Dense Plasma Focus Back in the Spotlight

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USING neutrons to “look through” fast-moving experiments requires an intensely bright neutron source originating from a very small spot. One tool that suits this scientific role is the dense plasma focus (DPF). The DPF uses a strong magnetic field to compress a plasma into a discharge called a “pinch” that creates a short, intense pulse of x rays, neutrons, and directed ion beams. Introduced in the 1960s, the relatively compact size and uncomplicated design of the devices made them attractive as the foundation for fusion power plants, although that application was eventually discounted after decades of research. More recently, the DPF has been considered as a neutron source for radiography and other national security applications. An important complement to x-ray imaging, fast neutron imaging enables researchers to examine the lighter elements in objects of study. Unlike current commercial and industrial neutron imaging sources, the DPF generates an incredibly bright but very short fla

Back to top Chris Cooper, Alex Povilus (left) and Gustavo Bartolo (right) make adjustments to MJOLNIR, LLNL’s Dense Plasma Focus, to increase neutron yield, creating a radiological imaging source for the Laboratory. (Photo by Garry McLeod.) Using neutrons to “look through” fast-moving experiments requires an intensely bright neutron source originating from a very small spot. One tool that suits this scientific role is the dense plasma focus (DPF). The DPF uses a strong magnetic field to compress a plasma into a discharge called a “pinch” that creates a short, intense pulse of x rays, neutrons,

Dense Plasma Focus Back in the Spotlight

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