Fusion

Engineering
Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446 and Design
ELSEVIER

Influence of magnetic probe presence on current sheath

dynamics in plasma focus operation
M. Zakaullah a,,, I m t i a z A h m a d a, G . M u r t a z a a, M . M Beg b
a department of Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
b P1NSTECH, PO Box 2151, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
Received 31 May 1995; accepted 14 May 1997

Abstract

The effects of the magnetic probe presence near the focus region on the current sheath dynamics are studied. The
system consists of a single 32 laF, 15 kV (3.6 kJ) capacitor. It is found that the current sheath during the radial
collapse phase strongly interacts with the magnetic probe jacket (Pyrex glass tube of diameter 5.7 mm) and climbs
over it up to several centimeters. X-ray images recorded for argon pressure range of 0.25-3.25 mbar clearly indicate
that the size as well as the intensity of the X-ray source is significantly enhanced compared to the case when no probe
is inserted in the system. Generally, the hot spots are formed up to about 30 mm above the anode tip and are only
rarely observed 75 mm above the anode tip, which is probably due to the refocusing of the current sheath at that
height. These preliminary results suggest that using some suitable material, the path of the current sheath can be
diverted to any desired direction and then guided to converge at a preselected point. © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.

Keywords: Current sheath dynamics; Current sheath focussing

I. Introduction from the fusion power plants' point of view [2].

The plasma focus device has attracted consider-
able attention due to its capability of giving high
X-ray and neutron yields. In material research for
nuclear fusion reactors a very high intensity neu-
tron source of fluence 10z° neutrons s -~ is re-
quired, for which plasma focus devices are one of
the suitable candidates [1]. Moreover it has been
speculated that if the neutron yield scaling Yn
E 2, II. ~ 14 holds up to bank energies of 3 0 - 5 0
M J, plasma foci will itself be of great interest
* Corresponding author.
Recently interest has developed in the use of the
plasma focus device as a cascading focus system
[3-6] for the production of X-rays and neutrons
by placing a target downstream of the anode. The
target insertion mechanism is such that there
should be sufficient room for the current sheath to
climb up the target and refocus above the anode/
target tip. As a result, bursts of X-rays are emit-
ted. If the device is operated with a D - D or D - T
mixture, bursts of neutrons are also emitted. This
in turn may also find applications in neutron
radiography as suggested by Asai and Ueno in
1989 [1].

0920-3796/97/$17.00 © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.

