Increasing neutron production in the FuZE experiment by optimizing the neutral fill profile and the current waveform.

Sheared flow stabilized Z-pinches can be an economical path towards fusion energy. The FuZE experiment at the University of Washington is investigating the viability of this concept. The device uses a single power supply and two coaxial electrodes to form, compress, and sustain a sheared flow Z-pinch. The electrodes are divided into an acceleration and assembly region. The acceleration region initially operates in a snow-plow process, with an accelerating current sheet ionizing neutral gas ahead of the sheet. The accelerator then transitions into a deflagration type ionization process, where neutral gas behind the current is ionized and accelerated towards the assembly region. The snow-plow type process forms the sheared-flow Z-pinch and the deflagration process maintains a stable Z-pinch. The neutron production in a stable Z-pinch can be optimized through tailoring of the neutral gas profile in the acceleration region. Characterization of these processes and the use of these processes to optimize and extend the neutron production in FuZE will be presented.