A rocket borne instrument to measure electric fields inside electrified clouds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruhnke, L. H.

1971-01-01

The development of a rocket borne instrument to measure electric fields in thunderstorms is described. Corona currents from a sharp needle atop a small rocket are used to sense the electric field. A high ohm resistor in series with the corona needle linearizes the relationship between corona current and electric field. The corona current feeds a relaxation oscillator, whose pulses trigger a transmitter which operates in the 395 to 410 MHz meteorological band. The instrument senses fields between 5 kV/m and 100 kV/m.

Numerical simulation of Trichel pulses of negative DC corona discharge based on a plasma chemical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaoyue; Lan, Lei; Lu, Hailiang; Wang, Yu; Wen, Xishan; Du, Xinyu; He, Wangling

2017-10-01

A numerical simulation method of negative direct current (DC) corona discharge based on a plasma chemical model is presented, and a coaxial cylindrical gap is adopted. There were 15 particle species and 61 kinds of collision reactions electrons involved, and 22 kinds of reactions between ions are considered in plasma chemical reactions. Based on this method, continuous Trichel pulses are calculated on about a 100 us timescale, and microcosmic physicochemical process of negative DC corona discharge in three different periods is discussed. The obtained results show that the amplitude of Trichel pulses is between 1-2 mA, and that pulse interval is in the order of 10-5 s. The positive ions produced by avalanche ionization enhanced the electric field near the cathode at the beginning of the pulse, then disappeared from the surface of cathode. The electric field decreases and the pulse ceases to develop. The negative ions produced by attachment slowly move away from the cathode, and the electric field increases gradually until the next pulse begins to develop. The positive and negative ions with the highest density during the corona discharge process are O4+ and O3- , respectively.

A high-current rail-type gas switch with preionization by an additional corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antipov, E. I.; Belozerov, O. S.; Krastelev, E. G.

2016-12-01

The characteristics of a high-current rail-type gas switch with preionization of the gas (air) in a spark gap by an additional corona discharge are investigated. The experiments were performed in a voltage range of 10-45 kV using a two-electrode switch consisting of two cylindrical electrodes with a diameter of 22 mm and a length of 100 mm and a set of laterally located corona-discharge needles. The requirements for the position and size of the needles are defined for which a corona discharge is ignited before a breakdown of the main gap and does not change to a sparking form, and the entire length of the rail electrodes is efficiently used. The fulfillment of these requirements ensures stable operation of the switch with a small variation of the pulse breakdown voltage, which is not more than 1% for a fixed voltage-pulse rise time in the range from 150 ns to 3.5 μs. A short delay time of the switch breakdown makes it possible to control the two-electrode switch by an overvoltage pulse of nanosecond duration.

Analysis of the statistic al properties of pulses in atmospheric corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aubrecht, L.; Koller, J.; Plocek, J.; Stanék, Z.

2000-03-01

The properties of the negative corona current pulses in a single point-to-plane configuration have been extensively studied by many investigators. The amplitude and the interval of these pulses are not generally constant and depend on many variables. The repetition rate and the amplitude of the pulses fluctuate in time. Since these fluctuations are subject to a certain probability distribution, the statistical processing was used for the analysis of the pulse fluctuations. The behavior of the pulses has been also investigated in a multipoint geometry configuration. The dependence of the behavior of the corona pulses on the gap lengths, the material, the shape of the point electrode, the number and separation of electrodes (in the multiple-point mode) has been investigated, too. No detailed study has been carried out up to now for this case. The attention has been devoted also to the study of the pulses on the points of live materials (needles of coniferous trees). This contribution describes recent studies of the statistical properties of the pulses for various conditions.

A high-current rail-type gas switch with preionization by an additional corona discharge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Antipov, E. I.; Belozerov, O. S.; Krastelev, E. G., E-mail: ekrastelev@yandex.ru

The characteristics of a high-current rail-type gas switch with preionization of the gas (air) in a spark gap by an additional corona discharge are investigated. The experiments were performed in a voltage range of 10–45 kV using a two-electrode switch consisting of two cylindrical electrodes with a diameter of 22 mm and a length of 100 mm and a set of laterally located corona-discharge needles. The requirements for the position and size of the needles are defined for which a corona discharge is ignited before a breakdown of the main gap and does not change to a sparking form, andmore » the entire length of the rail electrodes is efficiently used. The fulfillment of these requirements ensures stable operation of the switch with a small variation of the pulse breakdown voltage, which is not more than 1% for a fixed voltage-pulse rise time in the range from 150 ns to 3.5 μs. A short delay time of the switch breakdown makes it possible to control the two-electrode switch by an overvoltage pulse of nanosecond duration.« less

On the critical charge required for positive leader inception in long air gaps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lipeng; Becerra, Marley

2018-01-01

The amount of the electric charge injected by the streamer corona bursts during the stage of leader inception determines the energy deposited to thermalize the corona stem into a leader segment. This paper is aimed at investigating the critical charge required for positive leader inception in air by using a thermo-hydrodynamic model with a detailed kinetic scheme. In order to simplify the analysis and to speed up the simulation, a reduced kinetic scheme for air is proposed. Numerical comparisons show that the reduced scheme can obtain almost the same results as the previous comprehensive kinetic scheme but with only half of the number of species and reactions. The thermo-hydrodynamic model with the reduced kinetics is then used to solve the radial dynamics of a single stem heated by current pulses typical of streamer corona bursts. The critical charge necessary for the direct transition of a first streamer corona into a leader under electrodes with large curvature radius is estimated between 0.08 and 0.5 µC per stem. Furthermore, the simulation shows that the gas heating of corona stem formed from electrodes with small curvature radius is mainly determined by the total accumulated charge injected by previous streamer corona bursts and the length of the dark periods in between the current pulses. The shape and the number of the corona current pulses in the discharge also play a role and their effects are discussed. It is suggested that the transition into a leader is triggered when a secondary streamer burst is initiated after the gas temperature is increased by the heating of previous streamers to about 1200 K. In addition, it is found that the heating produced by the charge injected by previous streamer corona bursts can be neglected if the dark period to the next burst is larger than few hundreds of µs for a corona stem with moderate initial stem radius. This indicates that the critical charge criterion obtained from laboratory experiments does not hold to evaluate the inception of positive leaders under conditions when long dark periods are present.

Electrical and spectroscopic analysis of mono- and multi-tip pulsed corona discharges in air at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mraihi, A.; Merbahi, N.; Yousfi, M.; Abahazem, A.; Eichwald, O.

2011-12-01

This work is devoted to the analysis of experimental results obtained in dry air at atmospheric pressure in a positive point-to-plane corona discharge under a pulsed applied voltage in the cases of anodic mono- and multi-tips. In the mono-tip case, the peak corona current is analysed as a function of several experimental parameters such as magnitude, frequency and duration of pulsed voltage and gap distance. The variation of the corona discharge current is correlated with the ozone production. Then in the multi-tip case, the electrical behaviour is analysed as a function of the distance between two contiguous tips and the tip number in order to highlight the region of creation active species for the lowest dissipated power. Intensified charge-coupled device pictures and electric field calculations as a function of inter-tip distance are performed to analyse the mutual effect between two contiguous tips. The optical emission spectra are measured in the UV-visible-NIR wavelength range between 200 nm and 800 nm, in order to identify the main excited species formed in an air corona discharge such as the usual first and second positive systems with first negative systems of molecular nitrogen. The identification of atomic species (O triplet and N) and the quenching of NOγ emission bands are also emphasized.

Pulsed corona generation using a diode-based pulsed power generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pemen, A. J. M.; Grekhov, I. V.; van Heesch, E. J. M.; Yan, K.; Nair, S. A.; Korotkov, S. V.

2003-10-01

Pulsed plasma techniques serve a wide range of unconventional processes, such as gas and water processing, hydrogen production, and nanotechnology. Extending research on promising applications, such as pulsed corona processing, depends to a great extent on the availability of reliable, efficient and repetitive high-voltage pulsed power technology. Heavy-duty opening switches are the most critical components in high-voltage pulsed power systems with inductive energy storage. At the Ioffe Institute, an unconventional switching mechanism has been found, based on the fast recovery process in a diode. This article discusses the application of such a "drift-step-recovery-diode" for pulsed corona plasma generation. The principle of the diode-based nanosecond high-voltage generator will be discussed. The generator will be coupled to a corona reactor via a transmission-line transformer. The advantages of this concept, such as easy voltage transformation, load matching, switch protection and easy coupling with a dc bias voltage, will be discussed. The developed circuit is tested at both a resistive load and various corona reactors. Methods to optimize the energy transfer to a corona reactor have been evaluated. The impedance matching between the pulse generator and corona reactor can be significantly improved by using a dc bias voltage. At good matching, the corona energy increases and less energy reflects back to the generator. Matching can also be slightly improved by increasing the temperature in the corona reactor. More effective is to reduce the reactor pressure.

Characteristics of pulse corona discharge over water surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujii, Tomio; Arao, Yasushi; Rea, Massimo

2008-12-01

Production of ozone and OH radical is required to advance the plasma chemical reactions in the NOx removal processes for combustion gas treatment. The corona discharge to the water surface is expected to induce the good conditions for the proceeding of the NO oxidation and the NO2 dissolution removal into water. In order to get the fundamental data of the corona discharge over the water surface, the positive and negative V-I characteristics and the ozone production were measured with the multi needle and the saw-edge type of the discharge electrodes. The pulse corona characteristics were also measured with some different waveforms of the applied pulse voltage. The experiments were carried out under the atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Both the DC and the pulse corona to the water surface showed a stable and almost the same V-I characteristics as to plate electrodes though the surface of water was waved by corona wind. The positive streamer corona showed more ozone production than the negative one both in the DC and in the pulse corona.

Pulsed corona discharge: the role of ozone and hydroxyl radical in aqueous pollutants oxidation.

PubMed

Preis, S; Panorel, I C; Kornev, I; Hatakka, H; Kallas, J

2013-01-01

Ozone and hydroxyl radical are the most active oxidizing species in water treated with gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD). The ratio of the species dependent on the gas phase composition and treated water contact surface was the objective for the experimental research undertaken for aqueous phenol (fast reaction) and oxalic acid (slow reaction) solutions. The experiments were carried out in the reactor, where aqueous solutions showered between electrodes were treated with 100-ns pulses of 20 kV voltage and 400 A current amplitude. The role of ozone increased with increasing oxygen concentration and the oxidation reaction rate. The PCD treatment showed energy efficiency surpassing that of conventional ozonation.

Effect of electronegative additives on physical properties and chemical activity of gas discharge plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuznetsov, D. L.; Filatov, I. E.; Uvarin, V. V.

2018-01-01

Effect of electronegative additives (oxygen O2, sulfur dioxide SO2, carbon disulfide CS2, and carbon tetrachloride CCl4) on physical properties and chemical activity of plasma formed by pulsed corona discharge and by non-self-sustained discharge supported by pulsed electron beam in atmospheric pressure gas mixtures was investigated. It is shown that a decrease in discharge current depends on a sort of the additive and on its concentration. The reason is the difference in rate constants of electron attachment processes for the above molecules. In experiments on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) conversion in air by streamer corona it is obtained that an addition of CCl4 both decreases the discharge current amplitude and increases the VOCs conversion degree. An installation for investigation of electron attachment processes and for study of toxic impurities conversion in plasma formed by non-self-sustained discharge initiated by pulsed nanosecond electron beam is created.

Design and Analysis of Nano-Pulse Generator for Industrial Wastewater Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jang, Sung-Duck; Son, Yoon-Kyoo; Cho, Moo-Hyun; Norov, Enkhbat

2018-05-01

Recently, the application of a pulsed power system is being extended to environmental and industrial fields. The non-dissolution wastewater pollutants from industrial plants can be processed by applying high-voltage pulses with a fast rising time (a few nanoseconds) and short duration (nano to microseconds) in a pulsed corona discharge reactor. The high-voltage nano-pulse generator with a magnetic switch has been developed. It can be used for a spray type water treatment facility. Its corona current in load can be adjusted by pulse width and repetition rate. We investigated the performance of the nano-pulse generator by using the dummy load that is composed of resistor and capacitor equivalent to the actual reactor. In this paper, the results of design, construction and characterization of a high-voltage nano-pulse generator for an industrial wastewater treatment are reported. Consequently, a pulse width of 1.1 μs at the repetition rate of 200 pps, a peak voltage of 41 kV for the nano-pulse generator were achieved across a 640 Ω load. The simulation results on magnetic switch show reasonable agreement with experimental ones.

The effects of corona on current surges induced on conducting lines by EMP: A comparison of experiment data with results of analytic corona models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Blanchard, J. P.; Tesche, F. M.; McConnell, B. W.

1987-09-01

An experiment to determine the interaction of an intense electromagnetic pulse (EMP), such as that produced by a nuclear detonation above the Earth's atmosphere, was performed in March, 1986 at Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The results of that experiment have been published without analysis. Following an introduction of the corona phenomenon, the reason for interest in it, and a review of the experiment, this paper discusses five different analytic corona models that may model corona formation on a conducting line subjected to EMP. The results predicted by these models are compared with measured data acquired during the experiment to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each model.

Comparison of pulsed corona plasma and pulsed electric fields for the decontamination of water containing Legionella pneumophila as model organism.

PubMed

Banaschik, Robert; Burchhardt, Gerhard; Zocher, Katja; Hammerschmidt, Sven; Kolb, Juergen F; Weltmann, Klaus-Dieter

2016-12-01

Pulsed corona plasma and pulsed electric fields were assessed for their capacity to kill Legionella pneumophila in water. Electrical parameters such as in particular dissipated energy were equal for both treatments. This was accomplished by changing the polarity of the applied high voltage pulses in a coaxial electrode geometry resulting in the generation of corona plasma or an electric field. For corona plasma, generated by high voltage pulses with peak voltages of +80kV, Legionella were completely killed, corresponding to a log-reduction of 5.4 (CFU/ml) after a treatment time of 12.5min. For the application of pulsed electric fields from peak voltages of -80kV a survival of log 2.54 (CFU/ml) was still detectable after this treatment time. Scanning electron microscopy images of L. pneumophila showed rupture of cells after plasma treatment. In contrast, the morphology of bacteria seems to be intact after application of pulsed electric fields. The more efficient killing for the same energy input observed for pulsed corona plasma is likely due to induced chemical processes and the generation of reactive species as indicated by the evolution of hydrogen peroxide. This suggests that the higher efficacy and efficiency of pulsed corona plasma is primarily associated with the combined effect of the applied electric fields and the promoted reaction chemistry. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAST RISE TIME POWER SUPPLY FOR A PULSED PLASMA REACTOR FOR CHEMICAL VAPOR DESTRUCTION

EPA Science Inventory

Rotating spark gap devices for switching high-voltage direct current (dc) into a corona plasma reactor can achieve pulse rise times in the range of tens of nanoseconds. The fast rise times lead to vigorous plasma generation without sparking at instantaneous applied voltages highe...

The Effects of Corona on Current Surges Induced on Conducting Lines by EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse): A Comparison of Experiment Data with Results of Analytic Corona Models

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-09-01

196. M. Schechter, A.D.A., P. 0. Box 2250 (81), Haifa, 31021, ISRAEL 197. D. Serafin, Cente d’Etudes de Gramat , 46500 Gramst, FRANCE 198. Peter Sevat...Managing Director, GERAC, B.P. 19 - 46500 Gramat FRANCE 202. Carol Smeerdon, Royal Aircraft Establishment, Flight Systems, BLdg. Q153, Farnborough

Visualization of corona discharge induced by UV (248 nm) pulses of a KrF excimer laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizeraczyk, Jerzy; Ohkubo, Toshikazu; Kanazawa, Seiji; Nomoto, Yukiharu; Kawasaki, Toshiyuki; Kocik, Marek

2000-11-01

A KrF excimer laser (248 nm) was used to induce DC corona discharge streamers in air between the electrodes of a needle-to-plane geometry. The UV laser beam pulses were transformed into the form of a laser sheet (1.5 mm thick and 20 mm-wide) that was positioned along the axis directed from the needle electrode to the plane electrode. The laser pulses were time-synchronized with the exposure of an ICCD camera that record images of the corona streamers induced by the laser sheet. The laser pulse energy flux (75 MW/cm2) crossing the gap was high enough to induce corona streamers with a reliability of 100% even at relatively low operating voltages (e.g., 15 kV) at which self-sustained streamers could not occur. Due to the full synchronization of the corona streamer onset, induced by the laser pulse and the exposure of the ICCD camera, 2-D visualization of the corona streamer evolution with a time resolution of 10 ns was possible. The recorded images made possible determining such features of the corona discharge streamer as its velocity (2.5 105 m/s) and the diameters of the leader channel (200 micrometers ) and the leader streamers (100 micrometers ).

Effect of pulsed corona discharge voltage and feed gas flow rate on dissolved ozone concentration

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Prasetyaningrum, A., E-mail: ajiprasetyaningrum@gmail.com; Ratnawati,; Jos, B.

Ozonization is one of the methods extensively used for water purification and degradation of organic materials. Ozone (O{sub 3}) is recognized as a powerful oxidizing agent. Due to its strong oxidability and better environmental friendless, ozone increasing being used in domestic and industrial applications. Current technology in ozone production utilizes several techniques (corona discharge, ultra violet radiation and electrolysis). This experiment aimed to evaluating effect of voltage and gas flow rate on ozone production with corona discharge. The system consists of two net-type stainless steel electrode placed in a dielectric barrier. Three pulsed voltage (20, 30, 40 KV) and flowmore » rate (5, 10, 15 L/min) were prepare for operation variable at high frequency (3.7 kHz) with AC pulsed power supply. The dissolved ozone concentration depends on the applied high-voltage level, gas flow rate and the discharge exposure duration. The ozone concentration increases with decreasing gas flow rate. Dissolved ozone concentrations greater than 200 ppm can be obtained with a minimum voltage 40 kV.« less

Effect of pulsed corona discharge voltage and feed gas flow rate on dissolved ozone concentration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasetyaningrum, A.; Ratnawati, Jos, B.

2015-12-01

Ozonization is one of the methods extensively used for water purification and degradation of organic materials. Ozone (O3) is recognized as a powerful oxidizing agent. Due to its strong oxidability and better environmental friendless, ozone increasing being used in domestic and industrial applications. Current technology in ozone production utilizes several techniques (corona discharge, ultra violet radiation and electrolysis). This experiment aimed to evaluating effect of voltage and gas flow rate on ozone production with corona discharge. The system consists of two net-type stainless steel electrode placed in a dielectric barrier. Three pulsed voltage (20, 30, 40 KV) and flow rate (5, 10, 15 L/min) were prepare for operation variable at high frequency (3.7 kHz) with AC pulsed power supply. The dissolved ozone concentration depends on the applied high-voltage level, gas flow rate and the discharge exposure duration. The ozone concentration increases with decreasing gas flow rate. Dissolved ozone concentrations greater than 200 ppm can be obtained with a minimum voltage 40 kV.

Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrodes for Gas Phase Pulsed Corona Reactors.

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-01-01

AFRL-ML-TY-TP-1999-4546 RETICULATED VITREOUS CARBON ELECTRODES FOR GAS PHASE PULSED CORONA REACTORS B.R. LOCKE M. KIRKPATRICK H. HANSON W.C...SUBTITLE Reticulated Vitreous Carbon Electrodes for Gas Phase Pulsed Corona Reactors 6. AUTHOR(S) B.R. Locke, M. Kirkpatrick, H. Hanson, and W.C. Finney...incorporating reticulated vitreous carbon electrodes is demonstrated to be effective for the removal of nitrogen oxides from synthetic air mixtures

Numerical investigation of trichel pulse of negative corona discharge in N2-O2 mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Qing; Zhang, Yu; Jiang, Zhaorui; Wang, Ronggang; Ouyang, Jiting

2017-12-01

Trichel pulse of negative corona discharge in atmospheric air is investigated numerically using a 2D fluid model. The model consists of a hyperbolic cathode tip and a plane anode, and considers 11 kinds of particles and the most important interactions among them. The spatio-temporal evolution of charged species and the electric field are evaluated during the pulse process. During the pulse rising edge, the positive ions accumulate ahead of the tip forming the temporal cathode sheath, significantly enhancing the local field. In the pulse decay edge, the temporal sheath collapses and the discharge falls back to a low-current mode. In the pulse interval, the discharge does not cease but sustains weakly until the next pulse. The location of the temporal sheath is independent of the averaged value during the Trichel pulse regime and also the same with that in a normal glow regime, which determines a nearly constant pulse rising time at given configurations. However, a smaller tip radius will lead to their decrease. The effect of negative ions on the pulse process is studied by adjusting the attachment rates. It indicates that the negative ions are actually not necessary in the Trichel pulse process, but will influence the pulse waveform significantly.

Probe Measurements of Parameters of Streamers of Nanosecond Frequency Crown Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponizovskiy, A. Z.; Gosteev, S. G.

2017-12-01

Investigations of the parameters of single streamers of nanosecond frequency corona discharge, creating a voluminous low-temperature plasma in extended coaxial electrode systems, are performed. Measurements of the parameters of streamers were made by an isolated probe situated on the outer grounded electrode. Streamers were generated under the action of voltage pulses with a front of 50-300 ns, duration of 100-600 ns, and amplitude up to 100 kV at the frequency of 50-1000 Hz. The pulse voltage, the total current of the corona, current per probe, and glow in the discharge gap were recorded in the experiments. It was established that, at these parameters of pulse voltage, streamers propagate at an average strength of the electric field of 4-10 kV/cm. Increasing the pulse amplitude leads to an increase in the number of streamers hitting the probe, an increase in the average charge of the head of a streamer, and, as a consequence, an increase in the total streamer current and the energy introduced into the gas. In the intervals up to 3 cm, streamer breakdown at an average field strength of 5-10 kV/cm is possible. In longer intervals, during the buildup of voltage after generation of the main pulse, RF breakdown is observed at E av ≈ 4 kV/cm.

Lightweight Portable Plasma Medical Device - Plasma Engineering Research Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

Wang, W. Zheng, and Y. N. Wang, "Optical study of radicals (OH, O, H, N) in a needle-plate negative pulsed streamer corona discharge ," Plasma...needle- plate bi-directional pulsed corona discharge ," European Physical Journal D, vol. 38, pp. 515-522, Jun 2006. 155 [35] W. Wang, S. Wang...F. Liu, W. Zheng, and D. Wang, "Optical study of OH radical in a wire-plate pulsed corona discharge ," Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and

Lightweight Portable Plasma Medical Device - Plasma Engineering Research Laboratory

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-10-01

34Optical study of radicals (OH, O, H, N) in a needle- plate negative pulsed streamer corona discharge ," Plasma Chemistry and Plasma Processing, vol. 26...pulsed corona discharge ," European Physical Journal D, vol. 38, pp. 515-522, Jun 2006. [35] W. Wang, S. Wang, F. Liu, W. Zheng, and D. Wang, "Optical...study of OH radical in a wire-plate pulsed corona discharge ," Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, vol. 63, pp. 477

Decontamination of Streptococci biofilms and Bacillus cereus spores on plastic surfaces with DC and pulsed corona discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koval'ová, Zuzana; Tarabová, Kataŕna; Hensel, Karol; Machala, Zdenko

2013-02-01

Cold air plasmas of DC and pulsed corona discharges: positive streamers and negative Trichel pulses were used for bio-decontamination of Streptococci biofilm and Bacillus cereus spores on polypropylene plastic surfaces. The reduction of bacterial population (evaluated as log10) in the biofilm on plastic surfaces treated by DC corona reached 2.4 logs with 10 min treatment time and 3.3 logs with 2 min treatment time with water spraying. The enhancement of plasma biocidal effects on the biofilm by electro-spraying of water through a hollow needle high-voltage electrode was investigated. No significant polarity effect was found with DC corona. Pulsed corona was demonstrated slightly more bactericidal for spores, especially in the negative polarity where the bacterial population reduction reached up to 2.2 logs at 10 min exposure time. Contribution to the Topical Issue "13th International Symposium on High Pressure Low Temperature Plasma Chemistry (Hakone XIII)", Edited by Nicolas Gherardi, Henryca Danuta Stryczewska and Yvan Ségui.

The Catalytic Effect of Electronegative Additives on Removal of Perchloroethylene Vapor from Air by Pulsed Corona Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filatov, I. E.; Uvarin, V. V.; Kuznetsov, D. L.

2017-12-01

It is established that electronegative additives (CCl4, freon-113) produce a catalytic effect on the conversion of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under the action of atmospheric-pressure nonequilibrium plasma generated in pulsed corona discharge. At concentrations below 0.1%, these additives significantly decrease the discharge current, but the energy efficiency of the process of VOC removal from air increases. The catalytic effect of electronegative additives on the VOC conversion in air and nitrogen is quantitatively demonstrated in the case of perchloroethylene C2Cl4 (PCE) vapor removal. The addition of 0.085% CCl4 to air reduces the energy consumption for PCE removal at initial concentration of 0.09% by half (from 12 to 6 eV per molecule) at a 63% degree of cleaning. Mechanisms explaining the active inf luence of electronegative additives on the discharge current and the process of impurity removal are suggested.

Influence of Relative Humidity on AC Corona Discharge from Algae Attached on the Silicone Rubber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Daisuke; Hara, Yoshiaki; Kokufu, Morihide; Higashiyama, Yoshio

To make clear the influence of algae growth at the surface of a polymer insulator in a practical transmission line, the characteristics of ac corona discharge from an aggregate algae particle were investigated. The aggregate algae particle was made of Protococcus viridis. Corona onset voltage from an aggregate algae particle was decreased as relative humidity increased. Under the condition of relatively higher relative humidity, luminous channel of corona discharge became more strongly and the number of corona pulses in the current waveform was increased. For an aggregate algae particle contaminated with sea salt including MgCl2, corona onset voltage decreased drastically at relative humidity above 40%. This property would result from deliquescence of MgCl2. Corona discharge was strongly affected by existence of MgCl2 in an aggregate algae particle. Surface resistance of algae attached to the surface of the silicone rubber sheet decreased in fourth figures for relative humidity from 20 to 90%. Therefore, the existence of algae on the polymer insulator inevitably affects the electric property and the surface property of the polymer insulator.

Apparatus and method for production of methanethiol

DOEpatents

Agarwal, Pradeep K.; Linjewile, Temi M.; Hull, Ashley S.; Chen, Zumao

2006-02-07

A method for the production of methyl mercaptan is provided. The method comprises providing raw feed gases consisting of methane and hydrogen sulfide, introducing the raw feed gases into a non-thermal pulsed plasma corona reactor, and reacting the raw feed gases within the non-thermal pulsed plasma corona reactor with the reaction CH₄+H₂S.fwdarw.CH₃SH+H₂. An apparatus for the production of methyl mercaptan using a non-thermal pulsed plasma corona reactor is also provided.

Device for generation of pulsed corona discharge

DOEpatents

Gutsol, Alexander F [San Ramon, CA; Fridman, Alexander [Marlton, NJ; Blank, Kenneth [Philadelphia, PA; Korobtsev, Sergey [Moscow, RU; Shiryaevsky, Valery [Moscow, RU; Medvedev, Dmitry [Moscow, RU

2012-05-08

The invention is a method and system for the generation of high voltage, pulsed, periodic corona discharges capable of being used in the presence of conductive liquid droplets. The method and system can be used, for example, in different devices for cleaning of gaseous or liquid media using pulsed corona discharge. Specially designed electrodes and an inductor increase the efficiency of the system, permit the plasma chemical oxidation of detrimental impurities, and increase the range of stable discharge operations in the presence of droplets of water or other conductive liquids in the discharge chamber.

OH radicals generated by DC corona discharge for improving the pulsed discharge desulfuration efficiency.

PubMed

Li, Jie; Li, Guo-feng; Wu, Yan; Wang, Ning-hui; Huang, Qiu-nan

2004-01-01

Positive DC corona discharge is formed with needle-plate electrode configuration, in which the water vapor is ejected though the needle points. The purpose is to increase the numbers of the water-based radicals, ionize the water molecule and improve the desulfuration efficiency of pulsed corona reactor. The water ions were determined by four stages molecular beam mass spectrometer and diagnose the water-based radicals by emission spectrograph. A conclusion on formation of ions and radicals with DC corona discharges can be drawn.

A self-consistent model of ionic wind generation by negative corona discharges in air with experimental validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, She; Nobelen, J. C. P. Y.; Nijdam, S.

2017-09-01

Ionic wind is produced by a corona discharge when gaseous ions are accelerated in the electric field and transfer their momentum to neutral molecules by collisions. This technique is promising because a gas flow can be generated without the need for moving parts and can be easily miniaturized. The basic theory of ionic wind sounds simple but the details are far from clear. In our experiment, a negative DC voltage is applied to a needle-cylinder electrode geometry. Hot wire anemometry is used to measure the flow velocity at the downstream exit of the cylinder. The flow velocity fluctuates but the average velocity increases with the voltage. The current consists of a regular train of pulses with short rise time, the well-known Trichel pulses. To reveal the ionic wind mechanism in the Trichel pulse stage, a three-species corona model coupled with gas dynamics is built. The drift-diffusion equations of the plasma together with the Navier-Stokes equations of the flow are solved in COMSOL Multiphysics. The electric field, net number density of charged species, electrohydrodynamic (EHD) body force and flow velocity are calculated in detail by a self-consistent model. Multiple time scales are employed: hundreds of microseconds for the plasma characteristics and longer time scales (˜1 s) for the flow behavior. We found that the flow velocity as well as the EHD body force have opposite directions in the ionization region close to the tip and the ion drift region further away from the tip. The calculated mean current, Trichel pulse frequency and flow velocity are very close to our experimental results. Furthermore, in our simulations we were able to reproduce the mushroom-like minijets observed in experiments.

Pulsed discharge ionization source for miniature ion mobility spectrometers

DOEpatents

Xu, Jun; Ramsey, J. Michael; Whitten, William B.

2004-11-23

A method and apparatus is disclosed for flowing a sample gas and a reactant gas (38, 43) past a corona discharge electrode (26) situated at a first location in an ion drift chamber (24), applying a pulsed voltage waveform comprising a varying pulse component and a dc bias component to the corona discharge electrode (26) to cause a corona which in turn produces ions from the sample gas and the reactant gas, applying a dc bias to the ion drift chamber (24) to cause the ions to drift to a second location (25) in the ion drift chamber (24), detecting the ions at the second location (25) in the drift chamber (24), and timing the period for the ions to drift from the corona discharge electrode to the selected location in the drift chamber.

Time domain simulations of preliminary breakdown pulses in natural lightning.

PubMed

Carlson, B E; Liang, C; Bitzer, P; Christian, H

2015-06-16

Lightning discharge is a complicated process with relevant physical scales spanning many orders of magnitude. In an effort to understand the electrodynamics of lightning and connect physical properties of the channel to observed behavior, we construct a simulation of charge and current flow on a narrow conducting channel embedded in three-dimensional space with the time domain electric field integral equation, the method of moments, and the thin-wire approximation. The method includes approximate treatment of resistance evolution due to lightning channel heating and the corona sheath of charge surrounding the lightning channel. Focusing our attention on preliminary breakdown in natural lightning by simulating stepwise channel extension with a simplified geometry, our simulation reproduces the broad features observed in data collected with the Huntsville Alabama Marx Meter Array. Some deviations in pulse shape details are evident, suggesting future work focusing on the detailed properties of the stepping mechanism. Preliminary breakdown pulses can be reproduced by simulated channel extension Channel heating and corona sheath formation are crucial to proper pulse shape Extension processes and channel orientation significantly affect observations.

Time domain simulations of preliminary breakdown pulses in natural lightning

PubMed Central

Carlson, B E; Liang, C; Bitzer, P; Christian, H

2015-01-01

Lightning discharge is a complicated process with relevant physical scales spanning many orders of magnitude. In an effort to understand the electrodynamics of lightning and connect physical properties of the channel to observed behavior, we construct a simulation of charge and current flow on a narrow conducting channel embedded in three-dimensional space with the time domain electric field integral equation, the method of moments, and the thin-wire approximation. The method includes approximate treatment of resistance evolution due to lightning channel heating and the corona sheath of charge surrounding the lightning channel. Focusing our attention on preliminary breakdown in natural lightning by simulating stepwise channel extension with a simplified geometry, our simulation reproduces the broad features observed in data collected with the Huntsville Alabama Marx Meter Array. Some deviations in pulse shape details are evident, suggesting future work focusing on the detailed properties of the stepping mechanism. Key Points Preliminary breakdown pulses can be reproduced by simulated channel extension Channel heating and corona sheath formation are crucial to proper pulse shape Extension processes and channel orientation significantly affect observations PMID:26664815

Propagation characteristics of audible noise generated by single corona source under positive DC voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuebao; Cui, Xiang; Lu, Tiebing; Wang, Donglai

2017-10-01

The directivity and lateral profile of corona-generated audible noise (AN) from a single corona source are measured through experiments carried out in the semi-anechoic laboratory. The experimental results show that the waveform of corona-generated AN consists of a series of random sound pressure pulses whose pulse amplitudes decrease with the increase of measurement distance. A single corona source can be regarded as a non-directional AN source, and the A-weighted SPL (sound pressure level) decreases 6 dB(A) as doubling the measurement distance. Then, qualitative explanations for the rationality of treating the single corona source as a point source are given on the basis of the Ingard's theory for sound generation in corona discharge. Furthermore, we take into consideration of the ground reflection and the air attenuation to reconstruct the propagation features of AN from the single corona source. The calculated results agree with the measurement well, which validates the propagation model. Finally, the influence of the ground reflection on the SPL is presented in the paper.

CONTROL OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS BY AN AC ENERGIZED FERROELECTRIC PELLET REACTOR AND A PULSED CORONA REACTOR

EPA Science Inventory

The paper gives results of a study to develop baseline engineering data to demonstrate the feasibility of application of plasma reactors to the destruction of various volatile organic compounds at ppm levels. Two laboratory-scale reactors, an alternating current energized ferroel...

Preconditioned wire array Z-pinches driven by a double pulse current generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Jian; Lu, Yihan; Sun, Fengju; Li, Xingwen; Jiang, Xiaofeng; Wang, Zhiguo; Zhang, Daoyuan; Qiu, Aici; Lebedev, Sergey

2018-07-01

Suppression of the core-corona structure and wire ablation in wire array Z-pinches is investigated using a novel double pulse current generator ‘Qin-1’ facility. The ‘Qin-1’ facility allows coupling a ∼10 kA 20 ns prepulse generator with a ∼0.8 MA 160 ns main current generator. The tailored prepulse current preheats wires to a gaseous state and the time interval between the prepulse and the main current pulse allows formation of a more uniform mass distribution for the implosion. The implosion of a gasified two aluminum-wire array showed no ablation phase and allowed all array mass to participate in the implosion. The initial perturbations formed from the inhomogeneous ablation were suppressed, however, the magneto Rayleigh–Taylor (MRT) instability during the implosion was still significant and further researches on the generation and development of the MRT instabilities of this gasified wire array are needed.

Dynamics and density estimation of hydroxyl radicals in a pulsed corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Ryo; Oda, Tetsuji

2002-09-01

Hydroxyl radicals generated by a pulsed corona discharge are measured by laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) with a tunable KrF excimer laser. The discharge with 35 kV voltage and 100 ns pulse current occurs between needle and plate electrodes in H2O/O2/N2 mixture at atmospheric pressure. The density and decay profile of OH radicals are studied. OH radicals decay with time after the discharge with a time constant of about 30-60 µs. The OH density is estimated to be about 7×1014 cm-3 in H2O(2.4%)/N2 mixture 10 µs after the discharge. The OH density is approximately proportional to the energy dissipated in the discharge. The O2 content influences the OH production. When the O2 content is varied in H2O(2.4%)/O2/N2 mixture, the OH density is maximum at an O2 content of 2%. The spatial distribution of OH density shows that OH radicals are produced in the streamers under positive discharge.

Plasma Assisted Ignition at High Pressures and Low Temperatures. PAI Kinetics and Fast Gas Heating

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-06

2636–39 [61] Creyghton Y L M 1994 Pulsed positive corona discharges PhD Thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology [62] Dyakov A F, Bobrov Yu K, Bobrova...Kim S J 2003 Measurements of electron density by emission spectroscopy in pulsed corona and dielectric barrier discharges J. Adv. Oxid. Technol. 6 17...metastable N2 molecules in the afterglow of the pulsed nanosecond discharge by technique of a cavity ring–down spectroscopy; (iv) experiments on

Schlieren Imaging and Pulsed Detonation Engine Testing of Ignition by a Nanosecond Repetitively Pulsed Discharge

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-16

in ethylene–air and aviation gasoline (avgas)–air mixtures. Testing of NRP discharges in the glow and corona regimes in PDE engines has been...in further detail in Refs. [17,21–23]. NRP discharges in the pin-to-pin configuration have been shown to operate in three regimes: corona , glow, and...assisted combustion Plasma assisted ignition Aircraft propulsionA nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) discharge in the spark regime has been investigated

Controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse and a series of single Trichel pulses in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizeraczyk, Jerzy; Berendt, Artur; Akishev, Yuri

2018-04-01

In this paper, a simple method for the controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of single Trichel pulses of a regulated repetition frequency in air is proposed. The concept of triggering a single Trichel pulse or a series of such pulses is based on the precise controlling the voltage inception of the negative corona, which can be accomplished through the use of a ramp voltage pulse or a series of such pulses with properly chosen ramp voltage pulse parameters (rise and fall times, and ramp voltage pulse repetition frequency). The proposal has been tested in experiments using a needle-to-plate electrode arrangement in air, and reproducible Trichel pulses (single or in a series) were obtained by triggering them with an appropriately designed voltage waveform. The proposed method and results obtained have been qualitatively analysed. The analysis provides guidance for designing the voltage ramp pulse in respect of the generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of single Trichel pulses. The controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of such pulses would be a helpful research tool for the refined studies of the fundamental processes in a negative corona discharge in a single- (air is an example) and multi-phase gaseous fluids. The controlled generation of a single Trichel pulse or a series of Trichel pulses can also be attractive for those corona treatments which need manipulation of the electric charge and heat portions delivered by the Trichel pulses to the object.

Temporal and spatial evolution of EHD particle flow onset in air in a needle-to-plate negative DC corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizeraczyk, J.; Berendt, A.; Podlinski, J.

2016-05-01

In this paper we present images showing the temporal and spatial evolution of the electrohydrodynamic (EHD) flow of dust particles (cigarette smoke) suspended in still air in a needle-to-plate negative DC corona discharge arrangement just after the corona onset, i.e. in the first stage of development of the EHD particle flow. The experimental apparatus for our study of the EHD flow onset consisted of a needle-to-plate electrode arrangement, high voltage power supply and time-resolved EHD imaging system based on 2D time-resolved particle image velocimetry equipment. The time-resolved flow images clearly show the formation of a ball-like flow structure at the needle tip just after the corona discharge onset, and its evolution into a mushroom-like object moving to the collecting electrode. After a certain time, when the mushroom-like object is still present in the interelectrode gap a second mushroom-like object forms near the needle electrode and starts to move towards the collecting electrode. Before the first mushroom-like object reaches the collecting electrode several similar mushroom-like objects can be formed and presented simultaneously in the interelectrode gap. They look like a series of mushroom-like minijets shot from the needle electrode vicinity towards the collecting electrode. The simultaneous presence of mushroom-like minijets in the interelectrode gap in the corona discharge in particle-seeded air resembles the negative-ion-charged ‘clouds’ (induced by the Trichel pulses) traversing simultaneously the interelectrode gap of the corona discharge in air, predicted a long time ago by Loeb, and Lama and Gallo and recently by Dordizadeh et al. Analysing the time behaviours of the mushroom-like minijets and current waveform in the corona discharge in particle-seeded air, we found that the Trichel pulse trains, formed just after the corona onset initiates the mushroom-like minijets. The first stage of development of the EHD particle flow, the area of which is practically limited to the interelectrode duct, ends when the first mushroom-like minijet reaches the collecting electrode.

Breakdown of methylene blue and methyl orange by pulsed corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grabowski, L. R.; van Veldhuizen, E. M.; Pemen, A. J. M.; Rutgers, W. R.

2007-05-01

The recently developed corona above water technique is applied to water containing 10 mg l-1 methylene blue (MB) or methyl orange (MO). The corona discharge pulses are created with a spark gap switched capacitor followed by a transmission line transformer. The pulse amplitude is 40 kV; its duration is 50 ns. At a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz this leads to an average power of 0.6 W into the discharge. MB and MO are completely decolourized in ~20 min. This corresponds to a yield of ~4.5 gr kW-1h-1, which is much higher than obtained with other discharge techniques or sonoluminescence. The high yield is reflected in the observed temperature increase of only ~1 K. Tests with additional chemicals show that the initial speed of the conversion can be influenced but the total time required for total decolourization is constant. Further, it follows that the main oxidation path of the dyes is by direct ozone attack and the conversion products are strong acids.

Dependence of Initial Oxygen Concentration on Ozone Yield Using Inductive Energy Storage System Pulsed Power Generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Go, Tomio; Tanaka, Yasushi; Yamazaki, Nobuyuki; Mukaigawa, Seiji; Takaki, Koichi; Fujiwara, Tamiya

Dependence of initial oxygen concentration on ozone yield using streamer discharge reactor driven by an inductive energy storage system pulsed power generator is described in this paper. Fast recovery type diodes were employed as semiconductor opening switch to interrupt a circuit current within 100 ns. This rapid current change produced high-voltage short pulse between a secondary energy storage inductor. The repetitive high-voltage short pulse was applied to a 1 mm diameter center wire electrode placed in a cylindrical pulse corona reactor. The streamer discharge successfully occurred between the center wire electrode and an outer cylinder ground electrode of 2 cm inner diameter. The ozone was produced with the streamer discharge and increased with increasing pulse repetition rate. The ozone yield changed in proportion to initial oxygen concentration contained in the injected gas mixture at 800 ns forward pumping time of the current. However, the decrease of the ozone yield by decreasing oxygen concentration in the gas mixture at 180 ns forward pumping time of the current was lower than the decrease at 800 ns forward pumping time of the current. This dependence of the initial oxygen concentration on ozone yield at 180 ns forward pumping time is similar to that of dielectric barrier discharge reactor.

[Removal of SO2 from flue gas by water vapor DC corona discharge].

PubMed

Sun, Ming; Wu, Yan

2006-07-01

The influence of several factors on removal rate of SO2 from flue gas in unsaturated water vapor DC corona discharge was researched. Furthermore, the experiments of the removal rate of SO2 in pulsed discharge increased by water vapor DC corona discharge plasma were conducted. The experiment system is supplied with multi-nozzle-plate electrodes and the flow of simulated flue gas is under 70 m3/h. The results show that removal rate of SO2 can be improved by increasing the concentration of water vapor, intensity of electric field or decreasing flow of simulated flue gas. In unsaturated water vapor DC corona discharge, removal rate of SO2 can be improved by 10%, when NH3 is added as NH3 and SO2 is in a mole ratio of two to one, it can reach 60%. The removal rate of SO2 can be increased by 5% in pulsed corona discharge and reach above 90%.

Rail-type gas switch with preionization by an additional corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Belozerov, O. S.; Krastelev, E. G.

2017-05-01

Results of an experimental research of a rail-type gas switch with preionization by an additional negative corona discharge are presented. The most of measurements were performed for an air insulated two-electrode switch assembled of cylindrical electrodes of 22 mm diameter and 100 mm length, arranged parallel to each other, with a spark gap between them varying from 6 to 15 mm. A set of 1 to 5 needles connected to a negative cylindrical electrode and located aside of them were used for corona discharges. The needle positions, allowing an effecient stabilization of the pulsed breakdown voltage and preventing the a transition of the corona discharge in a spark form, were found. It was shown that the gas preionization by the UV-radiation of the parallel corona discharge provides a stable operation of the switch with low variations of the pulsed breakdown voltage, not exceeding 1% for a given voltage rise-time tested within the range from 40 ns to 5 µs.

Degradation of pentachlorophenol in soil by pulsed corona discharge plasma.

PubMed

Wang, Tie Cheng; Lu, Na; Li, Jie; Wu, Yan

2010-08-15

The remediation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) contaminated soil using pulsed corona discharge plasma was reported in this study. The effect of practical run parameters such as peak pulse voltage, pulse frequency, gas atmospheres (air, O(2), Ar and N(2)), air flow rate and pollution time on PCP degradation was investigated, and the intermediate products were also studied. The results indicated that PCP degradation efficiency increased with an increase in peak pulse voltage or pulse frequency, due to the enhancement of energy input. There existed a maximal PCP degradation efficiency with the change of air flow rate. PCP degradation efficiencies under oxygen and air atmospheres were achieved 92% and 77% after 45 min of discharge treatment at 14.0 kV, respectively, which were only 19% and 8% under argon and nitrogen atmospheres, respectively. O(3) played an important role in PCP degradation. However, other processes also contributed to PCP degradation, such as N, N(2)(+), N(+) and OH. The pollution time evidenced slight influence on PCP degradation. The main intermediate products produced during the treatment process were identified as tetrachlorocatechol, tetrachlorohydroquinone, acetic acid, formic acid and oxalic acid by HPLC/MS and ion chromatography. This study is expected to provide reference for the application of pulsed corona discharge in soil remediation. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

INDUCED SCATTERING LIMITS ON FAST RADIO BURSTS FROM STELLAR CORONAE

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lyubarsky, Yuri; Ostrovska, Sofiya

2016-02-10

The origin of fast radio bursts remains a puzzle. Suggestions have been made that they are produced within the Earth’s atmosphere, in stellar coronae, in other galaxies, or at cosmological distances. If they are extraterrestrial, the implied brightness temperature is very high, and therefore the induced scattering places constraints on possible models. In this paper, constraints are obtained on flares from coronae of nearby stars. It is shown that the radio pulses with the observed power could not be generated if the plasma density within and in the nearest vicinity of the source is as high as is necessary tomore » provide the observed dispersion measure. However, one cannot exclude the possibility that the pulses are generated within a bubble with a very low density and pass through the dense plasma only in the outer corona.« less

Space and surface charge behavior analysis of charge-eliminated polymer films

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oda, Tetsuji; Takashima, Kazunori; Ichiyama, Shinichiro

1995-12-31

Charge behavior of corona-charged or charge eliminated polymer films being dipped in the city water were studied. They were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE teflon{trademark}), polypropylene (PP), low density or high density polyethylene (LDPE or HDPE) thin films which are as grown (native) or plasma-processed. The plasma processing at low pressure was tested as antistatic processing. Charge elimination was done by being dipped in alcohol or city water. TSDC analysis and surface charge profile measurement were done for both charged and charge eliminated polymer films. Surface charge density of plasma processed polymer films just after corona charging is roughly the same as thatmore » of an original film. There is little difference between surface charge density profile of a native film and that of a plasma processed film. A large hetero current peak of TSDC was observed at room temperature for a processed film. It was found that the hetero peak disappears after charge elimination process. A pressure pulse wave method by using a pulse-driven piezoelectric PVDF polymer film as a piezoelectric actuator was newly developed to observe real space charge distribution. A little difference of internal space charge distribution between the plasma processed film and the native one after corona charging is found.« less

Pulsed corona discharge oxidation of aqueous lignin: decomposition and aldehydes formation.

PubMed

Panorel, Iris; Kaijanen, Laura; Kornev, Iakov; Preis, Sergei; Louhi-Kultanen, Marjatta; Sirén, Heli

2014-01-01

Lignin is the mass waste product of pulp and paper industry mostly incinerated for energy recovery. Lignin is, however, a substantial source of raw material for derivatives currently produced in costly wet oxidation processes. The pulsed corona discharge (PCD) for the first time was applied to lignin oxidation aiming a cost-effective environmentally friendly lignin removal and transformation to aldehydes. The experimental research into treatment of coniferous kraft lignin aqueous solutions was undertaken to establish the dependence of lignin oxidation and aldehyde formation on the discharge parameters, initial concentration of lignin and gas phase composition. The rate and the energy efficiency of lignin oxidation increased with increasing oxygen concentration reaching up to 82 g kW-1 h-1 in 89% vol. oxygen. Oxidation energy efficiency in PCD treatment exceeds the one for conventional ozonation by the factor of two under the experimental conditions. Oxidation at low oxygen concentrations showed a tendency of the increasing aldehydes and glyoxylic acid formation yield.

Real-time Analysis of Global Waves Accompanying Coronal Mass Ejections

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

Moreton–Ramsey waves were not propagating in the chromosphere, but were instead the footprint of a global wave pulse moving through the solar corona above... corona and in 1997 the first observations were made of a global wave propagating through the low solar corona (see bottom row of Figure 1 and the...Procedures While there are similarities in the behaviour and morphology of both Moreton–Ramsey waves and “EIT waves”, the low solar corona and solar

Development and Exploration of the Core-Corona Model of Imploding Plasma Loads.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-07-01

cal relaxation processes can maintain an isothermal system . The final constraint in the original core-corona model equations was that of quasi-static...on the energy balance. The detailed physics of these upgrades and their improvement of the quantitative modeling of the system are discussed in the...participate in lengthening the radiaton pulse. 18 If such motion is favored in these systems , the impact on the radiation pulse length could be

Research on multi-switch synchronization based on single trigger generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Jiuyuan; Cheng, Xinbing; Yang, Jianhua; Yang, Xiao; Chen, Rong

2018-05-01

Multi-switch synchronous operation is an effective approach to provide high-voltage high-current for a high-power device. In this paper, we present a synchronization system with a corona stabilized triggered switch (CSTS) as main switch and an all-solid modularized quasi-square pulse forming system. In addition, this paper provides explanations of low jitter and accurate triggering of CSTS based on streamer theory. Different switches of the module are triggered by an electrical pulse created by a trigger generator, a quasi-square pulse can be created on the load. The experimental results show that it is able to switch voltages in excess of 40kV with nanosecond system jitter for three-module synchronous operation.

Corona Preionization Technique for Carbon Dioxide TEA Lasers.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-11-30

34’" " " " "- -. .. " "I~ 82R8O701-02 CORONA PREIONIZATION TECHNIQUE FOR CARBON DIOXIDE TEA LASERS W after R. Kamnki SUnited Technologiles Research Center C...TITLE (and Subtitle) S. TYPE OF REPORT a PERIOD COVERED CORONA PREIONIZATION TECHNIQUE FOR CARBON Final Report DIOXIDE TEA LASERS May 5, 1981...Preionization Laser UV Preionization Pulsed CO2 Laser Corona Preionization CO2 TEA Laser 10. ABSTRACT (Continue on reverse side If neceeeiny md Identify

Discharge mode transition and temporal-spatial evolution of an air-water plasma jet generated by pulsating DC power

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, J.; Geng, Y.; Liu, K.; Zhu, W.; Zheng, Z.; Hu, H.

2017-12-01

In this paper, pulsating direct current air-water plasma jet, which can increase the production of •OH and decrease the temperature, is studied. The results show that the discharge mode changes in one cycle from corona discharge with steep Trichel current pulse to glow-like discharge. It is unknown whether the different discharge modes and water ratio have an effect on the transient process of the excited O and •OH production and the mechanism of plasma propagation. So, a series of experiments are done in this paper. The results show that the changing rules of both the excited state O and the discharge current reach their two peak values synchronously. And its maximum appears at the time of the first peak current value in corona mode. However, the change of the excited state •OH is different. It increases to its maximum at the time of the second peak current value in glow-like mode. Besides, the intensified charge coupled device photographs show that the luminous intensity of the discharge zone at the first peak current value in corona mode is stronger than the second peak current value in glow-like mode. At the same time, the discharge area of the former is larger than the latter. Nevertheless, with the increase in water ratio, the discharge area change reversed. Additionally, the air plasma plume propagation depends on the gas flow. The initial propagation velocity decreases with the increase in water ratio.

Photo-triggering and secondary electron produced ionization in electric discharge ArF* excimer lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Zhongmin; Kushner, Mark J.

2011-10-01

Electric discharge excimer lasers are sustained in multi-atmosphere attaching gas mixtures that are typically preionized to enable a reproducible, uniform glow, which maximizes optical quality and gain. This preionization is often accomplished using UV light produced by a corona discharge within the plasma cavity. To quantify the relationship between corona discharge properties and those of the laser discharge, the triggering of electron avalanche by preionizing UV light in an electric discharge-pumped ArF* excimer laser was numerically investigated using a two-dimensional model. The preionizing UV fluxes were generated by a corona-bar discharge driven by the same voltage pulse as the main discharge sustained in a multi-atmospheric Ne/Ar/Xe/F2 gas mixture. The resulting peak photo-electron density in the inter-electrode spacing is around 108 cm-3, and its distribution is biased toward the UV source. The preionization density increases with increasing dielectric constant and capacitance of the corona bar. The symmetry and uniformity of the discharge are, however, improved significantly once the main avalanche develops. In addition to bulk electron impact ionization, the ionization generated by sheath accelerated secondary electrons was found to be important in sustaining the discharge current at experimentally observed values. At peak current, the magnitude of the ionization by sheath accelerated electrons is comparable to that from bulk electron impact in the vicinity of the cathode.

Oxidation of aqueous pharmaceuticals by pulsed corona discharge.

PubMed

Panorel, Iris; Preis, Sergei; Kornev, Iakov; Hatakka, Henry; Louhi-Kultanen, Marjatta

2013-01-01

Oxidation of aromatic compounds of phenolic (paracetamol, beta-oestradiol and salicylic acid) and carboxylic (indomethacin and ibuprofen) structure used in pharmaceutics was studied. Aqueous solutions were treated with pulsed corona discharge (PCD) as a means for advanced oxidation. Pulse repetition frequency, delivered energy dose and oxidation media were the main parameters studied for their influence on the process energy efficiency. The PCD treatment appeared to be effective in oxidation of the target compounds: complete degradation of pollutant together with partial mineralization was achieved at moderate energy consumption; oxidation proceeds faster in alkaline media. Low-molecular carboxylic acids were identified as ultimate oxidation by-products formed in the reaction.

“Thermal Stabilization Effect” of Al2O3 nano-dopants improves the high-temperature dielectric performance of polyimide

PubMed Central

Yang, Yang; He, Jinliang; Wu, Guangning; Hu, Jun

2015-01-01

Insulation performance of the dielectrics under extreme conditions always attracts widespread attention in electrical and electronic field. How to improve the high-temperature dielectric properties of insulation materials is one of the key issues in insulation system design of electrical devices. This paper studies the temperature-dependent corona resistance of polyimide (PI)/Al2O3 nanocomposite films under high-frequency square-wave pulse conditions. Extended corona resistant lifetime under high-temperature conditions is experimentally observed in the 2 wt% nanocomposite samples. The “thermal stabilization effect” is proposed to explain this phenomenon which attributes to a new kind of trap band caused by nanoparticles. This effect brings about superior space charge characteristics and corona resistance under high temperature with certain nano-doping concentration. The proposed theory is experimentally demonstrated by space charge analysis and thermally stimulated current (TSC) tests. This discovered effect is of profound significance on improving high-temperature dielectric properties of nanocomposites towards various applications. PMID:26597981

Temporal development and chemical efficiency of positive streamers in a large scale wire-plate reactor as a function of voltage waveform parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winands, G. J. J.; Liu, Z.; Pemen, A. J. M.; van Heesch, E. J. M.; Yan, K.; van Veldhuizen, E. M.

2006-07-01

In this paper a large-scale pulsed corona system is described in which pulse parameters such as pulse rise-time, peak voltage, pulse width and energy per pulse can be varied. The chemical efficiency of the system is determined by measuring ozone production. The temporal and spatial development of the discharge streamers is recorded using an ICCD camera with a shortest exposure time of 5 ns. The camera can be triggered at any moment starting from the time the voltage pulse arrives on the reactor, with an accuracy of less than 1 ns. Measurements were performed on an industrial size wire-plate reactor. The influence of pulse parameters like pulse voltage, DC bias voltage, rise-time and pulse repetition rate on plasma generation was monitored. It was observed that for higher peak voltages, an increase could be seen in the primary streamer velocity, the growth of the primary streamer diameter, the light intensity and the number of streamers per unit length of corona wire. No significant separate influence of DC bias voltage level was observed as long as the total reactor voltage (pulse + DC bias) remained constant and the DC bias voltage remained below the DC corona onset. For those situations in which the plasma appearance changed (e.g. different streamer velocity, diameter, intensity), a change in ozone production was also observed. The best chemical yields were obtained for low voltage (55 kV), low energetic pulses (0.4 J/pulse): 60 g (kWh)-1. For high voltage (86 kV), high energetic pulses (2.3 J/pulse) the yield decreased to approximately 45 g (kWh)-1, still a high value for ozone production in ambient air (RH 42%). The pulse repetition rate has no influence on plasma generation and on chemical efficiency up to 400 pulses per second.

Decomposition of mixed malodorants in a wire-plate pulse corona reactor.

PubMed

Shi, Y; Ruan, J; Wang, X; Li, W; Tan, T

2005-09-01

Decomposition characteristics of two groups of representative mixed malodorants (1, ethanethiol + hydrogen sulfide; 2, ethanethiol + ammonia) in air were investigated employing a wire-plate pulse corona reactor. A new type of high-voltage pulse generator with a thyratron switch and a Blumlein pulse-forming network (BPFN) was used in our experiments. The experiments were conducted at a gas-flow rate of 13 m3/h. Important parameters, including peak voltage, chemical structures of malodorants, pulse frequency, and initial concentration, which influenced the removal efficiency, were investigated. The results showed that the mixed malodorants could be treated effectively by pulse corona. The removal efficiencies of 200 mg/m3 C2H5SH and 200 mg/m3 H2S for group 1 were 95.6% and 100%, respectively, which were almost equal to those of the two pollutants separately. The energy cost was about 65.1-81.4 J/L, which was 31.5-45.2% lower than for treating pollutants alone. The removal efficiencies of 105 mg/m3 C2HsSH and 40 mg/m3 NH3 for group 2 were 93.1% and almost 100%, and the energy cost was 65.1 J/L, 55.6% lower than that which was treated separately. In the case of two groups of mixed malodorants removal, NOx, 03, SO2, CO2, and CO were all observed. Moreover, some sulfur and white crystal ammonium nitrates were discovered adhering to the corona wires in the removal of groups 1 and 2, respectively. A dynamics model was developed to describe the relation of the removal efficiency with specific energy density and initial concentration. In the case of group 1 removal,the decomposition rate constants decreased as compared to the single treating. As for group 2 removal, the decomposition rate constants increased, especially for NH3. According to the results, the optimization design for the reactor and the matching of high pulse voltage source can be reckoned.

Concentration measurement of NO using self-absorption spectroscopy of the γ band system in a pulsed corona discharge.

PubMed

Zhai, Xiaodong; Ding, Yanjun; Peng, Zhimin; Luo, Rui

2012-07-10

Nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were measured using the γ band system spectrum based on the strong self-absorption effect of NO in pulsed corona discharges. The radiative transitional intensities of the NO γ band were simulated based on the theory of molecular spectroscopy. The intensities of some bands, especially γ(0,0) and γ(1,0), are weakened by the self-absorption. The correlations between the spectral self-absorption intensities and NO concentration were validated using a modified Beer-Lambert law with a combined factor K relating the branching ratio and the NO concentration, and a nonlinear index α that is applicable to the broadband system. Optical emissive spectra in pulsed corona discharges in NO and N2/He mixtures were used to evaluate the two parameters for various conditions. Good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results verifies the self-absorption behavior seen in the UV spectra of the NO γ bands.

Detection of UV Pulse from Insulators and Application in Estimating the Conditions of Insulators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jingang; Chong, Junlong; Yang, Jie

2014-10-01

Solar radiation in the band of 240-280 nm is absorbed by the ozone layer in the atmosphere, and corona discharges from high-voltage apparatus emit in air mainly in the 230-405 nm range of ultraviolet (UV), so the band of 240-280 nm is called UV Solar Blind Band. When the insulators in a string deteriorate or are contaminated, the voltage distribution along the string will change, which causes the electric fields in the vicinity of insulators change and corona discharge intensifies. An UV pulse detection method to check the conditions of insulators is presented based on detecting the UV pulse among the corona discharge, then it can be confirmed that whether there exist faulty insulators and whether the surface contamination of insulators is severe for the safe operation of power systems. An UV-I Insulator Detector has been developed, and both laboratory tests and field tests have been carried out which demonstrates the practical viability of UV-I Insulator Detector for online monitoring.

Dynamics of ozone and OH radicals generated by pulsed corona discharge in humid-air flow reactor measured by laser spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Ryo; Oda, Tetsuji

2003-05-01

The dynamics of ozone and OH radicals are studied in pulsed corona discharge plasma in a humid-air environment. Ozone density is measured by the laser absorption method, and OH density is measured by the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. A 100-ns pulsed corona discharge occurs between a series of 25 needle electrodes and a plate electrode. After the pulsed discharge, the time evolutions of ozone and OH densities are measured in humid air or a humid nitrogen-oxygen mixture. Results show that the addition of 2.4% water vapor to dry air reduces ozone production by a factor of about 6, and shortens the ozone formation time constant from 30 to 6 μs. Water vapor may reduce atomic oxygen levels leading to the decreased production of ozone by O+O2 reaction. The LIF measurement for OH radicals shows that OH density is approximately constant for 10 μs after the pulsed discharge, then decays by recombination reaction and reactions with the discharge products of oxygen, such as ozone or atomic oxygen. Absolute OH density is estimated; it is about 3×1015 cm-3 in streamers at 10 μs after discharge in the H2O(2.4%)/N2 mixture.

Evolution of streamer groups in nonthermal plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okubo, M.

2015-12-01

Nonthermal plasmas (NTPs) induced by atmospheric nanosecond pulsed corona discharge have been studied for controlling pollution from combustors, such as boilers, incinerators, and diesel engines. In high-speed short-width high-voltage pulsed corona discharge-induced plasmas, primary streamer evolution is followed by secondary streamer evolution. Though this phenomenon is known experimentally, the details of the structures of the streamers and their evolution mechanisms have not been fully clarified. In this letter, we perform quasi two-dimensional numerical analysis of nonequilibrium NTP induced by a nanosecond positive pulsed corona discharge. The continuum fluid equations for two-temperature nonequilibrium NTP are used as governing equations. In this study, 197 gas phase reactions for 25 chemical species and 21 surface reactions on the inner glass wall surface are considered in an air plasma under atmospheric pressure. The simulated behavior of the streamer groups agrees with experimental observations. Soon after the voltage increases on the reactor, primary streamers are formed, which may transit the complete gap, disappearing near the peak voltage. Next, second streamers appear, disappearing at the end of the applied voltage pulse. The streamer wavelength and the distance between the streamers in the axial direction are determined. Moreover, ozone generation is shown to be more significant in the secondary streamer. This simulation will allow better predictions for nanosecond positive pulsed plasma systems.

Experiments of a 100 kV-level pulse generator based on metal-oxide varistor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Yan-cheng; Wu, Qi-lin; Yang, Han-wu; Gao, Jing-ming; Li, Song; Shi, Cheng-yu

2018-03-01

This paper introduces the development and experiments of a 100 kV-level pulse generator based on a metal-oxide varistor (MOV). MOV has a high energy handling capacity and nonlinear voltage-current (V-I) characteristics, which makes it useful for high voltage pulse shaping. Circuit simulations based on the measured voltage-current characteristics of MOV verified the shaping concept and showed that a circuit containing a two-section pulse forming network (PFN) will result in better defined square pulse than a simple L-C discharging circuit. A reduced-scale experiment was carried out and the result agreed well with simulation prediction. Then a 100 kV-level pulse generator with multiple MOVs in a stack and a two-section pulse forming network (PFN) was experimented. A pulse with a voltage amplitude of 90 kV, rise time of about 50 ns, pulse width of 500 ns, and flat top of about 400 ns was obtained with a water dummy load of 50 Ω. The results reveal that the combination of PFN and MOV is a practical way to generate high voltage pulses with better flat top waveforms, and the load voltage is stable even if the load's impedance varies. Such pulse generator can be applied in many fields such as surface treatment, corona plasma generation, industrial dedusting, and medical disinfection.

