Spatial structure and energy spectrum of ion beams studied with CN detectors within a small PF device

The paper reports the application of Solid-State Nuclear Track Detectors to study the pulsed plasma-ion streams emitted from plasma-focus (PF) type di scharges, which were performed within a low-energy PACO device constructed at Instituto de Fisica Arroyo Seco. The PACO device was operated under stat ic initial gas conditions or with dynamic gas puffing. Studies of the struc ture of the fast deuteron beams were carried out within an energy range fro m 80 keV to about 2 MeV. Studies of ion energy and an ion angular distribut ion were also performed. The measurements showed that the fast deuterons ar e emitted in many "narrow" micro-beams, as in other larger PF devices. The anisotropy of the deuteron angular distribution was explained by the stocha stic character of the formation of local ion sources within the PIT dischar ge column. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.