Initial Results from a Dense Plasma Focus Driven by a High-Inductance Generator

The Naval Research Laboratory's Hawk pulsed power generator is being used to drive a dense plasma focus (DPF) in order to study the phenomenon of charged particle acceleration in imploding plasmas. The fast rise time, 1.2 μS, and high inductance, 607 nH, of the 220 kJ, 0.65 MA peak current Hawk Marx are unusual compared to typical DPF driver parameters. In addition to the unusual electrical parameters, local plasma or gas injection is used to initialize the DPF, rather than a more traditional static fill gas. A suite of diagnostics is in development to benchmark models of the DPF and potential acceleration mechanisms. Initial measurements of the neutron yield and other plasma and accelerated particle characteristics will be discussed and compared with modeling results, in order to evaluate coupling of the high-inductance driver to the DPF.