[en] One reports the main experimental results obtained on low current level Focus discharges: 200 kA and 50 kA. Neutron and X-ray scaling laws from 50 kA up to 2500 kA have been established by taking into account all the results obtained at the Centre d'Etudes de Limeil. These scaling laws show the great interest of a 10 MA Plasma Focus device. To achieve this high current level, one present the experimental study of an explosive current generator driven plasma Focus

[en] A generator of electrical energy in which magnetic field compression is achieved by a solid explosive is described. The magnetic flux losses have been calculated for generators of various configurations by the skin depth concept. Calculations take the Joule heating of conductors into account. In helical generators the magnetic flux losses are higher than those calculated by considering diffusion only. Additional losses approximately as important as diffusion losses have already been observed elsewhere on similar devices. Detailed calculations of the motion of the explosively driven inner conductor show that losses come from the jumps encountered by sliding contact moving along the helix. The jumps are caused by little geometrical defects and the consequence on losses is strongly dependent on current intensity. The jumps decrease when the pitch of helix increases. The jumps are detrimental to the efficient use of the explosive energy. With helical generators only 5% of the energy is transferred into magnetic energy

[en] In the present study a new type of opening switch is described, in which the opening is done by the destruction of a small part in the electrical circuit. The destruction is caused by a straight jet created from a slit milled in an insulating sheet. The laws governing the jet dynamics are approximately those of a shaped charge jet. In addition to its perforating power the jet secures very good insulation (a few tens kilovolts) after the opening of the electrical circuit. A patent describing the novelty of the System has been taken out. (author)

[en] The present report is the edition of the lectures given in a conference on the Focus experiment held at the Centre d'etudes de Limeil, on Oct. 1975. After a survey of the early laboratories one will find the main results obtained in Limeil concerning interferometry, laser scattering, electric and magnetic-measurements, X-ray and neutron emission and also the possible use of explosive current generators instead of capacitor banks at high energy levels. The principal lines of future research are given in the conclusion

[en] In a Mather-Focus experiment, it was shown that 80% of the neutron emitted were generated through bombardment. The apparatus was operated with various targets at a distance of 13mm from the anode. In the low pressure regime, a deuteron beam of high energy was produced. Its emission duration was measured using a CD₂ target