Author:

Andrea Schmidt
(Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)
The Z-pinch phase of a dense plasma focus (D!) emits multiple-"e# ions on a cm-scale
len$th% even for &'-scale devices( The mechanisms throu$h which these physically simple
devices $enerate such hi$h ener$y beams in a relatively short distance are not fully understood(
)e are e*plorin$ the mechanisms behind these lar$e $radients usin$ the first fully &inetic
simulations of a D! Z-pinch as well as an ion probe beam e*periment in which a + "e#
deuteron beam is in,ected alon$ the --a*is of a D! Z-pinch plasma and accelerated( .ur table-
top D! has demonstrated /te*t$reater012 "#3m acceleration $radients durin$ 422 ' operation
usin$ a fast capacitive driver 567( )e have now directly measured the D! $radients and
demonstrated acceleration of an in,ected ion beam for the first time( .ur particle-in-cell
simulations have successfully predicted observed D! ion beams and neutron yield% which past
fluid simulations have not reproduced 587( )e have now e*perimentally measured and observed
in the simulations for the first time% electric field oscillations near the lower hybrid fre9uency(
This is su$$estive that the lower hybrid drift instability% lon$ speculated to be the cause of the
anomalous plasma resistivity that produces lar$e D! $radients% is playin$ an important role(
Direct comparisons between the e*periment and simulations enhance our understandin$ of
these plasmas and provide predictive desi$n capability for accelerator and neutron source
applications( This wor& performed under the auspices of the :(S( Department of ;ner$y by
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under <ontract D;-A<18-2=NA8=>++ and supported
by the Laboratory Directed ?esearch and Development ro$ram (66-;?D-2@>) at LLNL(//5+pt7
567 '( ;llsworth et al(% AADesi$n and Bnitial ?esults from a Cilo,oule Level Dense lasma !ocus
with Dollow Anode and <ylindrically Symmetric Eas uff%FF ?SB% 8268 (submitted)(//52pt7 587 A(
Schmidt et al(% AA!ully Cinetic Simulations of Dense lasma !ocus Z-inch Devices%FF ?L%
62G(82)% 82122>% 8268(
Design and initial results from a kilojoule level dense plasma
focus with hollow anode and cylindrically symmetric gas puff
AUTHOR!"
;llsworth% '( L(H !alabella% S(H #( Tan$H Schmidt% A(H Euethlein% E(H Daw&ins% S(H ?usna&% I(
#U$% DAT&
'anuary 826+
!OUR'&
?eview of Scientific BnstrumentsH'an826+% #ol( 41 Bssue 6% p6
!OUR'& T(#&
Academic 'ournal
DO'% T(#&
Article
A$!TRA'T
)e have desi$ned and built a Dense lasma !ocus (D!) Z-pinch device usin$ a &'-level capacitor ban&
and a hollow anode% and fueled by a cylindrically symmetric $as puff( :sin$ this device% we have
measured pea& deuteron beam ener$ies of up to +22 &e# at 2(4 &' capacitor ban& ener$y and pinch
len$ths of 0@ mm% indicatin$ acceleratin$ fields $reater than 12 "#3m( Neutron yields of on the order of
62= per shot were measured durin$ deuterium operation( The cylindrical $as puff system permitted
simultaneous operation of D! with a radiofre9uency 9uadrupole accelerator for beam-into-plasma
e*periments( This paper describes the machine desi$n% the dia$nostic systems% and our first results(