Synchrotron Radiation Considerations in the Dense Plasma Focus (DPF)Magnetoplasma-Dynamic (MPD) Thruster

摘要

The Dense Plasma Focus (DPF) computer model has been modularized and updated. Thecode now assumes an inherent value beta = 1 upon which further calculations are based. The DPF model is using deuterium (D) and Helium-3 as the fuels and hydrogen as the propellant. D-D side reactions have been included. I sub sp values in the range of 900-1000 have been obtained for operating temperatures in the tens of keV's regime, as well thrust-to-weight ratios on the order of 0.0001. The majority of the work has been devoted to the synchrotron radiation emissions from the DPF. It has been shown that for beta = 1, no synchrotron radiation will be emitted. If the beta value is < 1, then reabsorption of the synchrotron radiation will become a concern for plasma operating temperatures exceeding approximately 62 keV. Calculations have been made assuming a plasma pinch mass density of 0.0022 kg/cu m. The characteristic synchrotron radiation absorption length, lambda sub o, for a beta = 1 case has been found to be less than the radius of the plasma pinch.