Plasma Focus Device as a Breeder of 14.66 MeV Protons to Produce Short-Lived Radioisotopes

In plasma focus devices filled deuterium gas with low pressure admixture gas, 3He, the deuterium creates high energy protons of 14.66 MeV through the 3He(d, p) 4He(Q = 18.35 MeV) fusion reaction. This reaction takes place due to the thermal and non-thermal (beam-target) mechanisms. The proton yield production for deuterium filling gas is determined by using the beam-target character of the pinched plasma and moving boiler model. If we use a low pressure admixture gas like 11B, these high energy protons in turn, could generate short-lived radioisotopes like 11C (used in positron emission tomography) via the 11B(p, n)11C reaction. Calculations indicate the influence of drive parameter to the final yield for a Mather type device