Radial dependence of self-organized criticality behavior in TCABR tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

dos Santos Lima, G. Z.; Iarosz, K. C.; Batista, A. M.; Guimarães-Filho, Z. O.; Caldas, I. L.; Kuznetsov, Y. K.; Nascimento, I. C.; Viana, R. L.; Lopes, S. R.

2011-03-01

In this work we present evidence of the self-organized criticality behavior of the plasma edge electrostatic turbulence in the tokamak TCABR. Analyzing fluctuation data measured by Langmuir probes, we verify the radial dependence of self-organized criticality behavior at the plasma edge and scrape-off layer. We identify evidence of this radial criticality in statistical properties of the laminar period distribution function, power spectral density, autocorrelation, and Hurst parameter for the analyzed fluctuations.

Turbulence and sheared flow structures behind the isotopic dependence of the L-H power threshold on DIII-D

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

Yan, Zheng; Gohil, Punit; McKee, George R.

Measurements of long wavelength (kmore » $$\\perp$$p i < 1) density fluctuation characteristics in the edge of both Deuterium (D) and Hydrogen (H) plasmas across the L-H transition on DIII-D demonstrate the existence of single or double bands of low-wavenumber turbulence observed near the edge of H and D plasmas. These are strongly correlated with the L to H-mode transition power threshold (P LH) and can help explain the isotopic and density dependence of P LH, and how the P LH difference is reduced at higher density. Understanding and accurately predicting the L-H power threshold is critical to accessing to H-mode, and operating and achieving high confinement in burning plasmas such as ITER. Above about n e ~ 4 × 10 19 m -3, P LH is seen to converge for H and D, and increases for both with higher density. Surprisingly, the P LH increases significantly at low density in H but not in D plasmas. Two distinct frequency bands of density fluctuations are observed in the D plasmas at low density, n e ~ 1.2-1.5 × 10 19 m -3, but not in H plasmas with similar density, which appears to be correlated to the much lower power threshold in D at low density. Consistently, E × B shear in the region of r/a ~ 0.95-1.0 is larger in D plasmas than in H plasmas at low density; as the P LH increases with increasing density, the dual mode structure disappears while E × B shear becomes similar and small for both D and H plasmas at higher density, n e ~ 5 × 10 19 m -3, where P LH is similar for both D and H plasmas. Lastly, the increased edge fluctuations, increased flow shear, and the dualband nature of edge turbulence correlating with lower P LH may account for the strong isotope and density dependencies of PLH and support current L-H transition theories but suggest a complex behavior that can inform a more complete model of the L-H transition threshold.« less

Turbulence and sheared flow structures behind the isotopic dependence of the L-H power threshold on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Yan, Zheng; Gohil, Punit; McKee, George R.; ...

2017-09-18

Measurements of long wavelength (kmore » $$\\perp$$p i < 1) density fluctuation characteristics in the edge of both Deuterium (D) and Hydrogen (H) plasmas across the L-H transition on DIII-D demonstrate the existence of single or double bands of low-wavenumber turbulence observed near the edge of H and D plasmas. These are strongly correlated with the L to H-mode transition power threshold (P LH) and can help explain the isotopic and density dependence of P LH, and how the P LH difference is reduced at higher density. Understanding and accurately predicting the L-H power threshold is critical to accessing to H-mode, and operating and achieving high confinement in burning plasmas such as ITER. Above about n e ~ 4 × 10 19 m -3, P LH is seen to converge for H and D, and increases for both with higher density. Surprisingly, the P LH increases significantly at low density in H but not in D plasmas. Two distinct frequency bands of density fluctuations are observed in the D plasmas at low density, n e ~ 1.2-1.5 × 10 19 m -3, but not in H plasmas with similar density, which appears to be correlated to the much lower power threshold in D at low density. Consistently, E × B shear in the region of r/a ~ 0.95-1.0 is larger in D plasmas than in H plasmas at low density; as the P LH increases with increasing density, the dual mode structure disappears while E × B shear becomes similar and small for both D and H plasmas at higher density, n e ~ 5 × 10 19 m -3, where P LH is similar for both D and H plasmas. Lastly, the increased edge fluctuations, increased flow shear, and the dualband nature of edge turbulence correlating with lower P LH may account for the strong isotope and density dependencies of PLH and support current L-H transition theories but suggest a complex behavior that can inform a more complete model of the L-H transition threshold.« less

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

Garnier, D. T.; Mauel, M. E.; Roberts, T. M.

Here, we report measurements of the turbulent evolution of the plasma density profile following the fast injection of lithium pellets into the Levitated Dipole Experiment (LDX) [Boxer et al., Nat. Phys. 6, 207 (2010)]. As the pellet passes through the plasma, it provides a significant internal particle source and allows investigation of density profile evolution, turbulent relaxation, and turbulent fluctuations. The total electron number within the dipole plasma torus increases by more than a factor of three, and the central density increases by more than a factor of five. During these large changes in density, the shape of the densitymore » profile is nearly “stationary” such that the gradient of the particle number within tubes of equal magnetic flux vanishes. In comparison to the usual case, when the particle source is neutral gas at the plasma edge, the internal source from the pellet causes the toroidal phase velocity of the fluctuations to reverse and changes the average particle flux at the plasma edge. An edge particle source creates an inward turbulent pinch, but an internal particle source increases the outward turbulent particle flux. Statistical properties of the turbulence are measured by multiple microwave interferometers and by an array of probes at the edge. The spatial structures of the largest amplitude modes have long radial and toroidal wavelengths. Estimates of the local and toroidally averaged turbulent particle flux show intermittency and a non-Gaussian probability distribution function. The measured fluctuations, both before and during pellet injection, have frequency and wave number dispersion consistent with theoretical expectations for interchange and entropy modes excited within a dipole plasma torus having warm electrons and cool ions.« less

Edge localized mode characteristics during edge localized mode mitigation by supersonic molecular beam injection in Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research

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

Lee, H. Y.; Hong, J. H.; Jang, J. H.

It has been reported that supersonic molecular beam injection (SMBI) is an effective means of edge localized mode (ELM) mitigation. This paper newly reports the changes in the ELM, plasma profiles, and fluctuation characteristics during ELM mitigation by SMBI in Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research. During the mitigated ELM phase, the ELM frequency increased by a factor of 2–3 and the ELM size, which was estimated from the D{sub α} amplitude, the fractional changes in the plasma-stored energy and the line-averaged electron density, and divertor heat flux during an ELM burst, decreased by a factor of 0.34–0.43. Reductions in themore » electron and ion temperatures rather than in the electron density were observed during the mitigated ELM phase. In the natural ELM phase, frequency chirping of the plasma fluctuations was observed before the ELM bursts; however, the ELM bursts occurred without changes in the plasma fluctuation frequency in the mitigated ELM phase.« less

Modifications to the edge current profile with auxiliary edge current drive and improved confinement in a reversed-field pinch

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

Chapman, B.E.; Biewer, T.M.; Chattopadhyay, P.K.

2000-09-01

Auxiliary edge current drive is routinely applied in the Madison Symmetric Torus [R.N. Dexter, D. W. Kerst, T.W. Lovell et.al., Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)] with the goal of modifying the parallel current profile to reduce current- driven magnetic fluctuations and the associated particle and energy transport. Provided by an inductive electric field, the current drive successfully reduces energy transport. First-time measurements of the modified edge current profile reveal that, relative to discharges without auxiliary current drive, the edge current density decreases. This decrease is explicable in terms of newly measured reductions in the dynamo (fluctuation-based) electric field and themore » electrical conductivity. Induced by the current drive, these two changes to the edge plasma play as much of a role in determining the resultant edge current profile as does the current drive itself.« less

Edge Plasma behavior during Improved Confinement by Lower Hybrid Wave Heating in HT-6M Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jian-gang; Bao, Yi; Luo, Jia-rong; Wan, Bao-nian; Liu, Yue-xiu; Gong, Xian-zu; Chen, Jun-ling; Liang, Yun-feng

2002-10-01

Lower hybrid heating (LHH) has been successfully carried out in the HT-6M tokamak. The H-mode has been obtained with a power threshold of 50 kW under a boronized wall condition. Both energy and particle confinements have been improved along with a dropped edge plasma density and an increase electron temperature during the LHH phase. A negative Er well plays a key role of triggering and sustaining the good confinement. Both electrostatic fluctuation of the plasma potential and the density fluctuations dropped to an ultra-low level. The observation of an enhanced Er shear before the reduction in turbulence level is consistent with an increased Er shear as the cause of turbulence suppression.

Characterization of edge turbulence in different states of divertor detachment using reflectometry in the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nikolaeva, V.; Guimarais, L.; Manz, P.; Carralero, D.; Manso, M. E.; Stroth, U.; Silva, C.; Conway, G. D.; Seliunin, E.; Vicente, J.; Brida, D.; Aguiam, D.; Santos, J.; Silva, A.; ASDEX Upgrade team; MST1 team

2018-05-01

Transport in the scrape-off layer (SOL) depends on the state of divertor detachment. L-mode discharges were analyzed where the state of divertor detachment is varied through a density ramp-up. By means of reflectometry measurements at the low (LFS) and the high field side (HFS), midplane density fluctuations are studied for the first time in ASDEX Upgrade simultaneously at both sides of the tokamak. Radial density fluctuation profiles (δ {n}e/{n}e) increase with radius in both the HFS and the LFS. It is found that in the SOL density fluctuations at the LFS have about a factor of two larger amplitude than at the HFS in agreement with ballooned transport. Density fluctuations at the LFS show a modest variation with increasing background density resulting mainly from a rise of low frequency components. Experimental results are in good agreement with an enhanced convection of filaments at the LFS at the beginning of outer divertor detachment leading to a flatter SOL density profile. In this phase of the discharge, density fluctuations measured at the HFS far-SOL display a strong increase, which may be associated with the presence of faster filaments originated at the LFS.

Propagation of radio frequency waves through density fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valvis, S. I.; Papagiannis, P.; Papadopoulos, A.; Hizanidis, K.; Glytsis, E.; Bairaktaris, F.; Zisis, A.; Tigelis, I.; Ram, A. K.

2017-10-01

On their way to the core of a tokamak plasma, radio frequency (RF) waves, excited in the vacuum region, have to propagate through a variety of density fluctuations in the edge region. These fluctuations include coherent structures, like blobs that can be field aligned or not, as well as turbulent and filamentary structures. We have been studying the effect of fluctuations on RF propagation using both theoretical (analytical) and computational models. The theoretical results are being compared with those obtained by two different numerical codes ``a Finite Difference Frequency Domain code and the commercial COMSOL package. For plasmas with arbitrary distribution of coherent and turbulent fluctuations, we have formulated an effective dielectric permittivity of the edge plasma. This permittivity tensor is then used in numerical simulations to study the effect of multi-scale turbulence on RF waves. We not only consider plane waves but also Gaussian beams in the electron cyclotron and lower hybrid range of frequencies. The analytical theory and results from simulations on the propagation of RF waves will be presented. Supported in part by the Hellenic National Programme on Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion associated with the EUROfusion Consortium and by DoE Grant DE-FG02-91ER-54109.

Turbulence and sheared flow structures behind the isotopic dependence of the L-H power threshold on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Z.; Gohil, P.; McKee, G. R.; Eldon, D.; Grierson, B.; Rhodes, T.; Petty, C. C.

2017-12-01

Measurements of long wavelength ({{k}\\bot }{{ρ }i}   <  1) density fluctuation characteristics in the edge of both Deuterium (D) and Hydrogen (H) plasmas across the L-H transition on DIII-D demonstrate the existence of single or double bands of low-wavenumber turbulence observed near the edge of H and D plasmas. These are strongly correlated with the L to H-mode transition power threshold (P LH) and can help explain the isotopic and density dependence of P LH, and how the P LH difference is reduced at higher density. Understanding and accurately predicting the L-H power threshold is critical to accessing to H-mode, and operating and achieving high confinement in burning plasmas such as ITER. Above about n e ~ 4  ×  1019 m-3, P LH is seen to converge for H and D, and increases for both with higher density. Surprisingly, the P LH increases significantly at low density in H but not in D plasmas. Two distinct frequency bands of density fluctuations are observed in the D plasmas at low density, n e ~ 1.2-1.5  ×  1019 m-3, but not in H plasmas with similar density, which appears to be correlated to the much lower power threshold in D at low density. Consistently, E  ×  B shear in the region of r/a ~ 0.95-1.0 is larger in D plasmas than in H plasmas at low density; as the P LH increases with increasing density, the dual mode structure disappears while E  ×  B shear becomes similar and small for both D and H plasmas at higher density, n e ~ 5  ×  1019 m-3, where P LH is similar for both D and H plasmas. The increased edge fluctuations, increased flow shear, and the dual-band nature of edge turbulence correlating with lower P LH may account for the strong isotope and density dependencies of P LH and support current L-H transition theories but suggest a complex behavior that can inform a more complete model of the L-H transition threshold.

Microwave beam broadening due to turbulent plasma density fluctuations within the limit of the Born approximation and beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Köhn, A.; Guidi, L.; Holzhauer, E.; Maj, O.; Poli, E.; Snicker, A.; Weber, H.

2018-07-01

Plasma turbulence, and edge density fluctuations in particular, can under certain conditions broaden the cross-section of injected microwave beams significantly. This can be a severe problem for applications relying on well-localized deposition of the microwave power, like the control of MHD instabilities. Here we investigate this broadening mechanism as a function of fluctuation level, background density and propagation length in a fusion-relevant scenario using two numerical codes, the full-wave code IPF-FDMC and the novel wave kinetic equation solver WKBeam. The latter treats the effects of fluctuations using a statistical approach, based on an iterative solution of the scattering problem (Born approximation). The full-wave simulations are used to benchmark this approach. The Born approximation is shown to be valid over a large parameter range, including ITER-relevant scenarios.

Correlations between quasi-coherent fluctuations and the pedestal evolution during the inter-edge localized modes phase on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Diallo, A.; Groebner, R. J.; Rhodes, T. L.; ...

2015-05-15

Direct measurements of the pedestal recovery during an edge-localized mode cycle provide evidence that quasi-coherent fluctuations (QCFs) play a role in the inter-ELM pedestal dynamics. When using fast Thomson scattering measurements, we found that the pedestal density and temperature evolutions are probed on sub-millisecond time scales to show a fast recovery of the density gradient compared to the temperature gradient. The temperature gradient appears to provide a drive for the onset of quasi-coherent fluctuations (as measured with the magnetic probe and the density diagnostics) localized in the pedestal. The amplitude evolution of these QCFs tracks the temperature gradient evolution includingmore » its saturation. Such correlation suggests that these QCFs play a key role in limiting the pedestal temperature gradient. Moreover, the saturation of the QCFs coincides with the pressure gradient reaching the kinetic-ballooning mode (KBM) critical gradient as predicted by EPED1. Furthermore, linear microinstability analysis using GS2 indicates that the steep gradient is near the KBM threshold. Finally, the modeling and the observations together suggest that QCFs are consistent with dominant KBMs, although microtearing cannot be excluded as subdominant.« less

Turbulence and transport in high density, increased β LAPD plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Giovanni; Carter, Troy; Guice, Danny

2014-10-01

A new LaB6 cathode plasma source has recently been deployed on the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), allowing for the production of significantly higher plasma density (ne ~ 3 ×1013 cm-3) and temperature (Te ~ 12 eV and Ti ~ 6 eV). This source produces a smaller core plasma (~20cm diameter) that can be embedded in the lower temperature, lower density standard LAPD plasma (60 cm diameter, 1012 cm-3, Te ~ 5 eV, Ti ~ 1 eV). We will present first results from experiments exploring the nature of turbulence and transport produced by this high density core plasma. In contrast to the edge of the standard LAPD plasma, coherent fluctuations are observed in the edge of the high density core plasma. These coherent modes are dominant at low field (~400 G) with a transition to a more broadband spectrum at higher fields (~1 kG). The combination of increased density and temperature with lowered field in LAPD leads to significant increases in plasma β (in fact β ~ 1 can be achieved for B ~ 100 G). As the field is lowered, the strength of correlated magnetic fluctuations increases substantially.

Plasma turbulence and coherent structures in the polar cap observed by the ICI-2 sounding rocket

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spicher, A.; Miloch, W. J.; Clausen, L. B. N.; Moen, J. I.

2015-12-01

The electron density data from the ICI-2 sounding rocket experiment in the high-latitude F region ionosphere are analyzed using the higher-order spectra and higher-order statistics. Two regions of enhanced fluctuations are chosen for detailed analysis: the trailing edge of a polar cap patch and an electron density enhancement associated with particle precipitation. While these two regions exhibit similar power spectra, our analysis reveals that their internal structures are significantly different. The structures on the edge of the polar cap patch are likely due to nonlinear wave interactions since this region is characterized by intermittency and significant coherent mode coupling. The plasma enhancement subjected to precipitation, however, exhibits stronger random characteristics with uncorrelated phases of density fluctuations. These results suggest that particle precipitation plays a fundamental role in ionospheric plasma structuring creating turbulent-like structures. We discuss the physical mechanisms that cause plasma structuring as well as the possible processes for the low-frequency part of the spectrum in terms of plasma instabilities.

A molecular Rayleigh scattering setup to measure density fluctuations in thermal boundary layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Panda, J.

2016-12-01

A Rayleigh scattering-based density fluctuation measurement system was set up inside a low-speed wind tunnel of NASA Ames Research Center. The immediate goal was to study the thermal boundary layer on a heated flat plate. A large number of obstacles had to be overcome to set up the system, such as the removal of dust particles using air filters, the use of photoelectron counting electronics to measure low intensity light, an optical layout to minimize stray light contamination, the reduction in tunnel vibration, and an expanded calibration process to relate photoelectron arrival rate to air density close to the plate surface. To measure spectra of turbulent density fluctuations, a two-PMT cross-correlation system was used to minimize the shot noise floor. To validate the Rayleigh measurements, temperature fluctuations spectra were calculated from density spectra and then compared with temperature spectra measured with a cold-wire probe operated in constant current mode. The spectra from the downstream half of the plate were found to be in good agreement with cold-wire probe, whereas spectra from the leading edge differed. Various lessons learnt are discussed. It is believed that the present effort is the first measurement of density fluctuations spectra in a boundary layer flow.

Observation of quasi-coherent edge fluctuations in Ohmic plasmas on National Spherical Torus Experiment

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

Banerjee, Santanu; Diallo, A.; Zweben, S. J.

A quasi-coherent edge density mode with frequency f{sub mode} ∼ 40 kHz is observed in Ohmic plasmas in National Spherical Torus Experiment using the gas puff imaging diagnostic. This mode is located predominantly just inside the separatrix, with a maximum fluctuation amplitude significantly higher than that of the broadband turbulence in the same frequency range. The quasi-coherent mode has a poloidal wavelength λ{sub pol} ∼ 16 cm and a poloidal phase velocity of V{sub pol} ∼ 4.9 ± 0.3 km s{sup −1} in the electron diamagnetic direction, which are similar to the characteristics expected from a linear drift-wave-like mode in the edge. This is the first observation of amore » quasi-coherent edge mode in an Ohmic diverted tokamak, and so may be useful for validating tokamak edge turbulence codes.« less

Biasing experiments on the Advanced Toroidal Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uckan, T.; Isler, R. C.; Jernigan, T. C.; Lyon, J. F.; Mioduszewski, P. K.; Murakami, M.; Rasmussen, D. A.; Wilgen, J. B.; Aceto, S. C.; Zielinski, J. J.

1992-09-01

Biasing experiments have been carried out in 1 T plasmas with approximately 200 kW of electron cyclotron heating (ECH) in the current-fire Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) torsatron. Two rail limiters, one at the top and one at the bottom of the device, located at the last closed flux surface (LCFS), are, biased at positive and negative potentials with respect to the vacuum vessel. When the limiters are positively biased at up to 300 V and the plasma density is controlled with a significantly reduced gas feed, the H(sub alpha) radiation from both the limiter and the wall drops, indicating reduced particle recycling as a result of improved particle confinement. For bias voltages around +100 V, there is almost no change of plasma stored energy W(sub p), but W(sub p) then drops with the higher biasing voltages. Positive biasing has caused the core plasma density profile to become peaked and the electric field to become more negative inside the LCFS. At the same time, edge plasma fluctuations are reduced significantly and their power spectrum becomes less broad. The propagation direction of these electrostatic fluctuations reverses to the ion diamagnetic direction, and their wavelengths become longer. The resulting fluctuation-induced particle flux is also reduced. Power deposition on the limiters is lower as a result of reduced edge plasma density and temperature. Negative biasing yields somewhat less improvement in the particle confinement while having almost no apparent effect on W(sub p) or on the core and the edge plasma density and temperature profiles. Simultaneous measurements of the plasma potential profile indicate almost no significant change. Biasing has almost no effect on the intrinsic impurity levels in the plasma.

Characterization of broadband fluctuations in wide-pedestal QH-mode plasmas on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muscatello, C. M.; Burrell, K. H.; Luhmann, N. C., Jr.; McKee, G. R.; Tobias, B.

2016-10-01

Edge broadband fluctuations observed in wide pedestal quiescent H-mode plasmas may play an important role in driving transport necessary for stabilizing the edge to kink-peeling modes, thought to lead to ELMs. Density fluctuation measurements from BES and MIR independently observe periodic bursts in the pedestal that show up spectrally as broadband fluctuations. The period of the fluctuation bursts correlate with the period of enhanced bicoherence in the frequency range of the fluctuations, suggesting nonlinear coupling of turbulence. Time-delay estimation analysis of the 2D BES data shows strong evidence of a low-frequency zonal flow in the pedestal with a period matching that of the bursts. The carbon pressure gradient and E × B velocity, determined from CER, and ECE emission also oscillate with the same period. This behavior can be described as a quasi-stationary, limit-cycle oscillation and modeled by a set of predator-prey equations relating the zonal flow, equilibrium flow, and turbulence amplitude. Supported by the US DOE under DE-FC02-04ER54698, DE-FG02-99ER54531, DE-AC02-09CH11466.

LETTER: Biased limiter experiments on the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) torsatron

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uckan, T.; Isler, R. C.; Jernigan, T. C.; Lyon, J. F.; Mioduszewski, P. K.; Murakami, M.; Rasmussen, D. A.; Wilgen, J. B.; Aceto, S. C.; Zielinski, J. J.

1994-02-01

The Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF) torsatron incorporates two rail limiters that can be positioned by external controls. The influence on the plasma parameters of biasing these limiters both positively and negatively with respect to the walls has been investigated. Experiments have been carried out in the electron cyclotron heated plasmas at 200 kW with a typical density of 5 × 1012 cm-3 and a central electron temperature of ~900 eV. Negative biasing produces only small changes in the plasma parameters, but positive biasing increases the particle confinement by about a factor of 5, although the plasma stored energy does fall at the higher voltages. In addition, positive biasing produces the following effects compared with floating limiter discharges: the core density profiles become peaked rather than hollow, the electric field at the edge becomes more negative (pointing radially inward), the magnitudes of the edge fluctuations and the fluctuation induced transport are reduced, the fluctuation wavelengths become longer and their propagation direction reverses from the electron to the ion diamagnetic direction. Neither polarity of biasing appears to affect the impurity content or transport

Extended MHD modeling of tearing-driven magnetic relaxation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sauppe, J. P.; Sovinec, C. R.

2017-05-01

Discrete relaxation events in reversed-field pinch relevant configurations are investigated numerically with nonlinear extended magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modeling, including the Hall term in Ohm's law and first-order ion finite Larmor radius effects. Results show variability among relaxation events, where the Hall dynamo effect may help or impede the MHD dynamo effect in relaxing the parallel current density profile. The competitive behavior arises from multi-helicity conditions where the dominant magnetic fluctuation is relatively small. The resulting changes in parallel current density and parallel flow are aligned in the core, consistent with experimental observations. The analysis of simulation results also confirms that the force density from fluctuation-induced Reynolds stress arises subsequent to the drive from the fluctuation-induced Lorentz force density. Transport of the momentum density is found to be dominated by the fluctuation-induced Maxwell stress over most of the cross section with viscous and gyroviscous contributions being large in the edge region. The findings resolve a discrepancy with respect to the relative orientation of current density and flow relaxation, which had not been realized or investigated in King et al. [Phys. Plasmas 19, 055905 (2012)], where only the magnitude of flow relaxation is actually consistent with experimental results.

Preliminary measurements of the edge magnetic field pitch from 2-D Doppler backscattering in MAST and NSTX-U (invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vann, R. G. L.; Brunner, K. J.; Ellis, R.; Taylor, G.; Thomas, D. A.

2016-11-01

The Synthetic Aperture Microwave Imaging (SAMI) system is a novel diagnostic consisting of an array of 8 independently phased antennas. At any one time, SAMI operates at one of the 16 frequencies in the range 10-34.5 GHz. The imaging beam is steered in software post-shot to create a picture of the entire emission surface. In SAMI's active probing mode of operation, the plasma edge is illuminated with a monochromatic source and SAMI reconstructs an image of the Doppler back-scattered (DBS) signal. By assuming that density fluctuations are extended along magnetic field lines, and knowing that the strongest back-scattered signals are directed perpendicular to the density fluctuations, SAMI's 2-D DBS imaging capability can be used to measure the pitch of the edge magnetic field. In this paper, we present preliminary pitch angle measurements obtained by SAMI on the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and on the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The results demonstrate encouraging agreement between SAMI and other independent measurements.

Preliminary measurements of the edge magnetic field pitch from 2-D Doppler backscattering in MAST and NSTX-U (invited).

PubMed

Vann, R G L; Brunner, K J; Ellis, R; Taylor, G; Thomas, D A

2016-11-01

The Synthetic Aperture Microwave Imaging (SAMI) system is a novel diagnostic consisting of an array of 8 independently phased antennas. At any one time, SAMI operates at one of the 16 frequencies in the range 10-34.5 GHz. The imaging beam is steered in software post-shot to create a picture of the entire emission surface. In SAMI's active probing mode of operation, the plasma edge is illuminated with a monochromatic source and SAMI reconstructs an image of the Doppler back-scattered (DBS) signal. By assuming that density fluctuations are extended along magnetic field lines, and knowing that the strongest back-scattered signals are directed perpendicular to the density fluctuations, SAMI's 2-D DBS imaging capability can be used to measure the pitch of the edge magnetic field. In this paper, we present preliminary pitch angle measurements obtained by SAMI on the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and on the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The results demonstrate encouraging agreement between SAMI and other independent measurements.

Adiabatic electron thermal pressure fluctuations in tokamak plasmas.

