Deuteron beam fluence emitted from dense plasma focus: Comparative investigation and simulation

Abstract

The fluence of a deuterons beam emitted from three Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) devices, PF-1000, MPEF-12 kJ and PF-2.7 kJ, versus deuterium gas pressure was simulated and studied using the adapted Lee model code (RADPFV6.16FIB). The computed fluences were then compared with the reported measured values of these devices at certain distances from the pinch, where the comparison showed a good agreement including within the range of errors. Furthermore, many numerical experiments using the Lee code were carried out and discussed for other nine different energy devices over a wide initial D₂ pressure range of (1-15 Torr), for studying the deuteron beam features at the pinch exit and various distances from the pinch. The obtained results indicated that the deuteron beam fluence is in order of 10²⁰ ions.m^-2 at the pinch exit for all considered plasma focus devices (with energy storage in 0.2-863 kJ range) and this order can be reduced up to 10¹⁹ ions.m^-2 at the distance of 14 cm from the pinch exit. Therefore; the placement of the treated material samples, using plasma focus, at different distances from the anode tip plays an essential role (in addition to the number of plasma shots) for multi-applications (e.g., ion implantation, thin film deposition and surface modification).