PII S 0 9 2 0 - 3 7 9 6 ( 9 7 ) 0 0 0 7 2 - 0
438 M. Zakaullah et al./ Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446
Due to extensive research conducted on the
focus devices in various laboratories, the scope of
the device has gone far beyond its conventional
use as an intense neutron and X-ray source. For
example in 1993 plasma focus had been success-
fully employed by Rawat et al. [7] to crystallize
the as-grown R F sputter amorphous thin film of
lead zirconate titanate (PZT). Amorphization of
crystalline Cds film was achieved by Ratna and
Srivastava [8] in 1993 by energetic argon ions
irradiation, generated in the dense plasma focus.
Operation of a Mather-type plasma focus device
as a compact electron accelerator was tested in
1985 by Smith et al. [9]. The extraction of acceler-
ated electrons may be used to bombard a suitable
target for the production of X-rays. In 1986 Kato
and Be [10] experimentally tested the feasibility of
a dense plasma focus as a source for soft X-ray
lithography, and in 1988 Venneri et al. [11] suc-
cessfully demonstrated the use of a plasma focus
as a wiggler for the free electron laser. Gratton et
al. [12] in 1986 suggested that the plasma foci can
also find applications in inertial confinement fu-
sion as drivers for pellet implosions. Using their
model, they showed that the plasma column of
the focus fed by a capacitor bank of a few hun-
dred kilojoules is, potentially, a driver comparable
to a multi beam kilojoule Nd laser facility. They
also emphasized the role of plasma focus research
in the context of inertial confinement.
In this paper we report the effect of the pres-
ence of a magnetic probe placed near the elec-
trodes of the device on the current sheath
dynamics. The X-ray images recorded by a pin-
hole camera during the radial collapse phase re-
veal that the current sheath climbs up the glass
tube for several centimeters. X-ray signal intensity
as recorded by the pin-diode is found to be almost
doubled compared to the case when no magnetic
probe is present. Multiple foci formations ob-
served from the very first shot are attributed to
the p r o b e - s h e a t h interaction. Replacing the old
glass sleeve insulator by a fresh one did not alter
the observation.
Interestingly, the probe presence widens the Ar
filling pressure range from 0.25-2.25 to 0.25-3.25
mbar and improves the focusing action, though
multiple. A significant finding in this experiment
is that the probe-sheath interaction greatly in-
creases the pinch filament size as well as the x-ray
intensity. In Section 2 the experimental arrange-
ment and the diagnostic tools used are described.
Section 3 contains the results while Section 4
presents the conclusion.
2. Experimental set up and diagnostics
Our low energy Mather-type plasma focus is
energized by a single 32 laF, 15 kV (3.6 kJ)
capacitor along with a cost-effective pressurized
spark gap. The electrode system as reported ear-
lier [6,13] consists of a 154 mm long copper rod of
18 mm diameter as an anode with some modifica-
tion for the extraction of the electron beam. This
central anode is co-axially surrounded by six 10
mm thick Cu rods forming the cathode. These
rods are tightly screwed to a Cu plate which has
its circular edge very sharp near the anode so as
to create favorable breakdown conditions at the
bottom of the accelerator.This assembly of six
electrodes is firmly screwed to another Cu plate
called the cathode header. An insulator sleeve of
pyrex glass, with a breakdown length of 25 mm is
inserted between the co-axial electrode assembly
for electrical isolation. The length of the anode
and the insulator sleeve are chosen from the ex-
perimental results reported elsewhere [14-16]. A
13 mm thick rubber disc of 100 mm diameter is
used to support the insulator sleeve without
touching the anode rod or the sharp-edged
cathode-base plate.
Fig. 1 depicts the geometry of the electrodes
and that of the chamber along with the relevant
diagnostic. To extract the electron beam, a
through hole of 5 mm diameter is drilled at the
anode axis, which provides a collimated path for
the electron beam to reach the Faraday cup
resided in a specially fabricated etalon chamber.
To suppress the prior secondary electron emission
due to the intense electromagnetic radiations the
cup is properly covered with a 27 ~tm aluminium
foil, so that the beam electrons with range greater
than the foil thickness are collected by the collec-
tor. a magnetic probe having 10 turns is employed
to measure the localized magnetic field, which is
 M. Zakaullah et al. / Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437 446
fabricated from an enameled wire of thickness 0.1
mm. The circular cross sectional area and the
length of the solenoidal type probe are respec-
tively 1.77 mm 2 and 1.5 mm. The probe is placed
in a capillary-like long glass tube sealed at one
end, the insertion mechanism from the top flange
of the chamber is such that we can move it up and
down without disturbing the vacuum. The x-ray
emission is monitored using a pin-hole camera
and a BPX-65 pin diode for time-integrated and
time-resolved information. The X-ray pin-hole
camera was installed on one of the flanges just in
front of the focus filament. A 45 cm long stainless
steel pipe having a diameter of 4.0 cm serves as
the main black box of the camera containing a
prism-shape film holder of aluminum 15 cm long
and a triangular base 2.5 cm on each side. The
whole assembly of the camera is fabricated and
adjusted in such a manner that we can move
and/or rotate the film holder to record 15 snaps
without disturbing the vacuum. A pin-hole of
diameter 0.5 mm is found adequate in our experi-
mental conditions. The time-resolved information
is obtained by slightly modifying the pin-diode
m Er ta(on
I Rubber
Copper
neti¢ ~ O-Rina
Socket
Main
chamber
~ S.Steel
Ill] Insulatorsleeve
Electron bea~
collector Aluminium
chamber Fitm Holder
Fig. 1. Schematic of the plasma focus electrode system and
magnetic probe insertion mechanism along with the X-ray
pin-diode, X-ray pin-hole camera and Faraday cup installed.
439
that is, by removing its safety glass cover and
inserting a 9 gm thick aluminum foil to screen the
visible light.
To record the transient high voltage across the
focus tube, a simple resistor divider commonly
known as the high voltage (HV) probe with a
response time of about 15 ns is connected across
the anode and cathode headers. For simultaneous
recording of all the four signals, that is, the HV
probe, magnetic probe, electron beam and X-ray
signals, a four-channel Gould 4090 digital storage
oscilloscope (DSO) is employed.
3. Results
We operated the system by charging a 32 gF
single capacitor at 12 kV with a discharge energy
of 2.3 kJ per shot. The chamber was evacuated up
to 10 - : mbar with the help of a rotary pump and
Ar was used as a filling gas. We performed the
experiment with the magnetic probe inserted and
recorded the high voltage probe, magnetic probe,
X-ray and electron beam signals. The X-ray pin-
hole camera was not yet operated. Surprisingly,
right from the start we observed multiple loci
formations on the oscilloscope. We tried our best
to adjust the various parameters like the probe
position with respect to the anode tip as well as
the pressure of the filling gas to get a single
focusing spike, but without success.
As we had reported earlier [13], the characteris-
tics of the plasma focus device varies as the
contamination of the glass sleeve grows. Indeed, a
slight contamination in the initial stage is essential
for good breakdown and focusing action. But an
overgrowth of contamination leads to multiple
foci formation. As we proceeded with our experi-
ment with the magnetic probe, employing a glass
sleeve which had already sustained a few hundred
shots, we found that the multiple loci persisted
right from the start. We therefore decided to
replace the contaminated sleeve by a fresh one so
as to avoid the multiple foci. However, they per-
sisted as if the uncontaminated sleeve made no
difference. We then decided to also record the
X-ray images of the focus region so as to get a
picture of the interior of the system, first by
440 M. Zakaullah et al./Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437 446

m m
0.25 mbar 0.5 mbar
0 mm 3 mm

0.75 mbar 1.0 mbar

6 mm
m 12 mm

1.25 mbar 1.5 mbar

m 18 m m 2 1 mm

(a) 1.75 mbar ~b) 27 mm

Fig. 2. Semi-optical images of the focus plasma with (0.1 + 35) lam aluminized myler filter (a) for a fixed position 6 mm above the
anode and for different filling pressure, (b) for a fixed pressure of 0.25 mbar and varying probe position.

inserting a semi-optical aluminized myler filter of
thickness 0.1 + 35 gm and then by a light-tight 2
lam aluminum filter in front of the pin-hole, In the
former case, we observed that the current sheath
climbs up the magnetic probe for up to several
centimeters. The climbing capability of the cur-
rent sheath however reduces as the pressure in the
chamber is increased. Perhaps what is happening
is that as the pressure is increased gradually, the
current sheath is required to sweep more and
more mass which reduces its snowplow efficiency.
The semi-optical images of the focus tube were
recorded against pressure keeping the probe posi-
tion fixed and are given in Fig. 2(a); in Fig. 2(b)
images are shown keeping the pressure fixed but
varying the probe position.
Next, a light-tight AI filter of 2 lam thickness is
employed so as to identify the X-ray source region
 M. Zakaullah et al. / Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446 441

II II m
0.75 mbar 1.0 mbar 1.25 mbar
0.25 mbar 0.5 mbar

m m
1.5
m
mbar 1.75 mbar 2.0 mbar 2.25 mbar 2.5 mbar

E! II 2.75 mbar 3.0, m b a r

3.25 mbar (a)

0
m
mm 3 mm 6 mm 9 mm 12 mm

m l/ 15 mm 21 mm 24 mm (b)
Fig. 3. X-ray images of the focus plasma with a 2 ~m light-tight aluminum filter (a) for a fixed position 6 mm above the anode and
for different filling pressures, (b) for a fixed pressure of 0.25 mbar and varying probe position.
442 M. Zakaullah et al./ Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437--446

I ! , i ! i I , I
I I I l ' I I I

i i I I I I I I i

(a) (c)

' ' 'i,i' ' ' ' '

I I I I i i I i i

//
(b) (d)

(e)