PubMed

Meier, M A; Bengtson, R D; Hallock, G A; Wootton, A J

2001-08-20

Electron thermal pressure fluctuations measured in the edge plasma of the Texas Experimental Tokamak Upgrade are a fundamental component of plasma turbulence on both sides of the velocity shear layer. The ratio of specific heats, estimated from fluctuations in electron temperature and electron number density measured simultaneously at the same electrode, indicates that observed fluctuations are adiabatic. The observations are made by means of a novel Langmuir probe technique, the time domain triple-probe method, which concurrently measures multiple plasma properties at each of two electrodes with the temporal and the spatial resolution required to estimate thermodynamic properties in a turbulent plasma.

Interplay of Anderson localization and quench dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahmani, Armin; Vishveshwara, Smitha

2018-06-01

In the context of an isolated three-dimensional noninteracting fermionic lattice system, we study the effects of a sudden quantum quench between a disorder-free situation and one in which disorder results in a mobility edge and associated Anderson localization. Salient post-quench features hinge upon the overlap between momentum states and post-quench eigenstates and whether these latter states are extended or localized. We find that the post-quench momentum distribution directly reflects these overlaps. For the local density, we show that disorder generically prevents the equilibration of quantum expectation values to a steady state and that the persistent fluctuations have a nonmonotonic dependence on the strength of disorder. We identify two distinct types of fluctuations, namely, temporal fluctuations describing the time-dependent fluctuations of the local density around its time average and sample-to-sample fluctuations characterizing the variations of these time averages from one realization of disorder to another. We demonstrate that both of these fluctuations vanish for extremely extended as well as extremely localized states, peaking at some intermediate value.

Nonadiabatic electron response in the Hasegawa-Wakatani equations

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

Stoltzfus-Dueck, T.; Scott, B. D.; Krommes, J. A.

2013-08-15

Tokamak edge turbulence is strongly influenced by parallel electron physics, which relaxes density and potential fluctuations towards electron adiabatic response. Beginning with the paradigmatic Hasegawa-Wakatani equations (HWEs) for resistive tokamak edge turbulence, a unique decomposition of the electric potential (φ) into adiabatic (a) and nonadiabatic (b) portions is derived, based on the requirement that a neither drive nor respond to the parallel current j{sub ∥}. The form of the decomposition clarifies that, at perpendicular scales large relative to the sound radius, the electron adiabatic response controls the nonzonal φ, not the fluctuating density n. Simple energy balance arguments allow onemore » to rigorously bound the ratio of rms nonzonal nonadiabatic fluctuations (b(tilde sign)) relative to adiabatic ones (ã). The role of the vorticity nonlinearity in transferring energy between adiabatic and nonadiabatic fluctuations aids intuitive understanding of self-sustained turbulence in the HWEs. When the normalized parallel resistivity is weak, b(tilde sign) becomes effectively slaved, allowing the reduction to an approximate one-field model that remains valid for strong turbulence. In addition to guiding physical intuition, the one-field reduction should greatly ease further analytical manipulations. Direct numerical simulation of the 2D HWEs confirms the convergence of the asymptotic formula for b(tilde sign)« less

Observation of the electron density fluctuations by using the O-mode Microwave Imaging Reflectometry in LHD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagayama, Yoshio; Yamaguchi, Soichiro; Tsuchiya, Hayato; Kuwahara, Daisuke; LHD Experimental Team

2016-10-01

Visualization of local electron density fluctuations will be very useful to study the physics of confinement and instabilities in fusion plasma. In the Large Helical Device (LHD), the O-mode microwave imaging reflectometry (O-MIR) has been intensively developed in order to visualize the electron density fluctuations. The frequency is 26 - 34 GHz. This corresponds to the electron density of 0.8 - 1.5 × 1019 m-3. The plasma is illuminated by the Gaussian beam with four frequencies. The imaging optics make a plasma image onto the newly developed 2D (8 × 8) Horn-antenna Millimeter-wave Imaging Device (HMID). In HMID, the signal wave that is accumulated by the horn antenna is transduced to the micro-strip line by using the finline transducer. The signal wave is mixed by the double balanced mixer with the local wave that is delivered by cables. By using O-MIR, electron density fluctuations are measured at the H-mode edge and the ITB layer in LHD. This work is supported by NIFS/NINS under the project of Formation of International Scientific Base and Network, by the NIFS LHD project, by KAKENHI, and by IMS.

Optimization studies of the ITER low field side reflectometer.

PubMed

Diem, S J; Wilgen, J B; Bigelow, T S; Hanson, G R; Harvey, R W; Smirnov, A P

2010-10-01

Microwave reflectometry will be used on ITER to measure the electron density profile, density fluctuations due to MHD/turbulence, edge localized mode (ELM) density transients, and as an L-H transition monitor. The ITER low field side reflectometer system will measure both core and edge quantities using multiple antenna arrays spanning frequency ranges of 15-155 GHz for the O-mode system and 55-220 GHz for the X-mode system. Optimization studies using the GENRAY ray-tracing code have been done for edge and core measurements. The reflectometer launchers will utilize the HE11 mode launched from circular corrugated waveguide. The launched beams are assumed to be Gaussian with a beam waist diameter of 0.643 times the waveguide diameter. Optimum launcher size and placement are investigated by computing the antenna coupling between launchers, assuming the launched and received beams have a Gaussian beam pattern.

Observations of toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmodes in a reversed field pinch plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Regnoli, G.; Bergsâker, H.; Tennfors, E.; Zonca, F.; Martines, E.; Serianni, G.; Spolaore, M.; Vianello, N.; Cecconello, M.; Antoni, V.; Cavazzana, R.; Malmberg, J.-A.

2005-04-01

High frequency peaks in the spectra of magnetic field signals have been detected at the edge of Extrap-T2R [P. R. Brunsell, H. Bergsåker, M. Cecconello, J. R. Drake, R. M. Gravestijn, A. Hedqvist, and J.-A. Malmberg, Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion, 43, 1457 (2001)]. The measured fluctuation is found to be mainly polarized along the toroidal direction, with high toroidal periodicity n and Alfvénic scaling (f∝B/√mini ). Calculations for a reversed field pinch plasma predict the existence of an edge resonant, high frequency, high-n number toroidicity-induced Alfvén eigenmode with the observed frequency scaling. In addition, gas puffing experiments show that edge density fluctuations are responsible for the rapid changes of mode frequency. Finally a coupling with the electron drift turbulence is proposed as drive mechanism for the eigenmode.

Plasma Turbulence Imaging via Beam Emission Spectroscopy in the Core of the DIII-D Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKee, George R.; Fonck, Raymond J.; Gupta, Deepak K.; Schlossberg, David J.; Shafer, Morgan W.; Boivin, Réjean L.; Solomon, Wayne

Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES), a high-sensitivity, good spatial resolution imaging diagnostic system, has been deployed and recently upgraded and expanded at the DIII-D tokamak to better understand density fluctuations arising from plasma turbulence. The currently deployed system images density fluctuations over an approximately 5 × 7 cm region at the plasma mid-plane (radially scannable over 0.2 < r/a ≤ 1) with a 5 × 6 (radial × poloidal) grid of rectangular detection channels, with one microsecond time resolution. BES observes collisionally-induced, Doppler-shifted Dα fluorescence (λ = 652-655 nm) of injected deuterium neutral beam atoms. The diagnostic wavenumber sensitivity is approximately k⊥ < 2.5 cm-1, allowing measurement of longwavelength (k⊥ρI < 1) density fluctuations. The recent upgrade includes expanded fiber optics bundles, customdesigned high-transmission, sharp-edge interference filters, ultra fast collection optics, and enlarged photodiode detectors that together provide nearly an order of magnitude increase in sensitivity relative to an earlier generation BES system. The high sensitivity allows visualization of turbulence at normalized density fluctuation amplitudes of ‾n/n < 1%, typical of fluctuation levels in the core region. The imaging array allows for sampling over 2-3 turbulent eddy scale lengths, which captures the essential dynamics of eddy evolution, interaction and shearing.

Characterisation of edge turbulence in relation to edge magnetic field configuration in L-mode plasmas in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewhurst, J.; Hnat, B.; Dudson, B.; Dendy, R. O.; Counsell, G. F.; Kirk, A.

2007-12-01

Almost all astrophysical and magnetically confined fusion plasmas are turbulent. Here, we examine ion saturation current (Isat) measurements of edge plasma turbulence for three MAST L-mode plasmas that differ primarily in their edge magnetic field configurations. First, absolute moments of the coarse grained data are examined to obtain accurate values of scaling exponents. The dual scaling behaviour is identified in all samples, with the temporal scale τ ≍ 40-60 μs separating the two regimes. Strong universality is then identified in the functional form of the probability density function (PDF) for Isat fluctuations, which is well approximated by the Fréchet distribution on temporal scales τ ≤ 40μs. For temporal scales τ > 40μs, the PDFs appear to converge to the Gumbel distribution, which has been previously identified as a universal feature of many other complex phenomena. The optimal fitting parameters k=1.15 for Fréchet and a=1.35 for Gumbel provide a simple quantitative characterisation of the full spectrum of fluctuations. We conclude that, to good approximation, the properties of the edge turbulence are independent of the edge magnetic field configuration.

Characterization of edge turbulence in relation to edge magnetic field configuration in Ohmic L-mode plasmas in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hnat, B.; Dudson, B. D.; Dendy, R. O.; Counsell, G. F.; Kirk, A.; MAST Team

2008-08-01

Ion saturation current (Isat) measurements of edge plasma turbulence are analysed for six MAST L-mode plasmas that differ primarily in their edge magnetic field configurations. The analysis techniques are designed to capture the strong nonlinearities of the datasets. First, absolute moments of the data are examined to obtain accurate values of scaling exponents. This confirms dual scaling behaviour in all samples, with the temporal scale τ ≈ 40-60 µs separating the two regimes. Strong universality is then identified in the functional form of the probability density function (PDF) for Isat fluctuations, which is well approximated by the Fréchet distribution on temporal scales τ <= 40 µs. For temporal scales τ > 40 µs, the PDFs appear to converge to the Gumbel distribution, which has been previously identified as a universal feature of many other complex phenomena. The optimal fitting parameters k = 1.15 for Fréchet and a = 1.35 for Gumbel provide a simple quantitative characterization of the full spectrum of fluctuations. It is concluded that, to good approximation, the properties of the edge turbulence are independent of the edge magnetic field configuration.

Preliminary measurements of the edge magnetic field pitch from 2-D Doppler backscattering in MAST and NSTX-U (invited)

DOE PAGES

Vann, R. G. L.; Brunner, K. J.; Ellis, R.; ...

2016-09-13

The Synthetic Aperture Microwave Imaging (SAMI) system is a novel diagnostic consisting of an array of 8 independently phased antennas. At any one time, SAMI operates at one of the 16 frequencies in the range 10-34.5 GHz. The imaging beam is steered in software post-shot to create a picture of the entire emission surface. In SAMI’s active probing mode of operation, the plasma edge is illuminated with a monochromatic source and SAMI reconstructs an image of the Doppler back-scattered (DBS) signal. By assuming that density fluctuations are extended along magnetic field lines, and knowing that the strongest back-scattered signals aremore » directed perpendicular to the density fluctuations, SAMI’s 2-D DBS imaging capability can be used to measure the pitch of the edge magnetic field. In this paper, we present preliminary pitch angle measurements obtained by SAMI on the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy and on the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Lastly, the results demonstrate encouraging agreement between SAMI and other independent measurements.« less

Development of 3D microwave imaging reflectometry in LHD (invited).

PubMed

Nagayama, Y; Kuwahara, D; Yoshinaga, T; Hamada, Y; Kogi, Y; Mase, A; Tsuchiya, H; Tsuji-Iio, S; Yamaguchi, S

2012-10-01

Three-dimensional (3D) microwave imaging reflectometry has been developed in the large helical device to visualize fluctuating reflection surface which is caused by the density fluctuations. The plasma is illuminated by the probe wave with four frequencies, which correspond to four radial positions. The imaging optics makes the image of cut-off surface onto the 2D (7 × 7 channels) horn antenna mixer arrays. Multi-channel receivers have been also developed using micro-strip-line technology to handle many channels at reasonable cost. This system is first applied to observe the edge harmonic oscillation (EHO), which is an MHD mode with many harmonics that appears in the edge plasma. A narrow structure along field lines is observed during EHO.

Development of 3D microwave imaging reflectometry in LHD (invited)a)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagayama, Y.; Kuwahara, D.; Yoshinaga, T.; Hamada, Y.; Kogi, Y.; Mase, A.; Tsuchiya, H.; Tsuji-Iio, S.; Yamaguchi, S.

2012-10-01

Three-dimensional (3D) microwave imaging reflectometry has been developed in the large helical device to visualize fluctuating reflection surface which is caused by the density fluctuations. The plasma is illuminated by the probe wave with four frequencies, which correspond to four radial positions. The imaging optics makes the image of cut-off surface onto the 2D (7 × 7 channels) horn antenna mixer arrays. Multi-channel receivers have been also developed using micro-strip-line technology to handle many channels at reasonable cost. This system is first applied to observe the edge harmonic oscillation (EHO), which is an MHD mode with many harmonics that appears in the edge plasma. A narrow structure along field lines is observed during EHO.

Entanglement and magnetism in high-spin graphene nanodisks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagymási, I.; Legeza, Ö.

2018-01-01

We investigate the ground-state properties of triangular graphene nanoflakes with zigzag edge configurations. The description of zero-dimensional nanostructures requires accurate many-body techniques since the widely used density-functional theory with local density approximation or Hartree-Fock methods cannot handle the strong quantum fluctuations. Applying the unbiased density-matrix renormalization group algorithm we calculate the magnetization and entanglement patterns with high accuracy for different interaction strengths and compare them to the mean-field results. With the help of quantum information analysis and subsystem density matrices we reveal that the edges are strongly entangled with each other. We also address the effect of electron and hole doping and demonstrate that the magnetic properties of triangular nanoflakes can be controlled by an electric field, which reveals features of flat-band ferromagnetism. This may open up new avenues in graphene based spintronics.

Modification of turbulence and turbulent transport associated with a confinement transition in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, Troy

2009-11-01

Azimuthal flow is driven in the edge of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) through biasing a section of the vacuum vessel relative to the plasma source cathode. As the applied bias exceeds a threshold, a transition in radial particle confinement is observed, evidenced by a dramatic steepening in the density profile, similar to the L- to H-mode transition in toroidal confinement devices. The threshold behavior and dynamic behavior of radial transport is related to flow penetration and the degree of spatial overlap between the flow shear and density gradient profiles. An investigation of the changes in turbulence and turbulent particle transport associated with the confinement transition is presented. Two-dimensional cross-correlation measurements show that the spatial coherence of edge turbulence in LAPD changes significantly with biasing. The azimuthal correlation in the turbulence increases dramatically, while the radial correlation length is little altered. Turbulent amplitude is reduced at the transition, particularly in electric field fluctuations, but the dominant change observed is in the cross-phase between density and electric field fluctuations. The changes in cross-phase lead to a suppression and then apparent reversal of turbulent particle flux as the threshold is exceeded.

Control of edge localized modes by pedestal deposited impurity in the HL-2A tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y. P.; Mazon, D.; Zou, X. L.; Zhong, W. L.; Gao, J. M.; Zhang, K.; Sun, P.; Dong, C. F.; Cui, Z. Y.; Liu, Yi; Shi, Z. B.; Yu, D. L.; Cheng, J.; Jiang, M.; Xu, J. Q.; Isobe, M.; Xiao, G. L.; Chen, W.; Song, S. D.; Bai, X. Y.; Zhang, P. F.; Yuan, G. L.; Ji, X. Q.; Li, Y. G.; Zhou, Y.; Delpech, L.; Ekedahl, A.; Giruzzi, G.; Hoang, T.; Peysson, Y.; Song, X. M.; Song, X. Y.; Li, X.; Ding, X. T.; Dong, J. Q.; Yang, Q. W.; Xu, M.; Duan, X. R.; Liu, Y.; the HL-2A Team

2018-04-01

Effect of the pedestal deposited impurity on the edge-localized mode (ELM) behaviour has been observed and intensively investigated in the HL-2A tokamak. Impurities have been externally seeded by a newly developed laser blow-off (LBO) system. Both mitigation and suppression of ELMs have been realized by LBO-seeded impurity. Measurements have shown that the LBO-seeded impurity particles are mainly deposited in the pedestal region. During the ELM mitigation phase, the pedestal density fluctuation is significantly increased, indicating that the ELM mitigation may be achieved by the enhancement of the pedestal transport. The transition from ELM mitigation to ELM suppression was triggered when the number of the LBO-seeded impurity exceeds a threshold value. During the ELM suppression phase, a harmonic coherent mode (HCM) is excited by the LBO-seeded impurity, and the pedestal density fluctuation is significantly decreased, the electron density is continuously increased, implying that HCM may reduce the pedestal turbulence, suppress ELMs, increase the pedestal pressure, thus extending the Peeling-Ballooning instability limit. It has been found that the occurance of the ELM mitigation and ELM suppression closely depends on the LBO laser spot diameter.

Evidence for Chaotic Edge Turbulence in the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ziyan; White, Anne; Carter, Troy; Terry, Jim; Baek, Seung Gyou

2016-10-01

Turbulence greatly reduces the confinement time of magnetic-confined plasmas; understanding the nature of this turbulence and the associated transport is therefore of great importance. This research seeks to establish whether turbulent fluctuations in Alcator C-Mod are chaotic or stochastic. This has an important impact on transport caused by turbulence in C-Mod: stochastic fluctuations sample all of phase space and can lead to diffusive transport, whereas chaotic fluctuations live in a restricted phase space (e.g. on attractors) and a diffusive description may not be valid. By analyzing the time series from an O-Mode reflectometer, turbulent edge density fluctuations in Ohmic plasmas and L-mode plasmas in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak are shown to be chaotic. Supporting evidence for chaos in the edge region includes: the observation of an exponential power spectra (which is associated with Lorentzian-shaped pulses in the time series) and the location of the signal in the Complexity-Entropy plane (C-H plane) and its corresponding Brandt-Pompe (BP) probability distribution. These analysis techniques will be briefly introduced along with a discussion of the analysis results. Different diagnostic techniques, such as Gas Puff Imaging (GPI), could be used to confirm the results. Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science under Agreement DE-FC02-99ER54512 and DE-FC02-07ER54918:011.

Modifications to intermittent turbulent structures by sheared flow in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Giovanni; Schaffner, David; Carter, Troy; Guice, Danny; Bengtson, Roger

2012-10-01

Turbulence in the edge of the Large Plasma Device is generally observed to be intermittent with the production of filamentary structures. Density-enhancement events (called ``blobs'') are localized to the region radially outside the edge of the cathode source while density-depletion events (called ``holes'') are localized to the region radially inward. A flow-shear layer is also observed to be localized to this same spatial region. Control over the edge flow and shear in LAPD is now possible using a biasable limiter. Edge intermittency is observed to be strongly affected by variations in the edge flow, with intermittency (as measured by skewness of the fluctuation amplitude PDF) increasing with edge flow (in either direction) and reaching a minimum when spontaneous edge flow is zeroed-out using biasing. This trend is counter to the observed changes in turbulent particle flux, which peaks at low flow/shear. Two-dimensional cross-conditional averaging confirms the blobs to be detached filamentary structures with a clear dipolar potential structure and a geometry also dependent on the magnitude of sheared flow. More detailed measurements are made to connect the occurrence of these blobs to observed flow-driven coherent modes and their contribution to radial particle flux.

Pedestal and edge electrostatic turbulence characteristics from an XGC1 gyrokinetic simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Churchill, R. M.; Chang, C. S.; Ku, S.; Dominski, J.

2017-10-01

Understanding the multi-scale neoclassical and turbulence physics in the edge region (pedestal + scrape-off layer (SOL)) is required in order to reliably predict performance in future fusion devices. We explore turbulent characteristics in the edge region from a multi-scale neoclassical and turbulent XGC1 gyrokinetic simulation in a DIII-D like tokamak geometry, here excluding neutrals and collisions. For an H-mode type plasma with steep pedestal, it is found that the electron density fluctuations increase towards the separatrix, and stay high well into the SOL, reaching a maximum value of δ {n}e/{\\bar{n}}e˜ 0.18. Blobs are observed, born around the magnetic separatrix surface and propagate radially outward with velocities generally less than 1 km s-1. Strong poloidal motion of the blobs is also present, near 20 km s-1, consistent with E × B rotation. The electron density fluctuations show a negative skewness in the closed field-line pedestal region, consistent with the presence of ‘holes’, followed by a transition to strong positive skewness across the separatrix and into the SOL. These simulations indicate that not only neoclassical phenomena, but also turbulence, including the blob-generation mechanism, can remain important in the steep H-mode pedestal and SOL. Qualitative comparisons will be made to experimental observations.

Nonlinear reconnecting edge localized modes in current-carrying plasmas

DOE PAGES

Ebrahimi, F.

2017-05-22

Nonlinear edge localized modes in a tokamak are examined using global three-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamics simulations. Coherent current-carrying filament (ribbon-like) structures wrapped around the torus are nonlinearly formed due to nonaxisymmetric reconnecting current sheet instabilities, the so-called peeling-like edge localized modes. These fast growing modes saturate by breaking axisymmetric current layers isolated near the plasma edge and go through repetitive relaxation cycles by expelling current radially outward and relaxing it back. The local bidirectional fluctuation-induced electromotive force (emf) from the edge localized modes, the dynamo action, relaxes the axisymmetric current density and forms current holes near the edge. Furthermore, the three-dimensionalmore » coherent current-carrying filament structures (sometimes referred to as 3-D plasmoids) observed here should also have strong implications for solar and astrophysical reconnection.« less

Density-Gradient-Driven trapped-electron-modes in improved-confinement RFP plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duff, James

2016-10-01

Short wavelength density fluctuations in improved-confinement MST plasmas exhibit multiple features characteristic of the trapped-electron-mode (TEM), strong evidence that drift wave turbulence emerges in RFP plasmas when transport associated with MHD tearing is reduced. Core transport in the RFP is normally governed by magnetic stochasticity stemming from long wavelength tearing modes that arise from current profile peaking. Using inductive control, the tearing modes are reduced and global confinement is increased to values expected for a comparable tokamak plasma. The improved confinement is associated with a large increase in the pressure gradient that can destabilize drift waves. The measured density fluctuations have frequencies >50 kHz, wavenumbers k_phi*rho_s<0.14, and propagate in the electron drift direction. Their spectral emergence coincides with a sharp decrease in fluctuations associated with global tearing modes. Their amplitude increases with the local density gradient, and they exhibit a density-gradient threshold at R/L_n 15, higher than in tokamak plasmas by R/a. the GENE code, modified for RFP equilibria, predicts the onset of microinstability for these strong-gradient plasma conditions. The density-gradient-driven TEM is the dominant instability in the region where the measured density fluctuations are largest, and the experimental threshold-gradient is close to the predicted critical gradient for linear stability. While nonlinear analysis shows a large Dimits shift associated with predicted strong zonal flows, the inclusion of residual magnetic fluctuations causes a collapse of the zonal flows and an increase in the predicted transport to a level close to the experimentally measured heat flux. Similar circumstances could occur in the edge region of tokamak plasmas when resonant magnetic perturbations are applied for the control of ELMs. Work supported by US DOE.

A Signature of Self-Organized Criticality in the HT-6M Edge Plasma Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wen-Hao; Yu, Chang-Xuan; Wen, Yi-Zhi; Xu, Yu-Hong; Ling, Bi-Li; Gong, Xian-Zu; Liu, Bao-Hua; Wan, Bao-Nian

2001-03-01

Power spectra of electron density and floating potential fluctuations in the velocity shear layer of the HT-6M edge region have been measured and analysed. All the spectra have three distinct frequency regions with the spectral decay indices typical of self-organized criticality systems (0, -1 and -4) when Doppler shift effects induced by the plasma E×B flow velocity have been taken into account. These results are consistent with the predictions of the self-organized criticality models, which may be an indication of edge plasma turbulence in the HT-6M tokamak evolving into a critical state independent of local plasma parameters.

Changes in particle transport as a result of resonant magnetic perturbations in DIII-D

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

Mordijck, S.; Doyle, E. J.; Rhodes, T. L.

2012-05-15

In this paper, we introduce the first direct perturbed particle transport measurements in resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) H-mode plasmas. The perturbed particle transport increases as a result of application of RMP deep into the core. In the core, a large reduction in E Multiplication-Sign B shear to a value below the linear growth rate, in conjunction with increasing density fluctuations, is consistent with an increase in turbulent particle transport. In the edge, the changes in turbulent particle transport are less obvious. There is a clear correlation between the linear growth rates and the density fluctuations measured at different scales, butmore » it is uncertain which is the cause and which is the consequence.« less

Changes in particle transport as a result of resonant magnetic perturbations in DIII-D

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

Mordijck, S.; Doyle, E. J.; McKee, G. R.

2012-01-01

In this paper, we introduce the first direct perturbed particle transport measurements in resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) H-mode plasmas. The perturbed particle transport increases as a result of application of RMP deep into the core. In the core, a large reduction in E x B shear to a value below the linear growth rate, in conjunction with increasing density fluctuations, is consistent with an increase in turbulent particle transport. In the edge, the changes in turbulent particle transport are less obvious. There is a clear correlation between the linear growth rates and the density fluctuations measured at different scales, butmore » it is uncertain which is the cause and which is the consequence.« less

Initial development of an ablative leading edge for the space shuttle orbiter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Daforno, G.; Rose, L.; Graham, J.; Roy, P.

1974-01-01

A state-of-the-art preliminary design for typical wing areas is developed. Seven medium-density ablators (with/without honeycomb, flown on Apollo, Prime, X15A2) are evaluated. The screening tests include: (1) leading-edge models sequentially subjected to ascent heating, cold soak, entry heating, post-entry pressure fluctuations, and touchdown shock, and (2) virgin/charred models subjected to bondline strains. Two honeycomb reinforced 30 pcf elastomeric ablators were selected. Roughness/recession degradation of low speed aerodynamics appears acceptable. The design, including attachments, substructure and joints, is presented.

Edge Turbulence Imaging in Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zweben, Stewart J.

2001-10-01

This talk will describe measurements and modeling of the 2-D structure of edge turbulence in Alcator C-Mod. The radial vs. poloidal structure was measured using Gas Puff Imaging (GPI) (R. Maqueda et al, RSI 72, 931 (2001), J. Terry et al, J. Nucl. Materials 290-293, 757 (2001)), in which the visible light emitted by an edge neutral gas puff (generally D or He) is viewed along the local magnetic field by a fast-gated video camera. Strong fluctuations are observed in the gas cloud light emission when the camera is gated at ~2 microsec exposure time per frame. The structure of these fluctuations is highly turbulent with a typical radial and poloidal scale of ≈1 cm, and often with local maxima in the scrape-off layer (i.e. ``blobs"). Video clips and analyses of these images will be presented along with their variation in different plasma regimes. The local time dependence of edge turbulence is measured using high-speed photodiodes viewing the gas puff emission, a scanning Langmuir probe, and also with a Princeton Scientific Instruments ultra-fast framing camera, which can make 2-D images the gas puff at up to 200,000 frames/sec. Probe measurements show that the strong turbulence region moves to the separatrix as the density limit is approached, which may be connected to the density limit (B. LaBombard et al., Phys. Plasmas 8 2107 (2001)). Comparisons of this C-Mod turbulence data will be made with results of simulations from the Drift-Ballooning Mode (DBM) (B.N. Rogers et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 20 4396 (1998))and Non-local Edge Turbulence (NLET) codes.