Bioelectrographic testing of mineral samples: a comparison of techniques.

PubMed

Vainshelboim, Alex; Momoh, Kenneth S

2005-04-01

This study was initiated to determine the suitability of differing techniques to record optical properties of gemstones under electromagnetic stimulation. Such properties are of interest due to the historical use of gemstones in folkloric remedies, specifically as agents for concentrating, focusing, or otherwise conducting energy flows in the human body. The techniques researched produce a localized corona discharge around the tested material. The simplest technique, Tesla coil Kirlian photography (TCKP), uses a Tesla coil to introduce a strong electric current, and the circuit is completed by a glass electrode. The corona discharge is then photographed. The other technique used in the study is gas discharge visualization (GDV), which uses a pulsed current and a digital camera integral to the coil to produce digital images of the corona discharge. Gemstones were tested both whole and in powdered form. The sample gemstones were amethyst, aquamarine, garnet, golden citrine, pink tourmaline, and yellow topaz. Powdered gemstones were ground to a particle size of 2-5 microns; whole gemstones were roundcut to a diameter of 5 mm. In our tests, TCKP showed divergent effects for differing types of gemstone. The most extreme effects were exhibited by tourmaline, both in powdered and whole form. In addition, TCKP appeared to indicate differing effects for gemstones of the identical type but mined from differing locations. The GDV technique showed differing data among the gemstones for the measured parameters, indicating that a high relative intensity did not correspond to the size of the corona discharge. While both techniques showed promise in distinguishing differences in corona discharge behavior in gemstone samples, further work is necessary to determine the significance of differences in geographical sources or between gemstones of similar crystalline structure. The techniques explored show promise in characterizing the properties of gem materials under electromagnetic stimulation.

Scaled-Up Nonequilibrium Air Plasmas

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-01

surrounding gas. So if we put a needle electrode with DC corona discharge directly into the MW plasma (Figure 7), N2* is produced by electron excitation but...transitions When a high voltage of a few kV is applied to the point electrode , a corona discharge appears on the point, further developing to streamer... electrode tips but with the smaller difference between the field in the middle and near the tips than in corona . This transition to TS pulse probably

The influence of superimposed DC current on electrical and spectroscopic characteristics of HiPIMS discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuo, Xiao; Chen, Rende; Liu, Jingzhou; Ke, Peiling; Wang, Aiying

2018-01-01

The electrical characteristics and spectroscopic properties have been comprehensively investigated in a DC superimposed high power impulse magnetron sputtering (DC-HiPIMS) deposition system in this paper. The influence of superimposed DC current on the variation of target and substrate current waveforms, active species and electron temperatures with pulse voltages are focused. The peak target currents in DC-HiPIMS are lower than in HiPIMS. The time scales of the two main discharge processes like ionization and gas rarefaction in DC-HiPIMS are analyzed. When the pulse voltage is higher than 600 V, the gas rarefaction effect becomes apparent. Overall, the ionization process is found to be dominant in the initial ˜100 μs during each pulse. The active species of Ar and Cr in DC-HiPIMS are higher than in HiPIMS unless that the pulse voltage reaches 900 V. However, the ionization degree in HiPIMS exceeds that in DC-HiPIMS at around 600 V. The electron temperature calculated by modified Boltzmann plot method based on corona model has a precipitous increase from 0.87 to 25.0 eV in HiPIMS, but varies mildly after the introduction of the superimposed DC current. Additionally, the current from plasma flowing to the substrate is improved when a DC current is superimposed with HiPIMS.

Evolution of streamer groups in nonthermal plasma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Okubo, M., E-mail: mokubo@me.osakafu-u.ac.jp

2015-12-15

Nonthermal plasmas (NTPs) induced by atmospheric nanosecond pulsed corona discharge have been studied for controlling pollution from combustors, such as boilers, incinerators, and diesel engines. In high-speed short-width high-voltage pulsed corona discharge-induced plasmas, primary streamer evolution is followed by secondary streamer evolution. Though this phenomenon is known experimentally, the details of the structures of the streamers and their evolution mechanisms have not been fully clarified. In this letter, we perform quasi two-dimensional numerical analysis of nonequilibrium NTP induced by a nanosecond positive pulsed corona discharge. The continuum fluid equations for two-temperature nonequilibrium NTP are used as governing equations. In thismore » study, 197 gas phase reactions for 25 chemical species and 21 surface reactions on the inner glass wall surface are considered in an air plasma under atmospheric pressure. The simulated behavior of the streamer groups agrees with experimental observations. Soon after the voltage increases on the reactor, primary streamers are formed, which may transit the complete gap, disappearing near the peak voltage. Next, second streamers appear, disappearing at the end of the applied voltage pulse. The streamer wavelength and the distance between the streamers in the axial direction are determined. Moreover, ozone generation is shown to be more significant in the secondary streamer. This simulation will allow better predictions for nanosecond positive pulsed plasma systems.« less

Products and mechanisms of the oxidation of organic compounds in atmospheric air plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marotta, Ester; Schiorlin, Milko; Rea, Massimo; Paradisi, Cristina

2010-03-01

Atmospheric plasma-based technologies are developing as a powerful means for air purification, specifically for the oxidation of organic pollutants. To achieve a better control on the emissions produced by such treatments mechanistic insight is needed in the complex reactions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) within the plasma. An account is given here of our comparative studies of the behaviour of model VOCs in response to different corona regimes (+dc, -dc and +pulsed) implemented within the same flow reactor. Model VOCs considered include two alkanes (n-hexane and i-octane), one aromatic hydrocarbon (toluene) and two halogenated methanes, dibromomethane (CH2Br2) and dibromodifluoromethane (CF2Br2, halon 1202). Efficiency and product data are reported and discussed as well as various possible initiation reactions. A powerful diagnostic tool is ion analysis, performed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-mass spectrometry: it provides a map of major ions and ion-molecule reactions and a rationale for interpreting current/voltage characteristics of dc coronas. It is shown that, depending on the specific VOC and corona regime adopted, different initiation steps prevail in the VOC-oxidation process and that the presence of a VOC, albeit in small amounts (500 ppm), can greatly affect some important plasma properties (ion population, current/voltage profile, post-discharge products).

Pulsed Artificial Electrojet Generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadopoulos, K.

2008-12-01

Traditional techniques for generating low frequency signals in the ULF/ELF range (.1-100 Hz) and rely on ground based Horizontal Electric Dipole (HED) antennas. It is, furthermore, well known that a Vertical Electric Dipole (VED) is by more than 50 dB more efficient than a HED with the same dipole current moment. However, the prohibitively long length of VED antennas in the ELF/ULF range coupled with voltage limitations due to corona discharge in the atmosphere make them totally impracticable. In this paper we discuss a novel concept, inspired by the physics of the equatorial electrojet, that allows for the conversion of a ground based HED to a VED in the E-region of the equatorial ionosphere with current moment comparable to the driving HED. The paper focuses in locations near the dip-equator, where the earth's magnetic is in predominantly in the horizontal direction. The horizontal electric field associated with a pulsed HED drives a large Hall current in the ionospheric E-region, resulting in a vertical current. It is shown that the pulsed vertical current in the altitude range 80-130 km, driven by a horizontal electric field of, approximately, .1 mV/m at 100 km altitude, is of the order of kA. This results in a pulsed VED larger than 106 A-m. Such a pulsed VED will drive ELF/ULF pulses with amplitude in excess of .1 nT at a lateral range larger than few hundred kilometers. This is by three orders of magnitude larger than the one expected by a HED with comparable current moment. The paper will conclude with the description of a sneak-through technique that allows for creating pulsed electric fields in the ionosphere much larger than expected from steady state oscillatory HED antennas.

Current-voltage characteristics of dc corona discharges in air between coaxial cylinders

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zheng, Yuesheng, E-mail: yueshengzheng@fzu.edu.cn; Zhang, Bo, E-mail: shizbcn@tsinghua.edu.cn; He, Jinliang, E-mail: hejl@tsinghua.edu.cn

This paper presents the experimental measurement and numerical analysis of the current-voltage characteristics of dc corona discharges in air between coaxial cylinders. The current-voltage characteristics for both positive and negative corona discharges were measured within a specially designed corona cage. Then the measured results were fitted by different empirical formulae and analyzed by the fluid model. The current-voltage characteristics between coaxial cylinders can be expressed as I = C(U − U{sub 0}){sup m}, where m is within the range 1.5–2.0, which is similar to the point-plane electrode system. The ionization region has no significant effect on the current-voltage characteristic under a low corona current,more » while it will affect the distribution for the negative corona under a high corona current. The surface onset fields and ion mobilities were emphatically discussed.« less

Research on the correlation between corona current spectrum and audible noise spectrum of HVDC transmission line

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yingyi; Zhou, Lijuan; Liu, Yuanqing; Yuan, Haiwen; Ji, Liang

2017-11-01

Audible noise is closely related to corona current on a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line. In this paper, we measured a large amount of audible noise and corona current waveforms simultaneously based on the largest outdoor HVDC corona cage all over the world. By analyzing the experimental data, the related statistical regularities between a corona current spectrum and an audible noise spectrum were obtained. Furthermore, the generation mechanism of audible noise was analyzed theoretically, and the related mathematical expression between the audible noise spectrum and the corona current spectrum, which is suitable for all of these measuring points in the space, has been established based on the electro-acoustic conversion theory. Finally, combined with the obtained mathematical relation, the internal reasons for these statistical regularities appearing in measured corona current and audible noise data were explained. The results of this paper not only present the statistical association regularities between the corona current spectrum and the audible noise spectrum on a HVDC transmission line, but also reveal the inherent reasons of these associated rules.

A Brain-Machine-Brain Interface for Rewiring of Cortical Circuitry after Traumatic Brain Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-01

or asymmetric biphasic current pulses up to ~100 A with passive discharge , and W-level digital signal processing 6 (DSP) unit for real-time SAR...voltage compliance of 4.68 V with a 5 V supply, when configured for monophasic stimulation with passive discharge . The programmable microstimulator...superficial aspects of the corona radiate was evident. In the full study, impact parameters will be altered slightly (somewhat larger impact tip, slightly

[Study of emission spectroscopy of OH radicals in pulsed corona discharge].

PubMed

Wei, Bo; Luo, Zhong-Yang; Xu, Fei; Zhao, Lei; Gao, Xiang; Cen, Ke-Fa

2010-02-01

In the present paper, OH radicals generated by pulsed corona discharge in humidified air, N2 and Ar in a needle-plate reactor were measured by emission spectra. With the analysis of the emission spectra, the influence of pulse peak voltage and frequency on OH radical generation was investigated in the three kinds of background gases. The influence of the gas humidity on the generation and the distribution of OH radicals in the electric field was also discussed in detail. The authors studied the influence of the gas humidity on the generation of OH radicals in the electric field by the control of accurate change in humidity, and we also studied the distribution of OH radicals in the electric field in different background gases including humidified air, N2 and Ar by the accurate change in scales. The experiment shows that the output of OH radicals grows as the pulse peak voltage and frequency grow, but the influence of gas humidity on the process of generating OH radicals by pulsed corona discharge depends on the discharge background. The rules of the generation change when the background gases change. As the humidity in the background gases grows, the amount of OH radicals grows in the air, but it grows at first and decreases at last in N2, while it decreases at first and grows at last in Ar. The distribution of OH radical shows a trend of decreasing from the needle-electrode to its circumambience.

Ultraviolet radiation from the pulsed corona discharge in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukes, Petr; Clupek, Martin; Babicky, Vaclav; Sunka, Pavel

2008-05-01

Quantitative analysis of ultraviolet radiation from the pulsed corona discharge in water with needle-plate electrode geometry (~1-3 J pulse-1) was performed using the potassium ferrioxalate actinometry. Photon flux J190-280 and radiant energy Q190-280 of the UV light emitted from the discharge at spectral region 190-280 nm was determined in dependence on the applied voltage (17-29 kV, positive polarity) and the solution conductivity (100-500 µS cm-1). The intensity of the UV radiation strongly increased with increasing water conductivity and applied voltage. Depending on the applied voltage the determined photon flux varied by more than two orders of magnitude within the range of solution conductivities 100-500 µS cm-1. It was found that photon flux from the discharge may be directly related to the discharge pulse mean power Pp as J190-280 = 44.33 P_p^{2.11} (quanta pulse-1). A significant role of UV radiation in the production of hydrogen peroxide and bacterial inactivation by the corona discharge in water has been identified. As the solution conductivity increased the yield of H2O2 produced by the discharge decreased due to increasing photolysis of H2O2 accounting for up to 14% of the total decomposition rate of H2O2. As regards bactericidal effects, it was estimated that the UV radiation contributes about 30% to the overall inactivation of Escherichia coli.

Characteristics of corona impulses from insulated wires subjected to high ac voltages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doreswamy, C. V.; Crowell, C. S.

1976-01-01

Corona discharges arise due to ionization of air or gas subject to high electric fields. The free electrons and ions contained in these discharges interact with molecules of insulating materials, resulting in chemical changes and destroying the electrical insulating properties. The paper describes some results of measurements aimed at determining corona pulse waveforms, their repetition rate, and amplitude distribution during various randomly-sampled identical time periods of a 60-Hz high-voltage wave. Described are properties of positive and negative corona impulses generated from typical conductors at various test high voltages. A possible method for calculating the energies, densities, and electromagnetic interferences by making use of these results is suggested.

Micro Corona Ionizer as an Ozone Source for Bacterial Cell Lysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Eun-Hee; Lim, Hyun Jeong; Chua, Beelee; Son, Ahjeong

2015-04-01

DNA extraction is a critical process of DNA assays including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microarrays, molecular cloning, and DNA hybridization which has been well established and can be implemented by commercial kits. DNA extraction involves cell lysis, precipitation, and purification through the combination of physical and chemical processes. Cell lysis is essential to high DNA recovery yield which can be achieved via a variety of physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods. However, these methods were originally developed for bioassays that were labor intensive, time consuming, and vulnerable to contamination and inhibition. Here, we proposed to employ a micro corona ionizer as an ozone source to lyse bacterial cells. Ozone has been well known and used as a disinfectant which allows cell lysis and DNA extraction. Previously, we have shown that a micro corona ionizer is capable of generating a significant amount of ozone. In this study, we employed the micro corona ionizer for the bacterial cell lysis which consists of a 50 μm diameter cantilever wire as the discharge cathode and a 50 μm thick copper foil as anode. Applied voltages varied from 1900 to 2200 V with corresponding corona currents from 16 to 28 μA. The resultant ozone (concentration > 0.14 ppm) generated from the micro corona ionizer was bubbled into the sample via a miniature pump. We demonstrated the cell lysis of Pseudomonas putida as the target bacterium using the micro corona ionizer. At a flow rate of 38 ml/min and applied corona voltage of 2000 V, 98.5 ± 0.2% lysis (normalized to sonication result) was achieved after 10 min. In comparison, untreated and air-treated samples showed normalized % lysis of 11.9 ± 2.4 and 36.1 ± 1.7%, respectively. We also showed that the cell lysis efficiency could be significantly increased by increasing the flow rate and the applied corona voltage. By comparing the experimental results for continuous and pulsed treatment, we verified that the percentage of lysis is primarily determined by the total ozone treatment time.

A Brain-Machine-Brain Interface for Rewiring of Cortical Circuitry after Traumatic Brain Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-01

asymmetric biphasic current pulses up to ~100 A with passive discharge , and W-level digital signal processing 6 (DSP) unit for real-time SAR based on...compliance of 4.68 V with a 5 V supply, when configured for monophasic stimulation with passive discharge . The programmable microstimulator could also...severely disrupted. While the underlying white matter was intact, distortion of the most superficial aspects of the corona radiate was evident. In the

The 1973 solar occultation of the Crab Nebula pulsar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weisberg, J. M.

1975-01-01

The mean electron density of the solar corona was determined by measuring the dispersion of radiofrequency pulses from pulsar NP 0532 during the June 1973 solar occultation. Trends continued which were noticed in 1971 as solar activity declined. Model fitting results suggest that the corona continued to become even more concentrated toward the equator in 1973 than in 1971. The number density of electrons in most regions decreased. The best model of the distribution of corona electrons is suggested to be one with zero density at the poles. K-corona isophotes and contours of equal path-integrated density are presented for several models. Electron density versus date and position in the corona are tabulated. It is seen that there is no simple relationship between the onset of major solar activity and density or scattering enhancements.

Radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulation of plasma formed on a surface by a megagauss field.

PubMed

Esaulov, A A; Bauer, B S; Makhin, V; Siemon, R E; Lindemuth, I R; Awe, T J; Reinovsky, R E; Struve, K W; Desjarlais, M P; Mehlhorn, T A

2008-03-01

Radiation magnetohydrodynamic modeling is used to study the plasma formed on the surface of a cylindrical metallic load, driven by megagauss magnetic field at the 1MA Zebra generator (University of Nevada, Reno). An ionized aluminum plasma is used to represent the "core-corona" behavior in which a heterogeneous Z-pinch consists of a hot low-density corona surrounding a dense low-temperature core. The radiation dynamics model included simultaneously a self-consistent treatment of both the opaque and transparent plasma regions in a corona. For the parameters of this experiment, the boundary of the opaque plasma region emits the major radiation power with Planckian black-body spectrum in the extreme ultraviolet corresponding to an equilibrium temperature of 16 eV. The radiation heat transport significantly exceeds the electron and ion kinetic heat transport in the outer layers of the opaque plasma. Electromagnetic field energy is partly radiated (13%) and partly deposited into inner corona and core regions (87%). Surface temperature estimates are sensitive to the radiation effects, but the surface motion in response to pressure and magnetic forces is not. The general results of the present investigation are applicable to the liner compression experiments at multi-MA long-pulse current accelerators such as Atlas and Shiva Star. Also the radiation magnetohydrodynamic model discussed in the paper may be useful for understanding key effects of wire array implosion dynamics.

Study of Wastewater Treatment by OH Radicals Using DC and Pulsed Corona Discharge over Water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tochikubo, Fumiyoshi; Furuta, Yasutomo; Uchida, Satoshi; Watanabe, Tsuneo

2006-04-01

Water treatment by OH radicals is studied using dc and pulsed corona discharge over water at atmospheric pressure and reduced pressure. In particular, we pay attention to the influence of discharge configuration on the efficiency of wastewater treatment. Experiment is carried out in N2 to clarify the contribution of OH radicals. Needle-cylinder electrodes are designed expecting the efficient generation of OH radicals close to the water surface. N,N-dimethyl- p-nitrosoaniline (RNO) solution is used as a persistent test pollutant. The results strongly suggest that OH radical production close to the water surface is a key factor for efficient wastewater treatment. The use of pulsed discharge at reduced pressure is effective in improving RNO reduction efficiency because of the rapid diffusion of OH radicals to the water surface.

Plasma sterilization of polyethylene terephthalate bottles by pulsed corona discharge at atmospheric pressure.

PubMed

Masaoka, Satoshi

2007-06-01

A pulsed power supply was used to generate a corona discharge on a polyethylene terephthalate bottle, to conduct plasma sterilization at atmospheric pressure. Before generating such a discharge, minute quantities of water were attached to the inner surface of the bottle and to the surface of a high voltage (HV) electrode inserted into the bottle. Next, high-voltage pulses of electricity were discharged between electrodes for 6.0s, while rotating the bottle. The resulting spore log reduction values of Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus niger on the inner surface of the bottle were 5.5 and 6 or higher, respectively, and those on the HV electrode surface were each 6 or higher for both strains. The presence of the by-products gaseous ozone, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric ions resulting from the electrical discharge was confirmed.

Stability of Triggering of the Switch with Sharply Non-Uniform Electric Field at the Electrode with Negative Potential

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kovalchuk, B. M.; Zherlitsyn, A. A.; Kumpyak, E. V.

2017-12-01

Results of investigations into a two-electrode high-pressure gas switch with sharply non-uniform field at the electrode with negative potential operating in the self-breakdown regime with pulsed charging of a highvoltage capacitive energy storage for 100 μs to voltage exceeding 200 kV are presented. It is demonstrated that depending on the air pressure and the gap length, the corona-streamer discharge, whose current increases with voltage, arises in the switch at a voltage of 0.2-0.3 of the self-breakdown voltage. At the moment of switch self-breakdown, the corona-streamer discharge goes over to one or several spark channels. The standard deviation of the triggering moment can be within 1.5 μs, which corresponds to the standard deviation of the self-breakdown voltage less than 2 kV. The voltage stability can be better than 1.5%.

Alternating current corona discharge/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization for mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Habib, Ahsan; Usmanov, Dilshadbek; Ninomiya, Satoshi; Chen, Lee Chuin; Hiraoka, Kenzo

2013-12-30

Although alternating current (ac) corona discharge has been widely used in the fields of material science and technology, no reports have been published on its application to an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) ion source. In this work, ac corona discharge for an APCI ion source has been examined for the first time. The ambient atmospheric pressure ac corona discharge (15 kHz, 2.6 kVptp ) was generated by using a stainless steel acupuncture needle. The generated ions were measured using an ion trap mass spectrometer. A comparative study on ac and direct current (dc) corona APCI ion sources was carried out using triacetone triperoxide and trinitrotoluene as test samples. The ac corona discharge gave ion signals as strong as dc corona discharge for both positive and negative ion modes. In addition, softer ionization was obtained with ac corona discharge than with dc corona discharge. The erosion of the needle tip induced by ac corona was less than that obtained with positive mode dc corona. A good 'yardstick' for assessing ac corona is that it can be used for both positive and negative ion modes without changing the polarity of the high-voltage power supply. Thus, ac corona can be an alternative to conventional dc corona for APCI ion sources. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Advanced electrical current measurements of microdischarges: evidence of sub-critical pulses and ion currents in barrier discharge in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Synek, Petr; Zemánek, Miroslav; Kudrle, Vít; Hoder, Tomáš

2018-04-01

Electrical current measurements in corona or barrier microdischarges are a challenge as they require both high temporal resolution and a large dynamic range of the current probe used. In this article, we apply a simple self-assembled current probe and compare it to commercial ones. An analysis in the time and frequency domain is carried out. Moreover, an improved methodology is presented, enabling both temporal resolution in sub-nanosecond times and current sensitivity in the order of tens of micro-amperes. Combining this methodology with a high-tech oscilloscope and self-developed software, a unique statistical analysis of currents in volume barrier discharge driven in atmospheric-pressure air is made for over 80 consecutive periods of a 15 kHz applied voltage. We reveal the presence of repetitive sub-critical current pulses and conclude that these can be identified with the discharging of surface charge microdomains. Moreover, extremely low, long-lasting microsecond currents were detected which are caused by ion flow, and are analysed in detail. The statistical behaviour presented gives deeper insight into the discharge physics of these usually undetectable current signals.

Investigation of a single barrier discharge in submillimeter air gaps. Nonuniform field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bondarenko, P. N.; Emel'yanov, O. A.; Shemet, M. V.

2014-08-01

Pulse characteristics of single barrier discharges as well as parameters of charges accumulated on the surface of a dielectric under the atmospheric pressure in the "needle-(0.1-2.0)-mm air gap-polymer barrier-plane" system are investigated. It is found experimentally that for the positive polarity of the needle, the voltage for the discharge initiation is higher than in the case of the negative polarity by ˜25-35%. The reversal of the needle polarity from negative to positive increases the amplitude of the discharge current and the accumulated surface charge by ˜1.5-3 times. For the positive polarity of the needle, the discharge is governed by a streamer mechanism, while for the negative polarity, the discharge is initiated by the formation of a single Trichel pulse. The single pulse regime is observed for the discharge current up to a certain electrode gap d CR. For the positive needle and for air gap width d air > d CR ≈ 1.5 mm, a multipulse burst corona is formed, while for the negative needle and d air > d CR ≈ 0.9 mm, a damped sequence of Trichel pulses evolves in the system.

The use of plasma technology for the treatment of noxious waste

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilman, Jonathan James

This thesis begins by describing the common types of air pollution and the main effects of these pollutants. Natural and man-made sources are discussed as well as the current types of technology used for reduction of common pollutants. The use of atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma reactors for the control of pollutants is introduced at this stage. The second chapter describes the different types of atmospheric pressure non-thermal reactor designs and their modes of operation. The fundamental processes behind the production of plasmas are discussed and the chemistry of some simple discharges is also presented. The third chapter begins the experimental and modelling work done at Manchester on the destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using packed bed reactors and pulsed corona reactors. This chapter is concerned with the destruction of toluene and its behaviour as the oxygen content of the carrier gas, flowing through the reactor, is changed. Work using a pulsed corona reactor is also presented showing the destruction of toluene as a function of the applied specific energy. A model is constructed using mainly atmospheric reactions and the predictions are compared with experimental values. The fourth chapter discusses the destruction of dichloromethane (DCM) as a function of the oxygen content of the carrier gas. A model is constructed, again from mainly atmospheric reactions, and the predictions compared with the experimental data obtained. Methane is chosen as a molecule to study in the fifth chapter. A model is constructed and compared with experimental findings, showing that the chemistry of non-thermal plasmas can be effectively represented using neutral gas phase chemistry. Finally chapter six is concerned with the use of a large scale pulsed corona system for the reduction of NO[x] in industrial flue gas. This system has been tested on a modem incinerator, showing encouraging results. The workings of a modem incinerator are described together with those of the corona facility and any instruments used in these tests. Some experimental results are discussed. The aim of this chapter is to show that plasma reactors can be scaled up for industrial use. This section also discusses the difficulty of analysing and working with industrial gases and large scale apparatus as opposed to laboratory scale experiments.

DC corona discharge ozone production enhanced by magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pekárek, S.

2010-01-01

We have studied the effect of a stationary magnetic field on the production of ozone from air at atmospheric pressure by a negative corona discharge in a cylindrical electrode configuration. We used a stainless steel hollow needle placed at the axis of the cylindrical discharge chamber as a cathode. The outer wall of the cylinder was used as an anode. The vector of magnetic induction was perpendicular to the vector of current density. We found that: (a) the magnetic field extends the current voltage range of the discharge; (b) for the discharge in the Trichel pulses regime and in the pulseless glow regime, the magnetic field has no substantial effect on the discharge voltage or on the concentration of ozone that is produced; (c) for the discharge in the filamentary streamer regime for a particular current, the magnetic field increases the discharge voltage and consequently an approximately 30% higher ozone concentration can be obtained; (d) the magnetic field does not substantially increase the maximum ozone production yield. A major advantage of using a magnetic field is that the increase in ozone concentration produced by the discharge can be obtained without additional energy requirements.

Martian Atmospheric Pressure Static Charge Elimination Tool

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johansen, Michael R.

2014-01-01

A Martian pressure static charge elimination tool is currently in development in the Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory (ESPL) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. In standard Earth atmosphere conditions, static charge can be neutralized from an insulating surface using air ionizers. These air ionizers generate ions through corona breakdown. The Martian atmosphere is 7 Torr of mostly carbon dioxide, which makes it inherently difficult to use similar methods as those used for standard atmosphere static elimination tools. An initial prototype has been developed to show feasibility of static charge elimination at low pressure, using corona discharge. A needle point and thin wire loop are used as the corona generating electrodes. A photo of the test apparatus is shown below. Positive and negative high voltage pulses are sent to the needle point. This creates positive and negative ions that can be used for static charge neutralization. In a preliminary test, a floating metal plate was charged to approximately 600 volts under Martian atmospheric conditions. The static elimination tool was enabled and the voltage on the metal plate dropped rapidly to -100 volts. This test data is displayed below. Optimization is necessary to improve the electrostatic balance of the static elimination tool.

Oxidation of ammonium sulfite by a multi-needle-to-plate gas phase pulsed corona discharge reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Hua; Lu, Na; Shang, Kefeng; Li, Jie; Wu, Yan

2013-03-01

The oxidation of ammonium sulfite in the ammonia-based flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process was investigated in a multi-needle-to-plate gas phase pulsed corona discharge reactor in this paper. The effect of several parameters, including capacitance and peak pulse voltage of discharge system, electrode gap and bubbling gas flow rate on the oxidation rate of ammonium sulfite was reviewed. The oxidation rate of ammonium sulfite could reach 47.2% at the capacitance, the peak pulse voltage, electrode gap and bubbling gas flow rate equal to 2 nF, -24.6 k V, 35 mm and 4 L min-1 within treatment time of 40 min The experimental results indicate that the gas phase pulsed discharge system with a multi-needle-to-plate electrode can oxide the ammonium sulfite. The oxidation rate increased with the applied capacitance and peak pulse voltage and decreased with the electrode gap. As the bubbling gas flow rate increased, the oxidation rate increased first and then tended to reach a stationary value. These results would be important for the process optimization of the (NH4)2SO3 to (NH4)2SO4 oxidation.

Comparison of direct current and 50 Hz alternating current microscopic corona characteristics on conductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Shuai; Zhang, Bo; He, Jinliang

2014-06-01

Corona discharge is one of the major design factors for extra-high voltage and ultra-high voltage DC/AC transmission lines. Under different voltages, corona discharge reveals different characteristics. This paper aims at investigating DC and AC coronas on the microscopic scale. To obtain the specific characteristics of DC and AC coronas, a new measurement approach that utilizes a coaxial wire-cylinder corona cage is designed in this paper, and wires of different diameters are used in the experiment. Based on the measurements, the respective microscopic characteristics of DC and AC coronas are analyzed and compared. With differences in characteristics between DC and AC coronas proposed, this study provides useful insights into DC/AC corona discharges on transmission line applications.

Comparison of direct current and 50 Hz alternating current microscopic corona characteristics on conductors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Shuai, E-mail: zhangshuai94@gmail.com; Zhang, Bo, E-mail: shizbcn@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn; He, Jinliang, E-mail: hejl@tsinghua.edu.cn

Corona discharge is one of the major design factors for extra-high voltage and ultra-high voltage DC/AC transmission lines. Under different voltages, corona discharge reveals different characteristics. This paper aims at investigating DC and AC coronas on the microscopic scale. To obtain the specific characteristics of DC and AC coronas, a new measurement approach that utilizes a coaxial wire-cylinder corona cage is designed in this paper, and wires of different diameters are used in the experiment. Based on the measurements, the respective microscopic characteristics of DC and AC coronas are analyzed and compared. With differences in characteristics between DC and ACmore » coronas proposed, this study provides useful insights into DC/AC corona discharges on transmission line applications.« less

Evaluation of pilot-scale pulse-corona-induced plasma device to remove NO{sub x} from combustion exhausts from a subscale combustor and from a hush house at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Final report, August 1994--January 1997

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haythornthwaite, S.M.; Durham, M.D.; Anderson, G.L.

1997-05-01

Jet engine test cells (JETCs) are used to test-fire new, installed, and reworked jet engines. Because JETCs have been classified as stationary sources of pollutant emissions, they are subject to possible regulation under Title 1 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended in 1990. In Phase 1 of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a novel NOx-control approach utilizing pulsed-corona-induced plasma successfully showed 90% removal of NOx in the laboratory. The objective of Phase 2 was to reproduce the laboratory-scale results in a pilot-scale system. The technology was successfully demonstrated at pilot scale in the field, on amore » slipstream of JETC flue gas at Nellis Air Force Base. Based on the field data, cost projections were made for a system to treat the full JETC exhaust. The technology efficiently converted NO into ONO, and a wet scrubber was required to achieve the treatment goal of 50-percent removal and destruction of NOx. The plasma simultaneously removes hydrocarbons from the flue gas stream. This project demonstrated that pulse-corona-induced plasma technology is scalable to practical industrial dimensions.« less

A Compact Source of Flash-Corona Discharge for Biomedical Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moshkunov, S. I.; Khomich, V. Yu.; Shershunova, E. A.

2018-01-01

A compact source of low-temperature plasma for biological and medical applications is proposed, which operates at kilohertz frequencies in the regime of flash-corona discharge with an energy of 0.1 mJ/pulse. The plasma source was tested in application to plasma pretreatment of green salad seeds. Plasma-treated seeds exhibited increased (by about 25%) germination speed as compared to that in the untreated control.

[Spectroscopic Diagnosis of Two-Dimensional Distribution of OH Radicals in Wire-Plate Pulsed Corona Discharge Reactor].

PubMed

Jiang, Jian-ping; Luo, Zhong-yang; Xuan, Jian-yong; Zhao, Lei; Fang, Meng-xiang; Gao, Xiang

2015-10-01

Pulsed corona discharge in atmosphere has been widely regarded as an efficient flue gas treatment technology for the generation of active radical species, such as the OH radicals. The spatial distribution of OH radicals generated by pulsed corona discharge plays an important role in decomposing pollutants. The two-dimensional (2-D) distribution of OH radicals of positive wire--plate pulsed corona discharge was detected using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF). The influence of relative humidity (RH) and oxygen concentration on the 2-D distribution of OH radicals were investigated. The results indicated that the 2-D distribution of OH radicals was characterized by a fan-shaped distribution from the wire electrode to plate electrode, and both the maximum values of vertical length and horizontal width of the fan area was less than 1 cm. The 2-D distribution area of OH radicals increased significantly with increasing the RH and the optimum condition was 65% RH. The optimal level of the oxygen concentration for the 2-D distribution area of OH radicals was 2%. The process of OH radical generation and 2-D distribution area of OH radicals were significantly interfered when the oxygen concentration was larger than 15%. The total quenching rate coefficients for different RH values and oxygen concentration in this study were used to calculate the fluorescence yield of OH radical. The fluorescence yield, which is the ratio between the emission rate (Einstein coefficient) and the sum of the emission rate and quenching rate, was used to normalize the 2-D distribution area of OH radicals. The fluorescence yield of OH radical decreased with increasing the RH and oxygen concentration linearly and rapidly. It was also found that compared with the RH, the influence of the oxygen concentration had more notable effect on the fluorescence yield of OH radical and 2-D distribution area of OH radicals.

High voltage design structure for high temperature superconducting device

DOEpatents

Tekletsadik, Kasegn D [Rexford, NY

2008-05-20

In accordance with the present invention, modular corona shields are employed in a HTS device to reduce the electric field surrounding the HTS device. In a exemplary embodiment a fault current limiter module in the insulation region of a cryogenic cooling system has at least one fault current limiter set which employs a first corona shield disposed along the top portion of the fault current limiter set and is electrically coupled to the fault current limiter set. A second corona shield is disposed along the bottom portion of the fault current limiter set and is electrically coupled to the fault current limiter set. An insulation barrier is disposed within the insulation region along at least one side of the fault current limiter set. The first corona shield and the second corona shield act together to reduce the electric field surrounding the fault limiter set when voltage is applied to the fault limiter set.

Calibration-free self-absorption model for measuring nitric oxide concentration in a pulsed corona discharge.

PubMed

Du, Yanjun; Ding, Yanjun; Liu, Yufeng; Lan, Lijuan; Peng, Zhimin

2014-08-01

The effect of self-absorption on emission intensity distributions can be used for species concentration measurements. A calculation model is developed based on the Beer-Lambert law to quantify this effect. And then, a calibration-free measurement method is proposed on the basis of this model by establishing the relationship between gas concentration and absorption strength. The effect of collision parameters and rotational temperature on the method is also discussed. The proposed method is verified by investigating the nitric oxide emission bands (A²Σ⁺→X²∏) that are generated by a pulsed corona discharge at various gas concentrations. Experiment results coincide well with the expectations, thus confirming the precision and accuracy of the proposed measurement method.

Laser-Based Optical System for Reactive Radical Concentration Measurements in Plasmas and Flames

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-08-01

role of different plasma components in chain propagation support: (1) and (2) - corona plasma generators with high-voltage multiple needle electrodes ; (3...H20 2) and HCN. Measurements in Gliding Arc, Dielectric Barrier Discharge and Pulsed Corona Plasma systems and in flame and flow reactor systems are...discharges operating in air with iron electrodes - 260V.35 Using visual quantification from high speed camera arc images, the approximate thickness of

Characteristics of a Pulse-Periodic Corona Discharge in Atmospheric Air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarasenko, V. F.; Baksht, E. Kh.; Sosnin, E. A.; Burachenko, A. G.; Panarin, V. A.; Skakun, V. S.

2018-05-01

Pulse-periodic corona discharge in atmospheric air excited by applying a voltage pulse with a subnanosecond or microsecond rise time to a point electrode is studied experimentally. It is shown that, at a voltage rise rate of dU/ dt 1014 V/s, positive and negative ball-shaped streamers with a front velocity of ≥2 mm/ns form near the point electrode. As dU/ dt is reduced to 1010-1011 V/s, the streamer shape changes and becomes close to cylindrical. The propagation velocity of cylindrical streamers is found to be 0.1 mm/ns at dU/ dt 2 × 1010 V/s. It is shown that the propagation direction of a cylindrical streamer can be changed by tilting the point electrode, on the axis of which the electric field strength reaches its maximum value. It is established that, for the negative polarity of the point electrode and a microsecond rise time of the voltage pulse, a higher voltage is required to form a cylindrical streamer than for the positive polarity of the point electrode.

Five years of full-scale utility demonstration of pulsed energization of electric precipitators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schultz, S.A.; Jacobus, P.L.; Casey, P.J.

1996-11-01

In a conventional electrostatic precipitator (ESP) the applied dc voltage fulfills three functions: (1) generation of negative ions, (2) charging of particles, and (3) transport of the charged particles to the collecting plates. In the case of high resistivity fly-ash (often associated with the burning of low sulfur coal) the dc voltage is limited by repeated electrical discharges and in extreme cases by back-corona. Lowering the applied dc voltage reduces sparking and back-corona, but also reduces the field on the discharge wires and leads to poorly distributed ion generation as well as reduced charging and particle transport forces. Pulsed energization,more » which consists of superimposing high voltage pulses of short duration onto the existing base dc voltage, offers an attractive way to improve the collection efficiency of ESPs suffering from poor energization. The superimposed pulses become responsible for uniform ion generation while the underlying dc field continues to fulfill the function of particle charging and transport. This paper describes the five-year test of the ESP at Madison Gas and Electric`s Blount Station.« less

Revisiting the positive DC corona discharge theory: Beyond Peek's and Townsend's law

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monrolin, Nicolas; Praud, Olivier; Plouraboué, Franck

2018-06-01

The classical positive Corona Discharge theory in a cylindrical axisymmetric configuration is revisited in order to find analytically the influence of gas properties and thermodynamic conditions on the corona current. The matched asymptotic expansion of Durbin and Turyn [J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 20, 1490-1495 (1987)] of a simplified but self-consistent problem is performed and explicit analytical solutions are derived. The mathematical derivation enables us to express a new positive DC corona current-voltage characteristic, choosing either a dimensionless or dimensional formulation. In dimensional variables, the current voltage law and the corona inception voltage explicitly depend on the electrode size and physical gas properties such as ionization and photoionization parameters. The analytical predictions are successfully confronted with experiments and Peek's and Townsend's laws. An analytical expression of the corona inception voltage φ o n is proposed, which depends on the known values of physical parameters without adjustable parameters. As a proof of consistency, the classical Townsend current-voltage law I = C φ ( φ - φ o n ) is retrieved by linearizing the non-dimensional analytical solution. A brief parametric study showcases the interest in this analytical current model, especially for exploring small corona wires or considering various thermodynamic conditions.

Corona discharge detection based on UV pulse method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Taifei; Lei, Yangfei; Hou, Peng

2016-03-01

With the reforming and opening up, as well as the rapid economic development of china, the shortage of electricity resources in the eastern region has become a problem. Therefore, we have started the program of power transmission from west to east, and have speeding up the development of high-voltage transmission technologies with high efficiency, long-distance, and high-capacity. An important issue during the power transmission is the insulation design. Recently, there have been more and more power grid accidents are escalating. Therefore, timely discovering an forecasting insulation deteriorations using advance detection techniques is of special practical significance for the equipment maintenance and repairing , and especially avoiding power accidents. On this basis, this paper carries out the research of high-voltage transmission line corona discharge detection system using the solar blind and FPGA. The experimental result shows that our system can amplify week signals with different intensity of 5100 5000100 times, with high sensitivity and anti-interference ability. The result also proves that this system can effectively detect the ultraviolet pulse light signal of the corona discharge insulation.

Transitions between corona, glow, and spark regimes of nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharges in air at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pai, David Z.; Lacoste, Deanna A.; Laux, Christophe O.

2010-05-01

In atmospheric pressure air preheated from 300 to 1000 K, the nanosecond repetitively pulsed (NRP) method has been used to generate corona, glow, and spark discharges. Experiments have been performed to determine the parameter space (applied voltage, pulse repetition frequency, ambient gas temperature, and interelectrode gap distance) of each discharge regime. In particular, the experimental conditions necessary for the glow regime of NRP discharges have been determined, with the notable result that there exists a minimum and maximum gap distance for its existence at a given ambient gas temperature. The minimum gap distance increases with decreasing gas temperature, whereas the maximum does not vary appreciably. To explain the experimental results, an analytical model is developed to explain the corona-to-glow (C-G) and glow-to-spark (G-S) transitions. The C-G transition is analyzed in terms of the avalanche-to-streamer transition and the breakdown field during the conduction phase following the establishment of a conducting channel across the discharge gap. The G-S transition is determined by the thermal ionization instability, and we show analytically that this transition occurs at a certain reduced electric field for the NRP discharges studied here. This model shows that the electrode geometry plays an important role in the existence of the NRP glow regime at a given gas temperature. We derive a criterion for the existence of the NRP glow regime as a function of the ambient gas temperature, pulse repetition frequency, electrode radius of curvature, and interelectrode gap distance.

Solar maximum mission: Ground support programs at the Harvard Radio Astronomy Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maxwell, A.

1983-01-01

Observations of the spectral characteristics of solar radio bursts were made with new dynamic spectrum analyzers of high sensitivity and high reliability, over the frequency range 25-580 MHz. The observations also covered the maximum period of the current solar cycle and the period of international cooperative programs designated as the Solar Maximum Year. Radio data on shock waves generated by solar flares were combined with optical data on coronal transients, taken with equipment on the SMM and other satellites, and then incorporated into computer models for the outward passage of fast-mode MHD shocks through the solar corona. The MHD models are non-linear, time-dependent and for the most recent models, quasi-three-dimensional. They examine the global response of the corona for different types of input pulses (thermal, magnetic, etc.) and for different magnetic topologies (for example, open and closed fields). Data on coronal shocks and high-velocity material ejected from solar flares have been interpreted in terms of a model consisting of three main velocity regimes.

Streamers and their applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pemen, A. J. M.

2011-10-01

In this invited lecture we give an overview of our 15 years of experience on streamer plasma research. Efforts are directed to integrating the competence areas of plasma physics, pulsed power technology and chemical processing. The current status is the development of a large scale pulsed corona system for gas treatment. Applications on biogas conditioning, VOC removal, odor abatement and control of traffic emissions have been demonstrated. Detailed research on electrical and chemical processes resulted in a boost of efficiencies. Energy transfer efficiency to the plasma was raised to above 90%. Simultaneous improvement of the plasma chemistry resulted in a highly efficient radical generation: O-radical production up to 50% of the theoretical maximum has been achieved. A major challenge in pulsed power driven streamers is to unravel, understand and ultimately control the complex interactions between the transient plasma, electrical circuits, and process. Even more a challenge is to yield electron energies that fit activation energies of the process. We will discuss our ideas on adjusting pulsed power waveforms and plasma reactor settings to obtain more controlled catalytic processing: the ``Chemical Transistor'' concept.

Transformative Pulsed Power Science and Technology

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-16

Lin, D. Singleton, J. Sanders, A. Kuthi and M.A. Gundersen, “Experimental study of pulsed corona discharge in air at high pressures”, 65th Annual...Kastner, E. Gutmark, and M. A. Gundersen. “Surface Streamer Discharge for Plasma Flow Control Using Nanosecond Pulsed Power.” Plasma Sciences, IEEE... discharge in atmospheric pressure fuel/air mixtures”, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 45 495401 (2012). 28. S. J. Pendleton, S. Bowman, C. Carter, M. A. Gundersen

Characteristics of a corona discharge with a hot corona electrode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kulumbaev, E. B.; Lelevkin, V. M.; Niyazaliev, I. A.

The effect of the temperature of the corona electrode on the electrical characteristics of a corona discharge was studied experimentally. A modified Townsend formula for the current-voltage characteristic of a one-dimensional corona is proposed. Gasdynamic and thermal characteristics of a positive corona discharge in a coaxial electrode system are calculated. The calculated results are compared with the experimental data.

Positive direct current corona discharges in single wire-duct electrostatic precipitators

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yehia, Ashraf, E-mail: yehia30161@yahoo.com; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Arab Republic of Egypt; Abdel-Fattah, E.

This paper is aimed to study the characteristics of the positive dc corona discharges in single wire-duct electrostatic precipitators. Therefore, the corona discharges were formed inside dry air fed single wire-duct reactor under positive dc voltage at the normal atmospheric conditions. The corona current-voltage characteristics curves have been measured in parallel with the ozone concentration generated inside the reactor under different discharge conditions. The corona current-voltage characteristics curves have agreed with a semi empirical equation derived from the previous studies. The experimental results of the ozone concentration generated inside the reactor were formulated in the form of an empirical equationmore » included the different parameters that were studied experimentally. The obtained equations are valid to expect both the current-voltage characteristics curves and the corresponding ozone concentration that generates with the positive dc corona discharges inside single wire-duct electrostatic precipitators under any operating conditions in the same range of the present study.« less

Production of nitrogen oxides in air pulse-periodic discharge with apokamp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panarin, Victor A.; Skakun, Victor S.; Sosnin, Eduard A.; Tarasenko, Victor F.

2018-05-01

The decomposition products of pulse-periodic discharge atmospheric pressure plasma in apokamp, diffuse and corona modes were determined by optical and chemical methods. It is shown that apokamp discharge formation starts at a critical value of dissipation power in a discharge channel. Simultaneously, due to the thermochemical reactions, plasma starts to efficiently produce nitrogen oxides.

Two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence of atomic oxygen in the afterglow of pulsed positive corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Ryo; Takezawa, Kei; Oda, Tetsuji

2009-08-01

Atomic oxygen is measured in the afterglow of pulsed positive corona discharge using time-resolved two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence. The discharge occurs in a 14 mm point-to-plane gap in dry air. After the discharge pulse, the atomic oxygen density decreases at a rate of 5×104 s-1. Simultaneously, ozone density increases at almost the same rate, where the ozone density is measured using laser absorption method. This agreement between the increasing rate of atomic oxygen and decreasing rate of ozone proves that ozone is mainly produced by the well-known three-body reaction, O+O2+M→O3+M. No other process for ozone production such as O2(v)+O2→O3+O is observed. The spatial distribution of atomic oxygen density is in agreement with that of the secondary streamer luminous intensity. This agreement indicates that atomic oxygen is mainly produced in the secondary streamer channels, not in the primary streamer channels.

Evaluation of the potential of pentachlorophenol degradation in soil by pulsed corona discharge plasma from soil characteristics.

PubMed

Wang, Tie Cheng; Lu, Na; Li, Jie; Wu, Yan

2010-04-15

Chlorinated organics are frequently found as harmful soil contaminants and persisted for extended periods of time. A novel approach, named pulsed corona discharge plasma (PCDP), was employed for the degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in soil. Experimental results showed that 87% of PCP could be smoothly removed in 60 min. Increasing pulse voltage, enhancing soil pH, lowering humic acid (HA) in soil and reducing granular size of the soil were found to be favorable for PCP degradation efficiency. Oxidation and physical processes simultaneously contributed to PCP removal in soil and ozone was the main factor in PCDP treatment. C-Cl bonds in PCP were cleaved during PCDP treatment by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The mineralization of PCP was confirmed by total organic carbon (TOC) and dechlorination analyses. The main intermediate products such as tetrachlorocatechol, tetrachlorohydroquinone, acetic acid, formic acid, and oxalic acid were identified by HPLC/MS and ion chromatography. A possible pathway of PCP degradation in soil in such a system was proposed.

Generation of ozone by pulsed corona discharge over water surface in hybrid gas liquid electrical discharge reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukes, Petr; Clupek, Martin; Babicky, Vaclav; Janda, Vaclav; Sunka, Pavel

2005-02-01

Ozone formation by a pulse positive corona discharge generated in the gas phase between a planar high voltage electrode made from reticulated vitreous carbon and a water surface with an immersed ground stainless steel plate electrode was investigated under various operating conditions. The effects of gas flow rate (0.5-3 litre min-1), discharge gap spacing (2.5-10 mm), applied input power (2-45 W) and gas composition (oxygen containing argon or nitrogen) on ozone production were determined. Ozone concentration increased with increasing power input and with increasing discharge gap. The production of ozone was significantly affected by the presence of water vapour formed through vaporization of water at the gas-liquid interface by the action of the gas phase discharge. The highest energy efficiency for ozone production was obtained using high voltage pulses of approximately 150 ns duration in Ar/O2 mixtures with the maximum efficiency (energy yield) of 23 g kW h-1 for 40% argon content.

Modeling of plasma chemical processes in the artificial ionized layer in the upper atmosphere by the nanosecond corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vikharev, A. L.; Gorbachev, A. M.; Ivanov, O. A.; Kolisko, A. L.; Litvak, A. G.

1993-08-01

The plasma chemical processes in the corona discharge formed in air by a series of high voltage pulses of nanosecond duration are investigated experimentally. The experimental conditions (reduced electric field, duration and repetition frequency of the pulses, gas pressure in the chamber) modeled the regime of creation of the artificial ionized layer (AIL) in the upper atmosphere by a nanosecond microwave discharge. It was found that in a nanosecond microwave discharge predominantly generation of ozone occurs, and that the production of nitrogen dioxide is not large. The energy expenditures for the generation of one O 3 molecule were about 15 eV. On the basis of the experimental results the prognosis of the efficiency of ozone generation in AIL was made.

Triggering Excimer Lasers by Photoionization from Corona Discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Zhongmin; Duffey, Thomas; Brown, Daniel; Kushner, Mark

2009-10-01

High repetition rate ArF (192 nm) excimer lasers are used for photolithography sources in microelectronics fabrication. In highly attaching gas mixtures, preionization is critical to obtaining stable, reproducible glow discharges. Photoionization from a separate corona discharge is one technique for preionization which triggers the subsequent electron avalanche between the main electrodes. Photoionization triggering of an ArF excimer laser sustained in multi-atmosphere Ne/Ar/F2/Xe gas mixtures has been investigated using a 2-dimensional plasma hydrodynamics model including radiation transport. Continuity equations for charged and neutral species, and Poisson's equation are solved coincident with the electron temperature with transport coefficients obtained from solutions of Boltzmann's equation. Photoionizing radiation is produced by a surface discharge which propagates along a corona-bar located adjacent to the discharge electrodes. The consequences of pulse power waveform, corona bar location, capacitance and gas mixture on uniformity, symmetry and gain of the avalanche discharge will be discussed.

Long life electrodes for large-area x-ray generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rothe, Dietmar E. (Inventor)

1991-01-01

This invention is directed to rugged, reliable, and long-life electrodes for use in large-area, high-current-density electron gun and x-ray generators which are employed as contamination-free preionizers for high-energy pulsed gas lasers. The electron source at the cathode is a corona plasma formed at the interface between a conductor, or semiconductor, and a high-permittivity dielectric. Detailed descriptions are provided of a reliable cold plasma cathode, as well as an efficient liquid-cooled electron beam target (anode) and x-ray generator which concentrates the x-ray flux in the direction of an x-ray window.

Compact, Portable Pulsed-Power

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-08-31

adding this fast pulse to a slow, 30kV pulse which is below the threshold for significant corona emission. This scheme is presently being explored with...the smaller stressed electrode area. Further results from these systems were reported at the 2006 Power Modulator Conference in Washington, D.C...BLT and the medium-BLT is similar. The mini BLT electrodes are made of 3 mm thick molybdenum disks with a 3 mm central hole, capped on a hollow OFHC 1

Spatiotemporal measurement of translational and vibrational temperatures after pulsed corona discharge using laser spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Ryo; Teramoto, Yoshiyuki; Nakagawa, Yusuke; Komuro, Atsushi; Oda, Tetsuji

2011-10-01

Translational and vibrational temperatures are measured in pulsed corona discharge using spatiotemporally resolved laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS). The discharge occurs in a 13-mm point-to-plane gap with pulsed voltage of approximately 30 kV. Immediately after the discharge pulse, the vibrational temperatures of N2(v) and O2(v), Tv, are much higher than the translational temperature, Tt. Then, after the discharge pulse, Tv decreases with time, and the energy released from the vibrational relaxation increases Tt. This vibration-to-translation (V-T) energy transfer is observed; Tv and Tt change by hundreds to a thousand K after the discharge pulse with time constants of 1 us to 1 ms. It is shown that the V-T rate is remarkably increased when the ambient air is humidified. It is caused by extremely rapid V-T process of H2O-H2O system. In addition, V-T acceleration of O2(v) by O atoms due to rapid V-T rate of O2(v)-O system is also measured. The spatial profile of Tv shows that Tv decreases with increasing distance from the tip of needle electrode. It indicates that Tv, and the resulting Tt, are higher in the secondary streamer channel than in the primary streamer channel.

Feasibility Study to Evaluate Candidate Materials of Nanofilled Block Copolymers for Use in Ultra High Density Pulsed Power Capacitors

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-26

grafting block copolymer (BCP) to nanoparticles (BCP-g-NPs) to chemically match the corona of NPs with BCP matrix has resulted in a highly dispersed BCP...strategy of grafting BCP to nanoparticles in order to chemically match the corona of nanoparticles with BCP matrix has resulted in a highly dispersed...fast energy storage and discharge capabilities. However, the energy storage density of these capacitors is limited by the dielectric properties of

Formation of Nitrogen Oxides in an Apokamp-Type Plasma Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sosnin, É. A.; Goltsova, P. A.; Panarin, V. A.; Skakun, V. S.; Tarasenko, V. F.; Didenko, M. V.

2017-08-01

Using optical and chemical processes, the composition of the products of decay of the atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium plasma is determined in a pulsed, high-voltage discharge in the modes of apokampic and corona discharges. It is shown that the products of decay primarily contain nitrogen oxides NO x, and in the mode of the corona discharge - ozone. Potential applications of this source of plasma are discussed with respect to plasma processing of the seeds of agricultural crops.

Chromophore Poling in Thin Films of Organic Glasses. 2. Two-Electrode Corona Discharge Setup

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilitis, O.; Muzikante, I.; Rutkis, M.; Vembris, A.

2012-01-01

In Part 1 of the article we provided description of the corona discharge physics and overview of the methods used for corona poling in thin organic films. Subsequent sections describe comparatively simple technical methods for poling the organic nonlinear optical polymers using a two-electrode (point-to-plate or wire-to-plate) technique. The polarization build-up was studied by the DC positive corona method for poling the nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers. The experimental setup provides the corona discharge current from 0.5 μA up to 3 μA by applying 3 kV - 12 kV voltage to the corona electrode and makes possible selection among the types of corona electrodes (needle, multi-needle, wire, etc.). The results of experimental testing of the poling setup show that at fixed optimal operational parameters of poling - the sample orientation temperature and the discharge current - the corona charging of polymeric materials can successfully be performed applying the two-electrode technique. To study the dynamics of both poling and charge transport processes the three-electrode charging system - a corona triode - should be applied.

Estimation of Qualitative and Quantitative Parameters of Air Cleaning by a Pulsed Corona Discharge Using Multicomponent Standard Mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filatov, I. E.; Uvarin, V. V.; Kuznetsov, D. L.

2018-05-01

The efficiency of removal of volatile organic impurities in air by a pulsed corona discharge is investigated using model mixtures. Based on the method of competing reactions, an approach to estimating the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the employed electrophysical technique is proposed. The concept of the "toluene coefficient" characterizing the relative reactivity of a component as compared to toluene is introduced. It is proposed that the energy efficiency of the electrophysical method be estimated using the concept of diversified yield of the removal process. Such an approach makes it possible to substantially intensify the determination of energy parameters of removal of impurities and can also serve as a criterion for estimating the effectiveness of various methods in which a nonequilibrium plasma is used for air cleaning from volatile impurities.

Treatment of Dyeing Wastewater by Using Positive Pulsed Corona Discharge to Water Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Sun Mok; Hyun, Tae Ahn; Joeng, Tai Kim

2007-02-01

This study investigated the treatment of textile-dyeing wastewater by using an electrical discharge technique (positive pulsed corona discharge). The high-voltage electrode was placed above the surface of the wastewater while the ground electrode was submerged in the wastewater. The electrical discharge starting at the tip of the high voltage electrode propagated toward the surface of the wastewater, producing various oxidative radicals and ozone. Oxygen was used as the working gas instead of air to prevent nitrogen oxides from forming. The simulated wastewater was made up with amaranth, which is a kind of azo dye. The results obtained showed that the chromaticity of the wastewater was almost completely removed within an hour. The ultraviolet/visible spectra of the wastewater treated by the electrical discharge revealed that the total hydrocarbon level also decreased significantly.

Partial oxidation of methane by pulsed corona discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoeben, W. F. L. M.; Boekhoven, W.; Beckers, F. J. C. M.; van Heesch, E. J. M.; Pemen, A. J. M.

2014-09-01

Pulsed corona-induced partial oxidation of methane in humid oxygen or carbon dioxide atmospheres has been investigated for future fuel synthesis applications. The obtained product spectrum is wide, i.e. saturated, unsaturated and oxygen-functional hydrocarbons. The generally observed methane conversion levels are 6-20% at a conversion efficiency of about 100-250 nmol J-1. The main products are ethane, ethylene and acetylene. Higher saturated hydrocarbons up to C6 have been detected. The observed oxygen-functional hydrocarbons are methanol, ethanol and lower concentrations of aldehydes, ketones, dimethylether and methylformate. Methanol seems to be exclusively produced with CH4/O2 mixtures at a maximum production efficiency of 0.35 nmol J-1. CH4/CO2 mixtures appear to yield higher hydrocarbons. Carboxylic acids appear to be mainly present in the aqueous reactor phase, possibly together with higher molecular weight species.

Decontamination of 2-Chloroethyl Ethyl Sulfide by Pulsed Corona Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhanguo; Hu, Zhen; Cao, Peng; Zhao, Hongjie

2014-11-01

Decontamination of 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES, CH3CH2SCH2CH2Cl) by pulsed corona plasma was investigated. The results show that 212.6 mg/m3 of 2-CEES, with the gas flow rate of 2 m3/h, can be decontaminated to 0.09 mg/m3. According to the variation of the inlet and outlet concentration of 2-CEES vapor with retention time, it is found that the reaction of 2-CEES in a pulsed corona plasma system follows the first order reaction, with the reaction rate constant of 0.463 s-1. The decontamination mechanism is discussed based on an analysis of the dissociation energy of chemical bonds and decontamination products. The C-S bond adjacent to the Cl atom will be destroyed firstly to form CH3CH2S· and ·CH2CH2Cl radicals. CH3CH2S· can be decomposed to ·C2H5 and ·S. ·S can be oxidized to SO2, while ·C2H5 can be finally oxidized to CO2 and H2O. The C-Cl bond in the ·CH2CH2Cl radical can be destroyed to form ·CH2CH2. and ·Cl, which can be mineralized to CO2, H2O and HCl. The H atom in the ·CH2CH2Cl radical can also be substituted by ·Cl to form CHCl2-CHCl2.

The study of low temperature plasma of pulse discharge in relation to air cleaning units.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponizovskiy, A.; Gosteev, S.; Kuzhel, O.

2017-11-01

In paper it studied parameters of low-temperature plasma (LTP) used in systems for cleaning waste gas. LTP created by positive nanosecond corona discharges, generated by high voltage pulses with a rise time of 50 ns, duration up to 400 ns, an amplitude up to 90 kV and pulses repetition 50-1000 Hz. in coaxial electrode system with gap space 3-10 cm through which moving air with linear velocity v = 0.01 to 10 m/s.

Fast Rise Time and High Voltage Nanosecond Pulses at High Pulse Repetition Frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miller, Kenneth E.; Ziemba, Timothy; Prager, James; Picard, Julian; Hashim, Akel

2015-09-01

Eagle Harbor Technologies (EHT), Inc. is conducting research to decrease the rise time and increase the output voltage of the EHT Nanosecond Pulser product line, which allows for independently, user-adjustable output voltage (0 - 20 kV), pulse width (20 - 500 ns), and pulse repetition frequency (0 - 100 kHz). The goals are to develop higher voltage pulses (50 - 60 kV), decrease the rise time from 20 to below 10 ns, and maintain the high pulse repetition capabilities. These new capabilities have applications to pseudospark generation, corona production, liquid discharges, and nonlinear transmission line driving for microwave production. This work is supported in part by the US Navy SBIR program.

Particle Acceleration and Plasma Heating in the Chromosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zaitsev, V. V.; Stepanov, A. V.

2015-12-01

We propose a new mechanism of electron acceleration and plasma heating in the solar chromosphere, based on the magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability. The instability develops at the chromospheric footpoints of a flare loop and deforms the local magnetic field. As a result, the electric current in the loop varies, and a resulting inductive electric field appears. A pulse of the induced electric field, together with the pulse of the electric current, propagates along the loop with the Alfvén velocity and begins to accelerate electrons up to an energy of about 1 MeV. Accelerated particles are thermalized in the dense layers of the chromosphere with the plasma density n ≈10^{14} - 10^{15} cm^{-3}, heating them to a temperature of about several million degrees. Joule dissipation of the electric current pulse heats the chromosphere at heights that correspond to densities n ≤10^{11} - 10^{13} cm^{-3}. Observations with the New Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory indicate that chromospheric footpoints of coronal loops might be heated to coronal temperatures and that hot plasma might be injected upwards, which brightens ultra-fine loops from the photosphere to the base of the corona. Thereby, recent observations of the Sun and the model we propose stimulate a déjà vu - they are reminiscent of the concept of the chromospheric flare.

A study on the influence of corona on currents and electromagnetic fields predicted by a nonlinear lightning return-stroke model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Conti, Alberto; Silveira, Fernando H.; Visacro, Silvério

2014-05-01

This paper investigates the influence of corona on currents and electromagnetic fields predicted by a return-stroke model that represents the lightning channel as a nonuniform transmission line with time-varying (nonlinear) resistance. The corona model used in this paper allows the calculation of corona currents as a function of the radial electric field in the vicinity of the channel. A parametric study is presented to investigate the influence of corona parameters, such as the breakdown electric field and the critical electric field for the stable propagation of streamers, on predicted currents and electromagnetic fields. The results show that, regardless of the assumed corona parameters, the incorporation of corona into the nonuniform and nonlinear transmission line model under investigation modifies the model predictions so that they consistently reproduce most of the typical features of experimentally observed lightning electromagnetic fields and return-stroke speed profiles. In particular, it is shown that the proposed model leads to close vertical electric fields presenting waveforms, amplitudes, and decay with distance in good agreement with dart leader electric field changes measured in triggered lightning experiments. A comparison with popular engineering return-stroke models further confirms the model's ability to predict consistent electric field waveforms in the close vicinity of the channel. Some differences observed in the field amplitudes calculated with the different models can be related to the fact that current distortion, while present in the proposed model, is ultimately neglected in the considered engineering return-stroke models.

