Plasma focus based repetitive source of fusion neutrons and hard x-rays

TL;DR

This paper presents a plasma focus device operating at 0.2 pulses/sec as a versatile source of fast neutrons and hard x-rays, enabling applications in material probing, water detection, and imaging of small or shielded objects.

Contribution

It demonstrates a high-repetition-rate plasma focus device capable of producing useful neutron and x-ray emissions for practical imaging and material analysis applications.

Findings

Effective neutron emissions for hydrogenous substance probing.

Ultrashort hard x-ray pulses enable internal imaging of small objects.

Successful imaging of shielded metallic objects with submillimeter resolution.

Abstract

A plasma focus device capable of operating at 0.2 pulses per second during several minutes is used as a source of hard x-rays and fast neutrons. An experimental demonstration of the use of the neutrons emissions for radiation probing of hydrogenated substances is presented, showing a particular application in detecting water concentrations differences in the proximity of the device by elastic scattering. Moreover, the device produces ultrashort hard x-rays pulses useful for introspective images of small objects, static or in fast motion, suitable for the identification of internal submillimetric defects. Clear images of metallic objects shielded by several millimeters iron walls are shown.