Preliminary plasma focus driven DT microballoon experiments

Abstract

Results have been obtained from initial experiments in which a small plasma focus was used to drive DT microballoons. The DT microballoons were 1 mm in diameter and contained 75 atm of DT gas in a 50% mixture. The plasma focus driver achieves a maximum current of approximately 1 MA from its 20-kV, 72-kJ capacitor bank. The plasma sheath was formed from deuterium, helium, and argon for those tests. After several conditioning shots using the gas for the experiment, the microballoons were inserted into the focus region through an air lock in the device's anode, to avoid any electrical gradient between the positive electrode and the target.<>