Hollow Anode Cascading Plasma Focus

Abstract

Using the 3-phase model for each focus event, the 9-phase, two solid disc auxiliary anode cascading plasma focus has been extended to include holes at the center of each cascade anode (hereafter referred to as hollow anode cascading focus) with a view of increasing the neutron yield with each focus event. Results show that the hollow anode cascading focus like the solid anode exhibits good focusing characteristics, i.e. significant current dip, large voltage spike and fast radial piston speed. Comparing the neutron yields using established empirical scaling laws, the results show equal yield in the first focus phase, while the yield in the second and third focus phases is 1.7% and 2.8% respectively, lower than the solid anode.

Keywords: Cascading focus; Auxiliary hollow anode; 3-phase model