Comparative study of low energy Mather-type plasma focus devices

Abstract

The characteristics of three different low energy Mather-type plasma focus devices are investigated and compared. The effects of anode length and insulator sleeve length on neutron yield and on fluence anisotropy are studied. It is found that proper tuning of the focus tube inductance with that of the driver enhances the neutron emission from the focus region, increases the neutron pulse width and broadens the deuterium pressure range for high neutron yield. The insulator contamination which occurs due to Cu evaporated from the electrodes drastically changes the device characteristic. The possibility of using the device as a multi-pulse neutron generator is also examined.