X Ray Analysis of a Dense Plasma Focus

Both the experimental and theoretical approaches to the X-ray analysis of a dense plasma focus are explored in this research. Diagnostic techniques and analytical tools were developed to analyze the X-ray production of the dense plasma focus and to optimize its output. Time-resolved temperatures were measured with dispersive rather than filtering X-ray analysis. Densities were measured with a nitrogen interferometer. A radiative-collisional one-dimensional simulation of the plasma focus pinch was constructed with emphasis on the radiation emission from the plasma. The occurrence of radiative collapse was anticipated with the computer simulation and observed experimentally in the case of heavily seeded neon discharges. The addition of an axial magnetic field to stabilize the focus pinch was found to have beneficial effects on the X-ray emission in terms of reliability and improved source geometry.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nuclear Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Venneri, Francesco

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kim, Kyekyoon

• Physics, Fluid and Plasma

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8908880

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72446