Relation between /sup 16/O(d,n) reaction yield and the fine structure of D(d,n) neutron emission in the Dense Plasma Focus

Summary form only given. When DPF is fired with the vessel filled by a mixture of HZ (C,N,O) and LZ (D/sub 2/,/sup 3/He) elements, a strong yield Y(HZ+LZ) of HZ+LZ reactions is observed. These reactions differ strongly in energy of the involved ions: E/sub i//spl ges/1 MeV for HZ+LZ and E/sub i//spl les/0.3 MeV for LZ+LZ. Even though, HZ+LZ and LZ+LZ reactions do not necessary occur in the same space location, the corresponding yields are correlated as Y(HZ+LZ)-Y/sup 2/(LZ+LZ). To understand this phenomenon the time structure of D(d,n)-neutrons and hard X-ray emission have been correlated with the time integrated Y(HZ+LZ). The plasma focus (7 kJ; 17 kV) was fired with the vessel filled by D/sub 2/+O/sub 2/ mixture. The dP/sub n//dt signal was unfolded to the real time resolved neutron emission signal dY/sub n//dt with a novel method accounting precisely for the signal distortion due to effects such as neutron scattering, radiation detection and signal formation/transmission/recording process. An example of measured unfolded signals for a shot with strong radioactivity and hard X-ray spikes, is shown. Implications of this type of data on the plasma domain of the enhanced nuclear reactivity model are discussed.