J Fusion Energ
DOI 10.1007/s10894-010-9279-x
ORIGINAL PAPER
Study the Output Characteristics of a 90 kJ Filippove-Type
Plasma Focus
S. M. Sadat Kiai • A. Talaei • S. Adlparvar • A. Zirak • M. Elahi • A. Safarian
S. Farhangi • S. Alhooie • A. A. Dabirzadeh • M. M. Khalaj • M. S. Mahlooji •
M. Talaei • S. KaKaei • S. Sheibani • A. Kashani • F. Zahedi
Ó Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010
Abstract The output characteristics of a Filippove-Type
plasma focus ‘‘Dena’’ (288 lF, 25 kV, 90 kJ) is numeri-
cally investigated by considering the voltage, current,
current derivative, and maximum current as a function of
capacitor bank energy in the constant Argon gas pressure
and compared to the experiment. It is shown that increase
on the bank energy leads to the increment on the maximum
current and decrement on the pinch time.
Keywords Pinched plasma
Slug model
Shock wave

Current and current derivative profiles
Introduction
The plasma focus (PF) discharges are the sources of X-ray
emissions, fast neutron production (when D–D reactions
are involved) and an efficient producer and accelerator
of energetic charged particles. After the Spark-Gap is
S. M. Sadat Kiai (&)
A. Talaei
S. Adlparvar
M. Elahi

A. Safarian
S. Farhangi
S. Alhooie
A. A. Dabirzadeh

M. M. Khalaj
M. Talaei
S. KaKaei
S. Sheibani

A. Kashani
F. Zahedi
Nuclear Science Research School, Nuclear Science and
Technology Research Institute (NSTR), A.E.O.I.,
14155-1339 Tehran, Iran
e-mail: sadatkiai@yahoo.com
A. Zirak
S. Alhooie
M. S. Mahlooji
M. Talaei
Lasers and Optics Research School, Nuclear Science and
Technology Research Institute (NSTR), A.E.O.I.,
11365-8486 Tehran, Iran
S. Alhooie
M. Talaei
Plasma Physics & Nuclear Fusion Research School, Nuclear
Science & Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), A.E.O.I.,
14399-51113 Tehran, Iran
•
triggered, the filling gas ionizes and plasma produces a
current loop, it moved over the insulators and the elec-
trodes and finally, the current sheath is compressed to a
cylindrical plasma column called pinch. Through a short
period of time, typically few tens of non-second, the pinch
expands and decays by passing through the disruptive
m = 0 instability phase. The instabilities in the plasma
column are the major causes of electron and ion acceler-
ations and production of hard X-ray and neutrons (when
deuterium filling gas is used). When the design parameters
are optimal, there are several parameters such as pressure,
the energy bank and the gas admixtures that can profoundly
influence the pinch structure and evidently alter the
intensities of radiation emissions.
There have been several applications defined for the PF
devices. Recently, short-lived radioisotopes (SLRs) pro-
duction has been opened for the diverse energy banks [1, 2],
especially for those PFs with smaller bank energies, as they
can operate with higher frequency [3–6]. The aim of this
article was to study more about the characteristics output
emissions, especially the pinched plasma of Dena PF. This
experience will be used to develop smaller Mather-type PF,
aimed to produce SLRs with admixture gases. In this case,
we study the output behavior of Dena PF by considering the
current and current derivatives behaviors with the various
energy bank operating in Argon working gas. The emphasis
will be given on the influence of the stored energy on the
pinched plasma structure such as maximum discharge
current and will be compared to the experiments.
Dena Plasma Focus Device
Dena is a Filippov-type PF and its performance charac-
teristics are almost the same as Mather-type PF device.
123

