Plasma Focus Device as a Breeder of 14.66 MeV Protons to Produce Short-Lived Radioisotopes

摘要

In plasma focus devices filled deuterium gas with low pressure admixture gas, ~3He, the deuterium creates high energy protons of 14.66 MeV through the ~3He(d, p) ~4He(Q = 18.35 MeV) fusion reaction. This reaction takes place due to the thermal and non-thermal (beam-target) mechanisms. The proton yield production for deuterium filling gas is determined by using the beam-target character of the pinched plasma and moving boiler model. If we use a low pressure admixture gas like ~(11)B, these high energy protons in turn, could generate short-lived radioisotopes like ~(11)C (used in positron emission tomography) via the ~(11)B(p, n)~(11)C reaction. Calculations indicate the influence of drive parameter to the final yield for a Mather type device.