Miniature Dual-Corona Ionizer for Bipolar Charging of Aerosol

PubMed Central

Qi, Chaolong; Kulkarni, Pramod

2015-01-01

A corona-based bipolar charger has been developed for use in compact, field-portable mobility size spectrometers. The charger employs an aerosol flow cavity exposed to two corona ionizers producing ions of opposite polarity. Each corona ionizer houses two electrodes in parallel needle-mesh configuration and is operated at the same magnitude of corona current. Experimental measurement of detailed charge distribution of near-monodisperse particles of different diameter in the submicrometer size range showed that the charger is capable of producing well-defined, consistent bipolar charge distributions for flow rates up to 1.5 L/min and aerosol concentration up to 107 per cm3. For particles with preexisting charge of +1, 0, and −1, the measured charge distributions agreed well with the theoretical distributions within the range of experimental and theoretical uncertainties. The transmission efficiency of the charger was measured to be 80% for 10 nm particles (at 0.3 L/min and 5 μA corona current) and increased with increasing diameter beyond this size. Measurement of uncharged fractions at various combinations of positive and negative corona currents showed the charger performance to be insensitive to fluctuations in corona current. Ion concentrations under positive and negative unipolar operation were estimated to be 8.2 × 107 and 3.37 × 108 cm−3 for positive and negative ions; the n·t product value under positive corona operation was independently estimated to be 8.5 × 105 s/cm3. The ion concentration estimates indicate the charger to be capable of “neutralizing” typical atmospheric and industrial aerosols in most measurement applications. The miniature size, simple and robust operation makes the charger suitable for portable mobility spectrometers. PMID:26512158

Miniature Dual-Corona Ionizer for Bipolar Charging of Aerosol.

PubMed

Qi, Chaolong; Kulkarni, Pramod

2013-01-01

A corona-based bipolar charger has been developed for use in compact, field-portable mobility size spectrometers. The charger employs an aerosol flow cavity exposed to two corona ionizers producing ions of opposite polarity. Each corona ionizer houses two electrodes in parallel needle-mesh configuration and is operated at the same magnitude of corona current. Experimental measurement of detailed charge distribution of near-monodisperse particles of different diameter in the submicrometer size range showed that the charger is capable of producing well-defined, consistent bipolar charge distributions for flow rates up to 1.5 L/min and aerosol concentration up to 10 7 per cm 3 . For particles with preexisting charge of +1, 0, and -1, the measured charge distributions agreed well with the theoretical distributions within the range of experimental and theoretical uncertainties. The transmission efficiency of the charger was measured to be 80% for 10 nm particles (at 0.3 L/min and 5 μ A corona current) and increased with increasing diameter beyond this size. Measurement of uncharged fractions at various combinations of positive and negative corona currents showed the charger performance to be insensitive to fluctuations in corona current. Ion concentrations under positive and negative unipolar operation were estimated to be 8.2 × 10 7 and 3.37 × 10 8 cm -3 for positive and negative ions; the n · t product value under positive corona operation was independently estimated to be 8.5 × 10 5 s/cm 3 . The ion concentration estimates indicate the charger to be capable of "neutralizing" typical atmospheric and industrial aerosols in most measurement applications. The miniature size, simple and robust operation makes the charger suitable for portable mobility spectrometers.

Self-sustained criterion with photoionization for positive dc corona plasmas between coaxial cylinders

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zheng, Yuesheng, E-mail: yueshengzheng@fzu.edu.cn; Zhang, Bo, E-mail: shizbcn@tsinghua.edu.cn; He, Jinliang, E-mail: hejl@tsinghua.edu.cn

The positive dc corona plasmas between coaxial cylinders in air under the application of a self-sustained criterion with photoionization are investigated in this paper. A photon absorption function suitable for cylindrical electrode, which can characterize the total photons within the ionization region, is proposed on the basis of the classic corona onset criteria. Based on the general fluid model with the self-sustained criterion, the role of photoionization in the ionization region is clarified. It is found that the surface electric field keeps constant under a relatively low corona current, while it is slightly weakened with the increase of the coronamore » current. Similar tendencies can be found under different conductor radii and relative air densities. The small change of the surface electric field will become more significant for the electron density distribution as well as the ionization activity under a high corona current, compared with the results under the assumption of a constant surface field. The assumption that the surface electric field remains constant should be corrected with the increase of the corona current when the energetic electrons with a distance from the conductor surface are concerned.« less

Experimental and modeling study of the oxidation of acetaldehyde in an atmospheric-pressure pulsed corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klett, C.; Touchard, S.; Vega-Gonzalez, A.; Redolfi, M.; Bonnin, X.; Hassouni, K.; Duten, X.

2012-08-01

This paper reports the results obtained for the degradation of acetaldehyde by an atmospheric plasma corona discharge working in a pulsed regime. It was shown that a few hundred ppm of acetaldehyde diluted in a pure N2 gas flow can be removed up to 80% by a discharge fed with an electric power lower than 1 W. Under the same conditions, adding up to 5% of O2 allowed the removal of up to 95% of the initial acetaldehyde. The main identified end products were CO2, CO and methanol. A quasi-homogeneous zero-dimensional chemical model was developed to investigate the respective efficiency of the discharge and post-discharge periods in the global removal of the pollutant. The identified main pathways of acetaldehyde degradation were quenching of N2 metastable states during plasma pulses and oxidation by O and OH radicals during the post-discharge. This latter contribution increased with input power because of ozone accumulation in the gas mixture acting as an additional oxygen reservoir.

[EFFECT OF PULSE-PERIODIC CORONA DISCHARGE ON VIABILITY OF ESCHERICHIA COLI M17 CELLS IN BIOFILMS].

PubMed

Rybalchenko, O V; Stepanova, O M; Orlova, O G; Astafiev, A M; Kudryavtsev, A A; Kapustina, V V

2015-01-01

Detection of bactericidal effect of pulse-periodic corona discharge (PPCD) on cells and biofilms of Escherichia coli M17. A gas-discharge device was created based on PPCD in air with power supply parameters: amplitude values of voltage of 30 - 60 kV, pulse repetition rate of 250 - 400 kHz. Ultrastructure changes in cells and biofilms of E. coli M17, affected by PPCD, generated in air, were studied by typical methods of transmission electron microscopy. Disturbances of integrity of surface and abyssal structures of biofilms, as well as changes of morphological properties of E. coli M17 cells, characteristic for sub-lethal heat impact, were detected. Destructive changes of bacterial cells were developed by formation of focal disturbance of cytoplasmic membrane, extension of periplasmic space, formation of globular structures, characteristic for heat effect, and destruction of cytoplasm. Bactericidal effect of PPCD on E. coli M17 cells as part of biofilms was shown. Destructive morphological changes in cells and biofilms of E. coli M17 after the effect of PPCD were detected for the first time on electron-microscopic level.

The hairline plasma: An intermittent negative dc-corona discharge at atmospheric pressure for plasma medical applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bussiahn, R.; Brandenburg, R.; Gerling, T.

2010-04-05

A cold atmospheric pressure plasma source, called hairline plasma, for biological and medical applications has been developed. Using the physical effect of the negative dc corona discharge, a nanosecond pulsed microplasma has been created. The device produces a very thin (dapprox30 mum) plasma filament with a length of up to 1.5 cm. Due to this geometrical parameters this plasma is particularly suitable for the treatment of microscopic cavities. The low plasma temperature allows to treat the human skin without any heating or painful irritation.

On the radiated EMI current extraction of dc transmission line based on corona current statistical measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Yong; Chen, Zhengying; Wang, Liming

2018-05-01

Corona-originated discharge of DC transmission lines is the main reason for the radiated electromagnetic interference (EMI) field in the vicinity of transmission lines. A joint time-frequency analysis technique was proposed to extract the radiated EMI current (excitation current) of DC corona based on corona current statistical measurements. A reduced-scale experimental platform was setup to measure the statistical distributions of current waveform parameters of aluminum conductor steel reinforced. Based on the measured results, the peak value, root-mean-square value and average value with 9 kHz and 200 Hz band-with of 0.5 MHz radiated EMI current were calculated by the technique proposed and validated with conventional excitation function method. Radio interference (RI) was calculated based on the radiated EMI current and a wire-to-plate platform was built for the validity of the RI computation results. The reason for the certain deviation between the computations and measurements was detailed analyzed.

Evaluation of the potential of soil remediation by direct multi-channel pulsed corona discharge in soil.

PubMed

Wang, Tie Cheng; Qu, Guangzhou; Li, Jie; Liang, Dongli

2014-01-15

A novel approach, named multi-channel pulsed corona discharge in soil, was developed for remediating organic pollutants contaminated soil, with p-nitrophenol (PNP) as the model pollutant. The feasibility of PNP degradation in soil was explored by evaluating effects of pulse discharge voltage, air flow rate and soil moisture on PNP degradation. Based on roles of chemically active species and evolution of degradation intermediates, PNP degradation processes were discussed. Experimental results showed that about 89.4% of PNP was smoothly degraded within 60min of discharge treatment at pulse discharge voltage 27kV, soil moisture 5% and air flow rate 0.8Lmin(-1), and the degradation process fitted the first-order kinetic model. Increasing pulse discharge voltage was found to be favorable for PNP degradation, but not for energy yield. There existed appropriate air flow rate and soil moisture for obtaining gratifying PNP degradation efficacy. Roles of radical scavenger and measurement of active species suggested that ozone, H2O2, and OH radicals played very important roles in PNP degradation. CN bond in PNP molecule was cleaved, and the main intermediate products such as hydroquinone, benzoquinone, catechol, phenol, acetic acid, formic acid, oxalic acid, NO2(-) and NO3(-) were identified. Possible pathway of PNP degradation in soil in such a system was proposed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surface energy modification for biomedical material by corona streamer plasma processing to mitigate bacterial adhesion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alhamarneh, Ibrahim; Pedrow, Patrick

2011-10-01

Bacterial adhesion initiates biofouling of biomedical material but the processes can be reduced by adjusting the material's surface energy. The surface of surgical-grade 316L stainless steel (316L SS) had its hydrophilic property enhanced by processing in a corona streamer plasma reactor using atmospheric pressure Ar mixed with O2. Reactor excitation was 60 Hz ac high-voltage (<= 10 kV RMS) applied to a multi-needle-to-grounded-torus electrode configuration. Applied voltage and streamer current pulses were monitored with a broadband sensor system. When Ar/O2 plasma was used, the surface energy was enhanced more than with Ar plasma alone. Composition of the surface before and after plasma treatment was characterized by XPS. As the hydrophilicity of the treated surface increased so did percent of oxygen on the surface thus we concluded that reduction in contact angle was mainly due to new oxygen-containing functionalities. FTIR was used to identify oxygen containing groups on the surface. The aging effect that accompanies surface free energy adjustments was also observed.

Pulsed Corona Discharge Induced Hydroxyl Radical Transfer Through the Gas-Liquid Interface.

PubMed

Ajo, Petri; Kornev, Iakov; Preis, Sergei

2017-11-23

The highly energetic electrons in non-thermal plasma generated by gas phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) produce hydroxyl (OH) radicals via collision reactions with water molecules. Previous work has established that OH radicals are formed at the plasma-liquid interface, making it an important location for the oxidation of aqueous pollutants. Here, by contacting water as aerosol with PCD plasma, it is shown that OH radicals are produced on the gas side of the interface, and not in the liquid phase. It is also demonstrated that the gas-liquid interfacial boundary poses a barrier for the OH radicals, one they need to cross for reactive affinity with dissolved components, and that this process requires a gaseous atomic H scavenger. For gaseous oxidation, a scavenger, oxygen in common cases, is an advantage but not a requirement. OH radical efficiency in liquid phase reactions is strongly temperature dependent as radical termination reaction rates increase with temperature.

[Analysis of streamer properties and emission spectroscopy of 2-D OH distribution of pulsed corona discharge].

PubMed

Zhao, Lei; Gao, Xiang; Luo, Zhong-Yang; Xuan, Jian-Yong; Jiang, Jian-Ping; Cen, Ke-Fa

2011-11-01

Streamer plays a key role in the process of OH radical generation. The propagation of primary and secondary streamers of positive wire-plate pulsed corona discharge was observed using a short gate ICCD in air environment. The influence of the applied voltage on the properties was investigated. It was shown that the primary streamer propagation velocity, electric coverage and length of secondary streamer increased significantly with increasing the applied voltage. Then 2-D OH distribution was investigated by the emission spectrum. With the analysis of the OH emission spectra, the distribution of OH radicals showed a trend of decreasing from the wire electrode to its circumambience. Compared with the streamer propagation trace, the authors found that OH radical distribution and streamer are in the same area. Both OH radical concentration and the intensity of streamer decreased when far away from the wire electrode.

Wavelet transform processing applied to partial discharge evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macedo, E. C. T.; Araújo, D. B.; da Costa, E. G.; Freire, R. C. S.; Lopes, W. T. A.; Torres, I. S. M.; de Souza Neto, J. M. R.; Bhatti, S. A.; Glover, I. A.

2012-05-01

Partial Discharge (PD) is characterized by high frequency current pulses that occur in high voltage (HV) electrical equipments originated from gas ionization process when damaged insulation is submitted to high values of electric field [1]. PD monitoring is a useful method of assessing the aging degree of the insulation, manufacturing defects or chemical/mechanical damage. Many sources of noise (e.g. radio transmissions, commutator noise from rotating machines, power electronics switching circuits, corona discharge, etc.) can directly affect the PD estimation. Among the many mathematical techniques that can be applied to de-noise PD signals, the wavelet transform is one of the most powerful. It can simultaneously supply information about the pulse occurrence, time and pulse spectrum, and also de-noise in-field measured PD signals. In this paper is described the application of wavelet transform in the suppression of the main types of noise that can affect the observation and analysis of PD signals in high voltage apparatus. In addition, is presented a study that indicates the appropriated mother-wavelet for this application based on the cross-correlation factor.

Translating Current Bioanalytical Techniques for Studying Corona Activity.

PubMed

Wang, Chunming; Wang, Zhenzhen; Dong, Lei

2018-07-01

The recent discovery of the biological corona is revolutionising our understanding of the in vivo behaviour of nanomaterials. Accurate analysis of corona bioactivity is essential for predicting the fate of nanomaterials and thereby improving nanomedicine design. Nevertheless, current biotechniques for protein analysis are not readily adaptable for analysing corona proteins, given that their conformation, activity, and interaction may largely differ from those of the native proteins. Here, we introduce and propose tailor-made modifications to five types of mainstream bioanalytical methodologies. We specifically illustrate how these modifications can translate existing techniques for protein analysis into competent tools for dissecting the composition, bioactivity, and interaction (with both nanomaterials and the tissue) of corona formed on specific nanomaterial surfaces. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Preservation of the soft protein corona in distinct flow allows identification of weakly bound proteins.

PubMed

Weber, C; Simon, J; Mailänder, V; Morsbach, S; Landfester, K

2018-06-08

Nanocarriers that are used for targeted drug delivery come in contact with biological liquids and subsequently proteins will adsorb to the nanocarriers' surface to form the so called 'protein corona'. The protein corona defines the biological identity and determines the biological response towards the nanocarriers in the body. To make nanomedicine safe and reliable it is required to get a better insight into this protein corona and, therefore, the adsorbed proteins have to be characterized. Currently, centrifugation is the common method to isolate the protein corona for further investigations. However, with this method it is only possible to investigate the strongly bound proteins, also referred to as 'hard protein corona'. Therefore, we want to introduce a new separation technique to separate nanoparticles including the soft protein corona containing also loosely bound proteins for further characterization. The used separation technique is the asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation (AF4). We were able to separate the nanoparticles with proteins forming the soft protein corona and were able to show that in our system only the hard protein corona directly influenced the cell uptake behavior. Currently, there is an ongoing debate whether only strongly bound proteins (hard corona) or also loosely bound proteins (soft corona) contribute to the biological identity of nanocarriers, because up to now isolation of the soft corona was not possible. Here, asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation was used to isolate nanoparticles with a preserved soft corona from the biological medium. This enabled the characterization of the soft corona composition and to evaluate its influence on cellular uptake. For our system we found that only the strongly bound proteins (hard corona) determined cell internalization. This method can now be used to evaluate the impact of the soft corona further and to characterize nanomaterials that cannot be separated from blood plasma by other means. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Applicability of Generalized Peek's Law to Scaling of Corona Onset Voltages in Electropositive Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yan-Ming

2008-10-01

We have developed the steady state positive corona model with the ionization zone physics in the point-plane configuration. The geometry is axisymmetric, consisting of a pointed anode of small tip radius and a planar cathode. The model solves the Poisson equation, drift dominated electron and the positive ion transport equations with the nonlinear Townsend ionization source terms, to give the complete electric field, electron and positive ion density distributions. The corona plasma properties can be determined as function of discharge current, ranging from the pico-ampere up to a milli-ampere. The calculated voltage-current characteristics obeyed the Townsend equation, agreeing with the general experimental observations. The model is applied to different electropositive gases, argon, xenon, nitrogen and mercury. Corona onset potentials are determined based on the discharge voltages at very low currents. Extensive parametric study for argon positive corona with varying anode tip radius, gap distance and gas pressure has been completed. All the simulated corona onset voltages are very well described by the generalized Peek's Law [1]. At sufficiently high current in the range of 0.1 mA, discharge filament is formed near the anode tip. [1] Peek F. W., Dielectric Phenomena in High Voltage Engineering, McGraw Hill, New York (1929).

Constant-current corona triode adapted and optimized for the characterization of thin dielectric films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giacometti, José A.

2018-05-01

This work describes an enhanced corona triode with constant current adapted to characterize the electrical properties of thin dielectric films used in organic electronic devices. A metallic grid with a high ionic transparency is employed to charge thin films (100 s of nm thick) with a large enough charging current. The determination of the surface potential is based on the grid voltage measurement, but using a more sophisticated procedure than the previous corona triode. Controlling the charging current to zero, which is the open-circuit condition, the potential decay can be measured without using a vibrating grid. In addition, the electric capacitance and the characteristic curves of current versus the stationary surface potential can also be determined. To demonstrate the use of the constant current corona triode, we have characterized poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films with films with thicknesses in the range from 300 to 500 nm, frequently used as gate dielectric in organic field-effect transistors.

Some crucial corona and prominence observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tandberg-Hanssen, E. A.

1986-01-01

A number of theories and hypotheses are currently being developed to explain the often complex behavior of corona and prominence plasmas. In order to test the theories and hypotheses certain crucial observations are necessary. Some of these observations are examined and a few conclusions are drawn. Corona mass balance, corona and prominence classifications, prominence formation and stability, and coronal mass ejection are dicussed.

Application of LIF technique for the space- and time-resolved monitoring of pollutant gas decomposition in nonthermal plasma reactors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizeraczyk, Jerzy; Ohkubo, Toshikazu; Kanazawa, Seiji; Kocik, Marek

2003-10-01

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique aided by intensified CCD light signal detection and fast digital image processing is demonstrated to be a useful diagnostic method for in-situ observation of the discharge-induced plasma-chemistry processes responsible for NOx(NO + NO2) decomposition occurring in non-thermal plasma reactors. In this paper a method and results of the LIF measurement of two-dimensional distribution of the ground-state NO molecule density inside a DC positive streamer corona reactor during NO removal from a flue gas simulator [air/NO(up to 300 ppm)] are presented. Either a needle-to-plate or nozzle-to-plate electrode system, having an electrode gap of 30-50 mm was used for generating the corona discharge in the reactor. The LIF monitoring of NO molecules was carried out under the steady-state DC corona discharge condition. The laser-induced fluorescence on the transition NO X2Π(v"=0)<--A2Σ+(v'=0) at λ=226nm was chosen for monitoring ground-state NO molecules in the reactor. This transition was induced by irradiation of the NO molecules with UV laser pulses generated by a laser system consisted of a XeF excimer laser, dye laser and BBO crystal. The laser pulses from the XeF excimer laser (Lambda Physik, Complex 150, λ=351 nm) pumped the dye laser (Lambda Physik, Scanmate) with Coumarin 47 as a dye, which generated the laser beam of a wavelength turned around λ=450 nm. Then, the tuned dye laser beam pumped the BBO crystal in which the second harmonic radiation of a wavelength correspondingly tuned around λ=226 nm was generated. The 226-nm UV laser pulses of energy of 0.8-2 mJ and duration of about 20 ns were transformed into the form of the so-called laser sheet (width of 1 mm, height of 30-50 mm) which passed between the electrodes through the operating gas. The obtained results, presented in the form of images, which illustrated the two-dimensional distributions of NO molecule concentration in the non-thermal reactor, showed that the corona discharge-induced removal of NO molecules occurred not only in the vicinity of the plasma region formed by the corona discharge-induced removal of NO molecules occurred not only in the vicinity of the plasma region formed by the corona streamers and in the downstream region of the reactor but also in the upstream region of the reactor, i.e. before the flue gas simulator has entered the plasma region. This information obtained owing to the LIF technique, is important for the understanding of the plasma-chemistry processes responsible for NOx decomposition in non-thermal plasma reactors and for optimising their performance.

Global Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling of the Solar Corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Linker, Jon A.

1998-01-01

The coronal magnetic field defines the structure of the solar corona, the position of the heliospheric current sheet, the regions of fast and slow solar wind, and the most likely sites of coronal mass ejections. There are few measurements of the magnetic fields in the corona, but the line-of-sight component of the global magnetic fields in the photosphere have been routinely measured for many years (for example, at Stanford's Wilcox Solar Observatory, and at the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak). The SOI/MDI instrument is now providing high-resolution full-disk magnetograms several times a day. Understanding the large-scale structure of the solar corona and inner heliosphere requires accurately mapping the measured photospheric magnetic field into the corona and outward. Ideally, a model should not only extrapolate the magnetic field, but should self-consistently reconstruct both the plasma and magnetic fields in the corona and solar wind. Support from our NASA SR&T contract has allowed us to develop three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) computations of the solar corona that incorporate observed photospheric magnetic fields into the boundary conditions. These calculations not only describe the magnetic field in the corona and interplanetary spice, but also predict the plasma properties as well. Our computations thus far have been successful in reproducing many aspects of both coronal and interplanetary data, including the structure of the streamer belt, the location of coronal hole boundaries, and the position and shape of the heliospheric current sheet. The most widely used technique for extrapolating the photospheric magnetic field into the corona and heliosphere are potential field models, such as the potential field source-surface model (PFSS),and the potential field current-sheet (PFCS) model

A Simple Analytical Model for Predicting the Detectable Ion Current in Ion Mobility Spectrometry Using Corona Discharge Ionization Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirk, Ansgar Thomas; Kobelt, Tim; Spehlbrink, Hauke; Zimmermann, Stefan

2018-05-01

Corona discharge ionization sources are often used in ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) when a non-radioactive ion source with high ion currents is required. Typically, the corona discharge is followed by a reaction region where analyte ions are formed from the reactant ions. In this work, we present a simple yet sufficiently accurate model for predicting the ion current available at the end of this reaction region when operating at reduced pressure as in High Kinetic Energy Ion Mobility Spectrometers (HiKE-IMS) or most IMS-MS instruments. It yields excellent qualitative agreement with measurement results and is even able to calculate the ion current within an error of 15%. Additional interesting findings of this model are the ion current at the end of the reaction region being independent from the ion current generated by the corona discharge and the ion current in High Kinetic Energy Ion Mobility Spectrometers (HiKE-IMS) growing quadratically when scaling down the length of the reaction region. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

A Simple Analytical Model for Predicting the Detectable Ion Current in Ion Mobility Spectrometry Using Corona Discharge Ionization Sources.

PubMed

Kirk, Ansgar Thomas; Kobelt, Tim; Spehlbrink, Hauke; Zimmermann, Stefan

2018-05-08

Corona discharge ionization sources are often used in ion mobility spectrometers (IMS) when a non-radioactive ion source with high ion currents is required. Typically, the corona discharge is followed by a reaction region where analyte ions are formed from the reactant ions. In this work, we present a simple yet sufficiently accurate model for predicting the ion current available at the end of this reaction region when operating at reduced pressure as in High Kinetic Energy Ion Mobility Spectrometers (HiKE-IMS) or most IMS-MS instruments. It yields excellent qualitative agreement with measurement results and is even able to calculate the ion current within an error of 15%. Additional interesting findings of this model are the ion current at the end of the reaction region being independent from the ion current generated by the corona discharge and the ion current in High Kinetic Energy Ion Mobility Spectrometers (HiKE-IMS) growing quadratically when scaling down the length of the reaction region. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Production mechanism of atomic nitrogen in atmospheric pressure pulsed corona discharge measured using two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Teramoto, Yoshiyuki; Ono, Ryo; Oda, Tetsuji

To study the production mechanism of atomic nitrogen, the temporal profile and spatial distribution of atomic nitrogen are measured in atmospheric pressure pulsed positive corona discharge using two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence. The absolute atomic nitrogen density in the streamer filaments is estimated from decay rate of atomic nitrogen in N{sub 2} discharge. The results indicate that the absolute atomic nitrogen density is approximately constant against discharge energy. When the discharge voltage is 21.5 kV, production yield of atomic nitrogen produced by an N{sub 2} discharge pulse is estimated to be 2.9 - 9.8 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 13} atoms and the energymore » efficiency of atomic nitrogen production is estimated to be about 1.8 - 6.1 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 16} atoms/J. The energy efficiency of atomic nitrogen production in N{sub 2} discharge is constant against the discharge energy, while that in N{sub 2}/O{sub 2} discharge increases with discharge energy. In the N{sub 2}/O{sub 2} discharge, two-step process of N{sub 2} dissociation plays significant role for atomic nitrogen production.« less

Degradation of the chlorophenoxyacetic herbicide 2,4-D by plasma-ozonation system.

PubMed

Bradu, C; Magureanu, M; Parvulescu, V I

2017-08-15

A novel advanced oxidation process based on the combination of ozonation with non-thermal plasma generated in a pulsed corona discharge was developed for the oxidative degradation of recalcitrant organic pollutants in water. The pulsed corona discharge in contact with liquid, operated in oxygen, produced 3.5mgL -1 ozone, which was subsequently introduced in the ozonation reactor. The solution to be treated was continuously circulated between the plasma reactor and the ozonation reactor. The system was tested for the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and considerably improved performance as compared to ozonation alone, both with respect to the removal of the target compound and to mineralization. The apparent reaction rate constant for 2,4-D removal was 0.195min -1 , more than two times higher than the value obtained in ozonation experiments. The mineralization reached more than 90% after 60min treatment and the chlorine balance confirms the absence of quantifiable amounts of chlorinated by-products. The energy efficiency was considerably enhanced by shortening the duration of the discharge pulses, which opens the way for further optimization of the electrical circuit design. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

APPLICATION OF CORONA DESTRUCTION AS A METHOD TO CONTROL VOLATILEORGANIC COMPOUNDS

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses EPA tests of two types of corona reactors. nemakes use of a bed of ferroelectric pellets across which analternating current electric field is impressed. he otherdevelops corona between two electrodes that have been energized bya fast rise time (nanosecond rang...

NOx formation in apokamp-type atmospheric pressure plasma jets in air initiated by a pulse-repetitive discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sosnin, Eduard A.; Didenko, Maria V.; Panarin, Victor A.; Skakun, Victor S.; Tarasenko, Victor F.; Liu, Dongping P.; Song, Ying

2018-04-01

The decomposition products of atmospheric pressure plasma of repetitive pulsed discharge in apokamp and corona modes were determined by optical and chemical methods. It is shown, that the decomposition products contain mainly nitrogen oxides NOx. A brief review of the plasma- and thermochemical reactions in the pulsed discharges was made. The review and experimental data allow us to explain the reactive oxygen species formation mechanisms in a potential discharge channel with apokamp. The possible applications of this plasma source for treatment of seeds of agricultural crops are discussed.

Heating of the corona by magnetic singularities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antiochos, Spiro K.

1990-01-01

Theoretical models of current-sheet formation and magnetic heating in the solar corona are examined analytically. The role of photospheric connectivity in determining the topology of the coronal magnetic field and its equilibrium properties is explored; nonequilibrium models of current-sheet formation (assuming an initially well connected field) are described; and particular attention is given to models with discontinuous connectivity, where magnetic singularities arise from smooth footpoint motions. It is shown that current sheets arise from connectivities in which the photospheric flux structure is complex, with three or more polarity regions and a magnetic null point within the corona.

Charge Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry of Droplets

PubMed Central

Jorabchi, Kaveh; Westphall, Michael S.; Smith, Lloyd M.

2008-01-01

We propose and evaluate a new mechanism to account for analyte ion signal enhancement in ultraviolet-laser desorption mass spectrometry of droplets in the presence of corona ions. Our new insights are based on timing control of corona ion production, laser desorption, and peptide ion extraction achieved by a novel pulsed corona apparatus. We demonstrate that droplet charging rather than gas-phase ion-neutral reactions is the major contributor to analyte ion generation from an electrically isolated droplet. Implications of the new mechanism, termed charge assisted laser desorption/ionization (CALDI), are discussed and contrasted to those of the laser desorption atmospheric pressure chemical ionization method (LD-APCI). It is also demonstrated that analyte ion generation in CALDI occurs with external electric fields about one order of magnitude lower than those needed for atmospheric pressure matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization or electrospray ionization of droplets. PMID:18387311

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL TUFT CORONA AND ELECTROHYDRODYNAMICS

EPA Science Inventory

The numerical simulation of three-dimensional tuft corona and electrohydrodynamics (EHD) is discussed. The importance of high-voltage and low-current operation in the wire-duct precipitator has focused attention on collecting high-resistivity dust. The local current density of in...

The effect of the configuration of a single electrode corona discharge on its acoustic characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Xinlei; Zhang, Liancheng; Huang, Yifan; Wang, Jin; Liu, Zhen; Yan, Keping

2017-07-01

A new sparker system based on pulsed spark discharge with a single electrode has already been utilized for oceanic seismic exploration. However, the electro-acoustic energy efficiency of this system is lower than that of arc discharge based systems. A simple electrode structure was investigated in order to improve the electro-acoustic energy efficiency of the spark discharge. Experiments were carried out on an experimental setup with discharge in water driven by a pulsed power source. The voltage-current waveform, acoustic signal and bubble oscillation were recorded when the relative position of the electrode varied. The electro-acoustic energy efficiency was also calculated. The load voltage had a saltation for the invaginated electrode tip, namely an obvious voltage remnant. The more the electrode tip was invaginated, the larger the pressure peaks and first period became. The results show that electrode recessing into the insulating layer is a simple and effective way to improve the electro-acoustic energy efficiency from 2% to about 4%.

Conversion of nitrogen oxides in N2:O2:CO2 and N2:O2:CO2:NO2 mixtures subjected to a dc corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dors, Mirosław; Mizeraczyk, Jerzy

1996-10-01

This paper concerns the influence of a direct current (dc) corona discharge on production and reduction of NO, NO2 and N2O in N2:O2:CO2 and N2:O2:CO2:NO2 mixtures. The corona discharge was generated in a needle-to-plate reactor. The positively polarized electrode consisted of 7 needles. The grounded electrode was a stainless steel plate. The gas flow rate through the reactor was varied from 28 to 110 cm3/s. The time-averaged discharge current ranged from 0 to 6 mA. It was found that in the N2:O2:CO2 mixture the corona discharge produced NO, NO2 and N2O. In the N2:O2:CO2:NO2 mixture the reduction of NO2 was between 6-56%, depending on the concentration of O2, gas flow rate and corona discharge current. The NO2 reduction was accompanied by production of NO and N2O. The results show that efficient reduction of nitrogen oxides by a corona discharge cannot be expected in the mixtures containing N2 and O2 if reducing additives are not employed.

Probing SEP Acceleration Processes With Near-relativistic Electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haggerty, Dennis K.; Roelof, Edmond C.

2009-11-01

Processes in the solar corona are prodigious accelerators of near-relativistic electrons. Only a small fraction of these electrons escape the low corona, yet they are by far the most abundant species observed in Solar Energetic Particle events. These beam-like energetic electron events are sometimes time-associated with coronal mass ejections from the western solar hemisphere. However, a significant number of events are observed without any apparent association with a transient event. The relationship between solar energetic particle events, coronal mass ejections, and near-relativistic electron events are better ordered when we classify the intensity time profiles during the duration of the beam-like anisotropies into three broad categories: 1) Spikes (rapid and equal rise and decay) 2) Pulses (rapid rise, slower decay) and 3) Ramps (rapid rise followed by a plateau). We report on the results of a study that is based on our catalog (covering nearly the complete Solar Cycle 23) of 216 near-relativistic electron events and their association with: solar electromagnetic emissions, shocks driven by coronal mass ejections, models of the coronal magnetic fields and energetic protons. We conclude that electron events with time-intensity profiles of Spikes and Pulses are associated with explosive events in the low corona while events with time-intensity profiles of Ramps are associated with the injection/acceleration process of the CME driven shock.

Reverse Current in Solar Flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, J. W., III

1978-01-01

An idealized steady state model of a stream of energetic electrons neutralized by a reverse current in the pre-flare solar plasma was developed. These calculations indicate that, in some cases, a significant fraction of the beam energy may be dissipated by the reverse current. Joule heating by the reverse current is a more effective mechanism for heating the plasma than collisional losses from the energetic electrons because the Ohmic losses are caused by thermal electrons in the reverse current which have much shorter mean free paths than the energetic electrons. The heating due to reverse currents is calculated for two injected energetic electron fluxes. For the smaller injected flux, the temperature of the coronal plasma is raised by about a factor of two. The larger flux causes the reverse current drift velocity to exceed the critical velocity for the onset of ion cyclotron turbulence, producing anomalous resistivity and an order of magnitude increase in the temperature. The heating is so rapid that the lack of ionization equilibrium may produce a soft X-ray and EUV pulse from the corona.

Discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface for mass spectrometry using a solenoid pulse valve.

PubMed

Usmanov, Dilshadbek T; Hiraoka, Kenzo

2016-08-30

For the development of on-site mass spectrometry for security and safety, point-of-care analysis, etc., the gas volume introduced into the vacuum should be reduced to a minimum. To cope with this demand, a discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface using a solenoid pulse valve was developed. The sample gas was introduced discontinuously into the ionization cell with a volume of 0.17 cm(3) . The sampled gas in the cell was ionized by an alternating current (ac) corona discharge. The generated ions were sampled through a 0.25 mm i.d. and 12 mm long nickel capillary into the vacuum of a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A gas flow rate of ~25 mL/min was achieved with the 1 Hz pulse valve operation and 20 ms valve opening time. Sub-ng limits of detection for less volatile compounds such as explosives and drugs were obtained. Due to its compact size and low gas load to the vacuum, this new interface may be useful for applications in miniaturized mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Impact of Type II Spicules in the Corona: Simulations and Synthetic Observables

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Sykora, Juan; De Pontieu, Bart; De Moortel, Ineke; Hansteen, Viggo H.; Carlsson, Mats

2018-06-01

The role of type II spicules in the corona has been a much debated topic in recent years. This paper aims to shed light on the impact of type II spicules in the corona using novel 2.5D radiative MHD simulations, including ion–neutral interaction effects with the Bifrost code. We find that the formation of simulated type II spicules, driven by the release of magnetic tension, impacts the corona in various manners. Associated with the formation of spicules, the corona exhibits (1) magneto-acoustic shocks and flows, which supply mass to coronal loops, and (2) transversal magnetic waves and electric currents that propagate at Alfvén speeds. The transversal waves and electric currents, generated by the spicule’s driver and lasting for many minutes, are dissipated and heat the associated loop. These complex interactions in the corona can be connected with blueshifted secondary components in coronal spectral lines (red–blue asymmetries) observed with Hinode/EIS and SOHO/SUMER, as well as the EUV counterpart of type II spicules and propagating coronal disturbances observed with the 171 Å and 193 Å SDO/AIA channels.

The influence of the breakdown electric field in the configuration of lightning corona sheath on charge distribution in the channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ignjatovic, Milan; Cvetic, Jovan; Heidler, Fridolin; Markovic, Slavoljub; Djuric, Radivoje

2014-11-01

A model of corona sheath that surrounds the thin core of the lightning channel has been investigated by using a generalized traveling current source return stroke model. The lightning channel is modeled by a charged corona sheath that stretches around a highly conductive central core through which the main current flows. The channel core with the negatively charged outer channel sheath forms a strong electric field, with an overall radial orientation. The return stroke process is modeled as the negative leader charge in the corona sheath being discharged by the positive charge coming from the channel core. Expressions that describe how the corona sheath radius evolves during the return stroke are obtained from the corona sheath model, which predicts charge motion within the sheath. The corona sheath model, set forth by Maslowski and Rakov (2006), Tausanovic et al. (2010), Marjanovic and Cvetic (2009), Cvetic et al. (2011) and Cvetic et al. (2012), divides the sheath onto three zones: zone 1 (surrounding the channel core with net positive charge), zone 2 (surrounding zone 1 with negative charge) and zone 3 (the outer zone, representing uncharged virgin air). In the present study, we have assumed a constant electric field inside zone 1, as suggested by experimental research of corona discharges in coaxial geometry conducted by Cooray (2000). The present investigation builds upon previous studies by Tausanovic et al. (2010) and Cvetic et al. (2012) in several ways. The value of the breakdown electric field has been varied for probing its effect on channel charge distribution prior and during the return stroke. With the aim of investigating initial space charge distribution along the channel, total electric field at the outer surface of the channel corona sheath, just before the return stroke, is calculated and compared for various return stroke models. A self-consistent algorithm is applied to the generalized traveling current source return stroke model, so that the boundary condition for total electric field is fulfilled. The new density of space charge and the new radius of channel corona envelope, immediately before the return stroke stage, are calculated. The obtained results indicate a strong dependence of channel charge distribution on the breakdown electric field value. Among the compared return stroke models, transmission-line-type models have exhibited a good agreement with the predictions of the Gauss' law regarding total breakdown electric field on the corona sheath's outer surface. The generalized lightning traveling current source return stroke model gives similar results if the adjustment of the space charge density inside the corona sheath is performed.

Study on law of negative corona discharge in microparticle-air two-phase flow media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Bo; Li, Tianwei; Xiu, Yaping; Zhao, Heng; Peng, Zongren; Meng, Yongpeng

2016-03-01

To study the basic law of negative corona discharge in solid particle-air two-phase flow, corona discharge experiments in a needle-plate electrode system at different voltage levels and different wind speed were carried out in the wind tunnel. In this paper, the change law of average current and current waveform were analyzed, and the observed phenomena were systematically explained from the perspectives of airflow, particle charging, and particle motion with the help of PIV (particle image velocity) measurements and ultraviolet observations.

Three-dimensional time domain model of lightning including corona effects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Podgorski, Andrew S.

1991-01-01

A new 3-D lightning model that incorporates the effect of corona is described for the first time. The new model is based on a Thin Wire Time Domain Lightning (TWTDL) Code developed previously. The TWTDL Code was verified during the 1985 and 1986 lightning seasons by the measurements conducted at the 553 m CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario. The inclusion of corona in the TWTDL code allowed study of the corona effects on the lightning current parameters and the associated electric field parameters.

Gaseous Effluent Treatment Using a Pulsed Corona Discharge

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-07-01

Air Products and Chemicals , Inc . 7201...Warfare Center, Air Products and Chemicals , Inc ., and Southwest Research Institute have investigated the abatement efficacy of a prototype coaxial PCR...NF3," NF3 Environmental Task Force, Air Products and Chemicals , Inc ., 1993. 2) P. Burggraaf, "Process Exhaust Treatment," Semiconductor

Pulsed corona discharge oxidation of aqueous carbamazepine micropollutant.

PubMed

Ajo, Petri; Krzymyk, Ewelina; Preis, Sergei; Kornev, Iakov; Kronberg, Leif; Louhi-Kultanen, Marjatta

2016-08-01

The anti-epileptic drug carbamazepine (CBZ) receives growing attention due to slow biodegradation and inherent accumulation in the aquatic environment. The application of a gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) was investigated to remove CBZ from synthetic solutions and spiked wastewater effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment facility. The treated water was showered between high voltage (HV) wires and grounded plate electrodes, to which ultra-short HV pulses were applied. CBZ was readily oxidized and 1-(2-benzaldehyde)-4-hydroquinazoline-2-one (BQM) and 1-(2-benzaldehyde)-4-hydro-quinazoline-2,4-dione (BQD) were identified as the most abundant primary transformation products, which, contrary to CBZ ozonation data available in the literature, were further easily oxidized with PCD: BQM and BQD attributed to only a minor portion of the target compound oxidized. In concentrations commonly found in wastewater treatment plant effluents (around 5 µg L(-1)), up to 97% reduction in CBZ concentration was achieved at mere 0.3 kW h m(-3) energy consumption, and over 99.9% was removed at 1 kW h m(-3). The PCD application proved to be efficient in the removal of both the parent substance and its known transformation products, even with the competing reactions in the complex composition of wastewater.

Degradation of methylparaben in water by corona plasma coupled with ozonation.

PubMed

Dobrin, D; Magureanu, M; Bradu, C; Mandache, N B; Ionita, P; Parvulescu, V I

2014-11-01

The degradation of methylparaben (MeP) in water was investigated using a pulsed corona discharge generated in oxygen, above the liquid. A comparison was made between results obtained in semi-batch corona (SBC) configuration (stationary solution, continuous gas flow) and results obtained in a semi-batch corona with recirculation combined with ozonation (SBCR + O3), where the liquid is continuously circulated between a solution reservoir and the plasma reactor and the effluent gas containing ozone is bubbled through the solution in the reservoir. It was found that MeP was completely degraded after 10-15 min of treatment in both configurations. Oxidation by ozone alone, in the absence of plasma, was a slower process. The energy efficiency for MeP removal (Y MeP) and for mineralization (Y TOC) was significantly higher in the SBCR + O3 configuration (Y MeP = 7.1 g/kWh at 90 % MeP removal and Y TOC = 0.41 g/kWh at 50 % total organic carbon (TOC) removal) than in the SBC configuration (Y MeP = 0.6 g/kWh at 90 % MeP removal and Y TOC = 0.11 g/kWh at 50 % TOC removal).

Numerical modeling of coronal mass ejections based on various pre-event model atmospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suess, S. T.; Wang, A. H.; Wu, S. T.; Poletto, G.

1994-01-01

We examine how the initial state (pre-event corona) affects the numerical MHD simulation for a coronal mass ejection (CME). Earlier simulations based on a pre-event corona with a homogeneous density and temperature distribution at lower boundary (i.e. solar surface) have been used to analyze the role of streamer properties in determining the characteristics of loop-like transients. The present paper extends these studies to show how a broader class of global coronal properties leads not only to different types of CME's, but also modifies the adjacent quiet corona and/or coronal holes. We consider four pre-event coronal cases: (1) Constant boundary conditions and a polytropic gas with gamma = 1.05; (2) Non-constant (latitude dependent) boundary conditions and a polytropic gas with gamma = 1.05; (3) Constant boundary conditions with a volumetric energy source and gamma = 1.67; (4) Non-constant (latitude dependent) boundary conditions with a volumetric energy source and gamma = 1.67. In all models, the pre-event magnetic fields separate the corona into closed field regions (streamers) and open field regions. The CME's initiation is simulated by introducing at the base of the corona, within the streamer region, a standard pressure pulse and velocity change. Boundary values are determined using MHD characteristic theory. The simulations show how different CME's, including loop-like transients, clouds, and bright rays, might occur. There are significant new features in comparison to published results. We conclude that the pre-event corona is a crucial factor in dictating CME's properties.

Numerical Modeling of Coronal Mass Ejections Based on Various Pre-event Model Atmospheres

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, A. H.; Wu, S. T.; Suess, S. T.; Poletto, G.

1995-01-01

We examine how the initial state (pre-event corona) affects the numerical MHD simulation for a coronal mass ejection (CME). Earlier simulations based on a pre-event corona with a homogeneous density and temperature distribution, at the lower boundary (i.e., solar surface) have been used to analyze the role of streamer properties in determining the characteristics of loop-like transients. The present paper extends these studies to show how a broader class of global coronal properties leads not only to different types of CME's, but also modifies the adjacent quiet corona and/or coronal holes. We consider four pre-event coronal cases: (1) constant boundary conditions and a polytropic gas with gamma = 1.05; (2) non-constant (latitude dependent) boundary conditions and a polytropic gas with gamma = 1.05; (3) constant boundary conditions with a volumetric energy source and gamma = 1.67; (4) non-constant (latitude dependent) boundary conditions with a volumetric energy source and gamma = 1.67. In all models, the pre-event magnetic fields separate the corona into closed field regions (streamers) and open field regions. The CME's initiation is simulated by introducing at the base of the corona, within the streamer region, a standard pressure pulse and velocity change. Boundary values are determined using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) characteristic theory. The simulations show how different CME's, including loop-like transients, clouds and bright rays, might occur. There are significant new features in comparison to published results. We conclude that the pre-event corona is a crucial factor in dictating CME's properties.

The influence of NH3 on NO2 conversion in a dc corona discharge in N2:O2:CO2:NO2:NH3 mixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dors, Mirosław; Mizeraczyk, Jerzy; Czech, Tadeusz; Konieczka, Jerzy

1996-10-01

The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of NH3 additive (540-1470 ppm) on the conversion of NO2 and the creation of NO and N2O in a mixture of N2:O2:CO2: NO2:NH3 subjected to the so-called direct current (dc) corona discharge. The dc corona discharge was generated in a needle-to-plate reactor. Seven positively polarized needles were used as one electrode and a stainless steel plate as the other. The time-averaged discharge current was varied from 0 to 7 mA. It was found that the dc corona discharge decomposed NO2 and produced NO and N2O. The reduction of NO2 was higher without NH3 additive if the residence time of the operating gas was relatively short. However, in a longer corona discharge processing the NH3 additive may be useful for reduction of NO2.

Understanding the nanoparticle-protein corona complexes using computational and experimental methods.

PubMed

Kharazian, B; Hadipour, N L; Ejtehadi, M R

2016-06-01

Nanoparticles (NP) have capability to adsorb proteins from biological fluids and form protein layer, which is called protein corona. As the cell sees corona coated NPs, the protein corona can dictate biological response to NPs. The composition of protein corona is varied by physicochemical properties of NPs including size, shape, surface chemistry. Processing of protein adsorption is dynamic phenomena; to that end, a protein may desorb or leave a surface vacancy that is rapidly filled by another protein and cause changes in the corona composition mainly by the Vroman effect. In this review, we discuss the interaction between NP and proteins and the available techniques for identification of NP-bound proteins. Also we review current developed computational methods for understanding the NP-protein complex interactions. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Self Assembly and Pyroelectric Poling for Organics

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-06

ozone or nitrogen oxides) and energetic species from corona discharge . These problems can strongly inhibit the efficient poling and large-scale...poling techniques. Although contact and corona poling protocols are quite well established for decades, there do exist some challenging problems. In...contact poling, severe charge injection from metal electrodes often results in large current that causes dielectric breakdown of films. Corona poling

Depolarization current relaxation process of insulating dielectrics after corona poling under different charging conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, J. W.; Zhou, T. C.; Wang, J. X.; Yang, X. F.; Zhu, F.; Tian, L. M.; Liu, R. T.

2017-10-01

As an insulating dielectric, polyimide is favorable for the application of optoelectronics, electrical insulation system in electric power industry, insulating, and packaging materials in space aircraft, due to its excellent thermal, mechanical and electrical insulating stability. The charge storage profile of such insulating dielectric is utmost important to its application, when it is exposed to electron irradiation, high voltage corona discharge or other treatments. These treatments could induce changes in physical and chemical properties of treated samples. To investigate the charge storage mechanism of the insulating dielectrics after high-voltage corona discharge, the relaxation processes responsible for corona charged polyimide films under different poling conditions were analyzed by the Thermally Stimulated Discharge Currents method (TSDC). In the results of thermal relaxation process, the appearance of various peaks in TSDC spectra provided a deep insight into the molecular status in the dielectric material and reflected stored space charge relaxation process in the insulating polymers after corona discharge treatments. Furthermore, the different space charge distribution status under various poling temperature and different discharge voltage level were also investigated, which could partly reflect the influence of the ambiance condition on the functional dielectrics after corona poling.

Study and Control of Various Corona Modes in an Atmospheric Pressure Weakly Ionized Plasma Reactor Using a Current Sensor Characterized by a Broad Frequency Band

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Islam, Rokibul; Pedrow, Patrick; Lekobou, William; Englund, Karl

2013-09-01

A broad band current sensor is being used to monitor the various phenomena (primary streamers, secondary streamers, back corona, etc.) associated with an atmospheric pressure needle-array-to-grounded-screen corona discharge. The reactor consists of a PVC tube and the needle array consists of nickel coated steel electrodes with radius of curvature about 50 μ . The grounded screen is made from stainless steel mesh and applied voltage has a frequency of 60 Hz with an RMS value ranging from 0 to 10 kV. The voltage sensor is a resistive divider and the current sensor is a viewing resistor with value 50 Ω. The feed gas stream is presently (argon + acetylene) or (argon + oxygen) with the argon acting as carrier gas and the acetylene and oxygen acting as precursor gases. Voltage and current are captured with a LeCroy 9350AL 500MHz oscilloscope and analyzed with Matlab using digital signal processing algorithms. The goals of the research are 1) to measure reactor electrical power on a real time basis; 2) to provide real time control of the applied voltage and thus avoid spark conditions; and 3) to identify the various corona modes present in the reactor. Processing of substrates takes place downstream from the grounded screen, outside of the harsh corona discharge environment.

Development of super-clean diesel engine and combustor using nonthermal plasma hybrid aftertreatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okubo, Masaaki

2015-10-01

One of important and successful environmental applications of atmospheric-pressure corona discharge or plasma is electrostatic precipitator (ESP), which have been widely used for coal- or oil-fired boilers in electric power plants and particulate matter control emitted from industries such as glass melting furnace system, etc. In the ESPs, steady high voltage is usually applied to a pair of electrodes (at least, one of these has sharp edge). Unsteady pulsed high voltage is often applied for the collection of high-resistivity particulate matter (PM) to avoid reverse corona phenomena which reduce the collection efficiency of the ESPs. It was found that unsteady high voltage can treat hazardous gaseous components (NOx, SOx, hydrocarbon, and CO, etc.) in the exhaust gas, and researches were shifted from PM removal to hazardous gases aftertreatment with unsteady corona discharge induced plasmas. In the paper, recent results on diesel engine and industrial boiler emission controls are mainly reviewed among these our research topics.

An Investigation of Ionic Wind Propulsion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, Jack; Perkins, Hugh D.; Thompson, William K.

2009-01-01

A corona discharge device generates an ionic wind and thrust, when a high voltage corona discharge is struck between sharply pointed electrodes and larger radius ground electrodes. The objective of this study was to examine whether this thrust could be scaled to values of interest for aircraft propulsion. An initial experiment showed that the thrust observed did equal the thrust of the ionic wind. Different types of high voltage electrodes were tried, including wires, knife-edges, and arrays of pins. A pin array was found to be optimum. Parametric experiments, and theory, showed that the thrust per unit power could be raised from early values of 5 N/kW to values approaching 50 N/kW, but only by lowering the thrust produced, and raising the voltage applied. In addition to using DC voltage, pulsed excitation, with and without a DC bias, was examined. The results were inconclusive as to whether this was advantageous. It was concluded that the use of a corona discharge for aircraft propulsion did not seem very practical.

A coronal magnetic field model with horizontal volume and sheet currents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhao, Xuepu; Hoeksema, J. Todd

1994-01-01

When globally mapping the observed photospheric magnetic field into the corona, the interaction of the solar wind and magnetic field has been treated either by imposing source surface boundary conditions that tacitly require volume currents outside the source surface or by limiting the interaction to thin current sheets between oppositely directed field regions. Yet observations and numerical Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) calculations suggest the presence of non-force-free volume currents throughout the corona as well as thin current sheets in the neighborhoods of the interfaces between closed and open field lines or between oppositely directed open field lines surrounding coronal helmet-streamer structures. This work presents a model including both horizontal volume currents and streamer sheet currents. The present model builds on the magnetostatic equilibria developed by Bogdan and Low and the current-sheet modeling technique developed by Schatten. The calculation uses synoptic charts of the line-of-sight component of the photospheric magnetic field measured at the Wilcox Solar Observatory. Comparison of an MHD model with the calculated model results for the case of a dipole field and comparison of eclipse observations with calculations for CR 1647 (near solar minimum) show that this horizontal current-current-sheet model reproduces polar plumes and axes of corona streamers better than the source-surface model and reproduces polar plumes and axes of corona streamers better than the source-surface model and reproduces coro nal helmet structures better than the current-sheet model.

Hi-C Observations of an Active Region Corona, and Investigation of the Underlying Magnetic Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, S. K.; Alexander, C. E.; Winebarger, A.; Moore, R. L.

2014-01-01

The solar corona is much hotter (>=10(exp 6) K) than its surface (approx 6000 K), puzzling astrophysicists for several decades. Active region (AR) corona is again hotter than the quiet Sun (QS) corona by a factor of 4-10. The most widely accepted mechanism that could heat the active region corona is the energy release by current dissipation via reconnection of braided magnetic field structure, first proposed by E. N. Parker three decades ago. The first observational evidence for this mechanism has only recently been presented by Cirtain et al. by using High-resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) observations of an AR corona at a spatial resolution of 0.2 arcsec, which is required to resolve the coronal loops, and was not available before the rocket flight of Hi-C in July 2012. The Hi-C project is led by NASA/MSFC. In the case of the QS, work done by convection/granulation on the inter-granular feet of the coronal field lines translates into the heat observed in the corona. In the case of the AR, as here, there could be flux emergence, cancellation/submergence, or shear flows generating large stress and tension in coronal field loops which is released as heat in the corona. We are currently investigating the changes taking place in photospheric feet of the magnetic field involved with brightenings in the Hi-C AR corona. For this purpose, we are also using SDO/AIA data of +/- 2 hours around the 5 minutes Hi-C flight. In the present talk, I will first summarize some of the results of the Hi-C observations and then present some results from our recent analysis on what photospheric processes feed the magnetic energy that dissipates into heat in coronal loops.

Dynamics of laser-guided alternating current high voltage discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daigle, J.-F.; Théberge, F.; Lassonde, P.; Kieffer, J.-C.; Fujii, T.; Fortin, J.; Châteauneuf, M.; Dubois, J.

2013-10-01

The dynamics of laser-guided alternating current high voltage discharges are characterized using a streak camera. Laser filaments were used to trigger and guide the discharges produced by a commercial Tesla coil. The streaking images revealed that the dynamics of the guided alternating current high voltage corona are different from that of a direct current source. The measured effective corona velocity and the absence of leader streamers confirmed that it evolves in a pure leader regime.

True Airspeed Measurement by Ionization-Tracer Technique

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Boyd, B.; Dorsch, R. G.; Brodie, G. H.

1952-01-01

Ion bundles produced in a pulse-excited corona discharge are used as tracers with a radar-like pulse transit-time measuring instrument in order to provide a measurement of airspeed that is independent of all variables except time and distance. The resulting instrumentation need not project into the air stream and, therefore, will not cause any interference in supersonic flow. The instrument was tested at Mach numbers ranging from 0.3 to 3.8. Use of the proper instrumentation and technique results in accuracy of the order of 1 percent.

The Formation of Ethane from Carbon Dioxide under Cold Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xiu-ling; Zhang, Lin; Dai, Bin; Gong, Wei-min; Liu, Chang-hou

2001-04-01

Pulsed-corona plasma has been used as a new method for ethane dehydrogenation at low temperature and normal pressure using carbon dioxide as an oxidant in this paper. The effect of carbon dioxide content in the feed, power input, and flow rate of the reactants on the ethane dehydrogenation has been investigated. The experimental results show that the conversion of ethane increases with the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the feed. The yield of ethylene and acetylene decreases with the increase in the yield of carbon monoxide, indicating that the increased carbon dioxide leads to the part of ethylene and acetylene being oxidized to carbon monoxide. Power input is primarily an electrical parameter in pulsed-corona plasma, which plays an important role in reactant conversion and product formation. When the power input reaches 16 W, ethane conversion is 41.0% and carbon dioxide conversion is 26.3%. The total yield of ethylene and acetylene is 15.6%. The reduced flow rate of feed improves the conversion of ethane, carbon dioxide and the yield of acetylene, and induces carbon deposit as well.

[Diagnosis of electron energy and comparative effects of OH, O or O3 on NO oxidation in pulsed corona discharge].

PubMed

Xuan, Jian-yong; Luo, Zhong-yang; Zhao, Lei; Jiang, Jian-ping; Gao, Xiang

2012-05-01

The spectrum of excited N2 molecules and ions was measured by optical emission spectroscopy in pulsed corona discharge with a wire-to-plate reactor. The ratio of emission intensities emitted by the excited molecules and ions of N2 was compared with numerical simulation to determine average electron energies and electric field distributions. Within 2 cm distance from wire electrode in horizontal and vertical directions, electric field and average electron energies appear to be in the ranges of 11.05 19.6 MV x m(-1) and 10.10-13.92 eV respectively; as the distance increases, average electron energies and electric field show a similar trend: first decrease and then increase. Chemically active species, such as OH, O and O3, can be generated through the energetic electron collisions with H2O and O2 directly or indirectly. For the NO oxidation, there is no coexistence of NO and O3, whereas there is a coexistence of NO and OH. NO is oxidized by O3 or O more efficiently than by OH radical.

78 FR 30399 - United States v. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV, Grupo Modelo S.A.B de C.V.; Proposed Final Judgment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-22

..., Mexico. Modelo is the third-largest brewer of beer sold in the United States. Modelo's Corona Extra brand... include Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Victoria, and Pacifico. 19. ABI currently holds a 35... such as Dogfish Head, Flying Dog, and also imported beers, the best selling of which is Modelo's Corona...

Dynamics of a lightning corona sheath—A constant field approach using the generalized traveling current source return stroke model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cvetic, Jovan; Heidler, Fridolin; Markovic, Slavoljub; Radosavljevic, Radovan; Osmokrovic, Predrag

2012-11-01

A generalized lightning traveling current source return stroke model has been used to examine the characteristics of the lightning channel corona sheath surrounding a thin channel core. A model of the lightning channel consisting of a charged corona sheath and a narrow, highly conducting central core that conducts the main current flow is assumed. Strong electric field, with a predominant radial direction, has been created during the return stroke between the channel core and the outer channel sheath containing the negative charge. The return stroke process is modeled with the positive charge coming from the channel core discharging the negative leader charge in the corona sheath. The corona sheath model that predicts the charge motion in the sheath is used to derive the expressions of the sheath radius vs. time during the return stroke. According to the corona sheath model proposed earlier by Maslowski and Rakov (2006) and Maslowski et al. (2009), it consists of three zones, zone 1 (surrounding channel core with net positive charge), zone 2 (surrounding zone 1 with negative charge) and zone 3 (outer zone representing the virgin air without charges). We adopted the assumption of a constant electric field inside zone 1 of the corona sheath observed in the experimental research of corona discharges in a coaxial geometry by Cooray (2000). This assumption seems to be more realistic than the assumption of a uniform corona space charge density used previously in the study of Maslowski and Rakov (2006), Marjanovic and Cvetic (2009), and Tausanovic et al. (2010). Applying the Gauss' law on the infinitesimally small cylindrical section of the channel the expressions for time-dependence of the radii of zones 1 and 2 during the return stroke are derived. The calculations have shown that the overall channel dynamics concerning electrical discharge is roughly 50% slower and the maximum radius of zone 1 is about 33% smaller compared to the corresponding values calculated in the study of Tausanovic et al. (2010).

Removal of a hydrogenated amorphous carbon film from the tip of a micropipette electrode using direct current corona discharge.

PubMed

Kakuta, Naoto; Okuyama, Naoki; Yamada, Yukio

2010-02-01

Micropipette electrodes are fabricated by coating glass micropipettes first with metal and then with hydrogenated amorphous carbon (a-C:H) as an electrical insulator. Furthermore, at the tip of the micropipette electrode, the deposited a-C:H film needs to be removed to expose the metal-coated surface and hollow for the purposes of electrical measurement and injection. This paper describes a convenient and reliable method for removing the a-C:H film using direct current corona discharge in atmospheric air. The initial film removal occurred at an applied voltage of 1.5-2.0 kV, accompanied by an abrupt increase in the discharge current. The discharge current then became stable at a microampere level in the glow corona mode, and the removed area gradually extended.

Core/corona modeling of diode-imploded annular loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terry, R. E.; Guillory, J. U.

1980-11-01

The effects of a tenuous exterior plasma corona with anomalous resistivity on the compression and heating of a hollow, collisional aluminum z-pinch plasma are predicted by a one-dimensional code. As the interior ("core") plasma is imploded by its axial current, the energy exchange between core and corona determines the current partition. Under the conditions of rapid core heating and compression, the increase in coronal current provides a trade-off between radial acceleration and compression, which reduces the implosion forces and softens the pitch. Combined with a heuristic account of energy and momentum transport in the strongly coupled core plasma and an approximate radiative loss calculation including Al line, recombination and Bremsstrahlung emission, the current model can provide a reasonably accurate description of imploding annular plasma loads that remain azimuthally symmetric. The implications for optimization of generator load coupling are examined.

Characterisation of the protein corona using tunable resistive pulse sensing: determining the change and distribution of a particle's surface charge.

PubMed

Blundell, Emma L C J; Healey, Matthew J; Holton, Elizabeth; Sivakumaran, Muttuswamy; Manstana, Sarabjit; Platt, Mark

2016-08-01

The zeta potential of the protein corona around carboxyl particles has been measured using tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS). A simple and rapid assay for characterising zeta potentials within buffer, serum and plasma is presented monitoring the change, magnitude and distribution of proteins on the particle surface. First, we measure the change in zeta potential of carboxyl-functionalised nanoparticles in solutions that contain biologically relevant concentrations of individual proteins, typically constituted in plasma and serum, and observe a significant difference in distributions and zeta values between room temperature and 37 °C assays. The effect is protein dependent, and the largest difference between the two temperatures is recorded for the γ-globulin protein where the mean zeta potential changes from -16.7 to -9.0 mV for 25 and 37 °C, respectively. This method is further applied to monitor particles placed into serum and/or plasma. A temperature-dependent change is again observed with serum showing a 4.9 mV difference in zeta potential between samples incubated at 25 and 37 °C; this shift was larger than that observed for samples in plasma (0.4 mV). Finally, we monitor the kinetics of the corona reorientation for particles initially placed into serum and then adding 5 % (V/V) plasma. The technology presented offers an interesting insight into protein corona structure and kinetics of formation measured in biologically relevant solutions, i.e. high protein, high salt levels, and its particle-by-particle analysis gives a measure of the distribution of particle zeta potential that may offer a better understanding of the behaviour of nanoparticles in solution. Graphical Abstract The relative velocity of a nanoparticle as it traverses a nanopore can be used to determine its zeta potential. Monitoring the changes in translocation speeds can therefore be used to follow changes to the surface chemistry/composition of 210 nm particles that were placed into protein rich solutions, serum and plasma. The particle-by-particle measurements allow the zeta potential and distribution of the particles to be characterised, illustrating the effects of protein concentration and temperature on the protein corona. When placed into a solution containing a mixture of proteins, the affinity of the protein to the particle's surface determines the corona structure, and is not dependent on the protein concentration.

Modeling and characterization of field-enhanced corona discharge in ozone-generator diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patil, Jagadish G.; Vijayan, T.