The main differences are in what so called the aspect
ratio which is defined as the ratio of the height and the
diameter of the anode. Schematic diagram of Dena PF is
shown in Fig. 1. The bank source is a 288 lF and 1.7 nH
capacitor bank and inductance, 24 capacitors in parallel
each of them has 12 lF and 40 nH capacitance and
inductance, respectively. The maximum operating voltage
is 25 kV (90 kJ).
The device has an anode in the center, a disc 48 cm
diameter and 15.5 cm length. The anode is made of a
copper and at is center a conic insert anode made of
copper tungsten alloy, can easily be replaced. The diag-
nostics of the discharge are a Rogowski coil and magnetic
probe for the discharge current and current derivative
measurements, respectively. The time-resolved soft X-ray
signal is measured with PIN diode (SPPD II-02 type) fil-
tered with a 10 lm thick beryllium window. The time-
resolved and time-integrated hard X-ray intensities mea-
surements are registered using NaI and NE-102 Scintillater
coupled to photo element coaxial and photomultiplier,
respectively.
Discharge Scenario
When the Spark-Gap is triggered closing the circuit, a
discharge develops. The ionized gas (breakdown phase)
suddenly develops in a plasma sheath from the insulator
sleeve to the cathode (inverse pinch phase). The current
density flowing through the electrodes and the plasma
produce a current loop. The magnetic field is confined
between the electrodes and the axial-symmetric current
sheet (CS), consequently, the magnetic pressure acts as a
sort of magnetic piston (MP) and pushes the sheath.
When the CS is formed and carries the circuit current,
Fig. 1 A schematic diagram of Dena plasma focus and its diagnostic
positions: 1, upper flange of the vacuum chamber (cathode); 2, anode;
3, porcelain insulator; 4, conic insert anode; 5, limiter; 6, ring like
spark gap switch; 7, coaxial cable; 8, soft X-ray detector (SPPD-
type); 9, GM detector; 10, hard X-ray detector (PhEC); 11, pinhole
camera; 12, magnetic probe; 13, TLD
123
J Fusion Energ
the plasma detaches from the insulator grows in dimen-
sions. Its profile develops in a parabolic shape due to the
dependence on the magnetic pressure from the radial
position. The sheath is then pushed towards the open end
of the electrodes (rundown phase). As the open end of
the electrodes is reached, the sheath is driven to collapse
towards the symmetry axis (collapse phase). This phase
continues on until the shock wave (SW) reaches the axis
of device. While it reaches the axis (rs = 0), it reflects in
axis and radially moves outwards. The MP which doesn’t
sense reflecting SW, it continues to move inwards up to
where it interacts with the reflected SW (rr). This inter-
acting point is considered as a maximum compression
and minimum radius. Therefore, a column of pinched
plasma is formed with radius about 0.5–7 mm and length
10–70 mm as a result of interacting magnetic pressure
with reflective SW (pinch phase). The pinch has duration
of a few tens up to hundreds nanoseconds (ns) and
coincides temporally with a sudden sharp drop in the
total current signal caused by a decrease on plasma
conductivity due to strong confinement. While for the
Filippov-type configuration, plasma accelerates to the
device’s Z-axis radially along the anode surface, imme-
diately after the second phase. After that the pinch will
be disturbed by the Rayleigh–Taylor instability (current
abruption). These instabilities substitute the thermal col-
lisional current within the pinch by the collision less
stream of fast electrons having the energy of the several
hundreds keV.
From the best known slug model, speed of shock-
front (drs/dt), which has an inward radial movement, is
calculated by magnetic pressure and speed of MP
(drp/dt), worked out through the first thermodynamic law
applied to effective mass increase in volume between the
current sheet and shock-front wave. The axial speed of
CS (dzf/dt), according to SW theory, is determined by the
speed of SW and the current is calculated via considering
equal electrical circuit [4]. Therefore, by solving sys-
tem of nonlinear equations as will be explain, one can
determined variation of quantities rp, rs, zf, and I with
inward movement (radial expansion phase) in deferent
times.
Set of Numerical Equations for Radial Phase
We solve the system of coupled equations of slug model
numerically with a proper discretization in time which are
discretized over the variable t. The Euler method with
forward finite differences is used for solving the coupled
equations. After time discretization, the system of coupled
equation which is applied for the fixed mass of gas during
the motion becomes:
J Fusion Energ



l0 ðc þ 1Þ 1=2 fc In Lp ðtÞ ¼
l0
zðtÞ ln
b
rsnþ1 ¼ Dt þ rsn 2p rp ðtÞ
fr q0 4prpn


2 The reflective SW speed which has outward movement
zfnþ1 ¼ ðrsnþ1  rsn ÞDt þ zfn is determined by SW one in the anode axis (drs/dton-axis).
cþ1

!
P
n    z  
l0
V0  1=C0 Ij Dt  R0 I Dt  2p fc I n ln rbp zfnþ1  zfn  rpfn rpnþ1  rpn
n n
j¼1
Inþ1 ¼   þ In
l0
L0 þ 2p fc zfn ln rbp
n