Evidence of toroidally localized turbulence with applied 3D fields in the DIII-D tokamak

DOE PAGES

Wilcox, R. S.; Shafer, M. W.; Ferraro, N. M.; ...

2016-09-21

New evidence indicates that there is significant 3D variation in density fluctuations near the boundary of weakly 3D tokamak plasmas when resonant magnetic perturbations are applied to suppress transient edge instabilities. The increase in fluctuations is concomitant with an increase in the measured density gradient, suggesting that this toroidally localized gradient increase could be a mechanism for turbulence destabilization in localized flux tubes. Two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic simulations find that, although changes to the magnetic field topology are small, there is a significant 3D variation of the density gradient within the flux surfaces that is extended along field lines. This modeling agreesmore » qualitatively with the measurements. The observed gradient and fluctuation asymmetries are proposed as a mechanism by which global profile gradients in the pedestal could be relaxed due to a local change in the 3D equilibrium. In conclusion, these processes may play an important role in pedestal and scrape-off layer transport in ITER and other future tokamak devices with small applied 3D fields.« less

Some factors influencing radiation of sound from flow interaction with edges of finite surfaces

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayden, R. E.; Fox, H. L.; Chanaud, R. C.

1976-01-01

Edges of surfaces which are exposed to unsteady flow cause both strictly acoustic effects and hydrodynamic effects, in the form of generation of new hydrodynamic sources in the immediate vicinity of the edge. An analytical model is presented which develops the explicit sound-generation role of the velocity and Mach number of the eddy convection past the edge, and the importance of relative scale lengths of the turbulence, as well as the relative intensity of pressure fluctuations. The Mach number (velocity) effects show that the important paramater is the convection Mach number of the eddies. The effects of turbulence scale lengths, isotropy, and spatial density (separation) are shown to be important in determining the level and spectrum of edge sound radiated for the edge dipole mechanism. Experimental data is presented which provides support for the dipole edge noise model in terms of Mach number (velocity) scaling, parametric dependence on flow field parameter, directivity, and edge diffraction effects.

Nonlinear Upshift of Trapped Electron Mode Critical Density Gradient: Simulation and Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ernst, D. R.

2012-10-01

A new nonlinear critical density gradient for pure trapped electron mode (TEM) turbulence increases strongly with collisionality, saturating at several times the linear threshold. The nonlinear TEM threshold appears to limit the density gradient in new experiments subjecting Alcator C-Mod internal transport barriers to modulated radio-frequency heating. Gyrokinetic simulations show the nonlinear upshift of the TEM critical density gradient is associated with long-lived zonal flow dominated states [1]. This introduces a strong temperature dependence that allows external RF heating to control TEM turbulent transport. During pulsed on-axis heating of ITB discharges, core electron temperature modulations of 50% were produced. Bursts of line-integrated density fluctuations, observed on phase contrast imaging, closely follow modulations of core electron temperature inside the ITB foot. Multiple edge fluctuation measurements show the edge response to modulated heating is out of phase with the core response. A new limit cycle stability diagram shows the density gradient appears to be clamped during on-axis heating by the nonlinear TEM critical density gradient, rather than by the much lower linear threshold. Fluctuation wavelength spectra will be quantitatively compared with nonlinear TRINITY/GS2 gyrokinetic transport simulations, using an improved synthetic diagnostic. In related work, we are implementing the first gyrokinetic exact linearized Fokker Planck collision operator [2]. Initial results show short wavelength TEMs are fully stabilized by finite-gyroradius collisional effects for realistic collisionalities. The nonlinear TEM threshold and its collisionality dependence may impact predictions of density peaking based on quasilinear theory, which excludes zonal flows.[4pt] In collaboration with M. Churchill, A. Dominguez, C. L. Fiore, Y. Podpaly, M. L. Reinke, J. Rice, J. L. Terry, N. Tsujii, M. A. Barnes, I. Bespamyatnov, R. Granetz, M. Greenwald, A. Hubbard, J. W. Hughes, M. Landreman, B. Li, Y. Ma, P. Phillips, M. Porkolab, W. Rowan, S. Wolfe, and S. Wukitch.[4pt] [1] D. R. Ernst et al., Proc. 21st IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Chengdu, China, paper IAEA-CN-149/TH/1-3 (2006). http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Meetings/FEC200/th1-3.pdf[0pt] [2] B. Li and D.R. Ernst, Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 195002 (2011).

Pedestal and edge electrostatic turbulence characteristics from an XGC1 gyrokinetic simulation

DOE PAGES

Churchill, R. M.; Chang, C. S.; Ku, S.; ...

2017-08-30

Understanding the multi-scale neoclassical and turbulence physics in the edge region (pedestal + scrape-off layer (SOL)) is required in order to reliably predict performance in future fusion devices. We explore turbulent characteristics in the edge region from a multi-scale neoclassical and turbulent XGC1 gyrokinetic simulation in a DIII-D like tokamak geometry, here excluding neutrals and collisions. For an H-mode type plasma with steep pedestal, it is found that the electron density fluctuations increase towards the separatrix, and stay high well into the SOL, reaching a maximum value ofmore » $$\\delta {n}_{e}/{\\bar{n}}_{e}\\sim 0.18$$. Blobs are observed, born around the magnetic separatrix surface and propagate radially outward with velocities generally less than 1 km s –1. Strong poloidal motion of the blobs is also present, near 20 km s –1, consistent with E × B rotation. The electron density fluctuations show a negative skewness in the closed field-line pedestal region, consistent with the presence of 'holes', followed by a transition to strong positive skewness across the separatrix and into the SOL. These simulations indicate that not only neoclassical phenomena, but also turbulence, including the blob-generation mechanism, can remain important in the steep H-mode pedestal and SOL. Lastly, qualitative comparisons will be made to experimental observations.« less

Spatial localization of resistive drift wave structure in tokamak edge plasmas with an embedded magnetic island

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

Hu, Shilin; Qu, Hongpeng; Li, Jiquan, E-mail: lijq@energy.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Resistive drift wave instability is investigated numerically in tokamak edge plasma confined by sheared slab magnetic field geometry with an embedded magnetic island. The focus is on the structural characteristics of eigenmode inside the island, where the density profile tends to be flattened. A transition of the dominant eigenmode occurs around a critical island width w{sub c}. For thin islands with a width below w{sub c}, two global long wavelength eigenmodes with approximately the same growth rate but different eigenfrequency are excited, which are stabilized by the magnetic island through two-dimensional mode coupling in both x and y (corresponding tomore » radial and poloidal in tokamak) directions. On the other hand, a short wavelength eigenmode, which is destabilized by thick islands with a width above w{sub c}, dominates the edge fluctuation, showing a prominent structural localization in the region between the X-point and the O-point of the magnetic island. The main destabilization mechanism is identified as the mode coupling in the y direction, which is similar to the so-called toroidal coupling in tokamak plasmas. These three eigenmodes may coexist in the drift wave fluctuation for the island with a width around w{sub c}. It is demonstrated that the structural localization results mainly from the quasilinear flattening of density profile inside the magnetic island.« less

Recent improvements of the JET lithium beam diagnostica)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brix, M.; Dodt, D.; Dunai, D.; Lupelli, I.; Marsen, S.; Melson, T. F.; Meszaros, B.; Morgan, P.; Petravich, G.; Refy, D. I.; Silva, C.; Stamp, M.; Szabolics, T.; Zastrow, K.-D.; Zoletnik, S.; JET-EFDA Contributors

2012-10-01

A 60 kV neutral lithium diagnostic beam probes the edge plasma of JET for the measurement of electron density profiles. This paper describes recent enhancements of the diagnostic setup, new procedures for calibration and protection measures for the lithium ion gun during massive gas puffs for disruption mitigation. New light splitting optics allow in parallel beam emission measurements with a new double entrance slit CCD spectrometer (spectrally resolved) and a new interference filter avalanche photodiode camera (fast density and fluctuation studies).

New approach to statistical description of fluctuating particle fluxes

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

Saenko, V. V.

2009-01-15

The probability density functions (PDFs) of the increments of fluctuating particle fluxes are investigated. It is found that the PDFs have heavy power-law tails decreasing as x{sup -{alpha}-1} at x {yields} {infinity}. This makes it possible to describe these PDFs in terms of fractionally stable distributions (FSDs) q(x; {alpha}, {beta}, {theta}, {lambda}). The parameters {alpha}, {beta}, {gamma}, and {lambda} were estimated statistically using as an example the time samples of fluctuating particle fluxes measured in the edge plasma of the L-2M stellarator. Two series of fluctuating fluxes measured before and after boronization of the vacuum chamber were processed. It ismore » shown that the increments of fluctuating fluxes are well described by DSDs. The effect of boronization on the parameters of FSDs is analyzed. An algorithm for statistically estimating the FSD parameters and a procedure for processing experimental data are described.« less

Turbulent energy transfer in electromagnetic turbulence: hints from a Reversed Field Pinch plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vianello, N.; Bergsaker, H.

2005-10-01

The relationship between electromagnetic turbulence and sheared plasma flow in a Reversed Field Pinch is addressed. ExB sheared flows and turbulence at the edge tends to organize themeselves near marginal stability, suggesting an underlying energy exchange process between turbulence and mean flow. In MHD this process is well described through the quantity P which represents the energy transfer (per mass and time unit) from turbulence to mean fields. In the edge region of RFP configuration, where magnetic field is mainly poloidal and the mean ExB is consequently toroidal, the quantity P results: P =[ -ρμ0 + ]Vφr where Vφ is the mean ExB toroidal flow, ρ the mean mass density and b and v the fluctuations of velocity and magnetic field respectively. Both the radial profiles and the temporal evolution of P have been measured in the edge region of Extrap-T2R Reversed Field Pinch experiment. The results support the existence of oscillating energy exchange process between fluctuations and mean flow.

Edge magnetism of Heisenberg model on honeycomb lattice.

PubMed

Huang, Wen-Min; Hikihara, Toshiya; Lee, Yen-Chen; Lin, Hsiu-Hau

2017-03-07

Edge magnetism in graphene sparks intense theoretical and experimental interests. In the previous study, we demonstrated the existence of collective excitations at the zigzag edge of the honeycomb lattice with long-ranged Néel order. By employing the Schwinger-boson approach, we show that the edge magnons remain robust even when the long-ranged order is destroyed by spin fluctuations. Furthermore, in the effective field-theory limit, the dynamics of the edge magnon is captured by the one-dimensional relativistic Klein-Gordon equation. It is intriguing that the boundary field theory for the edge magnon is tied up with its bulk counterpart. By performing density-matrix renormalization group calculations, we show that the robustness may be attributed to the closeness between the ground state and the Néel state. The existence of edge magnon is not limited to the honeycomb structure, as demonstrated in the rotated-square lattice with zigzag edges as well. The universal behavior indicates that the edge magnons may attribute to the uncompensated edges and can be detected in many two-dimensional materials.

Design of Magnetic Shielding and Field Coils for a TES X-Ray Microcalorimeter Test Platform

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miniussi, Antoine R.; Adams, Joseph S.; Bandler, Simon R.; Chervenak, James A.; Datesman, Aaron M.; Doriese, William B.; Eckart, Megan E.; Finkbeiner, Fred M.; Kelley, Richard L.; Kilbourne, Caroline A.;

Measurements of Ion and Neutral Fluctuation Changes with Pressure in a Large-Scale Helicon Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dwyer, R. H.; Fisher, D. M.; Kelly, R. F.; Hatch, M. W.; Gilmore, M.

2017-10-01

Neutral particle dynamics may play an important role both in laboratory plasmas and in the edge of magnetic fusion devices. However, studies of neutral dynamics in these plasmas have been limited to date. Here we report on a basic study of ion and neutral fluctuations as a function of background neutral gas pressure. These experiments have been conducted in helicon discharges in the HelCat (Helicon-Cathode) dual-source plasma device at the University of New Mexico. The goal is to measure changes in ion and neutral density fluctuations with pressure and to gain an improved understanding of plasma-neutral interactions. Langmuir probe, Ar-I LIF, and high-speed imaging measurements of the fluctuations will be presented. Supported by U.S. National Science Foundation Award 1500423 and The University of New Mexico School of Engineering.

Macroscopic response to microscopic intrinsic noise in three-dimensional Fisher fronts.

PubMed

Nesic, S; Cuerno, R; Moro, E

2014-10-31

We study the dynamics of three-dimensional Fisher fronts in the presence of density fluctuations. To this end we simulate the Fisher equation subject to stochastic internal noise, and study how the front moves and roughens as a function of the number of particles in the system, N. Our results suggest that the macroscopic behavior of the system is driven by the microscopic dynamics at its leading edge where number fluctuations are dominated by rare events. Contrary to naive expectations, the strength of front fluctuations decays extremely slowly as 1/logN, inducing large-scale fluctuations which we find belong to the one-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang universality class of kinetically rough interfaces. Hence, we find that there is no weak-noise regime for Fisher fronts, even for realistic numbers of particles in macroscopic systems.

Simulation Analysis of Zero Mean Flow Edge Turbulence in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, Brett Cory

I model, simulate, and analyze the turbulence in a particular experiment on the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA. The experiment, conducted by Schaffner et al. [D. Schaffner et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 135002 (2012)], nulls out the intrinsic mean flow in LAPD by limiter biasing. The model that I use in the simulation is an electrostatic reduced Braginskii two-fluid model that describes the time evolution of density, electron temperature, electrostatic potential, and parallel electron velocity fluctuations in the edge region of LAPD. The spatial domain is annular, encompassing the radial coordinates over which a significant equilibrium density gradient exists. My model breaks the independent variables in the equations into time-independent equilibrium parts and time-dependent fluctuating parts, and I use experimentally obtained values as input for the equilibrium parts. After an initial exponential growth period due to a linear drift wave instability, the fluctuations saturate and the frequency and azimuthal wavenumber spectra become broadband with no visible coherent peaks, at which point the fluctuations become turbulent. The turbulence develops intermittent pressure and flow filamentary structures that grow and dissipate, but look much different than the unstable linear drift waves, primarily in the extremely long axial wavelengths that the filaments possess. An energy dynamics analysis that I derive reveals the mechanism that drives these structures. The long k|| ˜ 0 intermittent potential filaments convect equilibrium density across the equilibrium density gradient, setting up local density filaments. These density filaments, also with k || ˜ 0, produce azimuthal density gradients, which drive radially propagating secondary drift waves. These finite k|| drift waves nonlinearly couple to one another and reinforce the original convective filament, allowing the process to bootstrap itself. The growth of these structures is by nonlinear instability because they require a finite amplitude to start, and they require nonlinear terms in the equations to sustain their growth. The reason why k|| ˜ 0 structures can grow and support themselves in a dynamical system with no k|| = 0 linear instability is because the linear eigenmodes of the system are nonorthogonal. Nonorthogonal eigenmodes that individually decay under linear dynamics can transiently inject energy into the system, allowing for instability. The instability, however, can only occur when the fluctuations have a finite starting amplitude, and nonlinearities are available to mix energy among eigenmodes. Finally, I attempt to figure out how many effective degrees of freedom control the turbulence to determine whether it is stochastic or deterministic. Using two different methods - permutation entropy analysis by means of time delay trajectory reconstruction and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition - I determine that more than a few degrees of freedom, possibly even dozens or hundreds, are all active. The turbulence, while not stochastic, is not a manifestation of low-dimensional chaos - it is high-dimensional.

Evidence for Chaotic Edge Turbulence in the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ziyan; White, Anne; Carter, Troy; Terry, Jim; Baek, Seung Gyou

2017-10-01

Turbulence greatly reduces the confinement time of magnetic-confined plasmas; understanding the nature of this turbulence and the associated transport is therefore of great importance. This research seeks to establish whether turbulent fluctuations in Alcator C-Mod are chaotic or stochastic. Stochastic fluctuations may lead to a random walk diffusive transport, whereas a diffusive description is unlikely to be valid for chaotic fluctuations since it lives in restricted areas of phase space (e.g., on attractors). Analysis of the time series obtained with the O-mode reflectometer and the gas puff imaging (GPI) systems reveals that the turbulent density fluctuations in C-Mod are chaotic. Supporting evidence for this conclusion includes the observation of an exponential power spectra (which is associated with Lorentzian-shaped pulses in the time series), the population of the corresponding Bandt-Pompe (BP) probability distribution, and the location of the signal on the Complexity-Entropy plane (C-H plane). These analysis techniques will be briefly introduced along with a discussion of the analysis results. The classification of edge turbulence as chaotic opens the door for further work to understand the underlying process and the impact on turbulent transport. Supported by USDoE awards DE-FC02-99ER54512 and DE-FC02-07ER54918:011.

Living on the edge: Space use of Eurasian red squirrels in marginal high-elevation habitat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romeo, Claudia; Wauters, Lucas A.; Preatoni, Damiano; Tosi, Guido; Martinoli, Adriano

2010-11-01

In marginal habitats located at the edge of a species' range, environmental conditions are frequently extreme and individuals may be subject to different selective pressures compared to central populations. These so-called edge or marginal populations tend to have lower densities and reproductive rates than populations located in more suitable habitats, but little is known about local adaptations in spacing behavior. We studied space use and social organization in a population of Eurasian red squirrels ( Sciurus vulgaris) in a high-elevation marginal habitat of dwarf mountain pine ( Pinus mugo) and compared it with spacing patterns in high-quality Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris) forest at lower-elevation. Home ranges and core areas were larger in the marginal habitat. In both habitats, males used larger home ranges than females, but sex differences in core area size were significant only in the edge population. Patterns of core area overlap were similar in both habitats with intra-sexual territoriality among adult females and higher degrees of inter-sexual overlap, typical for the species throughout its range. However, low densities in the edge population resulted in higher female by males overlap in spring-summer, suggesting males increased home ranges and core areas during mating season to augment access to estrus females. Thus, in the marginal habitat, with low food abundance and low population densities, linked with extreme winter conditions, squirrels, especially males, used large home ranges. Finally, squirrels responded more strongly to variation in food availability (inverse relation between home range size and seed abundance), and even to fluctuations in density (inverse relation between core area size and density of animals of the same sex), in the marginal than in the high-quality habitat, suggesting high behavioral plasticity to respond to the ecological constraints in marginal habitats.

H-Mode Behavior Induced by Modulated Toroidal Current on HT-7 and HT-6M Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mao, J. S.; Luo, J. R.; Xu, Y. H.; Zhao, J. Y.; Zhang, X. M.; Li, J. G.; Zhang, X. M.; Gao, X.; Li, Y. D.; Jie, Y. X.; Wu, Z. W.; Hu, L. Q.; Liu, S. X.; Zhang, X. D.; Bao, Y.; Yang, K.; Wang, G. X.; Chen, L.; Shi, Y. J.; Qin, P. J.; Gu, X. M.; Cui, N. Z.; Fan, H. Y.; Chen, Y. F.; Xia, C. Y.; Ruan, H. L.; Tong, X. D.; Phillips, P. E.

2001-10-01

An improved Ohmic confinement phase (similar to H-mode) has been observed during Modulating Toroidal Current on the Hefei Tokamak-6M (HT-6M) and Hefei super-conducting Tokamak-7 (HT-7). This improved plasma confinement phase is characterized by: (a) an increase in ne and T_e(0); (b) reduced H_α radiation from the edge; (c) steeper density and temperature profiles at the edge; (d) a more negative radial electric field inside the limiter; (e) a deeper electrostatic potential well at the edge; (f) reduced magnetic fluctuations at the edge; (g) MHD suppressing; (h) and by an increase in global energy confinement time, τ _e, by 27%-45%. The well-like structure of the radial electric field E_r, appears at an L-H like transition.

Toward validation of a 3-D plasma turbulence model using LAPD data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umansky, M. V.

2010-11-01

Detailed results from a 3-D fluid simulation of plasma turbulence are compared with experimental data from the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA. LAPD is a magnetized plasma column experiment with a high repetition rate, allowing detailed time-and-space resolved probe data on plasma turbulence and transport. The large amount of data allows a thorough comparison with the simulation results. For the observed drift-type modes, LAPD plasmas are strongly collisional (φ*/νei1 and λei/L1), providing justification for a fluid treatment. Accordingly, the model is based on reduced Braginskii equations and is implemented in the framework of the BOUT code, originally developed at LLNL for tokamak edge plasmas. Analysis of linear plasma instabilities shows that resistive drift modes, rotation-driven interchange modes, and Kelvin-Helmholtz modes can all be important in LAPD and have comparable frequencies and growth rates. In nonlinear simulations using measured LAPD density profiles, evolution of instabilities and self-generated zonal flows results in a saturated turbulent state. Comparisons of these simulations with measurements in LAPD plasmas reveal good agreement, in particular in the frequency spectrum, spatial correlation, and amplitude probability distribution function of density fluctuations. Also, consistent with the experiment, the simulations indicate a great deal of similarity between plasma turbulence in LAPD and some features of tokamak edge turbulence. Similar to tokamak edge plasmas, density transport appears to be predominantly carried by large particle-flux events. Despite the intermittent character of the calculated turbulence, as indicated by fluctuation statistics, the turbulent particle flux is consistent with a diffusive model with diffusion coefficient close to the Bohm value.

Intermittent fluctuations in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer for ohmic and high confinement mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia, O. E.; Kube, R.; Theodorsen, A.; LaBombard, B.; Terry, J. L.

2018-05-01

Plasma fluctuations in the scrape-off layer of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak in ohmic and high confinement modes have been analyzed using gas puff imaging data. In all cases investigated, the time series of emission from a single spatially resolved view into the gas puff are dominated by large-amplitude bursts, attributed to blob-like filament structures moving radially outwards and poloidally. There is a remarkable similarity of the fluctuation statistics in ohmic plasmas and in edge localized mode-free and enhanced D-alpha high confinement mode plasmas. Conditionally averaged waveforms have a two-sided exponential shape with comparable temporal scales and asymmetry, while the burst amplitudes and the waiting times between them are exponentially distributed. The probability density functions and the frequency power spectral densities are similar for all these confinement modes. These results provide strong evidence in support of a stochastic model describing the plasma fluctuations in the scrape-off layer as a super-position of uncorrelated exponential pulses. Predictions of this model are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements in both ohmic and high confinement mode plasmas. The stochastic model thus provides a valuable tool for predicting fluctuation-induced plasma-wall interactions in magnetically confined fusion plasmas.

Photoemission spectrum and effect of inhomogeneous pairing fluctuations in the BCS-BEC crossover regime of an ultracold Fermi gas

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

Tsuchiya, Shunji; Ohashi, Yoji; CREST

2010-09-15

We investigate the photoemission-type spectrum in a cold Fermi gas which was recently measured by the JILA group [Stewart et al., Nature (London) 454, 744 (2008)]. This quantity gives us very useful information about single-particle properties in the BCS-BEC crossover. In this paper, including pairing fluctuations within a T-matrix theory, as well as effects of a harmonic trap within the local density approximation, we show that spatially inhomogeneous pairing fluctuations due to the trap potential are an important key to understanding the observed spectrum. In the crossover region, while strong pairing fluctuations lead to the so-called pseudogap phenomenon in themore » trap center, such strong-coupling effects are found to be weak around the edge of the gas. Our results including this effect are shown to agree well with the recent photoemission data of the JILA group.« less

Fluctuations uncover a distinct class of traveling waves

PubMed Central

Korolev, Kirill S.

2018-01-01

Epidemics, flame propagation, and cardiac rhythms are classic examples of reaction–diffusion waves that describe a switch from one alternative state to another. Only two types of waves are known: pulled, driven by the leading edge, and pushed, driven by the bulk of the wave. Here, we report a distinct class of semipushed waves for which both the bulk and the leading edge contribute to the dynamics. These hybrid waves have the kinetics of pushed waves, but exhibit giant fluctuations similar to pulled waves. The transitions between pulled, semipushed, and fully pushed waves occur at universal ratios of the wave velocity to the Fisher velocity. We derive these results in the context of a species invading a new habitat by examining front diffusion, rate of diversity loss, and fluctuation-induced corrections to the expansion velocity. All three quantities decrease as a power law of the population density with the same exponent. We analytically calculate this exponent, taking into account the fluctuations in the shape of the wave front. For fully pushed waves, the exponent is −1, consistent with the central limit theorem. In semipushed waves, however, the fluctuations average out much more slowly, and the exponent approaches 0 toward the transition to pulled waves. As a result, a rapid loss of genetic diversity and large fluctuations in the position of the front occur, even for populations with cooperative growth and other forms of an Allee effect. The evolutionary outcome of spatial spreading in such populations could therefore be less predictable than previously thought. PMID:29610340

Fluctuations uncover a distinct class of traveling waves.

PubMed

Birzu, Gabriel; Hallatschek, Oskar; Korolev, Kirill S

2018-04-17

Epidemics, flame propagation, and cardiac rhythms are classic examples of reaction-diffusion waves that describe a switch from one alternative state to another. Only two types of waves are known: pulled, driven by the leading edge, and pushed, driven by the bulk of the wave. Here, we report a distinct class of semipushed waves for which both the bulk and the leading edge contribute to the dynamics. These hybrid waves have the kinetics of pushed waves, but exhibit giant fluctuations similar to pulled waves. The transitions between pulled, semipushed, and fully pushed waves occur at universal ratios of the wave velocity to the Fisher velocity. We derive these results in the context of a species invading a new habitat by examining front diffusion, rate of diversity loss, and fluctuation-induced corrections to the expansion velocity. All three quantities decrease as a power law of the population density with the same exponent. We analytically calculate this exponent, taking into account the fluctuations in the shape of the wave front. For fully pushed waves, the exponent is -1, consistent with the central limit theorem. In semipushed waves, however, the fluctuations average out much more slowly, and the exponent approaches 0 toward the transition to pulled waves. As a result, a rapid loss of genetic diversity and large fluctuations in the position of the front occur, even for populations with cooperative growth and other forms of an Allee effect. The evolutionary outcome of spatial spreading in such populations could therefore be less predictable than previously thought. Copyright © 2018 the Author(s). Published by PNAS.