2010-02-01

Electric field enhanced corona plasma discharge in ozone generator diode of axial symmetry has been investigated and characterized in theory. The cathode K of diode is made of a large number of sharpened nozzles arranged on various radial planes on the axial mast and pervaded in oxygen gas inside the anode cup A, produces high fields over MV/m and aids in the formation of a corona plume of dense ozone cloud over the cathode surface. An r-z finite difference scheme has been devised and employed to numerically determine the potential and electric field distributions inside the diode. The analyses of cathode emissions revealed a field emission domain conformed to modified Child-Langmuir diode-current. Passage of higher currents (over μA) in shorter A-K gaps d gave rise to cathode heated plasma extending from the corona to Saha regimes depending on local temperature. Plasma densities of order 102-106 m-3 are predicted in these. For larger d however, currents are smaller and heating negligible and a negative corona favoring ozone formation is attained. High ozone yields about 20 per cent of oxygen input is predicted in this domain. The generator so developed will be applied to various important applications such as, purification of ambient air /drinking water, ozone therapy, and so on.

Visualization of the protein corona: towards a biomolecular understanding of nanoparticle-cell-interactions.

PubMed

Kokkinopoulou, Maria; Simon, Johanna; Landfester, Katharina; Mailänder, Volker; Lieberwirth, Ingo

2017-06-29

The use of nanocarriers in biology and medicine is complicated by the current need to understand how nanoparticles interact in complex biological surroundings. When nanocarriers come into contact with serum, proteins immediately adsorb onto their surface, forming a protein corona which defines their biological identity. Although the composition of the protein corona has been widely determined by proteomics, its morphology still remains unclear. In this study we show for the first time the morphology of the protein corona using transmission electron microscopy. We are able to demonstrate that the protein corona is not, as commonly supposed, a dense, layered shell coating the nanoparticle, but an undefined, loose network of proteins. Additionally, we are now able to visualize and discriminate between the soft and hard corona using centrifugation-based separation techniques together with proteomic characterization. The protein composition of the ∼15 nm hard corona strongly depends on the surface chemistry of the respective nanomaterial, thus further affecting cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking. Large diameter protein corona resulting from pre-incubation with soft corona or Apo-A1 inhibits cellular uptake, confirming the stealth-effect mechanism. In summary, the knowledge on protein corona formation, composition and morphology is essential to design therapeutic effective nanoparticle systems.

Ozone generation by negative direct current corona discharges in dry air fed coaxial wire-cylinder reactors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yehia, Ashraf; Mizuno, Akira

An analytical study was made in this paper for calculating the ozone generation by negative dc corona discharges. The corona discharges were formed in a coaxial wire-cylinder reactor. The reactor was fed by dry air flowing with constant rates at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, and stressed by a negative dc voltage. The current-voltage characteristics of the negative dc corona discharges formed inside the reactor were measured in parallel with concentration of the generated ozone under different operating conditions. An empirical equation was derived from the experimental results for calculating the ozone concentration generated inside the reactor. The results, thatmore » have been recalculated by using the derived equation, have agreed with the experimental results over the whole range of the investigated parameters, except in the saturation range for the ozone concentration. Therefore, the derived equation represents a suitable criterion for expecting the ozone concentration generated by negative dc corona discharges in dry air fed coaxial wire-cylinder reactors under any operating conditions in range of the investigated parameters.« less

Formation and Reconnection of Three-Dimensional Current Sheets in the Solar Corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Edmondson, J. K.; Antiochos, S. K.; DeVore, C. R.; Zurbuchen, T. H.

2010-01-01

Current-sheet formation and magnetic reconnection are believed to be the basic physical processes responsible for much of the activity observed in astrophysical plasmas, such as the Sun s corona. We investigate these processes for a magnetic configuration consisting of a uniform background field and an embedded line dipole, a topology that is expected to be ubiquitous in the corona. This magnetic system is driven by a uniform horizontal flow applied at the line-tied photosphere. Although both the initial field and the driver are translationally symmetric, the resulting evolution is calculated using a fully three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (3D MHD) simulation with adaptive mesh refinement that resolves the current sheet and reconnection dynamics in detail. The advantage of our approach is that it allows us to apply directly the vast body of knowledge gained from the many studies of 2D reconnection to the fully 3D case. We find that a current sheet forms in close analogy to the classic Syrovatskii 2D mechanism, but the resulting evolution is different than expected. The current sheet is globally stable, showing no evidence for a disruption or a secondary instability even for aspect ratios as high as 80:1. The global evolution generally follows the standard Sweet- Parker 2D reconnection model except for an accelerated reconnection rate at a very thin current sheet, due to the tearing instability and the formation of magnetic islands. An interesting conclusion is that despite the formation of fully 3D structures at small scales, the system remains close to 2D at global scales. We discuss the implications of our results for observations of the solar corona. Subject Headings: Sun: corona Sun: magnetic fields Sun: reconnection

Instrumentation for investigation of corona discharges from insulated wires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doreswamy, C. V.; Crowell, C. S.

1975-01-01

A coaxial cylinder configuration is used to investigate the effect of corona impulses on the deterioration of electrical insulation. The corona currents flowing through the resistance develop a voltage which is fed to the measuring set-up. The value of this resistance is made equal to the surge impedance of the coaxial cylinder set up to prevent reflections. This instrumentation includes a phase shifter and Schmidt trigger and is designed to sample, measure, and display corona impulses occurring during any predetermined sampling period of a randomly selectable half cycle of the 60 Hz high voltage wave.

Sterilization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using micro corona ionizer.

PubMed

Chua, Beelee; Son, Ahjeong

2014-06-01

We demonstrated in vitro sterilization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria on agar by a pin-between-planes micro corona ionizer. The gap between the pin and the grid was ~1.1 mm, the length of the grid was ~2.1 mm and the height was ~1.0 mm. The effective pin radius and discharge length were both approximated to be 200 μm. Ozone generation rates of ~2.3 × 10(-3) mg/s, ~2.7 × 10(-3) mg/s and ~3.5 × 10(-3) mg/s at 1,500 V were calculated for relative humidity (RH) of 35 %, 25 % and 10 % respectively. Analytical ozone generation rate increases as RH decreases and it is consistent with experimental observations. Using target and control petri dishes with E. coli plated agar, the sterilization capability of the micro corona ionizer at 37 °C for 24 h was evaluated. A ~60 % reduction in bacterial colony was shown with plate counting and its kill radius could be tuned from ~ 20 mm to ~5 mm by reducing the duty cycle from 100 % to 50 % with 30 min pulse width. The results suggested that the micro corona ionizer might be suitable as a tunable ozone source in wound dressing for chronic wound management.

Relating magnetic reconnection to coronal heating

PubMed Central

Longcope, D. W.; Tarr, L. A.

2015-01-01

It is clear that the solar corona is being heated and that coronal magnetic fields undergo reconnection all the time. Here we attempt to show that these two facts are related—i.e. coronal reconnection generates heat. This attempt must address the fact that topological change of field lines does not automatically generate heat. We present one case of flux emergence where we have measured the rate of coronal magnetic reconnection and the rate of energy dissipation in the corona. The ratio of these two, , is a current comparable to the amount of current expected to flow along the boundary separating the emerged flux from the pre-existing flux overlying it. We can generalize this relation to the overall corona in quiet Sun or in active regions. Doing so yields estimates for the contribution to coronal heating from magnetic reconnection. These estimated rates are comparable to the amount required to maintain the corona at its observed temperature. PMID:25897089

Effect of water on sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) removal from flue gas in a direct current corona discharge reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jiaxiang; Chi, Xiaochun; Dong, Limin

2007-05-01

A direct current (dc) corona discharge reactor composed of needle-plate electrodes in a glass container filled with flue gas was designed. To clarify the influence of water on discharge characteristics, water was introduced in the plasma reactor as electrode where plate electrode is immersed, under the application of dc voltage. Experiment results show that (1) corona wind forming between high-voltage needle electrode and water by corona discharge enhances the cleaning efficiency of flue gas due to the existence of water and the cleaning efficiency will increase with the increase of applied dc voltage within definite range and (2) both removal efficiencies of NOx and SO2 increased in the presence of water, which reach up to 98% for SO2, and about 85% for NOx under suitable conditions. These results play an important role in flue gas cleanup research.

Pulsed Streamer Corona Reactor Characterization - Phase II

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-12-01

34,STATUS="UNKN0WN") OPEN (LINKCK, FORM=’UNFORMATTED’, STATUS=’UNKNOWN’, 1 FILE=’chem.bin’) CALL CKLEN (LINKCK, LOUT, LENI, LENR , LENC) CALL CKINIT...NEQ + 2*NEQ**2 MVDDE = LENR + 1 NWT = NVODE + LRW NH = NWT + KK NWDOT = NH + KK NTOT = NWDOT+ KK - 1 LIW = 30 + NEQ IVODE = LENI + 1

Thermonuclear plasma with autocatalytic thermomagnetic current amplification by nuclear reactions from fusion neutrons

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Winterberg, F.

2006-03-15

It is proposed to use the neutrons released from a deuterium-tritium or deuterium-deuterium fusion reaction to drive thermomagnetic currents in a plasma corona surrounding the fusion plasma through the heating of the corona with nuclear reactions by the neutrons released in the fusion reaction. Because the neutron reaction cross sections are larger for slow neutrons, it is proposed to slow them down in a moderator separated from the hot plasma of the corona, giving the configuration a striking similarity to a heterogeneous nuclear fission reactor. While in a fission reactor the separation makes possible a growing neutron chain reaction, itmore » here makes possible the autocatalytic amplification of the thermomagnetic currents by an increase of the fusion reaction rate through a rise of the plasma pressure by the magnetic pressure of the thermomagnetic currents. This is expected to substantially increase the n{tau} product over its Lawson value.« less

Nanoscale discharge electrode for minimizing ozone emission from indoor corona devices.

PubMed

Bo, Zheng; Yu, Kehan; Lu, Ganhua; Mao, Shun; Chen, Junhong; Fan, Fa-Gung

2010-08-15

Ground-level ozone emitted from indoor corona devices poses serious health risks to the human respiratory system and the lung function. Federal regulations call for effective techniques to minimize the indoor ozone production. In this work, stable atmospheric corona discharges from nanomaterials are demonstrated using horizontally suspended carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the discharge electrode. Compared with the conventional discharges employing micro- or macroscale electrodes, the corona discharge from CNTs could initiate and operate at a much lower voltage due to the small electrode diameter, and is thus energy-efficient. Most importantly, the reported discharge is environmentally friendly since no ozone (below the detection limit of 0.5 ppb) was detected for area current densities up to 0.744 A/m(2) due to the significantly reduced number of electrons and plasma volume generated by CNT discharges. The resulting discharge current density depends on the CNT loading. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, negative CNT discharges should be used to enhance the current density owing to the efficient field emission of electrons from the CNT surface.

High-voltage electrode optimization towards uniform surface treatment by a pulsed volume discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ponomarev, A. V.; Pedos, M. S.; Scherbinin, S. V.; Mamontov, Y. I.; Ponomarev, S. V.

2015-11-01

In this study, the shape and material of the high-voltage electrode of an atmospheric pressure plasma generation system were optimised. The research was performed with the goal of achieving maximum uniformity of plasma treatment of the surface of the low-voltage electrode with a diameter of 100 mm. In order to generate low-temperature plasma with the volume of roughly 1 cubic decimetre, a pulsed volume discharge was used initiated with a corona discharge. The uniformity of the plasma in the region of the low-voltage electrode was assessed using a system for measuring the distribution of discharge current density. The system's low-voltage electrode - collector - was a disc of 100 mm in diameter, the conducting surface of which was divided into 64 radially located segments of equal surface area. The current at each segment was registered by a high-speed measuring system controlled by an ARM™-based 32-bit microcontroller. To facilitate the interpretation of results obtained, a computer program was developed to visualise the results. The program provides a 3D image of the current density distribution on the surface of the low-voltage electrode. Based on the results obtained an optimum shape for a high-voltage electrode was determined. Uniformity of the distribution of discharge current density in relation to distance between electrodes was studied. It was proven that the level of non-uniformity of current density distribution depends on the size of the gap between electrodes. Experiments indicated that it is advantageous to use graphite felt VGN-6 (Russian abbreviation) as the material of the high-voltage electrode's emitting surface.

The development of high-voltage repetitive low-jitter corona stabilized triggered switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geng, Jiuyuan; Yang, Jianhua; Cheng, Xinbing; Yang, Xiao; Chen, Rong

2018-04-01

The high-power switch plays an important part in a pulse power system. With the trend of pulse power technology toward modularization, miniaturization, and accuracy control, higher requirements on electrical trigger and jitter of the switch have been put forward. A high-power low-jitter corona-stabilized triggered switch (CSTS) is designed in this paper. This kind of CSTS is based on corona stabilized mechanism, and it can be used as a main switch of an intense electron-beam accelerator (IEBA). Its main feature was the use of an annular trigger electrode instead of a traditional needle-like trigger electrode, taking main and side trigger rings to fix the discharging channels and using SF6/N2 gas mixture as its operation gas. In this paper, the strength of the local field enhancement was changed by a trigger electrode protrusion length Dp. The differences of self-breakdown voltage and its stability, delay time jitter, trigger requirements, and operation range of the switch were compared. Then the effect of different SF6/N2 mixture ratio on switch performance was explored. The experimental results show that when the SF6 is 15% with the pressure of 0.2 MPa, the hold-off voltage of the switch is 551 kV, the operating range is 46.4%-93.5% of the self-breakdown voltage, the jitter is 0.57 ns, and the minimum trigger voltage requirement is 55.8% of the peak. At present, the CSTS has been successfully applied to an IEBA for long time operation.

The development of high-voltage repetitive low-jitter corona stabilized triggered switch.

PubMed

Geng, Jiuyuan; Yang, Jianhua; Cheng, Xinbing; Yang, Xiao; Chen, Rong

2018-04-01

The high-power switch plays an important part in a pulse power system. With the trend of pulse power technology toward modularization, miniaturization, and accuracy control, higher requirements on electrical trigger and jitter of the switch have been put forward. A high-power low-jitter corona-stabilized triggered switch (CSTS) is designed in this paper. This kind of CSTS is based on corona stabilized mechanism, and it can be used as a main switch of an intense electron-beam accelerator (IEBA). Its main feature was the use of an annular trigger electrode instead of a traditional needle-like trigger electrode, taking main and side trigger rings to fix the discharging channels and using SF 6 /N 2 gas mixture as its operation gas. In this paper, the strength of the local field enhancement was changed by a trigger electrode protrusion length Dp. The differences of self-breakdown voltage and its stability, delay time jitter, trigger requirements, and operation range of the switch were compared. Then the effect of different SF 6 /N 2 mixture ratio on switch performance was explored. The experimental results show that when the SF 6 is 15% with the pressure of 0.2 MPa, the hold-off voltage of the switch is 551 kV, the operating range is 46.4%-93.5% of the self-breakdown voltage, the jitter is 0.57 ns, and the minimum trigger voltage requirement is 55.8% of the peak. At present, the CSTS has been successfully applied to an IEBA for long time operation.

Ultraviolet corona detection sensor study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmitt, R. J.; MATHERN

1976-01-01

The feasibility of detecting electrical corona discharge phenomena in a space simulation chamber via emission of ultraviolet light was evaluated. A corona simulator, with a hemispherically capped point to plane electrode geometry, was used to generate corona glows over a wide range of pressure, voltage, current, electrode gap length and electrode point radius. Several ultraviolet detectors, including a copper cathode gas discharge tube and a UV enhanced silicon photodiode detector, were evaluated in the course of the spectral intensity measurements. The performance of both silicon target vidicons and silicon intensified target vidicons was evaluated analytically using the data generated by the spectroradiometer scans and the performance data supplied by the manufacturers.

3D MHD MODELING OF TWISTED CORONAL LOOPS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reale, F.; Peres, G.; Orlando, S.

We perform MHD modeling of a single bright coronal loop to include the interaction with a non-uniform magnetic field. The field is stressed by random footpoint rotation in the central region and its energy is dissipated into heating by growing currents through anomalous magnetic diffusivity that switches on in the corona above a current density threshold. We model an entire single magnetic flux tube in the solar atmosphere extending from the high- β chromosphere to the low- β corona through the steep transition region. The magnetic field expands from the chromosphere to the corona. The maximum resolution is ∼30 km.more » We obtain an overall evolution typical of loop models and realistic loop emission in the EUV and X-ray bands. The plasma confined in the flux tube is heated to active region temperatures (∼3 MK) after ∼2/3 hr. Upflows from the chromosphere up to ∼100 km s{sup −1} fill the core of the flux tube to densities above 10{sup 9} cm{sup −3}. More heating is released in the low corona than the high corona and is finely structured both in space and time.« less

Line transients with corona

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Saied, M.M.; Safar, Y.A.; Salama, M.H.

1987-01-01

This paper investigates the effect of corona on the electromagnetic transients along high voltage overhead lines. A method is presented to simulate the line by dividing it into a number of sections connected in cascade. For {ital n} line sections, the number of the unknown variables is 2{ital n} + 1. The method allows any waveform of the exciting voltage function, as well as any impedance loading condition. The corona is represented by voltage-dependent shunt current sources. A systematic way for writing a sufficient number of differential equations is shown. For their solution, a digital computer subroutine based on themore » Runge--Kutta--Verner method was used. An artificial frequency-dependent damping by means of linear resistors was used to suppress the Gibb's oscillations in the solution. The proposed method is applied to study the transients on a 40 km high voltage line with 30-ft flat phase spacing and a single 1.4 inch ACSR conductor per phase. The exciting voltage has a double-exponential impulse waveform. Solutions are given for three values of resistive loads Z{sub {ital c}}2Z{sub {ital c}} and Z{sub {ital c}}/2, where Z{sub {ital c}} is the line surge impedance. The results of two interesting cases of inductive and capacitive loads are also given. Physical interpretations for the different solutions are given. Also, the current-voltage duality between inductive and capacitive loads is recognized. The corona was found to attenuate and distort the travelling waves. For example, during one wave excursion, the reduction of the current wave peaks can reach values as high as 8.5%. The effect is more noticeable in the current than in the voltage waves. As expected, it increases also with the line corona losses. The effect of the increase of the line effective capacitance due to the corona discharge is also demonstrated.« less

Remote electrical arc suppression by laser filamentation.

PubMed

Schubert, Elise; Mongin, Denis; Kasparian, Jérôme; Wolf, Jean-Pierre

2015-11-02

We investigate the interaction of narrow plasma channels formed in the filamentation of ultrashort laser pulses, with a DC high voltage. The laser filaments prevent electrical arcs by triggering corona that neutralize the high-voltage electrodes. This phenomenon, that relies on the electric field modulation and free electron release around the filament, opens new prospects to lightning and over-voltage mitigation.

Hypothesis on the Origin of Chaotic Pulse Train in Dart Leader

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pu, Y.; Qie, X.; Sun, Z.; Jiang, R.; Liu, M.; Zhang, H.

2017-12-01

The origin of chaotic pulse train (CPT) during the dart leader propagation remains debatable. Based on previous observations, the `chaotic' dart leader is featured by chaotic electric fields, large charge transfer and high energetic radiation. In some cases, the cause of CPT was attributed to the concurrent branches or upward connecting leader. In this presentation, after carefully examining the simultaneous optical, electrical and VHF location data of triggered lightning in SHATLE and some results in other literature, we found the close relationship between the upper luminous leader segment and CPT. It is hypothesized that the CPT originates from the luminous corona zone around the upper leader channel beyond the leader tip. The fast, sufficient supply of negative charge from the cloud can result in a net negative charge layer around the ionized channel surface. Then new diffuse discharge can make a corona zone outside the channel and radiates in a chaotic way. The cloud charge reservoir and the speed of charge transfer, which can be indicated by the speed of the leader, are determinative to the generation of CPT. Using VHF location technique, we also estimated the speed evolution of the leader and link it with electric field change.

Effect of corona discharge on cadmium sulphide and lead sulphide films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koul Chaku, Anemone; Singh, Pramod K.; Bhattacharya, Bhaskar

2018-03-01

This paper describes the effect of corona discharge on cadmium sulphide (CdS) and lead sulphide (PbS) films prepared using the chemical route. The property of films before and after exposure to corona has been described in detail. The electronic properties of the CdS and PbS films have been studied by current-voltage (I-V), capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements. The structural properties and surface morphology were studied by using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy before and after exposing to Corona discharge. The films displayed the change in surface morphology after exposure to the corona discharge. It has been found that the films showed an increase in resistivity after exposure. This change in property has been attributed to modification in surface states. Time-dependent recovery indicated that room temperature annealing is sufficient to regain the normal resistivity of the films. The experiment was carried with the aim of studying the effect of the interaction of corona discharge on the semiconductor films and its subsequent effects.

OZONE GENERATION IN DC-ENERGIZED ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPATORS

EPA Science Inventory

Ozone emissions from a short wire-plate precipitator and three commercial electronic air cleaners were measured. Ozone generation was most strongly affected by the corona current and polarity of the discharge electrode. To a lesser extent, the type of corona (i.e. whether tuft or...

Asymptotic analysis of corona discharge from thin electrodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Durbin, P. A.

1986-01-01

The steady discharge of a high-voltage corona is analyzed as a singular perturbation problem. The small parameter is the ratio of the length of the ionization region to the total gap length. By this method, current versus voltage characteristics can be calculated analytically.

Multiscale simulation of DC corona discharge and ozone generation from nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Pengxiang

Atmospheric direct current (dc) corona discharge from micro-sized objects has been widely used as an ion source in many devices, such as photocopiers, laser printers, and electronic air cleaners. Shrinking the size of the discharge electrode to the nanometer range (e.g., through the use of carbon nanotubes or CNTs) is expected to lead to a significant reduction in power consumption and detrimental ozone production in these devices. The objectives of this study are to unveil the fundamental physics of the nanoscale corona discharge and to evaluate its performance and ozone production through numerical models. The extremely small size of CNTs presents considerable complexity and challenges in modeling CNT corona discharges. A hybrid multiscale model, which combines a kinetic particle-in-cell plus Monte Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) model and a continuum model, is developed to simulate the corona discharge from nanostructures. The multiscale model is developed in several steps. First, a pure PIC-MCC model is developed and PIC-MCC simulations of corona plasma from micro-sized electrode with same boundary conditions as prior model are performed to validate the PIC-MCC scheme. The agreement between the PIC-MCC model and the prior continuum model indicates the validity of the PIC-MCC scheme. The validated PIC-MCC scheme is then coupled with a continuum model to simulate the corona discharge from a micro-sized electrode. Unlike the prior continuum model which only predicts the corona plasma region, the hybrid model successfully predicts the self-consistent discharge process in the entire corona discharge gap that includes both corona plasma region and unipolar ion region. The voltage-current density curves obtained by the hybrid model agree well with analytical prediction and experimental results. The hybrid modeling approach, which combines the accuracy of a kinetic model and the efficiency of a continuum model, is thus validated for modeling dc corona discharges. For simulation of corona discharges from nanostructures, a one-dimensional (1-D) multiscale model is used due to the prohibitive computational expense associated with two-dimensional (2-D) modeling. Near the nanoscale discharge electrode surface, a kinetic model based on PIC-MCC is used due to a relatively large Knudsen number in this region. Far away from the nanoscale discharge electrode, a continuum model is used since the Knudsen number is very small there. The multiscale modeling results are compared with experimental data. The quantitative agreement in positive discharges and qualitative agreement in negative discharges validate the modeling approach. The mechanism of sustaining the discharge process from nanostructures is revealed and is found to be different from that of discharge from micro- or macro-sized electrodes. Finally, the corona plasma model is combined with a plasma chemistry model and a transport model to predict the ozone production from the nanoscale corona. The dependence of ozone production on the applied potential and air velocity is studied. The electric field distribution in a 2-D multiscale domain (from nanoscale to microscale) is predicted by solving the Poisson's equation using a finite difference scheme. The discretized linear equations are solved using a multigrid method under the framework of PETSc on a paralleled supercomputer. Although the Poisson solver is able to resolve the multiscale field, the prohibitively long computation time limits the use of a 2-D solver in the current PIC-MCC scheme.

Combined corona discharge and UV photoionization source for ion mobility spectrometry.

PubMed

Bahrami, Hamed; Tabrizchi, Mahmoud

2012-08-15

An ion mobility spectrometer is described which is equipped with two non-radioactive ion sources, namely an atmospheric pressure photoionization and a corona discharge ionization source. The two sources cannot only run individually but are additionally capable of operating simultaneously. For photoionization, a UV lamp was mounted parallel to the axis of the ion mobility cell. The corona discharge electrode was mounted perpendicular to the UV radiation. The total ion current from the photoionization source was verified as a function of lamp current, sample flow rate, and drift field. Simultaneous operation of the two ionization sources was investigated by recording ion mobility spectra of selected samples. The design allows one to observe peaks from either the corona discharge or photoionization individually or simultaneously. This makes it possible to accurately compare peaks in the ion mobility spectra from each individual source. Finally, the instrument's capability for discriminating two peaks appearing in approximately identical drift times using each individual ionization source is demonstrated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

THE WAVE PROPERTIES OF CORONAL BRIGHT FRONTS OBSERVED USING SDO/AIA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Long, David M.; DeLuca, Edward E.; Gallagher, Peter T., E-mail: longda@tcd.ie

2011-11-15

Coronal bright fronts (CBFs) are large-scale wavefronts that propagate through the solar corona at hundreds of kilometers per second. While their kinematics have been studied in detail, many questions remain regarding the temporal evolution of their amplitude and pulse width. Here, contemporaneous high cadence, multi-thermal observations of the solar corona from the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) and Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft are used to determine the kinematics and expansion rate of a CBF wavefront observed on 2010 August 14. The CBF was found to have a lower initial velocity with weaker deceleration in STEREO observations compared to SDOmore » observations ({approx}340 km s{sup -1} and -72 m s{sup -2} as opposed to {approx}410 km s{sup -1} and -279 m s{sup -2}). The CBF kinematics from SDO were found to be highly passband-dependent, with an initial velocity ranging from 379 {+-} 12 km s{sup -1} to 460 {+-} 28 km s{sup -1} and acceleration ranging from -128 {+-} 28 m s{sup -2} to -431 {+-} 86 m s{sup -2} in the 335 A and 304 A passbands, respectively. These kinematics were used to estimate a quiet coronal magnetic field strength range of {approx}1-2 G. Significant pulse broadening was also observed, with expansion rates of {approx}130 km s{sup -1} (STEREO) and {approx}220 km s{sup -1} (SDO). By treating the CBF as a linear superposition of sinusoidal waves within a Gaussian envelope, the resulting dispersion rate of the pulse was found to be {approx}8-13 Mm{sup 2} s{sup -1}. These results are indicative of a fast-mode magnetoacoustic wave pulse propagating through an inhomogeneous medium.« less

Pulsed corona discharge for improving treatability of coking wastewater.

PubMed

Liu, Ming; Preis, Sergei; Kornev, Iakov; Hu, Yun; Wei, Chao-Hai

2018-02-01

Coking wastewater (CW) contains toxic and macromolecular substances that inhibit biological treatment. The refractory compounds remaining in biologically treated coking wastewater (BTCW) provide chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color levels that make it unacceptable for reuse or disposal. Gas-phase pulsed corona discharge (PCD) utilizing mostly hydroxyl radicals and ozone as oxidants was applied to both raw coking wastewater (RCW) and BTCW wastewater as a supplemental treatment. The energy efficiency of COD, phenol, thiocyanate and cyanide degradation by PCD was the subject of the research. The cost-effective removal of intermediate oxidation products with addition of lime was also studied. The energy efficiency of oxidation was inversely proportional to the pulse repetition frequency: lower frequency allows more effective utilization of ozone at longer treatment times. Oxidative treatment of RCW showed the removal of phenol and thiocyanate at 800 pulses per second from 611 to 227mg/L and from 348 to 86mg/L, respectively, at 42kWh/m 3 delivered energy, with substantial improvement in the BOD 5 /COD ratio (from 0.14 to 0.43). The COD and color of BTCW were removed by 30% and 93%, respectively, at 20kWh/m 3 , showing energy efficiency for the PCD treatment exceeding that of conventional ozonation by a factor of 3-4. Application of lime appeared to be an effective supplement to the PCD treatment of RCW, degrading COD by about 28% at an energy input of 28kWh/m 3 and the lime dose of 3.0kg/m 3 . The improvement of RCW treatability is attributed to the degradation of toxic substances and fragmentation of macromolecular compounds. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chromospheric-coronal coupling during solar flares: Current systems and particle acceleration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winglee, Robert M.; Mckean, M. E.; Dulk, G. A.

1989-01-01

Two-dimensional (three velocity) electrostatic particle simulations are used to investigate the particle heating and acceleration associated with the impulsive phase of a solar flare. A crossfield current in the high corona (which is presumably driven by reconnection processes) is used to initiate the flare. Due to the differential motion of the electrons and ions, currents, and associated quasi-static electric fields are generated with the primary current and balancing return current being on adjacent field lines. These currents extend from the corona down into the chromosphere. Electrons can be accelerated to energies exceeding 100 keV on short time scales via the quasi-static fields and wave-particle interactions. The spectra of these electrons has a broken power-law distribution which hardens in time. The spatially separate primary and return currents are closed by the cross-field acceleration of the ambient ions into the primary current regions. These ions are then accelerated upwards into the corona by the same quasi-static electric field accelerating the electrons downwards. This acceleration can account for the broadened stationary and weak blue shifted component seen in soft x ray line emissions and enhancements in heavy ion abundances seen in the solar wind in associations with solar flares.

Gas spark switches with increased operating life for Marx generator of lightning test complex

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bykov, Yu. A.; Krastelev, E. G., E-mail: ekrastelev@yandex.ru

A new design of gas spark switches with an increased operating life and stable dynamic characteristics for the Marx generator of the lightning test complex has been developed. The switches are characterized by the following parameters in the mode of operation: voltage up to 80 kV, discharge current up to 50 kA, flowing charge up to 3.5 C/pulse. An increased operating life is achieved by using torus-shaped electrodes with increased working surface area and a trigger electrode in the form of a thick disk with a hole located between them. Low breakdown delay time and high stability of breakdown voltagemore » under dynamic conditions are provided by gas preionization in the spark gap using UV radiation of an additional corona discharge in the axial region.« less

High repetition ration solid state switched CO2 TEA laser employed in industrial ultrasonic testing of aircraft parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Bergmann, Hubertus; Morkel, Francois; Stehmann, Timo

2015-02-01

Laser Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is an important technique for the non-destructive inspection of composite parts in the aerospace industry. In laser UT a high power, short pulse probe laser is scanned across the material surface, generating ultrasound waves which can be detected by a second low power laser system and are used to draw a defect map of the part. We report on the design and testing of a transversely excited atmospheric pressure (TEA) CO2 laser system specifically optimised for laser UT. The laser is excited by a novel solid-state switched pulsing system and utilises either spark or corona preionisation. It provides short output pulses of less than 100 ns at repetition rates of up to 1 kHz, optimised for efficient ultrasonic wave generation. The system has been designed for highly reliable operation under industrial conditions and a long term test with total pulse counts in excess of 5 billion laser pulses is reported.

A novel method to predict current voltage characteristics of positive corona discharges based on a perturbation technique. I. Local analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shibata, Hisaichi; Takaki, Ryoji

2017-11-01

A novel method to compute current-voltage characteristics (CVCs) of direct current positive corona discharges is formulated based on a perturbation technique. We use linearized fluid equations coupled with the linearized Poisson's equation. Townsend relation is assumed to predict CVCs apart from the linearization point. We choose coaxial cylinders as a test problem, and we have successfully predicted parameters which can determine CVCs with arbitrary inner and outer radii. It is also confirmed that the proposed method essentially does not induce numerical instabilities.

High Power Amplifier and Power Supply

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Duong, Johnny; Stride, Scot; Harvey, Wayne; Haque, Inam; Packard, Newton; Ng, Quintin; Ispirian, Julie Y.; Waian, Christopher; Janes, Drew

2008-01-01

A document discusses the creation of a high-voltage power supply (HVPS) that is able to contain voltages up to -20 kV, keep electrical field strengths to below 200 V/mil (approximately equal to 7.87 kV/mm), and can provide a 200-nanosecond rise/fall time focus modulator swinging between cathode potential of 16.3 kV and -19.3 kV. This HVPS can protect the 95-GHz, pulsed extended interaction klystron (EIK) from arcs/discharges from all sources, including those from within the EIK fs vacuum envelope. This innovation has a multi-winding pulse transformer design, which uses new winding techniques to provide the same delays and rise/fall times (less than 10 nanoseconds) at different potential levels ranging from -20 kV to -16 kV. Another feature involves a high-voltage printed-wiring board that was corona-free at -20 kV DC with a 3- kV AC swing. The corona-free multilayer high-voltage board is used to simulate fields of less than 200 V/mil (approximately equal to 7.87 kV/mm) at 20 kV DC. Drive techniques for the modulator FETs (field-effect transistors) (four to 10 in a series) were created to change states (3,000-V swing) without abrupt steps, while still maintaining required delays and transition times. The packing scheme includes a potting mold to house a ten-stage modulator in the space that, in the past, only housed a four-stage modulator. Problems keeping heat down were solved using aluminum oxide substrate in the high-voltage section to limit temperature rise to less than 10 while withstanding -20 kV DC voltage and remaining corona-free.

Evaluation of pulsed streamer corona experiments to determine the O* radical yield

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van Heesch, E. J. M.; Winands, G. J. J.; Pemen, A. J. M.

2008-12-01

The production of O* radicals in air by a pulsed streamer plasma is studied by integration of a large set of precise experimental data and the chemical kinetics of ozone production. The measured data comprise ozone production, plasma energy, streamer volume, streamer length, streamer velocity, humidity and gas-flow rate. Instead of entering input parameters into a kinetic model to calculate the end products the opposite strategy is followed. Since the amount of end-products (ozone) is known from the measurements the model had to be applied in the reverse direction to determine the input parameters, i.e. the O* radical concentration.

Highly Efficient Vector-Inversion Pulse Generators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rose, Franklin

2004-01-01

Improved transmission-line pulse generators of the vector-inversion type are being developed as lightweight sources of pulsed high voltage for diverse applications, including spacecraft thrusters, portable x-ray imaging systems, impulse radar systems, and corona-discharge systems for sterilizing gases. In this development, more than the customary attention is paid to principles of operation and details of construction so as to the maximize the efficiency of the pulse-generation process while minimizing the sizes of components. An important element of this approach is segmenting a pulse generator in such a manner that the electric field in each segment is always below the threshold for electrical breakdown. One design of particular interest, a complete description of which was not available at the time of writing this article, involves two parallel-plate transmission lines that are wound on a mandrel, share a common conductor, and are switched in such a manner that the pulse generator is divided into a "fast" and a "slow" section. A major innovation in this design is the addition of ferrite to the "slow" section to reduce the size of the mandrel needed for a given efficiency.

A semi-analytical study of positive corona discharge in wire-plane electrode configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanallah, K.; Pontiga, F.; Chen, J. H.

2013-08-01

Wire-to-plane positive corona discharge in air has been studied using an analytical model of two species (electrons and positive ions). The spatial distributions of electric field and charged species are obtained by integrating Gauss's law and the continuity equations of species along the Laplacian field lines. The experimental values of corona current intensity and applied voltage, together with Warburg's law, have been used to formulate the boundary condition for the electron density on the corona wire. To test the accuracy of the model, the approximate electric field distribution has been compared with the exact numerical solution obtained from a finite element analysis. A parametrical study of wire-to-plane corona discharge has then been undertaken using the approximate semi-analytical solutions. Thus, the spatial distributions of electric field and charged particles have been computed for different values of the gas pressure, wire radius and electrode separation. Also, the two dimensional distribution of ozone density has been obtained using a simplified plasma chemistry model. The approximate semi-analytical solutions can be evaluated in a negligible computational time, yet provide precise estimates of corona discharge variables.

RXTE Observation of Cygnus X-1: III. Implications for Compton Corona and ADAF Models. Report 3; Implications for Compton Corona and ADAF Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nowak, Michael A.; Wilms, Joern; Vaughan, Brian A.; Dove, James B.; Begelman, Mitchell C.

1999-01-01

We have recently shown that a 'sphere + disk' geometry Compton corona model provides a good description of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of the hard/low state of Cygnus X-1. Separately, we have analyzed the temporal data provided by RXTE. In this paper we consider the implications of this timing analysis for our best-fit 'sphere + disk' Comptonization models. We focus our attention on the observed Fourier frequency-dependent time delays between hard and soft photons. We consider whether the observed time delays are: created in the disk but are merely reprocessed by the corona; created by differences between the hard and soft photon diffusion times in coronae with extremely large radii; or are due to 'propagation' of disturbances through the corona. We find that the time delays are most likely created directly within the corona; however, it is currently uncertain which specific model is the most likely explanation. Models that posit a large coronal radius [or equivalently, a large Advection Dominated Accretion Flow (ADAF) region] do not fully address all the details of the observed spectrum. The Compton corona models that do address the full spectrum do not contain dynamical information. We show, however, that simple phenomenological propagation models for the observed time delays for these latter models imply extremely slow characteristic propagation speeds within the coronal region.

Simulation of the AC corona phenomenon with experimental validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villa, Andrea; Barbieri, Luca; Marco, Gondola; Malgesini, Roberto; Leon-Garzon, Andres R.

2017-11-01

The corona effect, and in particular the Trichel phenomenon, is an important aspect of plasma physics with many technical applications, such as pollution reduction, surface and medical treatments. This phenomenon is also associated with components used in the power industry where it is, in many cases, the source of electro-magnetic disturbance, noise and production of undesired chemically active species. Despite the power industry to date using mainly alternating current (AC) transmission, most of the studies related to the corona effect have been carried out with direct current (DC) sources. Therefore, there is technical interest in validating numerical codes capable of simulating the AC phenomenon. In this work we describe a set of partial differential equations that are comprehensive enough to reproduce the distinctive features of the corona in an AC regime. The model embeds some selectable chemical databases, comprising tens of chemical species and hundreds of reactions, the thermal dynamics of neutral species and photoionization. A large set of parameters—deduced from experiments and numerical estimations—are compared, to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

A Workshop on Environmental Technology Assessment Held at the University of Cambridge, England Held on 24-26 April, 1985,

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-01-01

almost immediately upon corona onset, the current starts to flow uncontrollably with an immediate decrease in voltage which stops the ESP from...operating. With large diameter electrodes, the current starts to flow at the corona onset point and there is a range where it varies with increasing voltage...Modal. WEST GERMANY - Use of a Pibersape for Control Purpoaes in toe sarixo uitr3ioutioa bysta. -Special Cent Mortar Lining of Ductile Cat Iron Pipes

Protein Corona Influences Cell-Biomaterial Interactions in Nanostructured Tissue Engineering Scaffolds.

PubMed

Serpooshan, Vahid; Mahmoudi, Morteza; Zhao, Mingming; Wei, Ke; Sivanesan, Senthilkumar; Motamedchaboki, Khatereh; Malkovskiy, Andrey V; Gladstone, Andrew B; Cohen, Jeffrey E; Yang, Phillip C; Rajadas, Jayakumar; Bernstein, Daniel; Woo, Y Joseph; Ruiz-Lozano, Pilar

2015-07-22

Biomaterials are extensively used to restore damaged tissues, in the forms of implants (e.g. tissue engineered scaffolds) or biomedical devices (e.g. pacemakers). Once in contact with the physiological environment, nanostructured biomaterials undergo modifications as a result of endogenous proteins binding to their surface. The formation of this macromolecular coating complex, known as 'protein corona', onto the surface of nanoparticles and its effect on cell-particle interactions are currently under intense investigation. In striking contrast, protein corona constructs within nanostructured porous tissue engineering scaffolds remain poorly characterized. As organismal systems are highly dynamic, it is conceivable that the formation of distinct protein corona on implanted scaffolds might itself modulate cell-extracellular matrix interactions. Here, we report that corona complexes formed onto the fibrils of engineered collagen scaffolds display specific, distinct, and reproducible compositions that are a signature of the tissue microenvironment as well as being indicative of the subject's health condition. Protein corona formed on collagen matrices modulated cellular secretome in a context-specific manner ex-vivo , demonstrating their role in regulating scaffold-cellular interactions. Together, these findings underscore the importance of custom-designing personalized nanostructured biomaterials, according to the biological milieu and disease state. We propose the use of protein corona as in situ biosensor of temporal and local biomarkers.

The measurement of lightning environmental parameters related to interaction with electronic systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baum, C. E.; Breen, E. L.; Pitts, F. L.; Thomas, M. E.; Sower, G. D.

1982-01-01

The measurement of electromagnetic fields and related quantities in a lightning environment is a challenging problem, especially at high frequencies and/or in the immediate vicinity of the lightning arcs and corona. This paper reviews the techniques for accomplishing such measurements in these regimes with examples. These sensors are often the same as for the nuclear electromagnetic pulse (EMP), but significant differences also appear.

Plasma-chemical simulation of negative corona near the inception voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pontiga, Francisco; Duran-Olivencia, Francisco J.; Castellanos, Antonio

2013-09-01

The spatiotemporal development of Trichel pulses in oxygen between a spherical electrode and a grounded plane has been simulated using a fluid approximation that incorporates the plasma chemistry of the electrical discharge. Elementary plasma processes, such as ionization, electron attachment, electron detachment, recombination between ions and chemical reactions between neutral species, are all included in a chemical model consisting of 55 reactions between 8 different species (electrons, O2+,O2-,O3-,O-, O2, O, O3). Secondary emission at the cathode by the impact of positive ions and photons is also considered. The spatial distribution of species is computed in three dimensions (2D-axysimmetrical) by solving Poisson's equation for the electric field and the continuity equations for the species, with the inclusion of the chemical gain/loss rate due to the particle interaction. The results of the simulation reveal the interplay between the different negative ions during the development of every Trichel pulse, and the rate of production of atomic oxygen and ozone by the corona discharge. This work was supported by the Consejeria de Innovacion, Ciencia y Empresa (Junta de Andalucia) and by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain, within the European Regional Development Fund contracts FQM-4983 and FIS2011-25161.

Evaluation of pulsed corona discharge plasma for the treatment of petroleum-contaminated soil.

PubMed

Li, Rui; Liu, Yanan; Mu, Ruiwen; Cheng, Wenyan; Ognier, Stéphanie

2017-01-01

Petroleum hydrocarbons released to the environment caused by leakage or illegal dumping pose a threat to human health and the natural environment. In this study, the potential of a pulsed corona discharge plasma system for treating petroleum-polluted soils was evaluated. This system removed 76.93 % of the petroleum from the soil in 60 min with an energy efficiency of 0.20 mg/kJ. Furthermore, the energy and degradation efficiencies for the remediation of soil contaminated by single polyaromatic hydrocarbons, such as phenanthrene and pyrene, were also compared, and the results showed that this technology had potential in organic-polluted soil remediation. In addition, the role of water molecules was investigated for their direct involvement in the formation and transportation of active species. The increase of soil moisture to a certain extent clearly benefitted degradation efficiency. Then, treated soils were analyzed by FTIR and GC-MS for proposing the degradation mechanism of petroleum. During the plasma discharging processes, the change of functional group and the detection of small aromatic hydrocarbons indicated that the plasma active species attached petroleum hydrocarbons and degradation occurred. This technique reported herein demonstrated significant potential for the remediation of heavily petroleum-polluted soil, as well as for the treatment of organic-polluted soils.

Emission spectra of a pulse needle-to-plane corona-like discharge in conductive aqueous solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Šimek, Milan; Člupek, Martin; Babický, Václav; Lukeš, Petr; Šunka, Pavel

2012-10-01

We explored basic optical and electrical characteristics of a positive corona-like discharge produced in conductive aqueous solutions by periodic high-voltage pulses. Emission spectra of the discharge were acquired in a needle-to-plate electrode geometry and analysed in the UV-vis-NIR spectral range with nanosecond time resolution for the solution conductivity of 100 and 500 µS cm-1. The most important emission features are due to electronic excitation of HI, OI, OII and OH species. We found evidence of significant time-dependent line-shape broadening of selected HI and OI transitions. The observed broadening is attributed to the dynamic Stark and pressure broadening mechanisms and significantly increases with the aqueous solution conductivity. Electron densities were estimated by fitting a single Voigt peak function to the observed Hα profiles, and can reach as much as ne ≅ 4 × 1018 cm-3 (tD = 300 ns at 100 µS cm-1 solution conductivity) and ne ≅ 5 × 1018 cm-3 (tD = 1 µs at 500 µS cm-1). Temporal evolution of the partially resolved rotational structure of the OH emission reaches a maximum during the discharge decay, with the onset significantly delayed with respect to the streamer ignition.

Bio-Decontamination of Water and Surfaces by DC Discharges in Atmospheric Air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machala, Zdenko; Tarabová, Barbora; Pelach, Michal; Šipoldová, Zuzana; Hensel, Karol; Janda, Mário; Šikurová, Libuša

Two types of DC-driven atmospheric air discharges, including a streamer corona and a transient spark with short high current pulses of limited energy, were employed for bio-decontamination of water and various surfaces (agar plates, plastic foils, human teeth) contaminated by bacteria or spores (Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus). Both discharges generate cold non-equilibrium plasma. The discharges combined with the electro-spraying of the treated water through the needle electrode lead to fast and efficient bio-decontamination. Experiments comparing direct and indirect plasma effects, oxidation stress measurements in the cell membranes, and chemical changes induced in the treated water enable assessment of the plasma agents being responsible for microbial inactivation. Radicals and reactive oxygen species seem to be dominant biocidal agents, although deeper understanding of the plasma-induced water chemistry and of the temporal evolution of the bio-inactivation processes is needed.

The role of turbulence in coronal heating and solar wind expansion

PubMed Central

Cranmer, Steven R.; Asgari-Targhi, Mahboubeh; Miralles, Mari Paz; Raymond, John C.; Strachan, Leonard; Tian, Hui; Woolsey, Lauren N.

2015-01-01

Plasma in the Sun's hot corona expands into the heliosphere as a supersonic and highly magnetized solar wind. This paper provides an overview of our current understanding of how the corona is heated and how the solar wind is accelerated. Recent models of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence have progressed to the point of successfully predicting many observed properties of this complex, multi-scale system. However, it is not clear whether the heating in open-field regions comes mainly from the dissipation of turbulent fluctuations that are launched from the solar surface, or whether the chaotic ‘magnetic carpet’ in the low corona energizes the system via magnetic reconnection. To help pin down the physics, we also review some key observational results from ultraviolet spectroscopy of the collisionless outer corona. PMID:25848083

Experimental investigation and numerical modelling of positive corona discharge: ozone generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanallah, K; Pontiga, F; Fernández-Rueda, A; Castellanos, A

2009-03-01

The spatial distribution of the species generated in a wire-cylinder positive corona discharge in pure oxygen has been computed using a plasma chemistry model that includes the most significant reactions between electrons, ions, atoms and molecules. The plasma chemistry model is included in the continuity equations of each species, which are coupled with Poisson's equation for the electric field and the energy conservation equation for the gas temperature. The current-voltage characteristic measured in the experiments has been used as an input data to the numerical simulation. The numerical model is able to reproduce the basic structure of the positive corona discharge and highlights the importance of Joule heating on ozone generation. The average ozone density has been computed as a function of current intensity and compared with the experimental measurements of ozone concentration determined by UV absorption spectroscopy.

Current Sheets in the Corona and the Complexity of Slow Wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Antiochos, Spiro

2010-01-01

The origin of the slow solar wind has long been one of the most important problems in solar/heliospheric physics. Two observational constraints make this problem especially challenging. First, the slow wind has the composition of the closed-field corona, unlike the fast wind that originates on open field lines. Second, the slow wind has substantial angular extent, of order 30 degrees, which is much larger than the widths observed for streamer stalks or the widths expected theoretically for a dynamic heliospheric current sheet. We propose that the slow wind originates from an intricate network of narrow (possibly singular) open-field corridors that emanate from the polar coronal hole regions. Using topological arguments, we show that these corridors must be ubiquitous in the solar corona. The total solar eclipse in August 2008, near the lowest point of cycle 23 affords an ideal opportunity to test this theory by using the ultra-high resolution Predictive Science's (PSI) eclipse model for the corona and wind. Analysis of the PSI eclipse model demonstrates that the extent and scales of the open-field corridors can account for both the angular width of the slow wind and its closed-field composition. We discuss the implications of our slow wind theory for the structure of the corona and heliosphere at solar minimum and describe further observational and theoretical tests.

Flow generation by the corona ciliata in Chaetognatha - quantification and implications for current functional hypotheses.

PubMed

Bleich, Steffen; Müller, Carsten H G; Graf, Gerhard; Hanke, Wolf

2017-12-01

The corona ciliata of Chaetognatha (arrow worms) is a circular or elliptical groove lined by a rim from which multiple lines of cilia emanate, located dorsally on the head and/or trunk. Mechanoreception, chemosensation, excretion, respiration, and support of reproduction have been suggested to be its main functions. Here we provide the first experimental evidence that the cilia produce significant water flow, and the first visualisation and quantification of this flow. In Spadella cephaloptera, water is accelerated toward the corona ciliata from dorsal and anterior of the body in a funnel-shaped pattern, and expelled laterally and caudally from the corona, with part of the water being recirculated. Maximal flow speeds were approximately 140μms -1 in adult specimens. Volumetric flow rate was Q=0.0026μls -1 . The funnel-shaped directional flow can possibly enable directional chemosensation. The flow measurements demonstrate that the corona ciliata is well suited as a multifunctional organ. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Ultraviolet Rayleigh Scatter Imaging for Spatial Temperature Profiles in Atmospheric Microdischarges

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

regime and not in a neighboring regime such as an abnormal glow or a corona discharge . As discussed in section 3.1, unlike abnormal discharges or... coronas , normal glows have a voltage drop that is independent of discharge current for several orders of magnitude, which would manifest itself...5 3.2 Discharge Power and Gas Temperature

Coronal Heating Topology: The Interplay of Current Sheets and Magnetic Field Lines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rappazzo, A. F.; Velli, M.; Matthaeus, W. H.

2017-07-20

The magnetic topology and field line random walk (FLRW) properties of a nanoflare-heated and magnetically confined corona are investigated in the reduced magnetohydrodynamic regime. Field lines originating from current sheets form coherent structures, called current sheet connected (CSC) regions, which extend around them. CSC FLRW is strongly anisotropic, with preferential diffusion along the current sheets’ in-plane length. CSC FLRW properties remain similar to those of the entire ensemble but exhibit enhanced mean square displacements and separations due to the stronger magnetic field intensities in CSC regions. The implications for particle acceleration and heat transport in the solar corona and wind,more » and for solar moss formation are discussed.« less

Spatial and temporal evolutions of ozone in a nanosecond pulse corona discharge at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duten, X.; Redolfi, M.; Aggadi, N.; Vega, A.; Hassouni, K.

2011-10-01

This paper deals with the experimental determination of the spatial and temporal evolutions of the ozone concentration in an atmospheric pressure pulsed plasma, working in the nanosecond regime. We observed that ozone was produced in the localized region of the streamer. The ozone transport requires a characteristic time well above the millisecond. The numerical modelling of the streamer expansion confirms that the hydrodynamic expansion of the filamentary discharge region during the streamer propagation does not lead to a significant transport of atomic oxygen and ozone. It appears therefore that only diffusional transport can take place, which requires a characteristic time of the order of 50 ms.

Numerical modelling of ozone production in a wire-cylinder corona discharge and comparison with a wire-plate corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Pengxiang; Chen, Junhong

2009-02-01

The effect of electrode configuration on ozone production in the direct-current corona discharge of dry and humid air is studied by a numerical model that combines the electron distribution in the corona plasma, plasma chemistry and transport phenomena. Two electrode configurations are considered: wire-cylinder discharge with air flowing along the wire axis and wire-plate discharge with air flowing transverse to the wire. The ozone distributions in both types of discharges are compared. For both electrode configurations, the ozone production rate is higher in the negative corona than in the positive corona and it decreases with an increase in relative humidity. More importantly, the detailed ozone distribution in the neighbourhood of the discharge wire, together with the ozone kinetics, reveals the possible difference in the ozone production from the two discharges. With the same operating conditions and sufficiently short flow residence time, the ozone production rate is nearly the same for both electrode configurations. When the flow residence time is longer than the characteristic time for homogeneous ozone destruction, the net ozone production is higher in the wire-cylinder discharge than in the wire-plate discharge due to relatively less ozone destruction.

Effects of pulse frequency of input power on the physical and chemical properties of pulsed streamer discharge plasmas in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruma; Lukes, P.; Aoki, N.; Spetlikova, E.; Hosseini, S. H. R.; Sakugawa, T.; Akiyama, H.

2013-03-01

A repetitive pulsed-power modulator, which employs a magnetic pulse compression circuit with a high-speed thyristor switch, was used to study the effects of the pulse repetition rate of input power on the physical and chemical properties of pulsed discharges in water. Positive high-voltage pulses of 20 kV with repetition rates of up to 1 kHz were used to generate a discharge in water using the point-to-plane electrode geometry. By varying the pulse repetition rate, two distinct modes of the discharge plasma were formed in water. The first mode was characterized by the formation of a corona-like discharge propagating through water in the form of streamer channels. The second mode was formed typically above 500 Hz, when the formation of streamer channels in water was suppressed and all plasmas occurred inside a spheroidal aggregate of very fine gas bubbles surrounding the tip of the high-voltage electrode. The production of hydrogen peroxide, degradation of organic dye Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and inactivation of bacteria Escherichia coli by the discharge in water were studied under different discharge plasma modes in dependence on the pulse repetition rate of input power. The efficiency of both chemical and biocidal processes induced by the plasma in water decreased significantly with pulse repetition rates above 500 Hz.

Piezoelectric modulation of surface voltage in GaN and AlGaN/GaN: charge screening effects and 2DEG

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Marshall; Schrayer, Bret; Savtchouk, Alexandre; Hillard, Bob; Lagowski, Jacek

2017-02-01

Surface voltage response to pulses of piezoelectric polarization is measured with a Kelvin-probe providing a unique means for investigation of the dynamics of polarization induced sheet charge and 2DEG. Combined with biasing of the surface with a corona-deposited charge from accumulation to deep depletion and corresponding non-contact C-V type characterization, the technique identifies surface band bending and interface traps as key factors that affect the magnitude and time decay of piezoelectric polarization. For 2DEG structures, surface potential pinning is observed when the 2DEG is fully populated. Pinning is released by negative corona charging to fully deplete the 2DEG. These results are consistent with the role of surface states. Presently demonstrated polarization modulation and wafer scale measurements shall impact the in-depth characterization and fundamental understanding of AlGaN/GaN 2DEG structures.

Temporal Variations in Distributions of NO and NO2 Densities in Streamer Corona Discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurakane, Hiroshi; Aramaki, Mitsutoshi; Sasaki, Koichi

2006-10-01

The distributions of NO and NO2 densities were measured in high-pressure streamer corona discharges by laser-induced fluorescence imaging spectroscopy at various delay times after applying pulsed high voltages between needle and planar electrodes. It was found that the decrease in NO2 density in an N2/O2/NO2 discharge was more efficient than that in an N2/NO2 discharge. The dominant removal reaction of NO2 from the N2/O2/NO2 discharge was NO2+O→NO+O2. The importance of this reaction has been confirmed by the simultaneous observation of the distributions of the NO and NO2 densities. The total amount of NO2 removed from the N2/O2/NO2 discharge roughly coincided with the total amount of NO observed at the same delay time.

Partial discharge testing under direct voltage conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bever, R. S.; Westrom, J. L.

1982-01-01

DC partial discharge (PD) (corona) testing is performed using a multichannel analyzer for pulse storing, and data is collected during increase of voltage and at quiescent voltage levels. Thus high voltage ceramic disk capacitors were evaluated by obtaining PD data interspersed during an accelerated life test. Increased PD activity was found early in samples that later failed catastrophically. By this technique, trends of insulation behavior are revealed sensitively and nondestructively in high voltage dc components.

America’s Achilles Heel: Defense Against High-altitude Electromagnetic Pulse-policy vs. Practice

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-12

Directives SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems SHIELD Act Secure High-voltage Infrastructure for Electricity from Lethal Damage Act...take place, it is important to understand the effects of the components of EMP from a high-altitude nuclear detonation. The requirements for shielding ...Mass Ejection (CME). A massive, bubble-shaped burst of plasma expanding outward from the Sun’s corona, in which large amounts of superheated

The energy requirements of an aircraft triggered discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bicknell, J. A.; Shelton, R. W.

The corona produced at aircraft surfaces requires an energy input before the corona can develop into a high current discharge and, thus, a possible lightning stroke. This energy must be drawn from the space charge field of the thundercloud and, since this is of low density, the unique propagation characteristics of positive corona streamers may be important. Estimates of the energy made available by the propagation are compared with laboratory measurements of the minimum energy input required to trigger a breakdown. The comparison indicates a minimum streamer range for breakdown of several tens of meters. Also estimated is the energy released as a consequence of streamer-hydrometer interactions; this is shown to be significant so that breakdown could depend upon the precipitation rate within the cloud. Inhibiting streamer production may therefore provide an aircraft with a degree of corona protection.

Suppression of Instability of High Pressure DC Microplasma Operating in the Negative Differential Resistance (NDR) Regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mahamud, Rajib; Farouk, Tanvir I.

2015-09-01

Microplasma devices have been the subject of considerable interest and research during the last decade. In a DC system most of the operation regime of the plasma discharges studied fall in the ``abnormal,'' ``normal'' and ``corona'' modes - where a quasi-steady state is achieved. It is well known that even in a DC system the negative differential resistance (NDR) regime can trigger self pulsing discharges. These pulsations are initiated by the parasitic capacitance of the system hence governed by the response time of the power circuit. The circuit response time is required to be larger than the ion transit time to initiate the oscillations. In this present study a suppressor circuit element in the form of an inductor is used to restrain the plasma from switching to a self pulsing mode. It has been identified that the combined response time of the inductor and the plasma discharge (L/Rplasma) has to be larger than the power circuit time constant (RC) to achieve suppression. Inhibition of oscillation has been observed in both experiments and numerical simulations. The obtained voltage-current characteristics show that the inductor element extends the normal glow regime to lower current. Additional parametric simulations are conducted to map out a ``stable'' operation regime. The author would like to thank DARPA (ARO Grant No. W911NF1210007) and University of South Carolina (USC) for the financial support of the work.

Ozone generation by negative corona discharge: the effect of Joule heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanallah, K.; Pontiga, F.; Fernández-Rueda, A.; Castellanos, A.; Belasri, A.

2008-10-01

Ozone generation in pure oxygen using a wire-to-cylinder corona discharge reactor is experimentally and numerically investigated. Ozone concentration is determined by means of direct UV spectroscopy and the effects of Joule heating and ozone decomposition on the electrodes are analysed for different discharge gaps. The numerical model combines the physical processes in the corona discharge with the chemistry of ozone formation and destruction. The chemical kinetics model and the electrical model are coupled through Poisson's equation, and the current-voltage (CV) characteristic measured in experiments is used as input data to the numerical simulation. The numerical model is able to predict the radial distributions of electrons, ions, atoms and molecules for each applied voltage of the CV characteristic. In particular, the evolution of ozone density inside the discharge cell has been investigated as a function of current intensity and applied voltage.

Novel dielectric reduces corona breakdown in ac capacitors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Loehner, J. L.

1972-01-01

Dielectric system was developed which consists of two layers of 25-gage paper separated by one layer of 50-gage polypropylene to reduce corona breakdown in ac capacitors. System can be used in any alternating current application where constant voltage does not exceed 400 V rms. With a little research it could probably be increased to 700 to 800 V rms.

Theoretical analysis of ozone generation by pulsed dielectric barrier discharge in oxygen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, L. S.; Zhou, J. H.; Wang, Z. H.; Cen, K. F.

2007-08-01

The use of very short high-voltage pulses combined with a dielectric layer results in high-energy electrons that dissociate oxygen molecules into atoms, which are a prerequisite for the subsequent production of ozone by collisions with oxygen molecules and third particles. The production of ozone depends on both the electrical and the physical parameters. For ozone generation by pulsed dielectric barrier discharge in oxygen, a mathematical model, which describes the relation between ozone concentration and these parameters that are of importance in its design, is developed according to dimensional analysis theory. A formula considering the ozone destruction factor is derived for predicting the characteristics of the ozone generation, within the range of the corona inception voltage to the gap breakdown voltage. The trend showing the dependence of the concentration of ozone in oxygen on these parameters generally agrees with the experimental results, thus confirming the validity of the mathematical model.

Degradation of the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) carbamazepine, clofibric acid, and iopromide by corona discharge over water.

PubMed

Krause, Holger; Schweiger, Bianca; Schuhmacher, Jörg; Scholl, Saskia; Steinfeld, Ute

2009-04-01

Common wastewater treatment plants often do not eliminate endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Aqueous solutions of three EDCs were treated with an enhanced corona discharge technology. The three EDCs were clofibric acid, a blood lipid regulator, carbamazepine, an antiepileptic drug, and iopromide, a contrast media. To simulate real conditions, EDC solutions containing landfill leachate were also used. In our setup, two barrier electrodes provided an atmospheric pressure corona discharge over a thin water film, in which the counter-electrode was submerged. Clofibric acid, carbamazepine, and iopromide were effectively removed from a single solution. After a treatment of 15min, there were no traces of iopromide estrogen activity either as a single substance or as degradation products when using an E-Screen Assay. Continuous treatment was compared with pulsed treatment using carbamazepine solutions mixed with pretreated landfill leachate. Best degradation results were achieved with a 500 W continuous duty cycle treatment. Counter-electrodes from materials such as boron doped diamond (BDD), titanium iridium oxide, and iron were investigated for their influences on the process effectivity. Significant improvements were achieved by using an enclosed reactor, BDD electrodes, and circulating only a fresh air or argon/air mixture as cooling gas through the barrier electrodes.

Investigation on the Micro-Discharge Characteristics of Dielectric Barrier Discharge in a Needle-Plate Geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuechen; Niu, Dongying; Jia, Pengying; Zhao, Na; Yuan, Ning

2011-04-01

In this study, a dielectric barrier discharge device with needle-plate electrodes was used to investigate the characteristics of the micro-discharge in argon at one atmospheric pressure by an optical method. The results show that there are two discharge modes in the dielectric barrier discharge, namely corona mode and filamentary mode. The corona discharge only occurs in the vicinity of the needle tip when the applied voltage is very low. However, the filamentary discharge mode can occur, and micro-discharge bridges the two electrodes when the applied voltage reaches a certain value. The extended area of micro-discharge on the dielectric plate becomes larger with the increase in applied voltage or decrease in gas pressure. The variance of the light emission waveforms is studied as a function of the applied voltage. Results show that very narrow discharge pulse only appears at the negative half cycle of the applied voltage in the corona discharge mode. However, broad hump (about several microseconds) can be discerned at both the negative half cycle and the positive half cycle for a high voltage in the filamentary mode. Furthermore, the inception voltage decreases and the width of the discharge hump increases with the increase in applied voltage. These experimental phenomena can be explained qualitatively by analyzing the discharge mechanism.

