Helium ion distributions in a 4 kJ plasma focus device by 1 mm-thick large-size polycarbonate detectors

• Helium iso-ion beam profile and angular distributions were studied in the 4 kJ APF device.
• Large-area 1 mm-thick polycarbonate detectors were processed by 50 Hz-HV ECE.
• Helium ion beam profile and distributions were observed by unaided eyes in a single detector.
• Helium ion profile has ring-shaped distributions with energies lower at the ring location.
• Helium iso-ion track density, diameter and energy distributions are estimated.

Helium ion beam profile, angular and iso-ion beam distributions in 4 kJ Amirkabir plasma focus (APF) device were effectively observed by the unaided eyes and studied in single 1 mm-thick large-diameter (20 cm) polycarbonate track detectors (PCTD). The PCTDs were processed by 50 Hz–HV electrochemical etching using a large-size ECE chamber. The results show that helium ions produced in the APF device have a ring-shaped angular distribution peaked at an angle of ∼±60°∼±60° with respect to the top of the anode. Some information on the helium ion energy and distributions is also provided. The method is highly effective for ion beam studies.