Search for thermonuclear neutrons in a mega-ampere plasma focus

Klír, D.; Kubeš, P.; Paduch, M.; Pisarczyk, T.; Chodukowski, T.; Scholz, M.; Kalinowska, Z.; Bienkowska, B.; Karpinski, L.; Kortanek, J.; Kravárik, J.; Řezáč, K.; Ivanova‐Stanik, I.; Tomaszewski, K.; Zielinska, E.

doi:10.1088/0741-3335/54/1/015001

Cited by 25 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…10. Similar spectra have also been reported for 2 MA DPF experiments, 38 2 MA DPF PIC simulations, 39 and deuterated polyethylene Z-pinch experiments. 40 Due to this similarity between the synthetic spectra here and experimental spectra in the literature, it is tempting to conclude that the same mechanisms are responsible for neutron production in the simulations and experiments.…”

Section: Analyzing Fusion Neutron Spectrasupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Experimental data also suggest that neutron scattering can also be a source of neutrons in this region. 37,38 E. Beam-target spectrum width A quantitative relationship between the width of BT spectra and some physical parameters of the system is desirable, analogous to that between spectrum width and ion temperature for TN reactions. In the case of uniaxial acceleration of the ions, such a relationship would be obtainable since there is a direct correlation between the energy range of accelerated ions and the spectrum width in the forward direction.…”

Section: Spectra With a Lower Energy Peakmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neutron spectra from beam-target reactions in dense Z-pinches

Appelbe

Chittenden

2015

Physics of Plasmas

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The energy spectrum of neutrons emitted by a range of deuterium and deuterium-tritium Z-pinch devices is investigated computationally using a hybrid kinetic-MHD model. 3D MHD simulations are used to model the implosion, stagnation, and break-up of dense plasma focus devices at currents of 70 kA, 500 kA, and 2 MA and also a 15 MA gas puff. Instabilities in the MHD simulations generate large electric and magnetic fields, which accelerate ions during the stagnation and break-up phases. A kinetic model is used to calculate the trajectories of these ions and the neutron spectra produced due to the interaction of these ions with the background plasma. It is found that these beam-target neutron spectra are sensitive to the electric and magnetic fields at stagnation resulting in significant differences in the spectra emitted by each device. Most notably, magnetization of the accelerated ions causes the beam-target spectra to be isotropic for the gas puff simulations. It is also shown that beam-target spectra can have a peak intensity located at a lower energy than the peak intensity of a thermonuclear spectrum. A number of other differences in the shapes of beam-target and thermonuclear spectra are also observed for each device. Finally, significant differences between the shapes of beam-target DD and DT neutron spectra, due to differences in the reaction cross-sections, are illustrated.

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Section: Analyzing Fusion Neutron Spectrasupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Spectra With a Lower Energy Peakmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron spectra from beam-target reactions in dense Z-pinches

Appelbe

Chittenden

2015

Physics of Plasmas

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“…27) as well as in the plasma foci on the mega-ampere current level. 9,10,44 The GIT-12 generator with the POS provided the current rise-time of about 200 ns. In comparison with the rise times achieved on the S-300 and the MA plasma foci, such a value is in between.…”

Section: A Multiple Neutron Pulses In Deuterium Gas Puffsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deuterium gas puff Z-pinch at currents of 2 to 3 mega-ampere

et al. 2012

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Deuterium gas-puff experiments have been carried out on the GIT-12 generator at the Institute of High Current Electronics in Tomsk. The emphasis was put on the study of plasma dynamics and neutron production in double shell gas puffs. A linear mass density of deuterium (D2) varied between 50 and 85 μg/cm. Somewhat problematic was a spread of the D2 gas at a large diameter in the central anode–cathode region. The generator operated in two regimes, with and without a plasma opening switch (POS). When the POS was used, a current reached a peak of 2.7 MA with a 200 ns rise time. Without the POS, a current rise time approached 1500 ns. The influence of different current rise times on neutron production was researched. Obtained results were important for comparison of fast deuterium Z-pinches with plasma foci. Average DD neutron yields with and without the POS were about 1011. The neutron yield seems to be dependent on a peak voltage at the Z-pinch load. In all shots, the neutron emission started during stagnation. At the beginning of the neutron production, the neutron emission correlated with soft x-rays and a significant fraction of neutrons could be explained by the thermonuclear mechanism. Nevertheless, a peak of the neutron emission occurred 40 ns after a soft x-ray peak. At this very moment, hard x-rays above 1 MeV were detected and a rapid expansion with a velocity of 3×105 m/s was observed. In the case of the POS, 1 MeV widths of radial neutron spectra implied that there are deuterons with the energy above 200 keV moving in the radial direction. On the basis of D2 gas puff experiments in the 0.3–17 MA region, the neutron yield dependence on a current as Y∝I3.0±0.2 was proposed.

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“…The simplest target configuration for laser-driven neutron generation consists in bulk deuterated polyethylene: DD fusion reactions occur due to collisions between deuterons accelerated at the front target surface with deuterium nuclei in the target bulk (beam fusion, forward directed) or after deuteron thermalization (thermal fusion, isotropic) [98][99][100] . Multiple target configurations have been used to study laserdriven neutron generation in the so-called pitcher-catcher geometry: protons or ions accelerated in a primary target are then directed onto a secondary target acting as a converter [101,102] .…”

Section: Solid Targetsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Targets for high repetition rate laser facilities: needs, challenges and perspectives

Prencipe

Fuchs

Pascarelli

et al. 2017

High Pow Laser Sci Eng

131

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2 I. Prencipe et al.Abstract A number of laser facilities coming online all over the world promise the capability of high-power laser experiments with shot repetition rates between 1 and 10 Hz. Target availability and technical issues related to the interaction environment could become a bottleneck for the exploitation of such facilities. In this paper, we report on target needs for three different classes of experiments: dynamic compression physics, electron transport and isochoric heating, and laser-driven particle and radiation sources. We also review some of the most challenging issues in target fabrication and high repetition rate operation. Finally, we discuss current target supply strategies and future perspectives to establish a sustainable target provision infrastructure for advanced laser facilities.

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Search for thermonuclear neutrons in a mega-ampere plasma focus

Cited by 25 publications

References 56 publications

Neutron spectra from beam-target reactions in dense Z-pinches

Neutron spectra from beam-target reactions in dense Z-pinches

Deuterium gas puff Z-pinch at currents of 2 to 3 mega-ampere

Targets for high repetition rate laser facilities: needs, challenges and perspectives

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