Investigation of AISI Steel Vickers Hardness and Nitrogen Ion Beam Energy of a 3 kJ Plasma Focus

Abstract

INTI 3kJ Plasma Focus which produces dense hot plasmas with intense multi-radiations
including x-rays, beam ions, relativistic electrons and powerful plasma streams is discussed in
this paper. This device is a table top sized nuclear fusion machine producing fusion neutrons
when operated in deuterium. It has many applications including energy, medical and materials.
Current work on materials hardening conducted at the INTI plasma focus laboratory using
nitrogen gas is briefly discussed. The methodology of the research is briefly presented as is our
unique advantageous approach in integrating the laboratory measurements with analysis using
the Lee code, which INTI Centre of Plasma Research plays a big role in its continuing
development. An example is discussed. The beam energy obtained from the Lee codes is
plotted against the average hardness obtained from the Vickers Hardness test and reveals the
correlation between the energy released by the plasma beam and the hardness of the material.