ITALY - FERU

DIPARTIMENTO DI FISICA
DELL'UNIVERSITÀ DI FERRARA

Via Paradiso 12, I-44100 Ferrara

Telephone: +39 0532 781811
Telefax: +39 0532 781843
E-mail: mezzetti@axpfel.fe.infn.it

Plasma Focus Group

Mezzetti, Franco (Leader)
Bortolotti, Alberto

Da Re, Andrea
De Chiara, Paola

Linhart, George
Pedrielli, Francesco

Research activities:
The Plasma Physics Laboratory of the University of Ferrara operates two plasma focus machines for basic plasma physics research at high density (> 10¹⁷ ions/cm³) and for neutron production from D + D reactions.

One machine (8 kJ at 18 kV) generates >3 x 10⁹ neutrons per pulse. The second machine (36 kJ at 35 kV) generates > 10¹⁰ neutrons per pulse, with pulse duration < 100 ns. Another machine is of repetitive type with a repetitivity of 1 Hz at 8 x 10⁸ neutron per discharge.

Applications include tests of neutron detectors for FNAA (Fast Neutron Activation Analysis). The laboratory facilities include a variety of plasma diagnostics with signal digitizers for data acquisition in the 0.5 GHz - 1 GHz range, silver-activation neutron detectors, an image converter for visible-light imaging of the plasma focus pinch with nanosecond time resolution, scintillation detectors of neutrons and of X-rays, X-rays diagnostics (X-ray Microcalorimeters, PIN Diode, LiF detectors), and a high-resolution mass spectrometer for impurity contamination tests.