In a low energy (2.3 kJ) Mather-type plasma focus with stainless steel anode, neutron and x-ray emission is investigated by employing time-integrated and time resolved detectors. A neutron yield of 3.5 × 108 is observed, which is almost double the yield when a copper anode is used. It is speculated that a low sputtering yield of the anode material lowers the impurity concentration in the plasma and thus enhances the neutron yield. One may therefore conclude that a proper choice of electrode material is essential to achieve enhanced radiation yield from plasma focus devices. At a pressure of 2.0 mbar, the neutron yield is found to be the highest and almost isotropic. Further, multiple foci are also observed. The neutron fluence isotropy and the high yield are attributed to trapping of magnetic flux lines and of energetic deuterons between the two current sheaths.

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