Overview of Recent DIII-D Experimental Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fenstermacher, Max

2015-11-01

Recent DIII-D experiments have added to the ITER physics basis and to physics understanding for extrapolation to future devices. ELMs were suppressed by RMPs in He plasmas consistent with ITER non-nuclear phase conditions, and in steady state hybrid plasmas. Characteristics of the EHO during both standard high torque, and low torque enhanced pedestal QH-mode with edge broadband fluctuations were measured, including edge localized density fluctuations with a microwave imaging reflectometer. The path to Super H-mode was verified at high beta with a QH-mode edge, and in plasmas with ELMs triggered by Li granules. ITER acceptable TQ mitigation was obtained with low Ne fraction Shattered Pellet Injection. Divertor ne and Te data from Thomson Scattering confirm predicted drift-driven asymmetries in electron pressure, and X-divertor heat flux reduction and detachment were characterized. The crucial mechanisms for ExB shear control of turbulence were clarified. In collaboration with EAST, high beta-p scenarios were obtained with 80 % bootstrap fraction, high H-factor and stability limits, and large radius ITBs leading to low AE activity. Work supported by the US Department of Energy under DE-FC02-04ER54698 and DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Wild Band Edges: The Role of Bandgap Grading and Band-Edge Fluctuations in High-Efficiency Chalcogenide Devices: Preprint

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

Repins, Ingrid; Mansfield, Lorelle; Kanevce, Ana

Band-edge effects -- including grading, electrostatic fluctuations, bandgap fluctuations, and band tails -- affect chalcogenide device efficiency. These effects now require more careful consideration as efficiencies increase beyond 20%. Several aspects of the relationships between band-edge phenomena and device performance for NREL absorbers are examined. For Cu(In,Ga)Se2 devices, recent increases in diffusion length imply changes to optimum bandgap profile. The origin, impact, and modification of electrostatic and bandgap fluctuations are also discussed. The application of the same principles to devices based on CdTe, kesterites, and emerging absorbers (Cu2SnS3, CuSbS2), considering differences in materials properties and defect formation energies, is examined.

Turbulent edge transport in the Princeton Beta Experiment-Modified high confinement mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tynan, G. R.; Schmitz, L.; Blush, L.; Boedo, J. A.; Conn, R. W.; Doerner, R.; Lehmer, R.; Moyer, R.; Kugel, H.; Bell, R.; Kaye, S.; Okabayashi, M.; Sesnic, S.; Sun, Y.

1994-10-01

The first probe measurements of edge turbulence and transport in a neutral beam induced high confinement mode (H-mode) are reported. A strong negative radial electric field is directly observed in H-mode. A transient suppression of normalized ion saturation and floating potential fluctuation levels occurs at the low confinement mode to high confinement mode (L-H) transition, followed by a recovery to near low mode (L-mode) levels. The average poloidal wave number and the poloidal wave-number spectral width are decreased, and the correlation between fluctuating density and potential is reduced. A large-amplitude coherent oscillation, localized to the strong radial electric field region, is observed in H-mode but does not cause transport. In H-mode the effective turbulent diffusion coefficient is reduced by an order of magnitude inside the last closed flux surface and in the scrape-off layer. The results are compared with a heuristic model of turbulence suppression by velocity-shear stabilization.

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

Churchill, R. M.; Chang, C. S.; Ku, S.

Understanding the multi-scale neoclassical and turbulence physics in the edge region (pedestal + scrape-off layer (SOL)) is required in order to reliably predict performance in future fusion devices. We explore turbulent characteristics in the edge region from a multi-scale neoclassical and turbulent XGC1 gyrokinetic simulation in a DIII-D like tokamak geometry, here excluding neutrals and collisions. For an H-mode type plasma with steep pedestal, it is found that the electron density fluctuations increase towards the separatrix, and stay high well into the SOL, reaching a maximum value ofmore » $$\\delta {n}_{e}/{\\bar{n}}_{e}\\sim 0.18$$. Blobs are observed, born around the magnetic separatrix surface and propagate radially outward with velocities generally less than 1 km s –1. Strong poloidal motion of the blobs is also present, near 20 km s –1, consistent with E × B rotation. The electron density fluctuations show a negative skewness in the closed field-line pedestal region, consistent with the presence of 'holes', followed by a transition to strong positive skewness across the separatrix and into the SOL. These simulations indicate that not only neoclassical phenomena, but also turbulence, including the blob-generation mechanism, can remain important in the steep H-mode pedestal and SOL. Lastly, qualitative comparisons will be made to experimental observations.« less

New insights on boundary plasma turbulence and the Quasi-Coherent Mode in Alcator C-Mod using a Mirror Langmuir Probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Labombard, Brian

2013-10-01

A ``Mirror Langmuir Probe'' (MLP) diagnostic has been used to interrogate edge plasma profiles and turbulence in Alcator C-Mod with unprecedented detail, yielding fundamental insights on the Quasi-Coherent Mode (QCM) - a mode that regulates plasma density and impurities in EDA H-modes without ELMs. The MLP employs a fast-switching, self-adapting bias scheme, recording density, electron temperature and plasma potential simultaneously at high bandwidth (~1 MHz) on each of four separate electrodes on a scanning probe. Temporal dynamics are followed in detail; wavenumber-frequency spectra and phase relationships are readily deduced. Poloidal field fluctuations are recorded separately with a two-coil, scanning probe. Results from ohmic L-mode and H-mode plasmas are reported, including key observations of the QCM: The QCM lives in a region of positive radial electric field, with a mode width (~3 mm) that spans open and closed field line regions. Remarkably large amplitude (~30%), sinusoidal bursts in density, electron temperature and plasma potential fluctuations are observed that are in phase; potential lags density by at most 10 degrees. Propagation velocity of the mode corresponds to the sum of local E × B and electron diamagnetic drift velocities - quantities that are deduced directly from time-averaged profiles. Poloidal magnetic field fluctuations project to parallel current densities of ~5 amps/cm2 in the mode layer, with significant parallel electromagnetic induction. Electron force balance is examined, unambiguously identifying the mode type. It is found that fluctuations in parallel electron pressure gradient are roughly balanced by the sum of electrostatic and electromotive forces. Thus the primary mode structure of the QCM is that of a drift-Alfven wave. Work supported by US DoE award DE-FC02-99ER54512.

Origin of nonsaturating linear magnetoresistivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kisslinger, Ferdinand; Ott, Christian; Weber, Heiko B.

2017-01-01

The observation of nonsaturating classical linear magnetoresistivity has been an enigmatic phenomenon in solid-state physics. We present a study of a two-dimensional ohmic conductor, including local Hall effect and a self-consistent consideration of the environment. An equivalent-circuit scheme delivers a simple and convincing argument why the magnetoresistivity is linear in strong magnetic field, provided that current and biasing electric field are misaligned by a nonlocal mechanism. A finite-element model of a two-dimensional conductor is suited to display the situations that create such deviating currents. Besides edge effects next to electrodes, charge carrier density fluctuations are efficiently generating this effect. However, mobility fluctuations that have frequently been related to linear magnetoresistivity are barely relevant. Despite its rare observation, linear magnetoresitivity is rather the rule than the exception in a regime of low charge carrier densities, misaligned current pathways and strong magnetic field.

Turbulence and sheared flow dynamics during q95 and density scans across the L-H transition on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Zheng; McKee, George; Gohil, Punit; Schmitz, Lothar; Eldon, David; Grierson, Brian; Kriete, Matt; Rhodes, Terry; Petty, Craig

2017-10-01

Measurements of long wavelength density fluctuation characteristics have been obtained in the edge of Deuterium (D) plasmas across the L-H transition on DIII-D during density and q95 scans. The relative density fluctuation amplitude measured by Beam Emission Spectroscopy (BES) increases with higher q95. The power threshold is found to increase with plasma current (i.e., lower q95) but with complex density dependence: the largest increase of PLH is seen at ne 3.2e19 m-3. Interestingly, a dual counter-propagating mode is observed for cases when PLH is low. The existence of the dual mode is correlated with increasing flow shear. Estimation of the turbulence kinetic energy transfer from turbulence to the flow increases prior to the transition. The complex behaviors of the turbulence characteristics and dual frequency modes interactions impact the flow shear generation, the transition process and the power threshold scaling. Work supported by the US Department of Energy under DE-FG02-08ER54999, DE-AC02-09CH11466, DE-FC02-04ER54698, and DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Increased electron temperature turbulence during suppression of edge localized mode by resonant magnetic perturbations in the DIII-D tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, C.; Wang, G.; Rhodes, T. L.; Smith, S. P.; Osborne, T. H.; Ono, M.; McKee, G. R.; Yan, Z.; Groebner, R. J.; Davis, E. M.; Zeng, L.; Peebles, W. A.; Evans, T. E.

2017-11-01

The first observation of increased electron temperature turbulence during edge localized mode (ELM) suppression by resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) is presented. These are long wavelength fluctuations (kθρs ≤ 0.2, where kθ = poloidal wavenumber and ρs = ion sound gyroradius) observed during H-mode plasmas on the DIII-D. This increase occurs only after ELMs are suppressed and are not observed during the initial RMP application. The T˜ e/Te increases ( >60%) are coincident with changes in normalized density and electron temperature gradients in the region from the top of the pedestal outward to the upper portion of the steep edge gradient. Density turbulence (kθρs ≤ 0.4) in this location was also observed to increase only after ELM suppression. These results are significant since they indicate that increased gradient-driven turbulent transport is one possible mechanism to regulate and maintain ELM-free H-mode operation. Investigation of linear stability of drift wave instabilities using the CGYRO code [Candy et al., J. Comput. Phys. 324, 73 (2016)] shows that the dominant mode moves closer to the electron mode branch from the ion mode branch only after ELMs are suppressed, correlated with the increased turbulence. The increased turbulence during ELM suppression, rather than with the initial RMP application, indicates that the often observed RMP induced "density pump-out" cannot be attributed to long wavelength edge turbulence level changes.

Edge transport and turbulence reduction, and formation of ultra-wide pedestals with lithium coated PFCs in NSTX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Canik, John

2010-11-01

The coating of plasma facing components (PFCs) with lithium improves energy confinement [1] and eliminates ELMs in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), the latter due to a relaxation of the density and pressure profiles that reduces the drive for peeling-ballooning modes [2]. Here we show that both a reduction in recycling (due to lithium pumping) and cross-field transport is needed to reproduce the measured profile changes. Furthermore we document a concomitant density fluctuation reduction measured in the steep gradient region. The experimental transport coefficients are obtained via data-constrained modeling using the SOLPS code [3], which couples a 2D fluid treatment of the edge plasma transport to a Monte Carlo neutrals calculation. First, a reduction in the PFC recycling coefficient from R˜0.98 to R˜0.90 is required to match the drop in Dα emission with lithium coatings. Furthermore, a ˜75% drop of the D and χe from 0.8 < ψN < 0.93 are needed to match the profile relaxation with lithium coatings; indeed, the region of low transport in the H-mode simply extends to the innermost domain of the simulation. Transport is similar with and without lithium coatings outside of ψN ˜ 0.93, with D/χe ˜ 0.2/1.0 m2/s. Turbulence measurements using an edge reflectometry system [4] show a decrease in broadband density fluctuations with lithium coatings, primarily at frequencies <10 kHz. These transport changes allow the realization of very wide pedestals, with a ˜100% width increase relative to the reference discharges. [4pt] [1] H. W. Kugel et al, Phys. Plas. 15 (2008) 056118. [0pt] [2] R. Maingi et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103 (2009) 075001. [0pt] [3] R. Schneider et al, Contr. Plas. Phys. 46 (2006) 3. [0pt] [4] S Kubota et al, Bull. Am. Phys. Soc. 53 (2008) 188.

Isotope effect on blob-statistics in gyrofluid simulations of scrape-off layer turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, O. H. H.; Kendl, A.

2017-12-01

In this contribution we apply a recently established stochastic model for scrape-off layer fluctuations to long time series obtained from gyrofluid simulations of fusion edge plasma turbulence. Characteristic parameters are estimated for different fusion relevant isotopic compositions (protium, deuterium, tritium and singly charged helium) by means of conditional averaging. It is shown that large amplitude fluctuations associated with radially propagating filaments in the scrape-off layer feature double-exponential wave-forms. We find increased pulse duration and longer waiting times between peaks for heavier ions, while the amplitudes are similar. The associated radial blob velocity is shown to be reduced for heavier ions. A parabolic relation between skewness and kurtosis of density fluctuations seems to be present. Improved particle confinement in terms of reduced mean value close to the outermost radial boundary and blob characteristics for heavier plasmas is presented.

Fluctuation reduction and enhanced confinement in the MST reversed-field pinch

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

Chapman, Brett Edward

1997-10-01

Plasmas with a factor of ≥3 improvement in energy confinement have been achieved in the MST reversed-field pinch (RFP). These plasmas occur spontaneously, following sawtooth crashes, subject to constraints on, eg, toroidal magnetic field reversal and wall conditioning. Possible contributors to the improved confinement include a reduction of core-resonant, global magnetic fluctuations and a reduction of electrostatic fluctuations over the entire plasma edge. One feature of these plasmas is a region of strong ExB flow shear in the edge. Never before observed in conjunction with enhanced confinement in the RFP, such shear is common in enhanced confinement discharges in tokamaks and stellarators. Another feature of these plasmas is a new type of discrete dynamo event. Like sawtooth crashes, a common form of discrete dynamo, these events correspond to bursts of edge parallel current. The reduction of electrostatic fluctuations in these plasmas occurs within and beyond the region of strong ExB flow shear, similar to what is observed in tokamaks and stellarators. However, the reductions in the MST include fluctuations whose correlation lengths are larger than the width of the shear region. The reduction of the global magnetic fluctuations is most likely due to flattening of the μ=μ 0more » $$\\vec{J}$$∙$$\\vec{B}$$/B 2 profile. Flattening can occur, eg, due to the new type of discrete dynamo event and reduced edge resistivity. Enhanced confinement plasmas are also achieved in the MST when auxiliary current is applied to flatten the μ profile and reduce magnetic fluctuations. Unexpectedly, these plasmas also exhibit a region (broader than in the case above) of strong ExB flow shear in the edge, an edge-wide reduction of electrostatic fluctuations, and the new type of discrete dynamo event. Auxiliary current drive has historically been viewed as the principal route to fusion reactor viability for the RFP.« less

Impurity confinement and transport in high confinement regimes without edge localized modes on DIII-D [Impurity confinement and transport in high confinement regimes without ELMs on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Grierson, Brian A.; Burrell, Keith H.; Nazikian, Raffi M.; ...

2015-04-17

Here, impurity transport in the DIII-D tokamak is investigated in stationary high confinement (H-mode) regimes without edge localized modes (ELMs). In plasmas maintained by resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) ELM-suppression and QH-mode the confinement time of fluorine (Z=9) is equivalent to that in ELMing discharges with 40 Hz ELMs. For selected discharges with impurity injection the impurity particle confinement time compared to the energy confinement time is in the range of τ p/τ e ≈ 2 $-$ 3. In QH-mode operation the impurity confinement time is shown to be smaller for intense, coherent magnetic and density fluctuations of the edge harmonicmore » oscillation than weaker fluctuations. Transport coefficients are derived from the time evolution of the impurity density profile and compared to neoclassical and turbulent transport models NEO and TGLF. Neoclassical transport of fluorine is found to be small compared to the experimental values. In the ELMing and RMP ELM-suppressed plasma the impurity transport is affected by the presence of tearing modes. For radii larger than the mode radius the TGLF diffusion coefficient is smaller than the experimental value by a factor of 2-3, while the convective velocity is within error estimates. Low levels of diffusion are observed for radii smaller than the tearing mode radius. In the QH-mode plasma investigated, the TGLF diffusion coefficient higher inside of ρ = 0.4 and lower outside of 0.4 than the experiment, and the TGLF convective velocity is more negative by a factor of approximately 1.7.« less

Turbulent Mixing at the Edge of a Cloud

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, Raymond; Beals, Matthew; Fugal, Jacob; Kumar, Bipin; Lu, Jiang; Schumacher, Joerg; Stith, Jeffrey

2013-11-01

Numerical and field experiments have been brought to bear on the question of how atmospheric clouds respond when they experience turbulent mixing with their environment. Simply put, we ask when a cloud is diluted, do all droplets evaporate uniformly (homogeneous mixing) or does a subset of droplets evaporate completely, leaving the remaining droplets unaffected (inhomogeneous mixing)? First, the entrainment of clear air and its subsequent mixing with a filament of cloudy air is studied in DNS that combine the Eulerian description of the turbulent velocity, temperature and vapor fields with a Lagrangian cloud droplet ensemble. The simulations provide guidance on the proper definition of the thermodynamic response time for the Damkoehler number, and demonstrate the transition from inhomogeneous to homogeneous mixing as mixing progresses within the inertial subrange. Second, an airborne digital holographic instrument (Holodec) shows that cloud edges are inhomogeneous at the centimeter scales. In local cloud volumes the droplet size distribution fluctuates strongly in number density but with a nearly unchanging mean droplet diameter, until the fluctuations finally cascade to the centimeter scale, when the droplet diameter begins to respond.

High-frequency coherent edge fluctuations in a high-pedestal-pressure quiescent H-mode plasma.

PubMed

Yan, Z; McKee, G R; Groebner, R J; Snyder, P B; Osborne, T H; Burrell, K H

2011-07-29

A set of high frequency coherent (HFC) modes (f=80-250 kHz) is observed with beam emission spectroscopy measurements of density fluctuations in the pedestal of a strongly shaped quiescent H-mode plasma on DIII-D, with characteristics predicted for kinetic ballooning modes (KBM): propagation in the ion-diamagnetic drift direction; a frequency near 0.2-0.3 times the ion-diamagnetic frequency; inferred toroidal mode numbers of n∼10-25; poloidal wave numbers of k(θ)∼0.17-0.4 cm(-1); and high measured decorrelation rates (τ(c)(-1)∼ω(s)∼0.5×10(6) s(-1)). Their appearance correlates with saturation of the pedestal pressure. © 2011 American Physical Society

Investigating the radial structure of axisymmetric fluctuations in the TCV tokamak with local and global gyrokinetic GENE simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merlo, G.; Brunner, S.; Huang, Z.; Coda, S.; Görler, T.; Villard, L.; Bañón Navarro, A.; Dominski, J.; Fontana, M.; Jenko, F.; Porte, L.; Told, D.

2018-03-01

Axisymmetric (n = 0) density fluctuations measured in the TCV tokamak are observed to possess a frequency f 0 which is either varying (radially dispersive oscillations) or a constant over a large fraction of the plasma minor radius (radially global oscillations) as reported in a companion paper (Z Huang et al, this issue). Given that f 0 scales with the sound speed and given the poloidal structure of density fluctuations, these oscillations were interpreted as Geodesic Acoustic Modes, even though f 0 is in fact smaller than the local linear GAM frequency {f}{GAM}. In this work we employ the Eulerian gyrokinetic code GENE to simulate TCV relevant conditions and investigate the nature and properties of these oscillations, in particular their relation to the safety factor profile. Local and global simulations are carried out and a good qualitative agreement is observed between experiments and simulations. By varying also the plasma temperature and density profiles, we conclude that a variation of the edge safety factor alone is not sufficient to induce a transition from global to radially inhomogeneous oscillations, as was initially suggested by experimental results. This transition appears instead to be the combined result of variations in the different plasma profiles, collisionality and finite machine size effects. Simulations also show that radially global GAM-like oscillations can be observed in all fluxes and fluctuation fields, suggesting that they are the result of a complex nonlinear process involving also finite toroidal mode numbers and not just linear global GAM eigenmodes.

Temperature dependence of Ti 1s near-edge spectra in Ti-based perovskites: theory and experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shirley, Eric; Cockayne, Eric; Ravel, Bruce; Woicik, Joseph

Ti 1s near-edge spectra (around 4970 eV) in SrTiO3 and PbTiO3 reveal electric-dipole and quadrupole transitions to Ti 3d, 4p and mixed 3d-4p states. Crystal field-split pre-edge features attributed to 1s ->3d transitions are small compared to the main edge jump at the onset of the Ti 4s/4p continuum. Pre-edge and subsequent near-edge features are predicted to be weaker than what is observed, unless one accounts for ferroelectric polarization in PbTiO3 and thermal motion in both compounds. Using density-functional theory molecular dynamics simulations at various temperatures (including sampling two phases of PbTiO3), we capture the statistically averaged root-mean-square deviations of Ti4+ ions from the centers of their oxygen cages. By sampling appropriate snapshots of atomic configurations and averaging Ti 1s absorption spectra computed within a Bethe-Salpeter Equation framework, we obtain absorption spectra that agree well with experiment, including details related to ferroelectric polarization, phase transitions, and fluctuations of atomic coordinates.

Fusion programs in applied plasma physics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1992-07-01

The Applied Plasma Physics (APP) program at General Atomics (GA) described here includes four major elements: (1) Applied Plasma Physics Theory Program, (2) Alpha Particle Diagnostic, (3) Edge and Current Density Diagnostic, and (4) Fusion User Service Center (USC). The objective of the APP theoretical plasma physics research at GA is to support the DIII-D and other tokamak experiments and to significantly advance our ability to design a commercially-attractive fusion reactor. We categorize our efforts in three areas: magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibria and stability; plasma transport with emphasis on H-mode, divertor, and boundary physics; and radio frequency (RF). The objective of the APP alpha particle diagnostic is to develop diagnostics of fast confined alpha particles using the interactions with the ablation cloud surrounding injected pellets and to develop diagnostic systems for reacting and ignited plasmas. The objective of the APP edge and current density diagnostic is to first develop a lithium beam diagnostic system for edge fluctuation studies on the Texas Experimental Tokamak (TEXT). The objective of the Fusion USC is to continue to provide maintenance and programming support to computer users in the GA fusion community. The detailed progress of each separate program covered in this report period is described.

Strong radial electric field shear and reduced fluctuations in a reversed-field pinch

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

Chapman, B.E.; Chiang, C.S.; Prager, S.C.

1997-05-01

A strongly sheared radial electric field is observed in enhanced confinement discharges in the MST reversed-field pinch. The strong shear develops in a narrow region in the plasma edge. Electrostatic fluctuations are reduced over the entire plasma edge with an extra reduction in the shear region. Magnetic fluctuations, resonant in the plasma core but global in extent, are also reduced. The reduction of fluctuations in the shear region is presumably due to the strong shear, but the causes of the reductions outside this region have not been established.

On the study of wavy leading-edge vanes to achieve low fan interaction noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, Fan; Qiao, Weiyang; Xu, Kunbo; Wang, Liangfeng; Chen, Weijie; Wang, Xunnian

2018-04-01

The application of wavy leading-edge vanes to reduce a single-stage axial fan noise is numerically studied. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance of the fan is numerically investigated using a hybrid unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS)/acoustic analogy method (Goldstein equations). First, the hybrid URANS/Goldstein method is developed and successfully validated against experiment results. Next, numerical simulations are performed to investigate the noise reduction effects of the wavy leading-edge vanes. The aerodynamic and acoustic performance is assessed for a fan with vanes equipped with two different wavy leading-edge profiles and compared with the performance of conventional straight leading-edge vanes. Results indicate that a fan with wavy leading-edge vanes produces lower interaction noise than the baseline fan without a significant loss in aerodynamic performance. In fact, it is demonstrated that wavy leading-edge vanes have the potential to lead to both aerodynamic and acoustic improvements. The two different wavy leading-edge profiles are shown to successfully reduce the fan tone sound power level by 1.2 dB and 4.3 dB, respectively. Fan efficiency is also improved by about 1% with one of the tested wavy leading-edge profiles. Large eddy simulation (LES) is also performed for a simplified fan stage model to assess the effects of wavy leading-edge vanes on the broadband fan noise. Results indicate that the overall sound power level of a fan can be reduced by about 4 dB with the larger wavy leading-edge profile. Finally, the noise reduction mechanisms are investigated and analysed. It is found that the wavy leading-edge profiles can induce significant streamwise vorticity around the leading-edge protuberances and reduce pressure fluctuations (especially at locations of wavy leading-edge hills) and unsteady forces on the stator vanes. The underlying mechanism of the reduced pressure fluctuations is also discussed by examining the magnitude-squared coherence between the velocity and pressure fluctuations in the vicinity of the noise sources. Moreover, a reduction in the correlation level of the wall pressure fluctuations along the vane leading-edge is observed, as well as destructive phase interference along the vane leading-edge.

Reducing and measuring fluctuations in the MST RFP: Enhancement of energy confinement and measurement of the MHD dynamo

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

Den Hartog, D.J.; Almagri, A.F.; Cekic, M.

1996-09-01

A three- to five-fold enhancement of the energy confinement time in a reversed-field pinch (RFP) has been achieved in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) by reducing the amplitude of tearing mode fluctuations responsible for anomalous transport in the core of the RFP. By applying a transient poloidal inductive electric field to flatten the current density profile, the fluctuation amplitude {tilde b}/B decreases from 1.5% to 0.8%, the electron temperature T{sub e0} increases from 250 eV to 370 eV, the ohmic input power decreases from 4.5 MW to approximately 1.5 MW, the poloidal beta {beta}{sub 0} increases from 6% to 9%,more » and the energy confinement time {tau}{sub E} increases from 1 ms to {approximately}5 ms in I{sub {phi}} = 340 kA plasmas with density {tilde n} = 1 {times} 10{sup 19} m{sup -3}. Current profile control methods are being developed for the RFP in a program to eliminate transport associated with these current-gradient-driven fluctuations. In addition to controlling the amplitude of the tearing modes, we are vigorously pursuing an understanding of the physics of these fluctuations. In particular, plasma flow, both equilibrium and fluctuating, plays a critical role in a diversity of physical phenomena in MST. The key results: 1) Edge probe measurements show that the MHD dynamo is active in low collisionality plasmas, while at high collisionality a new mechanism, the `electron diamagnetic dynamo,` is observed. 2) Core spectroscopic measurements show that the toroidal velocity fluctuations of the plasma are coherent with the large-scale magnetic tearing modes; the scalar product of these two fluctuating quantities is similar to that expected for the MHD dynamo electromotive force. 3) Toroidal plasma flow in MST exhibits large radial shear and can be actively controlled, including unlocking locked discharges, by modifying E{sub r} with a robust biased probe. 24 refs.« less

Ensemble Density Functional Approach to the Quantum Hall Effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinonen, O.

