Pulsed neutron radiography using a Megajoule-class Dense Plasma Focus Energy

ORAL

Abstract

The MegaJOuLe Neutron Imaging Radiography1 experiment uses dense plasma focus2 (DPF) as a source for flash neutron radiography. In a DPF, a high voltage is pulsed across a low-pressure gas between coaxial cylindrical electrodes. The gas is ionized and magnetically compressed to form a high-density plasma, called the pinch, at the tip of the central electrode. During the pinch event, magnetic instabilities generate electric fields that can accelerate ions up to several MeV. These ions produce neutrons via beam-target interaction with the dense plasma present on-axis. We present the first radiographs obtained using the MJOLNIR DPF as a neutron source. We also show measurements to characterize the neutron source using the suite of diagnostics implemented on MJOLNIR such as real-time neutron activation detectors, neutron time-of-flight detectors. This work was performed by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344, LLNL-ABS-837040.

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Publication: 1. A. Schmidt et al. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 49(11), pp.3299-3306.
2. J. W. Mather, Phys. Fluids, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. S28, 1964

Presenters

  • Clement S Goyon

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

Authors

  • Clement S Goyon

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Owen B Drury

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Jessica R Taylor

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Christopher M Cooper

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Lab
    • LLNL

  • Steven F Chapman

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore National Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • LLNL

  • Paul C Campbell

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • David N Fittinghoff

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Luis Frausto

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Drew P Higginson

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Anthony J Link

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab
    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Brian H Shaw

    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • James K Walters

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Amanda E Youmans

    • Lawrence Livermore natl laboratory
    • Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Andrea E Schmidt

    • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory