Effect of the cathode radius on plasma dynamics and radiation emissions in a spherical plasma focus device

Abstract

In this work, the developed spherical plasma focus model is used to investigate the effect of the cathode radius on the plasma dynamics and radiation emissions. The cathode radius is varied from 11.5 cm to 17 cm with 0.5 cm increment, and the results are reported in this paper for the spherical plasma focus with 8 cm inner electrode (anode) radius. While discharge current and voltage, plasma and shock velocities, and radiation emissions are found to be higher for short cathode radius, plasma resistance increases with increasing cathode radius. This study also shows that the optimum cathode radius for plasma dynamics and radiation emissions is 15 cm for the used spherical plasma focus device.

Neutron yield and ion production with respect to cathode radius in spherical plasma focus

“…While figure 2 [16] shows the discharge currents for the selected cathode radii, figure 3 shows the maximum (peak) currents and dip discharge currents with respect to cathode radius variation. In figure 2, only 4 cathode radii are plotted so that the lines can be seen clearly but the change of the discharge currents with respect to cathode radius can be seen clearly both in figure 2 and figure 3.…”

“…In the previous works, a model for spherical plasma focus (SPF) is developed and validated [13,14], spherical plasma focus device is optimized for neutron yield [15] and the effect of spherical cathode radius on plasma dynamics is studied [16]. Now this cathode variation effect is investigated for neutron yield and ion properties in this study.…”

“…Discharge currents for different cathode radii[16] Peak and dip discharge currents with respect to cathode radius in the spherical plasma focus device…”

“…Figure 2. Discharge currents for different cathode radii[16] …”

Basinç Ve Voltajin Küresel Plazma Odak Ci̇hazi Di̇nami̇ Üzeri̇ne Etki̇si̇

“…An MHD model for SPF has been developed and validated [11,12]. Then this model is used for neutron optimization study [13,14] and cathode radius study [15]. The main goal here is to study the effect of pressure and charging voltage on spherical plasma focus (SPF) dynamics.…”