1997-03-01

The fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE) occurs in a two-dimensional electron gas of density n when a strong magnetic field perpendicular to the plane of the electron gas takes on certain strengths B(n). At these magnetic field strengths the system is incompressible, i.e., there is a finite cost in energy for creating charge density fluctuations in the bulk. Even so the boundary of the electron gas supports gapless modes of density waves. The bulk energy gap arises because of the strong electron-electron interactions. There are very good models for infinite homogeneous systems and for the gapless excitations of the boundary of the electron gas. But in order to explain experiments on quantum Hall systems, including Hall bars and quantum dots, new approaches are needed which can accurately describe inhomogeneous systems, including Landau level mixing and the spin degree of freedom. One possibility is an ensemble density functional theory approach that we have developed.(O. Heinonen, M.I. Lubin, and M.D. Johnson, Phys. Rev. Lett. 75), 4110 (1995)(O. Heinonen, M.I. Lubin, and M.D. Johnson, Int. J. Quant. Chem, December 1996) We have applied this to study edge reconstructions of spin-polarized quantum dots. The results for a six-electron test case are in excellent agreement with numerical diagonalizations. For larger systems, compressible and incompressible strips appear as the magnetic field is increased from the region in which a dot forms a compact so-called maximum density droplet. We have recently included spin degree of freedom to study the stability of a maximum density droplet, and charge-spin textures in inhomogeneous systems. As an example, when the Zeeman coupling is decreased, we find that the maximum density droplet develops a spin-structured edge instability. This implies that the spin degree of freedom may play a significant role in the study of edge modes at low or moderate magnetic fields.

Investigating the radial structure of axisymmetric fluctuations in the TCV tokamak with local and global gyrokinetic GENE simulations

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

Merlo, Gabriele; Brunner, Stephan; Huang, Zhouji

Axisymmetric (n=0) density fluctuations measured in the TCV tokamak are observed to possess a frequency f₀ which is either varying (radially dispersive oscillations) or a constant over a large fraction of the plasma minor radius (radially global oscillations) as reported in a companion paper [Z. Huang et al., this issue]. Given that f₀ scales with the sound speed and given the poloidal structure of density fluctuations, these oscillations were interpreted as Geodesic Acoustic Modes, even though f₀ is in fact smaller than the local linear GAM frequency f_GAM . In this work we employ the Eulerian gyrokinetic code GENE tomore » simulate TCV relevant conditions and investigate the nature properties of these oscillations, in particular their relation to the safety factor profile. Local and global simulations are carried out and a good qualitative agreement is observed between experiments and simulations. By varying also the plasma temperature and density profiles, we conclude that a variation of the edge safety factor alone is not sufficient to induce a transition from global to radially inhomogeneous oscillations, as was initially suggested by experimental results. This transition appears instead to be the combined result of variations in the different plasma profiles, collisionality and finite machine size effects. In conclusion, simulations also show that radially global GAM-like oscillations can be observed in all fluxes and fluctuation fields, suggesting that they are the result of a complex nonlinear process involving also finite toroidal mode numbers and not just linear global GAM eigenmodes.« less

Investigating the radial structure of axisymmetric fluctuations in the TCV tokamak with local and global gyrokinetic GENE simulations

DOE PAGES

Merlo, Gabriele; Brunner, Stephan; Huang, Zhouji; ...

2017-12-19

Axisymmetric (n=0) density fluctuations measured in the TCV tokamak are observed to possess a frequency f₀ which is either varying (radially dispersive oscillations) or a constant over a large fraction of the plasma minor radius (radially global oscillations) as reported in a companion paper [Z. Huang et al., this issue]. Given that f₀ scales with the sound speed and given the poloidal structure of density fluctuations, these oscillations were interpreted as Geodesic Acoustic Modes, even though f₀ is in fact smaller than the local linear GAM frequency f_GAM . In this work we employ the Eulerian gyrokinetic code GENE tomore » simulate TCV relevant conditions and investigate the nature properties of these oscillations, in particular their relation to the safety factor profile. Local and global simulations are carried out and a good qualitative agreement is observed between experiments and simulations. By varying also the plasma temperature and density profiles, we conclude that a variation of the edge safety factor alone is not sufficient to induce a transition from global to radially inhomogeneous oscillations, as was initially suggested by experimental results. This transition appears instead to be the combined result of variations in the different plasma profiles, collisionality and finite machine size effects. In conclusion, simulations also show that radially global GAM-like oscillations can be observed in all fluxes and fluctuation fields, suggesting that they are the result of a complex nonlinear process involving also finite toroidal mode numbers and not just linear global GAM eigenmodes.« less

Estimation of Kubo number and correlation length of fluctuating magnetic fields and pressure in BOUT + + edge pedestal collapse simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jaewook; Lee, W.-J.; Jhang, Hogun; Kaang, H. H.; Ghim, Y.-C.

2017-10-01

Stochastic magnetic fields are thought to be as one of the possible mechanisms for anomalous transport of density, momentum and heat across the magnetic field lines. Kubo number and Chirikov parameter are quantifications of the stochasticity, and previous studies show that perpendicular transport strongly depends on the magnetic Kubo number (MKN). If MKN is smaller than one, diffusion process will follow Rechester-Rosenbluth model; whereas if it is larger than one, percolation theory dominates the diffusion process. Thus, estimation of Kubo number plays an important role to understand diffusion process caused by stochastic magnetic fields. However, spatially localized experimental measurement of fluctuating magnetic fields in a tokamak is difficult, and we attempt to estimate MKNs using BOUT + + simulation data with pedestal collapse. In addition, we calculate correlation length of fluctuating pressures and Chirikov parameters to investigate variation correlation lengths in the simulation. We, then, discuss how one may experimentally estimate MKNs.

Fully electromagnetic nonlinear gyrokinetic equations for tokamak edge turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahm, T. S.; Wang, Lu; Madsen, J.

2009-02-01

An energy conserving set of the fully electromagnetic nonlinear gyrokinetic Vlasov equation and Maxwell's equations, which is applicable to both L-mode turbulence with large amplitude and H-mode turbulence in the presence of high E ×B shear has been derived. The phase-space action variational Lie perturbation method ensures the preservation of the conservation laws of the underlying Vlasov-Maxwell system. Generalized ordering takes ρi≪ρθi˜LE˜Lp≪R [here ρi is the thermal ion Larmor radius and ρθi=B /(Bθρi)], as typically observed in the tokamak H-mode edge, with LE and Lp being the radial electric field and pressure gradient lengths. k⊥ρi˜1 is assumed for generality, and the relative fluctuation amplitudes eδϕ /Ti˜δB/B are kept up to the second order. Extending the electrostatic theory in the presence of high E ×B shear [Hahm, Phys. Plasmas 3, 4658 (1996)], contributions of electromagnetic fluctuations to the particle charge density and current are explicitly evaluated via pullback transformation from the gyrocenter distribution function in the gyrokinetic Maxwell's equation.

Equatorial Density Irregularity Structures at Intermediate Scales and Their Temporal Evolution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kil, Hyosub; Heelis, R. A.

1998-01-01

We examine high resolution measurements of ion density in the equatorial ionosphere from the AE-E satellite during the years 1977-1981. Structure over spatial scales from 18 km to 200 m is characterized by the spectrum of irregularities at larger and smaller scales and at altitudes above 350 km and below 300 km. In the low-altitude region, only small amplitude large-scale (lambda greater than 5 km) density modulations are often observed, and thus the power spectrum of these density structures exhibits a steep spectral slope at kilometer scales. In the high-altitude region, sinusoidal density fluctuations, characterized by enhanced power near 1-km scale, are frequently observed during 2000-0200 LT. However, such fluctuations are confined to regions at the edges of larger bubble structures where the average background density is high. Small amplitude irregularity structures, observed at early local time hours, grow rapidly to high-intensity structures in about 90 min. Fully developed structures, which are observed at late local time hours, decay very slowly producing only-small differences in spectral characteristics even 4 hours later. The local time evolution of irregularity structure is investigated by using average statistics for low-(1% less than sigma less than 5%) and high-intensity (sigma greater than 10%) structures. At lower altitudes, little chance in the spectral slope is seen as a function of local time, while at higher attitudes the growth and maintenance of structures near 1 km scales dramatically affects the spectral slope.

Aerodynamic robustness in owl-inspired leading-edge serrations: a computational wind-gust model.

PubMed

Rao, Chen; Liu, Hao

2018-06-08

Owls are a master to achieve silent flight in gliding and flapping flights under natural turbulent environments owing to their unique wing morphologies. While the leading-edge serrations are recently revealed, as a passive flow control micro-device, to play a crucial role in aerodynamic force production and sound suppression [25], the characteristics of wind-gust rejection associated with leading-edge serrations remain unclear. Here we address a large-eddy simulation (LES)-based study of aerodynamic robustness in owl-inspired leading-edge serrations, which is conducted with clean and serrated wing models through mimicking wind-gusts under a longitudinal fluctuation in free-stream inflow and a lateral fluctuation in pitch angle over a broad range of angles of attack (AoAs) over 0° ≤ Φ ≤ 20°. Our results show that the leading-edge serration-based passive flow control mechanisms associated with laminar-turbulent transition work effectively under fluctuated inflow and wing pitch, indicating that the leading-edge serrations are of potential gust fluctuation rejection or robustness in aerodynamic performance. Moreover, it is revealed that the tradeoff between turbulent flow control (i.e., aero-acoustic suppression) and force production in the serrated model holds independently to the wind-gust environments: poor at lower AoAs but capable of achieving equivalent aerodynamic performance at higher AoAs > 15o compared to the clean model. Our results reveal that the owl-inspired leading-edge serrations can be a robust micro-device for aero-acoustic control coping with unsteady and complex wind environments in biomimetic rotor designs for various fluid machineries. © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Two-terminal conductance fluctuations in the integer quantum Hall regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ho, Chang-Ming

1999-09-01

Motivated by recent experiments on the conductance fluctuations in mesoscopic integer quantum Hall systems, we consider a model in which the Coulomb interactions are incorporated into the picture of edge-state transport through a single saddle point. The occupancies of classical localized states in the two-dimensional electron system change due to the interactions between electrons when the gate voltage on top of the device is varied. The electrostatic potential between the localized states and the saddle point causes fluctuations of the saddle-point potential and thus fluctuations of the transmission probability of edge states. This simple model is studied numerically and compared with the observation.

Communication: Dominance of extreme statistics in a prototype many-body Brownian ratchet.

PubMed

Hohlfeld, Evan; Geissler, Phillip L

2014-10-28

Many forms of cell motility rely on Brownian ratchet mechanisms that involve multiple stochastic processes. We present a computational and theoretical study of the nonequilibrium statistical dynamics of such a many-body ratchet, in the specific form of a growing polymer gel that pushes a diffusing obstacle. We find that oft-neglected correlations among constituent filaments impact steady-state kinetics and significantly deplete the gel's density within molecular distances of its leading edge. These behaviors are captured quantitatively by a self-consistent theory for extreme fluctuations in filaments' spatial distribution.

A neutral lithium beam source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, XiaoDong; Wang, ZhengMin; Hu, LiQun

1994-04-01

A low energy neutral lithium beam source with energy about 6 keV and a neutral beam equivalent current of 20 μA/cm2 has been developed in ASIPP in order to measure the density gradient and the fluctuations in the edge plasma of the HT-6M tokamak. In the source, lithium ions are extracted from a solid emitter (β-eucryptite), focused in a two-tube immersion lens, and neutralized in a charge-exchange cell with sodium. This source operates in pulsed mode. The pulse length is adjustable from 10 to 100 ms.

Helical Spin Order from Topological Dirac and Weyl Semimetals

DOE PAGES

Sun, Xiao-Qi; Zhang, Shou-Cheng; Wang, Zhong

2015-08-14

In this paper, we study dynamical mass generation and the resultant helical spin orders in topological Dirac and Weyl semimetals, including the edge states of quantum spin Hall insulators, the surface states of weak topological insulators, and the bulk materials of Weyl semimetals. In particular, the helical spin textures of Weyl semimetals manifest the spin-momentum locking of Weyl fermions in a visible manner. Finally, the spin-wave fluctuations of the helical order carry electric charge density; therefore, the spin textures can be electrically controlled in a simple and predictable manner.

External excitation of a short-wavelength fluctuation in the Alcator C-Mod edge plasma and its relationship to the quasi-coherent mode

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

Golfinopoulos, T.; LaBombard, B.; Parker, R. R.

2014-05-15

A novel “Shoelace” antenna has been used to inductively excite a short-wavelength edge fluctuation in a tokamak boundary layer for the first time. The principal design parameters, k{sub ⊥}=1.5±0.1 cm{sup −1} and 45

The path to exploring physics in advanced devices with a heavy ion beam probe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demers, D. R.; Fimognari, P. J.

2012-10-01

The scientific progression of alternative or advanced devices must be met with comparable diagnostic technologies. Heavy ion beam probe innovations from ongoing diagnostic development are meeting this challenge. The diagnostic is uniquely capable of measuring the radial electric field, critically important in stellarators, simultaneously with fluctuations of electron density and electric potential. HIBP measurements can also improve the understanding of edge physics in tokamaks and spherical tori. It can target issues associated with the pedestal region, including the mechanisms underlying the L-H transition, the onset and evolution of ELMs, and the evolution of the electron current density. Beam attenuation (and resulting low signal to noise levels), a challenge to operation on devices with large plasma cross-sections and high ne and Te, can be mitigated with greater beam energies and currents. Other application challenges, such as measurements of plasma fluctuations and profile variations with elevated temporal and spatial resolutions, can be achieved with innovative detectors. The scientific studies motivating the implementation of an HIBP on HSX, ASDEX-U, and W7-X will be presented along with preliminary scoping studies.

Radiative instabilities in sheared magnetic field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Drake, J. F.; Sparks, L.; Van Hoven, G.

1988-01-01

The structure and growth rate of the radiative instability in a sheared magnetic field B have been calculated analytically using the Braginskii fluid equations. In a shear layer, temperature and density perturbations are linked by the propagation of sound waves parallel to the local magnetic field. As a consequence, density clumping or condensation plays an important role in driving the instability. Parallel thermal conduction localizes the mode to a narrow layer where K(parallel) is small and stabilizes short wavelengths k larger-than(c) where k(c) depends on the local radiation and conduction rates. Thermal coupling to ions also limits the width of the unstable spectrum. It is shown that a broad spectrum of modes is typically unstable in tokamak edge plasmas and it is argued that this instability is sufficiently robust to drive the large-amplitude density fluctuations often measured there.

On the aeroacoustic tonal noise generation mechanism of a sharp-edged plate.

PubMed

Moreau, Danielle J; Brooks, Laura A; Doolan, Con J

2011-04-01

This letter presents an experimental study on the tonal noise generated by a sharp-edged flat plate at low-to-moderate Reynolds number. Flow and far-field noise data reveal that, in this particular case, the tonal noise appears to be governed by vortex shedding processes. Also related to the existence of the tonal noise is a region of separated flow slightly upstream of the trailing edge. Hydrodynamic fluctuations at selected vortex shedding frequencies are strongly amplified by the inflectional mean velocity profile in the separated shear layer. The amplified hydrodynamic fluctuations are diffracted by the trailing edge, producing strong tonal noise.

Microwave Imaging Reflectometry for the study of Edge Harmonic Oscillations on DIII-D [Microwave Imaging Reflectometry (MIR) for the study of Edge Harmonic Oscillations (EHOs) on DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Ren, X.; Chen, M.; Chen, X.; ...

2015-10-23

Quiescent H-mode (QH) is an ELM free mode of operation in which edge-localized harmonic oscillations (EHOs) are believed to enhance particle transport, thereby stabilizing ELMs and preventing damage to the divertor and plasma facing components. Microwave Imaging Reflectometer (MIR) enabling direct comparison between the measured and simulated 2D images of density fluctuations near the edge can determine the 2D structure of density oscillation which can help to explain the physics behind EHO modes. MIR data sometimes indicates a counter-propagation between higher (n>1) and dominant (n=1) harmonics of coherent EHOs in the steep gradient regions of the pedestal. To preclude diagnosticmore » artifacts, we have performed forward modeling that includes possible optical misalignments to show that offsets between transmitting and receiving antennas do not account for this feature. We have also simulated the non-uniform rotation of the EHO structure, which induces multiple harmonics that are properly characterized in the synthetic diagnostic. Excluding these possible explanations for the data, the counter-propagation observed in MIR data, which is not corroborated by external Mirnov coil array measurements, may be due to subtleties of the eigenmode structure, such as an inversion radius consistent with a magnetic island. Similar effects are observed in analysis of internal ECE-Imaging and BES data. Furthermore, the identification of a non-ideal structure motivates further exploration of nonlinear models of this instability.« less

Observation of improved and degraded confinement with driven flow on the LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffner, David

2012-10-01

External continuous control over azimuthal flow and flow shear has been achieved in a linear plasma device for the first time allowing for a careful study of the effect of flow shear on pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and transport in the edge of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD). The flow is controlled using biasable iris-like limiters situated axially between the cathode source and main plasma chamber. LAPD rotates spontaneously in the ion diamagnetic direction (IDD); positive limiter bias first reduces, then minimizes (producing a near-zero shear state), and finally reverses the flow into the electron diamagnetic direction (EDD). Degradation of particle confinement is observed in the minimum shearing state and reduction in turbulent particle flux is observed with increasing shearing in both flow directions. Near-complete suppression of turbulent particle flux is observed for shearing rates comparable to the turbulent autocorrelation rate measured in the minimum shear state. Turbulent flux suppression is dominated by amplitude reduction in low-frequency (>10kHz) density fluctuations and a reduction in the radial correlation length. An increase in fluctuations for the highest shearing states is observed with the emergence of a coherent mode which does not lead to net particle transport. Magnetic field is varied in order to explore whether and how field effects transport modification. Calculations of transport equations are used to predict density profiles given source and temperature profiles and can show the level of transport predicted to be necessary in order to produce the experimental density profiles observed. Finally, the variations of density fluctuations and radial correlation length are fit well with power-laws and compare favorably to simple models of shear suppression of transport.

A virtual pebble game to ensemble average graph rigidity.

PubMed

González, Luis C; Wang, Hui; Livesay, Dennis R; Jacobs, Donald J

2015-01-01

The body-bar Pebble Game (PG) algorithm is commonly used to calculate network rigidity properties in proteins and polymeric materials. To account for fluctuating interactions such as hydrogen bonds, an ensemble of constraint topologies are sampled, and average network properties are obtained by averaging PG characterizations. At a simpler level of sophistication, Maxwell constraint counting (MCC) provides a rigorous lower bound for the number of internal degrees of freedom (DOF) within a body-bar network, and it is commonly employed to test if a molecular structure is globally under-constrained or over-constrained. MCC is a mean field approximation (MFA) that ignores spatial fluctuations of distance constraints by replacing the actual molecular structure by an effective medium that has distance constraints globally distributed with perfect uniform density. The Virtual Pebble Game (VPG) algorithm is a MFA that retains spatial inhomogeneity in the density of constraints on all length scales. Network fluctuations due to distance constraints that may be present or absent based on binary random dynamic variables are suppressed by replacing all possible constraint topology realizations with the probabilities that distance constraints are present. The VPG algorithm is isomorphic to the PG algorithm, where integers for counting "pebbles" placed on vertices or edges in the PG map to real numbers representing the probability to find a pebble. In the VPG, edges are assigned pebble capacities, and pebble movements become a continuous flow of probability within the network. Comparisons between the VPG and average PG results over a test set of proteins and disordered lattices demonstrate the VPG quantitatively estimates the ensemble average PG results well. The VPG performs about 20% faster than one PG, and it provides a pragmatic alternative to averaging PG rigidity characteristics over an ensemble of constraint topologies. The utility of the VPG falls in between the most accurate but slowest method of ensemble averaging over hundreds to thousands of independent PG runs, and the fastest but least accurate MCC.

Spectral broadening measurement of the lower hybrid waves during long pulse operation in Tore Supra

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

Berger-By, G.; Decampy, J.; Goniche, M.

2014-02-12

On many tokamaks (C-Mod, EAST, FTU, JET, HT-7, TS), a decrease in current drive efficiency of the Lower Hybrid (LH) waves is observed in high electron density plasmas. The cause of this behaviour is believed to be: Parametric Instabilities (PI) and Scattering from Density Fluctuations (SDF). For the ITER LH system, our knowledge must be improved to avoid such effects and to maintain the LH current drive efficiency at high density. The ITPA IOS group coordinates this effort [1] and all experimental data are essential to validate the numerical codes in progress. Usually the broadening of the LH wave frequencymore » spectrum is measured by a probe located in the plasma edge. For this study, the frequency spectrum of a reflected power signal from the LH antenna was used. In addition, the spectrum measurements are compared with the density fluctuations observed on RF probes located at the antenna mouth. Several plasma currents (0.6 to 1.4 MA) and densities up to 5.2 × 10{sup 19} m−3 have been realised on Tore Supra (TS) long pulses and with high injected RF power, up to 5.4 MW-30s. This allowed using a spectrum analyser to make several measurements during the plasma pulse. The side lobe amplitude, shifted by 20-30MHz with respect to the main peak, grows with increasing density. Furthermore, for an increase of plasma current at the same density, the spectra broaden and become asymmetric. Some parametric dependencies are shown in this paper.« less

Spectral broadening measurement of the lower hybrid waves during long pulse operation in Tore Supra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berger-By, G.; Decampy, J.; Antar, G. Y.; Goniche, M.; Ekedahl, A.; Delpech, L.; Leroux, F.; Tore Supra Team

2014-02-01

On many tokamaks (C-Mod, EAST, FTU, JET, HT-7, TS), a decrease in current drive efficiency of the Lower Hybrid (LH) waves is observed in high electron density plasmas. The cause of this behaviour is believed to be: Parametric Instabilities (PI) and Scattering from Density Fluctuations (SDF). For the ITER LH system, our knowledge must be improved to avoid such effects and to maintain the LH current drive efficiency at high density. The ITPA IOS group coordinates this effort [1] and all experimental data are essential to validate the numerical codes in progress. Usually the broadening of the LH wave frequency spectrum is measured by a probe located in the plasma edge. For this study, the frequency spectrum of a reflected power signal from the LH antenna was used. In addition, the spectrum measurements are compared with the density fluctuations observed on RF probes located at the antenna mouth. Several plasma currents (0.6 to 1.4 MA) and densities up to 5.2 × 1019 m-3 have been realised on Tore Supra (TS) long pulses and with high injected RF power, up to 5.4 MW-30s. This allowed using a spectrum analyser to make several measurements during the plasma pulse. The side lobe amplitude, shifted by 20-30MHz with respect to the main peak, grows with increasing density. Furthermore, for an increase of plasma current at the same density, the spectra broaden and become asymmetric. Some parametric dependencies are shown in this paper.

Edge transport and mode structure of a QCM-like fluctuation driven by the Shoelace antenna

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golfinopoulos, T.; LaBombard, B.; Brunner, D.; Terry, J. L.; Baek, S. G.; Ennever, P.; Edlund, E.; Han, W.; Burke, W. M.; Wolfe, S. M.; Irby, J. H.; Hughes, J. W.; Fitzgerald, E. W.; Granetz, R. S.; Greenwald, M. J.; Leccacorvi, R.; Marmar, E. S.; Pierson, S. Z.; Porkolab, M.; Vieira, R. F.; Wukitch, S. J.; The Alcator C-Mod Team

2018-05-01

The Shoelace antenna was built to drive edge fluctuations in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, matching the wavenumber (k\\perp≈1.5 cm‑1) and frequency (30≲ f ≲ 200 kHz) of the quasi-coherent mode (QCM), which is responsible for regulating transport across the plasma boundary in the steady-state, ELM-free Enhanced D α (EDA) H-mode. Initial experiments in 2012 demonstrated that the antenna drove a resonant response in the edge plasma in steady-state EDA and transient, non-ELMy H-modes, but transport measurements were unavailable. In 2016, the Shoelace antenna was relocated to enable direct measurements of driven transport by a reciprocating Mirror Langmuir Probe, while also making available gas puff imaging and reflectometer data to provide additional radial localization of the driven fluctuation. This new data suggests a  ∼4 mm-wide mode layer centered on or just outside the separatrix. Fluctuations coherent with the antenna produced a radial electron flux with {Γ_e}/{n_e}∼4 m s‑1 in EDA H-mode, smaller than but comparable to the QCM level. But in transient ELM-free H-mode, {Γ_e}/{n_e} was an order of magnitude smaller, and driven fluctuations reduced by a factor of ≳ 3. The driven mode is quantitatively similar to the intrinsic QCM across measured spectral quantities, except that it is more coherent and weaker. This work informs the prospect of achieving control of edge transport by direct coupling to edge modes, as well as the use of such active coupling for diagnostic purposes.

Ion heating and short wavelength fluctuations in a helicon plasma source

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

Scime, E. E.; Carr, J. Jr.; Galante, M.

2013-03-15

For typical helicon source parameters, the driving antenna can couple to two plasma modes; the weakly damped 'helicon' wave, and the strongly damped, short wavelength, slow wave. Here, we present direct measurements, obtained with two different techniques, of few hundred kHz, short wavelength fluctuations that are parametrically driven by the primary antenna and localized to the edge of the plasma. The short wavelength fluctuations appear for plasma source parameters such that the driving frequency is approximately equal to the lower hybrid frequency. Measurements of the steady-state ion temperature and fluctuation amplitude radial profiles suggest that the anomalously high ion temperaturesmore » observed at the edge of helicon sources result from damping of the short wavelength fluctuations. Additional measurements of the time evolution of the ion temperature and fluctuation profiles in pulsed helicon source plasmas support the same conclusion.« less

ORNL diagnostic and modeling development for LAPD ICRF experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isler, R. C.; Caughman, J. B. O.; Lau, C.; Martin, E. H.; Perkins, R. J.; Compernolle, B. Van; Vincena, S.; Tripathi, S. K. P.; Gekelman, W.

2017-10-01

PPPL, UCLA, and ORNL scientists have recently collaborated on a three week ICRF campaign at the upgraded LAPD device to study near field-plasma interactions associated with a single strap antenna driven at 2.38 MHz with 100 kW of RF power. This poster highlights ORNL involvement through implementation of the following diagnostics: an optical emission probe to measure neutral density, a retarding field energy analyzer to measure fast ions, phase locked imaging to measure line integrated RF-driven optical emission fluctuations, and an RF compensated triple Langmuir probe to measure density and temperature. To interpret the results of the experimental campaign a 3D cold plasma finite element model with realistic antenna and vacuum vessel geometry was developed in COMSOL. A summary of these results will be discussed. Highlights include a proof of principle localized and spatially resolved measurement of the neutral density, a strong increase in RF-driven optical emission fluctuations directly in front of the RF antenna strap, a shift in fast ion energies near the plasma edge, and qualitative agreement between the COMSOL cold plasma model with the various diagnostics. Funded by the DOE OFES (DE-AC05-00OR22725, DE-AC02-09CH11466, and DE-FC02-07ER54918) and the Univ. of California (12-LR-237124).

