Energy scaling of focused discharges with enhanced reactivity

Summary form only given. The neutron yield per pulse (Y/sub n/) from D+D reactions, the thickness and speed of the leading plasma current sheath in the electrode gap, and the multiplicity (/spl upsi/) of current sheaths in one discharge have been monitored in two plasma focus machines operating at different levels of the capacitor bank energy, 5 kJ /spl les/ W /spl les/ 10 kJ and 12 kJ /spl les/ W /spl les/ 30 kJ. The time spacing (/spl Delta/ t) between the leading (CS/sub 1/) and trailing (CS/sub 2/) current sheath is also recorded up to a CS distance 4 = 1.7 cm from the center electrode (anode) axis. The scaling of Y/sub n/ /spl sim/ A W/sup 2/ is tested for PF-Mather-geometry machines with a field distortion element (FDE) inserted at the breech side of the electrode gap, which increases Y/sub n/ (i.e., the constant A) by a factor /spl ges/ 5 above the Y/sub n/ value of the same machines operating under identical conditions, but without FDE.