Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

The effect of pre-ionization on improving the performance of mather type plasma focus device MTPF2.4kj

Document Type : Scientific Note

Authors

S. Fazelpour
A. Chakhmachi
A. Nasiri

Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O. Box: 14399-51113, Tehran – Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2024.1579.2022
Abstract
The impact of pre-ionization using a 330 MΩ shunt resistor on the performance characteristics of a Mather Type plasma focus device with 2.4 kJ of energy, charged by a 12 μF capacitor bank to a maximum voltage of 20 kV, will be discussed in relation to hydrogen gas. In this study, the signal characteristics of the current and the current derivative of the device were measured and compared with and without pre-ionization at an optimal operational pressure of 0.85 Torr. Additionally, the emitted hard X-rays and ion beam in each shot were measured using a Ne102 X-ray plastic scintillation detector and Faraday cup, respectively. These measurements were conducted and compared with and without pre-ionization at the optimal pressure. The results from the current and current derivative signals of the device indicate that with initial pre-ionization, the signals exhibit a deeper and sharper fracture at the pinch time compared to when the pre-ionization circuit is inactive. This suggests that a stronger and more defined pinch occurs with pre-ionization. Furthermore, analysis of the Faraday cup signal amplitudes reveals that the intensity of emitted hard X-rays is significantly higher when pre-ionization is utilized compared to when it is not. Therefore, pre-ionization markedly enhances the efficiency of the plasma focus device, increases the intensity of emitted hard X-rays, and generates an ion beam with a higher current.

Highlights

  1. Ahmed K.M, Diab F.B, Gaber W.H, Emara T.F, Abdelkader M.E. Design and Characterization of One-Capacitor Compact Plasma Focus Device with Tapered Anode. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 2023;51:3500-3509.

 

  1. Sohrabi M, Zarrinshad A. Novel “Ionology Art for Art Ionology Methods” in 4π plasma focus device space: bridging art, science and technology. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2020;43:219-226.

 

  1. Niranjan R, Rout R.K, Tomar B.S, Ramanjaneyulu P.S, Paranjape D.B, Kaushik T.C. Application of medium energy plasma focus device in study of radioisotopes. Physics Letters A. 2018;382(46): 3365-3368.

 

  1. Gribkov V.A, Borovitskaya I.V, Demina E.V, Kazilin E.E, Latyshev S.V, Maslyaev S.A. Pimenov V.N, Laas T, Paduch M, Rogozhkin S.V. Application of dense plasma focus devices and lasers in the radiation material sciences for the goals of inertial fusion beyond ignition. Matter and Radiation at Extremes. 2020;5(4).

 

  1. Kato Y, Ochiai I, Watanabe Y, Murayama S. Plasma focus x-ray source for lithography. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B: Microelectronics Processing and Phenomena. 1988;6(1):195-198.

 

  1. Zakaullah M, Alamgir K, Shafiq M, Sharif M, Waheed A. Scope of plasma focus with argon as a soft X-ray source. IEEE transactions on plasma science. 2002;30(6):2089-2094.

 

7.https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=131369.

 

8.https://www.sid.ir/fa/Journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=462724.

 

  1. Ahmad S, Hussain S.S, Sadiq M, Shafiq M, Waheed A, Zakaullah M. Enhanced and reproducible neutron emission from a plasma focus with pre-ionization induced by depleted uranium (U238). Plasma physics and controlled fusion. 2006;48(6):745.

 

  1. Zakaullah M, Waheed A, Ahmad S, Zeb S, Hussain S. Study of neutron emission in a low-energy plasma focus with β-source-assisted breakdown. Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 2003;12(3):443.

 

  1. Ahmad S, Sadiq M, Shafiq M, Waheed A, Lee P, Zakaullah M. The effect of pre-ionization by a shunt resistor on the reproducibility of plasma focus x-ray emission. Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 2006;15(3):314.

 

  1. Khan H.U, Shafiq M, Hussain S.S, Zakaullah M. Effect of preionization on soft x-ray emission and plasma dynamics in a small plasma focus system. Journal of Applied Physics. 2010;107(7):073301.

 

  1. Ahmad S, Shafiq M, Zakaullah M, Waheed A. Depleted uranium (U23892) induced preionization for enhanced and reproducible x-ray emission from plasma focus. Applied Physics Letter. 2006;89:61503.

 

  1. Khan H.U, Shafiq M, Hussain S.S, Zakaullah M. Effect of preionization on soft x-ray emission and plasma dynamics in a small plasma focus system. Journal of Applied Physics. 2010;107:073301.

 

  1. Lerner E.J, Yousefi H.R. Runaway electrons as a source of impurity and reduced fusion yield in the dense plasma focus. Physics of Plasmas. 2014;21(10):102706.

 

  1. Ruden E. Stability enhancement of a low initial density hollow gas‐puff z pinch by e− beam preionization. Journal of applied physics. 1987;61(4):1311-1316.

 

  1. Freiwald D.A, Prestwich K.R, Kuswa G.W, Beckner E.H. Neutron enhancement from relativistic electron beam-dense plasma focus interactions. Physics Letters A. 1971;36(4):297-298.

 

  1. Khan H.U, Shafiq M. Effect of preionization on the dynamics of current sheath in a small plasma focus device. Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids. 2012;167(11):834-840.

