Observation of neutron emission in the process of X-pinch

TL;DR

This study reports the detection of neutron emission across a broad energy spectrum during X-pinch experiments, with significant neutron flux indicating potential for high-energy neutron production.

Contribution

It provides the first measurements of neutron flux in X-pinch processes using CR-39 detectors, revealing wide energy range emission and neutron moderation effects.

Findings

Neutron emission observed from thermal to >10 MeV energies.

Neutron flux exceeds 10^8 neutrons per shot into 4π sr.

Fast neutrons are slowed down to thermal energies during discharge.

Abstract

The results of measuring the neutron flux in the process of the X-pinch are presented. The measurements were carried out using CR-39 track detectors. It was found that in the process of X-pinch recorded neutron emission over a wide energy range (from thermal to energies greater than 10 MeV) with an intensity of more than 108 neutrons per shot into 4{\pi} sr solid angle (assuming isotropy of radiation and localizing the source in the "hot spot"). Data of track detectors suggest that at the time of discharge produced fast neutrons are then slowed down and turned into thermal.