Beam diagnostics and radioisotope production in low and medium power plasma focus devices

The report deals with activity at two distinct plasma focus facilities. The first with 7 kJ bank energy represents the traditional apparatus used for more than ten years at the University of Ferrara. The other, just constructed, reaches 150 kJ bank energy and is exclusively dedicated to the production of sizeable quantities of medical radioisotopes. In regards to the first device, the energy spectra of X rays generated by the impact of electron beams on high- and medium- Z targets following the pinch implosion of plasma focus (PF) devices are discussed in terms of the possible mechanisms of X ray production following electron impact ionization. In addition, a temperature measurement of the PF inner electrode is reported and some results have been proved useful in order to optimize the device functionalities. An experimental campaign was conducted in order to assess the feasibility of short lived radioisotope (SLR) production within the pulsed discharges of a plasma focus (PF) device. This so-called ‘‘endogenous production’’ technique rests on the exploitation of nuclear reactions for the creation of SLR directly within the plasma, rather than on irradiating an external target. Following the results displayed in such campaign a second high energy PF machine was designed and its characteristics together with the first tests are presented too.