ARGENTINA - IFAS

INSTITUTO DE FISICA ARROYO SECO
DEPARTAMENTO DE FISICA
UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DEL CENTRO DE
LA PROVINCIA DE BUENOS AIRES

Pinto 399, 7000 Tandil

Telephone: +54 2293 444432/447110
Telefax: +54 2293 444433

Director:

Sinito, Ana Maria

Plasma and Nuclear Fusion Group

Director: Pouzo, Jorge Osvaldo (E-mail: pouzo@exa.unicen.edu.ar )
Telephone: +54 2293 444432/447110 - Internal line: 121

Senior Researchers:
Milanese, Maria Magdalena (E-mail: milanese@exa.unicen.edu.ar )
Moroso, Roberto Luis (E-mail: rmoroso@exa.unicen.edu.ar )
Pouzo, Jorge Oswaldo (E-mail: pouzo@exa.unicen.edu.ar )

Research activities:
Experimental and theoretical studies on dense plasma focus. The device PACO (2 kJ, 31 kV, 250 kA, Mather type DPF) is in operation since 1984. The main objective of the research is to obtain the optimized design of DPF as nuclear fusion machine and the knowledge of DPF phenomenon. A bidimensional MHD model, developed by the group, is used for predicting the dynamics of the plasma sheath during the stages previous to the focus. This dynamics is tested using several experimental diagnostic methods. Measurements of flux and energy of corpuscular and electromagnetic radiation from the focus is performed. Main results obtained were:

• Demonstration that the upper deuterium pressure limit for neutron production is connected with the Alfvén critical ionization velocity, and with the plasma sheath filamentation
• It is found that the deuterium lower pressure limit for neutron production is caused by a radiation wave generated in the plasma sheath. During the radial compression stage, which pre-heats the gas in the focus zone
• A thermonuclear model based in the axial inertial confinement and quasi equilibrium hypothesis which justify the neutron scaling law with the focus current.
• Co-existence of thermal and non-thermal mechanisms in the fusion neutron production.

Several operation modes are tested looking forward the performance of the device from the point of view either: neutron yield, neutron collimation, soft and hard X-ray production, charged particles production (such as fast ion and electron beams). In this sense, gas-puffing systems are designed and tested.

Besides the basic study of plasma focus, we are directed also to applications, one of which is the development of nuclear fusion product emitters for testing soils, for which we have designed and constructed several models of little plasma foci.

Main funding sources:
Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Cientifica y Tecnológica, Consejo de Investigaciones de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Approximate funding level: US$ 210,000 per year (including salaries).