Semi-analytical modelling of positive corona discharge in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pontiga, Francisco; Yanallah, Khelifa; Chen, Junhong

2013-09-01

Semianalytical approximate solutions of the spatial distribution of electric field and electron and ion densities have been obtained by solving Poisson's equations and the continuity equations for the charged species along the Laplacian field lines. The need to iterate for the correct value of space charge on the corona electrode has been eliminated by using the corona current distribution over the grounded plane derived by Deutsch, which predicts a cos m θ law similar to Warburg's law. Based on the results of the approximated model, a parametric study of the influence of gas pressure, the corona wire radius, and the inter-electrode wire-plate separation has been carried out. Also, the approximate solutions of the electron number density has been combined with a simplified plasma chemistry model in order to compute the ozone density generated by the corona discharge in the presence of a gas flow. This work was supported by the Consejeria de Innovacion, Ciencia y Empresa (Junta de Andalucia) and by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain, within the European Regional Development Fund contracts FQM-4983 and FIS2011-25161.

A numerical model of acoustic wave caused by a single positive corona source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Bo; Li, Zhen; He, Jinliang

2017-10-01

Audible noise accompanies corona discharge, which is one of the most important electromagnetic environment issues of high voltage transmission lines. Most of the studies on the audible noise generated by corona discharge focused on statistical analysis of the experimental results and a series of empirical formulas were derived to predict the audible noise. However, few of them interpreted the generating mechanism of the audible noise. Sound wave in the air is actually the fluctuation of the air, which lead to the hypothesis that the sound wave is generated by the interaction of the charged particles and the air molecules in the discharge progress. To validate this hypothesis, experiments were carried out in this paper to study the relationship between the audible noise and the corona current, including the correlation both in time domain and in frequency domain. Based on the experimental results, the fluid equations of the particles in the air were introduced to study the interactions among the electrons, ions, and neutral molecules in the discharge, and a numerical model for the amplitude of corona acoustic emission was developed and validated.

TINY HICCUPS TO TITANIC EXPLOSIONS: Tackling Transients in Anomalous X-ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspi, Victoria

2011-09-01

The past decade has seen major progress in neutron star astrophysics, with the discovery of magnetars in general, and the recognition that the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) fall in this class. AXPs have recently revealed surprising and dramatic variability behavior, which theorists have begun to show are highly constraining of physical models of magnetars, including their crusts, atmospheres, coronae and magnetospheres. In this proposal, we request Chandra/ACIS-S Target-of-Opportunity observations of one major Anomalous X-ray Pulsar (AXP) outburst in AO13, in order to study in detail the evolution of the spectrum, pulsed fraction and pulse profile, for quantitative confrontation with recently developed models for the structure and electrodynamics of magnetars.

TINY HICCUPS TO TITANIC EXPLOSIONS: Tackling Transients in Anomalous X-ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspi, Victoria

2010-09-01

The past decade has seen major progress in neutron star astrophysics, with the discovery of magnetars in general, and the recognition that the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) fall in this class. AXPs have recently revealed surprising and dramatic variability behavior, which theorists have begun to show are highly constraining of physical models of magnetars, including their crusts, atmospheres, coronae and magnetospheres. In this proposal, we request Chandra/ACIS-S Target-of-Opportunity observations of one major Anomalous X-ray Pulsar (AXP) outburst in AO12, in order to study in detail the evolution of the spectrum, pulsed fraction and pulse profile, for quantitative confrontation with recently developed models for the structure and electrodynamics of magnetars.

TINY HICCUPS TO TITANIC EXPLOSIONS: Tackling Transients in Anomalous X-ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspi, Victoria

2008-09-01

The past decade has seen major progress in neutron star astrophysics, with the discovery of magnetars in general, and the recognition that the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) fall in this class. AXPs have recently revealed surprising and dramatic variability behavior, which theorists have begun to show are highly constraining of physical models of magnetars, including their crusts, atmospheres, coronae and magnetospheres. In this proposal, we request Chandra/ACIS-S Target-of-Opportunity observations of one major Anomalous X-ray Pulsar (AXP) outburst in A10, in order to study in detail the evolution of the spectrum, pulsed fraction and pulse profile, for quantitative confrontation with recently developed models for the structure and electrodynamics of magnetars.

TINY HICCUPS TO TITANIC EXPLOSIONS: Tackling Transients in Anomalous X-ray Pulsars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaspi, Victoria

2009-09-01

The past decade has seen major progress in neutron star astrophysics, with the discovery of magnetars in general, and the recognition that the Anomalous X-ray Pulsars (AXPs) fall in this class. AXPs have recently revealed surprising and dramatic variability behavior, which theorists have begun to show are highly constraining of physical models of magnetars, including their crusts, atmospheres, coronae and magnetospheres. In this proposal, we request Chandra/ACIS-S Target-of-Opportunity observations of one major Anomalous X-ray Pulsar (AXP) outburst in A11, in order to study in detail the evolution of the spectrum, pulsed fraction and pulse profile, for quantitative confrontation with recently developed models for the structure and electrodynamics of magnetars.

Rapid degradation, mineralization and detoxification of pharmaceutically active compounds in aqueous solution during pulsed corona discharge treatment.

PubMed

Singh, Raj Kamal; Philip, Ligy; Ramanujam, Sarathi

2017-09-15

In the present study, plasma generated by pulsed corona discharge was used for the degradation of diclofenac, carbamazepine and ciprofloxacin. Pollutants in aqueous solution were plasma treated under two categories: single and mixed pollutant condition. Mixed pollutant condition showed an antagonistic behaviour and thus the degradation time was higher for mixed condition compared to the single condition. At different voltage and frequencies, degradation efficiency followed the trend, diclofenac>carbamazepine>ciprofloxacin. Acidic pH slightly favoured the degradation process whereas in presence of radical scavengers (HCO 3 - , CO 3 2- and humic acid) the degradation yield was significantly decreased. With an input power of 101.5 W, complete degradation was achieved within 4-16 min of plasma treatment for pharmaceutical's concentrations of 1-10 mg/L. As the pollutant concentration increased from 1 to 10 mg/L, the pseudo first order rate constant decreased, while yield increased. Complete degradation pathway of diclofenac, carbamazepine and ciprofloxacin in plasma treatment process are proposed by identifying the intermediates using LC-MS analysis. TOC analysis confirmed 80% mineralization within 10 min of plasma treatment for higher pharmaceutical's concentrations of 10 mg/L. The microalgae ecotoxicity study and disc diffusion test confirmed the complete detoxification of PACs that took place after 6 min of plasma treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Degradation and intermediates of diclofenac as instructive example for decomposition of recalcitrant pharmaceuticals by hydroxyl radicals generated with pulsed corona plasma in water.

PubMed

Banaschik, Robert; Jablonowski, Helena; Bednarski, Patrick J; Kolb, Juergen F

2018-01-15

Seven recalcitrant pharmaceutical residues (diclofenac, 17α-ethinylestradiol, carbamazepine, ibuprofen, trimethoprim, diazepam, diatrizoate) were decomposed by pulsed corona plasma generated directly in water. The detailed degradation pathway was investigated for diclofenac and 21 intermediates could be identified in the degradation cascade. Hydroxyl radicals have been found primarily responsible for decomposition steps. By spin trap enhanced electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), OH-adducts and superoxide anion radical adducts were detected and could be distinguished applying BMPO as a spin trap. The increase of concentrations of adducts follows qualitatively the increase of hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide is eventually consumed in Fenton-like processes but the concentration is continuously increasing to about 2mM for a plasma treatment of 70min. Degradation of diclofenac is inversely following hydrogen peroxide concentrations. No qualitative differences between byproducts formed during plasma treatment or due to degradation via Fenton-induced processes were observed. Findings on degradation kinetics of diclofenac provide an instructive understanding of decomposition rates for recalcitrant pharmaceuticals with respect to their chemical structure. Accordingly, conclusions can be drawn for further development and a first risk assessment of the method which can also be applied towards other AOPs that rely on the generation of hydroxyl radicals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Time-resolved processes in a pulsed electrical discharge in argon bubbles in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gershman, S.; Belkind, A.

2010-12-01

A phenomenological picture of a pulsed electrical discharge in gas bubbles in water is produced by combining electrical, spectroscopic, and imaging characterization methods. The discharge is generated by applying 1 μ s pulses of 5 to 20 kV between a needle and a disk electrode submerged in water. An Ar gas bubble surrounds the tip of the needle electrode. Imaging, electrical characteristics, and time-resolved optical emission spectroscopic data suggest a fast streamer propagation mechanism and the formation of a plasma channel in the bubble. Comparing the electrical and imaging data for consecutive pulses applied to the bubble at a frequency of 1 Hz indicates that each discharge proceeds as an entirely new process with no memory of the previous discharge aside from the presence of long-lived chemical species, such as ozone and oxygen. Imaging and electrical data show the presence of two discharge events during each applied voltage pulse, a forward discharge near the beginning of the applied pulse depositing charge on the surface of the bubble and a reverse discharge removing the accumulated charge from the water/gas interface when the applied voltage is turned off. The pd value of ~ 300-500 torr cm, the 1 μs long pulse duration, low repetition rate, and unidirectional character of the applied voltage pulses make the discharge process here unique compared to the traditional corona or dielectric barrier discharges.

Structure and dynamics of the coronal magnetic field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

VanHoven, Gerard; Schnack, Dalton D.

1996-01-01

The last few years have seen a marked increase in the sophistication of models of the solar corona. This has been brought about by a confluence of three key elements. First, the collection of high-resolution observations of the Sun, both in space and time, has grown tremendously. The SOHO (Solar Heliospheric Observatory) mission is providing additional correlated high-resolution magnetic, white-light and spectroscopic observations. Second, the power and availability of supercomputers has made two- and three-dimensional modeling routine. Third, the sophistication of the models themselves, both in their geometrical realism and in the detailed physics that has been included, has improved significantly. The support from our current Space Physics Theory grant has allowed us to exploit this confluence of capabilities. We have carried out direct comparisons between observations and models of the solar corona. The agreement between simulated coronal structure and observations has verified that the models are mature enough for detailed analysis, as we will describe. The development of this capability is especially timely, since observations obtained from three space missions that are underway (Ulysses, WIND and SOHO) offer an opportunity for significant advances in our understanding of the corona and heliosphere. Through this interplay of observations and theory we can improve our understanding of the Sun. Our achievements thus far include progress modeling the large-scale structure of the solar corona, three-dimensional models of active region fields, development of emerging flux and current, formation and evolution of coronal loops, and coronal heating by current filaments.

Reverse Current in Solar Flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, J. W.; Sturrock, P. A.

1976-01-01

The theory that impulsive X ray bursts are produced by high energy electrons streaming from the corona to the chromosphere is investigated. Currents associated with these streams are so high that either the streams do not exist or their current is neutralized by a reverse current. Analysis of a simple model indicates that the primary electron stream leads to the development of an electric field in the ambient corona which decelerates the primary beam and produces a neutralizing reverse current. It appears that, in some circumstances, this electric field could prevent the primary beam from reaching the chromosphere. In any case, the electric field acts as an energy exchange mechanism, extracting kinetic energy from the primary beam and using it to heat the ambient plasma. This heating is typically so rapid that it must be expected to have important dynamical consequences.

Present developments in theory of the solar wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, E. N.

1972-01-01

Current problems and developments in the theory of the large-scale expansion of the solar corona are reviewed. The outstanding question is whether the energy supply to the quiet corona is mainly thermal conduction outward from a region of active heating at its base, or mainly wave propagation outward from the base. It is suggested that the question can be settled only when the properties of the wind can be sampled over a wide range of radial distance from the sun, from far inside the orbit of earth to well beyond. It was suggested that hydromagnetic waves may drive the expansion of the active corona by direct transfer of momentum as well as energy.

Reverse current in solar flares

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Knight, J. W.; Sturrock, P. A.

1977-01-01

We examine the proposal that impulsive X-ray bursts are produced by high-energy electrons streaming from the corona to the chromosphere. It is known that the currents associated with these streams are so high that either the streams do not exist or their current is neutralized by a reverse current. Analysis of a simple model in which the reverse current is stable indicates that the primary electron stream leads to the development of an electric field in the ambient corona which (a) decelerates the primary beam and (b) produces a neutralizing reverse current. It appears that, in some circumstances, this electric field could prevent the primary beam from reaching the chromosphere. In any case, the electric field acts as an energy exchange mechanism, extracting kinetic energy from the primary beam and using it to heat the ambient plasma. This heating is typically so rapid that it must be expected to have important dynamical consequences.

Experimental breakdown of selected anodized aluminum samples in dilute plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Grier, Norman T.; Domitz, Stanley

1992-01-01

Anodized aluminum samples representative of Space Station Freedom structural material were tested for electrical breakdown under space plasma conditions. In space, this potential arises across the insulating anodized coating when the spacecraft structure is driven to a negative bias relative to the external plasma potential due to plasma-surface interaction phenomena. For anodized materials used in the tests, it was found that breakdown voltage varied from 100 to 2000 volts depending on the sample. The current in the arcs depended on the sample, the capacitor, and the voltage. The level of the arc currents varied from 60 to 1000 amperes. The plasma number density varied from 3 x 10 exp 6 to 10 exp 3 ions per cc. The time between arcs increased as the number density was lowered. Corona testing of anodized samples revealed that samples with higher corona inception voltage had higher arcing inception voltages. From this it is concluded that corona testing may provide a method of screening the samples.

Gas Breakdown in the Sub-Nanosecond Regime with Voltages Below 15 KV

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

needle -plane gap with outer coaxial conductor, and a 50-Ω load line. The needle consists of tungsten and has a radius of curvature below 0.5 µm. The...here gas breakdown during nanosecond pulses occurs mainly as corona discharges on wire antennas, and represents an unwanted effect - General...risetime between 400 ps to1 ns), 50-W transmission line, axial needle -plane gap with outer coaxial conductor, and a 50-W load line. The needle consists of

2005 Tri-Service Infrastructure Systems Conference and Exhibition. Volume 2, Track 2

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-08-04

not produce toxic by-products, including: – UV – E-Beam – Pulsed Corona Discharge R&D Simulation of Fate & Transport of a CB Agent in a Water...Nationwide network of sensors with integration with ASOCC or CATS . – CHPPM - Soldier health, sensors, and fate of agent. – Congressional line-item with Hach...west Nile virus ), birds (avian flu) Public meeting Aug 10. Construction start ~ late Aug – early Sep pending signed MOA P & S complete, some

The Removal of NOx Using a Pulsed Streamer Corona Discharge in the Presence of Ethylene

DTIC Science & Technology

1996-07-25

be a stratospheric ozone destructor and a greenhouse gas (U.S EPA, 1993). Nitric oxide (NO) is an odorless gas and is only slightly soluble in water...gas can be bubbled for humidification , 5) flow meters, valves, and mass flow controllers, and 6) a stainless steel mixing chamber upstream from the...Reduction of Acid and Greenhouse Gases in Combustion of Flue Gases", Non-Thermal Plasma Techniques for Pollution Control, Part A, Eds: Penetrante

Ion Traps at the Sun: Implications for Elemental Fractionation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleishman, Gregory D.; Musset, Sophie; Bommier, Véronique; Glesener, Lindsay

2018-04-01

Why the tenuous solar outer atmosphere, or corona, is much hotter than the underlying layers remains one of the greatest challenges for solar modeling. Detailed diagnostics of the coronal thermal structure come from extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission. The EUV emission is produced by heavy ions in various ionization states and depends on the amount of these ions and on plasma temperature and density. Any nonuniformity of the elemental distribution in space or variability in time affects thermal diagnostics of the corona. Here we theoretically predict ionized chemical element concentrations in some areas of the solar atmosphere, where the electric current is directed upward. We then detect these areas observationally, by comparing the electric current density with the EUV brightness in an active region. We found a significant excess in EUV brightness in the areas with positive current density rather than negative. Therefore, we report the observational discovery of substantial concentrations of heavy ions in current-carrying magnetic flux tubes, which might have important implications for the elemental fractionation in the solar corona known as the first ionization potential effect. We call such areas of heavy ion concentration the “ion traps.” These traps hold enhanced ion levels until they are disrupted by a flare, whether large or small.

Creation of current filaments in the solar corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mikic, Z.; Schnack, D. D.; Van Hoven, G.

1989-01-01

It has been suggested that the solar corona is heated by the dissipation of electric currents. The low value of the resistivity requires the magnetic field to have structure at very small length scales if this mechanism is to work. In this paper it is demonstrated that the coronal magnetic field acquires small-scale structure through the braiding produced by smooth, randomly phased, photospheric flows. The current density develops a filamentary structure and grows exponentially in time. Nonlinear processes in the ideal magnetohydrodynamic equations produce a cascade effect, in which the structure introduced by the flow at large length scales is transferred to smaller scales. If this process continues down to the resistive dissipation length scale, it would provide an effective mechanism for coronal heating.

Diagnostics of the solar corona from comparison between Faraday rotation measurements and magnetohydrodynamic simulations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Le Chat, G.; Cohen, O.; Kasper, J. C.

Polarized natural radio sources passing behind the Sun experience Faraday rotation as a consequence of the electron density and magnetic field strength in coronal plasma. Since Faraday rotation is proportional to the product of the density and the component of the magnetic field along the line of sight of the observer, a model is required to interpret the observations and infer coronal structures. Faraday rotation observations have been compared with relatively ad hoc models of the corona. Here for the first time we compare these observations with magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models of the solar corona driven by measurements of the photosphericmore » magnetic field. We use observations made with the NRAO Very Large Array of 34 polarized radio sources occulted by the solar corona between 5 and 14 solar radii. The measurements were made during 1997 May, and 2005 March and April. We compare the observed Faraday rotation values with values extracted from MHD steady-state simulations of the solar corona. We find that (1) using a synoptic map of the solar magnetic field just one Carrington rotation off produces poorer agreements, meaning that the outer corona changes in the course of one month, even in solar minimum; (2) global MHD models of the solar corona driven by photospheric magnetic field measurements are generally able to reproduce Faraday rotation observations; and (3) some sources show significant disagreement between the model and the observations, which appears to be a function of the proximity of the line of sight to the large-scale heliospheric current sheet.« less

Ultra-fine-scale filamentary structures in the Outer Corona and the Solar Magnetic Field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Woo, Richard

2006-01-01

Filamentary structures following magnetic field lines pervade the Sun's atmosphere and offer us insight into the solar magnetic field. Radio propagation measurements have shown that the smallest filamentary structures in the solar corona are more than 2 orders of magnitude finer than those seen in solar imaging. Here we use radio Doppler measurements to characterize their transverse density gradient and determine their finest scale in the outer corona at 20-30 R(circled dot operator), where open magnetic fields prevail. Filamentary structures overly active regions have the steepest gradient and finest scale, while those overlying coronal holes have the shallowest gradient and least finest scale. Their organization by the underlying corona implies that these subresolution structures extend radially from the entire Sun, confirming that they trace the coronal magnetic field responsible for the radial expansion of the solar wind. That they are rooted all over the Sun elucidates the association between the magnetic field of the photosphere and that of the corona, as revealed by the similarity between the power spectra of the photospheric field and the coronal density fluctuations. This association along with the persistence of filamentary structures far from the Sun demonstrate that subresolution magnetic fields must play an important role not only in magnetic coupling of the photosphere and corona, but also in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration through the process of small-scale magnetic reconnection. They also explain why current widely used theoretical models that extrapolate photospheric magnetic fields into the corona do not predict the correct source of the solar wind.

Analytical model of a corona discharge from a conical electrode under saturation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boltachev, G. Sh.; Zubarev, N. M.

2012-11-01

Exact partial solutions are found for the electric field distribution in the outer region of a stationary unipolar corona discharge from an ideal conical needle in the space-charge-limited current mode with allowance for the electric field dependence of the ion mobility. It is assumed that only the very tip of the cone is responsible for the discharge, i.e., that the ionization zone is a point. The solutions are obtained by joining the spherically symmetric potential distribution in the drift space and the self-similar potential distribution in the space-charge-free region. Such solutions are outside the framework of the conventional Deutsch approximation, according to which the space charge insignificantly influences the shape of equipotential surfaces and electric lines of force. The dependence is derived of the corona discharge saturation current on the apex angle of the conical electrode and applied potential difference. A simple analytical model is suggested that describes drift in the point-plane electrode geometry under saturation as a superposition of two exact solutions for the field potential. In terms of this model, the angular distribution of the current density over the massive plane electrode is derived, which agrees well with Warburg's empirical law.

RXTE Observation of Cygnus X-1: Spectra and Timing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilms, J.; Dove, J.; Nowak, M.; Vaughan, B. A.

1997-01-01

We present first results from the analysis of an RXTE observation of Cyg X-1 in its low state, taken about two months after the end of the high state. With Gamma approx. equal to 1.45 the spectrum is considerably harder than previous low-state measurements. The observed spectrum can be explained by a Comptonization spectrum as that emitted from a spherical corona surrounded by a cold accretion disk. The optical depth of the corona is between 2 and 2.5 and the temperature is between 60 and 80 keV. Temporal analysis shows a typical Root Mean Square (RMS) noise of approximately 25%. The Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) can be described as consisting of a flat component followed by an 1/f power-law, followed by an f(sup -1.6) power-law. The lag of the hard photons with respect to the soft photons is consistent with prior observations. The coherence function is remarkably close to unity from 0.01 Hz to 10 Hz.

The roles of ozone and zeolite on reactive dye degradation in electrical discharge reactors.

PubMed

Peternel, L; Kusic, H; Koprivanac, N; Locke, B R

2006-05-01

In this study high voltage pulsed corona electrical discharge advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) were applied to bleach and degrade C.I. Reactive Green 8 and C.I. Reactive Red 45 organic dyes in water solutions. Two types of hybrid gas/liquid high voltage electrical discharge (corona) reactors, known as hybrid series and hybrid parallel were studied. The difference between these reactors relates to electrode configuration, which affects the amounts of ozone, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals produced. Experiments were conducted using dye concentrations of 20 mgl(-1) and 75 mgl(-1), with and without NH4ZSM5 zeolite addition in order to determine possible effects of added solid particles to total process efficiency. The role of ozone in combination with zeolites was assessed through comparative direct ozonation experiments with ozone supplied by an ozone generator. UV/VIS spectrophotometric measurements and measurements of total organic carbon (TOC) were used for the determination of decolorization and mineralization rates.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Plasma agents in bio-decontamination by dc discharges in atmospheric air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Machala, Zdenko; Chládeková, Lenka; Pelach, Michal

2010-06-01

Bio-decontamination of water and surfaces contaminated by bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium) was investigated in two types of positive dc discharges in atmospheric pressure air, in needle-to-plane geometry: the streamer corona and its transition to a novel regime called transient spark with short high current pulses of limited energy. Both generate a cold non-equilibrium plasma. Electro-spraying of treated water through a needle electrode was applied for the first time and resulted in fast bio-decontamination. Experiments providing separation of various biocidal plasma agents, along with the emission spectra and coupled with oxidation stress measurements in the cell membranes helped to better understand the mechanisms of microbial inactivation. The indirect exposure of contaminated surfaces to neutral active species was almost as efficient as the direct exposure to the plasma, whereas applying only UV radiation from the plasma had no biocidal effects. Radicals and reactive oxygen species were identified as dominant biocidal agents.

The Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) Phase 2 Preliminary Laser Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lawrence, T. Rhidian; Pindroh, Albert L.; Bowers, Mark S.; Dehart, Terence E.; Mcdonald, Kenneth F.; Cousins, Ananda; Moody, Stephen E.

1992-01-01

The requirements for the Laser Atmospheric Wind Sounder (LAWS) were determined from system considerations and are summarized in tabular form. The laser subsystem provides for the generation and frequency control of two beams, the transmit high power and local oscillator beams, which are delivered to the optical and receiver subsystems, respectively. In our baseline approach, the excitation of the gain section is achieved by a self-sustaining uv-(corona) preionized discharge. Gas is recirculated within the laser loop using a transverse flow fan. An intra-flow-loop heat exchanger, catalyst monolith, and acoustic attenuators condition the gas to ensure uniform energy output and high beam quality during high pulse repetition rate operation. The baseline LAWS laser pulse temporal profile as calculated by in-house laser codes is given in graphical form.

Influence of the Groove on Barrier Surface on Creeping Discharge Characteristics in N2 Gas under µs Pulse Voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueno, Hideki; Kawano, Taichi; Sakamoto, Naoki; Nakayama, Hiroshi

For a needle-plane electrode system with a barrier, which establishes the electric field across the axis of a groove, creeping discharge characteristics in N2 gas under µs pulse voltage applications have been investigated. The distance h between the barrier surface and the needle tip as well as the distance M between the groove center and the needle tip were changed. In the case of h=0.3mm, when the needle tip is located near the far-side groove edge from the plane electrode (M=0.6mm), the flashover voltage has the maximum value. At that time, a growth of a corona is suppressed near the groove edge. These unique characteristics should associate with a field relaxation.

Influence of water conductivity on particular electrospray modes with dc corona discharge — optical visualization approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pongrác, Branislav; Kim, Hyun-Ha; Negishi, Nobuaki; Machala, Zdenko

2014-08-01

The effect of water conductivity on electrospraying of water was studied in combination with positive DC corona discharge generated in air. We used a point-to-plane geometry of electrodes with a hollow syringe needle anode opposite to the metal mesh cathode. We employed total average current measurements and high-speed camera fast time-resolved imaging. We visualized the formation of a water jet (filament) and investigated corona discharge behavior for various water conductivities. Depending on the conductivity, various jet properties were observed: pointy, prolonged, and fast spreading water filaments for lower conductivity; in contrast to rounder, broader, and shorter quickly disintegrating filaments for higher conductivity. The large acceleration values (4060 m/s2 and 520 m/s2 for 2 μS/cm and 400 μS/cm, respectively) indicate that the process is mainly governed by the electrostatic force. In addition, with increasing conductivity, the breakdown voltage for corona-to-spark transition was decreasing.

Observational evidence for Alfven waves in the solar atmosphere (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Pontieu, B.

2013-12-01

Alfven waves have long been suspected of playing an important role in both heating the corona and accelerating the solar wind. Recently, more and more observational evidence for the presence of such waves has been reported in both the corona and the lower solar atmosphere. I will review observations of the properties and presence of Alfven waves from CoMP, Hinode, AIA and ground-based telescopes in both coronal lines and the lower solar atmosphere. I will discuss our current understanding of the importance of these waves for the energy balance of the corona. I will also present initial results of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) which was launched in June 2013 and obtains images and spectra in both the far and near ultraviolet.

Optical emission spectroscopy of point-plane corona and back-corona discharges in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Czech, T.; Sobczyk, A. T.; Jaworek, A.

2011-12-01

Results of spectroscopic investigations and current-voltage characteristics of corona discharge and back discharge on fly-ash layer, generated in point-plane electrode geometry in air at atmospheric pressure are presented in the paper. The characteristics of both discharges are similar but differ in the current and voltage ranges of all the discharge forms distinguished during the experiments. Three forms of back discharge, for positive and negative polarity, were investigated: glow, streamer and low-current back-arc. In order to characterize ionisation and excitation processes in back discharge, the emission spectra were measured and compared with those obtained for normal corona discharge generated in the same electrode configuration but with fly ash layer removed. The emission spectra were measured in two discharge zones: near the tip of needle electrode and near the plate. Visual forms of the discharge were recorded with digital camera and referred to current-voltage characteristics and emission spectra. The measurements have shown that spectral lines emitted by back discharge depend on the form of discharge and the discharge current. From the comparison of the spectral lines of back and normal discharges an effect of fly ash layer on the discharge morphology can be determined. The recorded emission spectra formed by ionised gas and plasma near the needle electrode and fly ash layer are different. It should be noted that in back arc emission, spectral lines of fly ash layer components can be distinguished. On the other hand, in needle zone, the emission of high intensity N2 second positive system and NO γ lines can be noticed. Regardless of these gaseous lines, also atomic lines of dust layer were present in the spectrum. The differences in spectra of back discharge for positive and negative polarities of the needle electrode have been explained by considering the kind of ions generated in the crater in fly ash layer. The aim of these studies is to better understand the discharge processes encountered in electrostatic precipitators.

[Morphology determination of multi-needle bipolar corona discharge by OES].

PubMed

Chen, Hai-Feng; Su, Peng-Hao; Zhu, Yi-Min

2009-01-01

Using the method of OES (optical emission spectrum) for measuring N2 emission spectrum, the spacial distribution of energetic electrons in multi-needle bipolar corona discharge at atmospheric pressure was investigated. According to the distribution of N2 second positive band's intensity ISPB, the outline of ionisation region was drawn accurately. The relationship between ISPB and discharge current I was obtained through the sum of ISPB. There are two ionisation regions in the multi-needle bipolar corona discharge. One is near the HV electrode and the other is near the grounded electrode. The ionisation region exists around the needlepoint within 2-3 mm. The volume of ionisation region becomes big with the applied voltage U increasing. The ionisation region of negative corona is bigger than that of positive corona. Near the HV discharge electrode, the outline of electron avalanche is similar to the configuration of electric field lines in the ionisation region, so the electron avalanche along the axis direction of needle develops farther than that along the radial direction. The electric field in the migration area is weak, and the distribution of space charges is large along the radial direction. The sum of ISPB in each ionisation region is second order linear with I, but the quadratic coefficient is very small. So the sum of ISPB is nearly linear with I, the distribution of ISPB is corresponding to the density distribution of energetic electrons. So the charged particles forming the discharge current in ionisation region are electrons. No emission spectrum of N2 can be measured in migration area, so there is no energetic electron. The energetic electrons only exist in ionisation region and the charged particles in migration area are ions.

Hydrazine-enhanced NO conversion in a pulsed corona discharge plasma (PCDP) reactor: Behaviors and mechanism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, Liu; Chen, De-Zhen; Yin, Li-Jie; Chen, Hui; Wang, Du; Hu, Yu-Yan

2016-09-01

The NO conversion efficiency in a pulsed corona discharge plasma (PCDP) reactor in the presence of a new additive, hydrazine hydrate (N2H4.H2O), was studied, and the reaction mechanism was analyzed. The NO conversion efficiency reached 62.5%, and the NO conversion Energy Yield (EY) reached 20.9 gNO/kWh, which is higher than that obtained using water or ammonia additives under the same conditions. The predominant elementary reactions and radicals, as well as the mechanism by which the additive enhanced the NO conversion process, were determined by comparing experimental data with theoretical simulation results and by performing a sensitivity analysis. After the addition of N2H4.H2O, the N2H4 reacts with radicals generated in the PCDP reactor to form a large quantity of strongly reducing species with NH2 as the predominant component, which can directly reduce NO to N2 and effectively prevent the generation of N2O. Compared with the traditional PCDP-based De-NOx process in which nitric acid is generated by oxidation with an additional neutralization step required, this new PCDP-based De-NOx process with N2H4.H2O addition is superior because NO is mostly reduced to N2. The study provides a basis for the application of N2H4.H2O as a synergist to improve NO abatement in a PCDP reactor.

A Detection of the Same Hot Plasma in the Corona: During a CME and Later at Ulysses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Suess, S. T.; Poletto, G.

2004-01-01

We show direct evidence for the same very hot plasma being detected remotely from SOHO in the corona and subsequently, at Ulysses in the solar wind. This is, to our knowledge, the first time that such an unambiguous identification has been made in the case of hot plasma. This detection complements studies correlating other plasma and field properties observed to the properties measured at the source in the corona. This observation takes advantage of a SOHO-Sun-Ulysses quadrature, during which the Sun-Ulysses included angle is $90^\\circ$ and it is possible to observe with Ulysses instruments the same plasma that has previously been remotely observed with SOHO instruments in the corona on the limb of the Sun. The identification builds on an existing base of separate SOHO and interplanetary detections of hot plasma. SOHO/UVCS has found evidence for very hot coronal plasma in current sheets in the aftermath of CMEs in the [Fe XVIII] $\\lambda$ \\AA\\ line, implying a temperature on the order of $6\\times 10(exp 6)$ K. This temperature is unusually high even for active regions, but is compatible with the high temperature predicted in current sheets. In the solar wind, ACE data from early 1998 to middle 2000 revealed high frozen-in Fe charge state in many cases to be present in interplanetary plasma.

Combining Remote and In Situ Observations with MHD models to Understand the Formation of the Slow Solar Wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viall, N. M.; Kepko, L.; Antiochos, S. K.; Lepri, S. T.; Vourlidas, A.; Linker, J.

2017-12-01

Connecting the structure and variability in the solar corona to the Heliosphere and solar wind is one of the main goals of Heliophysics and space weather research. The instrumentation and viewpoints of the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter missions will provide an unprecedented opportunity to combine remote sensing with in situ data to determine how the corona drives the Heliosphere, especially as it relates to the origin of the slow solar wind. We present analysis of STEREO coronagraph and heliospheric imager observations and of in situ ACE and Wind measurements that reveal an important connection between the dynamics of the corona and of the solar wind. We show observations of quasi-periodic release of plasma into the slow solar wind occurring throughout the corona - including regions away from the helmet streamer and heliospheric current sheet - and demonstrate that these observations place severe constraints on the origin of the slow solar wind. We build a comprehensive picture of the dynamic evolution by combining remote imaging data, in situ composition and magnetic connectivity information, and MHD models of the solar wind. Our results have critical implications for the magnetic topology involved in slow solar wind formation and magnetic reconnection dynamics. Crucially, this analysis pushes the limits of current instrument resolution and sensitivity, showing the enormous potential science to be accomplished with the Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter missions.

Temporal and Spatial Variability of the Martian Hot Oxygen Corona

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deighan, J.; Jain, S.; Chaffin, M.; Chaufray, J. Y.; Schneider, N. M.; Clarke, J. T.; Mayyasi, M.; Lillis, R. J.; Eparvier, F. G.; Thiemann, E.; Chamberlin, P. C.

2017-12-01

The dominant loss mechanism of oxygen from Mars to space in the current epoch is thought to be photochemical escape of hot oxygen produced by dissociative recombination of O2+. This ion is ultimately sourced from CO2+, which is the primary product of photoionization. The escaping hot oxygen population is accompanied by a gravitationally bound hot oxygen corona produced by the same mechanism. The MAVEN spacecraft has been at Mars since November 2014, with multiple seasons suitable for the IUVS instrument to observe the dayside hot oxygen corona via fluorescence of the O I 130.4 nm triplet. This provides the opportunity to examine temporal variations associated with changes in the photoionizing solar EUV radiation which produces CO2+ and O2+ ions. We present results based on two seasons: LS = 270 in Mars Year 32 during the maximum of Solar Cycle 24 and LS = 210 in Mars Year 33 late in the declining phase of the same Solar Cycle. The data in both seasons contain multiple solar rotations. We compare the oxygen corona density to the EUV solar flux measured by MAVEN/EUVM and ionization frequencies calculated therefrom. The peak brightness of ionospheric CO2+ UVD emission from IUVS limb scans is also used as a direct indicator of the photoionization frequency. As expected, the result is a strong correlation between solar EUV input, observed ionization frequency, and the density of the hot oxygen corona. In addition, a new observation strategy was employed during the MY 33 season to view the Martian corona near the sub-solar point with anti-parallel lines of sight from opposing hemispheres. These observations reveal a significant hemispherical asymmetry in brightness, providing a constraint on the large scale spatial variability of the dayside oxygen corona.

Structure and Dynamics of the Solar Corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schnack, D. D.

1994-01-01

Advanced computational techniques were used to study solar coronal heating and coronal mass ejections. A three dimensional, time dependent resistive magnetohydrodynamic code was used to study the dynamic response of a model corona to continuous, slow, random magnetic footpoint displacements in the photosphere. Three dimensional numerical simulations of the response of the corona to simple smooth braiding flows in the photosphere were calculated to illustrate and understand the spontaneous formation of current filaments. Two dimensional steady state helmet streamer configurations were obtained by determining the time asymptotic state of the interaction of an initially one dimensinal transponic solar wind with a spherical potential dipole field. The disruption of the steady state helmet streamer configuration was studied as a response to shearing of the magnetic footpoints of the closed field lines under the helmet.

Dimensional analysis of detrimental ozone generation by positive wire-to-plate corona discharge in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bo, Z.; Chen, J. H.

2010-02-01

The dimensional analysis technique is used to formulate a correlation between ozone generation rate and various parameters that are important in the design and operation of positive wire-to-plate corona discharges in indoor air. The dimensionless relation is determined by linear regression analysis based on the results from 36 laboratory-scale experiments. The derived equation is validated by experimental data and a numerical model published in the literature. Applications of such derived equation are illustrated through an example selection of the appropriate set of operating conditions in the design/operation of a photocopier to follow the federal regulations of ozone emission. Finally, a new current-voltage characteristic equation is proposed for positive wire-to-plate corona discharges based on the derived dimensionless equation.

Chromophore Poling in Thin Films of Organic Glasses. 3. Setup for Corona Triode Discharge / Hromoforu Polarizēšana Plānās Organisko Stiklu Kārtiņās 3. Koronas Izlādes Triodes Ierīce

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilitis, O.; Titavs, E.; Nitiss, E.; Rutkis, M.

2013-02-01

The corona discharge is described focusing on the advantages of corona triode techniques for the direct current (DC) positive poling of optical polymers. The proposed experimental setup allows the corona poling of nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers in the modes of DC constant current (the lowest 1nA) and of the fixed corona-grid voltage, making it possible to carry out the corona-onset poling at elevated temperature (COPET) up to 200 oC. The setup also provides a wide range of the corona discharge voltage (3 kV - 15 kV), variable reciprocal distance of electrodes as well as the possibility to choose from different types of the corona electrode (needle, multi-needle, wire, etc.). By keeping the corona-to-grid voltage constant, a stable corona discharge at electrode is attained. The grid voltage can be varied in the range from 0 to 3kV. The corona poling area on the sample surface is pre-defined by placing ring spacers above it. The setup is completely computerized, allowing both control and monitoring of the corona discharge, which promotes research into the process of charging NLO polymer samples and selection of the optimal poling mode. Using the voltage-current characteristics and the second-harmonic measurements of a poled polymer we also demonstrate the influence of the setup parameters on the efficiency of poling the thin film NLO polymers. Darba ievadā īsumā aprakstīta koronas izlāde, izceļot koronas triodes theniskās metodes lietošanas priekšrocības optisko polimeru polarizēšanā ar pozitīvās koronas līdzstrāvu. Rakstā apskatīta eksperimentāla koronas polēšanas ierīce, kas sniedz iespēju polarizēt nelineāros optiskos (NLO) polimērus pie konstantas strāvas (līdz pat 1 nA) un fiksēta koronas elektroda-tīkliņa sprieguma, ļaujot veikt polēšanu paaugstinātās temperatūrās līdz 200 oC. Ierīcē paredzētas plašas koronas izlādes sprieguma izvēles robežas (3-15 kV), iespējas mainīt elektrodu savstarpējo izvietojumu un izvēlēties dažādus koronas elektrodu veidus (adatu, vairākas adatas, stiepli). Ir iespējams nodrošināt pastāvīgu koronas elektroda darba režīmu, saglabājot konstantu spriegumu starp koronas elektrodu un tīkliņu pie tīkliņa sprieguma izmainīšanas iespējām robežās no 0-3 kV. Parauga virsmas polarizēšanas laukumu var mainīt ar gredzenveida starplikām, ko novieto virs parauga virsmas. Ierīce ir pilnībā datorizēta, kas ļauj sekot koronas izlādes gaitai, to vadīt un reģistrēt rezultātus. Tas savukārt uzlabo NLO polimēru paraugu uzlādēšanas procesu pētījumu kvalitāti un ļauj veiksmīgāk noteikt optimālāko polarizēšanas režīmu. Izmantojot strāvas-sprieguma raksturlīknes un polarizēto polimēru otrās harmonikas mērījumus, var arī uzskatāmi parādīt, kā polarizēšanas ierīces un tās darba režīma parametri ietekmē polarizēto plāno kārtiņu NLO efektivitāti.

The free energies of partially open coronal magnetic fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Low, B. C.; Smith, D. F.

1993-01-01

A simple model of the low corona is examined in terms of a static polytropic atmosphere in equilibrium with a global magnetic field. The question posed is whether magnetostatic states with partially open magnetic fields may contain magnetic energies in excess of those in fully open magnetic fields. Based on the analysis presented here, it is concluded that the cross-field electric currents in the pre-eruption corona are a viable source of the bulk of the energies in a mass ejection and its associated flare.

Heating mechanisms of the solar corona

PubMed Central

SAKURAI, Takashi

2017-01-01

The solar corona is a tenuous outer atmosphere of the Sun. Its million-degree temperature was discovered spectroscopically in the 1940s, but its origin has been debated since then without complete convergence. Currently there are two classes of models; the wave theory and the microflare/nanoflare theory. Both models have merits and disadvantages, but the essential issues are nearly pinned down. Recent revival of the wave theory is one of the many contributions from Japanese solar observing satellite Hinode launched in 2006. PMID:28190871

Distribution of electric currents in sunspots from photosphere to corona

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gosain, Sanjay; Démoulin, Pascal; López Fuentes, Marcelo

2014-09-20

We present a study of two regular sunspots that exhibit nearly uniform twist from the photosphere to the corona. We derive the twist parameter in the corona and in the chromosphere by minimizing the difference between the extrapolated linear force-free field model field lines and the observed intensity structures in the extreme-ultraviolet images of the Sun. The chromospheric structures appear more twisted than the coronal structures by a factor of two. Further, we derive the vertical component of electric current density, j{sub z} , using vector magnetograms from the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT). The spatial distribution of j{sub z}more » has a zebra pattern of strong positive and negative values owing to the penumbral fibril structure resolved by Hinode/SOT. This zebra pattern is due to the derivative of the horizontal magnetic field across the thin fibrils; therefore, it is strong and masks weaker currents that might be present, for example, as a result of the twist of the sunspot. We decompose j{sub z} into the contribution due to the derivatives along and across the direction of the horizontal field, which follows the fibril orientation closely. The map of the tangential component has more distributed currents that are coherent with the chromospheric and coronal twisted structures. Moreover, it allows us to map and identify the direct and return currents in the sunspots. Finally, this decomposition of j{sub z} is general and can be applied to any vector magnetogram in order to better identify the weaker large-scale currents that are associated with coronal twisted/sheared structures.« less

Recent achievements on ASPIICS, an externally occulted coronagraph for PROBA-3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Renotte, Etienne; Buckley, Steve; Cernica, Ileana; Denis, François; Desselle, Richard; De Vos, Lieve; Fineschi, Silvano; Fleury-Frenette, Karl; Galano, Damien; Galy, Camille; Gillis, Jean-Marie; Graas, Estelle; Graczyk, Rafal; Horodyska, Petra; Kranitis, Nektarios; Kurowski, Michal; Ladno, Michal; Liebecq, Sylvie; Loreggia, Davide; Mechmech, Idriss; Melich, Radek; Mollet, Dominique; Mosdorf, Michał; Mroczkowski, Mateusz; O'Neill, Kevin; Patočka, Karel; Paschalis, Antonis; Peresty, Radek; Radzik, Bartlomiej; Rataj, Miroslaw; Salvador, Lucas; Servaye, Jean-Sébastien; Stockman, Yvan; Thizy, Cédric; Walczak, Tomasz; Zarzycka, Alicja; Zhukov, Andrei

2016-07-01

This paper presents the current status of ASPIICS, a solar coronagraph that is the primary payload of ESA's formation flying in-orbit demonstration mission PROBA-3. The "sonic region" of the Sun corona remains extremely difficult to observe with spatial resolution and sensitivity sufficient to understand the fine scale phenomena that govern the quiescent solar corona, as well as phenomena that lead to coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which influence space weather. Improvement on this front requires eclipse-like conditions over long observation times. The space-borne coronagraphs flown so far provided a continuous coverage of the external parts of the corona but their over-occulting system did not permit to analyse the part of the white-light corona where the main coronal mass is concentrated. The PROBA-3 Coronagraph System, also known as ASPIICS (Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun) is designed as a classical externally occulted Lyot coronagraph but it takes advantage of the opportunity to place the external occulter on a companion spacecraft, about 150m apart, to perform high resolution imaging of the inner corona of the Sun as close as ~1.1 solar radii. The images will be tiled and compressed on board in an FPGA before being down-linked to ground for scientific analyses. ASPIICS is built by a large European consortium including about 20 partners from 7 countries under the auspices of the European Space Agency. This paper is reviewing the recent development status of the ASPIICS instrument as it is approaching CDR.

An observationally-driven kinetic approach to coronal heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moraitis, K.; Toutountzi, A.; Isliker, H.; Georgoulis, M.; Vlahos, L.; Chintzoglou, G.

2016-11-01

Aims: Coronal heating through the explosive release of magnetic energy remains an open problem in solar physics. Recent hydrodynamical models attempt an investigation by placing swarms of "nanoflares" at random sites and times in modeled one-dimensional coronal loops. We investigate the problem in three dimensions, using extrapolated coronal magnetic fields of observed solar active regions. Methods: We applied a nonlinear force-free field extrapolation above an observed photospheric magnetogram of NOAA active region (AR) 11 158. We then determined the locations, energy contents, and volumes of "unstable" areas, namely areas prone to releasing magnetic energy due to locally accumulated electric current density. Statistical distributions of these volumes and their fractal dimension are inferred, investigating also their dependence on spatial resolution. Further adopting a simple resistivity model, we inferred the properties of the fractally distributed electric fields in these volumes. Next, we monitored the evolution of 105 particles (electrons and ions) obeying an initial Maxwellian distribution with a temperature of 10 eV, by following their trajectories and energization when subjected to the resulting electric fields. For computational convenience, the length element of the magnetic-field extrapolation is 1 arcsec, or 725 km, much coarser than the particles' collisional mean free path in the low corona (0.1-1 km). Results: The presence of collisions traps the bulk of the plasma around the unstable volumes, or current sheets (UCS), with only a tail of the distribution gaining substantial energy. Assuming that the distance between UCS is similar to the collisional mean free path we find that the low active-region corona is heated to 100-200 eV, corresponding to temperatures exceeding 2 MK, within tens of seconds for electrons and thousands of seconds for ions. Conclusions: Fractally distributed, nanoflare-triggening fragmented UCS in the active-region corona can heat electrons and ions with minor enhancements of the local resistivity. This statistical result is independent from the nature of the extrapolation and the spatial resolution of the modeled active-region corona. This finding should be coupled with a complete plasma treatment to determine whether a quasi-steady temperature similar to that of the ambient corona can be maintained, either via a kinetic or via a hybrid, kinetic and fluid, plasma treatment. The finding can also be extended to the quiet solar corona, provided that the currently undetected nanoflares are frequent enough to account for the lower (compared to active regions) energy losses in this case.

Nanoflare Heating of Solar and Stellar Coronae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klimchuk, James A.

2010-01-01

A combination of observational and theoretical evidence suggests that much, and perhaps most, of the Sun's corona is heated by small unresolved bursts of energy called nanoflares. It seems likely that stellar coronae are heated in a similar fashion. Kanoflares are here taken to mean any impulsive heating that occurs within a magnetic flux strand. Many mechanisms have this property, including waves, but we prefer Parker's picture of tangled magnetic fields. The tangling is caused by turbulent convection at the stellar surface, and magnetic energy is released when the stresses reach a critical level. We suggest that the mechanism of energy release is the "secondary instability" of electric current sheets that are present at the boundaries between misaligned strands. I will discuss the collective evidence for solar and stellar nanoflares and hopefully present new results from the Solar Dynamics Observatory that was just launched.

A broad look at solar physics adapted from the solar physics study of August 1975

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parker, E.; Timothy, A.; Beckers, J.; Hundhausen, A.; Kundu, M. R.; Leith, C. E.; Lin, R.; Linsky, J.; Macdonald, F. B.; Noyes, R.

1979-01-01

The current status of our knowledge of the basic mechanisms involved in fundamental solar phenomena is reviewed. These include mechanisms responsible for heating the corona, the generation of the solar wind, the particle acceleration in flares, and the dissipation of magnetic energy in field reversal regions, known as current sheets. The discussion covers solar flares and high-energy phenomena, solar active regions; solar interior, convection, and activity; the structure and energetics of the quiet solar atmosphere; the structure of the corona; the solar composition; and solar terrestrial interactions. It also covers a program of solar research, including the special observational requirements for spectral and angular resolution, sensitivity, time resolution, and duration of the techniques employed.

Basic Properties of Plasma-Neutral Coupling in the Solar Atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodman, Michael

2015-04-01

Plasma-neutral coupling (PNC) in the solar atmosphere concerns the effects of collisions between charged and neutral species’. It is most important in the chromosphere, which is the weakly ionized, strongly magnetized region between the weakly ionized, weakly magnetized photosphere and the strongly ionized, strongly magnetized corona. The charged species’ are mainly electrons, protons, and singly charged heavy ions. The neutral species’ are mainly hydrogen and helium. The resistivity due to PNC can be several orders of magnitude larger than the Spitzer resistivity. This enhanced resistivity is confined to the chromosphere, and provides a highly efficient dissipation mechanism unique to the chromosphere. PNC may play an important role in many processes such as heating and acceleration of plasma; wave generation, propagation, and dissipation; magnetic reconnection; maintaining the near force-free state of the corona; and limiting mass flux into the corona. It might play a major role in chromospheric heating, and be responsible for the existence of the chromosphere as a relatively thin layer of plasma that emits a net radiative flux 10-100 times greater than that of the overlying corona. The required heating rate might be generated by Pedersen current dissipation triggered by the rapid increase of magnetization with height in the lower chromosphere, where most of the net radiative flux is emitted. Relatively cool regions of the chromosphere might be regions of minimal Pedersen current dissipation due to smaller magnetic field strength or perpendicular current density. This talk will discuss PNC from an MHD point of view, and focus on the basic parameters that determine its effectiveness. These parameters are ionization fraction, magnetization, and the electric field that drives current perpendicular to the magnetic field. By influencing this current and the electric field that drives it, PNC directly influences the rate at which energy is exchanged between the electromagnetic field and particles. In this way, PNC can have a strong influence on the energetics of a process that involves the conversion of magnetic energy into particle energy, which subsequently appears as radiation, waves, bulk flow, and heating.

The Caltech experimental investigation of fast 3D non-equilbrium dynamics: an overview

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellan, Paul; Shikama, Taiichi; Chai, Kilbyoung; Ha, Bao; Chaplin, Vernon; Kendall, Mark; Moser, Auna; Stenson, Eve; Tobin, Zachary; Zhai, Xiang

2012-10-01

The formation and dynamics of writhing, plasma-filled, twisted open magnetic flux tubes is being investigated using pulsed-power laboratory experiments. This work is relevant to solar corona loops, astrophysical jets, spheromak formation, and open field lines in tokamaks and RFP's. MHD forces have been observed to drive fast axial plasma flows into the flux tube from the boundary it intercepts. These flows fill the flux tube with plasma while simultaneously injecting linked frozen-in azimuthal flux; helicity injection is thus associated with mass injection. Recent results include observation of a secondary instability (Rayleigh-Taylor driven by the effective gravity of an exponentially growing kink mode), color-coded plasmas manifesting bidirectional axial flows in a geometry similar to a solar corona loop, and spectroscopic measurements of the internal vector magnetic field. Experiments underway include investigating how an external magnetic field straps down a solar loop, investigation of the details of the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, development of a fast EUV movie camera, increasing the jet velocity, excitation of Alfven waves, and investigating 3D magnetic reconnection.

Optical and electrical characteristics of hollow-needle to plate atmospheric-pressure discharge in nitrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Simek, Milan; Schmidt, Jiri; Pekarek, Stanislav; Khun, Josef

2006-10-01

We have studied basic optical and electrical characteristics of the DC hollow needle to plate electrical discharge enhanced by the gas flow through the needle. Substantial advantage of this arrangement is that all gas supplied to the discharge passes through the discharge zone and therefore it is affected by plasma chemical processes. Depending on the energy dissipated between electrodes, we previously observed two basic discharge regimes: a) DC corona and b) DC corona superimposed with pulsed filamentary streamers [1]. In this work, we have analyzed radiation induced by filamentary streamers. In addition to nitrogen emissions driven by electron impact processes we have detected emission induced by specific energy transfer processes [2]. We have also determined mean repetition frequency of filamentary streamers (0.1-15 kHz) for the needle-to-plane gap and for the nitrogen flow through the needle ranging between 2-6 mm and 1-10 slm, respectively. [1] M. Simek and S.Pekarek, GEC 2005, Bul. Am. Phys. Soc. 50, 29, (2005) ; [2] M. Simek at al, Pure Appl. Chem. 78, 1213, (2006).

A unified engineering model of the first stroke in downward negative lightning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nag, Amitabh; Rakov, Vladimir A.

2016-03-01

Each stroke in a negative cloud-to-ground lightning flash is composed of downward leader and upward return stroke processes, which are usually modeled individually. The first stroke leader is stepped and starts with preliminary breakdown (PB) which is often viewed as a separate process. We present the first unified engineering model for computing the electric field produced by a sequence of PB, stepped leader, and return stroke processes, serving to transport negative charge to ground. We assume that a negatively charged channel extends downward in a stepped fashion during both the PB and leader stages. Each step involves a current wave that propagates upward along the newly formed channel section. Once the leader attaches to ground, an upward propagating return stroke neutralizes the charge deposited along the channel. Model-predicted electric fields are in reasonably good agreement with simultaneous measurements at both near (hundreds of meters, electrostatic field component is dominant) and far (tens of kilometers, radiation field component is dominant) distances from the lightning channel. Relations between the features of computed electric field waveforms and model input parameters are examined. It appears that peak currents associated with PB pulses are similar to return stroke peak currents, and the observed variation of electric radiation field peaks produced by leader steps at different heights above ground is influenced by the ground corona space charge.

DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGH-TEMPERATURE/HIGH-PRESSURE ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

EPA Science Inventory

The report gives results of a laboratory test demonstrating the feasibility of electrostatic precipitation at high temperatures (to 1366 K) and pressures (to 3550 kPa): corona currents were stable at all temperatures. Detailed current/voltage characteristics under negative and po...

Magnetic Structure of Sites of Braiding in Hi-C Active Region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tiwari, S. K.; Alexander, C. E.; Winebarger, A.; Moore, R. L.

2014-01-01

High-resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) observations of an active region (AR) corona, at a spatial resolution of 0.2 arcsec, have offered the first direct evidence of field lines braiding, which could deliver sufficient energy to heat the AR corona by current dissipation via magnetic reconnection, a proposal given by Parker three decades ago. The energy required to heat the corona must be transported from the photosphere along the field lines. The mechanism that drives the energy transport to the corona is not yet fully understood. To investigate simultaneous magnetic and intensity structure in and around the AR in detail, we use SDO/HMI+AIA data of + / - 2 hours around the 5 minute Hi-C flight. In the case of the QS, work done by convection/granulation on the inter-granular feet of the coronal field lines probably translates into the heat observed in the corona. In the case of the AR, as here, there could be flux emergence, cancellation/submergence, or shear flows generating large stress and tension in coronal field loops which is released as heat in the corona. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no observational evidence available to these processes. We investigate the changes taking place in the photospheric feet of the magnetic field involved with brightenings in the Hi-C AR corona. Using HMI 45s magnetograms of four hours we find that, out of the two Hi-C sub-regions where the braiding of field lines were recently detected, flux emergence takes place in one region and flux cancellation in the other. The field in these sub-regions are highly sheared and have apparent high speed plasma flows at their feet. Therefore, shearing flows plausibly power much of the coronal and transition region heating in these areas of the AR. In addition, the presence of large flux emergence/cancellation strongly suggests that the work done by these processes on the pre-existing field also drives much of the observed heating.

Two-fluid and magnetohydrodynamic modelling of magnetic reconnection in the MAST spherical tokamak and the solar corona

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Browning, P. K.; Cardnell, S.; Evans, M.; Arese Lucini, F.; Lukin, V. S.; McClements, K. G.; Stanier, A.

2016-01-01

Twisted magnetic flux ropes are ubiquitous in laboratory and astrophysical plasmas, and the merging of such flux ropes through magnetic reconnection is an important mechanism for restructuring magnetic fields and releasing free magnetic energy. The merging-compression scenario is one possible start-up scheme for spherical tokamaks, which has been used on the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST). Two current-carrying plasma rings or flux ropes approach each due to mutual attraction, forming a current sheet and subsequently merge through magnetic reconnection into a single plasma torus, with substantial plasma heating. Two-dimensional resistive and Hall-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of this process are reported, including a strong guide field. A model of the merging based on helicity-conserving relaxation to a minimum energy state is also presented, extending previous work to tight-aspect-ratio toroidal geometry. This model leads to a prediction of the final state of the merging, in good agreement with simulations and experiment, as well as the average temperature rise. A relaxation model of reconnection between two or more flux ropes in the solar corona is also described, allowing for different senses of twist, and the implications for heating of the solar corona are discussed.

Influence of the Al wire placed in the anode axis on the transformation of the deuterium plasma column in the plasma focus discharge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kubes, P.; Cikhardtova, B.; Cikhardt, J.

In this paper, we describe the influence of an Al wire of 270 μm in diameter placed along the anode axis on the transformation of the deuterium pinch column in a megaampere (MA) plasma focus device. The evolution of the pinched column and of the wire corona was investigated by means of the multiframe interferometry, neutron and X-ray diagnostics. The wire corona did not influence considerably on the evolution of dense plasma structures and neutron production, but it increased the plasma density and consequently, the currents around its surface. The distribution of the closed internal currents (ranging hundreds of kA) andmore » associated magnetic fields amounting to 5 T were also estimated in the dense plasma column and in plasmoidal structures at the near-equilibrium state. The description is based on the balance of the plasma pressure and the pressure of the internal poloidal and toroidal current components compressed by the external pinched column. The dominant number of fusion deuterium-deuterium (D-D) neutrons is produced during the evolution of instabilities, when the uninterrupted wire corona (containing deuterium) connects the dense structures of the pinch, and it did not allow the formation of a constriction of the sub-millimeter diameter.« less

Using of fiber-array diagnostic to measure the propagation of fast axial ionization wave during breakdown of electrically exploding tungsten wire in vacuum.

PubMed

Shi, Huantong; Zou, Xiaobing; Wang, Xinxin

2017-12-01

The physical process of electrical explosion of wires in vacuum is featured with the surface discharge along the wire, which generates the corona plasma layer and terminates the Joule heating of the wire core. In this paper, a fiber-array probe was designed to directly measure the radiation of surface arc with spatial and temporal resolution. The radiation of the exploding wire was casted to the section of an optical-fiber-array by a lens and transmitted to PIN diodes and finally collected with an oscilloscope. This probe enables direct diagnostics of the evolution of surface discharge with high temporal resolution and certain spatial resolution. The radiation of a tungsten wire driven by a positive current pulse was measured, and results showed that surface discharge initiates near the cathode and propagates toward the anode with a speed of 7.7 ± 1.6 mm/ns; further estimations showed that this process is responsible for the "conical" structure of the exploding wire.

Using of fiber-array diagnostic to measure the propagation of fast axial ionization wave during breakdown of electrically exploding tungsten wire in vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Huantong; Zou, Xiaobing; Wang, Xinxin

2017-12-01

The physical process of electrical explosion of wires in vacuum is featured with the surface discharge along the wire, which generates the corona plasma layer and terminates the Joule heating of the wire core. In this paper, a fiber-array probe was designed to directly measure the radiation of surface arc with spatial and temporal resolution. The radiation of the exploding wire was casted to the section of an optical-fiber-array by a lens and transmitted to PIN diodes and finally collected with an oscilloscope. This probe enables direct diagnostics of the evolution of surface discharge with high temporal resolution and certain spatial resolution. The radiation of a tungsten wire driven by a positive current pulse was measured, and results showed that surface discharge initiates near the cathode and propagates toward the anode with a speed of 7.7 ± 1.6 mm/ns; further estimations showed that this process is responsible for the "conical" structure of the exploding wire.

Dual-Wavelength Interferometry and Light Emission Study for Experimental Support of Dual-Wire Ablation Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, Andrew; Caplinger, James; Sotnikov, Vladimir; Sarkisov, Gennady; Leland, John

2017-10-01

In the Plasma Physics and Sensors Laboratory, located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, we utilize a pulsed power source to create plasma through a wire ablation process of metallic wires. With a parallel arrangement of wires the azimuthal magnetic fields generated around each wire, along with the Ohmic current dissipation and heating occurring upon wire evaporation, launch strong radial outflows of magnetized plasmas towards the centralized stagnation region. It is in this region that we investigate two phases of the wire ablation process. Observations in the first phase are collsionless and mostly comprised of light ions ejected from the initial corona. The second phase is observed when the wire core is ablated and heavy ions dominate collisions in the stagnation region. In this presentation we will show how dual-wavelength interferometric techniques can provide information about electron and atomic densities from experiments. Additionally, we expect white-light emission to provide a qualitative confirmation of the instabilities observed from our experiments. The material is based upon work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Award Number 16RYCOR289.

Characterization of long-scale-length plasmas produced from plastic foam targets for laser plasma instability (LPI) research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J. L.; Serlin, V.; Obenschain, S. P.

2017-10-01

We report on an experimental effort to produce plasmas with long scale lengths for the study of parametric instabilities, such as two plasmon decay (TPD) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), under conditions relevant to fusion plasma. In the current experiment, plasmas are formed from low density (10-100 mg/cc) CH foam targets irradiated by Nike krypton fluoride laser pulses (λ = 248 nm, 1 nsec FWHM) with energies up to 1 kJ. This experiment is conducted with two primary diagnostics: the grid image refractometer (Nike-GIR) to measure electron density and temperature profiles of the coronas, and time-resolved spectrometers with absolute intensity calibration to examine scattered light features of TPD or SRS. Nike-GIR was recently upgraded with a 5th harmonic probe laser (λ = 213 nm) to access plasma regions near quarter critical density of 248 nm light (4.5 ×1021 cm-3). The results will be discussed with data obtained from 120 μm scale-length plasmas created on solid CH targets in previous LPI experiments at Nike. Work supported by DoE/NNSA.

Atmospheric Electricity and Tethered Aerostats, Volume 2

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-05-11

vs Altitude (Non- conducting or Conducting Tethers...Effect of Corona Charge Plume 15 3.1 Tether Current vs Balloon Altitude , BJ+3 - 25 Sep 73 20 3.2 Tether Current vs Balloon Altitude , Baldy - 17 Oct 73 21...3.3 Tether Current vs Balloon Altitude , Baldy - 31 Oct 73 22 3.4 Tether Current vs Balloon Altitude , Baldy - 2 Nov 73 23 3.5 Tether Current vs

A new concept and classification of corona mortis and its clinical significance.

PubMed

Al Talalwah, Waseem

2016-10-01

The obturator artery and its accessory (aberrant) arising from different origins and crossing the pubic rami are vascular variations. The internal iliac artery usually provides the obturator artery which may communicates with the external iliac artery through either the accessory obturator or inferior epigastric artery. A collateral circulation between the external and internal iliac system is known as corona mortis. The aim of current study is to provide sufficient data of vascular variability crossing the pubic rami for clinical field. Present study includes 208 hemipelvises dissected in the Institution of Anatomy, Medical University of Graz. During dissection, the obturator artery and its accessory crossing the superior rami of pubic bone were found to have different origins. The obturator artery arising from the external iliac artery and from the femoral artery accounts for 9.8% and 1.1% respectively. Therefore, it passes over the superior pubic rami in 10.9%. Further, the accessory (aberrant) artery arises only from the femoral artery in 1.1%. In present study, the vascular variation crossing the superior pubic rami with or without collateral circulation between external and internal iliac system referred as corona mortis is addressed. This study includes new classification of obturator and accessory obturator arteries as well as the corona mortis. It includes a comparison of corona mortis incidence in Austria population and other populations. The corona mortis found to be in 12% of Austrian population. A great attention of clinicians, radiologists, surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, obstetricians and gynecologists has to be considered before pubic surgical procedures such as internal fixation of pubic fracture, an inguinal hernia repair. Further, traumatic pubic rami fracture may lead to massive hemor- rhage due to laceration of the obturator artery.

