Neutron yield, implosion time and energy efficiency from a low energy, high repetition rate plasma focus at the 100 kA level

Summary form only given. Plasma foci are well known sources of neutrons with >;100 ns pulse widths. When μ1000s of pulses are required to interrogate objects in μfew min., the repetition rate needs to be μ10-100Hz, with enough neutron output/pulse for adequate signal/background at the gated detectors. This paper describes a high repetition rate plasma focus based upon a current step down transformer. Two separate 50kA modules, each using a single Thyratron switch, are combined at the focus head to drive 100kA in 400ns pulses at 10-100Hz rep-rates. Neutron output, pulse width, thermal management of the focus electrodes and mass utilization are described.