Preliminary neutron scaling of the TAMU 460 kJ plasma focus

Preliminary scaling studies on the TAMU dense plasma focus (DPF) using the deuterium fusion reactions are presented. A particular emphasis of this scaling study is the comparison between the TAMU DPF and the DPF 6.5 results from the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in 1973. The capacitor bank for the TAMU machine stores 460 kJ at a charge voltage of 60 kV. It can deliver > 3 MA into a plasma focus load with a rise time of /spl sim/5 ps. Physically, thus bank is divided into six modules of 24 capacitors with 44.4 /spl mu/F of capacitance per bank. The energy storage at full voltage is < 80 kJ per module. The energy storage per capacitor is /spl sim/3.3 kJ/can, and their reversal rating is 80%. Each module is discharged through a single high-current rail switch. The six modules deliver their current to the plasma focus load through 72, RG-17/14 coaxial cables. The primary neutron yield detectors for this facility are the silver detectors developed at Los Alamos that use four geiger tubes in a (30 cm /spl times/ 30 cm /spl times/ 15 cm) block of polyethylene and 0.254 mm thick silver foils. Time of flight detectors located near the experiment and outside a 60-cm thick concrete shield wall will provide prompt and energy-resolved neutron generation data.