally study a very compact nuclear fusion apparatus, at the lower energy limit, useful for multiple applications, such as soil humidity determinations, inspection of metallic inclusions into several materials, neutron-therapies in Medicine, etc. Besides, the possibility of using the same device as X-rays emitter has been explored. In a narrow range of deuterium filling pressure around 1 mb, peaked Rogowski dips are observed. Correspondingly, strong neutron and hard X-ray pulses are measured. The neutron pulses last, in average, 50 ns, being about 106 the amount of neutrons per pulse. The performance of this device is shown to be higher than any other plasma focus apparatus, compared on the empirical scaling law of neutron yield vs. pinch current.