Diagnostics and scaling of fusion-produced neutrons in PF experiments

Neutrons from a plasma focus (PF) device operated in a deuterium gas, measured as a function of time, location and direction of emission, reveal quite a number of important parameters on fusion reactions occurring in the dense high-current phase of the experiment. In addition the determination of the energy spectra of the emitted neutrons is important for understanding the mechanisms taking place for the neutron production. Results of neutron measurements in large experiments such as the former POSEIDON experiment in Stuttgart and the PF-1000 experiment in Warsaw are presented. The neutron diagnostic methods that had been utilized include nuclear track detectors, plastic scintillators coupled to photomultipliers, activation measurements, time-of-flight methods as well as pinholes for spatial resolution of the neutron source. The well known scaling law according to which the neutron yield scales roughly as the square of the energy input or the fourth power of the current is discussed. Reasons for strong deviation from this law for high energies - known as the saturation effect - are still a subject of debate.