Studies of Plasma-Focus discharges within the PF-360 facility equipped with needle D2O-ice target

The paper describes a new technique which has been investigated in order to overcome the neutron saturation effect and to increase the neutron yield from the plasma-focus (PF) discharges [1]. The PF-360 experimental facility was constructed at the Andrzej Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies (IPJ) in Swierk, Poland in the late 70s [4, 5]. Recently in order to improve the neutron yield from the PF-360 machine, it was proposed to use a cryogenic deuterium target, which might be placed within the plasma-focus region. For this purpose, we have been made a needle-like cryogenic target covered with a thin "heavy-ice" layer. A considerable increase in the average neutron yield (from 1.7x10(10) to about 2.2x10(10) neutrons/shot) has been achieved for 122 kJ PF discharges when the needle target top was placed at a distance of about 100 mm from the electrode ends.