Characterization of electron beams emitted from dense plasma focus machines using argon, neon and nitrogen

The measured current traces of two low energy machines namely the AECS PF-2 and INTI PF are used for studying of the produced electron beam features using the modified Lee code (RADPFV5.15REB) at different conditions. The fitting procedures between measured and computed current traces are made for each point of pressure. In the case of AECS PF-2 working with neon, the electron fluence reaches the maximum value 2.35 x 10(22) electrons m(-2) for 1.6 Torr and the flux achieves 2.42 x 10(30) electrons m(-2)S(-1) near 1.5 Torr. The electron number has a peak of 5.74 x 10(14) at 0.9 Torr. The computed results demonstarte also the maximum value of the power flow density of 2.44 x 10(16 )Wm(-2) , and the superior damage factor of around 1.95 x 10(12 )Wm(-2)S(0.5) at a pressure of 0.4 Torr. Argon presents the action of radiative cooling topping at highly magnified 6.13 x 10(31) m(-2)S(-1 )at 0.9 Torr. The damage factor reaches almost 175 x 10(12) Wm(-2)S(0.5) for Ar but it is only 1.29 x 10(12 )Wm(-2)S(0.5) for N-2. The huge values for argon are a result of enhanced compression due to radiative cooling. In the case of INTI PF device, the electron energy extends from 58 keV (for N-2) to 256 keV (for Ar). The results indicate that the electron fluence ranges from 2 x 10(22) electrons m(-2) for N-2 to 88 x 10(22) electrons m(-2) for Ar.