ENHANCED RADIATION EMISSION FROM PLASMA FOCUS WITH PRE-IONIZATION

The work reported here was based on investigations of neutrons and X-rays emitted from a Mather type plasma focus by varying charging voltage (capacitor energy/ discharged current) and employing different pre-ionization schemes to obtain high neutrons and photons emission. It was observed that the radiated energy strongly depends upon the filling pressure as well as on effectiveness of pre-ionization. There was a significant increase in the neutron emission, characteristics and total X-ray emission with pre-ionization caused by depleted uranium as compared to other pre-ionization schemes. Thus pre-ionization prior to pulse discharge plays an important role in the breakdown phase of the plasma focus operation, broadens pressure range for both neutron and X-ray emission and improves shot to shot reproducibility of the system. The results may be interesting for using a plasma focus as an enhanced neutron and X-ray emission source for different applications.

Autorentext

Dr. Sarfraz Ahmad is Assistant Professor and Researcher in National Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of Agriculture, Fasialabad (Pakistan) from where he did his M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology. He got Master Research in Dairy Science and Technology from University of Rennes1. He did his Ph.D. from Agrocampus Ouest-INRA (France).