Dense transient pinches and pulsed power technology: research and applications using medium and small devices

Abstract

The Plasma Physics and Plasma Technology Group of the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CCHEN) has, since about ten years ago, used plasma production devices to study dense hot plasmas, particularly Z-pinches and plasma foci (PFs). In the case of Z-pinches, the studies include studies on the dynamics and stability of gas-embedded Z-pinches at currents of thermonuclear interest, and preliminary studies on wire arrays. For PF research, the aim of the work has been to characterize the physics of these plasmas and also to carry out the design and construction of smaller devices-in terms of both input energy and size-capable of providing dense hot plasmas. In addition, taking advantage of the experience in pulsed power technology obtained from experimental researches in dense transient plasmas, an exploratory line of pulsed power applications is being developed. In this paper, a brief review listing the most important results achieved by the Plasma Physics and Plasma Technology Group of the CCHEN is presented, including the scaling studies, PF miniaturization and diagnostics and research on Z-pinches at currents of thermonuclear interest. Then, exploratory applications of pulsed power are presented, including nanoflashes of radiation for radiography and substances detection, high pulsed magnetic fields generation and rock fragmentation.

Inference of X-Ray Emission From a Plasma Focus Discharge: Comparison Between Characteristic Parameters and Neural Network Analyses

“…produced when a plasma sheath is compressed around the z-axis on top of coaxial electrodes [7], [8]. This device has received renewed interest due to its widespread applications [9] and attractive compact designs achieved [10] with scaling laws [11]. Nowadays some applications of plasma focus include: pulsed source of X rays and/or neutrons [12]- [16], the production of plasma shocks [17], [18], as ion beam accelerator [19] and irradiation of biological cells [20].…”

Hard X-Ray Emission Detection Using Deep Learning Analysis of the Radiated UHF Electromagnetic Signal From a Plasma Focus Discharge

“…During the pinch phase, high intensity electric fields are generated in the plasma column, producing conditions that accelerate electrons towards the anode [20]. The interaction of this electron beam with the anode surface enables the generation of intense hard X-ray pulses [20]- [23], which can be detected with scintillator-photomultiplier systems [6], [24]- [28], radiographic film [11], pinhole photography and semiconductor detectors [27], [28], amongst other methods [20], [26].…”

Effects of gas chamber geometry and gas flow on the neutron production in a fast plasma focus neutron source

“…In the last fifteen years, much of the efforts in this direction have been focused on fast repetitive devices [2][3][4][5][6][7], together with the understanding of scaling laws [8][9][10], numerical modeling [11][12][13][14][15][16][17], and miniaturization [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. In fact, depending on the charging energy, PF fusion sources can provide burst from 10 3 to 10 12 neutrons.…”