Investigation of the Plasma Focus Device as a Pulsed Neutron Source

Abstract

A Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) device is studied as a radiation sources such as X-ray, proton, electron and neutron, as the most powerful laboratory neutron source. DPF-device is investigated as a neutron source with pure deuterium gas in the electric Probe Applications Laboratory (ePAL) of Hanyang University. This device is composed of a capacitor bank (32μF), a spark gap switch, and two electrodes along with electrical circuits. Charging voltage is 16kV and the typical discharge peak current is about 183kA. The generated neutrons with different deuterium filling pressure are measured with the different electrode lengths by means of the bubble neutron dosimeter (BD-PND: Bubble Technology Industry). The maximum neutron yield is estimated about 6.4×108 n/shot with pressure of ~3 Torr.