This paper includes a brief overview of the contributions and results of several groups working in plasma focus (PF) devices around the world in the last few years. In section 2 a summary of the most important results of the dense transient plasma research programme of the Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear is presented. An approach to an integrated vision of the present PF research status is presented in the next section. Some parameters that remain practically constant in PF devices that operate in a wide range of energies from 1 MJ to tens of joules are discussed. These parameters ('plasma energy density parameter' and 'drive parameter') are used as a design tool to achieve an ultra-miniature pinch focus device operating at energies less than 1 J. Preliminary results of such an ultra-miniature device are presented. Applications to non-destructive tests, detection of substances, pulsed radiation in biology and material sciences are also briefly discussed in this paper.
本论文简要概述了近年来世界各地多个小组在等离子体聚焦（PF）装置方面的贡献与成果。第2节介绍了智利核能委员会（Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear）密集瞬态等离子体研究计划中最重要的结果。下一节提出了一种对当前PF研究现状进行综合审视的方法。随后讨论了在能量范围从1 MJ到数十焦耳运行的PF装置中，实际上保持恒定的若干参数。这些参数（“等离子体能量密度参数”和“驱动参数”）被用作设计工具，以实现能量低于1 J的超小型等离子体聚焦装置。文中还展示了这种超小型装置的初步结果。最后，本论文简要讨论了其在无损检测、物质探测、脉冲辐射生物学及材料科学等方面的应用。