Temporal variance of timing fiducials on the MJOLNIR dense plasma focus

Timing fiducials and shot metadata are analyzed to investigate temporal variation and correlations on the MJOLINR dense plasma focus (DPF). The DPF must synchronize the neutron flash to an external experiment and its neutron imaging system by minimizing temporal variation.

Minute 0.1% variations in fill pressure and charge voltage account for 5 ns of variation with a plan towards 1 ns of variation by enhancing controls, gauges, and feedback. Variations in rundown speed measured with light gates account for 5 ns of variation and are random – shots can start "early" but end "late." Variations in the peak electric field time have 10 ns of variance and correlate with neutron arrival time. During the implosion, the growing electric field can “short circuit” resulting in a lower field at an earlier time but with later radiation arrival measured with a neutron time-of-flight detector. Mitigating alternate current paths could lower this variation.