A neutron source with 10(14) DT neutron yield

The developed spherical plasma focus model is used in this study to investigate the optimum neutron yield in terms of the gas pressure, cathode radius and external inductance. The optimum values for these parameters are found separately. Then, the charging voltage is varied from 25 kV to 35 kV with 1 kV increment by using these separately found optimum values to see the rate of increase in neutron yield. While the used gas pressure range is 1-40 Torr with 1 Torr increment, cathode radius range is 11.5-17 cm with 0.5 cm increment. External inductance is varied from 10 nH to 150 nH with 5 nH increment. The optimum values for gas pressure, cathode radius and external inductance are found to be 26 Torr, 15 cm and 75 nH, respectively. Even though combining these separately found optimum values of pressure, cathode radius and external inductance does not necessarily form an optimized set of operational conditions for the SPF, they lead to a higher neutron yield in that while neutron yield with these separately found optimum values at 25 kV charging voltage is 2.82 x 10(13) (higher than the measured neutron yield of 1.26 x 10(13) at 25 kV), it increases to 1.32 x 10(14), when charging voltage is increased to 35 kV. Using these values shows that spherical plasma focus device can be used as a neutron source with high neutron yield (on the order of 10(14)).