Collisionality dependence and ion species effects on heat transport in He and H plasma, and the role of ion scale turbulence in LHD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, K.; Nagaoka, K.; Murakami, S.; Takahashi, H.; Osakabe, M.; Yokoyama, M.; Seki, R.; Michael, C. A.; Yamaguchi, H.; Suzuki, C.; Shimizu, A.; Tokuzawa, T.; Yoshinuma, M.; Akiyama, T.; Ida, K.; Yamada, I.; Yasuhara, R.; Funaba, H.; Kobayashi, T.; Yamada, H.; Du, X. D.; Vyacheslavov, L. N.; Mikkelsen, D. R.; Yun, G. S.; the LHD Experimental Group

2017-11-01

Surveys of the ion and electron heat transports of neutral beam (NB) heating plasma were carried out by power balance analysis in He and H rich plasma at LHD. Collisionality was scanned by changing density and heating power. The characteristics of the transport vary depending on collisionality. In low collisionality, with low density and high heating power, an ion internal transport barrier (ITB) was formed. The ion heat conductivity (χ i) is lower than electron heat conductivity (χ e) in the core region at ρ  <  0.7. On the other hand, in high collisionality, with high density and low heating power, χ i is higher than χ e across the entire range of plasma. These different confinement regimes are associated with different fluctuation characteristics. In ion ITB, fluctuation has a peak at ρ  =  0.7, and in normal confinement, fluctuation has a peak at ρ  =  1.0. The two confinement modes change gradually depending on the collisionality. Scans of concentration ratio between He and H were also performed. The ion confinement improvements were investigated using gyro-Bohm normalization, taking account of the effective mass and charge. The concentration ratio affected the normalized χ i only in the edge region (ρ ~ 1.0). This indicates ion species effects vary depending on collisionality. Turbulence was modulated by the fast ion loss instability. The modulation of turbulence is higher in H rich than in He rich plasma.

Enhanced H-mode pedestals with lithium injection in DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Osborne, Thomas H.; Jackson, Gary L.; Yan, Zheng; ...

2015-05-08

Periods of edge localized mode (ELM)-free H-mode with increased pedestal pressure and width were observed in the DIII-D tokamak when density fluctuations localized to the region near the separatrix were present. Injection of a powder of 45 μm diameter lithium particles increased the duration of the enhanced pedestal phases to up to 350 ms, and also increased the likelihood of a transition to the enhanced phase. Lithium injection at a level sufficient for triggering the extended enhanced phases resulted in significant lithium in the plasma core, but carbon and other higher Z impurities as well as radiated power levels weremore » reduced. Recycling of the working deuterium gas appeared unaffected by this level of lithium injection. The ion scale, k θ ρ s ~ 0.1–0.2, density fluctuations propagated in the electron drift direction with f ~ 80 kHz and occurred in bursts every ~1 ms. The fluctuation bursts correlated with plasma loss resulting in a flattening of the pressure profile in a region near the separatrix. This localized flattening 2 allowed higher overall pedestal pressure at the peeling-ballooning stability limit and higher pressure than expected under the EPED model due to reduction of the pressure gradient below the “ballooning critical profile”. Furthermore, reduction of the ion pressure by lithium dilution may contribute to the long ELM-free periods.« less

Wave excitation by nonlinear coupling among shear Alfvén waves in a mirror-confined plasma

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

Ikezoe, R., E-mail: ikezoe@prc.tsukuba.ac.jp; Ichimura, M.; Okada, T.

2015-09-15

A shear Alfvén wave at slightly below the ion-cyclotron frequency overcomes the ion-cyclotron damping and grows because of the strong anisotropy of the ion temperature in the magnetic mirror configuration, and is called the Alfvén ion-cyclotron (AIC) wave. Density fluctuations caused by the AIC waves and the ion-cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) waves used for ion heating have been detected using a reflectometer in a wide radial region of the GAMMA 10 tandem mirror plasma. Various wave-wave couplings are clearly observed in the density fluctuations in the interior of the plasma, but these couplings are not so clear in themore » magnetic fluctuations at the plasma edge when measured using a pick-up coil. A radial dependence of the nonlinearity is found, particularly in waves with the difference frequencies of the AIC waves; bispectral analysis shows that such wave-wave coupling is significant near the core, but is not so evident at the periphery. In contrast, nonlinear coupling with the low-frequency background turbulence is quite distinct at the periphery. Nonlinear coupling associated with the AIC waves may play a significant role in the beta- and anisotropy-limits of a mirror-confined plasma through decay of the ICRF heating power and degradation of the plasma confinement by nonlinearly generated waves.« less

Wall Modeled Large Eddy Simulation of Airfoil Trailing Edge Noise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kocheemoolayil, Joseph; Lele, Sanjiva

2014-11-01

Large eddy simulation (LES) of airfoil trailing edge noise has largely been restricted to low Reynolds numbers due to prohibitive computational cost. Wall modeled LES (WMLES) is a computationally cheaper alternative that makes full-scale Reynolds numbers relevant to large wind turbines accessible. A systematic investigation of trailing edge noise prediction using WMLES is conducted. Detailed comparisons are made with experimental data. The stress boundary condition from a wall model does not constrain the fluctuating velocity to vanish at the wall. This limitation has profound implications for trailing edge noise prediction. The simulation over-predicts the intensity of fluctuating wall pressure and far-field noise. An improved wall model formulation that minimizes the over-prediction of fluctuating wall pressure is proposed and carefully validated. The flow configurations chosen for the study are from the workshop on benchmark problems for airframe noise computations. The large eddy simulation database is used to examine the adequacy of scaling laws that quantify the dependence of trailing edge noise on Mach number, Reynolds number and angle of attack. Simplifying assumptions invoked in engineering approaches towards predicting trailing edge noise are critically evaluated. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from GE Global Research and thank Cascade Technologies Inc. for providing access to their massively-parallel large eddy simulation framework.

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

Repins, Ingrid; Mansfield, Lorelle; Kanevce, Ana

Band-edge effects - including grading, electrostatic fluctuations, bandgap fluctuations, and band tails - affect chalcogenide device efficiency. These effects now require more careful consideration as efficiencies increase beyond 20%. Several aspects of the relationships between band-edge phenomena and device performance for NREL absorbers are examined. For Cu(In, Ga)Se2 devices, recent increases in diffusion length imply changes to the optimum bandgap profile. The origin, impact, and modification of electrostatic and bandgap fluctuations are also discussed. The application of the same principles to devices based on CdTe, kesterites, and emerging absorbers (Cu2SnS3, CuSbS2), considering differences in materials properties, is examined.

Equilibrium fitting analysis and propagation of magnetic fluctuations in the Multi-pulsing HIST plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, K.; Hanano, T.; Ito, K.; Ishihara, M.; Higashi, T.; Kikuchi, Y.; Fukumoto, N.; Nagata, M.

2011-10-01

The current drive by Multi-pulsing Coaxial Helicity Injection (M-CHI) has been performed on HIST in a wide range of configurations from high-q ST to low-q ST and spheromak generated by the utilization of the toroidal field. It is a key issue to investigate the dynamo mechanism required to maintain each configuration. To identify the detail mechanisms regarding a helicity transport from the edge to the core region, we have investigated the characteristics of magnetic field fluctuations observed in M- CHI experiments. We have fitted internal magnetic field data to a ST configuration calculated by the equilibrium code with a hollow pressure profile in order to find the sustained configurations. Fluctuation frequency is identified as about 80 kHz and it has been found to propagate from the open flux column region toward the core region. The toroidal mode n=0 is dominant in the high TF coil current operation. Alfven wave generation has been identified by evaluating its velocity as a function of plasma density or magnetic field strength. We will discuss the relationship between the Alfven wave and helicity propagation.

Flight and wind-tunnel correlation of boundary-layer transition on the AEDC transition cone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fisher, D. L.; Dougherty, N. S., Jr.

1982-01-01

Transition and fluctuating surface pressure data were acquired on a 10 deg included angle cone, using the same instrumentation and technique over a wide range of Mach and Reynolds numbers in 23 wind tunnels and in flight. Transition was detected with a traversing pitot-pressure probe in contact with the surface. The surface pressure fluctuations were measured with microphones set flush in the cone surface. Good correlation of end of transition Reynolds number RE(T) was obtained between data from the lower disturbance wind tunnels and flight up to a boundary layer edge Mach number, M(e) = 1.2. Above M(e) = 1.2, however, this correlation deteriorates, with the flight Re(T) being 25 to 30% higher than the wind tunnel Re(T) at M(e) = 1.6. The end of transition Reynolds number correlated within + or - 20% with the surface pressure fluctuations, according to the equation used. Broad peaks in the power spectral density distributions indicated that Tollmien-Schlichting waves were the probable cause of transition in flight and in some of the wind tunnels.

Photovoltaic measurement of bandgap narrowing in moderately doped silicon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

del Alamo, Jesus A.; Swanson, Richard M.; Lietoila, Arto

1983-05-01

Solar cells have been fabricated on n-type and p-type moderately doped Si. The shrinkage of the Si bandgap has been obtained by measuring the internal quantum efficiency in the near infrared spectrum ( hv = 1.00-1.25 eV) around the fundamental absorption edge. The results agree with previous optical measurements of bandgap narrowing in Si. It is postulated that this optically-determined bandgap narrowing is the rigid shrinkage of the forbidden gap due to many-body effects. The "device bandgap narrowing" obtained by measuring the pn product in bipolar devices leads to discrepant values because (i) the density of states in the conduction and valence band is modified due to the potential fluctuations originated in the variations in local impurity density, and (ii) the influence of Fermi-Dirac statistics.

Static charge-density-wave order in the superconducting state of La 2 - x Ba x CuO 4

DOE PAGES

Thampy, V.; Chen, X. M.; Cao, Y.; ...

2017-06-15

Charge-density-wave (CDW) correlations feature prominently in the phase diagram of the cuprates, motivating competing theories of whether fluctuating CDW correlations aid superconductivity or whether static CDW order coexists with superconductivity in inhomogeneous or spatially modulated states. Here we report Cu L-edge resonant x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements of CDW correlations in superconducting La 2–xBa xCuO 4, x = 0.11. Static CDW order is shown to exist in the superconducting state at low temperatures and to persist up to at least 85% of the CDW transition temperature. As a result, we discuss the implications of our observations for how nominally competingmore » order parameters can coexist in the cuprates.« less

Functional traits variation explains the distribution of Aextoxicon punctatum (Aextoxicaceae) in pronounced moisture gradients within fog-dependent forest fragments.

PubMed

Salgado-Negret, Beatriz; Canessa, Rafaella; Valladares, Fernando; Armesto, Juan J; Pérez, Fernanda

2015-01-01

Climate change and fragmentation are major threats to world forests. Understanding how functional traits related to drought tolerance change across small-scale, pronounced moisture gradients in fragmented forests is important to predict species' responses to these threats. In the case of Aextoxicon punctatum, a dominant canopy tree in fog-dependent rain forest patches in semiarid Chile, we explored how the magnitude, variability and correlation patterns of leaf and xylem vessel traits and hydraulic conductivity varied across soil moisture (SM) gradients established within and among forest patches of different size, which are associated with differences in tree establishment and mortality patterns. Leaf traits varied across soil-moisture gradients produced by fog interception. Trees growing at drier leeward edges showed higher leaf mass per area, trichome and stomatal density than trees from the wetter core and windward zones. In contrast, xylem vessel traits (vessels diameter and density) did not vary producing loss of hydraulic conductivity at drier leeward edges. We also detected higher levels of phenotypic integration and variability at leeward edges. The ability of A. punctatum to modify leaf traits in response to differences in SM availability established over short distances (<500 m) facilitates its persistence in contrasting microhabitats within forest patches. However, xylem anatomy showed limited plasticity, which increases cavitation risk at leeward edges. Greater patch fragmentation, together with fluctuations in irradiance and SM in small patches, could result in higher risk of drought-related tree mortality, with profound impacts on hydrological balances at the ecosystem scale.

Functional traits variation explains the distribution of Aextoxicon punctatum (Aextoxicaceae) in pronounced moisture gradients within fog-dependent forest fragments

PubMed Central

Salgado-Negret, Beatriz; Canessa, Rafaella; Valladares, Fernando; Armesto, Juan J.; Pérez, Fernanda

2015-01-01

Climate change and fragmentation are major threats to world forests. Understanding how functional traits related to drought tolerance change across small-scale, pronounced moisture gradients in fragmented forests is important to predict species’ responses to these threats. In the case of Aextoxicon punctatum, a dominant canopy tree in fog-dependent rain forest patches in semiarid Chile, we explored how the magnitude, variability and correlation patterns of leaf and xylem vessel traits and hydraulic conductivity varied across soil moisture (SM) gradients established within and among forest patches of different size, which are associated with differences in tree establishment and mortality patterns. Leaf traits varied across soil-moisture gradients produced by fog interception. Trees growing at drier leeward edges showed higher leaf mass per area, trichome and stomatal density than trees from the wetter core and windward zones. In contrast, xylem vessel traits (vessels diameter and density) did not vary producing loss of hydraulic conductivity at drier leeward edges. We also detected higher levels of phenotypic integration and variability at leeward edges. The ability of A. punctatum to modify leaf traits in response to differences in SM availability established over short distances (<500 m) facilitates its persistence in contrasting microhabitats within forest patches. However, xylem anatomy showed limited plasticity, which increases cavitation risk at leeward edges. Greater patch fragmentation, together with fluctuations in irradiance and SM in small patches, could result in higher risk of drought-related tree mortality, with profound impacts on hydrological balances at the ecosystem scale. PMID:26257746

The Explorer of Diffuse Galactic Emission (EDGE): Determination of Large-Scale Structure Evolution from Measurement of the Anisotropy of the Cosmic Infrared Background

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silverberg, R. F.; Cheng, E. S.; Cottingham, D. A.; Fixsen, D. J.; Meyer, S. S.; Wilson, G. W.

2004-01-01

The formation of the first objects, stars and galaxies and their subsequent evolution remain a cosmological unknown. Few observational probes of these processes exist. The Cosmic Infrared Background (CIB) originates from this era, and can provide information to test models of both galaxy evolution and the growth of primordial structure. The Explorer of Diffuse Galactic Emission (EDGE) is a proposed balloon-borne mission designed to measure the spatial fluctuations in the CIB from 200 micrometers to 1 millimeter on 6' to 3 degree scales with 2 microKelvin sensitivity/resolution element. Such measurements would provide a sensitive probe of the large-scale variation in protogalaxy density at redshifts approximately 0.5-3. In this paper, we present the scientific justification for the mission and show a concept for the instrument and observations.

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

Javaid, Saqib; National Centre of Physics, Islamabad 45320; Javed Akhtar, M., E-mail: javedakhtar6@gmail.com

Recently, experimental results have shown that photovoltaic properties of Fullerene (C60)/Phthalocyanine based devices improve considerably as molecular orientation is changed from edge-on to face-on. In this work, we have studied the impact of molecular orientation on C60/ZnPc interfacial properties, particularly focusing on experimentally observed face-on and edge-on configuration, using density functional theory based simulations. The results show that the interfacial electronic properties are strongly anisotropic: direction of charge transfer and interface dipole fluctuates as molecular orientation is switched. As a result of orientation dependant interface dipole, difference between acceptor LUMO and donor HOMO increases as the orientation is changed frommore » edge-on to face-on, suggesting a consequent increase in open circuit voltage (V{sub OC}). Moreover, adsorption and electronic properties indicate that the interfacial interactions are much stronger in the face-on configuration which should further facilitate the charge-separation process. These findings elucidate the energy level alignment at C60/ZnPc interface and help to identify interface dipole as the origin of the orientation dependence of V{sub OC}.« less

Particle versus density models in spark formation: X-rays from pulled fronts?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ebert, Ute

2008-03-01

Streamer discharges govern the early stages of sparks and lightning, of spark-like phenomena in water, oil, and semiconductors, in industrial corona reactors, or in gigantic sprite discharges above thunderclouds [1,2]. Thunderstorms recently have been found to emit terrestrial gamma-ray flashes or X-rays towards satellites and towards the ground. These emissions might be explained by particle models of ``pulled'' streamer ionization fronts. In general, the growing discharge channel has an inner structure with multiple scales [1-3]. While the largest part of this channel can be treated in a density approximation for the electrons and ions, the dynamics of the ionization front is that of a pulled front; it is determined in the leading edge where the density approach eventually breaks down. We therefore investigate a realistic MC particle model for the motion of single electrons in a discharge in pure nitrogen. The particle model not only incorporates particle fluctuations, but also shows that the electron energies are systematically larger in the leading edge of the front than in the corresponding density model, and that the ionization level behind the front is higher as well, while the front velocity hardly changes [3]. These effects increase with increasing applied electric field and might actually cause the recently observed X-ray emission from lightning through rare very energetic runaway electrons in the tail of the distribution. Comparing the leading edge of the particle front with a linear particle avalanche, the avalanche shows the same mean density gradient and energy overshoot in its leading edge as the nonlinear front; hence the pulled front concept in this sense applies to discrete particle models as well [3]. This gives a key to understanding the above effects through analytical approximations and to develop efficient numerical methods coupling particle and density models in space.[1] U. Ebert et al., Plasma Sources Sci. Techn. 15, S118 (2006) (arXiv:physics/0604023).[2] Streamers, sprites, leaders, lightning: From micro- to macroscales, workshop in Oct. 2007: http://www.lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2007/265/info.php3?wsid=265; and cluster issue in J. Phys. D in fall 2008; organizers/editors: U. Ebert and D.D. Sentman.[3] C. Li et al., J. Appl. Phys. 101, 123305 (2007) (arXiv:physics/0702129).

Population density, sex ratio, body size and fluctuating asymmetry of Ceroglossus chilensis (Carabidae) in the fragmented Maulino forest and surrounding pine plantations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henríquez, Paula; Donoso, Denise S.; Grez, Audrey A.

2009-11-01

Habitat fragmentation results in new environmental conditions that may stress resident populations. Such stress may be reflected in demographical or morphological changes in the individuals inhabiting those landscapes. This study evaluates the effects of fragmentation of the Maulino forest on population density, sex ratio, body size, and fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of the endemic carabid Ceroglossus chilensis. Individuals of C. chilensis were collected during 2006 in five locations at Los Queules National Reserve (continuous forest), in five forest fragments and in five areas of surrounding pine plantations (matrix). In each location, once a season, 40 pitfall traps (20 in the centre, 20 in the edge), were opened for 72 h. Population density of C. chilensis was higher in the small fragments than in the pine matrix, with intermediate densities in the continuous forest; sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1 in the three habitats. Individuals from the centre of fragments were smaller than those from the centre of continuous forest, and FA did not vary significantly among habitats. These results suggest that small forest fragments maintain dense populations of C. chilensis and therefore they must be considered in conservation strategies. Although the decrease of the body size suggests that small remnants should be connected by managing the structure of the surrounding matrix, facilitating the dispersion of this carabid across the landscape and avoiding possible antagonistic interactions inside small fragments.

Numerical analysis of flow induced noise propagation in supercavitating vehicles at subsonic speeds.

PubMed

Ramesh, Sai Sudha; Lim, Kian Meng; Zheng, Jianguo; Khoo, Boo Cheong

2014-04-01

Flow supercavitation begins when fluid is accelerated over a sharp edge, usually at the nose of an underwater vehicle, where phase change occurs and causes low density gaseous cavity to gradually envelop the whole object (supercavity) and thereby enabling higher speeds of underwater vehicles. The process of supercavity inception/development by means of "natural cavitation" and its sustainment through ventilated cavitation result in turbulence and fluctuations at the water-vapor interface that manifest themselves as major sources of hydrodynamic noise. Therefore in the present context, three main sources are investigated, namely, (1) flow generated noise due to turbulent pressure fluctuations around the supercavity, (2) small scale pressure fluctuations at the vapor-water interface, and (3) pressure fluctuations due to direct impingement of ventilated gas-jets on the supercavity wall. An understanding of their relative contributions toward self-noise is very crucial for the efficient operation of high frequency acoustic sensors that facilitate the vehicle's guidance system. Qualitative comparisons of acoustic pressure distribution resulting from aforementioned sound sources are presented by employing a recently developed boundary integral method. By using flow data from a specially developed unsteady computational fluid dynamics solver for simulating supercavitating flows, the boundary-element method based acoustic solver was developed for computing flow generated sound.

Properties of the edge plasma in the rebuilt Extrap-T2R reversed field pinch experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vianello, N.; Spolaore, M.; Serianni, G.; Bergsåker, H.; Antoni, V.; Drake, J. R.

2002-12-01

The edge region of the rebuilt Extrap-T2R reversed field pinch experiment has been investigated using Langmuir probes. Radial profiles of main plasma parameters are obtained and compared with those of the previous device Extrap-T2. The spontaneous setting up of a double shear layer of E×B toroidal velocity is confirmed. The particle flux induced by electrostatic fluctuations is calculated and the resulting effective diffusion coefficient is consistent with the Bohm estimate. A close relationship between electrostatic fluctuations at the edge and non-linear coupling of MHD modes in the core is found.

Transitions of Turbulence in Plasma Density Limits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, X. Q.

2002-11-01

Density limits have been observed in nearly all toroidal devices. In most cases exceeding this limit is manifested by a catastrophic growth of edge MHD instabilities [1]. In tokamaks, several other density limiting processes have been identified which limit performance but do not necessarily result in disruption. One such process is degradation of the edge transport barrier and H- to L-mode transition at high density. Further density increase, however can result in a disruption. The 3D nonlocal electromagnetic turbulence code BOUT [2], which models the boundary plasma turbulence in a realistic x-point geometry using two-fluids modified Braginski equations, is used in two numerical experiments. (1) Increasing the density while holding pressure constant (therefore keeping magnetic geometry the same). The pressure remains below the ELM threshold in these numerical experiments. (2) Increasing density while holding temperature constant. Small changes of equilibrium magnetic geometry resulting from the change in the edge pressure gradient are ignored in these simulations. These simulations extend previous work [3] by including the effect of Er well on turbulence, real magnetic geometry, the separatrix and SOL physics. Our simulations show the turbulent fluctuation levels and transport increase with increasing collisionality. Ultimately perpendicular turbulent transport dominates the parallel classical transport, leading to collapse of the sheath; the Er-well is lost and the region of high transport propagates inside the last closed flux surface. As the density increases these simulations show: Drift-wave turbulence--> Resistive MHD-->Detachment from divertor -->Disruption(?) and transport switches from diffusive to bursty processes. The onset of disruption will be calculated by MHD codes Corsica and Elite. The role of radiation on the transition will also be assessed. The scaling of the density limit with plasma current will be studied by conducting an additional series of numerical experiments to examine changes in the turbulent transport due to changes in the plasma current and associated changes in the equilibrium magnetic field and parallel connection length in the plasma scrape-off layer. Changes in the characteristics of the turbulence near density limit will be explored and compared with experiments. REFERENCES [1] M.Greenwald, to be published in plasma physics and controlled fusion. [2] X.Q. Xu, R.H. Cohen, T.D. Rognlien, and J.R. Myra, Phys. Plasmas 7, 1951(2000). [3] B.N. Rogers, J.F. Drake, and A. Zeiler, PRL 81, 4396 (1998).

Modeling of 3D magnetic equilibrium effects on edge turbulence stability during RMP ELM suppression in tokamaks

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

Wilcox, R. S.; Wingen, Andreas; Cianciosa, Mark R.

Some recent experimental observations have found turbulent fluctuation structures that are non-axisymmetric in a tokamak with applied 3D fields. Here, two fluid resistive effects are shown to produce changes relevant to turbulent transport in the modeled 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium of tokamak pedestals with these 3D fields applied. Ideal MHD models are insufficient to reproduce the relevant effects. By calculating the ideal 3D equilibrium using the VMEC code, the geometric shaping parameters that determine linear turbulence stability, including the normal curvature and local magnetic shear, are shown to be only weakly modified by applied 3D fields in the DIII-D tokamak.more » These ideal MHD effects are therefore not sufficient to explain the observed changes to fluctuations and transport. Using the M3D-C1 code to model the 3D equilibrium, density is shown to be redistributed on flux surfaces in the pedestal when resistive two fluid effects are included, while islands are screened by rotation in this region. Furthermore, the redistribution of density results in density and pressure gradient scale lengths that vary within pedestal flux surfaces between different helically localized flux tubes. This would produce different drive terms for trapped electron mode and kinetic ballooning mode turbulence, the latter of which is expected to be the limiting factor for pedestal pressure gradients in DIII-D.« less

Modeling of 3D magnetic equilibrium effects on edge turbulence stability during RMP ELM suppression in tokamaks

DOE PAGES

Wilcox, R. S.; Wingen, Andreas; Cianciosa, Mark R.; ...

2017-07-28

Some recent experimental observations have found turbulent fluctuation structures that are non-axisymmetric in a tokamak with applied 3D fields. Here, two fluid resistive effects are shown to produce changes relevant to turbulent transport in the modeled 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium of tokamak pedestals with these 3D fields applied. Ideal MHD models are insufficient to reproduce the relevant effects. By calculating the ideal 3D equilibrium using the VMEC code, the geometric shaping parameters that determine linear turbulence stability, including the normal curvature and local magnetic shear, are shown to be only weakly modified by applied 3D fields in the DIII-D tokamak.more » These ideal MHD effects are therefore not sufficient to explain the observed changes to fluctuations and transport. Using the M3D-C1 code to model the 3D equilibrium, density is shown to be redistributed on flux surfaces in the pedestal when resistive two fluid effects are included, while islands are screened by rotation in this region. Furthermore, the redistribution of density results in density and pressure gradient scale lengths that vary within pedestal flux surfaces between different helically localized flux tubes. This would produce different drive terms for trapped electron mode and kinetic ballooning mode turbulence, the latter of which is expected to be the limiting factor for pedestal pressure gradients in DIII-D.« less

Dynamic study of sub-micro sized LiFePO4 cathodes by in-situ tender X-ray absorption near edge structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Dongniu; Wang, Huixin; Yang, Jinli; Zhou, Jigang; Hu, Yongfeng; Xiao, Qunfeng; Fang, Haitao; Sham, Tsun-Kong

2016-01-01

Olivine-type phosphates (LiMPO4, M = Fe, Mn, Co) are promising cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries that are generally accepted to follow first order equilibrium phase transformations. Herein, the phase transformation dynamics of sub-micro sized LiFePO4 particles with limited rate capability at a low current density of 0.14 C was investigated. An in-situ X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) measurement was conducted at the Fe and P K-edge for the dynamic studies upon lithiation and delithiation. Fe K-edge XANES spectra demonstrate that not only lithium-rich intermediate phase LixFePO4 (x = 0.6-0.75), but also lithium-poor intermediate phase LiyFePO4 (y = 0.1-0.25) exist during the charge and discharge, respectively. Furthermore, during charge and discharge, a fluctuation of the FePO4 and LiFePO4 fractions obtained by liner combination fitting around the imaginary phase fractions followed Faraday's law and the equilibrium first-order two-phase transformation versus reaction time is present, respectively. The charging and discharging process has a reversible phase transformation dynamics with symmetric structural evolution routes. P K-edge XANES spectra reveal an enrichment of PF6-1 anions at the surface of the electrode during charging.

