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Plasma focus neutron anisotropy measurements and influence of a deuteron beam obstacle
Citation
Talebitaher, A., Springham, S. V., Rawat, R. S., & Lee, P. (2017). Plasma focus neutron anisotropy measurements and influence of a deuteron beam obstacle. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 848, 60-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.12.032
Abstract
The deuterium-deuterium (DD) fusion neutron yield and anisotropy were measured on a shot-to-shot basis for the NX2 plasma focus (PF) device using two beryllium fast-neutron activation detectors at 0° and 90° to the PF axis. Measurements were performed for deuterium gas pressures in the range 6–16 mbar, and positive correlations between neutron yield and anisotropy were observed at all pressures. Subsequently, at one deuterium gas pressure (13 mbar), the contribution to the fusion yield produced by the forwardly-directed D+ ion beam, emitted from the plasma pinch, was investigated by using a circular Pyrex plate to obstruct the beam and suppress its fusion contribution. Neutron measurements were performed with the obstacle positioned at two distances from the anode tip, and also without the obstacle. It was found that ~ 80% of the neutron yield originates in the plasma pinch column and just above that. In addition, proton pinhole imaging was performed from the 0° and 90° directions to the pinch. The obtained proton images are consistent with the conclusion that DD fusion is concentrated (~ 80%) in the pinch column region.
Date Issued
2017
DOI
10.1016/j.nima.2016.12.032
Description
This is the final draft, after peer-review, of a manuscript published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. The published version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.12.032