Calculation of neutron yield from a denseZpinch

Abstract

Measurements of neutron yield from a Z pinch formed from a solid deuterium fiber have been reported recently. The scaling of yield with applied current was a surprising $I^{10}$. Although the neutrons were believed to result from a plasma instability, no explanation for the magnitude or scaling of the yield with current was suggested. A model of a sausage, or m=0, instability has been generated which gives the observed yield to a multiplicative constant and the scaling of yield with current. It is predicted that the yield can be increased by increasing the applied current, but the model indicates that yields from this mechanism may be limited to ${10}^{12}$ unless tritium is added to the pinch.