Characterization of electron beams emitted from dense plasma focus machines using argon, neon and nitrogen

Abstract

The measured current traces of two low energy machines namely the AECS PF-2 and INTI PF are used for studying of the produced electron beam features using the modified Lee code (RADPFV5.15REB) at different conditions. The fitting procedures between measured and computed current traces are made for each point of pressure. In the case of AECS PF-2 working with neon, the electron fluence reaches the maximum value [Formula: see text] electrons m[Formula: see text] for 1.6 Torr and the flux achieves [Formula: see text] electrons m[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] near 1.5 Torr. The electron number has a peak of [Formula: see text] at 0.9 Torr. The computed results demonstarte also the maximum value of the power flow density of [Formula: see text] Wm[Formula: see text], and the superior damage factor of around [Formula: see text] Wm[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] at a pressure of 0.4 Torr. Argon presents the action of radiative cooling topping at highly magnified [Formula: see text] m[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] at 0.9 Torr. The damage factor reaches almost [Formula: see text] Wm[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] for Ar but it is only [Formula: see text] Wm[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] for N2. The huge values for argon are a result of enhanced compression due to radiative cooling. In the case of INTI PF device, the electron energy extends from 58 keV (for N2) to 256 keV (for Ar). The results indicate that the electron fluence ranges from [Formula: see text] electrons m[Formula: see text] for N2 to [Formula: see text] electrons m[Formula: see text] for Ar.