Spectral/target activity of short lived radio isotope in pulsed plasma accelerator.
Accelerated deuteron spectra from magnetic spectrometry and graphite bombardment by such deuterons were used to produce short-lived radionuclides in NX2 plasma focus. The experiments show one order of magnitude difference between the activity generated by these techniques. The average activity of NX2 is 5.2 kBq and the highest activity for the best shot is about 40 kBq.
Magnetic spectrometry of high energy deuteron beams from pulsed plasma system
A detailed and precise study of high energy deuteron beams from a plasma focus device shows that they follow a non-power law distribution, unlike most of the other works. This is in agreement with our previous studies using a direct and unambiguous diagnostic of the activation yield-ratio technique. It is possible that the E−n dependence effectively terminates at some maximum deuteron energy. The experimental results show that the spectrum increases to very high energies whereas the power law fit fails. A unique feature of the magnetic spectrometry experimental arrangement, in this work, is that the pinhole holder also functions as a Faraday cup for time-resolved measurements of the deuteron beam.
PRODUCTION OF RADIOISOTOPES WITHIN A PLASMA FOCUS DEVICE
In recent years, research conducted in the US and in Italy has demonstrated production of radioisotopes in plasma focus devices, and particularly, on what could be termed "endogenous" production, to wit, production within the plasma it self, as opposed to irradiation of tar gets. This technique relies on the formation of localized small plasma zones characterized by very high densities and fairly high temperatures. The conditions prevailing in these zones lead to high nuclear reaction rates, as pointed out in previous work by several authors. Further investigation of the cross sections involved has proven necessary to model the phenomena involved. In this paper, the present status of research in this field is re viewed, both with regards to cross section models and to experimental production of radio isotopes. Possible out comes and further development are discussed.