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Pulsed neutron radiography using a Megajoule-class Dense Plasma Focus Energy

ORAL

Abstract

The MegaJOuLe Neutron Imaging Radiography1 experiment uses dense plasma focus2 (DPF) as a source for flash neutron radiography. In a 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 plasma, called the pinch, at the tip of the central electrode. During the pinch event, 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 first radiographs obtained using the MJOLNIR DPF as a neutron source. We also show measurements to characterize the neutron source using the suite of diagnostics implemented on MJOLNIR such as real-time neutron activation detectors, neutron time-of-flight detectors. This work was performed by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344, LLNL-ABS-837040.

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Publication: 1. A. Schmidt et al. IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, 49(11), pp.3299-3306.<br>2. J. W. Mather, Phys. Fluids, vol. 7, no. 11, pp. S28, 1964

Presenters

  • Clement S Goyon

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

Authors

  • Clement S Goyon

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Owen B Drury

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Jessica R Taylor

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Christopher M Cooper

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, LLNL

  • Steven F Chapman

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, LLNL

  • Paul C Campbell

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • David N Fittinghoff

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Luis Frausto

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Drew P Higginson

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Anthony J Link

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

  • Brian H Shaw

    Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • James K Walters

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Amanda E Youmans

    Lawrence Livermore natl laboratory, Lawrence Livermore Natl Lab

  • Andrea E Schmidt

    Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory