NEUTRON MEASUREMENTS AND THEIR ROLE IN PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS FOR THE TRISOPS DEVICE

Neutron diagnostics directed along three principle experimental programs were used to help characterize the TRISOPS thermonuclear device. Neutron activation analysis using five distinct activation reactions was used to measure net neutron production. A fast neutron detector was constructed, calibrated, and used to determine the time history of neutron production. Reaction products from a 99% deuterium-1% tritium fusion reaction mixture were studied in an attempt to determine ion temperatures independent of assumptions concerning plasma density and reaction volume, but the results were inconclusive. A summary of all optical data collected on TRISOPS IV through TRISOPS VII is included in an appendix.