Fig. 4. A typical set of oscilloscope signals along with the X-ray image of the same shot. (a) High voltage probe signal 1 V div
500 ns d i v - '; (b) magnetic probe signal, 10 mV d i v - ', 500 ns div ~; (c) X-ray signal, 1 V div ', 500 ns div ~; (d) electron-beam
signal 2 V div ', 500 ns div ~; (e) X-ray image.

in the focus plasma. Fig. 3a represents X-ray
images keeping the probe distance fixed at 6 mm
above the anode tip and scanning the pressure,
whereas Fig. 3b depicts X-ray images keeping
pressure fixed but varying the probe position. It is
interesting to note from Fig. 3b that the intensity
as well as the size of the X-ray source region near
the anode tip increases as the probe is lifted away
from the anode. This observation may be ex-
plained from the images displayed in Fig. 2b. The
ability of the current sheath to climb up the probe
is enhanced as the probe is brought nearer the
anode, which in turn, reduces the current avail-
able for good focusing action near the anode tip.
Simultaneous signals of the HV probe, mag-
netic probe, X-ray and electron beam are
recorded using a four channel DSO. One set of
typical signals along with the X-ray image of the
corresponding shot is depicted in Fig. 4. To allow
the electron beam to reach the Faraday cup with-
out disturbing the focus plasma just above the
anode, the magnetic probe is adjusted to 12 mm
away from the center of the anode. Note that,
corresponding to the multiple focus spikes, there
are similar X-ray signal Spikes but only one elec-
tron beam signal spike. Since the electron beam to
 M. Zakaullah et al. / Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446 443

be detected has to pass through the through-hole

50-
of the anode, only those foci which occur just
above the anode tip will drive the electron beam
40-
through the hole down to the Faraday cup. One
expects that the first focus had occurred just
above the anode tip, that is the one which is 30-

accompanied by the electron beam. The subse-

quent forci are diverted away due to probe- o 20-
sheath interaction providing no path for the
electrons to reach the cup. ~10-
Significance of Fig. 4 is that the time delay
between the two X-ray spikes is about 0.75 las and
comparing this X-ray signal with he correspond- ; ~ ; 1'2 ;5 1'8 2'1 A 2'7 ~o 3'3
(a) Distance of magnetic probe from anode tip (ram)
ing X-ray image, we note that the second X-ray
spike corresponds to a small intense spot of X-ray
about 9 cm above the first focus giving current
sheath velocity after first collapse of about 107 cm
s 1. While performing this experiment we have >
12-
recorded about 300 snaps. However, the pin-hole
"~ iO"
camera could capture only few intense X-ray spot
formed at a large distance away from the anode 8-

tip. Rare capturing of such an intense spot away

6-
from the anode may be due to the fact that the
probability of such a strong convergence of the 4-
current sheath toward the pin-hole camera is
small. This perhaps, gives us a clue that by guid-
ing the path of the current sheath along a certain
direction, we may make the sheath converge at 3 (~ 9 t2 1'5 1'8 21 2'4 2'7 3'0 3'3
(b) Distance of magnetic probe from anode tip (mm)
some preselected point for target compression.
Keeping the pressure fixed at 0.25 mbar, aver-
age behaviour of the magnetic probe, electron
beam and X-ray signal intensities with probe dis-
tance from the anode tip are exhibited in Fig. 5a, 7-
>
b and c respectively. Fig. 6a, b and c depict,
respectively, the magnetic probe signal, electron o~
beam signal and X-ray signal intensities versus
pressure for a fixed probe position 6 mm from the
anode tip. As is evident from Fig. 5b the electron
beam signal intensity is gradually enhanced as the 2.
probe is lifted up from the anode tip. This is due
to the fact that the probe-beam interaction
dampens with separation and vice-versa. Fig. 5a
; ; ,'2 1'5 t'8 ~'t A 37 3'0
shows that there is a net reduction in the magnetic (C) Distance of magnetic probe from anode tip (mm)
probe signal strength with probe-anode separa-
tion, while the X-ray signal intensity (Fig. 5c)
varies in a random manner. Fig. 5. Average variation of (a) the magnetic probe, (b) the
Fig. 7a and b demonstrate the results when no electron beam, and (c) the X-ray signal intensity with the
probe is inserted in the system. Comparing Fig. probe position.
444 M. Zakaullah et a l . / Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446

