Neutron Production and Collective Ion Acceleration in a High-Current Diode

Abstract

New measurements demonstrate that neutrons produced in a high-current pulsed diode with deuterium-bearing electrodes are of beam-target origin. During a brief portion of a 70-nsec, 2-MV, 50-kA pulse, positive ions from the anode and cathode plasmas were observed to be accelerated toward the anode rather than the cathode as dictated by the externally applied field. Energetic deuterons were observed, behind a small aperture in the anode, which were the source of neutrons produced with Li or C anodes.