The suite of diagnostics for the new MJ Dense Plasma Focus Device at LLNL

In a Dense Plasma Focus (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 (several 10²¹ cm^-3) plasma (the pinch) at the tip of the central electrode. During the pinch, 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 suite of diagnostics implemented on the new MegaJoule class DPF (MJOLNIR, Povilus et al.) built at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and first measurements from these diagnostics. We describe measurements of neutron yields using lanthanum bromide and beryllium real-time neutron activation detectors. Rogowski-based current measurements and optical images of the plasma sheath before and during the pinch. Additionally, measurements from neutron time-of-flight detectors, light diode detectors that measure plasma sheath timing and symmetry, and an optical spectrometer will be shown. Designs for future diagnostics, including an interferometer to measure plasma density and an ion energy spectrometer will be discussed.