Investigation of the Neutron Production Mechanism in a 20 kJ Plasma Focus Device

Neutron production mechanisms in a medium energy plasma focus device (20 kJ) were investigated. The time-resolved hard X-ray, neutron signals were obtained with two detectors based on a plastic scintillator–photomultiplier combination located at two different angles (0°, 90°) to the plasma chamber and 10 m from the top of the anode. Neutron signal intensities at 0° and 90° were recorded for comparison. Neutron intensity width results in a distribution of neutron energy in the 0°, direction greater than the energy of thermonuclear neutrons (2.45 MeV).