Time and space resolved neutron measurements on a dense plasma focus

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Abstract
The time and space resolved neutron emission from a Filippov type dense plasma focus is measured with scintillation detectors associated with collimators, giving a one or two dimensional resolution. Axial and radial neutron emission distributions are obtained. Arguments are presented for the existence of two mechanisms producing the main neturon yield that takes place 100 nsec after the maximum compression. The former, belonging to a thermonuclear plasma (ne=3×1017 cm−3, Ti=7−8 keV, V=20 cm3) located in a region between 1 and 3 cm above the anode, lasts for about 40 nsec and accounts for 70% of the main neutron emission. The latter, due to beam‐target interactions, takes place mainly near the cathode wall and produces about 20% of the main neutron output. A third neutron emission, uniformly distributed along the axis of the machine, is also present, accounting for 10% of the main neutron yield.