Measurements of coronal Faraday rotation at 4.6 R {sub ☉}

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kooi, Jason E.; Fischer, Patrick D.; Buffo, Jacob J.

2014-03-20

Many competing models for the coronal heating and acceleration mechanisms of the high-speed solar wind depend on the solar magnetic field and plasma structure in the corona within heliocentric distances of 5 R {sub ☉}. We report on sensitive Very Large Array (VLA) full-polarization observations made in 2011 August, at 5.0 and 6.1 GHz (each with a bandwidth of 128 MHz) of the radio galaxy 3C 228 through the solar corona at heliocentric distances of 4.6-5.0 R {sub ☉}. Observations at 5.0 GHz permit measurements deeper in the corona than previous VLA observations at 1.4 and 1.7 GHz. These Faradaymore » rotation observations provide unique information on the magnetic field in this region of the corona. The measured Faraday rotation on this day was lower than our a priori expectations, but we have successfully modeled the measurement in terms of observed properties of the corona on the day of observation. Our data on 3C 228 provide two lines of sight (separated by 46'', 33,000 km in the corona). We detected three periods during which there appeared to be a difference in the Faraday rotation measure between these two closely spaced lines of sight. These measurements (termed differential Faraday rotation) yield an estimate of 2.6-4.1 GA for coronal currents. Our data also allow us to impose upper limits on rotation measure fluctuations caused by coronal waves; the observed upper limits were 3.3 and 6.4 rad m{sup –2} along the two lines of sight. The implications of these results for Joule heating and wave heating are briefly discussed.« less

Numerical simulation of an oxygen-fed wire-to-cylinder negative corona discharge in the glow regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanallah, K.; Pontiga, F.; Castellanos, A.

2011-02-01

Negative glow corona discharge in flowing oxygen has been numerically simulated for a wire-to-cylinder electrode geometry. The corona discharge is modelled using a fluid approximation. The radial and axial distributions of charged and neutral species are obtained by solving the corresponding continuity equations, which include the relevant plasma-chemical kinetics. Continuity equations are coupled with Poisson's equation and the energy conservation equation, since the reaction rate constants may depend on the electric field and temperature. The experimental values of the current-voltage characteristic are used as input data into the numerical calculations. The role played by different reactions and chemical species is analysed, and the effect of electrical and geometrical parameters on ozone generation is investigated. The reliability of the numerical model is verified by the reasonable agreement between the numerical predictions of ozone concentration and the experimental measurements.

Heating of the Solar Corona and its Loops

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klimchuk, James A.

2009-01-01

At several million degrees, the solar corona is more than two orders of magnitude hotter than the underlying solar surface. The reason for these extreme conditions has been a puzzle for decades and is considered one of the fundamental problems in astrophysics. Much of the coronal plasma is organized by the magnetic field into arch-like structures called loops. Recent observational and theoretical advances have led to great progress in understanding the nature of these loops. In particular, we now believe they are bundles of unresolved magnetic strands that are heated by storms of impulsive energy bursts called nanoflares. Turbulent convection at the solar surface shuffles the footpoints of the strands and causes them to become tangled. A nanoflare occurs when the magnetic stresses reach a critical threshold, probably by way of a mechanism called the secondary instability. I will describe our current state of knowledge concerning the corona, its loops, and how they are heated.

EFFECTS OF FIELD-LINE TOPOLOGY ON ENERGY PROPAGATION IN THE CORONA

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Candelaresi, S.; Pontin, D. I.; Hornig, G.

We study the effect of photospheric footpoint motions on magnetic field structures containing magnetic nulls. The footpoint motions are prescribed on the photospheric boundary as a velocity field that entangles the magnetic field. We investigate the propagation of the injected energy, the conversion of energy, emergence of current layers, and other consequences of the nontrivial magnetic field topology in this situation. These boundary motions lead initially to an increase in magnetic and kinetic energy. Following this, the energy input from the photosphere is partially dissipated and partially transported out of the domain through the Poynting flux. The presence of separatrixmore » layers and magnetic null points fundamentally alters the propagation behavior of disturbances from the photosphere into the corona. Depending on the field-line topology close to the photosphere, the energy is either trapped or free to propagate into the corona.« less

Power-Law Statistics of Driven Reconnection in the Magnetically Closed Corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klimchuk, J. A.; DeVore, C. R.; Knizhnik, K. J.; Uritskiy, V. M.

2018-01-01

Numerous observations have revealed that power-law distributions are ubiquitous in energetic solar processes. Hard X-rays, soft X-rays, extreme ultraviolet radiation, and radio waves all display power-law frequency distributions. Since magnetic reconnection is the driving mechanism for many energetic solar phenomena, it is likely that reconnection events themselves display such power-law distributions. In this work, we perform numerical simulations of the solar corona driven by simple convective motions at the photospheric level. Using temperature changes, current distributions, and Poynting fluxes as proxies for heating, we demonstrate that energetic events occurring in our simulation display power-law frequency distributions, with slopes in good agreement with observations. We suggest that the braiding-associated reconnection in the corona can be understood in terms of a self-organized criticality model driven by convective rotational motions similar to those observed at the photosphere.

Air trichloroethylene oxidation in a corona plasma-catalytic reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masoomi-Godarzi, S.; Ranji-Burachaloo, H.; Khodadadi, A. A.; Vesali-Naseh, M.; Mortazavi, Y.

2014-08-01

The oxidative decomposition of trichloroethylene (TCE; 300 ppm) by non-thermal corona plasma was investigated in dry air at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, both in the absence and presence of catalysts including MnOx, CoOx. The catalysts were synthesized by a co-precipitation method. The morphology and structure of the catalysts were characterized by BET surface area measurement and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) methods. Decomposition of TCE and distribution of products were evaluated by a gas chromatograph (GC) and an FTIR. In the absence of the catalyst, TCE removal is increased with increases in the applied voltage and current intensity. Higher TCE removal and CO2 selectivity is observed in presence of the corona and catalysts, as compared to those with the plasma alone. The results show that MnOx and CoOx catalysts can dissociate the in-plasma produced ozone to oxygen radicals, which enhances the TCE decomposition.

Coronal magnetic fields and the solar wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Newkirk, G., Jr.

1972-01-01

Current information is presented on coronal magnetic fields as they bear on problems of the solar wind. Both steady state fields and coronal transient events are considered. A brief critique is given of the methods of calculating coronal magnetic fields including the potential (current free) models, exact solutions for the solar wind and field interaction, and source surface models. These solutions are compared with the meager quantitative observations which are available at this time. Qualitative comparisons between the shapes of calculated magnetic field lines and the forms visible in the solar corona at several recent eclipses are displayed. These suggest that: (1) coronal streamers develop above extended magnetic arcades which connect unipolar regions of opposite polarity; and (2) loops, arches, and rays in the corona correspond to preferentially filled magnetic tubes in the approximately potential field.

Insights into Corona Formation through Statistical Analyses

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Glaze, L. S.; Stofan, E. R.; Smrekar, S. E.; Baloga, S. M.

2002-01-01

Statistical analysis of an expanded database of coronae on Venus indicates that the populations of Type 1 (with fracture annuli) and 2 (without fracture annuli) corona diameters are statistically indistinguishable, and therefore we have no basis for assuming different formation mechanisms. Analysis of the topography and diameters of coronae shows that coronae that are depressions, rimmed depressions, and domes tend to be significantly smaller than those that are plateaus, rimmed plateaus, or domes with surrounding rims. This is consistent with the model of Smrekar and Stofan and inconsistent with predictions of the spreading drop model of Koch and Manga. The diameter range for domes, the initial stage of corona formation, provides a broad constraint on the buoyancy of corona-forming plumes. Coronae are only slightly more likely to be topographically raised than depressions, with Type 1 coronae most frequently occurring as rimmed depressions and Type 2 coronae most frequently occuring with flat interiors and raised rims. Most Type 1 coronae are located along chasmata systems or fracture belts, while Type 2 coronas are found predominantly as isolated features in the plains. Coronae at hotspot rises tend to be significantly larger than coronae in other settings, consistent with a hotter upper mantle at hotspot rises and their active state.

Plasma Ion Sources for Atmospheric Pressure Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Jian-Guo

1994-01-01

Atmospheric pressure ionization (API) sources using direct-current (DC) and radio-frequency (RF) plasma have been developed in this thesis work. These ion sources can provide stable discharge currents of ~ 1 mA, 2-3 orders of magnitude larger than that of the corona discharge, a widely used API source. The plasmas can be generated and maintained in 1 atm of various buffer gases by applying -500 to -1000 V (DC plasma) or 1-15 W with a frequency of 165 kHz (RF plasma) on the needle electrode. These ion sources have been used with liquid injection to detect various organic compounds of pharmaceutical, biotechnological and environmental interest. Key features of these ion sources include soft ionization with the protonated molecule as the largest peak, and superb sensitivity with detection limits in the low picogram or femtomole range and a linear dynamic range over ~4 orders of magnitude. The RF plasma has advantages over the DC plasma in its ability to operate in various buffer gases and to produce a more stable plasma. Factors influencing the performance of the ion sources have been studied, including RF power level, liquid flow rate, chamber temperature, solvent composition, and voltage affecting the collision induced dissociation (CID). Ionization of hydrocarbons by the RF plasma API source was also studied. Soft ionization is generally produced. To obtain high sensitivity, the ion source must be very dry and the needle-to-orifice distance must be small. Nitric oxide was used to enhance the sensitivity. The RF plasma source was then used for the analysis of hydrocarbons in auto emissions. Comparisons between the corona discharge and the RF plasma have been made in terms of discharge current, ion residence time, and the ion source model. The RF plasma source provides larger linear dynamic range and higher sensitivity than the corona discharge, due to its much larger discharge current. The RF plasma was also observed to provide longer ion residence times and was not limited by space-charge effect as in the corona source.

Suitability of orthodontic brackets for rebonding and reworking following removal by air pressure pulses and conventional debracketing techniques.

PubMed

Knösel, Michael; Mattysek, Simone; Jung, Klaus; Kubein-Meesenburg, Dietmar; Sadat-Khonsari, Reza; Ziebolz, Dirk

2010-07-01

To test the null hypothesis that there are no significant differences in the reusability of debonded brackets with regard to debonding technique and adhesive used. Ninety-six osteotomed third molars were randomly assigned to two study groups (n = 48) for bonding of a 0.018-inch bracket (Ormesh, Ormco) with either a composite adhesive (Mono-Lok2; RMO) or a glass ionomer cement (GIC; Fuji Ortho LC;GC). Each of these two groups were then randomly divided into four subgroups (n = 12) according to the method of debonding using (1) bracket removal pliers (BRP; Dentaurum), (2) a side cutter (SC; Dentaurum), (3) a lift-off debracketing instrument (LODI; 3M-Unitek), or (4) an air pressure pulse device (CoronaFlex; KaVo). The brackets were subsequently assessed visually for reusability and reworkability with 2x magnification and by pull testing with a 0.017- x 0.025-inch steel archwire. The proportions of reusable brackets were individually compared in terms of mode of removal and with regard to adhesives using the Fisher exact test (alpha = 5%). The null hypothesis was rejected. Not taking into account the debonding method, brackets bonded with GIC were judged to a significant extent (81%; n = 39; P < .01) to be reworkable compared with those bonded with composite (56%; n = 27). All brackets in both adhesive groups removed with either the LODI or the CoronaFlex were found to be reusable, whereas 79% (46%) of the brackets removed with the BRP (SC) were not. The proportion of reusable brackets differed significantly between modes of removal (P < .01). With regard to bracket reusability, the SC and the BRP cannot be recommended for debonding brackets, especially in combination with a composite adhesive.

The catalytic role of tungsten electrode material in the plasmachemical activity of a pulsed corona discharge in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lukes, Petr; Clupek, Martin; Babicky, Vaclav; Sisrova, Irena; Janda, Vaclav

2011-06-01

The effects of tungsten material used as a high-voltage needle electrode on the production of hydrogen peroxide and the degradation of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) caused by a pulsed corona discharge in water were investigated. A reactor of needle-plate electrode geometry was used. The erosion of the tungsten electrodes by the discharge was evaluated. The yields of H2O2 production and the decomposition of DMSO by the discharge, which were obtained using the tungsten electrodes, were compared with those determined for titanium electrodes. The electrode erosion increased significantly with an increase in the solution conductivity. A large fraction (50-70%) of the eroded tungsten electrode material was released into the solution in dissolved form as tungstate WO_4^{2-} ions. A correlation between the amount of eroded tungsten material released into the solution and the chemical effects induced by the discharge was determined. Lower yields of H2O2 and a higher degradation of DMSO by the discharge were obtained using the tungsten electrodes than were determined using titanium electrodes. Tungstate ions were shown to play a dominant role in the decomposition of H2O2, which was produced by the discharge using a tungsten electrode. The higher degradation of DMSO that was determined for tungsten was attributed to the tungstate-catalyzed oxidation of DMSO by H2O2, in addition to the oxidation of DMSO by OH radicals. Such a mechanism was supported by the detection of degradation by-products of DMSO (methanesulfonate, sulfate and dimethyl sulfone). The catalytic role of tungstate ions in the plasmachemical activity of the discharge generated using a tungsten electrode was also demonstrated on a pH-dependent decomposition of H2O2 and DMSO.

Admittance Survey of Type 1 Coronae on Venus: Implications for Elastic Thickness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoogenboom, T.; Smrekar, S. E.; Anderson, F. S.; Houseman, G.

2003-01-01

Coronae are volcano-tectonic features on Venus which range from 60km to 2600km and are defined by their nearly circular patterns of fractures. Type 1 (regular) coronae are classified as having >50% complete fracture annuli. Previous work has examined the factors controlling the morphology, size, and fracture pattern of coronae, using lithospheric properties, loading signature and geologic characteristics. However, these studies have been limited to Type 2 (topographic) coronae (e.g. coronaes with <50% fracture annuli), and the factors controlling the formation of Type 1 coronae remain poorly understood. In this study, we apply the methodology of to survey the admittance signature for Type 1 coronae to determine the controlling parameters which govern Type 1 coronae formation.

The Turbulent Sun

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsay, Sally, Ed.

1976-01-01

Six articles review current understanding and research in solar physics. Included are topics on sunspots, the corona, solar flares, solar waves, and solar-energy generation. Also included is a resume of physical data relating to the sun. (SL)

Corona discharges from a windmill and its lightning protection tower in winter thunderstorms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Ting; Wang, Daohong; Rison, William; Thomas, Ronald J.; Edens, Harald E.; Takagi, Nobuyuki; Krehbiel, Paul R.

2017-05-01

This paper presents lightning mapping array (LMA) observations of corona discharges from a windmill and its lightning protection tower in winter thunderstorms in Japan. Corona discharges from the windmill, called windmill coronas, and those from the tower, called tower coronas, are distinctly different. Windmill coronas occur with periodic bursts, generally radiate larger power, and possibly develop to higher altitudes than tower coronas do. A strong negative electric field is necessary for the frequent production of tower coronas but is not apparently related with windmill coronas. These differences are due to the periodic rotation of the windmill and the moving blades which can escape space charges produced by corona discharges and sustain a large local electric field. The production period of windmill coronas is related with the rotation period of the windmill. Surprisingly, for one rotation of the windmill, only two out of the three blades produce detectable discharges and source powers of discharges from these two blades are different. The reason for this phenomenon is still unclear. For tower coronas, the source rate can get very high only when there is a strong negative electric field, and the source power can get very high only when the source rate is very low. The relationship between corona discharges and lightning flashes is investigated. There is no direct evidence that corona discharges can increase the chance of upward leader initiation, but nearby lightning flashes can increase the source rate of corona discharges right after the flashes. The peak of the source height distribution of corona discharges is about 100 m higher than the top of the windmill and the top of the tower. Possible reasons for this result are discussed.

Pulse charging of lead-acid traction cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smithrick, J. J.

1980-01-01

Pulse charging, as a method of rapidly and efficiently charging 300 amp-hour lead-acid traction cells for an electric vehicle application was investigated. A wide range of charge pulse current square waveforms were investigated and the results were compared to constant current charging at the time averaged pulse current values. Representative pulse current waveforms were: (1) positive waveform-peak charge pulse current of 300 amperes (amps), discharge pulse-current of zero amps, and a duty cycle of about 50%; (2) Romanov waveform-peak charge pulse current of 300 amps, peak discharge pulse current of 15 amps, and a duty of 50%; and (3) McCulloch waveform peak charge pulse current of 193 amps, peak discharge pulse current of about 575 amps, and a duty cycle of 94%. Experimental results indicate that on the basis of amp-hour efficiency, pulse charging offered no significant advantage as a method of rapidly charging 300 amp-hour lead-acid traction cells when compared to constant current charging at the time average pulse current value. There were, however, some disadvantages of pulse charging in particular a decrease in charge amp-hour and energy efficiencies and an increase in cell electrolyte temperature. The constant current charge method resulted in the best energy efficiency with no significant sacrifice of charge time or amp-hour output. Whether or not pulse charging offers an advantage over constant current charging with regard to the cell charge/discharge cycle life is unknown at this time.

A voltage-division-type low-jitter self-triggered repetition-rate switch.

PubMed

Su, Jian-Cang; Zeng, Bo; Gao, Peng-Cheng; Li, Rui; Wu, Xiao-Long; Zhao, Liang

2016-10-01

A voltage-division-type (V/N) low-jitter self-triggered multi-stage switch is put forward. It comprises of a triggered corona gap, several quasi-uniform-field gaps, and an inversion inductor. When the corona gap is in the stage of self-breakdown, the multi-stage gaps are triggered and the switch is closed via an over-voltage. This type of V/N switch has the advantage of compact structure since the auxiliary components like the gas-blowing system and the triggered system are eliminated from the whole system. It also has advantages such as low breakdown jitter and high energy efficiency. The dependence of the self-triggered voltage on the over-voltage factor and the switch operating voltage is deduced. A switch of this type is designed and fabricated and experiments to research its characteristics are conducted. The results show that this switch can operate on a voltage of 1 MV at 50 Hz and can generate 1000 successive pulses with a jitter as low as 3% and an energy efficiency as high as 90%. This V/N switch can work under a high repetition rate with a long lifetime.

Dielectric properties and effect of electrical aging on space charge accumulation in polyimide/TiO2 nanocomposite films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zha, Jun-Wei; Dang, Zhi-Min; Song, Hong-Tao; Yin, Yi; Chen, George

2010-11-01

In situ polymerized polyimide/TiO2 (PI/TiO2) nanocomposite films with good electrical aging resistance are studied. Space charge distribution in the PI/TiO2 nanocomposite films are measured using the pulsed electroacoustic method. Dielectric properties of the films are measured in the frequency range of 102 Hz-106 Hz by an impedance analyzer (Agilent 4294A) at room temperature. These nanocomposite films are also characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It is demonstrated that the nano-TiO2 particles strongly affect dielectric breakdown, lifetime and space charge distribution, and increase the voltage endurance of the nanocomposite films significantly. SEM analyses show that the nanocomposite films are destroyed after corona aging. The relation of space charge distribution with the concentration of the nano-TiO2 particles and the aging time is explored. Results show that an increase in dielectric permittivity of the nanocomposite films is observed with increasing filler concentration. However, the accumulation of space charge decreases with increasing nano-TiO2 particles concentration for the same corona aging time, and depends on the dielectric permittivity of the nanocomposite films.

Preliminary test results of electrical charged particle generator for application to fog dispersal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frost, W.

1982-01-01

A charged particle generator for use in fog dispersal applications was built and preliminary tests were carried out. The parameter used as a measure of performance was the current measured with a needle probe positioned in the charged jet connected to ground through an ammeter. The needle was movable and allowed the current profile throughout the jet to be determined. The measured current is referred to as the current output. The major independent parameters were liquid water injection rate, plenum pressure, and corona voltage. Optimum current output was achieved at the approximate pressure of 30 psig, corona voltage of 5600 volts, and liquid water injection rate of 6 cc/min. The results of the test with the prototype charged particle generator clearly demonstrate that a current on the order of 20 microamperes can be routinely achieved with the system. This measurement of current does not necessarily represent the total issuing from the nozzle current which is expected to be larger. From these results, confidence was established that a charged particle generator which will operate continuously and consistently can be designed, constructed, and operated. Further work is required, however, to better understand the physical mechanisms involved and to optimize the system for fog dispersal application.

[Morphology determination of multi-needle-to-plate positive corona discharge].

PubMed

Su, Peng-hao; Zhu, Yi-min; Chen, Hai-feng

2008-09-01

Using the method of OES (optical emission spectrum) for measuring N2 emission spectrum, the distribution of the energetic electrons in multi-needle-to-plate positive corona discharge at atmospheric pressure was investigated, and compared with that in negative corona discharge. According to the distribution of N2 second positive band's intensity I(SPB), the outline of the ionization region in glow discharge and the streamer channel were drawn rather accurately. The relationship between I(SPB) and the discharge current I in glow discharge can be obtained through the volume integral of the I(SPB). In glow discharge, both the ionization region scale and I(SPB) are smaller than in negative corona discharge, the electron avalanche develops farther along the radius direction of needle than along axis direction, and only the arrange along axis direction is enhanced slightly with the rise of the applied voltage U. The integral of I(SPB) is second order linear to I. In streamer discharge, the discharge channels develop from needlepoint to the plate, while the shape of the region in which I(SPB) is higher looks like a bullet. The density of energetic electron in the channel farther away from the needlepoint is relatively uniform along the axis direction, but first increases then decreases along the radius direction.

Numerical Investigations of Capabilities and Limits of Photospheric Data Driven Magnetic Flux Emergence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linton, Mark; Leake, James; Schuck, Peter W.

2016-05-01

The magnetic field of the solar atmosphere is the primary driver of solar activity. Understanding the magnetic state of the solar atmosphere is therefore of key importance to predicting solaractivity. One promising means of studying the magnetic atmosphere is to dynamically build up and evolve this atmosphere from the time evolution of the magnetic field at the photosphere, where it can be measured with current solar vector magnetograms at high temporal and spatial resolution.We report here on a series of numerical experiments investigating the capabilities and limits of magnetohydrodynamical simulations of such a process, where a magnetic corona is dynamically built up and evolved from a time series of synthetic photospheric data. These synthetic data are composed of photospheric slices taken from self consistent convection zone to corona simulations of flux emergence. The driven coronae are then quantitatively compared against the coronae of the original simulations. We investigate and report on the fidelity of these driven simulations, both as a function of the emergence timescale of the magnetic flux, and as a function of the driving cadence of the input data.This work was supported by the Chief of Naval Research and the NASA Living with a Star and Heliophysics Supporting Research programs.

Effects of Pulse Parameters on Weld Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extra Pulse Current Aided Laser Welded 2219 Aluminum Alloy Joints.

PubMed

Zhang, Xinge; Li, Liqun; Chen, Yanbin; Yang, Zhaojun; Chen, Yanli; Guo, Xinjian

2017-09-15

In order to expand the application range of laser welding and improve weld quality, an extra pulse current was used to aid laser-welded 2219 aluminum alloy, and the effects of pulse current parameters on the weld microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current interactions with the weld pool were evaluated. The results indicated that the coarse dendritic structure in the weld zone changed to a fine equiaxed structure using an extra pulse current, and the pulse parameters, including medium peak current, relatively high pulse frequency, and low pulse duty ratio benefited to improving the weld structure. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current were mainly ascribed to the magnetic pinch effect, thermal effect, and electromigration effect caused by the pulse current. The effect of the pulse parameters on the mechanical properties of welded joints were consistent with that of the weld microstructure. The tensile strength and elongation of the optimal pulse current-aided laser-welded joint increased by 16.4% and 105%, respectively, compared with autogenous laser welding.

Effects of Pulse Parameters on Weld Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Extra Pulse Current Aided Laser Welded 2219 Aluminum Alloy Joints

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xinge; Li, Liqun; Chen, Yanbin; Yang, Zhaojun; Chen, Yanli; Guo, Xinjian

2017-01-01

In order to expand the application range of laser welding and improve weld quality, an extra pulse current was used to aid laser-welded 2219 aluminum alloy, and the effects of pulse current parameters on the weld microstructure and mechanical properties were investigated. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current interactions with the weld pool were evaluated. The results indicated that the coarse dendritic structure in the weld zone changed to a fine equiaxed structure using an extra pulse current, and the pulse parameters, including medium peak current, relatively high pulse frequency, and low pulse duty ratio benefited to improving the weld structure. The effect mechanisms of the pulse current were mainly ascribed to the magnetic pinch effect, thermal effect, and electromigration effect caused by the pulse current. The effect of the pulse parameters on the mechanical properties of welded joints were consistent with that of the weld microstructure. The tensile strength and elongation of the optimal pulse current-aided laser-welded joint increased by 16.4% and 105%, respectively, compared with autogenous laser welding. PMID:28914825

Evidences for recent plume-induced subduction, microplates and localized lateral plate motions on Venus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davaille, Anne; Smrekar, Suzanne

2017-04-01

Using laboratory experiments and theoretical modeling, we recently showed that plumes could induce roll-back subduction around large coronae. When a hot plume rises under a brittle and visco-elasto-plastic skin/lithosphere, the latter undergoes a flexural deformation which puts it under tension. Radial cracks and rifting of the skin then develop, sometimes using pre-existing weaknesses. Plume material upwells through the cracks (because it is more buoyant) and spreads as a axisymmetric gravity current above the broken denser skin. The latter bends and sinks under the combined force of its own weight and that of the plume gravity current. However, due to the brittle character of the upper part of the experimental lithosphere, it cannot deform viscously to accomodate the sinking motions. Instead, the plate continues to tear, as a sheet of paper would do upon intrusion. Several slabs are therefore produced, associated with trenches localized along partial circles on the plume, and strong roll-back is always observed. Depending on the lithospheric strength, roll-back can continue and triggers a complete resurfacing, or it stops when the plume stops spreading. Two types of microplates are also observed. First, the upwelling plume material creates a set of new plates interior to the trench segments. These plates move rapidly and expand through time, but do not subduct.. In a few cases, we also observe additional microplates exterior to the trenches. This happens when the subducting plate contains preexisting heterogeneities (e.g. fractures) and the subducted slab is massive enough for slab pull to become efficient and induce horizontal plate motions. Scalings derived from the experiments suggest that Venus lithosphere is soft enough to undergo such a regime. And indeed, at least two candidates can be identified on Venus, where plume-induced subduction could have operated. (1) Artemis Coronae is the largest (2300 km across) coronae on Venus and is bounded over 270° of arc by a trench and outer rise, which is proposed to be a subduction zone based on its morphologic similiarity to several terrestrial features. Its interior is cut by a rift and several shear zones. (2) Lada Terra is a 1000 km diameter topographic rise centered near 65°S, 10°E. The 800 km diameter Quetzelpetlatl Corona (QC) defines its western margin. The western edge of QC is defined by a trench and outer rise. As at Artemis, the latter presents also graben and fractures similar to the extensional features seen in the laboratory. The subsurface density variations inferred from modeling the gravity and topography data at both coronae are compatible with the existence of a slab at depth. Moreover, the interior of Artemis looks like the system of growing microplates inside the coronae described in the laboratory. While the second type is probably occuring in the Lada Terra region, where the presence of an extension zone to the north (Kalaipahoa Linea) could mark the edge of a microplate currently subducting at QC. Moreover, evidence for geologically recent volcanism at Quetzelpetlatl suggests that subduction may be currently active on Venus.

Modeling corona sheath dynamics and effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carlson, B.; Lehtinen, N. G.

2016-12-01

The conductive lightning channel is only a centimeter or so in diameter, but charge deposited along such a narrow channel produces a large electric field that drives corona discharge in nearby air, carrying the charge outward several meters. The formation of this "corona sheath" affects a wide range of observable properties of lightning, including the overall charge carried by the channel, the shape, speed, and attenuation of impulsive currents, and the possibility of x-ray production. Simplified electrostatic and electrodynamic models of the formation of the sheath will be discussed, with results given including regions near the tip of a hypothetical channel. These results suggest that the sheath initially expands very rapidly, limiting the lifetime of the intense fields nearest the channel. The expansion gradually slows as the fields decrease, but under certain circumstances a large-scale streamer-like process can lead to enhancement of electric fields displaced from the tip of the channel, possibly suggesting a mechanism for space stem formation and leader stepping.

Solar Probe Plus: A NASA Mission to Touch the SunMission Status Update

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, N. J.

2016-12-01

Solar Probe Plus (SPP), currently in Phase D, will be the first mission to fly into the low solar corona, revealing how the corona is heated and the solar wind and energetic particles are accelerated, solving fundamental mysteries that have been top priority science goals since such a mission was first proposed in 1958. The scale and concept of such a mission has been revised at intervals since that time, yet the core has always been a close encounter with the Sun. The primary science goal of the Solar Probe Plus mission is to determine the structure and dynamics of the Sun's coronal magnetic field, understand how the solar corona and wind are heated and accelerated, and determine what mechanisms accelerate and transport energetic particles. SPP uses an innovative mission design, significant technology development and a risk-reducing engineering development to meet the SPP science objectives. In this presentation, we provide an update on the progress of the Solar Probe Plus mission as we prepare for the July 2018 launch.

Coating nanoparticles with tunable surfactants facilitates control over the protein corona.

PubMed

Müller, J; Bauer, K N; Prozeller, D; Simon, J; Mailänder, V; Wurm, F R; Winzen, S; Landfester, K

2017-01-01

Nanoparticles with long blood circulation time are a prerequisite for targeted drug delivery. To make the nanoparticles invisible for phagocytizing cells, functional moieties on the particle surface are believed to be necessary to attract specific so-called 'stealth' proteins forming a protein 'corona'. Currently, covalent attachment of those moieties represents the only way to achieve that attraction. However, that approach requires a high synthetic effort and is difficult to control. Therefore, we present the coating of model nanoparticles with biodegradable polymeric surfactants as an alternative method. The thermodynamic parameters of the coating process can be tuned by adjusting the surfactants' block lengths and hydrophilicity. Consequently, the unspecific protein adsorption and aggregation tendency of the particles can be controlled, and stealth proteins inhibiting cell uptake are enriched on their surface. This non-covalent approach could be applied to any particle type and thus facilitates tuning the protein corona and its biological impact. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

THE HOT R CORONAE BOREALIS STAR DY CENTAURI IS A BINARY

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kameswara Rao, N.; Lambert, David L.; McArthur, Barbara

2012-11-20

The remarkable hot R Coronae Borealis (RCB) star DY Cen is revealed to be the first and only binary system to be found among the RCB stars and their likely relatives, including the extreme helium stars and the hydrogen-deficient carbon stars. Radial velocity determinations from 1982 to 2010 have shown that DY Cen is a single-lined spectroscopic binary in an eccentric orbit with a period of 39.67 days. It is also one of the hottest and most H-rich member of the class of RCB stars. The system may have evolved from a common envelope to its current form.

Dense proton injection into phosphate glasses using corona discharge treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kinoshita, Takuya; Miyazaki, Atsushi; Kawaguchi, Keiga; Sakai, Daisuke; Yamaguchi, Takuya; Omata, Takahisa; Ishiyama, Tomohiro; Fujioka, Masaya; Kaiju, Hideo; Nishii, Junji

2018-01-01

Sodium ions in 25NaO1/2-6LaO3/2-6GeO2-63PO5/2 (mol%) glasses were substituted with protons using corona discharge treatment (CDT) under a H2 atmosphere. The substitution of sodium ion to proton proceeded from the anode side to the cathode side with constant current flow during the CDT. A crystalline free and transparent glass plate of 0.3 mm thickness was obtained after CDT for 96 h. The maximum decrease rate from sodium ion to proton was 78 ± 10%. The proton conductivity of 8.5 × 10-4 S/cm was attained at 400 °C.

Comparison between field mill and corona point instrumentation at Kennedy Space Center - Use of these data with a model to determine cloudbase electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Markson, R.; Anderson, B.; Govaert, J.; Fairall, C. W.

1989-01-01

A novel coronal current-determining instrument is being used at NASA-KSC which overcomes previous difficulties with wind sensitivity and a voltage-threshold 'deadband'. The mounting of the corona needle at an elevated location reduces coronal and electrode layer space-charge influences on electric fields, rendering the measurement of space charge density possible. In conjunction with a space-charge compensation model, these features allow a more realistic estimation of cloud base electric fields and the potential for lightning strike than has previously been possible with ground-based sensors.

Integrated 3D printing and corona poling process of PVDF piezoelectric films for pressure sensor application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hoejin; Torres, Fernando; Wu, Yanyu; Villagran, Dino; Lin, Yirong; Tseng, Tzu-Liang(Bill

2017-08-01

This paper presents a novel process to fabricate piezoelectric films from polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymer using integrated fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing and corona poling technique. Corona poling is one of many effective poling processes that has received attention to activate PVDF as a piezoelectric responsive material. The corona poling process occurs when a PVDF polymer is exposed to a high electric field created and controlled through an electrically charged needle and a grid electrode under heating environment. FDM 3D printing has seen extensive progress in fabricating thermoplastic materials and structures, including PVDF. However, post processing techniques such as poling is needed to align the dipoles in order to gain piezoelectric properties. To further simplify the piezoelectric sensors and structures fabrication process, this paper proposes an integrated 3D printing process with corona poling to fabricate piezoelectric PVDF sensors without post poling process. This proposed process, named ‘Integrated 3D Printing and Corona poling process’ (IPC), uses the 3D printer’s nozzle and heating bed as anode and cathode, respectively, to create poling electric fields in a controlled heating environment. The nozzle travels along the programmed path with fixed distance between nozzle tip and sample’s top surface. Simultaneously, the electric field between the nozzle and bottom heating pad promotes the alignment of dipole moment of PVDF molecular chains. The crystalline phase transformation and output current generated by printed samples under different electric fields in this process were characterized by a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and through fatigue load frame. It is demonstrated that piezoelectric PVDF films with enhanced β-phase percentage can be fabricated using the IPC process. In addition, mechanical properties of printed PVDF was investigated by tensile testing. It is expected to expand the use of additive manufacturing to fabricate piezoelectric PVDF-based devices for applications such as sensing and energy harvesting.

76 FR 3655 - Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Riverside-Corona Feeder Project, San Bernardino and Riverside...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-20

... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Riverside-Corona... Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIR/DEIS) for the proposed Riverside-Corona Feeder (RCF) Project... Bernardino, California 92410 Corona Public Library, 650 South Main Street, Corona, California 92882 Riverside...

Tectonic patterns and regional stresses near Venusian coronae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cyr, K. E.; Melosh, H. J.

1993-04-01

A stress analysis of tectonic patterns near Venusian coronae is reported. Combined local corona stresses and uniform regional stresses are used to predict patterns of surface tectonic features. The patterns are compared to those of coronae on Magellan images to determine the regional stress and elastic lithospheric thickness about the coronae. Regional stresses of 0.1-0.6 kbar and elastic lithospheric thicknesses of 10 +/- 5 km are estimated for three specific coronae.

PARAMETER MONITORING FOR REAL-TIME ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR TROUBLESHOOTING

EPA Science Inventory

The paper discusses detailed numerical calculations of particle charge and extinction coefficient performed using current models. The results suggest that information about rapping reentrainment, back corona, and, possibly, sulfuric acid condensation can be gained from simultaneo...

Characteristics of nanosecond pulse needle-to-plane discharges at high pressure: a particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sang, Chaofeng; Sun, Jizhong; Ren, Chunsheng; Wang, Dezhen

2009-02-01

A model of one dimensional in position and three dimensional in velocity space self-consistent particle in cell with Monte Carlo collision technique was employed to simulate the argon discharge between the needle and plane electrodes at high pressure, in which a nanosecond rectangular pulse was applied to the needle electrode. The work focused on the investigation of the spatiotemporal evolution of the discharge versus the needle tip size and working gas pressure. The simulation results showed that the discharge occurred mainly in the region near the needle tip at atmospheric pressure, and that the small radius of the needle tip led to easy discharge. Reducing the gas pressure gave rise to a transition from a corona discharge to a glowlike discharge along the needle-to-plane direction. The microscopic mechanism for the transition can arguably be attributed to the peak of high-energy electrons occurring before the breakdown; the magnitude of the number of these electrons determined whether the breakdown can take place.

Monitoring of the Enzymatic Degradation of Protein Corona and Evaluating the Accompanying Cytotoxicity of Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Ma, Zhifang; Bai, Jing; Jiang, Xiue

2015-08-19

Established nanobio interactions face the challenge that the formation of nanoparticle-protein corona complexes shields the inherent properties of the nanoparticles and alters the manner of the interactions between nanoparticles and biological systems. Therefore, many studies have focused on protein corona-mediated nanoparticle binding, internalization, and intracellular transportation. However, there are a few studies to pay attention to if the corona encounters degradation after internalization and how the degradation of the protein corona affects cytotoxicity. To fill this gap, we prepared three types of off/on complexes based on gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) and dye-labeled serum proteins and studied the extracellular and intracellular proteolytic processes of protein coronas as well as their accompanying effects on cytotoxicity through multiple evaluation mechanisms, including cell viability, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The proteolytic process was confirmed by recovery of the fluorescence of the dye-labeled protein molecules that was initially quenched by Au NPs. Our results indicate that the degradation rate of protein corona is dependent on the type of the protein based on systematical evaluation of the extracellular and intracellular degradation processes of the protein coronas formed by human serum albumin (HSA), γ-globulin (HGG), and serum fibrinogen (HSF). Degradation is the fastest for HSA corona and the slowest for HSF corona. Notably, we also find that the Au NP-HSA corona complex induces lower cell viability, slower ATP production, lower MMP, and higher ROS levels. The cytotoxicity of the nanoparticle-protein corona complex may be associated with the protein corona degradation process. All of these results will enrich the database of cytotoxicity induced by nanomaterial-protein corona complexes.

In Vivo Biomolecule Corona around Blood-Circulating, Clinically Used and Antibody-Targeted Lipid Bilayer Nanoscale Vesicles.

PubMed

Hadjidemetriou, Marilena; Al-Ahmady, Zahraa; Mazza, Mariarosa; Collins, Richard F; Dawson, Kenneth; Kostarelos, Kostas

2015-08-25

The adsorption of proteins and their layering onto nanoparticle surfaces has been called the "protein corona". This dynamic process of protein adsorption has been extensively studied following in vitro incubation of many different nanoparticles with plasma proteins. However, the formation of protein corona under dynamic, in vivo conditions remains largely unexplored. Extrapolation of in vitro formed protein coronas to predict the fate and possible toxicological burden from nanoparticles in vivo is of great interest. However, complete lack of such direct comparisons for clinically used nanoparticles makes the study of in vitro and in vivo formed protein coronas of great importance. Our aim was to study the in vivo protein corona formed onto intravenously injected, clinically used liposomes, based on the composition of the PEGylated liposomal formulation that constitutes the anticancer agent Doxil. The formation of in vivo protein corona was determined after the recovery of the liposomes from the blood circulation of CD-1 mice 10 min postinjection. In comparison, in vitro protein corona was formed by the incubation of liposomes in CD-1 mouse plasma. In vivo and in vitro formed protein coronas were compared in terms of morphology, composition and cellular internalization. The protein coronas on bare (non-PEGylated) and monoclonal antibody (IgG) targeted liposomes of the same lipid composition were also comparatively investigated. A network of linear fibrillary structures constituted the in vitro formed protein corona, whereas the in vivo corona had a different morphology but did not appear to coat the liposome surface entirely. Even though the total amount of protein attached on circulating liposomes correlated with that observed from in vitro incubations, the variety of molecular species in the in vivo corona were considerably wider. Both in vitro and in vivo formed protein coronas were found to significantly reduce receptor binding and cellular internalization of antibody-conjugated liposomes; however, the in vivo corona formation did not lead to complete ablation of their targeting capability.

Shell-corona microgels from double interpenetrating networks.

PubMed

Rudyak, Vladimir Yu; Gavrilov, Alexey A; Kozhunova, Elena Yu; Chertovich, Alexander V

2018-04-18

Polymer microgels with a dense outer shell offer outstanding features as universal carriers for different guest molecules. In this paper, microgels formed by an interpenetrating network comprised of collapsed and swollen subnetworks are investigated using dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) computer simulations, and it is found that such systems can form classical core-corona structures, shell-corona structures, and core-shell-corona structures, depending on the subchain length and molecular mass of the system. The core-corona structures consisting of a dense core and soft corona are formed at small microgel sizes when the subnetworks are able to effectively separate in space. The most interesting shell-corona structures consist of a soft cavity in a dense shell surrounded with a loose corona, and are found at intermediate gel sizes; the area of their existence depends on the subchain length and the corresponding mesh size. At larger molecular masses the collapsing network forms additional cores inside the soft cavity, leading to the core-shell-corona structure.

Modeling of Pulses in Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Wei; Celestin, Sebastien; Pasko, Victor

2015-04-01

Terrestrial Gamma-ray Flashes (TGFs) are high-energy photon bursts originating from the Earth's atmosphere that are associated with lightning activities. After their discovery in 1994 by the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) detector aboard the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory [Fishman et al., Science, 264, 1313, 1994], this phenomenon has been further observed by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) [Smith et al., Science, 307, 1085, 2005], the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope [Briggs et al., JGR, 115, A07323, 2010] and the Astrorivelatore Gamma a Immagini Leggero (AGILE) satellite [Marisaldi et al., JGR, 115, A00E13, 2010]. Photon spectra corresponding to the mechanism of relativistic runaway electron avalanches (RREAs) usually provide a very good agreement with satellite observations [Dwyer and Smith, GRL, 32, L22804, 2005]. On the other hand, Celestin and Pasko [JGR, 116, A03315, 2011] have shown theoretically that the large flux of thermal runaway electrons generated by streamers during the negative corona flash stage of stepping lightning leaders in intracloud lightning flashes could be responsible for TGFs. Recently, based on analysis of the temporal profiles of 278 TGF events observed by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Burst Monitor, Foley et al. [JGR, 119, 5931, 2014] have suggested that 67% of TGF pulses detected are asymmetric and these asymmetric pulses are consistent with the production mechanism of TGFs by relativistic feedback discharges. In the present work, we employ a Monte Carlo model to study the temporal distribution of photons at low-orbit satellite altitudes during TGF events. Using the pulse fitting method described in [Foley et al., 2014], we further investigate the characteristics of TGF pulses. We mainly focus on the effects of Compton scattering on the symmetry properties and the rise and fall times of TGF pulses.

Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization of explosives using alternating current corona discharge ion source.

PubMed

Usmanov, D T; Chen, L C; Yu, Z; Yamabe, S; Sakaki, S; Hiraoka, K

2015-04-01

The high-sensitive detection of explosives is of great importance for social security and safety. In this work, the ion source for atmospheric pressure chemical ionization/mass spectrometry using alternating current corona discharge was newly designed for the analysis of explosives. An electromolded fine capillary with 115 µm inner diameter and 12 mm long was used for the inlet of the mass spectrometer. The flow rate of air through this capillary was 41 ml/min. Stable corona discharge could be maintained with the position of the discharge needle tip as close as 1 mm to the inlet capillary without causing the arc discharge. Explosives dissolved in 0.5 µl methanol were injected to the ion source. The limits of detection for five explosives with 50 pg or lower were achieved. In the ion/molecule reactions of trinitrotoluene (TNT), the discharge products of NOx (-) (x = 2,3), O3 and HNO3 originating from plasma-excited air were suggested to contribute to the formation of [TNT - H](-) (m/z 226), [TNT - NO](-) (m/z 197) and [TNT - NO + HNO3 ](-) (m/z 260), respectively. Formation processes of these ions were traced by density functional theory calculations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF CORONAL HEATING THROUGH FOOTPOINT BRAIDING

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hansteen, V.; Pontieu, B. De; Carlsson, M.

2015-10-01

Advanced three-dimensional (3D) radiative MHD simulations now reproduce many properties of the outer solar atmosphere. When including a domain from the convection zone into the corona, a hot chromosphere and corona are self-consistently maintained. Here we study two realistic models, with different simulated areas, magnetic field strength and topology, and numerical resolution. These are compared in order to characterize the heating in the 3D-MHD simulations which self-consistently maintains the structure of the atmosphere. We analyze the heating at both large and small scales and find that heating is episodic and highly structured in space, but occurs along loop-shaped structures, andmore » moves along with the magnetic field. On large scales we find that the heating per particle is maximal near the transition region and that widely distributed opposite-polarity field in the photosphere leads to a greater heating scale height in the corona. On smaller scales, heating is concentrated in current sheets, the thicknesses of which are set by the numerical resolution. Some current sheets fragment in time, this process occurring more readily in the higher-resolution model leading to spatially highly intermittent heating. The large-scale heating structures are found to fade in less than about five minutes, while the smaller, local, heating shows timescales of the order of two minutes in one model and one minutes in the other, higher-resolution, model.« less

X-ray emitting hot plasma in solar active regions observed by the SphinX spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miceli, M.; Reale, F.; Gburek, S.; Terzo, S.; Barbera, M.; Collura, A.; Sylwester, J.; Kowalinski, M.; Podgorski, P.; Gryciuk, M.

2012-08-01

Aims: The detection of very hot plasma in the quiescent corona is important for diagnosing heating mechanisms. The presence and the amount of such hot plasma is currently debated. The SphinX instrument on-board the CORONAS-PHOTON mission is sensitive to X-ray emission of energies well above 1 keV and provides the opportunity to detect the hot plasma component. Methods: We analysed the X-ray spectra of the solar corona collected by the SphinX spectrometer in May 2009 (when two active regions were present). We modelled the spectrum extracted from the whole Sun over a time window of 17 days in the 1.34-7 keV energy band by adopting the latest release of the APED database. Results: The SphinX broadband spectrum cannot be modelled by a single isothermal component of optically thin plasma and two components are necessary. In particular, the high statistical significance of the count rates and the accurate calibration of the spectrometer allowed us to detect a very hot component at ~7 million K with an emission measure of ~2.7 × 1044 cm-3. The X-ray emission from the hot plasma dominates the solar X-ray spectrum above 4 keV. We checked that this hot component is invariably present in both the high and low emission regimes, i.e. even excluding resolvable microflares. We also present and discuss the possibility of a non-thermal origin (which would be compatible with a weak contribution from thick-target bremsstrahlung) for this hard emission component. Conclusions: Our results support the nanoflare scenario and might confirm that a minor flaring activity is ever-present in the quiescent corona, as also inferred for the coronae of other stars.

Ozone production by corona discharges during a convective event in DISCOVER-AQ Houston

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kotsakis, Alexander; Morris, Gary A.; Lefer, Barry; Jeon, Wonbae; Roy, Anirban; Minschwaner, Ken; Thompson, Anne M.; Choi, Yunsoo

2017-07-01

An ozonesonde launched near electrically active convection in Houston, TX on 5 September 2013 during the NASA DISCOVER-AQ project measured a large enhancement of ozone throughout the troposphere. A separate ozonesonde was launched from Smith Point, TX (∼58 km southeast of the Houston site) at approximately the same time as the launch from Houston and did not measure that enhancement. Furthermore, ozone profiles for the descent of both sondes agreed well with the ascending Smith Point profile, suggesting a highly localized event in both space and time in which an anomalously large enhancement of 70-100 ppbv appeared in the ascending Houston ozonesonde data. Compared to literature values, such an enhancement appears to be the largest observed to date. Potential sources of the localized ozone enhancement such as entrainment of urban or biomass burning emissions, downward transport from the stratosphere, photochemical production from lightning NOx, and direct ozone production from corona discharges were investigated using model simulations. We conclude that the most likely explanation for the large ozone enhancement is direct ozone production by corona discharges. Integrating the enhancement seen in the Houston ozone profile and using the number of electrical discharges detected by the NLDN (or HLMA), we estimate a production of 2.48 × 1028 molecules of ozone per flash which falls within the range of previously recorded values (9.89 × 1026-9.82 × 1028 molecules of ozone per flash). Since there is currently no parameterization for the direct production of ozone from corona discharges we propose the implementation of an equation into a chemical transport model. Ultimately, additional work is needed to further understand the occurrence and impact of corona discharges on tropospheric chemistry on short and long timescales.

Protein corona and nanoparticles: how can we investigate on?

PubMed

Pederzoli, Francesca; Tosi, Giovanni; Vandelli, Maria Angela; Belletti, Daniela; Forni, Flavio; Ruozi, Barbara

2017-11-01

Nanoparticles (NPs) represent one of the most promising tools for drug-targeting and drug-delivery. However, a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics that happen after their in vivo administration is required. Particularly, plasma proteins tend to associate to NPs, forming a new surface named the 'protein corona' (PC). This surface is the most exposed as the 'visible side' of NPs and therefore, can have a strong impact on NP biodistribution, targeting efficacy and also toxicity. The PC consists of two poorly delimited layers, known as 'hard corona' (HC) and 'soft corona' (SC), that are affected by the complexity of the environment and the formed protein-surface equilibrium during in vivo blood circulation. The HC corona is formed by proteins strongly associated to the NPs, while the SC is an outer layer consisting of loosely bound proteins. Several studies attempted to investigate the HC, which is easier to be isolated, but yielded poor reproducibility, due to varying experimental conditions. As a consequence, full mapping of the HC for different NPs is still lacking. Moreover, the current knowledge on the SC, which may play a major role in the 'first' interaction of NPs once in vivo, is very limited, mainly due to the difficulties in preserving it after purification. Therefore, multi-disciplinary approaches leading to the obtainment of a major number of information about the PC and its properties is strongly needed to fully understand its impact and to better support a more safety and conscious application of nanotechnology in medicine. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2017, 9:e1467. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1467 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Ozone Production by Corona Discharges During a Convective Event in DISCOVER-AQ Houston

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kotsakis, Alexander; Morris, Gary A.; Lefer, Barry; Jeon, Wongbae; Roy, Anirban; Minschwaner, Ken; Thompson, Anne M.; Choi, Yunsoo

2017-01-01

An ozonesonde launched near electrically active convection in Houston, TX on 5 September 2013 during the NASA DISCOVER-AQ project measured a large enhancement of ozone throughout the troposphere. A separate ozonesonde was launched from Smith Point, TX (approx. 58 km southeast of the Houston site) at approximately the same time as the launch from Houston and did not measure that enhancement. Furthermore, ozone profiles for the descent of both sondes agreed well with the ascending Smith Point profile, suggesting a highly localized event in both space and time in which an anomalously large enhancement of 70 - 100 ppbv appeared in the ascending Houston ozonesonde data. Compared to literature values, such an enhancement appears to be the largest observed to date. Potential sources of the localized ozone enhancement such as entrainment of urban or biomass burning emissions, downward transport from the stratosphere, photochemical production from lightning NO(sub x), and direct ozone production from corona discharges were investigated using model simulations. We conclude that the most likely explanation for the large ozone enhancement is direct ozone production by corona discharges. Integrating the enhancement seen in the Houston ozone profile and using the number of electrical discharges detected by the NLDN (or HLMA), we estimate a production of 2.48 x 10(exp. 28) molecules of ozone per flash which falls within the range of previously recorded values (9.89 x 10(exp. 26) - 9.82 x 10)exp. 28) molecules of ozone per flash). Since there is currently no parameterization for the direct production of ozone from corona discharges we propose the implementation of an equation into a chemical transport model. Ultimately, additional work is needed to further understand the occurrence and impact of corona discharges on tropospheric chemistry on short and long timescales.

76 FR 30754 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement: Riverside and Orange Counties...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-26

... Corona Civic Center Gymnasium, 502 S. Vicentia, Corona, California 92882, between 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m... Transportation Commission, 4080 Lemon Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92501, the Corona Public Library, 650 S. Main Street, Corona, CA 92882, the City of Corona Public Works Department, 400 S. Vicentia Ave., 2nd...

Solar Probe Plus: A NASA Mission to Touch the Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, N. J.; Bale, S. D.; Decker, R. B.; Howard, R.; Kasper, J. C.; McComas, D. J.; Szabo, A.; Velli, M. M.

2013-12-01

Solar Probe Plus (SPP), currently in Phase B, will be the first mission to fly into the low solar corona, revealing how the corona is heated and the solar wind is accelerated, solving two fundamental mysteries that have been top priority science goals since such a mission was first proposed in 1958. The scale and concept of such a mission has been revised at intervals since that time, yet the core has always been a close encounter with the Sun. The primary science goal of the Solar Probe Plus mission is to determine the structure and dynamics of the Sun's coronal magnetic field, understand how the solar corona and wind are heated and accelerated, and determine what mechanisms accelerate and transport energetic particles. The SPP mission will achieve this by identifying and quantifying the basic plasma physical processes at the heart of the Heliosphere. SPP uses an innovative mission design, significant technology development and a risk-reducing engineering development to meet the SPP science objectives: 1) Trace the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind; 2) Determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields at the sources of the solar wind; and 3) Explore mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles. In this poster, we present Solar Probe Plus and examine how the mission will address the science questions that have remained unanswered for over 5 decades.

Numerical Investigations of Capabilities and Limits of Photospheric Data Driven Magnetic Flux Emergence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Linton, M.; Leake, J. E.; Schuck, P. W.

2016-12-01

The magnetic field of the solar atmosphere is the primary driver of solar activity. Understanding the magnetic state of the solar atmosphere is therefore of key importance to predicting solar activity. One promising means of studying the magnetic atmosphere is to dynamically build up and evolve this atmosphere from the time evolution of emerging magnetic field at the photosphere, where it can be measured with current solar vector magnetograms at high temporal and spatial resolution. We report here on a series of numerical experiments investigating the capabilities and limits of magnetohydrodynamical simulations of such a process, where a magnetic corona is dynamically built up and evolved from a time series of synthetic photospheric data. These synthetic data are composed of photospheric slices taken from self consistent convection zone to corona simulations of flux emergence. The driven coronae are then quantitatively compared against the coronae of the original simulations. We investigate and report on the fidelity of these driven simulations, both as a function of the emergence timescale of the magnetic flux, and as a function of the driving cadence of the input data. These investigations will then be used to outline future prospects and challenges for using observed photospheric data to drive such solar atmospheric simulations. This work was supported by the Chief of Naval Research and the NASA Living with a Star and Heliophysics Supporting Research programs.

Oxidation of S(IV) in Seawater by Pulsed High Voltage Discharge Plasma with TiO2/Ti Electrode as Catalyst

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, Jianying; Zhang, Xingwang; Wang, Xiaoping; Lei, Lecheng

2013-12-01

Oxidation of S(IV) to S(VI) in the effluent of a flue gas desulfurization(FGD) system is very critical for industrial applications of seawater FGD. This paper reports a pulsed corona discharge oxidation process combined with a TiO2 photocatalyst to convert S(IV) to S(VI) in artificial seawater. Experimental results show that the oxidation of S(IV) in artificial seawater is enhanced in the pulsed discharge plasma process through the application of TiO2 coating electrodes. The oxidation rate of S(IV) using Ti metal as a ground electrode is about 2.0×10-4 mol · L-1 · min-1, the oxidation rate using TiO2/Ti electrode prepared by annealing at 500°C in air is 4.5×10-4 mol · L-1 · min-1, an increase with a factor 2.25. The annealing temperature for preparing TiO2/Ti electrode has a strong effect on the oxidation of S(IV) in artificial seawater. The results of in-situ emission spectroscopic analysis show that chemically active species (i.e. hydroxyl radicals and oxygen radicals) are produced in the pulsed discharge plasma process. Compared with the traditional air oxidation process and the sole plasma-induced oxidation process, the combined application of TiO2 photocatalysts and a pulsed high-voltage electrical discharge process is useful in enhancing the energy and conversion efficiency of S(IV) for the seawater FGD system.

Giant sparks at cosmological distances?

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kulkarni, S. R.; Ofek, E. O.; Neill, J. D.

2014-12-10

Millisecond-duration bright radio pulses at 1.4 GHz with high dispersion measures (DMs) were reported by Lorimer et al., Keane et al., and Thornton et al. Their all-sky rate is ≈10{sup 4} day{sup –1} above ∼1 Jy. Related events are 'Perytons'–similar pulsed, dispersed sources, but most certainly local. Suggested models of fast radio bursts (FRBs) can originate in Earth's atmosphere, in stellar coronae, in other galaxies, and even at cosmological distances. Using physically motivated assumptions combined with observed properties, we explore these models. In our analysis, we focus on the Lorimer event: a 30 Jy, 5 ms duration burst with DMmore » = 375 cm{sup –3} pc, exhibiting a steep frequency-dependent pulse width (the Sparker). To be complete, we drop the assumption that high DMs are produced by plasma propagation and assume that the source produces pulses with frequency-dependent arrival time ('chirped signals'). Within this framework, we explore a scenario in which Perytons, the Sparker, and the FRBs are all atmospheric phenomena occurring at different heights. This model is ad hoc in that we cannot explain why Perytons at higher altitudes show greater DMs or exhibit narrower pulses. Nonetheless, we argue that the Sparker may be a Peryton. We end with two remarks. First, the detection of a single FRB by an interferometer with a kilometer (or longer) baseline will prove that FRBs are of extraterrestrial origin. Second, we urge astronomers to pursue observations and understanding of Perytons since they form (at least) a formidable foreground for the FRBs.« less

Interaction of nanoparticles with proteins: relation to bio-reactivity of the nanoparticle.

PubMed

Saptarshi, Shruti R; Duschl, Albert; Lopata, Andreas L

2013-07-19

Interaction of nanoparticles with proteins is the basis of nanoparticle bio-reactivity. This interaction gives rise to the formation of a dynamic nanoparticle-protein corona. The protein corona may influence cellular uptake, inflammation, accumulation, degradation and clearance of the nanoparticles. Furthermore, the nanoparticle surface can induce conformational changes in adsorbed protein molecules which may affect the overall bio-reactivity of the nanoparticle. In depth understanding of such interactions can be directed towards generating bio-compatible nanomaterials with controlled surface characteristics in a biological environment. The main aim of this review is to summarise current knowledge on factors that influence nanoparticle-protein interactions and their implications on cellular uptake.

NEOCE: a new external occulting coronagraph experiment for ultimate observations of the chromosphere, corona and interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damé, Luc; Fineschi, Silvano; Kuzin, Sergey; Von Fay-Siebenburgen, Erdélyi Robert

Several ground facilities and space missions are currently dedicated to the study of the Sun at high resolution and of the solar corona in particular. However, and despite significant progress with the advent of space missions and UV, EUV and XUV direct observations of the hot chromosphere and million-degrees coronal plasma, much is yet to be achieved in the understanding of these high temperatures, fine dynamic dissipative structures and of the coronal heating in general. Recent missions have shown the definite role of a wide range of waves and of the magnetic field deep in the inner corona, at the chromosphere-corona interface, where dramatic and physically fundamental changes occur. The dynamics of the chromosphere and corona is controlled and governed by the emerging magnetic field. Accordingly, the direct measurement of the chromospheric and coronal magnetic fields is of prime importance. The solar corona consists of many localised loop-like structures or threads with the plasmas brightening and fading independently. The plasma evolution in each thread is believed to be related to the formation of filaments, each one being dynamic, in a non-equilibrium state. The mechanism sustaining this dynamics, oscillations or waves (Alfvén or other magneto-plasma waves), requires both very high-cadence, multi-spectral observations, and high resolution and coronal magnetometry. This is foreseen in the future Space Mission NEOCE (New External Occulting Coronagraph Experiment), the ultimate new generation high-resolution coronagraphic heliospheric mission, to be proposed for ESA M4. NEOCE, an evolution of the HiRISE mission, is ideally placed at the L5 Lagrangian point (for a better follow-up of CMEs), and provides FUV imaging and spectro-imaging, EUV and XUV imaging and spectroscopy, and ultimate coronagraphy by a remote external occulter (two satellites in formation flying 375 m apart minimizing scattered light) allowing to characterize temperature, densities and velocities up to the solar upper chromosphere, transition zone and inner corona with, in particular, 2D very high resolution multi-spectral imaging-spectroscopy and direct coronal magnetic field measurement: a unique set of tools to understand the structuration and onset of coronal heating. We give a detailed account of the proposed mission profile, and its major scientific objectives and model payload (in particular of the SuperASPIICS package of visible, NIR and UV, Lyman-Alpha and OVI, coronagraphs).

Magnetic structure of sites of braiding in Hi-C active region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiwari, Sanjiv Kumar; Alexander, Caroline; Winebarger, Amy R.; Moore, Ronald L.

2014-06-01

High-resolution Coronal Imager (Hi-C) observations of an active region (AR) corona, at a spatial resolution of 0.2 arcsec, have offered the first direct evidence of field lines braiding, which could deliver sufficient energy to heat the AR corona by current dissipation via magnetic reconnection, a proposal given by Parker three decades ago. The energy required to heat the corona must be transported from the photosphere along the field lines. The mechanism that drives the energy transport to the corona is not yet fully understood.To investigate simultaneous magnetic and intensity structure in and around the AR in detail, we use SDO/HMI+AIA data of + / - 2 hours around the 5 minute Hi-C flight. In the case of the QS, work done by convection/granulation on the inter-granular feet of the coronal field lines probably translates into the heat observed in the corona. In the case of the AR, as here, there could be flux emergence, cancellation/submergence, or shear flows generating large stress and tension in coronal field loops which is released as heat in the corona. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no observational evidence available to these processes. We investigate the changes taking place in the photospheric feet of the magnetic field involved with brightenings in the Hi-C AR corona. Using HMI 45s magnetograms of four hours we find that, out of the two Hi-C sub-regions where the braiding of field lines were recently detected, flux emergence takes place in one region and flux cancellation in the other. The field in these sub-regions are highly sheared and have apparent high speed plasma flows at their feet. Therefore, shearing flows plausibly power much of the coronal and transition region heating in these areas of the AR. In addition, the presence of large flux emergence/cancellation strongly suggests that the work done by these processes on the pre-existing field also drives much of the observed heating.For this work, SKT and CEA were supported by an appointment to the NASA Postdoctoral Program at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, administered by Oak Ridge Associated Universities through a contract with NASA, and AW and RLM were supported by funding from the Living With a Star Targeted Research and Technology Program of the Heliophysics Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Topographic Feature Names on Venus: Progress in 2000, Review of 1997-2000 Development, Current State, and Prospective

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burba, G. A.; Blue, J.; Campbell, D. B.; Dollfus, A.; Gaddis, L.; Jurgens, R. F.; Marov, M. Ya.; Pettengill, G. H.; Stofan, E. R.

2001-01-01

12 names assigned on Venus in 2000. The current list includes 1821 names of 21 feature types. 95% of names present 11 types of features. The main named types are craters - 872, and coronae - 267. These two types possess 62% of the names. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Complementary analysis of the hard and soft protein corona: sample preparation critically effects corona composition.

PubMed

Winzen, S; Schoettler, S; Baier, G; Rosenauer, C; Mailaender, V; Landfester, K; Mohr, K

2015-02-21

Here we demonstrate how a complementary analysis of nanocapsule-protein interactions with and without application media allows gaining insights into the so called hard and soft protein corona. We have investigated how both human plasma and individual proteins (human serum albumin (HSA), apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I)) adsorb and interact with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) nanocapsules possessing different functionalities. To analyse the hard protein corona we used sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and a protein quantitation assay. No significant differences were observed with regards to the hard protein corona. For analysis of the soft protein corona we characterized the nanocapsule-protein interaction with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). DLS and ITC measurements revealed that a high amount of plasma proteins were adsorbed onto the capsules' surface. Although HSA was not detected in the hard protein corona, ITC measurements indicated the adsorption of an HSA amount similar to plasma with a low binding affinity and reaction heat. In contrast, only small amounts of ApoA-I protein adsorb to the capsules with high binding affinities. Through a comparison of these methods we have identified ApoA-I to be a component of the hard protein corona and HSA as a component of the soft corona. We demonstrate a pronounced difference in the protein corona observed depending on the type of characterization technique applied. As the biological identity of a particle is given by the protein corona it is crucial to use complementary characterization techniques to analyse different aspects of the protein corona.

