Reply To: Great News!

[asymmetric_implosion]

Joeviocoe: I operate three plasma focus devices at the 60 kA, 140 kA and 0.5 MA level (typically 250 kA at rep rate). Our experiments are focused on non-energy applications of the plasma focus such as active nuclear interrogation, lithography and basic plasma physics related to what is known as high energy density physics in support of larger experiments for our customers. I work for a small business like LPP but we have a much larger scope of plasma applications including thin film coatings, plasma/ion thrusters and plasma diagnostics that are applicable to many areas of plasma physics. Though our customers have specific needs I try to take some time to work on larger problems like neutron yield scaling (don’t buy the 4.7 scaling law, there are many different explanations and supporting data for each. Published numbers exist from 3.5 to 5.5 in the power law. I have my own take on it but I am finishing up the paper on it so I will leave it there). My work involves repetition rate plasma focus devices (>0.1 Hz) at scales ranging from 60 kA (10-100 Hz) to 0.5 MA (~1 Hz). I have encountered gas lifetime issues, materials issues and repetition rate pulse power problems including switch lifetime and switch properties for specific configurations.