Perspectives of a dense plasma focus as a high intensity neutron source

The Dense Plasma Focus is described as a well matched inductive storage delivering a substantial part of its magnetic energy finally to a plasma of a high energy density, producing a neutron burst. The scaling of the neutron production with the current is discussed in detail. It is of the order I4. A novel energy storage system will be described together with an outline of the sample stations, the tritium handling system and a conceptual design of the neutron source. Milestones for the development of the plasma focus as a neutron source will be discussed in connection with the present European Programme on plasma focus