Temporally and spatially resolved measurements of neutron production in a sheared-flow stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch*.*

Neutron yields >10⁵ per shot, with burn durations >5 μs, were measured on a sheared-flow stabilized (SFS) Z-pinch fueled with 20% partial pressure of D2 in a background gas of either H2 or He, for several operating conditions. Sheared-flow stabilization requires establishing a radially-sheared, axial plasma flow which limits growth of sausage (m=0) and kink (m=1) instabilities [1], and allows the pinch to persist in quasi-steady state conditions for many radial Alfven transit times. Measured neutron production appears to occur in quasi-steady-state conditions, consistent with thermonuclear fusion. Multiple detectors are used to constrain the location and length of neutron production within the plasma. Neutron energies are analyzed by measuring the energy spectra of recoil protons in fast plastic scintillators. Detailed results will be presented.

[1] – U Shumlak and CW Hartman.  Phys. Rev. Lett. (1995) 75(18):3285.