Measurements of neutron emission from a Z-pinch constriction

Results are presented from measurements of neutron emission generated during discharges with current amplitudes of up to 3 MA and a current rise time of similar to 100 ns through profiled loads 10 mm in height and 4-5 mm in diameter. The experiments were performed with the S-300 eight-module high-power generator. To enhance the effect of energy accumulation, <= 1-mm-diameter neck was made in the central region of the load. An agar-agar foam of mass density 0.1 g/cm(3) with an additive of deuterated polyethylene was used as a plasma-forming material. The formation of a hot plasma in the Z-pinch constriction was accompanied by the emission of soft X-ray (E = 1-10 keV), hard X-ray (E >= 30 keV), and neutron pulses with a minimum pulse duration of <= 10 ns. The neutron energy measured by the time-of-flight technique in three directions relative to the load axis (0 degrees, 90 degrees, and 180 degrees) was found to be 2.5 +/- 0.3 MeV, which corresponds to the dd reaction. The total neutral yield during the development of one constriction with a characteristic size of 100 mu m attained 10(8) neutrons per pulse.