 

  1. McGeoch M. Radio-frequency-preionized xenon z-pinch source for extreme ultraviolet lithography. Applied optics. 1998;37(9):1651-1658.

 

  1. Piriaei D, Yousefi H.R, Mahabadi T.D, SalarElahi A, Ghoranneviss M. The effects of pre-ionization using a shunt resistor on reproducibility of the x-ray emission in a dense plasma focus device. Physics of Plasmas. 2017;24(8):082502-082508.

 

  1. Gallo C.F. Coronas and Gas Discharges in Electrophotography:A Review. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications. 1975;IA-13(6):739-748

Keywords

Plasma focus
Pre-ionization
Shunt resistor
Hard X-ray
Ion beam intensity
Discharge current
  1. Ahmed K.M, Diab F.B, Gaber W.H, Emara T.F, Abdelkader M.E. Design and Characterization of One-Capacitor Compact Plasma Focus Device with Tapered Anode. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science. 2023;51:3500-3509.

 

  1. Sohrabi M, Zarrinshad A. Novel “Ionology Art for Art Ionology Methods” in 4π plasma focus device space: bridging art, science and technology. Journal of Cultural Heritage. 2020;43:219-226.

 

  1. Niranjan R, Rout R.K, Tomar B.S, Ramanjaneyulu P.S, Paranjape D.B, Kaushik T.C. Application of medium energy plasma focus device in study of radioisotopes. Physics Letters A. 2018;382(46): 3365-3368.

 

  1. Gribkov V.A, Borovitskaya I.V, Demina E.V, Kazilin E.E, Latyshev S.V, Maslyaev S.A. Pimenov V.N, Laas T, Paduch M, Rogozhkin S.V. Application of dense plasma focus devices and lasers in the radiation material sciences for the goals of inertial fusion beyond ignition. Matter and Radiation at Extremes. 2020;5(4).

 

  1. Kato Y, Ochiai I, Watanabe Y, Murayama S. Plasma focus x-ray source for lithography. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B: Microelectronics Processing and Phenomena. 1988;6(1):195-198.

 

  1. Zakaullah M, Alamgir K, Shafiq M, Sharif M, Waheed A. Scope of plasma focus with argon as a soft X-ray source. IEEE transactions on plasma science. 2002;30(6):2089-2094.

 

7.https://www.sid.ir/fa/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=131369.

 

8.https://www.sid.ir/fa/Journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=462724.

 

  1. Ahmad S, Hussain S.S, Sadiq M, Shafiq M, Waheed A, Zakaullah M. Enhanced and reproducible neutron emission from a plasma focus with pre-ionization induced by depleted uranium (U238). Plasma physics and controlled fusion. 2006;48(6):745.

 

  1. Zakaullah M, Waheed A, Ahmad S, Zeb S, Hussain S. Study of neutron emission in a low-energy plasma focus with β-source-assisted breakdown. Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 2003;12(3):443.

 

  1. Ahmad S, Sadiq M, Shafiq M, Waheed A, Lee P, Zakaullah M. The effect of pre-ionization by a shunt resistor on the reproducibility of plasma focus x-ray emission. Plasma Sources Science and Technology. 2006;15(3):314.

 

  1. Khan H.U, Shafiq M, Hussain S.S, Zakaullah M. Effect of preionization on soft x-ray emission and plasma dynamics in a small plasma focus system. Journal of Applied Physics. 2010;107(7):073301.

 

  1. Ahmad S, Shafiq M, Zakaullah M, Waheed A. Depleted uranium (U23892) induced preionization for enhanced and reproducible x-ray emission from plasma focus. Applied Physics Letter. 2006;89:61503.

 

  1. Khan H.U, Shafiq M, Hussain S.S, Zakaullah M. Effect of preionization on soft x-ray emission and plasma dynamics in a small plasma focus system. Journal of Applied Physics. 2010;107:073301.

 

  1. Lerner E.J, Yousefi H.R. Runaway electrons as a source of impurity and reduced fusion yield in the dense plasma focus. Physics of Plasmas. 2014;21(10):102706.

 

  1. Ruden E. Stability enhancement of a low initial density hollow gas‐puff z pinch by e− beam preionization. Journal of applied physics. 1987;61(4):1311-1316.

 

  1. Freiwald D.A, Prestwich K.R, Kuswa G.W, Beckner E.H. Neutron enhancement from relativistic electron beam-dense plasma focus interactions. Physics Letters A. 1971;36(4):297-298.

 

  1. Khan H.U, Shafiq M. Effect of preionization on the dynamics of current sheath in a small plasma focus device. Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids. 2012;167(11):834-840.

 

  1. McGeoch M. Radio-frequency-preionized xenon z-pinch source for extreme ultraviolet lithography. Applied optics. 1998;37(9):1651-1658.

 

  1. Piriaei D, Yousefi H.R, Mahabadi T.D, SalarElahi A, Ghoranneviss M. The effects of pre-ionization using a shunt resistor on reproducibility of the x-ray emission in a dense plasma focus device. Physics of Plasmas. 2017;24(8):082502-082508.

 

  1. Gallo C.F. Coronas and Gas Discharges in Electrophotography:A Review. IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications. 1975;IA-13(6):739-748

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