Kilohertz and Low-Frequency Electrical Stimulation With the Same Pulse Duration Have Similar Efficiency for Inducing Isometric Knee Extension Torque and Discomfort.

PubMed

Medeiros, Flávia Vanessa; Bottaro, Martim; Vieira, Amilton; Lucas, Tiago Pires; Modesto, Karenina Arrais; Bo, Antonio Padilha L; Cipriano, Gerson; Babault, Nicolas; Durigan, João Luiz Quagliotti

2017-06-01

To test the hypotheses that, as compared with pulsed current with the same pulse duration, kilohertz frequency alternating current would not differ in terms of evoked-torque production and perceived discomfort, and as a result, it would show the same current efficiency. A repeated-measures design with 4 stimuli presented in random order was used to test 25 women: (1) 500-microsecond pulse duration, (2) 250-microsecond pulse duration, (3) 500-microsecond pulse duration and low carrier frequency (1 kHz), (4) 250-microsecond pulse duration and high carrier frequency (4 kHz). Isometric peak torque of quadriceps muscle was measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. Discomfort was measured using a visual analog scale. Currents with long pulse durations induced approximately 21% higher evoked torque than short pulse durations. In addition, currents with 500 microseconds delivered greater amounts of charge than stimulation patterns using 250-microsecond pulse durations (P < 0.05). All currents presented similar discomfort. There was no difference on stimulation efficiency with the same pulse duration. Both kilohertz frequency alternating current and pulsed current, with the same pulse duration, have similar efficiency for inducing isometric knee extension torque and discomfort. However, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with longer pulse duration induces higher NMES-evoked torque, regardless of the carrier frequency. Pulse duration is an important variable that should receive more attention for an optimal application of NMES in clinical settings.

A Statistical Analysis of Corona Topography: New Insights into Corona Formation and Evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stofan, E. R.; Glaze, L. S.; Smrekar, S. E.; Baloga, S. M.

2003-01-01

Extensive mapping of the surface of Venus and continued analysis of Magellan data have allowed a more comprehensive survey of coronae to be conducted. Our updated corona database contains 514 features, an increase from the 326 coronae of the previous survey. We include a new set of 106 Type 2 or stealth coronae, which have a topographic rather than a fracture annulus. The large increase in the number of coronae over the 1992 survey results from several factors, including the use of the full Magellan data set and the addition of features identified as part of the systematic geologic mapping of Venus. Parameters of the population that we have analyzed to date include size and topography.

Corona-vacuum failure mechanism test facilities

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lalli, V. R.; Mueller, L. A.; Koutnik, E. A.

1975-01-01

A nondestructive corona-vacuum test facility for testing high-voltage power system components has been developed using commercially available hardware. The facility simulates operating temperature and vacuum while monitoring coronal discharges with residual gases. Corona threshold voltages obtained from statorette tests with various gas-solid dielectric systems and comparison with calculated data support the following conclusions: (1) air gives the highest corona threshold voltage and helium the lowest, with argon and helium-xenon mixtures intermediate; (2) corona threshold voltage increases with gas pressure; (3) corona threshold voltage for an armature winding can be accurately calculated by using Paschen curves for a uniform field; and (4) Paschen curves for argon can be used to calculate the corona threshold voltage in He-Xe mixtures, for which Paschen curves are unavailable.-

The prominence-corona interface and its relationship to the chromosphere-corona transition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rabin, Douglas

1986-01-01

The classical model of the chromosphere-corona transition does not account for the observed behavior of the differential emission measure for T approx. less than 100,000 K. Several models have been proposed to resolve this discrepancy in physically different ways. Because the observed differential emission measure at the prominence-corona interface is on average nearly the same as in the chromosphere-corona transition, prominences offer a fresh testing ground for models tailored to the chromosphere-corona transition. The researcher considered three such models and concluded that none extends in a natural way to the environment of prominences. The researcher advanced a simple idea involving thermal conduction both along and across the magnetic field from the corona into cool threads.

Electron acceleration in the Solar corona - 3D PiC code simulations of guide field reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alejandro Munoz Sepulveda, Patricio

2017-04-01

The efficient electron acceleration in the solar corona detected by means of hard X-ray emission is still not well understood. Magnetic reconnection through current sheets is one of the proposed production mechanisms of non-thermal electrons in solar flares. Previous works in this direction were based mostly on test particle calculations or 2D fully-kinetic PiC simulations. We have now studied the consequences of self-generated current-aligned instabilities on the electron acceleration mechanisms by 3D magnetic reconnection. For this sake, we carried out 3D Particle-in-Cell (PiC) code numerical simulations of force free reconnecting current sheets, appropriate for the description of the solar coronal plasmas. We find an efficient electron energization, evidenced by the formation of a non-thermal power-law tail with a hard spectral index smaller than -2 in the electron energy distribution function. We discuss and compare the influence of the parallel electric field versus the curvature and gradient drifts in the guiding-center approximation on the overall acceleration, and their dependence on different plasma parameters.

Large-scale volcanism associated with coronae on Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Roberts, K. Magee; Head, James W.

1993-01-01

The formation and evolution of coronae on Venus are thought to be the result of mantle upwellings against the crust and lithosphere and subsequent gravitational relaxation. A variety of other features on Venus have been linked to processes associated with mantle upwelling, including shield volcanoes on large regional rises such as Beta, Atla and Western Eistla Regiones and extensive flow fields such as Mylitta and Kaiwan Fluctus near the Lada Terra/Lavinia Planitia boundary. Of these features, coronae appear to possess the smallest amounts of associated volcanism, although volcanism associated with coronae has only been qualitatively examined. An initial survey of coronae based on recent Magellan data indicated that only 9 percent of all coronae are associated with substantial amounts of volcanism, including interior calderas or edifices greater than 50 km in diameter and extensive, exterior radial flow fields. Sixty-eight percent of all coronae were found to have lesser amounts of volcanism, including interior flooding and associated volcanic domes and small shields; the remaining coronae were considered deficient in associated volcanism. It is possible that coronae are related to mantle plumes or diapirs that are lower in volume or in partial melt than those associated with the large shields or flow fields. Regional tectonics or variations in local crustal and thermal structure may also be significant in determining the amount of volcanism produced from an upwelling. It is also possible that flow fields associated with some coronae are sheet-like in nature and may not be readily identified. If coronae are associated with volcanic flow fields, then they may be a significant contributor to plains formation on Venus, as they number over 300 and are widely distributed across the planet. As a continuation of our analysis of large-scale volcanism on Venus, we have reexamined the known population of coronae and assessed quantitatively the scale of volcanism associated with them. In particular, we have examined the percentage of coronae associated with volcanic flow fields (i.e., a collection of digitate or sheet-like lava flows extending from the corona interior or annulus); the range in scale of these flow fields; the variations in diameter, structure and stratigraphy of coronae with flow fields; and the global distribution of coronae associated with flow fields.

System for increasing corona inception voltage of insulating oils

DOEpatents

Rohwein, Gerald J.

1998-01-01

The Corona Inception Voltage of insulating oils is increased by repetitive cycles of prestressing the oil with a voltage greater than the corona inception voltage, and either simultaneously or serially removing byproducts of corona by evacuation and heating the oil.

Atmospheric-pressure electric discharge as an instrument of chemical activation of water solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rybkin, V. V.; Shutov, D. A.

2017-11-01

Results of experimental studies and numerical simulations of physicochemical characteristics of plasmas generated in different types of atmospheric-pressure discharges (pulsed streamer corona, gliding electric arc, dielectric barrier discharge, glow-discharge electrolysis, diaphragmatic discharge, and dc glow discharge) used to initiate various chemical processes in water solutions are analyzed. Typical reactor designs are considered. Data on the power supply characteristics, plasma electron parameters, gas temperatures, and densities of active particles in different types of discharges excited in different gases and their dependences on the external parameters of discharges are presented. The chemical composition of active particles formed in water is described. Possible mechanisms of production and loss of plasma particles are discussed.

Observations of the Dynamics and Thermodynamics of the Corona during the 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habbal, Shadia Rifai; Ding, Adalbert; Druckmuller, Miloslav; Solar Wind Sherpas

2018-01-01

The visible wavelength range, encompassing forbidden coronal emission lines, offers unique diagnostic tools for exploring the physics of the solar corona, such as its chemical composition and the dynamics of its major and minor constituents. These tools are best exploited during total solar eclipses, when the field of view spans several solar radii, starting from the solar surface. This spatial span is currently untenable from any observing platform. Imaging and spectroscopic eclipse observations, including the 2017 August 21 event, are shown to be the first to yield the temperature distribution in the corona as a function of solar cycle. They are also the first to lead to the discovery of cool prominence material at less than 10,000 to 50,000 K, within more than a radius above the solar surface, streaming away from the Sun, while maintaining its compositional identity. These data underscore the importance of capturing emission from coronal forbidden lines with the next generation space-based instrumentation to address the general problem of coronal heating.

The Fundamental Physical Processes Producing and Controlling Stellar Coronal/ Transition-Region/Chromospheric Activity and Structure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ayres, Thomas R.; Brown, Alexander

1998-01-01

Our LTSA grant supports a long-term collaborative investigation of stellar activity. The project involves current NASA spacecraft and supporting ground-based telescopes, will make use of future missions, and utilizes the extensive archives of IUE, ROSAT, HST, and EUVE. Our interests include observational work (with a nonnegligible groundbased component); specialized processing techniques for imaging and spectral data; and semiempirical modeling, ranging from optically-thin emission measure studies to simulations of optically-thick resonance lines. Collaborations with our cool-star colleagues here in Boulder (at JILA and the High Altitude Observatory) provide access to even broader expertise, particularly on the solar corona, convection, and magnetohydrodynamic phenomena (including "dynamo" theories). The broad-brush of our investigation include the following: (1) where do coronae occur in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram? (2) the winds of coronal stars: hot, cool, or both? (3) age, activity, rotation relations; (4) atmospheric inhomogeneities; and (5) heating mechanisms, subcoronal flows and flares. Our observation task has been to map the global properties of chromospheres and coronae in the H-R diagram and conduct detailed studies of key objects.

Analysis of biogenic amines using corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry.

PubMed

Hashemian, Z; Mardihallaj, A; Khayamian, T

2010-05-15

A new method based on corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry (CD-IMS) was developed for the analysis of biogenic amines including spermidine, spermine, putrescine, and cadaverine. The ion mobility spectra of the compounds were obtained with and without n-Nonylamine used as the reagent gas. The high proton affinity of n-Nonylamine prevented ion formation from compounds with a proton affinity lower than that of n-Nonylamine and, therefore, enhanced its selectivity. It was also realized that the ion mobility spectrum of n-Nonylamine varied with its concentration. A sample injection port of a gas chromatograph was modified and used as the sample introduction system into the CD-IMS. The detection limits, dynamic ranges, and analytical parameters of the compounds with and without using the reagent gas were obtained. The detection limits and dynamic ranges of the compounds were about 2ng and 2 orders of magnitude, respectively. The wide dynamic range of CD-IMS originates from the high current of the corona discharge. The results revealed the high capability of the CD-IMS for the analysis of biogenic amines.

The effect of the electric wind on the spatial distribution of chemical species in the positive corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yanallah, K.; Pontiga, F.; Bouazza, M. R.; Chen, J. H.

2017-08-01

The electrohydrodynamic air flow generated by a positive corona discharge, and its effect on the spatial distribution of chemical species within a wire-plate corona reactor, have been numerically simulated. The computational model is based on the solutions of the Navier-Stokes equation and the continuity equation of each chemical species generated by the electrical discharge. A simplified analytical expression of the electric force density, which only requires the current density as the input parameter, has been used in the Navier-Stokes equation to obtain the velocity field. For the solution of the continuity equations, a plasma chemistry model that includes the most important reactions between electrons, atoms and molecules in air has been used. Similar to the electric force, the electron density distribution has been approximated by using a semi-analytical expression appropriate for the electrode geometry. The results of the study show that the spatial distribution of chemical species can be very different, and depends on the interplay between the electrohydrodynamic flow, the chemical kinetics of the species and its characteristic lifetime.

Faunistic survey of Hydromedusae (Cnidaria, Medusozoa) from the coast of Paraná State, Southern Brazil.

PubMed

Nagata, Renato Mitsuo; Júnior, Miodeli Nogueira; Haddad, Maria Angélica

2014-02-26

This study is the first faunistic inventory of hydromedusae from the inner continental shelf of Paraná State. We describe the composition of hydromedusae species, collected with bottom-trawl and Hensen nets, in campaigns carried out from 1997 to 2006. We analyzed 17,797 specimens from 578 samples, and provide descriptions, photographs, and information about the biology of the 22 species found. All species had previous records from the Brazilian coast; however, this is the first record of Bougainvillia frondosa, Ectopleura dumortieri, Cirrholovenia tetranema, Eucheilota maculata, Gossea brachymera, Solmaris corona, and Amphogona apsteini for the coast of Paraná. Most species are typical of tropical and subtropical coastal waters from the South Brazilian Bight. However, Turritopsis nutricula, Niobia dendrotentaculata, Solmaris corona, and Aglaura hemistoma are abundant in oceanic waters, and Olindias sambaquiensis and Solmaris corona are associated with colder waters (<20°C). The current number of species known for the state is 26. Additional collection effort is needed in regions not sampled in this work, such as bays and offshore waters.

Inactivation of MS2 bacteriophage by streamer corona discharge in water.

PubMed

Lee, Changha; Kim, Jaeeun; Yoon, Jeyong

2011-02-01

Electrical discharge processes are emerging as water treatment technologies applicable to both the degradation of organic contaminants as well as inactivation of pathogens. Particularly as a disinfection technology, electrical discharge processes do not produce toxic byproducts, and effectively inactivate a wide spectrum of microorganisms by multiple lethal actions generated by the formation of plasma channels. This study demonstrates the inactivation of a virus using the streamer corona discharge process (SCDP) with MS2 phage as a surrogate. A rapid inactivation of MS2 phage (i.e., approximately 4 log inactivation in 5 min) was observed in all experimental runs conducted. Discharge conditions such as applied voltage and storage capacitance significantly affected the inactivation efficiency of MS2 phage, whereas the influence of water quality parameters was minor. In order to elucidate the mechanism of MS2 phage inactivation, potentially lethal factors that can be generated by the SCDP were selected, and their roles in the inactivation of MS2 phage were examined. As a result, effects of UV radiation, chemical oxidants, and pulsed electric fields were found to be insignificant. The shockwave generated upon plasma channel formation appears to be the most important factor responsible for MS2 phage inactivation. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in aqueous solution by pulsed corona discharge treatment: Effect of different water constituents, degradation pathway and toxicity assay.

PubMed

Singh, Raj Kamal; Philip, Ligy; Ramanujam, Sarathi

2017-10-01

A multiple pin-plane corona discharge reactor was used to generate plasma for the degradation of 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from the aqueous solution. The 2,4-D of concentration 1 mg/L was completely removed within 6 min of plasma treatment. Almost complete mineralization was achieved after the treatment time of 14 min for a 2,4-D concentration of 10 mg/L. Effects of different water constituents such as carbonates, nitrate, sulphate, chloride ions, natural organic matter (humic acids) and pH on 2,4-D degradation was studied. A significant antagonistic effect of carbonate and humic acid was observed, whereas, the effects of other ions were insignificant. A higher first order rate constant of 1.73 min -1 was observed, which was significantly decreased in the presence of carbonate ions and humic acids. Also, a higher degradation of 2,4-D was observed in acidic pH conditions. Different 2,4-D intermediates were detected and the degradation pathway of 2,4-D in plasma treatment process was suggested. The toxicity of 10 mg/L 2,4-D was completely eradicated after 10 min of plasma treatment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Capacitive energy storage and recovery for synchrotron magnets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koseki, K.

2014-06-01

Feasibility studies on capacitive energy storage and recovery in the main-ring synchrotron of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex were conducted by circuit simulation. The estimated load fluctuation was 96 MVA in total for dipole magnets, which is likely to induce a serious disturbance in the main grid. It was found that the energy stored in the magnets after the excitation period can be recovered to the storage capacitor by controlling the voltage across the energy-storage capacitor using a pulse-width-modulation converter and reused in the next operational cycle. It was also found that the power fluctuation in the main grid can be reduced to 12 MVA. An experimental evaluation of an aluminum metalized film capacitor revealed that capacitance loss was induced by a fluctuating voltage applied to the storage capacitor when applying the proposed method. The capacitance loss was induced by corona discharge around the edges of segmented electrodes of a self-healing capacitor. The use of aluminum-zinc alloy was evaluated as a countermeasure to mitigate the effect induced by the corona discharge. For a zinc content of 8%, which was optimized experimentally, a capacitor with a sufficient life time expectancy of 20 years and a working potential gradient of 250 V/μm was developed.

Dual amplitude pulse generator for radiation detectors

DOEpatents

Hoggan, Jerry M.; Kynaston, Ronnie L.; Johnson, Larry O.

2001-01-01

A pulsing circuit for producing an output signal having a high amplitude pulse and a low amplitude pulse may comprise a current source for providing a high current signal and a low current signal. A gate circuit connected to the current source includes a trigger signal input that is responsive to a first trigger signal and a second trigger signal. The first trigger signal causes the gate circuit to connect the high current signal to a pulse output terminal whereas the second trigger signal causes the gate circuit to connect the low current signal to the pulse output terminal.

System for increasing corona inception voltage of insulating oils

DOEpatents

Rohwein, G.J.

1998-05-19

The Corona Inception Voltage of insulating oils is increased by repetitive cycles of prestressing the oil with a voltage greater than the corona inception voltage, and either simultaneously or serially removing byproducts of corona by evacuation and heating the oil. 5 figs.

Intentional formation of a protein corona on nanoparticles: Serum concentration affects protein corona mass, surface charge, and nanoparticle-cell interaction.

PubMed

Gräfe, Christine; Weidner, Andreas; Lühe, Moritz V D; Bergemann, Christian; Schacher, Felix H; Clement, Joachim H; Dutz, Silvio

2016-06-01

The protein corona, which immediately is formed after contact of nanoparticles and biological systems, plays a crucial role for the biological fate of nanoparticles. In the here presented study we describe a strategy to control the amount of corona proteins which bind on particle surface and the impact of such a protein corona on particle-cell interactions. For corona formation, polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) were incubated in a medium consisting of fetal calf serum (FCS) and cell culture medium. To modulate the amount of proteins bind to particles, the composition of the incubation medium was varied with regard to the FCS content. The protein corona mass was estimated and the size distribution of the participating proteins was determined by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Additionally, the zeta potential of incubated particles was measured. Human blood-brain barrier-representing cell line HBMEC was used for in vitro incubation experiments. To investigate the consequences of the FCS dependent protein corona formation on the interaction of MNP and cells flow cytometry and laser scanning microscopy were used. Zeta potential as well as SDS-PAGE clearly reveal an increase in the amount of corona proteins on MNP with increasing amount of FCS in incubation medium. For MNP incubated with lower FCS concentrations especially medium-sized proteins of molecular weights between 30kDa and 100kDa could be found within the protein corona, whereas for MNP incubated within higher FCS concentrations the fraction of corona proteins of 30kDa and less increased. The presence of the protein corona reduces the interaction of PEI-coated MNP with HBMEC cells within a 30min-incubation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clusterin in the protein corona plays a key role in the stealth effect of nanoparticles against phagocytes.

PubMed

Aoyama, Michihiko; Hata, Katsutomo; Higashisaka, Kazuma; Nagano, Kazuya; Yoshioka, Yasuo; Tsutsumi, Yasuo

2016-11-25

In biological fluids, nanoparticles interact with biological components such as proteins, and a layer called the "protein corona" forms around the nanoparticles. It is believed that the composition of the protein corona affects the cellular uptake and in vivo biodistribution of nanoparticles; however, the key proteins of the protein corona that control the biological fate of nanoparticles remain unclear. Recently, it was reported that clusterin binding to pegylated nanoparticles is important for the stealth effect of pegylated nanoparticles in phagocytes. However, the effect of clusterin on non-pegylated nanoparticles is unknown, although it is known that clusterin is present in the protein corona of non-pegylated nanoparticles. Here, we assessed the stealth effect of clusterin in the corona of non-pegylated silver nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles. We found that serum- and plasma-protein corona inhibited the cellular uptake of silver nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles in phagocytes and that the plasma-protein corona showed a greater stealth effect compared with the serum-protein corona. Clusterin was present in both the serum- and plasma-protein corona, but was present at a higher level in the plasma-protein corona than in the serum-protein corona. Clusterin binding to silver nanoparticles and silica nanoparticles suppressed the cellular uptake of nanoparticles in human macrophage-like cells (THP-1 cells). Although further studies are required to determine how clusterin suppresses non-specific cellular uptake in phagocytes, our data suggest that clusterin plays a key role in the stealth effect of not only pegylated nanoparticles but also non-pegylated nanoparticles. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The prevalence and morphology of the corona mortis (Crown of death): A meta-analysis with implications in abdominal wall and pelvic surgery.

PubMed

Sanna, Beatrice; Henry, Brandon Michael; Vikse, Jens; Skinningsrud, Bendik; Pękala, Jakub R; Walocha, Jerzy A; Cirocchi, Roberto; Tomaszewski, Krzysztof A

2018-02-01

Corona mortis is a highly variable vascular connection between the obturator and external iliac or inferior epigastric arteries or veins located behind the superior pubic ramus in the retropubic space (space of Retzius). Due to the significant variation in this collateral circulation, detailed anatomical knowledge of the corona mortis is vital to enhance the prevention of possible iatrogenic errors in hernia repair and other pubic surgical procedures. The aim of our meta-analysis was to provide comprehensive data on the prevalence, anatomical characteristics, and ethnic variations of the corona mortis vessel. An extensive search was conducted through the major electronic databases to identify eligible articles. Data extracted included investigative method, prevalence of the corona mortis vessels among hemi-pelvises (overall, arterial only, venous only, and combined), distance from the corona mortis to pubic symphysis, and assessment of gender, side, laterality, and ethnicity subgroups. A total of 21 studies (n=2184 hemi-pelvises) were included in the meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of the corona mortis in hemi-pelvises is high (49.3%). A venous corona mortis is more prevalent than an arterial corona mortis (41.7% vs. 17.0%). The corona mortis is more common in Asia (59.3%) than in Europe (42.8%) and North America (44.3%). As a corona mortis is present in an about half of all hemi-pelvises, it is important to consider the possibilities of its presence when undertaking surgical procedures and plan accordingly to avoid injuries. All surgeons operating in the retropubic region should have a thorough understanding of the anatomical characteristics and surgical implications of a corona mortis. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Potential of electric discharge plasma methods in abatement of volatile organic compounds originating from the food industry.

PubMed

Preis, S; Klauson, D; Gregor, A

2013-01-15

Increased volatile organic compounds emissions and commensurate tightening of applicable legislation mean that the development and application of effective, cost-efficient abatement methods are areas of growing concern. This paper reviews the last two decades' publications on organic vapour emissions from food processing, their sources, impacts and treatment methods. An overview of the latest developments in conventional air treatment methods is presented, followed by the main focus of the paper, non-thermal plasma technology. The results of the review suggest that non-thermal plasma technology, in its pulsed corona discharge configuration, is an emerging treatment method with potential for low-cost, effective abatement of a wide spectrum of organic air pollutants. It is found that the combination of plasma treatment with catalysis is a development trend that demonstrates considerable potential. The as yet relatively small number of plasma treatment applications is considered to be due to the novelty of pulsed electric discharge techniques and a lack of reliable pulse generators and reactors. Other issues acting as barriers to widespread adoption of the technique include the possible formation of stable oxidation by-products, residual ozone and nitrogen oxides, and sensitivity towards air humidity. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source Hierarchy List. Volume 3. O through Z

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-07-01

NAVAL WEAPONS CENTER CHINA LAKE CA MARINE AVIATION DETACHMENT* 07 NAVAL WEAPONS CENTER CORONA ANNEX CA 08 NAVAL ORDNANCE LAB CORONA CA 08 NAVAL...WEAPONS CENTER CORONA LABS CA 05 NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION CHINA LAKE CA 05 PACIFIC MISSILE TEST CENTER POINT MUGU CA 06 AIR DEVELOPMENT SQUADRON FOUR...INDIAN HEAD MD 03 NAVAL ORDNANCE CENTER INDIAN HEAD MO 04 NAVAL WARFARE ASSESSMENT CENTER CORONA CA 05 FLEET ANALYSIS CENTER CORONA CA 03

Enriching the hot circumgalactic medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crain, Robert A.; McCarthy, Ian G.; Schaye, Joop; Theuns, Tom; Frenk, Carlos S.

2013-07-01

Simple models of galaxy formation in a cold dark matter universe predict that massive galaxies are surrounded by a hot, quasi-hydrostatic circumgalactic corona of slowly cooling gas, predominantly accreted from the intergalactic medium (IGM). This prediction is borne out by the recent cosmological hydrodynamical simulations of Crain et al., which reproduce observed scaling relations between the X-ray and optical properties of nearby disc galaxies. Such coronae are metal poor, but observations of the X-ray emitting circumgalactic medium (CGM) of local galaxies typically indicate enrichment to near-solar iron abundance, potentially signalling a shortcoming in current models of galaxy formation. We show here that, while the hot CGM of galaxies formed in the simulations is typically metal poor in a mass-weighted sense, its X-ray luminosity-weighted metallicity is often close to solar. This bias arises because the soft X-ray emissivity of a typical ˜0.1 keV corona is dominated by collisionally excited metal ions that are synthesized in stars and recycled into the hot CGM. We find that these metals are ejected primarily by stars that form in situ to the main progenitor of the galaxy, rather than in satellites or external galaxies. The enrichment of the hot CGM therefore proceeds in an `inside-out' fashion throughout the assembly of the galaxy: metals are transported from the central galaxy by supernova-driven winds and convection over several Gyr, establishing a strong negative radial metallicity gradient. Whilst metal ions synthesized by stars are necessary to produce the X-ray emissivity that enables the hot CGM of isolated galaxies to be detected with current instrumentation, the electrons that collisionally excite them are equally important. Since our simulations indicate that the electron density of hot coronae is dominated by the metal-poor gas accreted from the IGM, we infer that the hot CGM observed via X-ray emission is the outcome of both hierarchical accretion and stellar recycling.

Spatial and temporal relations between coronae and extensional belts, northern Lada Terra, Venus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baer, G.; Schubert, G.; Bindschadler, D. L.; Stofan, E. R.

1994-04-01

Preliminary studies of the distribution of coronae and volcanic rises on Venus show that many of these features tend to cluster along zones of rifting and extension. The plains north of Lada Terra are crossed by two such extensional belts. Each belt is composed of grabens, ridges, faults, volcanic flows, coronae and coronalike features. The longer and more prominent belt is the NW trending Alpha-Lada extensional belt, which is over 6000 km long and 50-200 km wide, and includes the coronae Eve, Tamfana, Carpo, Selu, Derceto, Otygen, and an unnamed corona south of Otygen. The second belt is the NNE trending Derceto-Quetzalpetlatl extensional belt, which is about 2000 km long and in places over 300 km wide, and includes the coronae Sarpanitum, Eithinoha, and Quetzalpetlatl. The two belts intersect at the 1600 x 600 km wide Derceto volcanic plateau. It is apparent that deformation along the two belts overlapped in time, though deformation along the Alpha-Lada extensional belt probably continued after the deformation along the Derceto-Quetzalpetlatl extensional belt terminated. In certain areas, volcanism originated in grabens within the extensional belts, whereas in other areas, such as in Eve, Selu, Derceto, and Quetzalpetlatl, volcanism originated in the coronae and flowed into the lower parts of the extensional belts. Regional extension has affected the evolution of all the coronae at some stage of their development. Regional deformation occurred before the initiation of Derceto and Eithinoha of their development. Regional deformation occurred before the initiation of Derceto and Eithinoha and after the initiation of Carpo, Tamfana, Otygen, and Sarpanitum. It is thus unlikely that coronae formation along the belts is solely a consequence of the regional extension, and it is also unlikely that regional extension has been caused solely by the coronae. No corona along the belts was formed subsequent to the cessation of the regional extension. We therefore suggest that the regional extension and the coronae are interrelated. Some of the coronae may have determined the location of the surface expression of the regional extension, whereas the locations of other coronae may have been influenced by the concentration of regional extensional stresses.

Regulation of Macrophage Recognition through the Interplay of Nanoparticle Surface Functionality and Protein Corona.

PubMed

Saha, Krishnendu; Rahimi, Mehran; Yazdani, Mahdieh; Kim, Sung Tae; Moyano, Daniel F; Hou, Singyuk; Das, Ridhha; Mout, Rubul; Rezaee, Farhad; Mahmoudi, Morteza; Rotello, Vincent M

2016-04-26

Using a family of cationic gold nanoparticles (NPs) with similar size and charge, we demonstrate that proper surface engineering can control the nature and identity of protein corona in physiological serum conditions. The protein coronas were highly dependent on the hydrophobicity and arrangement of chemical motifs on NP surface. The NPs were uptaken in macrophages in a corona-dependent manner, predominantly through recognition of specific complement proteins in the NP corona. Taken together, this study shows that surface functionality can be used to tune the protein corona formed on NP surface, dictating the interaction of NPs with macrophages.

Protein corona – from molecular adsorption to physiological complexity

PubMed Central

Docter, Dominic; Maskos, Michael

2015-01-01

Summary In biological environments, nanoparticles are enshrouded by a layer of biomolecules, predominantly proteins, mediating its subsequent interactions with cells. Detecting this protein corona, understanding its formation with regards to nanoparticle (NP) and protein properties, and elucidating its biological implications were central aims of bio-related nano-research throughout the past years. Here, we discuss the mechanistic parameters that are involved in the protein corona formation and the consequences of this corona formation for both, the particle, and the protein. We review consequences of corona formation for colloidal stability and discuss the role of functional groups and NP surface functionalities in shaping NP–protein interactions. We also elaborate the recent advances demonstrating the strong involvement of Coulomb-type interactions between NPs and charged patches on the protein surface. Moreover, we discuss novel aspects related to the complexity of the protein corona forming under physiological conditions in full serum. Specifically, we address the relation between particle size and corona composition and the latest findings that help to shed light on temporal evolution of the full serum corona for the first time. Finally, we discuss the most recent advances regarding the molecular-scale mechanistic role of the protein corona in cellular uptake of NPs. PMID:25977856

Protein corona - from molecular adsorption to physiological complexity.

PubMed

Treuel, Lennart; Docter, Dominic; Maskos, Michael; Stauber, Roland H

2015-01-01

In biological environments, nanoparticles are enshrouded by a layer of biomolecules, predominantly proteins, mediating its subsequent interactions with cells. Detecting this protein corona, understanding its formation with regards to nanoparticle (NP) and protein properties, and elucidating its biological implications were central aims of bio-related nano-research throughout the past years. Here, we discuss the mechanistic parameters that are involved in the protein corona formation and the consequences of this corona formation for both, the particle, and the protein. We review consequences of corona formation for colloidal stability and discuss the role of functional groups and NP surface functionalities in shaping NP-protein interactions. We also elaborate the recent advances demonstrating the strong involvement of Coulomb-type interactions between NPs and charged patches on the protein surface. Moreover, we discuss novel aspects related to the complexity of the protein corona forming under physiological conditions in full serum. Specifically, we address the relation between particle size and corona composition and the latest findings that help to shed light on temporal evolution of the full serum corona for the first time. Finally, we discuss the most recent advances regarding the molecular-scale mechanistic role of the protein corona in cellular uptake of NPs.

A Search for Coronal Emission at the Bottom of the Main-Sequence: Stars and Brown Dwarf Candidates with Spectral Types Later than M7 and the Rotation-Activity Relation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stringfellow, Guy

2004-01-01

This program intended to test whether the lowest mass stars at the bottom end of the main sequence and the lower mass brown dwarfs have coronae. If they have coronae, what are the coronal characteristics and what drives them? In the classical dynamo picture, the closed magnetic loop structure is generated near the boundary of the convective envelope and the radiative core. Stars with mass below 0.30 Msun however are fully convective, and the nature of the dynamo responsible for the generation of the coronae in this regime is poorly understood. Previous results from the ROSAT mission (e.g., Fleming et al. 1993, 1995; Schmitt et al. 1995) had confirmed three very important characteristics of M-star coronae: (1) a very high percentage of all M dwarfs have coronae (of order 85% in the local 7 pc sample), (2) those M dwarfs showing high chromospheric activity, such as having the Balmer series in emission or large/numerous optical flaring, indeed exhibit the highest coronal activity, and (3) that the maximum saturation boundary in X-ray luminosity, which amounts to 0.0001-0.001 for Lx/Lbol for the dMe stars, extends down to the current detection limit, through spectral types M7. It was likely that the incompleteness noted for result (1) above was simply a detection limit problem; for more distant sources, the X-ray fainter dM stars will drop below detection thresholds before the more X-ray luminous dMe stars. The latest stars for which direct detection of the corona had been successful were of spectral type dM7 (e.g., VB8, LHS 3003). This program proposed to obtain ROSAT HRI observations for a large number of the coolest known (at that time) stars at the bottom of the main-sequence, which had spectral types of M9 or later. Three stars were approved for observations with ROSAT-HRI totaling 180 ksec. The goal was to obtain X-ray detections or low upper limits for the three approved stars.

Ultrasonic corona sensor study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrold, R. T.

1976-01-01

The overall objective of this program is to determine the feasibility of using ultrasonic (above 20 kHz) corona detection techniques to detect low order (non-arcing) coronas in varying degrees of vacuum within large high vacuum test chambers, and to design, fabricate, and deliver a prototype ultrasonic corona sensor.

Transient corona effects on a wire over the ground

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, K. C.

1980-01-01

The nuclear EMP effect on VLF/trailing wire antennas is investigated in relation to new features of corona effects. Previous experimental results on transmission lines with corona under E 80 kV/cm recorded in the nanosecond time frame are analyzed. A nonlinear macroscopic model which describes a transmission line with corona is discussed. The model not only accounts for overall waveform, but also describes the sharp changes in the waveform associated with the corona onset.

Impact of protein pre-coating on the protein corona composition and nanoparticle cellular uptake.

PubMed

Mirshafiee, Vahid; Kim, Raehyun; Park, Soyun; Mahmoudi, Morteza; Kraft, Mary L

2016-01-01

Nanoparticles (NPs) are functionalized with targeting ligands to enable selectively delivering drugs to desired locations in the body. When these functionalized NPs enter the blood stream, plasma proteins bind to their surfaces, forming a protein corona that affects NP uptake and targeting efficiency. To address this problem, new strategies for directing the formation of a protein corona that has targeting capabilities are emerging. Here, we have investigated the feasibility of directing corona composition to promote targeted NP uptake by specific types of cells. We used the well-characterized process of opsonin-induced phagocytosis by macrophages as a simplified model of corona-mediated NP uptake by a desired cell type. We demonstrate that pre-coating silica NPs with gamma-globulins (γ-globulins) produced a protein corona that was enriched with opsonins, such as immunoglobulins. Although immunoglobulins are ligands that bind to receptors on macrophages and elicit phagocytois, the opsonin-rich protein corona did not increase NP uptake by macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Immunolabeling experiments indicated that the binding of opsonins to their target cell surface receptors was impeded by other proteins in the corona. Thus, corona-mediated NP targeting strategies must optimize both the recruitment of the desired plasma proteins as well as their accessibility and orientation in the corona layer. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spectroscopic characteristics of H α /OI atomic lines generated by nanosecond pulsed corona-like discharge in deionized water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pongrác, Branislav; Šimek, Milan; Člupek, Martin; Babický, Václav; Lukeš, Petr

2018-03-01

Basic emission fingerprints of nanosecond discharges produced in deionized water by fast rise-time positive high-voltage pulses (duration of 6 ns and amplitude of  +100 kV) in a point-to-plane electrode geometry were investigated by means of time-resolved intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) spectroscopy. Time-resolved emission spectra were measured via ICCD kinetic series during the discharge ignition and later phases over the 350-850 nm spectral range with fixed, either 3 ns or 30 ns, acquisition time and with 3 ns or 30 ns time resolution, respectively. The luminous phase of the initial discharge expansion and its subsequent collapse was characterized by a broadband vis-NIR continuum emission evolving during the first few nanoseconds which shifted more toward the UV with further increase of time. After ~30 ns from the discharge onset, the continuum gradually disappeared followed by the emission of H α and OI atomic lines. The electron densities calculated from the H α profile fit were estimated to be of the order of 1018-1019 cm-3. It is unknown if the H α and OI atomic lines are generated even in earlier times (before ~30 ns) because such signals were not detectable due to the superposition with the strong continuum. However, subsequent events caused by the reflected HV pulses were observed to have significant effects on the emission spectra profiles of the nanosecond discharge. By varying the time delay of the reflected pulse from 45 to 90 ns after the primary pulse, the intensities of the H α /OI atomic lines in the emission spectra of the secondary discharges were clearly visible and their intensities were greater with shorter time delay between primary and reflected pulses. These results indicate that the discharges generated due to the reflected pulses were very likely generated in the non-relaxed environment.

Electric characteristics of a surface barrier discharge with a plasma induction electrode

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Alemskii, I. N.; Lelevkin, V. M.; Tokarev, A. V.

2006-07-15

Static and dynamic current-voltage and charge-voltage characteristics of a surface barrier discharge with a plasma induction electrode have been investigated experimentally. The dependences of the discharge current on both the gas pressure in the induction electrode tube and the winding pitch of the corona electrode, as well as of the discharge power efficiency on the applied voltage, have been measured.

Size and surface functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles influence the composition and dynamic nature of their protein corona.

PubMed

Ashby, Jonathan; Pan, Songqin; Zhong, Wenwan

2014-09-10

Nanoparticles (NPs) adsorb proteins when in the biological matrix, and the resulted protein corona could affect NP-cell interactions. The corona has a dynamic nature with the adsorbed proteins constantly exchanging with the free proteins in the matrix at various rates. The rapidly exchanging proteins compose the soft corona, which responds more dynamically to environment changes than the hard corona established by the ones with slow exchange rates. In the present study, the corona formed on the superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs) in human serum was studied by flow field-flow fractionation and ultracentrifugation, which rapidly differentiated the corona proteins based on their exchange rates. By varying the surface hydrophobicity of the SPIONs with a core size around 10 nm, we found out that, the more hydrophobic surface ligand attracted proteins with higher surface hydrophobicity and formed a more dynamic corona with a larger portion of the involved proteins with fast exchange rates. Increasing the core diameter of the SPIONs but keeping the surface ligand the same could also result in a more dynamic corona. A brief investigation of the effect on the cellular uptake of SPIONs using one selected corona protein, transferrin, was conducted. The result showed that, only the stably bound transferrin could significantly enhance cellular uptake, while transferrin bound in a dynamic nature had negligible impact. Our study has led to a better understanding of the relationship between the particle properties and the dynamic nature of the corona, which can help with design of nanomaterials with higher biocompatibility and higher efficacy in biosystems for biomedical applications.

Size and Surface Functionalization of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Influence the Composition and Dynamic Nature of Their Protein Corona

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Nanoparticles (NPs) adsorb proteins when in the biological matrix, and the resulted protein corona could affect NP-cell interactions. The corona has a dynamic nature with the adsorbed proteins constantly exchanging with the free proteins in the matrix at various rates. The rapidly exchanging proteins compose the soft corona, which responds more dynamically to environment changes than the hard corona established by the ones with slow exchange rates. In the present study, the corona formed on the superparamagnetic iron oxide NPs (SPIONs) in human serum was studied by flow field-flow fractionation and ultracentrifugation, which rapidly differentiated the corona proteins based on their exchange rates. By varying the surface hydrophobicity of the SPIONs with a core size around 10 nm, we found out that, the more hydrophobic surface ligand attracted proteins with higher surface hydrophobicity and formed a more dynamic corona with a larger portion of the involved proteins with fast exchange rates. Increasing the core diameter of the SPIONs but keeping the surface ligand the same could also result in a more dynamic corona. A brief investigation of the effect on the cellular uptake of SPIONs using one selected corona protein, transferrin, was conducted. The result showed that, only the stably bound transferrin could significantly enhance cellular uptake, while transferrin bound in a dynamic nature had negligible impact. Our study has led to a better understanding of the relationship between the particle properties and the dynamic nature of the corona, which can help with design of nanomaterials with higher biocompatibility and higher efficacy in biosystems for biomedical applications. PMID:25144382

Proteomic and Lipidomic Analysis of Nanoparticle Corona upon Contact with Lung Surfactant Reveals Differences in Protein, but Not Lipid Composition.

PubMed

Raesch, Simon Sebastian; Tenzer, Stefan; Storck, Wiebke; Rurainski, Alexander; Selzer, Dominik; Ruge, Christian Arnold; Perez-Gil, Jesus; Schaefer, Ulrich Friedrich; Lehr, Claus-Michael

2015-12-22

Pulmonary surfactant (PS) constitutes the first line of host defense in the deep lung. Because of its high content of phospholipids and surfactant specific proteins, the interaction of inhaled nanoparticles (NPs) with the pulmonary surfactant layer is likely to form a corona that is different to the one formed in plasma. Here we present a detailed lipidomic and proteomic analysis of NP corona formation using native porcine surfactant as a model. We analyzed the adsorbed biomolecules in the corona of three NP with different surface properties (PEG-, PLGA-, and Lipid-NP) after incubation with native porcine surfactant. Using label-free shotgun analysis for protein and LC-MS for lipid analysis, we quantitatively determined the corona composition. Our results show a conserved lipid composition in the coronas of all investigated NPs regardless of their surface properties, with only hydrophilic PEG-NPs adsorbing fewer lipids in total. In contrast, the analyzed NP displayed a marked difference in the protein corona, consisting of up to 417 different proteins. Among the proteins showing significant differences between the NP coronas, there was a striking prevalence of molecules with a notoriously high lipid and surface binding, such as, e.g., SP-A, SP-D, DMBT1. Our data indicate that the selective adsorption of proteins mediates the relatively similar lipid pattern in the coronas of different NPs. On the basis of our lipidomic and proteomic analysis, we provide a detailed set of quantitative data on the composition of the surfactant corona formed upon NP inhalation, which is unique and markedly different to the plasma corona.

Flexural models of trench/outer rise topography of coronae on Venus with axisymmetric spherical shell elastic plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, W.; Schubert, Gerald; Sandwell, David T.

1992-01-01

Magellan altimetry has revealed that many coronae on Venus have trenches or moats around their peripheries and rises outboard of the trenches. This trench/outer rise topographic signature is generally associated with the tectonic annulus of the corona. Sandwell and Schubert have interpreted the trench/outer rise topography and the associated tectonic annulus around coronae to be the result of elastic bending of the Venus lithosphere (though the tectonic structures are consequences of inelastic deformation of the lithosphere). They used two-dimensional elastic plate flexure theory to fit topographic profiles across a number of large coronae and inferred elastic lithosphere thicknesses between about 15 and 40 km, similar to inferred values of elastic thickness for the Earth's lithosphere at subduction zones around the Pacific Ocean. Here, we report the results of using axisymmetric elastic flexure theory for the deformation of thin spherical shell plates to interpret the trench/outer rise topography of the large coronae modeled by Sandwell and Schubert and of coronae as small as 250 km in diameter. In the case of a corona only a few hundred kilometers in diameter, the model accounts for the small planform radius of the moat and the nonradial orientation of altimetric traces across the corona. By fitting the flexural topography of coronae we determine the elastic thickness and loading necessary to account for the observed flexure. We calculate the associated bending moment and determine whether the corona interior topographic load can provide the required moment. We also calculate surface stresses and compare the stress distribution with the location of annular tectonic features.

40 CFR 63.10897 - What are my monitoring requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... controls for corona power and rapper operation, that the corona wires are energized, and that adequate air... determine the condition and integrity of corona wires, collection plates, hopper, and air diffuser plates... daily inspection to verify the proper functioning of the electronic controls for corona power and rapper...

40 CFR 63.10897 - What are my monitoring requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... controls for corona power and rapper operation, that the corona wires are energized, and that adequate air... determine the condition and integrity of corona wires, collection plates, hopper, and air diffuser plates... daily inspection to verify the proper functioning of the electronic controls for corona power and rapper...

40 CFR 63.10897 - What are my monitoring requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... controls for corona power and rapper operation, that the corona wires are energized, and that adequate air... determine the condition and integrity of corona wires, collection plates, hopper, and air diffuser plates... daily inspection to verify the proper functioning of the electronic controls for corona power and rapper...

78 FR 48886 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-12

... Avenue, Pittsburg, 94565. CA 94565. Riverside (FEMA Docket No.: B- City of Corona (12- The Honorable Jason Public Works May 3, 2013 060250 1298). 09-1650P). Scott, Mayor, City of Department, 400 Corona, 400 South South Vicentia Vicentia Avenue, Corona, Avenue, Corona, CA CA 92882. 92882. Riverside (FEMA...

40 CFR 63.10897 - What are my monitoring requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... controls for corona power and rapper operation, that the corona wires are energized, and that adequate air... determine the condition and integrity of corona wires, collection plates, hopper, and air diffuser plates... daily inspection to verify the proper functioning of the electronic controls for corona power and rapper...

40 CFR 63.10897 - What are my monitoring requirements?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... controls for corona power and rapper operation, that the corona wires are energized, and that adequate air... determine the condition and integrity of corona wires, collection plates, hopper, and air diffuser plates... daily inspection to verify the proper functioning of the electronic controls for corona power and rapper...

75 FR 38441 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revised Critical Habitat for Santa Ana Sucker

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-02

... Ayres Suites Corona West, 1900 W Frontage Road, Corona, CA 92882. We will post all comments on http....m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Ayres Suites Corona West, 1900 W. Frontage Road, Corona, CA 92882...

Reconstruction of a Large-scale Pre-flare Coronal Current Sheet Associated with a Homologous X-shaped Flare

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Chaowei; Yan, Xiaoli; Feng, Xueshang; Duan, Aiying; Hu, Qiang; Zuo, Pingbing; Wang, Yi

2017-11-01

As a fundamental magnetic structure in the solar corona, electric current sheets (CSs) can form either prior to or during a solar flare, and they are essential for magnetic energy dissipation in the solar corona because they enable magnetic reconnection. However, the static reconstruction of a CS is rare, possibly due to limitations that are inherent in the available coronal field extrapolation codes. Here we present the reconstruction of a large-scale pre-flare CS in solar active region 11967 using an MHD-relaxation model constrained by the SDO/HMI vector magnetogram. The CS is associated with a set of peculiar homologous flares that exhibit unique X-shaped ribbons and loops occurring in a quadrupolar magnetic configuration.This is evidenced by an ’X’ shape, formed from the field lines traced from the CS to the photosphere. This nearly reproduces the shape of the observed flare ribbons, suggesting that the flare is a product of the dissipation of the CS via reconnection. The CS forms in a hyperbolic flux tube, which is an intersection of two quasi-separatrix layers. The recurrence of the X-shaped flares might be attributed to the repetitive formation and dissipation of the CS, as driven by the photospheric footpoint motions. These results demonstrate the power of a data-constrained MHD model in reproducing a CS in the corona as well as providing insight into the magnetic mechanism of solar flares.

New Insulation Constructions for Aerospace Wiring Applications. Volume 1. Testing and Evaluation

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-06-01

28 S.3.2 CORONA INCEPTION AND EXTINCIION VOLTAGES 5 - 33 5.3.2.. AC CORONA INCEPTION AND EXTINCTION VOLTAGES 5...... - 33 5.3.2.2 DC CORONA ...SETUP ....... .. 5 - 27 5.10 DIELECTRIC CONSTANT TEST RESULTS .......... .. 5 - 32 5.11 AC CORONA INCEPTION AND EXTINCTION TEST, 22 AWG, 8.6 MIL WALL...AIRFRAME WIRE ... .......... 5 - 39 5.12 AC CORONA INCEPTION AND EXTINCTION TEST, 22 AWG, 5.8 MIL WALL, HOOK UP WIRE .... ........... 5 - 40 5.13 AC

Solar Probe Plus: A NASA Mission to Touch the Sun

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, N. J.; Velli, M. M. C.; Kasper, J. C.; McComas, D. J.; Howard, R.; Bale, S. D.; Decker, R. B.

2014-12-01

Solar Probe Plus (SPP), currently in Phase C, will be the first mission to fly into the low solar corona, revealing how the corona is heated and the solar wind and energetic particles are accelerated, solving fundamental mysteries that have been top priority science goals since such a mission was first proposed in 1958. The scale and concept of such a mission has been revised at intervals since that time, yet the core has always been a close encounter with the Sun. The primary science goal of the Solar Probe Plus mission is to determine the structure and dynamics of the Sun's coronal magnetic field, understand how the solar corona and wind are heated and accelerated, and determine what mechanisms accelerate and transport energetic particles. The SPP mission will achieve this by identifying and quantifying the basic plasma physical processes at the heart of the Heliosphere. SPP uses an innovative mission design, significant technology development and a risk-reducing engineering development to meet the SPP science objectives: 1) Trace the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind; 2) Determine the structure and dynamics of the plasma and magnetic fields at the sources of the solar wind; and 3) Explore mechanisms that accelerate and transport energetic particles. In this presentation, we present Solar Probe Plus and examine how the mission will address the science questions that have remained unanswered for over 5 decades.

Implications of the Deep Minimum for Slow Solar Wind Origin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antiochos, S. K.; Mikic, Z.; Lionello, R.; Titov, V. S.; Linker, J. A.

2009-12-01

The origin of the slow solar wind has long been one of the most important problems in solar/heliospheric physics. Two observational constraints make this problem especially challenging. First, the slow wind has the composition of the closed-field corona, unlike the fast wind that originates on open field lines. Second, the slow wind has substantial angular extent, of order 30 degrees, which is much larger than the widths observed for streamer stalks or the widths expected theoretically for a dynamic heliospheric current sheet. We propose that the slow wind originates from an intricate network of narrow (possibly singular) open-field corridors that emanate from the polar coronal hole regions. Using topological arguments, we show that these corridors must be ubiquitous in the solar corona. The total solar eclipse in August 2008, near the lowest point of the Deep Minimum, affords an ideal opportunity to test this theory by using the ultra-high resolution Predictive Science's (PSI) eclipse model for the corona and wind. Analysis of the PSI eclipse model demonstrates that the extent and scales of the open-field corridors can account for both the angular width of the slow wind and its closed-field composition. We discuss the implications of our slow wind theory for the structure of the corona and heliosphere at the Deep Minimum and describe further observational and theoretical tests. This work has been supported by the NASA HTP, SR&T, and LWS programs.

An analytical model of prominence dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Routh, Swati; Saha, Snehanshu; Bhat, Atul; Sundar, M. N.

2018-01-01

Solar prominences are magnetic structures incarcerating cool and dense gas in an otherwise hot solar corona. Prominences can be categorized as quiescent and active. Their origin and the presence of cool gas (∼104 K) within the hot (∼106K) solar corona remains poorly understood. The structure and dynamics of solar prominences was investigated in a large number of observational and theoretical (both analytical and numerical) studies. In this paper, an analytic model of quiescent solar prominence is developed and used to demonstrate that the prominence velocity increases exponentially, which means that some gas falls downward towards the solar surface, and that Alfvén waves are naturally present in the solar prominences. These theoretical predictions are consistent with the current observational data of solar quiescent prominences.

Exploiting the biomolecular corona: pre-coating of nanoparticles enables controlled cellular interactions.

PubMed

Simon, Johanna; Müller, Laura K; Kokkinopoulou, Maria; Lieberwirth, Ingo; Morsbach, Svenja; Landfester, Katharina; Mailänder, Volker

2018-06-14

Formation of the biomolecular corona ultimately determines the successful application of nanoparticles in vivo. Adsorption of biomolecules such as proteins is an inevitable process that takes place instantaneously upon contact with physiological fluid (e.g. blood). Therefore, strategies are needed to control this process in order to improve the properties of the nanoparticles and to allow targeted drug delivery. Here, we show that the design of the protein corona by a pre-formed protein corona with tailored properties enables targeted cellular interactions. Nanoparticles were pre-coated with immunoglobulin depleted plasma to create and design a protein corona that reduces cellular uptake by immune cells. It was proven that a pre-formed protein corona remains stable even after nanoparticles were re-introduced to plasma. This opens up the great potential to exploit protein corona formation, which will significantly influence the development of novel nanomaterials.

The history and epidemiology of Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus.

PubMed

Al-Osail, Aisha M; Al-Wazzah, Marwan J

2017-01-01

Corona viruses cause common cold, and infections caused by corona viruses are generally self-resolving. During the last 4 years, corona viruses have become the most important viruses worldwide because of the occurrence of several recent deaths caused by corona viruses in Saudi Arabia. Spread of the infection occurred worldwide; however, most cases of mortality have occurred in the Middle East. Owing to the predominance of outbreaks in the Middle Eastern countries, the virus was renamed a Middle East respiratory syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV) by the Corona virus Study Group. The Center for Diseases Control and Prevention and World Health Organization maintain a website that is updated frequently with new cases of MERS-CoV infection. In this review, we describe the history and epidemiology of this novel virus. Studies of the genetics and molecular mechanisms of this virus are expected to facilitate the development of vaccines in the future.

The nanoparticle protein corona formed in human blood or human blood fractions.

PubMed

Lundqvist, Martin; Augustsson, Cecilia; Lilja, Malin; Lundkvist, Kristoffer; Dahlbäck, Björn; Linse, Sara; Cedervall, Tommy

2017-01-01

The protein corona formed around nanoparticles in protein-rich fluids plays an important role for nanoparticle biocompatibility, as found in several studies during the last decade. Biological fluids have complex compositions and the molecular components interact and function together in intricate networks. Therefore, the process to isolate blood or the preparation of blood derivatives may lead to differences in the composition of the identified protein corona around nanoparticles. Here, we show distinct differences in the protein corona formed in whole blood, whole blood with EDTA, plasma, or serum. Furthermore, the ratio between particle surface area to protein concentration influences the detected corona. We also show that the nanoparticle size per se influences the formed protein corona due to curvature effects. These results emphasize the need of investigating the formation and biological importance of the protein corona in the same environment as the nanoparticles are intended for or released into.

Joint Soviet-French studies of the solar corona. II - Photometry of the solar corona on June 30, 1973

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vsekhsvyatsky, S. K.; Dzyubenko, N. I.; Ivanchuk, V. I.; Popov, O. S.; Rubo, G. A.; Koutchmy, S.; Koutchmy, O.; Shtelmacher, G.

1981-04-01

Results are presented of a study of negatives obtained on June 30, 1973 during the total solar eclipse in Africa; the study was part of a joint Soviet-French experiment on white corona dynamics, carried out by expeditions of Kiev University (Atar, Mauritania) and the Paris Astrophysical Institute (Moussoro, Chad). The distribution of total corona brightness up to 4.5 solar radii and its K and F corona components for east and north directions were found on the basis of novel methods of photometry and colorimetry using star images up to 8.5m as the photometry standards. Neither the color effect nor flattening is found in the inner part (less than 2.5 solar radii) of the F corona. Integral corona brightness in the standard zone of 1.03-6.00 solar radii was found to be 0.64 x 10 to the -6th solar-E.

Saturation of subjective reward magnitude as a function of current and pulse frequency.

PubMed

Simmons, J M; Gallistel, C R

1994-02-01

In rats with electrodes in the medial forebrain bundle, the upper portion of the function relating the experienced magnitude of the reward to pulse frequency was determined at currents ranging from 100 to 1,000 microA. The pulse frequency required to produce an asymptotic level of reward was inversely proportional to current except at the lowest currents and highest pulse frequencies. At a given current, the subjective reward magnitude functions decelerated to an asymptote over an interval in which the pulse frequency doubled or tripled. The asymptotic level of reward was approximately constant for currents between 200 and 1,000 microA but declined substantially at currents at or below 100 microA and pulse frequencies at or above 250 to 400 pulses per second. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the magnitude of the experienced reward depends only on the number of action potentials generated by the train of pulses in the bundle of reward-relevant axons.

75 FR 8395 - Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Riverside-Corona Feeder Project, San Bernardino and Riverside...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-24

... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, Riverside-Corona...) will prepare a joint EIS/EIR for the proposed Riverside-Corona Feeder Project. The public and agencies... participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Riverside-Corona Feeder Project including: (i) 20...

ZnO Nanowire-Based Corona Discharge Devices Operated Under Hundreds of Volts.

PubMed

Yang, Wenming; Zhu, Rong; Zong, Xianli

2016-12-01

Minimizing the voltage of corona discharges, especially when using nanomaterials, has been of great interest in the past decade or so. In this paper, we report a new corona discharge device by using ZnO nanowires operated in atmospheric air to realize continuous corona discharge excited by hundreds of volts. ZnO nanowires were synthesized on microelectrodes using electric-field-assisted wet chemical method, and a thin tungsten film was deposited on the microchip to enhance discharging performance. The testing results showed that the corona inception voltages were minimized greatly by using nanowires compared to conventional dischargers as a result of the local field enhancement of nanowires. The corona could be continuously generated and self-sustaining. It was proved that the law of corona inception voltage obeyed the conventional Peek's breakdown criterion. An optimal thickness of tungsten film coated over ZnO nanowires was figured out to obtain the lowest corona inception voltage. The ion concentration of the nanowire-based discharger attained 10(17)/m(3) orders of magnitude, which is practicable for most discharging applications.

Parga Chasma: Coronae and Rifting on Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smrekar, S. E.; Stofan, E. R.; Buck, W. R.; Martin, P.

2005-01-01

The majority of coronae (quasicircular volcano-tectonic features) are found along rifts or fracture belts, and the majority of rifts have coronae [e.g. 1,2]. However, the relationship between coronae and rifts remains unclear [3-6]. There is evidence that coronae can form before, after, or synchronously with rifts [3,4]. The extensional fractures in the rift zones have been proposed to be a result of broad scale upwelling and traction on the lower lithosphere [7]. However, not all rift systems have a significant positive geoid anomaly, as would be expected for an upwelling site [8]. This could be explained if the rifts lacking anomalies are no longer active. Coronae are generally accepted to be sites of local upwelling [e.g. 1], but the observed rifting is frequently not radial to the coronae and extends well beyond the coronae into the surrounding plains. Thus the question remains as to whether the rifts represent regional extension, perhaps driven by mantle tractions, or if the coronae themselves create local thinning and extension of the lithosphere. In the first case, a regional extension model should be consistent with the observed characteristics of the rifts. In the latter case, a model of lithospheric loading and fracturing would be more appropriate. A good analogy may be the propagation of oceanic intraplate volcanoes [9].

Catalytic Reactor For Oxidizing Mercury Vapor

DOEpatents

Helfritch, Dennis J.

1998-07-28

A catalytic reactor (10) for oxidizing elemental mercury contained in flue gas is provided. The catalyst reactor (10) comprises within a flue gas conduit a perforated corona discharge plate (30a, b) having a plurality of through openings (33) and a plurality of projecting corona discharge electrodes (31); a perforated electrode plate (40a, b, c) having a plurality of through openings (43) axially aligned with the through openings (33) of the perforated corona discharge plate (30a, b) displaced from and opposing the tips of the corona discharge electrodes (31); and a catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) overlaying that face of the perforated electrode plate (40a, b, c) opposing the tips of the corona discharge electrodes (31). A uniformly distributed corona discharge plasma (1000) is intermittently generated between the plurality of corona discharge electrode tips (31) and the catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) when a stream of flue gas is passed through the conduit. During those periods when corona discharge (1000) is not being generated, the catalyst molecules of the catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) adsorb mercury vapor contained in the passing flue gas. During those periods when corona discharge (1000) is being generated, ions and active radicals contained in the generated corona discharge plasma (1000) desorb the mercury from the catalyst molecules of the catalyst member (60a, b, c, d), oxidizing the mercury in virtually simultaneous manner. The desorption process regenerates and activates the catalyst member molecules.

Dynamics of nanoparticle-protein corona complex formation: analytical results from population balance equations.

PubMed

Darabi Sahneh, Faryad; Scoglio, Caterina; Riviere, Jim

2013-01-01

Nanoparticle-protein corona complex formation involves absorption of protein molecules onto nanoparticle surfaces in a physiological environment. Understanding the corona formation process is crucial in predicting nanoparticle behavior in biological systems, including applications of nanotoxicology and development of nano drug delivery platforms. This paper extends the modeling work in to derive a mathematical model describing the dynamics of nanoparticle corona complex formation from population balance equations. We apply nonlinear dynamics techniques to derive analytical results for the composition of nanoparticle-protein corona complex, and validate our results through numerical simulations. The model presented in this paper exhibits two phases of corona complex dynamics. In the first phase, proteins rapidly bind to the free surface of nanoparticles, leading to a metastable composition. During the second phase, continuous association and dissociation of protein molecules with nanoparticles slowly changes the composition of the corona complex. Given sufficient time, composition of the corona complex reaches an equilibrium state of stable composition. We find analytical approximate formulae for metastable and stable compositions of corona complex. Our formulae are very well-structured to clearly identify important parameters determining corona composition. The dynamics of biocorona formation constitute vital aspect of interactions between nanoparticles and living organisms. Our results further understanding of these dynamics through quantitation of experimental conditions, modeling results for in vitro systems to better predict behavior for in vivo systems. One potential application would involve a single cell culture medium related to a complex protein medium, such as blood or tissue fluid.

Constraints on Lithospheric Rheology from Observations of Coronae on Venus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Rourke, Joseph G.; Smrekar, Suzanne; Moresi, Louis N.

2016-10-01

Coronae are enigmatic, quasi-circular features found in myriad geological environments. They are primarily distinguished as rings of concentric fractures superimposed on various topographic profiles with at least small-scale volcanism. Mantle plumes may produce coronae with interior rises, whereas coronae with central depressions are often attributed to downwellings like Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. For almost three decades, modelers have attempted to reproduce the topographic and gravity profiles measured at coronae. Until recently, few studies also considered tectonic deformation and melt production. In particular, "Type 2" coronae have complete topographic rims but arcs of fractures extending less than 180°, signifying both brittle and ductile deformation. Only a narrow range of rheological parameters like temperature and volatile content may be compatible with these observations. Ultimately, identifying how lithospheric properties differ between Earth and Venus is critical to understanding what factors permit plate tectonics on rocky, Earth-sized planets.Here we present a hierarchical approach to study the formation of coronae. First, we discuss an observational survey enabled by a new digital elevation model derived from stereo topography for ~20% of the surface of Venus, which offers an order-of-magnitude improvement over the horizontal resolution (10 to 20 kilometers) of altimetry data from NASA's Magellan mission. Next, we search this new dataset for signs of lithospheric flexure around small coronae. Simple, thin-elastic plate models were fit to topographic profiles of larger coronae in previous studies, but data resolution impeded efforts to apply this method to the entire coronae population. Finally, we show simulations of the formation of coronae using Underworld II, an open-source code adaptable to a variety of geodynamical problems. We benchmark our code using models of pure Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities and then investigate the influence of realistic rheology and three-dimensional effects on the topography, tectonics, and magmatism.

Dispersion of Nanoparticles in Different Media Importantly Determines the Composition of Their Protein Corona.

