The plasma focus (PF) is an excellent device for understanding plasma dynamics and thermodynamics due to its rich sources for a variety of plasma phenomenon including production of soft x-rays, particle beams and plasma fusion. From the point of view of a small cost-effective device it is certainly superior to the electromagnetic shock tube and linear z-pinch in its range of plasma parameters. In general, the development process of current sheath in the PF devices can be divided into three main phases including breakdown phase, axial phase and radial phase. It has potential for technological applications because of the high energy density and high temperature region within a short duration.
UTM Plasma Focus research is mainly focus on the fundamental studies of plasma behaviour, both theoretically and experimentally in PF device that are potentially implemented for sustainable plasma mechanisms and systems. Besides, research are also involve the upper scaling limit determination of the PF, design and assembly of PF device, study of physical parameters behavior of the focusing dynamics and characterization of multi-radiation emission from the PF. The three-phase scaling properties are investigated together with the radiation and particles yield. The diagnostics instruments such as Rogowski coils, Magnetic Probe, Voltage Probe, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Digital Oscilloscope, Surface Profiling, Pressure Gauge, Faradays Cup, Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Geiger Muller counter is used to investigate the dynamics of the Plasma experimentally.
In the theoretical aspect, UTM Plasma Focus research group is working closely with the Lee Model Code which is configured to work as any Plasma Focus device by inputting: bank parameters, L0, C0 and stray circuit resistance r0; tube parameters b, a and z0 and operational parameters V0 and P0 and the fill gas. Numerical experimentation with Lee model code is found to be adequate for fitting the computed current waveform and the measured waveform of any PF by varying two pairs of mass and current factors, one each for the axial and radial phases. The Lee Model Code development and advancement is also one of the research focuses.