Study of Neutron From a Dense Plasma Focus Paco Instrument by Means of Nuclear Tracks Detectors

Authors

  • M. Milanese Instituto de Física ̈Arroyo Seco ̈ Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil Argentina
  • F. Castillo Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 48-3, 62251, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
  • M. Moroso Instituto de Física ̈Arroyo Seco ̈ Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil Argentina
  • M. Barbaglia Instituto de Física ̈Arroyo Seco ̈ Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil Argentina
  • J. I. Golzarri Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica, Ciudad Universitaria, 04520, México D. F., México
  • H. Martínez Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 48-3, 62251, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
  • G. Espinosa Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica, Ciudad Universitaria, 04520, México D. F., México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15415/jnp.2016.41009

Keywords:

Plasma focus, neutrons, CR-39, nuclear track detectors

Abstract

A most interesting feature of dense plasma foci is the acceleration of charge particle at energy in the range of MeV per nucleon. Using deuterium gas, this devices produce fusion D-D reactions, generation fast neutron pulses (~ 2.5 MeV). The device used in the present work is a Mather-type dense plasma focus, called PACO. It is a 2kJ device at 31 kV, with an oxygen-free copper anode, 50 mm long with 40 mm diameter. The coaxial cathode is formed by ten copper rods arranged in a squirrel cage configuration at a radius of 50 mm. The insulator in an annular Pyrex® tube located at the base of the anode. The energy store is provided by four 1 μF (40 kV, 40 nH) capacitors in parallel. The plasma focus was operated at 1.5 mb deuterium gas pressure. Neutron and accelerated particles are analyzed with material detectors (CR-39 Lantrack®) for different conditions. A detailed study is made of track diameters when the plastic is chemically etched with, 6N KOH at 60°C (±1) for 12 h

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bernard, A., Coudeville, A., Jolas, A., Launspach, J. & De Mascureau, J. Experimental studies of the plasma focus and evidence for non-thermal processes. Phys. Fluids 18,180 (1975). http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.861101

Bernstein, M.J. & Comisar, C.G. Neutron energy and flux distributions from a crossed-field acceleration model of plasma focus and z-pinch discharge.Phys. Fluids 15 700(1972). http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1693966

Bruzzone, H., et al. Temporal Correlations Between Hard X-Ray and Neutron Pulses in the PACO Plasma Focus Device. IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 38 (7), 1592 (2010). http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TPS.2010.2049274

Castillo, F., et al. Isotropic and anisotropic components of neutron emission at the FN-II and PACO dense plasma focus devices. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 45 289 (2003). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/45/3/309

Castillo, F., Milanese, M., Moroso, R., &Pouzo, J. Evidences of thermal and nonthermal mechanisms coexisting in dense plasma focus D-D nuclear reactions. J. of Phys D: Appl. Phys. 33, 141 (2000). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/33/2/308

Castillo, F., Milanese, M., Moroso, R., &Pouzo, J. Some experimental research on anisotropic effects in the neutron emission of dense plasma- focus devices. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 30, 1499 (1997). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/30/10/017

Choi, P., Wong, C.S. & Herold, H. Studies of the spatial and temporal evolution of a dense plasma focus in the x-ray region. Laser Part. Beams. 7, 763 (1989). http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0263034600006236

Collopy, M.T, et al. Calibration of CR-39 for detecting fusion neutrons. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 63, 4892 (1992). http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1143542

Durrani, S.A. & Bull, R.K. Solid State Nuclear Track Detection, (Pergamon Press, New York, 1987).

Filippov, N.V., Fillippova, T.I.,&Vinogradov, N.V.Dense high temperature plasma in a non-cylindrical z-pinch compression.Nuclear Fusion Suppl. 2, 577(1962).

Frenjem, J.A.,et al., Absolute measurements of neutron yields from DD and DT implosions at the OMEGA laser facility using CR-39 track detectors. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 73, 2597 (2002). http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1487889

Gammage, R.B. & Espinosa, G. Digital Imaging System for Track Measurements. Radiat.Meas. 28,835 (1997). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1350-4487(97)00193-5

Jäger, U. & Herold, H. Fast ion kinetics and fusion reaction mechanism in the plasma focus. Nuclear Fusion.27, 407 (1987). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/27/3/006

Jäger, U., Bertalot, L. & Herold, H. Energy spectra and space resolved measurements of fusion reaction protons from plasma focus devices. Rev. Sci. Instrum. 56, 77 (1985). http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1138483

Mather, J.W. Formation of a high-density deuterium plasma focus.Phys. Fluids, 8, 366 (1965). http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1761231

Pouzo, J., Cortázar, D., Milanese, M., Moroso, R. &Píriz, A. Limits of deuterium pressure range with neutron production in plasma focus devices. Small Plasma Physics Experiments (World Scientific, London, 1988), p. 80.

Steinmetz, K., Hubner, Rager, J.P. &Robouch, B.V. Neutron pinhole camera investigation on temporal and spatial structures of plasma focus neutron source. Nuclear Fusion, 22, 25 (1982). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/22/1/003

Tiseanu, I., Mandache, N &Zambreanu V.Energetic and angular characteristics of the reacting deuterons in a plasma focus. Plasma Phys. Control Fission. 36,417(1994). http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/36/3/004

Downloads

Published

2016-08-08

How to Cite

(1)
Milanese, M. .; Castillo, F. .; Moroso, M. .; Barbaglia, M. .; Golzarri, J. I. .; Martínez, H. .; Espinosa, G. . Study of Neutron From a Dense Plasma Focus Paco Instrument by Means of Nuclear Tracks Detectors. J. Nucl. Phy. Mat. Sci. Rad. A. 2016, 4, 89-98.

Issue

Section

Articles