be contrasted with only 2.25 mbar when there is

60-
no probe in the system. Unfortunately the vertical
scales are different due to different attenuation
50" / conditions. However it is speculated that for the
40- former case the electron signal intensity is higher.
From the comparison of Fig. 7b with that of Fig.
2 30- 6c it is revealed that the X-ray emission dampens
gradually with pressure when no probe is there,
~20o while its presence enhances the X-ray emission
intensity in certain pressure ranges (detecting con-
10- ditions were not changed) and that the pressure
0
range is extended up to 3.25 mbar. The same is
i
ols i'o 11s 2'o 2'.5 30 35 also confirmed by comparing the X-ray images
(a) Pressure (mbar) given in Fig. 3a with those given in Fig. 8, which
correspond to the case when no probe is there.

I0-

9-

t
i 7- > 0.75

i 5-

3-
2-

f
j o.25

ols 13 11s 2'0 ;;s 3'o ;'s

(b) Pressure (mbar)

o 0.25 0.75 1.25 1.75 2.25

(c) Pressure ( m bar)

4-

'~ 2,
T
I' >o
"6
g
o~s Co :s 2'o 2's a'o a~s
(c) Pressure (mbar) cc

Fig. 6. Average variation of (a) the magnetic probe, (b) the

electron beam, and (c) the X-ray signal intensity with Ar filling
pressure.

6b with Fig. 7a we note that the behavior of the (b) Pressure (m bor) •

electron beam signal which initially gets inverted Fig. 7. In the absence of the magnetic probe, average variation
due to the probe-sheath interaction continues of (a) the electron beam (b) the X-ray signal intensity viz-a-
even up to 3.25 mbar Ar filling pressure. This is to Ar filling pressure.
 M. Zakaullah et al./ Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446 445

up the probe for up to several centimeters. The

climbing ability seems to deteriorate with pressure

0.25
1 mbar
increase due to the degradation of snowplow effi-
ciency. X-ray images recorded in the pressure
range 0.25-3.25 mbar clearly indicate enhance-
ment of intensity as well as enlargement of the
X-ray emitting source. When no probe is inserted
in the system, the pressure range is restricted to
0.25-2.5 mbar only. Enhancement of intensity is
also confirmed by the X-ray pin-diode signal. The

0.75
1 mbar
electron beam is detected for the pressure range
0.25-3.25 mbar when the probe is inserted and
for 0.25-2.25 mbar with no probe.
Current sheath velocity after the first conver-
gence above the anode tip is estimated to be
about 107 cm s ~. The formation of an intense

/
X-ray emitting spot occurs at about 9 cm above
the anode and is due to the refocusing of the fast
moving current sheath at that height. The ob-
served phenomenon strongly supports the idea
suggested by Gratton et al. [12] that attention
must be paid to the plasma focus research in the
context of target implosion for inertial confi-
1.25 mbar
nement.
It is not so clear at this stage what causes the
current sheath to climb up the probe and why the

1.75
m
I mbar
pressure range is broadened for the efficient elec-
tron and X-ray emission. Perhaps, the polariza-
tion of the magnetic probe material generates an
electric field which provides an additional force to
lift up the current sheath.

/
To conclude, the magnetic probe presence near
the focus region of the accelerator enhances the
electron X-ray emission from the pinch filament.
It also broadens the pressure range for the plasma
focus operation. This study, however is far from
complete. A more comprehensive and systematic
study is in order using several diagnostics in par-
2.25 mbar
allel.
Fig. 8. In the absence of the magnetic probe, the X-ray
pin-hole images of the focus plasma for differentpressures.
Acknowledgements

4. Conclusions This work was partially supported by QAU

Multiple foci formation is observed in the pres-
ence of the magnetic probe placed in the vicinity
of the focus region. Semi-optical images of the
focus tube reveal that the current sheath climbs
Research Grant, Pakistan Science Foundation
Project No. C-QU/Phys(92), PAEC project for
Plasma Physics, TWAS RG No. 93-371 RG/
PHYS/AS and ICSC World Laboratory Project
CHEPCI, E-13, Islamabad.
446 M. Zakaullah et al./ Fusion Engineering and Design 36 (1997) 437-446
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