Instability Enhanced Emissions of X-Ray and Neutron in Plasma Focus

In the dense plasma focus, instability such as ion acoustic wave instability, is excited at the focus pinch. With the observation of such oscillation in the discharge current, the emissions of X-rays and neutrons are enhanced. An X-ray measurement shows that electrons arc heated up to 10.5 keV. The neutron yield (D–D) is also enhanced with the increase of the instability amplitude. The ion temperature of 2.1 keV is obtained from the velocity distribution of the neutrons.