PubMed

Strojan, Klemen; Leonardi, Adrijana; Bregar, Vladimir B; Križaj, Igor; Svete, Jurij; Pavlin, Mojca

2017-01-01

Protein corona of nanoparticles (NPs), which forms when these particles come in to contact with protein-containing fluids, is considered as an overlooked factor in nanomedicine. Through numerous studies it has been becoming increasingly evident that it importantly dictates the interaction of NPs with their surroundings. Several factors that determine the compositions of NPs protein corona have been identified in recent years, but one has remained largely ignored-the composition of media used for dispersion of NPs. Here, we determined the effect of dispersion media on the composition of protein corona of polyacrylic acid-coated cobalt ferrite NPs (PAA NPs) and silica NPs. Our results confirmed some of the basic premises such as NPs type-dependent specificity of the protein corona. But more importantly, we demonstrated the effect of the dispersion media on the protein corona composition. The differences between constituents of the media used for dispersion of NPs, such as divalent ions and macromolecules were responsible for the differences in protein corona composition formed in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Our results suggest that the protein corona composition is a complex function of the constituents present in the media used for dispersion of NPs. Regardless of the dispersion media and FBS concentration, majority of proteins from either PAA NPs or silica NPs coronas were involved in the process of transport and hemostasis. Interestingly, corona of silica NPs contained three complement system related proteins: complement factor H, complement C3 and complement C4 while PAA NPs bound only one immune system related protein, α-2-glycoprotein. Importantly, relative abundance of complement C3 protein in corona of silica NPs was increased when NPs were dispersed in NaCl, which further implies the relevance of dispersion media used to prepare NPs.

Effective lock-in strategy for proteomic analysis of corona complexes bound to amino-free ligands of gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhou, Mi; Tang, Min; Li, Shuiming; Peng, Li; Huang, Haojun; Fang, Qihua; Liu, Zhao; Xie, Peng; Li, Gao; Zhou, Jian

2018-06-21

For specific applications, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) are commonly functionalized with various biological ligands, including amino-free ligands such as amino acids, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids. Upon entering a biological fluid, the protein corona that forms around GNPs can conceal the targeting ligands and sterically hinder the functional properties. The protein corona is routinely prepared by standard centrifugation or sucrose cushion centrifugation. However, such methodologies are not applicable to the exclusive analysis of a ligand-binding protein corona. In this study, we first proposed a lock-in strategy based on a combination of rapid crosslinking and stringent washing. Cysteine was used as a model of amino-free ligands and attached to GNPs. After corona formation in the human plasma, GNP cysteine and corona proteins were quickly fixed by 5 s of crosslinking with 7.5% formaldehyde. After stringent washing using SDS buffer with sonication, the cysteine-bound proteins were effectively separated from unbound proteins. Qualitative and quantitative analyses using a mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach indicated that the protein composition of the cysteine-binding corona from the new method was significantly different from the composition of the whole corona from the two conventional methods. Furthermore, network and formaldehyde-linked site analyses of cysteine-binding proteins provided useful information toward a better knowledge of the behavior of protein-ligand and protein-protein interactions. Collectively, our new strategy has the capability to particularly characterize the protein composition of a cysteine-binding corona. The presented methodology in principal provides a generic way to analyze a nanoparticle corona bound to amino-free ligands and has the potential to decipher corona-masked ligand functions.

Dispersion of Nanoparticles in Different Media Importantly Determines the Composition of Their Protein Corona

PubMed Central

Strojan, Klemen; Leonardi, Adrijana; Bregar, Vladimir B.; Križaj, Igor; Svete, Jurij; Pavlin, Mojca

2017-01-01

Protein corona of nanoparticles (NPs), which forms when these particles come in to contact with protein-containing fluids, is considered as an overlooked factor in nanomedicine. Through numerous studies it has been becoming increasingly evident that it importantly dictates the interaction of NPs with their surroundings. Several factors that determine the compositions of NPs protein corona have been identified in recent years, but one has remained largely ignored—the composition of media used for dispersion of NPs. Here, we determined the effect of dispersion media on the composition of protein corona of polyacrylic acid-coated cobalt ferrite NPs (PAA NPs) and silica NPs. Our results confirmed some of the basic premises such as NPs type-dependent specificity of the protein corona. But more importantly, we demonstrated the effect of the dispersion media on the protein corona composition. The differences between constituents of the media used for dispersion of NPs, such as divalent ions and macromolecules were responsible for the differences in protein corona composition formed in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Our results suggest that the protein corona composition is a complex function of the constituents present in the media used for dispersion of NPs. Regardless of the dispersion media and FBS concentration, majority of proteins from either PAA NPs or silica NPs coronas were involved in the process of transport and hemostasis. Interestingly, corona of silica NPs contained three complement system related proteins: complement factor H, complement C3 and complement C4 while PAA NPs bound only one immune system related protein, α-2-glycoprotein. Importantly, relative abundance of complement C3 protein in corona of silica NPs was increased when NPs were dispersed in NaCl, which further implies the relevance of dispersion media used to prepare NPs. PMID:28052135

Corona Enhancement and Mosaic Architecture for Prognosis and Selection Between of Liver Resection Versus Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Single Hepatocellular Carcinomas >5 cm Without Extrahepatic Metastases: An Imaging-Based Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Li, Meng; Xin, Yongjie; Fu, Sirui; Liu, Zaiyi; Li, Yong; Hu, Baoshan; Chen, Shuting; Liang, Changhong; Lu, Ligong

2016-01-01

Corona enhancement and mosaic architecture are 2 radiologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, neither their prognostic values nor their impacts on the selection of liver resection (LR) versus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) as treatment modalities have been established.We retrospectively analyzed 275 patients with a single HCC lesion >5 cm without extrahepatic metastasis treated with LR or TACE. In LR patients, the overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were compared between corona enhancement negative (corona-) versus positive (corona+) and mosaic architecture negative (mosaic-) versus positive (mosaic+) patients. Furthermore, by the combination of corona and mosaic, LR patients were divided into negative for both corona and mosaic patterns (LR-/-), positive for only 1 feature (LR+/-), and positive for both (LR+/+); their OS and TTP were compared to those of the TACE group. Cox regression was performed to identify independent factors for OS.In the survival plots for LR, corona- had better OS and TTP than corona+, and mosaic- had better OS than mosaic+. There was no significant difference in TTP between the subgroups. On Cox regression analysis, corona enhancement, but not mosaic architecture, was a significant factor for OS, whereas neither were a significant factor for TTP. In TACE patients, neither corona nor mosaic patterns had significant correlations with OS or TTP. In the whole population, LR-/ and LR+/- subgroups had similar OS, which was better than the LR+/+ and TACE groups. Moreover, LR-/- and LR+/- patients had better TTP than TACE patients, but there were no differences between the LR-/- versus LR+/-, LR-/ versus LR+/+, LR+/- versus LR+/+, and LR+/+ versus TACE groups. On Cox regression analysis, the presence of corona/mosaic patterns was an independent prognostic factor for OS.Our results showed that, for patients with a single HCC >5 cm without extrahepatic metastasis, corona and mosaic patterns are indicators of limited LR efficacy. When both of the features are present, TACE can be used instead of LR with no negative influence on survival.

Utilizing the protein corona around silica nanoparticles for dual drug loading and release

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shahabi, Shakiba; Treccani, Laura; Dringen, Ralf; Rezwan, Kurosch

2015-10-01

A protein corona forms spontaneously around silica nanoparticles (SNPs) in serum-containing media. To test whether this protein corona can be utilized for the loading and release of anticancer drugs we incorporated the hydrophilic doxorubicin, the hydrophobic meloxicam as well as their combination in the corona around SNPs. The application of corona-covered SNPs to osteosarcoma cells revealed that drug-free particles did not affect the cell viability. In contrast, SNPs carrying a protein corona with doxorubicin or meloxicam lowered the cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, these particles had an even greater antiproliferative potential than the respective concentrations of free drugs. The best antiproliferative effects were observed for SNPs containing both doxorubicin and meloxicam in their corona. Co-localization studies revealed the presence of doxorubicin fluorescence in the nucleus and lysosomes of cells exposed to doxorubicin-containing coated SNPs, suggesting that endocytotic uptake of the SNPs facilitates the cellular accumulation of the drug. Our data demonstrate that the protein corona, which spontaneously forms around nanoparticles, can be efficiently exploited for loading the particles with multiple drugs for therapeutic purposes. As drugs are efficiently released from such particles they may have a great potential for nanomedical applications.A protein corona forms spontaneously around silica nanoparticles (SNPs) in serum-containing media. To test whether this protein corona can be utilized for the loading and release of anticancer drugs we incorporated the hydrophilic doxorubicin, the hydrophobic meloxicam as well as their combination in the corona around SNPs. The application of corona-covered SNPs to osteosarcoma cells revealed that drug-free particles did not affect the cell viability. In contrast, SNPs carrying a protein corona with doxorubicin or meloxicam lowered the cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, these particles had an even greater antiproliferative potential than the respective concentrations of free drugs. The best antiproliferative effects were observed for SNPs containing both doxorubicin and meloxicam in their corona. Co-localization studies revealed the presence of doxorubicin fluorescence in the nucleus and lysosomes of cells exposed to doxorubicin-containing coated SNPs, suggesting that endocytotic uptake of the SNPs facilitates the cellular accumulation of the drug. Our data demonstrate that the protein corona, which spontaneously forms around nanoparticles, can be efficiently exploited for loading the particles with multiple drugs for therapeutic purposes. As drugs are efficiently released from such particles they may have a great potential for nanomedical applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr04726a

Personalized disease-specific protein corona influences the therapeutic impact of graphene oxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hajipour, Mohammad Javad; Raheb, Jamshid; Akhavan, Omid; Arjmand, Sareh; Mashinchian, Omid; Rahman, Masoud; Abdolahad, Mohammad; Serpooshan, Vahid; Laurent, Sophie; Mahmoudi, Morteza

2015-05-01

The hard corona, the protein shell that is strongly attached to the surface of nano-objects in biological fluids, is recognized as the first layer that interacts with biological objects (e.g., cells and tissues). The decoration of the hard corona (i.e., the type, amount, and conformation of the attached proteins) can define the biological fate of the nanomaterial. Recent developments have revealed that corona decoration strongly depends on the type of disease in human patients from which the plasma is obtained as a protein source for corona formation (referred to as the `personalized protein corona'). In this study, we demonstrate that graphene oxide (GO) sheets can trigger different biological responses in the presence of coronas obtained from various types of diseases. GO sheets were incubated with plasma from human subjects with different diseases/conditions, including hypofibrinogenemia, blood cancer, thalassemia major, thalassemia minor, rheumatism, fauvism, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and pregnancy. Identical sheets coated with varying protein corona decorations exhibited significantly different cellular toxicity, apoptosis, and uptake, reactive oxygen species production, lipid peroxidation and nitrogen oxide levels. The results of this report will help researchers design efficient and safe, patient-specific nano biomaterials in a disease type-specific manner for clinical and biological applications.The hard corona, the protein shell that is strongly attached to the surface of nano-objects in biological fluids, is recognized as the first layer that interacts with biological objects (e.g., cells and tissues). The decoration of the hard corona (i.e., the type, amount, and conformation of the attached proteins) can define the biological fate of the nanomaterial. Recent developments have revealed that corona decoration strongly depends on the type of disease in human patients from which the plasma is obtained as a protein source for corona formation (referred to as the `personalized protein corona'). In this study, we demonstrate that graphene oxide (GO) sheets can trigger different biological responses in the presence of coronas obtained from various types of diseases. GO sheets were incubated with plasma from human subjects with different diseases/conditions, including hypofibrinogenemia, blood cancer, thalassemia major, thalassemia minor, rheumatism, fauvism, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and pregnancy. Identical sheets coated with varying protein corona decorations exhibited significantly different cellular toxicity, apoptosis, and uptake, reactive oxygen species production, lipid peroxidation and nitrogen oxide levels. The results of this report will help researchers design efficient and safe, patient-specific nano biomaterials in a disease type-specific manner for clinical and biological applications. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00520e

Measurement of Laser Plasma Instability (LPI) Driven Light Scattering from Plasmas Produced by Nike KrF Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J. L.; Phillips, L.; Obenschain, S. P.; Schmitt, A. J.; Kehne, D. M.; Serlin, V.; Lehmberg, R. H.; McLean, E. A.; Manka, C. K.

2010-11-01

With short wavelength (248 nm), large bandwidth (1˜3 THz), and ISI beam smoothing, Nike KrF laser provides unique research opportunities and potential for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. Previous Nike experiments observed two plasmon decay (TPD) driven signals from CH plasmas at the laser intensities above ˜2x10^15 W/cm^2 with total laser energies up to 1 kJ of ˜350 ps FWHM pulses. We have performed a further experiment with longer laser pulses (0.5˜4.0 ns FWHM) and will present combined results of the experiments focusing on light emission data in spectral ranges relevant to the Raman (SRS) and TPD instabilities. Time- or space-resolved spectral features of TPD were detected at different viewing angles and the absolute intensity calibrated spectra of thermal background were used to obtain blackbody temperatures in the plasma corona. The wave vector distribution in k-space of the participating TPD plasmons will be also discussed. These results show promise for the proposed direct-drive designs.

Corona-Solar Wind Coupling Review

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-01

been reviewed and is approved for publication" E. G. Mullen E. G. Mullen Contract Manager Chief, Space Particles Environment Branch FOR THR COIN 1a...modeled, partly because the acceleration mechanism is still under study. Conclusions This review has been a survey of the current state of knowlede of

78 FR 14567 - Changes in Flood Hazard Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-06

... Corona (12- The Honorable Public Works http://www.r9map.org/ May 3, 2013 060250 09-1650P). Jason Scott, Department, 400 Docs/12-09-1650P- Mayor, City of South Vicentia 060250-102DA.pdf. Corona, 400 South Avenue, Corona, Vicentia Avenue, CA 92882. Corona, CA 92882. Riverside City of Indian The Honorable City Hall, 44...

Global Magnetohydrodynamic Modeling of the Solar Corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Linker, Jon A.; Wagner, William (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The solar corona, the hot, tenuous outer atmosphere of the Sun, exhibits many fascinating phenomena on a wide range of scales. One of the ways that the Sun can affect us here at Earth is through the large-scale structure of the corona and the dynamical phenomena associated with it, as it is the corona that extends outward as the solar wind and encounters the Earth's magnetosphere. The goal of our research sponsored by NASA's Supporting Research and Technology Program in Solar Physics is to develop increasingly realistic models of the large-scale solar corona, so that we can understand the underlying properties of the coronal magnetic field that lead to the observed structure and evolution of the corona. We describe the work performed under this contract.

A statistical study of current-sheet formation above solar active regions based on selforganized criticality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimitropoulou, M.; Isliker, H.; Vlahos, L.; Georgoulis, M.; Anastasiadis, A.; Toutountzi, A.

2013-09-01

We treat flaring solar active regions as physical systems having reached the self-organized critical state. Their evolving magnetic configurations in the low corona may satisfy an instability criterion, related to the excession of a specific threshold in the curl of the magnetic field. This imposed instability criterion implies an almost zero resistivity everywhere in the solar corona, except in regions where magnetic-field discontinuities and. hence, local currents, reach the critical value. In these areas, current-driven instabilities enhance the resistivity by many orders of magnitude forming structures which efficiently accelerate charged particles. Simulating the formation of such structures (thought of as current sheets) via a refined SOC cellular-automaton model provides interesting information regarding their statistical properties. It is shown that the current density in such unstable regions follows power-law scaling. Furthermore, the size distribution of the produced current sheets is best fitted by power laws, whereas their formation probability is investigated against the photospheric magnetic configuration (e.g. Polarity Inversion Lines, Plage). The average fractal dimension of the produced current sheets is deduced depending on the selected critical threshold. The above-mentioned statistical description of intermittent electric field structures can be used by collisional relativistic test particle simulations, aiming to interpret particle acceleration in flaring active regions and in strongly turbulent media in astrophysical plasmas. The above work is supported by the Hellenic National Space Weather Research Network (HNSWRN) via the THALIS Programme.

Contribution for Iron Vapor and Radiation Distribution Affected by Current Frequency of Pulsed Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimokura, Takuya; Mori, Yusuke; Iwao, Toru; Yumoto, Motoshige

Pulsed GTA welding has been used for improvement of stability, weld speed, and heat input control. However, the temperature and radiation power of the pulsed arc have not been elucidated. Furthermore, arc contamination by metal vapor changes the arc characteristics, e.g. by increasing radiation power. In this case, the metal vapor in pulsed GTA welding changes the distribution of temperature and radiation power as a function of time. This paper presents the relation between metal vapor and radiation power at different pulse frequencies. We calculate the Fe vapor distribution of the pulsed current. Results show that the Fe vapor is transported at fast arc velocity during the peak current period. During the base current period, the Fe vapor concentration is low and distribution is diffuse. The transition of Fe vapor distribution does not follow the pulsed current; the radiation power density distribution differs for high frequencies and low frequencies. In addition, the Fe vapor and radiation distribution are affected by the pulsed arc current frequency.

The effect of humidity on ionic wind velocity in ambient air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, She; Nobelen, J. C. P. Y.; Nijdam, S.

2016-09-01

Due to the evolution of portable electronics and LED lightning system, advances in air cooling technologies must also keep pace. Active cooling by ionic wind, which is usually generated by corona discharge, can greatly reduce the noise and lifetime issues compared to the mechanical fans. The wind is induced when a gas discharge is formed, and neutral molecules gain their energy by the momentum transfer of ion-neutral collisions. However, there is few discussion about the effect of gas composition such as humidity on the wind generation and the physical mechanism is not clear. In the experiment, a positive 5-20 kV DC voltage is applied to the needle-cylinder electrodes with separation of 20 mm. The ionic wind velocity is measured by hot wire anemometry. As the relative humidity (RH) in the ambient air increases, the velocity is found to be severely inhibited. The current is also measured between the cylinder electrode and earth. The results show that the DC component of corona current decreases when RH increases. Since both the discharge current and the ion mobility are reduced when RH increases, their combined effects determine the ionic wind velocity. This work is supported by STW project 13651.

Dynamics of Nanoparticle-Protein Corona Complex Formation: Analytical Results from Population Balance Equations

PubMed Central

Darabi Sahneh, Faryad; Scoglio, Caterina; Riviere, Jim

2013-01-01

Background Nanoparticle-protein corona complex formation involves absorption of protein molecules onto nanoparticle surfaces in a physiological environment. Understanding the corona formation process is crucial in predicting nanoparticle behavior in biological systems, including applications of nanotoxicology and development of nano drug delivery platforms. Method This paper extends the modeling work in to derive a mathematical model describing the dynamics of nanoparticle corona complex formation from population balance equations. We apply nonlinear dynamics techniques to derive analytical results for the composition of nanoparticle-protein corona complex, and validate our results through numerical simulations. Results The model presented in this paper exhibits two phases of corona complex dynamics. In the first phase, proteins rapidly bind to the free surface of nanoparticles, leading to a metastable composition. During the second phase, continuous association and dissociation of protein molecules with nanoparticles slowly changes the composition of the corona complex. Given sufficient time, composition of the corona complex reaches an equilibrium state of stable composition. We find analytical approximate formulae for metastable and stable compositions of corona complex. Our formulae are very well-structured to clearly identify important parameters determining corona composition. Conclusion The dynamics of biocorona formation constitute vital aspect of interactions between nanoparticles and living organisms. Our results further understanding of these dynamics through quantitation of experimental conditions, modeling results for in vitro systems to better predict behavior for in vivo systems. One potential application would involve a single cell culture medium related to a complex protein medium, such as blood or tissue fluid. PMID:23741371

Centrally Concentrated X-Ray Radiation from an Extended Accreting Corona in Active Galactic Nuclei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, B. F.; Taam, Ronald E.; Qiao, Erlin; Yuan, Weimin

2017-10-01

The X-ray emission from bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is believed to originate in a hot corona lying above a cold, geometrically thin accretion disk. A highly concentrated corona located within ˜10 gravitational radii above the black hole is inferred from observations. Based on the accretion of interstellar medium/wind, a disk corona model has been proposed in which the corona is well coupled to the disk by radiation, thermal conduction, as well as by mass exchange. Such a model avoids artificial energy input to the corona and has been used to interpret the spectral features observed in AGN. In this work, it is shown that the bulk emission size of the corona is very small for the extended accretion flow in our model. More than 80% of the hard X-ray power is emitted from a small region confined within 10 Schwarzschild radii around a non-spinning black hole, which is expected to be even smaller accordingly for a spinning black hole. Here, the corona emission is more extended at higher Eddington ratios. The compactness parameter of the corona, l=\\tfrac{L}{R}\\tfrac{{σ }{{T}}}{{m}{{e}}{c}3}, is shown to be in the range of 1-33 for Eddington ratios of 0.02-0.1. Combined with the electron temperature in the corona, this indicates that electron-positron pair production is not dominant in this regime. A positive relation between the compactness parameter and photon index is also predicted. By comparing the above model predictions with observational features, we find that the model is in agreement with observations.

A model of the generation and transport of ozone in high-tension nozzle driven corona inside a novel diode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vijayan, T.; Patil, Jagadish G.

2012-12-01

The genesis and transport of ozone (O3) are investigated in a novel plasma diode and described in this paper. The innovative cathode (K) of this axial symmetric diode which operated at the high voltage (ϕ0), has a large number of sharpened nozzles located on different radial planes of its central tubular-mast and is encircled by the anode (A). The nozzles played the dual role of oxygen (O2) injection as well as creation of high electric field (E) in the A-K gap, enabled the formation of a cold corona. Electrons in the corona under the influence of E moved towards anode, collided with O2 and created the O radicals. O in turn joined the free O2 and formed O3. The evolution of O3 here is modeled in various O2 pressure (P), electron density (ne), and temperature (T) in terms of the major reaction modes involving e, O, O2, and O3. Typical steady state O3 density attained so in P ˜ bar, ne ˜ 1015 m-3 and T ˜ 300 K is over 1025 m-3 and that of O lower ˜1020 m-3. Both the O and O3 densities increased with an enhanced ne of avalanche multiplications in corona. O3 increased also with a higher P but the temporal O reversed in trend midway and reduced with P towards the steady state. A sharp decline in diode resistance with smaller A-K gap induced finite discharge current and led to the undesired heating of corona. It is shown that the O3 density reduced with the temperature rise but O density reduced with the T rise up to 500 K and then rose modestly with the further T increase.

Kinetics of the formation of a protein corona around nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhdanov, Vladimir P; Cho, Nam-Joon

2016-12-01

Interaction of metal or oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with biological soft matter is one of the central phenomena in basic and applied biology-oriented nanoscience. Often, this interaction includes adsorption of suspended proteins on the NP surface, resulting in the formation of the protein corona around NPs. Structurally, the corona contains a "hard" monolayer shell directly contacting a NP and a more distant weakly associated "soft" shell. Chemically, the corona is typically composed of a mixture of distinct proteins. The corresponding experimental and theoretical studies have already clarified many aspects of the corona formation. The process is, however, complex, and its understanding is still incomplete. Herein, we present a kinetic mean-field model of the formation of the "hard" corona with emphasis on the role of (i) protein-diffusion limitations and (ii) interplay between competitive adsorption of distinct proteins and irreversible reconfiguration of their native structure. The former factor is demonstrated to be significant only in the very beginning of the corona formation. The latter factor is predicted to be more important. It may determine the composition of the corona on the time scales comparable or longer than a few hours. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Personalized disease-specific protein corona influences the therapeutic impact of graphene oxide.

PubMed

Hajipour, Mohammad Javad; Raheb, Jamshid; Akhavan, Omid; Arjmand, Sareh; Mashinchian, Omid; Rahman, Masoud; Abdolahad, Mohammad; Serpooshan, Vahid; Laurent, Sophie; Mahmoudi, Morteza

2015-05-21

The hard corona, the protein shell that is strongly attached to the surface of nano-objects in biological fluids, is recognized as the first layer that interacts with biological objects (e.g., cells and tissues). The decoration of the hard corona (i.e., the type, amount, and conformation of the attached proteins) can define the biological fate of the nanomaterial. Recent developments have revealed that corona decoration strongly depends on the type of disease in human patients from which the plasma is obtained as a protein source for corona formation (referred to as the 'personalized protein corona'). In this study, we demonstrate that graphene oxide (GO) sheets can trigger different biological responses in the presence of coronas obtained from various types of diseases. GO sheets were incubated with plasma from human subjects with different diseases/conditions, including hypofibrinogenemia, blood cancer, thalassemia major, thalassemia minor, rheumatism, fauvism, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and pregnancy. Identical sheets coated with varying protein corona decorations exhibited significantly different cellular toxicity, apoptosis, and uptake, reactive oxygen species production, lipid peroxidation and nitrogen oxide levels. The results of this report will help researchers design efficient and safe, patient-specific nano biomaterials in a disease type-specific manner for clinical and biological applications.

Multi-parametric surface plasmon resonance platform for studying liposome-serum interactions and protein corona formation.

PubMed

Kari, Otto K; Rojalin, Tatu; Salmaso, Stefano; Barattin, Michela; Jarva, Hanna; Meri, Seppo; Yliperttula, Marjo; Viitala, Tapani; Urtti, Arto

2017-04-01

When nanocarriers are administered into the blood circulation, a complex biomolecular layer known as the "protein corona" associates with their surface. Although the drivers of corona formation are not known, it is widely accepted that this layer mediates biological interactions of the nanocarrier with its surroundings. Label-free optical methods can be used to study protein corona formation without interfering with its dynamics. We demonstrate the proof-of-concept for a multi-parametric surface plasmon resonance (MP-SPR) technique in monitoring the formation of a protein corona on surface-immobilized liposomes subjected to flowing 100 % human serum. We observed the formation of formulation-dependent "hard" and "soft" coronas with distinct refractive indices, layer thicknesses, and surface mass densities. MP-SPR was also employed to determine the affinity (K D ) of a complement system molecule (C3b) with cationic liposomes with and without polyethylene glycol. Tendency to create a thick corona correlated with a higher affinity of opsonin C3b for the surface. The label-free platform provides a fast and robust preclinical tool for tuning nanocarrier surface architecture and composition to control protein corona formation.

Gold nanoparticle should understand protein corona for being a clinical nanomaterial.

PubMed

Charbgoo, Fahimeh; Nejabat, Mojgan; Abnous, Khalil; Soltani, Fatemeh; Taghdisi, Seyed Mohammad; Alibolandi, Mona; Thomas Shier, W; Steele, Terry W J; Ramezani, Mohammad

2018-02-28

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have attracted great attention in biomedical fields due to their unique properties. However, there are few reports on clinical trial of these nanoparticles. In vivo, AuNPs face complex biological fluids containing abundant proteins, which challenge the prediction of their fate that is known as "bio-identity". These proteins attach onto the AuNPs surface forming protein corona that makes the first step of nano-bio interface and dictates the subsequent AuNPs fate. Protein corona formation even stealth active targeting effect of AuNPs. Manipulating the protein corona identity based on the researcher goal is the way to employ corona to achieve maximum effect in therapy or other applications. In this review, we provide details on the biological identity of AuNPs under various environmental- and/or physiological conditions. We also highlight how the particular corona can direct the biodistribution of AuNPs. We further discuss the strategies available for controlling or reducing corona formation on AuNPs surface and achieving desired effects using AuNPs in vivo by engineering protein corona on their surface. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Solar Corona Explorer: A mission for the physical diagnosis of the solar corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1981-01-01

Mission objectives and spacecraft requirements for the Solar Corona Explorer (SCE), a proposed free flying, unmanned solar research craft to be tenatively launched in 1987, were defined. The SCE's purpose is to investigate structure, dynamics and evolution of the corona, globally and in the required physical detail, to study the close coupling between the inner corona and the heliosphere. Investigative objectives are: (1) to understand the corona as the source of varying interplanetary plasma and of varying solar X-ray and extreme ultraviolet fluxes; (2) to develop the capabilities to model the corona with sufficient precision to forecast the Earth's variable environment in space, on the scales from weeks to years; (3) to develop an understanding of the physical processes that determine the dynamics and physical state of the coronal plasma, particularly acceleration processes; and (4) to develop insight and test theory on the Sun applicable to stellar coronae and winds, and in particular, to understand why cool stars put such a large fraction of their energy into X-rays. Considered related factors are: (1) duration of the mission; (2) onboard measuring instrumentation; (3) ground support equipment and procedures; and (4) programs of interpretation and modeling.

Microstructures of Ni-AlN composite coatings prepared by pulse electrodeposition technology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Fafeng; Xu, Huibin; Liu, Chao; Wang, Jinwu; Ding, Junjie; Ma, Chunhua

2013-04-01

Ni-AlN composite coating was fabricated onto the surface of steel substrates by using pulse electrodeposition (PED) technique in this work. The effect of pulse current on the nucleation and growth of grains was investigated using transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), respectively. The results show that the contents of AlN nanoparticles increase with density of pulse current and on-duty ratio of pulse current increasing. Whereas the size of nickel grains decreases with density of pulse current increasing and on-duty ratio of pulse current decreasing. Ni-AlN composite coating consists of crystalline nickel (˜68 nm) and AlN particles (˜38 nm). SEM and AFM observations show that the composite coatings obtained by PED showed more compact surfaces and less grain sizes, whereas those obtained by direct current electrodepositing have rougher surfaces and bigger grain sizes.

Proteomics Analysis Reveals Distinct Corona Composition on Magnetic Nanoparticles with Different Surface Coatings: Implications for Interactions with Primary Human Macrophages

PubMed Central

Vogt, Carmen; Pernemalm, Maria; Kohonen, Pekka; Laurent, Sophie; Hultenby, Kjell; Vahter, Marie; Lehtiö, Janne; Toprak, Muhammet S.; Fadeel, Bengt

2015-01-01

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as promising contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. The influence of different surface coatings on the biocompatibility of SPIONs has been addressed, but the potential impact of the so-called corona of adsorbed proteins on the surface of SPIONs on their biological behavior is less well studied. Here, we determined the composition of the plasma protein corona on silica-coated versus dextran-coated SPIONs using mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches. Notably, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed distinct protein corona compositions for the two different SPIONs. Relaxivity of silica-coated SPIONs was modulated by the presence of a protein corona. Moreover, the viability of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages was influenced by the protein corona on silica-coated, but not dextran-coated SPIONs, and the protein corona promoted cellular uptake of silica-coated SPIONs, but did not affect internalization of dextran-coated SPIONs. PMID:26444829

Mechanisms of cell uptake, inflammatory potential and protein corona effects with gold nanoparticles.

PubMed

Li, Yang; Monteiro-Riviere, Nancy A

2016-12-01

To assess inflammation, cellular uptake and endocytic mechanisms of gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in human epidermal keratinocytes with and without a protein corona. Human epidermal keratinocytes were exposed to 40 and 80 nm AuNP with lipoic acid, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) coatings with and without a protein corona up to 48 h. Inhibitors were selected to characterize endocytosis. BPEI-AuNP showed the greatest uptake, while PEG-AuNP had the least. Protein coronas decreased uptake and affected their mechanism. AuNP uptake was energy-dependent, except for 40 nm lipoic-AuNP. Most AuNP were internalized by clathrin and lipid raft-mediated endocytosis, except for 40 nm PEG was by raft/noncaveolae mediated endocytosis. Coronas inhibited caveolae-mediated-endocytosis with lipoic acid and BPEI-AuNP and altered 40 nm PEG-AuNP from raft/noncaveolae to clathrin. Inflammatory responses decreased with a plasma corona. Results suggest protein coronas significantly affect cellular uptake and inflammatory responses of AuNP.

Personalized protein corona on nanoparticles and its clinical implications.

PubMed

Corbo, Claudia; Molinaro, Roberto; Tabatabaei, Mateen; Farokhzad, Omid C; Mahmoudi, Morteza

2017-02-28

It is now well understood that once in contact with biological fluids, nanoscale objects lose their original identity and acquire a new biological character, referred to as a protein corona. The protein corona changes many of the physicochemical properties of nanoparticles, including size, surface charge, and aggregation state. These changes, in turn, affect the biological fate of nanoparticles, including their pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy. It is progressively being accepted that even slight variations in the composition of a protein source (e.g., plasma and serum) can substantially change the composition of the corona formed on the surface of the exact same nanoparticles. Recently it has been shown that the protein corona is strongly affected by the patient's specific disease. Therefore, the same nanomaterial incubated with plasma proteins of patients with different pathologies adsorb protein coronas with different compositions, giving rise to the concept of personalized protein corona. Herein, we review this concept along with recent advances on the topic, with a particular focus on clinical relevance.

Super-Resolution Microscopy Unveils Dynamic Heterogeneities in Nanoparticle Protein Corona.

PubMed

Feiner-Gracia, Natalia; Beck, Michaela; Pujals, Sílvia; Tosi, Sébastien; Mandal, Tamoghna; Buske, Christian; Linden, Mika; Albertazzi, Lorenzo

2017-11-01

The adsorption of serum proteins, leading to the formation of a biomolecular corona, is a key determinant of the biological identity of nanoparticles in vivo. Therefore, gaining knowledge on the formation, composition, and temporal evolution of the corona is of utmost importance for the development of nanoparticle-based therapies. Here, it is shown that the use of super-resolution optical microscopy enables the imaging of the protein corona on mesoporous silica nanoparticles with single protein sensitivity. Particle-by-particle quantification reveals a significant heterogeneity in protein absorption under native conditions. Moreover, the diversity of the corona evolves over time depending on the surface chemistry and degradability of the particles. This paper investigates the consequences of protein adsorption for specific cell targeting by antibody-functionalized nanoparticles providing a detailed understanding of corona-activity relations. The methodology is widely applicable to a variety of nanostructures and complements the existing ensemble approaches for protein corona study. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Elastic Thickness Estimates for Coronae Associated with Chasmata on Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoogenboom, T.; Martin, P.; Housean, G. A.

2005-01-01

Coronae are large-scale circular tectonic features surrounded by annular ridges. They are generally considered unique to Venus and may offer insights into the differences in lithospheric structure or mantle convective pattern between Venus and Earth. 68% of all coronae are associated with chasmata or fracture belts. The remaining 32% are located at volcanic rises or in the plains. Chasmata are linear to arcuate troughs, with trough parallel fractures and faults which extend for 1000 s of kilometers. Estimates of the elastic thickness of the lithosphere (T(sub e)) have been calculated in a number of gravity/topography studies of Venus and for coronae specifically. None of these studies, however, have explored the dependence of T(sub e) on the tectonic history of the region, as implied from the interpretation of relative timing relationships between coronae and surrounding features. We examine the relationship between the local T(sub e) and the relative ages of coronae and chasmata with the aim of further constraining the origin and evolution of coronae and chasmata systems.

Proteomics Analysis Reveals Distinct Corona Composition on Magnetic Nanoparticles with Different Surface Coatings: Implications for Interactions with Primary Human Macrophages.

PubMed

Vogt, Carmen; Pernemalm, Maria; Kohonen, Pekka; Laurent, Sophie; Hultenby, Kjell; Vahter, Marie; Lehtiö, Janne; Toprak, Muhammet S; Fadeel, Bengt

2015-01-01

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have emerged as promising contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. The influence of different surface coatings on the biocompatibility of SPIONs has been addressed, but the potential impact of the so-called corona of adsorbed proteins on the surface of SPIONs on their biological behavior is less well studied. Here, we determined the composition of the plasma protein corona on silica-coated versus dextran-coated SPIONs using mass spectrometry-based proteomics approaches. Notably, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed distinct protein corona compositions for the two different SPIONs. Relaxivity of silica-coated SPIONs was modulated by the presence of a protein corona. Moreover, the viability of primary human monocyte-derived macrophages was influenced by the protein corona on silica-coated, but not dextran-coated SPIONs, and the protein corona promoted cellular uptake of silica-coated SPIONs, but did not affect internalization of dextran-coated SPIONs.

Microbial Decontamination of Dried Alaska Pollock Shreds Using Corona Discharge Plasma Jet: Effects on Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics.

PubMed

Choi, Soee; Puligundla, Pradeep; Mok, Chulkyoon

2016-04-01

Nonthermal techniques for microbial decontamination are becoming more common for ensuring food safety. In this study, a corona discharge plasma jet (CDPJ) was used for inactivation of microbial contaminants of dried Alaska pollock shreds. Corona plasma jet was generated at a current strength of 1.5 A, and a span length of 25 mm was maintained between the electrode tip and the sample. Upon the CDPJ treatment (0 to 3 min) of dried shreds, microbial contaminants namely aerobic and marine bacteria, and Staphylococcus aureus were inactivated by 2.5, 1.5, and >1.0 log units, respectively. Also, a one-log reduction of molds and yeasts contaminants was observed. The inactivation patterns are fitted well to the pseudo-first-order kinetics or Singh-Heldman model. The CDPJ treatment did not exert statistically significant (P > 0.05) changes in physicochemical properties, namely color characteristics, volatile basic nitrogen, and peroxide value of dried fish shreds, with some exceptions, as compared to untreated controls. Furthermore, CDPJ treatment had no significant impact on the sensory characteristics of dried fish shreds. © 2016 Institute of Food Technologists®

Dynamics of micelle-nanoparticle systems undergoing shear. A coarse-grained molecular dynamics approach

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rolfe, Bryan A.; Chun, Jaehun; Joo, Yong L.

2013-09-05

Recent experimental work has shown that polymeric micelles can template nanoparticles via interstitial sites in shear-ordered micelle solutions. In the current study, we report simulation results based on a coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) model of a solvent/polymer/nanoparticle system. Our results demonstrate the importance of polymer concentration and the micelle corona length in 2D shear-ordering of neat block copolymer solutions. Although our results do not show strong 3D ordering during shear, we find that cessation of shear allows the system to relax into a 3D configuration of greater order than without shear. It is further shown that this post-shear relaxation ismore » strongly dependent on the length of the micelle corona. For the first time, we demonstrate the presence and importance of a flow disturbance surrounding micelles in simple shear flow at moderate Péclet numbers. This disturbance is similar to what is observed around simulated star polymers and ellipsoids. The extent of the flow disturbance increases as expected with a longer micelle corona length. It is further suggested that without proper consideration of these dynamics, a stable nanoparticle configuration would be difficult to obtain.« less

Production of sunspots and their effects on the corona and solar wind: Insights from a new 3D flux-transport dynamo model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Rohit; Jouve, Laurène; Pinto, Rui F.; Rouillard, Alexis P.

2018-01-01

We present a three-dimensional numerical model for the generation and evolution of the magnetic field in the solar convection zone, in which sunspots are produced and contribute to the cyclic reversal of the large-scale magnetic field. We then assess the impact of this dynamo-generated field on the structure of the solar corona and solar wind. This model solves the induction equation in which the velocity field is prescribed. This velocity field is a combination of a solar-like differential rotation and meridional circulation. We develop an algorithm that enables the magnetic flux produced in the interior to be buoyantly transported towards the surface to produce bipolar spots. We find that those tilted bipolar magnetic regions contain a sufficient amount of flux to periodically reverse the polar magnetic field and sustain dynamo action. We then track the evolution of these magnetic features at the surface during a few consecutive magnetic cycles and analyze their effects on the topology of the corona and on properties of the solar wind (distribution of streamers and coronal holes, and of slow and fast wind streams) in connection with current observations of the Sun.

Development of a positive corona from a long grounded wire in a growing thunderstorm field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mokrov, M. S.; Raizer, Yu P.; Bazelyan, E. M.

2013-11-01

The properties of a non-stationary corona initiated from a long grounded wire suspended horizontally above the ground and coronating in a slowly varying thundercloud electric field are studied. A two-dimensional (2D) model of the corona is developed. On the basis of this model, characteristics of the corona produced by a lightning protection wire are calculated under thunderstorm conditions. The corona characteristics are also found by using approximate analytical and quasi-one-dimensional numerical models. The results of these models agree reasonably well with those obtained from the 2D simulation. This allows one to estimate the corona parameters without recourse to the cumbersome simulation. This work was performed with a view to study the efficiency of lightning protection wires later on.

High speed, high current pulsed driver circuit

DOEpatents

Carlen, Christopher R.

2017-03-21

Various technologies presented herein relate to driving a LED such that the LED emits short duration pulses of light. This is accomplished by driving the LED with short duration, high amplitude current pulses. When the LED is driven by short duration, high amplitude current pulses, the LED emits light at a greater amplitude compared to when the LED is driven by continuous wave current.

The role of charged particles in the positive corona-generated photon count in a rod to plane air gap

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bian, X. M.; Wang, Y. J.; MacAlpine, J. M. K.

The relationship between the calculated charged-particle densities in positive corona, the rate of streamer production, and the photon count from the corona were investigated and found to be closely related. Both the densities of electrons and positive ions peaked at 11.8 kV, near the corona inception voltage; they then fell rapidly before slowly rising again. This behavior was exactly matched by the measured photon count. The calculation of the charged-particle density in a positive corona was achieved by means of a fluid model.

A magnetic-dependent protein corona of tailor-made superparamagnetic iron oxides alters their biological behaviors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ziyao; Zhan, Xiaohui; Yang, Minggang; Yang, Qi; Xu, Xianghui; Lan, Fang; Wu, Yao; Gu, Zhongwei

2016-03-01

In recent years, it is becoming increasingly evident that once nanoparticles come into contact with biological fluids, a protein corona surely forms and critically affects the biological behaviors of nanoparticles. Herein, we investigate whether the formation of protein corona on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) is influenced by static magnetic field. Under static magnetic field, there is no obvious variation in the total amount of protein adsorption, but the proportion of adsorbed proteins significantly changes. Noticeably, certain proteins including apolipoproteins, complement system proteins and acute phase proteins, increase in the protein corona of SPIOs in the magnetic field. More importantly, the magnetic-dependent protein corona of SPIOs enhances the cellular uptake of SPIOs into the normal cell line (3T3 cells) and tumor cell line (HepG2 cells), due to increased adsorption of apolipoprotein. In addition, SPIOs with the magnetic-dependent protein corona cause high cytotoxicity to 3T3 cells and HepG2 cells. This work discloses that superparamagnetism as a key feature of SPIOs affects the composition of protein corona to a large extent, which further alters the biological behaviors of SPIOs.In recent years, it is becoming increasingly evident that once nanoparticles come into contact with biological fluids, a protein corona surely forms and critically affects the biological behaviors of nanoparticles. Herein, we investigate whether the formation of protein corona on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) is influenced by static magnetic field. Under static magnetic field, there is no obvious variation in the total amount of protein adsorption, but the proportion of adsorbed proteins significantly changes. Noticeably, certain proteins including apolipoproteins, complement system proteins and acute phase proteins, increase in the protein corona of SPIOs in the magnetic field. More importantly, the magnetic-dependent protein corona of SPIOs enhances the cellular uptake of SPIOs into the normal cell line (3T3 cells) and tumor cell line (HepG2 cells), due to increased adsorption of apolipoprotein. In addition, SPIOs with the magnetic-dependent protein corona cause high cytotoxicity to 3T3 cells and HepG2 cells. This work discloses that superparamagnetism as a key feature of SPIOs affects the composition of protein corona to a large extent, which further alters the biological behaviors of SPIOs. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08447d

RF multicoupler design techniques to minimize problems of corona, multipaction, and stability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurley, H. S.; Kozakoff, D. J.

1971-01-01

A mathematical expression was derived describing multipacting and corona effects in a coaxial cavity. Both mechanical and electrical design techniques were investigated to minimize the susceptibility of coaxial cavity to corona and multipacting-type breakdown. To assist in the design of a multicoupler free from corona and multipactor breakdown, a flow chart obtained from the derived mathematical expression is included.

Stable structures of microparticles in the electrodynamic trap created by the corona discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vladimirov, V. I.; Deputatova, L. V.; Filinov, V. S.; Lapitsky, D. S.; Pecherkin, V. Ya; Syrovatka, R. A.; Vasilyak, L. M.; Petrov, O. F.

2018-01-01

For the first time the stable structures of microparticles in a dynamic linear trap with corona electrodes have been obtained. The possibility for capturing and confining of microparticles in a linear electrodynamic trap with corona electrodes at atmospheric pressure has been studied experimentally. The corona discharge on the electrodes of the trap was generated by an alternating electric field.

Process for applying control variables having fractal structures

DOEpatents

Bullock, IV, Jonathan S.; Lawson, Roger L.

1996-01-01

A process and apparatus for the application of a control variable having a fractal structure to a body or process. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of generating a control variable having a fractal structure and applying the control variable to a body or process reacting in accordance with the control variable. The process is applicable to electroforming where first, second and successive pulsed-currents are applied to cause the deposition of material onto a substrate, such that the first pulsed-current, the second pulsed-current, and successive pulsed currents form a fractal pulsed-current waveform.

Process for applying control variables having fractal structures

DOEpatents

Bullock, J.S. IV; Lawson, R.L.

1996-01-23

A process and apparatus are disclosed for the application of a control variable having a fractal structure to a body or process. The process of the present invention comprises the steps of generating a control variable having a fractal structure and applying the control variable to a body or process reacting in accordance with the control variable. The process is applicable to electroforming where first, second and successive pulsed-currents are applied to cause the deposition of material onto a substrate, such that the first pulsed-current, the second pulsed-current, and successive pulsed currents form a fractal pulsed-current waveform. 3 figs.

Endogenous Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Coronal Loops

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asgari-Targhi, M.; Coppi, B.; Basu, B.; Fletcher, A.; Golub, L.

2017-12-01

We propose that a magneto-thermal reconnection process occurring in coronal loops be the source of the heating of the Solar Corona [1]. In the adopted model, magnetic reconnection is associated with electron temperature gradients, anisotropic electron temperature fluctuations and plasma current density gradients [2]. The input parameters for our theoretical model are derived from the most recent observations of the Solar Corona. In addition, the relevant (endogenous) collective modes can produce high energy particle populations. An endogenous reconnection process is defined as being driven by factors internal to the region where reconnection takes place. *Sponsored in part by the U.S. D.O.E. and the Kavli Foundation* [1] Beafume, P., Coppi, B. and Golub, L., (1992) Ap. J. 393, 396. [2] Coppi, B. and Basu, B. (2017) MIT-LNS Report HEP 17/01.

A solar extreme ultraviolet telescope and spectrograph for space shuttle. Volume 1: Investigation and technical plan

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neupert, W. M.

1978-01-01

A scientific investigation of heating and mass transport in the solar corona that is currently planned for a future Shuttle/Spacelab flight is outlined. The instrument to be used is a near-normal incidence grating spectrograph fed by a grazing incidence Wolter Type 2 telescope. A toroidal grating design provides stigmatic images of the corona up to 8 arc min in extent over the spectral region from 225 A to 370 A. Spatial resolution of at least 2 arc sec and spectral resolution of 0.050 A is achievable throughout the central 4 arc min field or view. Primary scientific data are recorded on Schumann-type film. An H-alpha slit jaw monitor and zero order extreme ultraviolet monitor are also planned to support instrument operation.

THE STRUCTURE AND SPECTRAL FEATURES OF A THIN DISK AND EVAPORATION-FED CORONA IN HIGH-LUMINOSITY ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, J. Y.; Liu, B. F.; Qiao, E. L.

We investigate the accretion process in high-luminosity active galactic nuclei (HLAGNs) in the scenario of the disk evaporation model. Based on this model, the thin disk can extend down to the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO) at accretion rates higher than 0.02 M-dot{sub Edd} while the corona is weak since part of the coronal gas is cooled by strong inverse Compton scattering of the disk photons. This implies that the corona cannot produce as strong X-ray radiation as observed in HLAGNs with large Eddington ratio. In addition to the viscous heating, other heating to the corona is necessary to interpretmore » HLAGN. In this paper, we assume that a part of accretion energy released in the disk is transported into the corona, heating up the electrons, and is thereby radiated away. For the first time, we compute the corona structure with additional heating, fully taking into account the mass supply to the corona, and find that the corona could indeed survive at higher accretion rates and that its radiation power increases. The spectra composed of bremsstrahlung and Compton radiation are also calculated. Our calculations show that the Compton-dominated spectrum becomes harder with the increase of energy fraction (f) liberating in the corona, and the photon index for hard X-ray (2-10 keV) is 2.2 < {Gamma} < 2.7. We discuss possible heating mechanisms for the corona. Combining the energy fraction transported to the corona with the accretion rate by magnetic heating, we find that the hard X-ray spectrum becomes steeper at a larger accretion rate and the bolometric correction factor (L{sub bol}/L{sub 2-10keV}) increases with increasing accretion rate for f < 8/35, which is roughly consistent with the observational results.« less

Featuring of transient tunneling current by voltage pulse and application to an electrochemical biosensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yun, Jun Yeon; Lee, Won Cheol; Choi, Seong Wook; Park, Young June

2018-03-01

We suggest a voltage pulse method for detecting the transient tunneling current component (faradaic current component) in a metal/redox-active monolayer/electrolyte system. After applying the pulse to the metal electrode, the capacitive current prevails; therefore, it is difficult to extract the tunneling current, which carries information on the biochemical reactions occurring between the biomarkers in the electrolyte and the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) as the probe peptide system. Instead of waiting until the capacitive current diminishes, and thereby, the tunneling current also decreases, we try to extract the tunneling current in an early stage of the pulse. The method is based on the observation that the capacitive current becomes symmetrized in the positive and negative pulses after introducing the SAM on the metal electrode. When the energy level of the redox molecule is higher than the Fermi level of the metal under zero-bias condition, the tunneling current in the negative pulse can be extracted by subtracting the capacitive current obtained from the positive pulse, where the tunneling current is neglected. The experiment conducted for detecting trypsin as a biomarker shows that the method enhances the sensitivity and the specific-to-nonspecific ratio of the sensor device in the case of the nonspecific protein-abundant electrolyte solution, as evinced by cyclic voltammetry measurements in comparison.

Shifting Coronas Around Black Holes Artist Concept

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-10-27

A supermassive black hole is depicted in this artist's concept, surrounded by a swirling disk of material falling onto it. The purplish ball of light above the black hole, a feature called the corona, contains highly energetic particles that generate X-ray light. If you could view the corona with your eyes, it would appear nearly invisible since we can't see its X-ray light. The corona gathers inward (left), becoming brighter, before shooting away from the black hole (middle and right). Astronomers don't know why the coronas shift, but they have learned that this process leads to a brightening of X-ray light that can be observed by telescopes. Normally, before a black hole's corona shifts, there is already an effect at work called relativistic boosting. As X-ray light from the corona reflects off the black hole's surrounding disk of material -- which is traveling near half the speed of light -- the X-ray light becomes brightened, as seen on the left side of the illustration. This boosting occurs on the side of the disk where the material is traveling toward us. The opposite effect, a dimming of the X-ray light, occurs on the other side of the disk moving away from us. Another form of relativistic boosting happens when the corona shoots away from the black hole, and later collapses. Its X-ray light is also brightened as the corona travels toward us at very fast speeds, leading to X-ray flares. In 2014, NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, and Swift space telescopes witnessed an X-flare from the supermassive black hole in a distant galaxy called Markarian 335. The observations allowed astronomers to link a shifting corona to an X-ray flare for the first time. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20051

Current density imaging sequence for monitoring current distribution during delivery of electric pulses in irreversible electroporation.

PubMed

Serša, Igor; Kranjc, Matej; Miklavčič, Damijan

2015-01-01

Electroporation is gaining its importance in everyday clinical practice of cancer treatment. For its success it is extremely important that coverage of the target tissue, i.e. treated tumor, with electric field is within the specified range. Therefore, an efficient tool for the electric field monitoring in the tumor during delivery of electroporation pulses is needed. The electric field can be reconstructed by the magnetic resonance electric impedance tomography method from current density distribution data. In this study, the use of current density imaging with MRI for monitoring current density distribution during delivery of irreversible electroporation pulses was demonstrated. Using a modified single-shot RARE sequence, where four 3000 V and 100 μs long pulses were included at the start, current distribution between a pair of electrodes inserted in a liver tissue sample was imaged. Two repetitions of the sequence with phases of refocusing radiofrequency pulses 90° apart were needed to acquire one current density image. For each sample in total 45 current density images were acquired to follow a standard protocol for irreversible electroporation where 90 electric pulses are delivered at 1 Hz. Acquired current density images showed that the current density in the middle of the sample increased from first to last electric pulses by 60%, i.e. from 8 kA/m2 to 13 kA/m2 and that direction of the current path did not change with repeated electric pulses significantly. The presented single-shot RARE-based current density imaging sequence was used successfully to image current distribution during delivery of short high-voltage electric pulses. The method has a potential to enable monitoring of tumor coverage by electric field during irreversible electroporation tissue ablation.

Pressure-sensing properties of single-walled carbon nanotubes covered with a corona-poled piezoelectric polymer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ikawa, Takeshi; Tabata, Hiroshi, E-mail: tabata@eei.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp; Yoshizawa, Takeshi

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have been studied extensively as sensing elements for chemical and biochemical sensors because of their excellent electrical properties, their ultrahigh ratio of surface area to volume, and the consequent extremely high sensitivity of their surface to the surrounding environment. The extremely high sensitivity indicates that SWNTs can operate as excellent transducers when combined with piezoelectric materials. In this paper, we present a touch sensor based on SWNT thin-film transistors (SWNT-TFTs) covered with a thin film of the piezoelectric polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) (P(VDF-TrFE)). Devices were fabricated by spin-coating a P(VDF-TrFE) layer on an SWNT-TFT, which was followedmore » by in situ corona poling to polarize the P(VDF-TrFE) layer. We studied the effect of the corona polarity on the device characteristics and revealed that poling with a negative corona discharge induced a large amount of hole doping in the SWNTs and improved the touch-sensing performance of the devices, while a positive discharge had a negligible effect. The poled devices exhibited regular, stable, and positive drain current modulation in response to intermittent pressing, and the response was proportional to the magnitude of the applied pressure, suggesting that it was caused by the piezoelectric effect of the polarized P(VDF-TrFE) layer. Furthermore, we also fabricated a device using horizontally aligned SWNTs with a lower SWNT density as an alternative transducer to an SWNT thin film, which demonstrated sensitivity as high as 70%/MPa.« less

Improving MAVEN-IUVS Lyman-Alpha Apoapsis Images

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chaffin, M.; AlMannaei, A. S.; Jain, S.; Chaufray, J. Y.; Deighan, J.; Schneider, N. M.; Thiemann, E.; Mayyasi, M.; Clarke, J. T.; Crismani, M. M. J.; Stiepen, A.; Montmessin, F.; Epavier, F.; McClintock, B.; Stewart, I. F.; Holsclaw, G.; Jakosky, B. M.

2017-12-01

In 2013, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission was launched to study the Martian upper atmosphere and ionosphere. MAVEN orbits through a very thin cloud of hydrogen gas, known as the hydrogen corona, that has been used to explore the planet's geologic evolution by detecting the loss of hydrogen from the atmosphere. Here we present various methods of extracting properties of the hydrogen corona from observations using MAVEN's Imaging Ultraviolet Spectograph (IUVS) instrument. The analysis presented here uses the IUVS Far Ultraviolet mode apoapase data. From apoapse, IUVS is able to obtain images of the hydrogen corona by detecting the Lyman-alpha airglow using a combination of instrument scan mirror and spacecraft motion. To complete one apoapse observation, eight scan swaths are performed to collect the observations and construct a coronal image. However, these images require further processing to account for the atmospheric MUV background that hinders the quality of the data. Here, we present new techniques for correcting instrument data. For the background subtraction, a multi-linear regression (MLR) routine of the first order MUV radiance was used to improve the images. A flat field correction was also applied by fitting a polynomial to periapse radiance observations. The apoapse data was re-binned using this fit.The results are presented as images to demonstrate the improvements in the data reduction. Implementing these methods for more orbits will improve our understanding of seasonal variability and H loss. Asymmetries in the Martian hydrogen corona can also be assessed to improve current model estimates of coronal H in the Martian atmosphere.

MUSE, the Multi-Slit Solar Explorer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemen, J. R.; Tarbell, T. D.; De Pontieu, B.; Wuelser, J. P.

2017-12-01

The Multi-Slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) has been selected for a Phase A study for the NASA Heliophysics Small Explorer program. The science objective of MUSE is to make high spatial and temporal resolution imaging and spectral observations of the solar corona and transition region in order to probe the mechanisms responsible for energy release in the corona and understand the dynamics of the solar atmosphere. The physical processes are responsible for heating the corona, accelerating the solar wind, and the rapid release of energy in CMEs and flares. The observations will be tightly coupled to state-of-the-art numerical modeling to provide significantly improved estimates for understanding and anticipating space weather. MUSE contains two instruments: an EUV spectrograph and an EUV context imager. Both have similar spatial resolutions and leverage extensive heritage from previous high-resolution instruments such as IRIS and the HiC rocket payload. The MUSE spectrograph employs a novel multi-slit design that enables a 100x improvement in spectral scanning rates, which will reveal crucial information about the dynamics (e.g., temperature, velocities) of the physical processes that are not observable with current instruments. The MUSE investigation builds on the success of IRIS by combining numerical modeling with a uniquely capable observatory: MUSE will obtain EUV spectra and images with the highest resolution in space (1/3 arcsec) and time (1-4 s) ever achieved for the transition region and corona, along 35 slits and a large context FOV simultaneously. The MUSE consortium includes LMSAL, SAO, Stanford, ARC, HAO, GSFC, MSFC, MSU, and ITA Oslo.

Gold nanoparticle-enabled blood test for early stage cancer detection and risk assessment.

PubMed

Zheng, Tianyu; Pierre-Pierre, Nickisha; Yan, Xin; Huo, Qun; Almodovar, Alvin J O; Valerio, Felipe; Rivera-Ramirez, Inoel; Griffith, Elizabeth; Decker, David D; Chen, Sixue; Zhu, Ning

2015-04-01

When citrate ligands-capped gold nanoparticles are mixed with blood sera, a protein corona is formed on the nanoparticle surface due to the adsorption of various proteins in the blood to the nanoparticles. Using a two-step gold nanoparticle-enabled dynamic light scattering assay, we discovered that the amount of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the gold nanoparticle protein corona is increased in prostate cancer patients compared to noncancer controls. Two pilot studies conducted on blood serum samples collected at Florida Hospital and obtained from Prostate Cancer Biorespository Network (PCBN) revealed that the test has a 90-95% specificity and 50% sensitivity in detecting early stage prostate cancer, representing a significant improvement over the current PSA test. The increased amount of human IgG found in the protein corona is believed to be associated with the autoantibodies produced in cancer patients as part of the immunodefense against tumor. Proteomic analysis of the nanoparticle protein corona revealed molecular profile differences between cancer and noncancer serum samples. Autoantibodies and natural antibodies produced in cancer patients in response to tumorigenesis have been found and detected in the blood of many cancer types. The test may be applicable for early detection and risk assessment of a broad spectrum of cancer. This new blood test is simple, low cost, requires only a few drops of blood sample, and the results are obtained within minutes. The test is well suited for screening purpose. More extensive studies are being conducted to further evaluate and validate the clinical potential of the new test.

Self-pulsing in a low-current hollow cathode discharge: From Townsend to glow discharge

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Qin, Yu; School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081; Xie, Kan, E-mail: xiekan@bit.edu.cn

We investigate the self-pulsing phenomenon of a low current cavity discharge in a cylindrical hollow cathode in pure argon. The waveforms of pulsed current and voltage are measured, and the time-averaged and time-resolved images of hollow cathode discharge are recorded by using high-speed intensified charge coupled device camera. The results show that the self-pulsing is a mode transition between low-current stage of Townsend discharge and high-current stage of glow discharge. During the self-pulsing, the current rising time relates to the dissipation of space charges, and the decay time relates to the reconstruction of the virtual anode by the accumulation ofmore » positive ions. Whether or not space charges can form and keep the virtual anode is responsible for the discharge mode and hence plays an important role in the self-pulsing phenomenon in low current hollow cathode discharge.« less

75 FR 35674 - Changes in Flood Elevation Determinations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-06-23

... Corona November 10, 2009; The Honorable Steve March 17, 2010 060250 1090). (09-09-0491P)........ November 17, 2009; Nolan, Mayor, City of The Press- Corona, 400 South Enterprise. Vincentia Avenue, Corona, CA...

The "sweet" side of the protein corona: effects of glycosylation on nanoparticle-cell interactions.

PubMed

Wan, Sha; Kelly, Philip M; Mahon, Eugene; Stöckmann, Henning; Rudd, Pauline M; Caruso, Frank; Dawson, Kenneth A; Yan, Yan; Monopoli, Marco P

2015-02-24

The significance of a protein corona on nanoparticles in modulating particle properties and their biological interactions has been widely acknowledged. The protein corona is derived from proteins in biological fluids, many of which are glycosylated. To date, the glycans on the proteins have been largely overlooked in studies of nanoparticle-cell interactions. In this study, we demonstrate that glycosylation of the protein corona plays an important role in maintaining the colloidal stability of nanoparticles and influences nanoparticle-cell interactions. The removal of glycans from the protein corona enhances cell membrane adhesion and cell uptake of nanoparticles in comparison with the fully glycosylated form, resulting in the generation of a pro-inflammatory milieu by macrophages. This study highlights that the post-translational modification of proteins can significantly impact nanoparticle-cell interactions by modulating the protein corona properties.

Protein Corona Composition Does Not Accurately Predict Hematocompatibility of Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Dobrovolskaia, Marina A.; Neun, Barry W.; Man, Sonny; Ye, Xiaoying; Hansen, Matthew; Patri, Anil K.; Crist, Rachael M.; McNeil, Scott E.

2014-01-01

Proteins bound to nanoparticle surfaces are known to affect particle clearance by influencing immune cell uptake and distribution to the organs of the mononuclear phagocytic system. The composition of the protein corona has been described for several types of nanomaterials, but the role of the corona in nanoparticle biocompatibility is not well established. In this study we investigate the role of nanoparticle surface properties (PEGylation) and incubation times on the protein coronas of colloidal gold nanoparticles. While neither incubation time nor PEG molecular weight affected the specific proteins in the protein corona, the total amount of protein binding was governed by the molecular weight of PEG coating. Furthermore, the composition of the protein corona did not correlate with nanoparticle hematocompatibility. Specialized hematological tests should be used to deduce nanoparticle hematotoxicity. PMID:24512761

Explosive Chromospheric Evaporation Driven by Nonthermal Electrons around One Footpoint of a Solar Flare Loop

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, D.; Ning, Z. J.; Huang, Y.

We explore the temporal relationship between microwave/hard X-ray (HXR) emission and Doppler velocity during the impulsive phase of a solar flare on 2014 October 27 (SOL2014-10-27) that displays a pulse on the light curves in the microwave (34 GHz) and HXR (25–50 keV) bands before the flare maximum. Imaging observation shows that this pulse mainly comes from one footpoint of a solar flare loop. The slit of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph ( IRIS ) stays at this footpoint during this solar flare. The Doppler velocities of Fe xxi 1354.09 Å and Si iv 1402.77 Å are extracted from themore » Gaussian fitting method. We find that the hot line of Fe xxi 1354.09 Å (log T ∼ 7.05) in the corona exhibits blueshift, while the cool line of Si iv 1402.77 Å (log T ∼ 4.8) in the transition region exhibits redshift, indicating explosive chromospheric evaporation. Evaporative upflows along the flare loop are also observed in the AIA 131 Å image. To our knowledge, this is the first report of chromospheric evaporation evidence from both spectral and imaging observations in the same flare. Both microwave and HXR pulses are well correlated with the Doppler velocities, suggesting that the chromospheric evaporation is driven by nonthermal electrons around this footpoint of a solar flare loop.« less