   
2 rsn r r2 1 rPn rs2n  
cþ1rpn ðrsn  rsn1 Þ  cIpnn 1  r2sn ðInþ1  In Þ  cþ1 zf 1  r 2 zfnþ1  zfn
pn n pn
rpnþ1 ¼ 2 þ rpn
c1 1 r sn
c þ crp2n

dðLIÞ By solving the related nonlinear equations, one can work

Vn ¼
dt
 out variations of quantities rp, rr, zf, and I in different times
l0 b Inþ1  In in radial reflection phase of wave. After time discretization,
¼ fc zfn ln
2p

rpn Dt  the system of coupled equation becomes:
l0 b zfnþ1  zfn zfn rpnþ1  rpn
þ fc I n ln  drs
2p rpn Dt rpn Dt rrnþ1 ¼ 0:3 n jonaxis Dt þ rrn
dt
With initial values of I0 = 0, rs0 = 0, rp0 = 0, and zf0 = 0

2 drsn
which are assumed at t0 = 0 and where fr is the radial zfnþ1 ¼  jonaxis Dt þ zfn
c þ 1 dt
sweeping efficiency, fb the coefficient of the initial energy
stored in the capacitor bank (U0) which will be transferred
!
P
n    z  
l0
V0  1=C0 Ij Dt  R0 I Dt  2p fc I n ln rbp zfnþ1  zfn  rpfn rpnþ1  rpn
n n
j¼1
Inþ1 ¼   þ In
l0
L0 þ 2p fc zfn ln rbp
n

to the pinched plasma (nb = 0.5–1), a the radius of anode, r pn c rPn

 
In ðInþ1  In Þ þ cþ1 zf zfnþ1  zfn
b the radius of cathode, and q0 the initial gas density: rpnþ1 ¼  n
þ rp n
q0 = miP0/KT0, where mi is deuterium mass, P0 the initial c1


filling pressure and KT0 is the initial gas temperature. The d ðLI Þ l0 b Inþ1  In
Vn ¼ ¼ fc zfn ln
superscript n is used to denote the generic time iteration dt 2p rp Dt
and Dt is the time-step.

 n
l0 b zfnþ1  zfn
Neglecting the problems of impedance mismatch, þ fc I n ln
2p rp Dt
transmission lines delay and not-ideal switch conditions, n
zfn rpnþ1  rpn
the external circuit consists in a capacitor bank C0, 
charged at a voltage V0, connected to the device with the rpn Dt
plasma inductance Lp and its resistance Rp that vary in
time during the sheath dynamics. The total inductance
Ltot is intended as the sum of the external circuit L0 and Results and Discussion
plasma inductance. Simply, applying the formula to
calculate the inductance between two coaxial cylin- A real device, operated in the facility of the Nuclear
ders of length, the inductance of the plasma can be Science& Technology Research Institute with the latest
written as: experimental data is numerically simulated in order to

123
 J Fusion Energ

better understand the behavior of the PF discharge from

the point of view of the plasma sheath and equivalent
electrical circuit. In Table 1, we have summarized some of
Dena PF parameters. The external inductance of the Dena
PF is summarized as sum of the inductances of the
capacitor bank, cables, and Spark-Gap of the order of
38 nH. Also, the experimental and computational results
show that the values used for the coefficients fc and fr are
0.7 and 0.15 which are adequate values for Dena PF,
respectively [7].
In Fig. 2, we have shown the fast occurrence time with
an increase on the discharge voltage spike when the
capacity bank energy is increased for the constant 0.32 torr
Ar gas pressure. The increment of the discharge voltage
spike, suddenly drop in the current and current derivative
signals in the pinch occurrence time are the typical well-
known characteristics of a good focus which coincide
with the suddenly jump in the plasma column inductance. Fig. 2 Discharge voltage as a function of time during the radial and
radial reflected shock phases and parameter is bank energy.
A comparison of theoretical (model prediction) and the U0 = 37 kJ, P0 = 0.32 torr Argon, fc = 0.7, and fr = 0.15
experimental results (with eliminating the delay made by
transmission lines) of the discharge current profiles in the
time in the first half quarter of a typical RLC for Dena PF is
displayed in Fig. 3. The experimental maximum discharge
current which is coincides with the maximum compression
of the plasma (Imax = 1.11 MA) is obtained at 3.72 ls and
the pinch time after the peak current is about 4.66 ls. The
maximum efficiency of the pinch is achieved when the
maximum compression is coincident with the peak plasma
current. This condition requests the device optimization
when electrodes designing PF electrodes.
In Fig. 4, a comparison of theoretical and the experi-
mental results of the current derivative profiles in the time
for the 37 kJ capacity bank energy and 0.32 torr Ar gas
pressure is shown. The dip negative spike in the current
derivative signal associates with the pinched plasma for-
mation of high density and temperature. When the current
derivative spike becomes sharper, the pinch builds up
faster. This is due to the higher CS speed in the higher Fig. 3 Current signal as a function of time during the radial and
capacity bank energy. As one can see, good agreement radial reflected shock phases compared with experimental one.
U0 = 37 kJ, P0 = 0.32 torr Argon, fc = 0.7, and fr = 0.15

