PPPS-2013: Observed multi-decade DD and DT Z-pinch fusion rate scaling in 5 Dense Plasma Focus fusion machines

Authors

E. Chris Hagen, National Security Technologies LLCFollow
Daniel Robert Lowe, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Robert O'Brien, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Steven Molnar, National Security Technologies LLC
Tim Meehan, National Security Technologies LLC

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

6-2013

Publication Title

Plasma Science (ICOPS), 2013 Abstracts IEEE International Conference

Publisher

IEEE

Abstract

Summary form only given. Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) machines are in use worldwide for a wide variety of applications; one of these is to produce intense, short bursts of fusion via r-Z pinch heating and compression of a working gas. We have designed and constructed a series of these, ranging from portable to a maximum energy storage capacity of 2 MJ. Fusion rates from 5 DPF pulsed fusion generators have been measured in a single laboratory using calibrated activation detectors. Measured rates range from ~ 10¹⁵ to more than 10¹⁹ fusions per second have been measured. Fusion rates from the intense short (20-50 ns) periods of production were inferred from measurement of neutron production using both calibrated activation detectors and scintillator-PMT neutron time of flight (NTOF) detectors. The NTOF detectors are arranged to measure neutrons versus time over flight paths of 30 Meters. Fusion rate scaling versus energy and current will be discussed. Data showing observed fusion cutoff at D-D fusion yield levels of approximately 1*10¹², and corresponding tube currents of ~ 3 MA will be shown. Energy asymmetry of product neutrons will also be discussed. Data from the NTOF lines of sight have been used to measure energy asymmetries of the fusion neutrons. From this, center of mass energies for the D(d,n)³He reaction are inferred. A novel re-entrant chamber that allows extremely high single pulse neutron doses (> 10⁹ neutrons/cm² in 50 ns) to be supplied to samples will be described. Machine characteristics and detector types will be discussed.

Keywords

Dense plasma focus; Nuclear fusion

Disciplines

Engineering | Mechanical Engineering | Nuclear | Plasma and Beam Physics

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Hagen, E. C., Lowe, D. R., O'Brien, R., Molnar, S., Meehan, T. (2013). PPPS-2013: Observed multi-decade DD and DT Z-pinch fusion rate scaling in 5 Dense Plasma Focus fusion machines. Plasma Science (ICOPS), 2013 Abstracts IEEE International Conference IEEE.