1 μs broadband frequency sweeping reflectometry for plasma density and fluctuation profile measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clairet, F.; Bottereau, C.; Medvedeva, A.; Molina, D.; Conway, G. D.; Silva, A.; Stroth, U.; ASDEX Upgrade Team; Tore Supra Team; Eurofusion Mst1 Team

2017-11-01

Frequency swept reflectometry has reached the symbolic value of 1 μs sweeping time; this performance has been made possible, thanks to an improved control of the ramp voltage driving the frequency source. In parallel, the memory depth of the acquisition system has been upgraded and can provide up to 200 000 signals during a plasma discharge. Additional improvements regarding the trigger delay determination of the acquisition and the voltage ramp linearity required by this ultra-fast technique have been set. While this diagnostic is traditionally dedicated to the plasma electron density profile measurement, such a fast sweeping rate can provide the study of fast plasma events and turbulence with unprecedented time and radial resolution from the edge to the core. Experimental results obtained on ASDEX Upgrade plasmas are presented to demonstrate the performances of the diagnostic.

The Transport of Density Fluctuations Throughout the Heliosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zank, G. P.; Jetha, N.; Hu, Q.; Hunana, P.

2012-01-01

The solar wind is recognized as a turbulent magnetofluid, for which the properties of the turbulent velocity and magnetic field fluctuations are often described by the equations of incompressible magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). However, low-frequency density turbulence is also ubiquitous. On the basis of a nearly incompressible formulation of MHD in the expanding inhomogeneous solar wind, we derive the transport equation for the variance of the density fluctuations (Rho(exp 2)). The transport equation shows that density fluctuations behave as a passive scalar in the supersonic solar wind. In the absence of sources of density turbulence, such as within 1AU, the variance (Rho(exp 2)) approximates r(exp -4). In the outer heliosphere beyond 1 AU, the shear between fast and slow streams, the propagation of shocks, and the creation of interstellar pickup ions all act as sources of density turbulence. The model density fluctuation variance evolves with heliocentric distance within approximately 300 AU as (Rho(exp 2)) approximates r(exp -3.3) after which it flattens and then slowly increases. This is precisely the radial profile for the density fluctuation variance observed by Voyager 2. Using a different analysis technique, we confirm the radial profile for Rho(exp 2) of Bellamy, Cairns, & Smith using Voyager 2 data. We conclude that a passive scalar description for density fluctuations in the supersonic solar wind can explain the density fluctuation variance observed in both the inner and the outer heliosphere.

Experimental evidence of the self-similarity and long-range correlations of the edge fluctuations in HT-6M tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wen-hao; Yu, Chang-xuan; Wen, Yi-zhi; Xu, Yu-hong; Ling, Bi-li; Gong, Xian-zu; Liu, Bao-hua; Wan, Bao-nian

2001-02-01

For a better understanding of long timescale transport dynamics, the rescaled range analysis techniques, the autocorrelation function (ACF) and the probability distribution function (PDF) are used to investigate long-range dependences in edge plasma fluctuations in an HT-6M tokamak. The results reveal the self-similar characters of the electrostatic fluctuations with self-similarity parameters (Hurst exponent) ranging from 0.64 to 0.79, taking into consideration the Er×B rotation-sheared effect. Fluctuation ACFs of both the ion saturation current and the floating potential, as well as PDF of the turbulence-induced particle flux, have two distinct timescales. One corresponds to the decorrelation timescale of local fluctuations (µs) and the other lasts to the order of the confinement time (ms). All these experimental results suggest that some of the mechanisms of the underlying turbulence are consistent with plasma transport as characterized by self-organized criticality (SOC).

Ion Heating During Local Helicity Injection Plasma Startup in the Pegasus ST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burke, M. G.; Barr, J. L.; Bongard, M. W.; Fonck, R. J.; Hinson, E. T.; Perry, J. M.; Reusch, J. A.

2015-11-01

Plasmas in the Pegasus ST are initiated either through standard, MHD stable, inductive current drive or non-solenoidal local helicity injection (LHI) current drive with strong reconnection activity, providing a rich environment to study ion dynamics. During LHI discharges, a large amount of impurity ion heating has been observed, with the passively measured impurity Ti as high as 800 eV compared to Ti ~ 60 eV and Te ~ 175 eV during standard inductive current drive discharges. In addition, non-thermal ion velocity distributions are observed and appear to be strongest near the helicity injectors. The ion heating is hypothesized to be a result of large-scale magnetic reconnection activity, as the amount of heating scales with increasing fluctuation amplitude of the dominant, edge localized, n =1 MHD mode. An approximate temporal scaling of the heating with the amplitude of higher frequency magnetic fluctuations has also been observed, with large amounts of power spectral density present at several impurity ion cyclotron frequencies. Recent experiments have focused on investigating the impurity ion heating scaling with the ion charge to mass ratio as well as the reconnecting field strength. The ion charge to mass ratio was modified by observing different impurity charge states in similar LHI plasmas while the reconnecting field strength was modified by changing the amount of injected edge current. Work supported by US DOE grant DE-FG02-96ER54375.

Unidirectional edge modes launched by surface fluctuation in magnetic metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Huajin; Luo, Youzhu; Liang, Chenghua; Li, Zhenglin; Liu, Shiyang; Lin, Zhifang

2018-03-01

We demonstrate theoretically that the surface fluctuation can be used to launch the unidirectional electromagnetic edge mode for a Gaussian beam incident normal to the magnetic metamaterials (MMs) composed of an array of ferrite rods with the uppermost layer introduced position or size fluctuation in the coupling region. Such an edge mode is solely allowed to propagate in one direction due to the time-reversal symmetry breaking in MMs under the exertion of an external magnetic field, and it is substantially enhanced by the magnetic surface plasmon resonance. The nonreciprocal excitation of the edge states can also be understood by examining the scattering amplitudes of different partial waves, which indicate that the 1st order of the angular momentum channel plays a crucial role in realizing the nonreciprocity. The present research might be significant for the implementation of unidirectional absorption and the reexamination of bound states in the continuum in the context of MMs. In addition, the unique optical property can be exploited to design electromagnetic waveguide devices, such as one-way waveguide and wave bender, which are strongly robust against the obstacles placed in the channel of designed devices, facilitating to realize optical integrated circuits.

Poloidal asymmetries in edge transport barriersa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Churchill, R. M.; Theiler, C.; Lipschultz, B.; Hutchinson, I. H.; Reinke, M. L.; Whyte, D.; Hughes, J. W.; Catto, P.; Landreman, M.; Ernst, D.; Chang, C. S.; Hager, R.; Hubbard, A.; Ennever, P.; Walk, J. R.

2015-05-01

Measurements of impurities in Alcator C-Mod indicate that in the pedestal region, significant poloidal asymmetries can exist in the impurity density, ion temperature, and main ion density. In light of the observation that ion temperature and electrostatic potential are not constant on a flux surface [Theiler et al., Nucl. Fusion 54, 083017 (2014)], a technique based on total pressure conservation to align profiles measured at separate poloidal locations is presented and applied. Gyrokinetic neoclassical simulations with XGCa support the observed large poloidal variations in ion temperature and density, and that the total pressure is approximately constant on a flux surface. With the updated alignment technique, the observed in-out asymmetry in impurity density is reduced from previous publishing [Churchill et al., Nucl. Fusion 53, 122002 (2013)], but remains substantial ( n z , H / n z , L ˜ 6 ). Candidate asymmetry drivers are explored, showing that neither non-uniform impurity sources nor localized fluctuation-driven transport are able to explain satisfactorily the impurity density asymmetry. Since impurity density asymmetries are only present in plasmas with strong electron density gradients, and radial transport timescales become comparable to parallel transport timescales in the pedestal region, it is suggested that global transport effects relating to the strong electron density gradients in the pedestal are the main driver for the pedestal in-out impurity density asymmetry.

Universal resilience patterns in cascading load model: More capacity is not always better

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jianwei; Wang, Xue; Cai, Lin; Ni, Chengzhang; Xie, Wei; Xu, Bo

We study the problem of universal resilience patterns in complex networks against cascading failures. We revise the classical betweenness method and overcome its limitation of quantifying the load in cascading model. Considering that the generated load by all nodes should be equal to the transported one by all edges in the whole network, we propose a new method to quantify the load on an edge and construct a simple cascading model. By attacking the edge with the highest load, we show that, if the flow between two nodes is transported along the shortest paths between them, then the resilience of some networks against cascading failures inversely decreases with the enhancement of the capacity of every edge, i.e. the more capacity is not always better. We also observe the abnormal fluctuation of the additional load that exceeds the capacity of each edge. By a simple graph, we analyze the propagation of cascading failures step by step, and give a reasonable explanation of the abnormal fluctuation of cascading dynamics.

2D image of local density and magnetic fluctuations from line-integrated interferometry-polarimetry measurements.

PubMed

Lin, L; Ding, W X; Brower, D L

2014-11-01

Combined polarimetry-interferometry capability permits simultaneous measurement of line-integrated density and Faraday effect with fast time response (∼1 μs) and high sensitivity. Faraday effect fluctuations with phase shift of order 0.05° associated with global tearing modes are resolved with an uncertainty ∼0.01°. For physics investigations, local density fluctuations are obtained by inverting the line-integrated interferometry data. The local magnetic and current density fluctuations are then reconstructed using a parameterized fit of the polarimetry data. Reconstructed 2D images of density and magnetic field fluctuations in a poloidal cross section exhibit significantly different spatial structure. Combined with their relative phase, the magnetic-fluctuation-induced particle transport flux and its spatial distribution are resolved.

2D image of local density and magnetic fluctuations from line-integrated interferometry-polarimetry measurements

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

Lin, L., E-mail: lianglin@ucla.edu; Ding, W. X.; Brower, D. L.

2014-11-15

Combined polarimetry-interferometry capability permits simultaneous measurement of line-integrated density and Faraday effect with fast time response (∼1 μs) and high sensitivity. Faraday effect fluctuations with phase shift of order 0.05° associated with global tearing modes are resolved with an uncertainty ∼0.01°. For physics investigations, local density fluctuations are obtained by inverting the line-integrated interferometry data. The local magnetic and current density fluctuations are then reconstructed using a parameterized fit of the polarimetry data. Reconstructed 2D images of density and magnetic field fluctuations in a poloidal cross section exhibit significantly different spatial structure. Combined with their relative phase, the magnetic-fluctuation-induced particlemore » transport flux and its spatial distribution are resolved.« less

Lithium line radiation in turbulent edge plasmas: Effects of low and high frequency temperature fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosato, J.; Capes, H.; Catoire, F.; Kadomtsev, M. B.; Levashova, M. G.; Lisitsa, V. S.; Marandet, Y.; Rosmej, F. B.; Stamm, R.

2011-08-01

In lithium-wall-conditioned tokamaks, the line radiation due to the intrinsic impurities (Li/Li+/Li++) plays a significant role on the power balance. Calculations of the radiation losses are usually performed using a stationary collisional-radiative model, assuming constant values for the plasma parameters (Ne, Te,…). Such an approach is not suitable for turbulent plasmas where the various parameters are time-dependent. This is critical especially for the edge region, where the fluctuation rates can reach several tens of percents [e.g. J.A. Boedo, J. Nucl. Mater. 390-391 (2009) 29-37]. In this work, the role of turbulence on the radiated power is investigated with a statistical formalism. A special emphasis is devoted to the role of temperature fluctuations, successively for low-frequency fluctuations and in the general case where the characteristic turbulence frequencies can be comparable to the collisional and radiative rates.

Investigation of self-organized criticality behavior of edge plasma transport in Torus experiment of technology oriented research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Y. H.; Jachmich, S.; Weynants, R. R.; Huber, A.; Unterberg, B.; Samm, U.

2004-12-01

The self-organized criticality (SOC) behavior of the edge plasma transport has been studied using fluctuation data measured in the plasma edge and the scrape-off layer of Torus experiment of technology oriented research tokamak [H. Soltwisch et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 26, 23 (1984)] before and during the edge biasing experiments. In the "nonshear" discharge phase before biasing, the fluctuation data clearly show some of the characteristics associated with SOC, including similar frequency spectra to those obtained in "sandpile" transport and other SOC systems, slowly decaying long tails in the autocorrelation function, values of Hurst parameters larger than 0.5 at all the detected radial locations, and a radial propagation of avalanchelike events in the edge plasma area. During the edge biasing phase, with the generation of an edge radial electric field Er and thus of Er×B flow shear, contrary to theoretical expectation, the Hurst parameters are substantially enhanced in the negative flow shear region and in the scrape-off layer as well. Concomitantly, it is found that the local turbulence is well decorrelated by the Er×B velocity shear, consistent with theoretical predictions.

Determining the Gaussian Modulus and Edge Properties of 2D Materials: From Graphene to Lipid Bilayers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zelisko, Matthew; Ahmadpoor, Fatemeh; Gao, Huajian; Sharma, Pradeep

2017-08-01

The dominant deformation behavior of two-dimensional materials (bending) is primarily governed by just two parameters: bending rigidity and the Gaussian modulus. These properties also set the energy scale for various important physical and biological processes such as pore formation, cell fission and generally, any event accompanied by a topological change. Unlike the bending rigidity, the Gaussian modulus is, however, notoriously difficult to evaluate via either experiments or atomistic simulations. In this Letter, recognizing that the Gaussian modulus and edge tension play a nontrivial role in the fluctuations of a 2D material edge, we derive closed-form expressions for edge fluctuations. Combined with atomistic simulations, we use the developed approach to extract the Gaussian modulus and edge tension at finite temperatures for both graphene and various types of lipid bilayers. Our results possibly provide the first reliable estimate of this elusive property at finite temperatures and appear to suggest that earlier estimates must be revised. In particular, we show that, if previously estimated properties are employed, the graphene-free edge will exhibit unstable behavior at room temperature. Remarkably, in the case of graphene, we show that the Gaussian modulus and edge tension even change sign at finite temperatures.

Marshall N. Rosenbluth Outstanding Doctoral Thesis Award Talk: Simultaneous Measurement of Electron Temperature and Density Fluctuations in the Core of DIII-D Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

White, A. E.

2009-11-01

Multi-field fluctuation measurements provide opportunities for rigorous comparison between experiment and nonlinear gyrokinetic turbulence simulations. A unique set of diagnostics on DIII-D allows for simultaneous study of local, long-wavelength (0 < kθρs< 0.5) electron temperature and density fluctuations in the core plasma (0.4 < ρ< 0.8). Previous experiments in L-mode indicate that normalized electron temperature fluctuation levels (40 < f < 400,kHz) increase with radius from ˜0.4% at ρ= 0.5 to ˜2% at ρ=0.8, similar to simultaneously measured density fluctuations. Electron cyclotron heating (ECH) is used to increase Te, which increases electron temperature fluctuation levels and electron heat transport in the experiments. In contrast, long wavelength density fluctuation levels change very little. The different responses are consistent with increased TEM drive relative to ITG-mode drive. A new capability at DIII-D is the measurement of phase angle between electron temperature and density fluctuations using coupled correlation electron cyclotron emission radiometer and reflectometer diagnostics. Linear and nonlinear GYRO runs have been used to design validation experiments that focus on measurements of the phase angle. GYRO shows that if Te and ∇Te increase 50% in a beam-heated L-mode plasma (ρ=0.5), then the phase angle between electron temperature and density fluctuations decreases 30%-50% and electron temperature fluctuation levels increase a factor of two more than density fluctuations. Comparisons between these predictions and experimental results will be presented.

Changes in transport and confinement in the EXTRAP-T2 reversed field pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sallander, E.; Sallander, J.; Hedqvist, A.

1999-09-01

At the EXTRAP-T2 reversed field pinch a non-intrusive approach has been undertaken to monitor transport driven by magnetic fluctuations. Correlations are presented between fluctuations observed in the core and at the edge of the plasma. The fluctuations are characterized and their effect on the confinement of core electron energy is estimated.

Conductance fluctuation of edge-disordered graphene nanoribbons: Crossover from diffusive transport to Anderson localization

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

Takashima, Kengo; Yamamoto, Takahiro, E-mail: takahiro@rs.tus.ac.jp; Department of Liberal Arts

Conductance fluctuation of edge-disordered graphene nanoribbons (ED-GNRs) is examined using the non-equilibrium Green's function technique combined with the extended Hückel approximation. The mean free path λ and the localization length ξ of the ED-GNRs are determined to classify the quantum transport regimes. In the diffusive regime where the length L{sub c} of the ED-GNRs is much longer than λ and much shorter than ξ, the conductance histogram is given by a Gaussian distribution function with universal conductance fluctuation. In the localization regime where L{sub c}≫ξ, the histogram is no longer the universal Gaussian distribution but a lognormal distribution that characterizesmore » Anderson localization.« less

A review of models of fluctuating protrusion and retraction patterns at the leading edge of motile cells.

PubMed

Ryan, Gillian L; Watanabe, Naoki; Vavylonis, Dimitrios

2012-04-01

A characteristic feature of motile cells as they undergo a change in motile behavior is the development of fluctuating exploratory motions of the leading edge, driven by actin polymerization. We review quantitative models of these protrusion and retraction phenomena. Theoretical studies have been motivated by advances in experimental and computational methods that allow controlled perturbations, single molecule imaging, and analysis of spatiotemporal correlations in microscopic images. To explain oscillations and waves of the leading edge, most theoretical models propose nonlinear interactions and feedback mechanisms among different components of the actin cytoskeleton system. These mechanisms include curvature-sensing membrane proteins, myosin contraction, and autocatalytic biochemical reaction kinetics. We discuss how the combination of experimental studies with modeling promises to quantify the relative importance of these biochemical and biophysical processes at the leading edge and to evaluate their generality across cell types and extracellular environments. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Development of a high current 60 keV neutral lithium beam injector for beam emission spectroscopy measurements on fusion experiments.

PubMed

Anda, G; Dunai, D; Lampert, M; Krizsanóczi, T; Németh, J; Bató, S; Nam, Y U; Hu, G H; Zoletnik, S

2018-01-01

A 60 keV neutral lithium beam system was designed and built up for beam emission spectroscopy measurement of edge plasma on the KSTAR and EAST tokamaks. The electron density profile and its fluctuation can be measured using the accelerated lithium beam-based emission spectroscopy system. A thermionic ion source was developed with a SiC heater to emit around 4-5 mA ion current from a 14 mm diameter surface. The ion optic is following the 2 step design used on other devices with small modifications to reach about 2-3 cm beam diameter in the plasma at about 4 m from the ion source. A newly developed recirculating sodium vapour neutralizer neutralizes the accelerated ion beam at around 260-280 °C even during long (<20 s) discharges. A set of new beam diagnostic and manipulation techniques are applied to allow optimization, aiming, cleaning, and beam modulation. The maximum 60 keV beam energy with 4 mA ion current was successfully reached at KSTAR and at EAST. Combined with an efficient observation system, the Li-beam diagnostic enables the measurement of the density profile and fluctuations on the plasma turbulence time scale.

Development of a high current 60 keV neutral lithium beam injector for beam emission spectroscopy measurements on fusion experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anda, G.; Dunai, D.; Lampert, M.; Krizsanóczi, T.; Németh, J.; Bató, S.; Nam, Y. U.; Hu, G. H.; Zoletnik, S.

2018-01-01

A 60 keV neutral lithium beam system was designed and built up for beam emission spectroscopy measurement of edge plasma on the KSTAR and EAST tokamaks. The electron density profile and its fluctuation can be measured using the accelerated lithium beam-based emission spectroscopy system. A thermionic ion source was developed with a SiC heater to emit around 4-5 mA ion current from a 14 mm diameter surface. The ion optic is following the 2 step design used on other devices with small modifications to reach about 2-3 cm beam diameter in the plasma at about 4 m from the ion source. A newly developed recirculating sodium vapour neutralizer neutralizes the accelerated ion beam at around 260-280 °C even during long (<20 s) discharges. A set of new beam diagnostic and manipulation techniques are applied to allow optimization, aiming, cleaning, and beam modulation. The maximum 60 keV beam energy with 4 mA ion current was successfully reached at KSTAR and at EAST. Combined with an efficient observation system, the Li-beam diagnostic enables the measurement of the density profile and fluctuations on the plasma turbulence time scale.

Wide applicability of high-Tc pairing originating from coexisting wide and incipient narrow bands in quasi-one-dimensional systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, Karin; Ogura, Daisuke; Kuroki, Kazuhiko

2018-01-01

We study superconductivity in the Hubbard model on various quasi-one-dimensional lattices with coexisting wide and narrow bands originating from multiple sites within a unit cell, where each site corresponds to a single orbital. The systems studied are the two-leg and three-leg ladders, the diamond chain, and the crisscross ladder. These one-dimensional lattices are weakly coupled to form two-dimensional (quasi-one-dimensional) ones, and the fluctuation exchange approximation is adopted to study spin-fluctuation-mediated superconductivity. When one of the bands is perfectly flat and the Fermi level intersecting the wide band is placed in the vicinity of, but not within, the flat band, superconductivity arising from the interband scattering processes is found to be strongly enhanced owing to the combination of the light electron mass of the wide band and the strong pairing interaction due to the large density of states of the flat band. Even when the narrow band has finite bandwidth, the pairing mechanism still works since the edge of the narrow band, due to its large density of states, plays the role of the flat band. The results indicate the wide applicability of the high-Tc pairing mechanism due to coexisting wide and "incipient" narrow bands in quasi-one-dimensional systems.

Analysis of edge density fluctuation measured by trial KSTAR beam emission spectroscopy systema)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nam, Y. U.; Zoletnik, S.; Lampert, M.; Kovácsik, Á.

2012-10-01

A beam emission spectroscopy (BES) system based on direct imaging avalanche photodiode (APD) camera has been designed for Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research (KSTAR) and a trial system has been constructed and installed for evaluating feasibility of the design. The system contains two cameras, one is an APD camera for BES measurement and another is a fast visible camera for position calibration. Two pneumatically actuated mirrors were positioned at front and rear of lens optics. The front mirror can switch the measurement between edge and core region of plasma and the rear mirror can switch between the APD and the visible camera. All systems worked properly and the measured photon flux was reasonable as expected from the simulation. While the measurement data from the trial system were limited, it revealed some interesting characteristics of KSTAR plasma suggesting future research works with fully installed BES system. The analysis result and the development plan will be presented in this paper.

Characterization of peeling modes in a low aspect ratio tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bongard, M. W.; Thome, K. E.; Barr, J. L.; Burke, M. G.; Fonck, R. J.; Hinson, E. T.; Redd, A. J.; Schlossberg, D. J.

2014-11-01

Peeling modes are observed at the plasma edge in the Pegasus Toroidal Experiment under conditions of high edge current density (Jedge ˜ 0.1 MA m-2) and low magnetic field (B ˜ 0.1 T) present at near-unity aspect ratio. Their macroscopic properties are measured using external Mirnov coil arrays, Langmuir probes and high-speed visible imaging. The modest edge parameters and short pulse lengths of Pegasus discharges permit direct measurement of the internal magnetic field structure with an insertable array of Hall-effect sensors, providing the current profile and its temporal evolution. Peeling modes generate coherent, edge-localized electromagnetic activity with low toroidal mode numbers n ⩽ 3 and high poloidal mode numbers, in agreement with theoretical expectations of a low-n external kink structure. Coherent MHD fluctuation amplitudes are found to be strongly dependent on the experimentally measured Jedge/B peeling instability drive, consistent with theory. Peeling modes nonlinearly generate ELM-like, field-aligned filamentary structures that detach from the edge and propagate radially outward. The KFIT equilibrium code is extended with an Akima spline profile parameterization and an improved model for induced toroidal wall current estimation to obtain a reconstruction during peeling activity with its current profile constrained by internal Hall measurements. It is used to test the analytic peeling stability criterion and numerically evaluate ideal MHD stability. Both approaches predict instability, in agreement with experiment, with the latter identifying an unstable external kink.

Vorticity scaling and intermittency in drift-interchange plasma turbulence

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

Dura, P. D.; Hnat, B.; Robinson, J.

2012-09-15

The effects of spatially varying magnetic field strength on the scaling properties of plasma turbulence, modelled by an extended form of Hasegawa-Wakatani model, are investigated. We study changes in the intermittency of the velocity, density, and vorticity fields, as functions of the magnetic field inhomogeneity C=-{partial_derivative} ln B/{partial_derivative}x. While the velocity fluctuations are always self-similar and their scaling is unaffected by the value of C, the intermittency levels in density and vorticity change with parameter C, reflecting morphological changes in the coherent structures due to the interchange mechanism. Given the centrality of vorticity in conditioning plasma transport, this result ismore » of interest in scaling the results of transport measurements and simulations in tokamak edge plasmas, where drift-interchange turbulence in the presence of a magnetic field gradient is likely to occur.« less

Computational nanometrology of line-edge roughness: noise effects, cross-line correlations and the role of etch transfer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Constantoudis, Vassilios; Papavieros, George; Lorusso, Gian; Rutigliani, Vito; Van Roey, Frieda; Gogolides, Evangelos

2018-03-01

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of etch transfer in two challenges of LER metrology raised by recent evolutions in lithography: the effects of SEM noise and the cross-line and edge correlations. The first comes from the ongoing scaling down of linewidths, which dictates SEM imaging with less scanning frames to reduce specimen damage and hence with more noise. During the last decade, it has been shown that image noise can be an important budget of the measured LER while systematically affects and alter the PSD curve of LER at high frequencies. A recent method for unbiased LER measurement is based on the systematic Fourier or correlation analysis to decompose the effects of noise from true LER (Fourier-Correlation filtering method). The success of the method depends on the PSD and HHCF curve. Previous experimental and model works have revealed that etch transfer affects the PSD of LER reducing its high frequency values. In this work, we estimate the noise contribution to the biased LER through PSD flat floor at high frequencies and relate it with the differences between the PSDs of lithography and etched LER. Based on this comparison, we propose an improvement of the PSD/HHCF-based method for noise-free LER measurement to include the missed high frequency real LER. The second issue is related with the increased density of lithographic patterns and the special characteristics of DSA and MP lithography patterns exhibits. In a previous work, we presented an enlarged LER characterization methodology for such patterns, which includes updated versions of the old metrics along with new metrics defined and developed to capture cross-edge and cross-line correlations. The fundamental concept has been the Line Center Roughness (LCR), the edge c-factor and the line c-factor correlation function and length quantifying the line fluctuations and the extent of cross-edge and cross-line correlations. In this work, we focus on the role of etch steps on cross-edge and line correlation metrics in SAQP data. We find that the spacer etch steps reduce edge correlations while etch steps with pattern transfer increase these. Furthermore, the density doubling and quadrupling increase edge correlations as well as cross-line correlations.