Table 1 Electrical, operational, and geometrical parameters of

Dena PF
between the adapted slug model and the experiments are
Working parameter Value obtained for Dena PF.
Charging voltage (V0) 10–16 kV Figure 5 indicates the experimental and theoretical
Bank capacitor (C0) 288 lF results of the maximum current as a function of capacitor
External inductance (L0) 38 nH
bank energy. The increment on the maximum current leads
External resistance (R0) 0.968 mX
to almost radically increase on the capacity bank energy
which causes stronger magnetic field and pinch happens
Filling Argon pressure (P0) 0.32 torr
faster. Nevertheless, near occurrence time of the pinch, the
External radius (b) 32.5 cm
increase on the CS and SW speeds are more than previous
Internal radius (a) 24 cm
times, showing an increase on the Ar gas ionization rate
Electrodes length (z0) 15.5 cm
and converting the capacity band energy to the current

123
J Fusion Energ
Fig. 4 Current derivative signal during the radial and radial reflected
shock phases compared with experimental one. U0 = 37 kJ,
P0 = 0.32 torr Argon, fc = 0.7, and fr = 0.15
Fig. 5 Maximum current as a function of capacitor bank energy.
P0 = 0.32 torr Argon, fc = 0.7, and fr = 0.15
sheet. From the figures, the good characteristics of the
pinched plasma and high maximum current are achieved
when the energy is high.
Conclusion
The calculated results of adapted slug model (current,
current derivative, voltage, pinch time, and maximum
current) have a good agreement with the presented exper-
imental data concerning the capacitor bank energy of Dena
PF. As we indicated, the charging voltage of the capacitor
bank is a working parameter with great importance once
operating a PF device. As an increasing voltage, implies
both an increase on the voltage spike and maximum cur-
rent, and a reduction on the pinch time. These increments
of the discharge voltage spike, suddenly drop in the current
and current derivative signals in the pinch time are the
typical well-known characteristics of a good focus which
coincide with the suddenly jump in the plasma column
inductance. These will probably reduce the rate of plasma
ion cooling which is vital when dealing with daughter ions
application for the productions of sort-lived radioisotopes.
References
1. A. Asle Zaeem et al., Activities study of short-lived radioisotopes
with a Filippov-type plasma focus. J. Fusion Energ. 28, 268–274
(2009)
2. A. Asle Zaeem et al., Plasma focus device as a breeder of proton to
produce short-lived radioisotopes 18F. J. Fusion Energ. (2009).
doi: 10.1007/s10894-009-9202-5
3. A. Ergisto et al., Production of radioisotopes within a plasma focus
device. Nucl. Technol. Radiat. Prot. 20(1), 33–37 (2005)
4. E. Angeli et al., Preliminary results on the production of short lived
radioisotopes with a plasma focus device. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 63,
545–551 (2005)
5. M. Sumini et al., Preliminary design of a 150 kJ repetitive plasma
focus for the production of 18-F. Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys.
Res. Sect. A 562, 1068–1071 (2006)
6. http://www.intimal.edu.my/school/fas/UFLF/
7. A. Talaei, Laser-Sadowgarphy study of nuclear fusion plasma in a
Filippov-Type plasma focus device. M.Sc. dissertation, Amirkabir
University of Technology, 2008
123