title: Gamma ray measurements with photoconductive detectors using a dense plasma focus.
abstract: Photons in the MeV range emitted from the dense plasma focus (DPF) at the NSTec North Las Vegas Facility have been measured with both neutron-damaged GaAs and natural diamond photoconductive detectors (PCDs). The DPF creates or "pinches" plasmas of various gases (e.g., H2, D2, Ne, Ar., etc.) that have enough energy to create MeV photons from either bremsstrahlung and/or (n,n(')) reactions if D2 gas is used. The high bandwidth of the PCDs enabled the first ever measurement of the fast micro-pinches present in DPF plasmas. Comparisons between a slower more conventional scintillator/photomultiplier tube based nuclear physics detectors were made to validate the response of the PCDs to fast intense MeV photon signals. Significant discrepancies in the diamond PCD responses were evident.
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: May
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Halvorson
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: L-281 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave., Livermore, California 94551, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: National Security Technologies, LLC, P.O. Box 98518, Las Vegas, Nevada 89193-8518, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hagen