Large-scale fluctuations in the cosmic ionizing background: the impact of beamed source emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suarez, Teresita; Pontzen, Andrew

2017-12-01

When modelling the ionization of gas in the intergalactic medium after reionization, it is standard practice to assume a uniform radiation background. This assumption is not always appropriate; models with radiative transfer show that large-scale ionization rate fluctuations can have an observable impact on statistics of the Lyman α forest. We extend such calculations to include beaming of sources, which has previously been neglected but which is expected to be important if quasars dominate the ionizing photon budget. Beaming has two effects: first, the physical number density of ionizing sources is enhanced relative to that directly observed; and secondly, the radiative transfer itself is altered. We calculate both effects in a hard-edged beaming model where each source has a random orientation, using an equilibrium Boltzmann hierarchy in terms of spherical harmonics. By studying the statistical properties of the resulting ionization rate and H I density fields at redshift z ∼ 2.3, we find that the two effects partially cancel each other; combined, they constitute a maximum 5 per cent correction to the power spectrum P_{H I}(k) at k = 0.04 h Mpc-1. On very large scales (k < 0.01 h Mpc-1) the source density renormalization dominates; it can reduce, by an order of magnitude, the contribution of ionizing shot noise to the intergalactic H I power spectrum. The effects of beaming should be considered when interpreting future observational data sets.

Resistivity profile effects in numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the reversed-field pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sätherblom, H.-E.; Mazur, S.; Nordlund, P.

1996-12-01

The influence of the resistivity profile on reversed-field pinch (RFP) dynamics is investigated numerically using a three-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic code. This investigation is motivated by experimental observations on the EXTRAP-T1 RFP (Nordlund P et al 1994 Int. Conf. Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research IAEA-CN-60/A6/C-P-6). Two cases with profiles mainly differing in the edge region, i.e. in the region outside the reversal surface, are simulated. It is found that increasing the resistivity in this region results in a factor of two increase in magnetic fluctuation energy and an equal amount in the fluctuation-induced electric field. In spite of this, the parallel current decreases in the edge region, resulting in a factor two reduction of the field reversal ratio. The dynamics become more irregular and the characteristic timescale is reduced. The final state is characterized by a higher loop voltage, slightly lower values of the total (fluctuating plus mean part) magnetic energy and the magnetic helicity, but almost unchanged Taylor relaxation ratio. The results indicate that the edge region can be important for RFP confinement since cooling of the plasma in this region can lead to an increased fluctuation level and degraded performance.

Intermittent electron density and temperature fluctuations and associated fluxes in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kube, R.; Garcia, O. E.; Theodorsen, A.; Brunner, D.; Kuang, A. Q.; LaBombard, B.; Terry, J. L.

2018-06-01

The Alcator C-Mod mirror Langmuir probe system has been used to sample data time series of fluctuating plasma parameters in the outboard mid-plane far scrape-off layer. We present a statistical analysis of one second long time series of electron density, temperature, radial electric drift velocity and the corresponding particle and electron heat fluxes. These are sampled during stationary plasma conditions in an ohmically heated, lower single null diverted discharge. The electron density and temperature are strongly correlated and feature fluctuation statistics similar to the ion saturation current. Both electron density and temperature time series are dominated by intermittent, large-amplitude burst with an exponential distribution of both burst amplitudes and waiting times between them. The characteristic time scale of the large-amplitude bursts is approximately 15 μ {{s}}. Large-amplitude velocity fluctuations feature a slightly faster characteristic time scale and appear at a faster rate than electron density and temperature fluctuations. Describing these time series as a superposition of uncorrelated exponential pulses, we find that probability distribution functions, power spectral densities as well as auto-correlation functions of the data time series agree well with predictions from the stochastic model. The electron particle and heat fluxes present large-amplitude fluctuations. For this low-density plasma, the radial electron heat flux is dominated by convection, that is, correlations of fluctuations in the electron density and radial velocity. Hot and dense blobs contribute only a minute fraction of the total fluctuation driven heat flux.

Effect of Sweep on Cavity Flow Fields at Subsonic and Transonic Speeds

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tracy, Maureen B.; Plentovich, Elizabeth B.; Hemsch, Michael J.; Wilcox, Floyd J.

2012-01-01

An experimental investigation was conducted in the NASA Langley 7 x 10-Foot High Speed Tunnel (HST) to study the effect of leading- and trailing-edge sweep on cavity flow fields for a range of cavity length-to-height (l/h) ratios. The free-stream Mach number was varied from 0.2 to 0.8. The cavity had a depth of 0.5 inches, a width of 2.5 inches, and a maximum length of 12.0 inches. The leading- and trailing-edge sweep was adjusted using block inserts to achieve leading edge sweep angles of 65 deg, 55 deg, 45 deg, 35 deg, and 0 deg. The fore and aft cavity walls were always parallel. The aft wall of the cavity was remotely positioned to achieve a range of length-to-depth ratios. Fluctuating- and static-pressure data were obtained on the floor of the cavity. The fluctuating pressure data were used to determine whether or not resonance occurred in the cavity rather than to provide a characterization of the fluctuating pressure field. Qualitative surface flow visualization was obtained using a technique in which colored water was introduced into the model through static-pressure orifices. A complete tabulation of the mean static-pressure data for the swept leading edge cavities is included.

Suppression of turbulent particle flux during biased rotation in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, T. A.

2005-10-01

The edge plasma in LAPD is rotated through the application of a bias voltage (typically 100V-200V) between the plasma source cathode and the vacuum vessel wall. Without bias, cross-field turbulent particle transport causes the density profile to extend well past the cathode edge, with a fairly gentle gradient (Ln˜10 cm). As the bias voltage is applied and increased past a threshold value, the measured density profile steepens dramatically (Ln˜2 cm) at a radius near the peak of the flow shear. Turbulent transport flux measurements in this region show that the flux is reduced and then suppressed completely as the threshold is approached. As the bias voltage is increased further, the measured turbulent transport flux reverses direction. The amplitude of the density and azimuthal electric field fluctuations is observed to decrease during biased rotation, the product of the amplitudes decreasing by a factor of 5. However the dominant change appears in the cross-phase, which is altered dramatically, leading to the observed suppression and reversal of the turbulent flux. Detailed two-dimensional turbulent correlation measurements have been performed using the high repetition rate (1 Hz) and high reproducibility of LAPD plasmas. In unbiased plasmas, the correlation is localized to around 5 cm radially and a slightly smaller distance azimuthally (ρs˜0.5-1 cm). During biased rotation, a dramatic increase in the azimuthal correlation is observed, however there is little change in the radial correlation length.

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

Thampy, V.; Chen, X. M.; Cao, Y.

Charge-density-wave (CDW) correlations feature prominently in the phase diagram of the cuprates, motivating competing theories of whether fluctuating CDW correlations aid superconductivity or whether static CDW order coexists with superconductivity in inhomogeneous or spatially modulated states. Here we report Cu L-edge resonant x-ray photon correlation spectroscopy measurements of CDW correlations in superconducting La 2–xBa xCuO 4, x = 0.11. Static CDW order is shown to exist in the superconducting state at low temperatures and to persist up to at least 85% of the CDW transition temperature. As a result, we discuss the implications of our observations for how nominally competingmore » order parameters can coexist in the cuprates.« less

Development of edge effects around experimental ecosystem hotspots is affected by edge density and matrix type

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ecological edge effects are sensitive to landscape context. In particular, edge effects can be altered by matrix type and by the presence of other nearby edges. We experimentally altered patch configurations in an African savanna to determine how edge density and matrix type influence edge effect de...

Fluctuations and symmetry energy in nuclear fragmentation dynamics.

PubMed

Colonna, M

2013-01-25

Within a dynamical description of nuclear fragmentation, based on the liquid-gas phase transition scenario, we explore the relation between neutron-proton density fluctuations and nuclear symmetry energy. We show that, along the fragmentation path, isovector fluctuations follow the evolution of the local density and approach an equilibrium value connected to the local symmetry energy. Higher-density regions are characterized by smaller average asymmetry and narrower isotopic distributions. This dynamical analysis points out that fragment final state isospin fluctuations can probe the symmetry energy of the density domains from which fragments originate.

Self-Regulation of E×B Flow Shear via Plasma Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vianello, N.; Spada, E.; Antoni, V.; Spolaore, M.; Serianni, G.; Regnoli, G.; Cavazzana, R.; Bergsåker, H.; Drake, J. R.

2005-04-01

The momentum balance has been applied to the E×B flow in the edge region of a reversed field pinch (RFP) configuration. All terms, including those involving fluctuations, have been measured in stationary condition in the edge region of the Extrap-T2R RFP experiment. It is found that the component of the Reynolds stress driven by electrostatic fluctuations is the term playing the major role in driving the shear of the E×B flow to a value marginal for turbulent suppression, so that the results are in favor of a turbulence self-regulating mechanism underlying the momentum balance at the edge. Balancing the sheared flow driving and damping terms, the plasma viscosity is found anomalous and consistent with the diffusivity due to electrostatic turbulence.

Self-regulation of E x B flow shear via plasma turbulence.

PubMed

Vianello, N; Spada, E; Antoni, V; Spolaore, M; Serianni, G; Regnoli, G; Cavazzana, R; Bergsåker, H; Drake, J R

2005-04-08

The momentum balance has been applied to the ExB flow in the edge region of a reversed field pinch (RFP) configuration. All terms, including those involving fluctuations, have been measured in stationary condition in the edge region of the Extrap-T2R RFP experiment. It is found that the component of the Reynolds stress driven by electrostatic fluctuations is the term playing the major role in driving the shear of the ExB flow to a value marginal for turbulent suppression, so that the results are in favor of a turbulence self-regulating mechanism underlying the momentum balance at the edge. Balancing the sheared flow driving and damping terms, the plasma viscosity is found anomalous and consistent with the diffusivity due to electrostatic turbulence.

Linear calculations of edge current driven kink modes with BOUT++ code

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

Li, G. Q., E-mail: ligq@ipp.ac.cn; Xia, T. Y.; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550

This work extends previous BOUT++ work to systematically study the impact of edge current density on edge localized modes, and to benchmark with the GATO and ELITE codes. Using the CORSICA code, a set of equilibria was generated with different edge current densities by keeping total current and pressure profile fixed. Based on these equilibria, the effects of the edge current density on the MHD instabilities were studied with the 3-field BOUT++ code. For the linear calculations, with increasing edge current density, the dominant modes are changed from intermediate-n and high-n ballooning modes to low-n kink modes, and the linearmore » growth rate becomes smaller. The edge current provides stabilizing effects on ballooning modes due to the increase of local shear at the outer mid-plane with the edge current. For edge kink modes, however, the edge current does not always provide a destabilizing effect; with increasing edge current, the linear growth rate first increases, and then decreases. In benchmark calculations for BOUT++ against the linear results with the GATO and ELITE codes, the vacuum model has important effects on the edge kink mode calculations. By setting a realistic density profile and Spitzer resistivity profile in the vacuum region, the resistivity was found to have a destabilizing effect on both the kink mode and on the ballooning mode. With diamagnetic effects included, the intermediate-n and high-n ballooning modes can be totally stabilized for finite edge current density.« less

Direct comparison of Viking 2.3-GHz signal phase fluctuation and columnar electron density between 2 and 160 solar radii

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berman, A. L.; Wackley, J. A.; Hietzke, W. H.

1982-01-01

The relationship between solar wind induced signal phase fluctuation and solar wind columnar electron density has been the subject of intensive analysis during the last two decades. In this article, a sizeable volume of 2.3-GHz signal phase fluctuation and columnar electron density measurements separately and concurrently inferred from Viking spacecraft signals are compared as a function of solar geometry. These data demonstrate that signal phase fluctuation and columnar electron density are proportional over a very wide span of solar elongation angle. A radially dependent electron density model which provides a good fit to the columnar electron density measurements and, when appropriately scaled, to the signal phase fluctuation measurements, is given. This model is also in good agreement with K-coronameter observations at 2 solar radii (2r0), with pulsar time delay measurements at 10r0, and with spacecraft in situ electron density measurements at 1 AU.

Structure-function relationships during segregated and integrated network states of human brain functional connectivity.

PubMed

Fukushima, Makoto; Betzel, Richard F; He, Ye; van den Heuvel, Martijn P; Zuo, Xi-Nian; Sporns, Olaf

2018-04-01

Structural white matter connections are thought to facilitate integration of neural information across functionally segregated systems. Recent studies have demonstrated that changes in the balance between segregation and integration in brain networks can be tracked by time-resolved functional connectivity derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data and that fluctuations between segregated and integrated network states are related to human behavior. However, how these network states relate to structural connectivity is largely unknown. To obtain a better understanding of structural substrates for these network states, we investigated how the relationship between structural connectivity, derived from diffusion tractography, and functional connectivity, as measured by rs-fMRI, changes with fluctuations between segregated and integrated states in the human brain. We found that the similarity of edge weights between structural and functional connectivity was greater in the integrated state, especially at edges connecting the default mode and the dorsal attention networks. We also demonstrated that the similarity of network partitions, evaluated between structural and functional connectivity, increased and the density of direct structural connections within modules in functional networks was elevated during the integrated state. These results suggest that, when functional connectivity exhibited an integrated network topology, structural connectivity and functional connectivity were more closely linked to each other and direct structural connections mediated a larger proportion of neural communication within functional modules. Our findings point out the possibility of significant contributions of structural connections to integrative neural processes underlying human behavior.

Differential interferometry for measurement of density fluctuations and fluctuation-induced transport (invited)

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

Lin, L.; Ding, W. X.; Brower, D. L.

2010-10-15

Differential interferometry employs two parallel laser beams with a small spatial offset (less than beam width) and frequency difference (1-2 MHz) using common optics and a single mixer for a heterodyne detection. The differential approach allows measurement of the electron density gradient, its fluctuations, as well as the equilibrium density distribution. This novel interferometry technique is immune to fringe skip errors and is particularly useful in harsh plasma environments. Accurate calibration of the beam spatial offset, accomplished by use of a rotating dielectric wedge, is required to enable broad application of this approach. Differential interferometry has been successfully used onmore » the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed-field pinch plasma to directly measure fluctuation-induced transport along with equilibrium density profile evolution during pellet injection. In addition, by combining differential and conventional interferometry, both linear and nonlinear terms of the electron density fluctuation energy equation can be determined, thereby allowing quantitative investigation of the origin of the density fluctuations. The concept, calibration, and application of differential interferometry are presented.« less

Pressure spectra from single-snapshot tomographic PIV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schneiders, Jan F. G.; Avallone, Francesco; Pröbsting, Stefan; Ragni, Daniele; Scarano, Fulvio

2018-03-01

The power spectral density and coherence of temporal pressure fluctuations are obtained from low-repetition-rate tomographic PIV measurements. This is achieved by extension of recent single-snapshot pressure evaluation techniques based upon the Taylor's hypothesis (TH) of frozen turbulence and vortex-in-cell (VIC) simulation. Finite time marching of the measured instantaneous velocity fields is performed using TH and VIC. Pressure is calculated from the resulting velocity time series. Because of the theoretical limitations, the finite time marching can be performed until the measured flow structures are convected out of the measurement volume. This provides a lower limit of resolvable frequency range. An upper limit is given by the spatial resolution of the measurements. Finite time-marching approaches are applied to low-repetition-rate tomographic PIV data of the flow past a straight trailing edge at 10 m/s. Reference results of the power spectral density and coherence are obtained from surface pressure transducers. In addition, the results are compared to state-of-the-art experimental data obtained from time-resolved tomographic PIV performed at 10 kHz. The time-resolved approach suffers from low spatial resolution and limited maximum acquisition frequency because of hardware limitations. Additionally, these approaches strongly depend upon the time kernel length chosen for pressure evaluation. On the other hand, the finite time-marching approaches make use of low-repetition-rate tomographic PIV measurements that offer higher spatial resolution. Consequently, increased accuracy of the power spectral density and coherence of pressure fluctuations are obtained in the high-frequency range, in comparison to the time-resolved measurements. The approaches based on TH and VIC are found to perform similarly in the high-frequency range. At lower frequencies, TH is found to underestimate coherence and intensity of the pressure fluctuations in comparison to time-resolved PIV and the microphone reference data. The VIC-based approach, on the other hand, returns results on the order of the reference.

Study of edge turbulence in dimensionally similar laboratory plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stroth, Ulrich

2003-10-01

In recent years, the numerical simulation of turbulence has made considerable progress. Predictions are made for large plasma volumes taking into account realistic magnetic geometries. Because of diagnostic limitations, in fusion plasmas the means of experimental testing of the models are rather limited. Toroidal low-temperature plasmas offer the possibility for detailed comparisons between experiment and simulation. Due to the reduced plasma parameters, the relevant quantities can be measured in the entire plasma. At the same time, the relevant non-dimensional parameters can be comparable to those in the edge of fusion plasmas. This presentation reports on results from the torsatron TJ-K [1,2] operated with a low-temperature plasma. The data are compared with simulations using the drift-Alfven-wave code DALF3 [3]. Langmuir probe arrays with 64 tips are used to measure the spatial structure of the turbulence. The same analyses techniques are applied to experimental and numerical data. The measured properties of spectra and probability density functions are reproduced by the code. Although the plasma in experiment and simulation does not exhibit critical pressure gradients, the radial transport fluctuations are strongly intermittent in both cases. Using Hydrogen, Helium and Argon as working gases, the scale parameter ρs could be varied by more than a factor of ten. As predicted by theory, the size of the turbulent eddies increases with ρ_s. The measured cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations are small, indicating the importance of the drift-wave dynamics for the turbulence in toroidal plasmas. The wave number spectra decay with an exponent of -3 as one would expect for the enstrophy cascade in 2D turbulence. [1] N. Krause et al., Rev. Sci. Instr. 73, 3474 (2002) [2] C. Lechte et al., New J. of Physics 4, 34 (2002) [3] B. Scott, Plasma Phys. Contr. Fusion 39, 1635 (1997)

Density fluctuation in HT-6M tokamak by CO2 laser scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Lei; Cao, Jinxiang; Zhu, Guoliang; Ding, Weixing; Yu, Chang-Xuan; Zhang, Daqing; Li, Youyi

1993-09-01

The small scale density fluctuations in the interior of HT-6M Ohmic plasma have been studied by CO2 laser collective scattering system in deuterium discharges covering a wide range of nqa (chord-average density times safety factor at the limiter) and energy confinement time. The relative density fluctuation level in the interior is inversely proportional to the toroidal magnetic field and average density, and the energy confinement time (tau) E decreases with the fluctuation level increasing in the region where (tau) E linearly increases with nq0.5a and satisfies the Goldston scaling law. It is suggested that the microturbulence in the interior zone is responsible for anomalous transport in tokamaks.

Density Fluctuation in Asymmetric Nozzle Plumes and Correlation with Far Field Noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, J.; Zaman, K. B. M. Q.

2001-01-01

A comparative experimental study of air density fluctuations in the unheated plumes of a circular, 4-tabbed-circular, chevron-circular and 10-lobed rectangular nozzles was performed at a fixed Mach number of 0.95 using a recently developed Rayleigh scattering based technique. Subsequently, the flow density fluctuations are cross-correlated with the far field sound pressure fluctuations to determine sources for acoustics emission. The nearly identical noise spectra from the baseline circular and the chevron nozzles are found to be in agreement with the similarity in spreading, turbulence fluctuations, and flow-sound correlations measured in the plumes. The lobed nozzle produced the least low frequency noise, in agreement with the weakest overall density fluctuations and flow-sound correlation. The tabbed nozzle took an intermediate position in the hierarchy of noise generation, intensity of turbulent fluctuation and flow-sound correlation. Some of the features in the 4-tabbed nozzle are found to be explainable in terms of splitting of the jet in a central large core and 4 side jetlets.

First Order Statistics of Speckle around a Scatterer Volume Density Edge and Edge Detection in Ultrasound Images.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Yue

1990-01-01

Ultrasonic imaging plays an important role in medical imaging. But the images exhibit a granular structure, commonly known as speckle. The speckle tends to mask the presence of low-contrast lesions and reduces the ability of a human observer to resolve fine details. Our interest in this research is to examine the problem of edge detection and come up with methods for improving the visualization of organ boundaries and tissue inhomogeneity edges. An edge in an image can be formed either by acoustic impedance change or by scatterer volume density change (or both). The echo produced from these two kinds of edges has different properties. In this work, it has been proved that the echo from a scatterer volume density edge is the Hilbert transform of the echo from a rough impedance boundary (except for a constant) under certain conditions. This result can be used for choosing the correct signal to transmit to optimize the performance of edge detectors and characterizing an edge. The signal to noise ratio of the echo produced by a scatterer volume density edge is also obtained. It is found that: (1) By transmitting a signal with high bandwidth ratio and low center frequency, one can obtain a higher signal to noise ratio. (2) For large area edges, the farther the transducer is from the edge, the larger is the signal to noise ratio. But for small area edges, the nearer the transducer is to the edge, the larger is the signal to noise ratio. These results enable us to maximize the signal to noise ratio by adjusting these parameters. (3) The signal to noise ratio is not only related to the ratio of scatterer volume densities at the edge, but also related to the absolute value of scatterer volume densities. Some of these results have been proved through simulation and experiment. Different edge detection methods have been used to detect simulated scatterer volume density edges to compare their performance. A so-called interlaced array method has been developed for speckle reduction in the images formed by synthetic aperture focussing technique, and experiments have been done to evaluate its performance.

Living on the edge: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) density in the margins of its geographical range.

PubMed

Valente, Ana M; Fonseca, Carlos; Marques, Tiago A; Santos, João P; Rodrigues, Rogério; Torres, Rita Tinoco

2014-01-01

Over the last decades roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) populations have increased in number and distribution throughout Europe. Such increases have profound impacts on ecosystems, both positive and negative. Therefore monitoring roe deer populations is essential for the appropriate management of this species, in order to achieve a balance between conservation and mitigation of the negative impacts. Despite being required for an effective management plan, the study of roe deer ecology in Portugal is at an early stage, and hence there is still a complete lack of knowledge of roe deer density within its known range. Distance sampling of pellet groups coupled with production and decay rates for pellet groups provided density estimates for roe deer in northeastern Portugal (Lombada National Hunting Area--LNHA, Serra de Montesinho--SM and Serra da Nogueira--SN; LNHA and SM located in Montesinho Natural Park). The estimated roe deer density using a stratified detection function was 1.23/100 ha for LNHA, 4.87/100 ha for SM and 4.25/100 ha in SN, with 95% confidence intervals (CI) of 0.68 to 2.21, 3.08 to 7.71 and 2.25 to 8.03, respectively. For the entire area, the estimated density was about 3.51/100 ha (95% CI - 2.26-5.45). This method can provide estimates of roe deer density, which will ultimately support management decisions. However, effective monitoring should be based on long-term studies that are able to detect population fluctuations. This study represents the initial phase of roe deer monitoring at the edge of its European range and intends to fill the gap in this species ecology, as the gathering of similar data over a number of years will provide the basis for stronger inferences. Monitoring should be continued, although the study area should be increased to evaluate the accuracy of estimates and assess the impact of management actions.

Cloud-edge mixing: Direct numerical simulation and observations in Indian Monsoon clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Bipin; Bera, Sudarsan; Prabha, Thara V.; Grabowski, Wojceich W.

2017-03-01

A direct numerical simulation (DNS) with the decaying turbulence setup has been carried out to study cloud-edge mixing and its impact on the droplet size distribution (DSD) applying thermodynamic conditions observed in monsoon convective clouds over Indian subcontinent during the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement EXperiment (CAIPEEX). Evaporation at the cloud-edges initiates mixing at small scale and gradually introduces larger-scale fluctuations of the temperature, moisture, and vertical velocity due to droplet evaporation. Our focus is on early evolution of simulated fields that show intriguing similarities to the CAIPEEX cloud observations. A strong dilution at the cloud edge, accompanied by significant spatial variations of the droplet concentration, mean radius, and spectral width, are found in both the DNS and in observations. In DNS, fluctuations of the mean radius and spectral width come from the impact of small-scale turbulence on the motion and evaporation of inertial droplets. These fluctuations decrease with the increase of the volume over which DNS data are averaged, as one might expect. In cloud observations, these fluctuations also come from other processes, such as entrainment/mixing below the observation level, secondary CCN activation, or variations of CCN activation at the cloud base. Despite large differences in the spatial and temporal scales, the mixing diagram often used in entrainment/mixing studies with aircraft data is remarkably similar for both DNS and cloud observations. We argue that the similarity questions applicability of heuristic ideas based on mixing between two air parcels (that the mixing diagram is designed to properly represent) to the evolution of microphysical properties during turbulent mixing between a cloud and its environment.

Combined Langmuir-magnetic probe measurements of type-I ELMy filaments in the EAST tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qingquan, YANG; Fangchuan, ZHONG; Guosheng, XU; Ning, YAN; Liang, CHEN; Xiang, LIU; Yong, LIU; Liang, WANG; Zhendong, YANG; Yifeng, WANG; Yang, YE; Heng, ZHANG; Xiaoliang, Li

2018-06-01

Detailed investigations on the filamentary structures associated with the type-I edge-localized modes (ELMs) should be helpful for protecting the materials of a plasma-facing wall on a future large device. Related experiments have been carefully conducted in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) using combined Langmuir-magnetic probes. The experimental results indicate that the radially outward velocity of type-I ELMy filaments can be up to 1.7 km s‑1 in the far scrape-off layer (SOL) region. It is remarkable that the electron temperature of these filaments is detected to be ∼50 eV, corresponding to a fraction of 1/6 to the temperature near the pedestal top, while the density (∼ 3× {10}19 {{{m}}}-3) of these filaments could be approximate to the line-averaged density. In addition, associated magnetic fluctuations have been clearly observed at the same time, which show good agreement with the density perturbations. A localized current on the order of ∼100 kA could be estimated within the filaments.

A multi-instrument case study of high-latitude ionospheric GNSS scintillation due to drifting plasma irregularities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van der Meeren, C.; Oksavik, K.; Moen, J. I.; Romano, V.

2013-12-01

For this study, GPS receiver scintillation and Total Electron Content (TEC) data from high-latitude locations on Svalbard have been combined with several other data sets, including the EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) and allsky cameras, to perform a multi-instrument case study of high-latitude GPS ionospheric scintillations in relation to drifting plasma irregularities at night over Svalbard on 31 October 2011. Scintillations are rapid amplitude and phase fluctuations of electromagnetic signals. GNSS-based systems may be disturbed by ionospheric plasma irregularities and structures such as plasma patches (areas of enhanced electron density in the polar cap) and plasma gradients. When the GNSS radio signals propagate through such areas, in particular gradients, the signals experience scintillations that at best increases positioning errors and at worst may break the receiver's signal lock, potentially resulting in the GNSS receiver losing track of its position. Due to the importance of many GNSS applications, it is desirable to study the scintillation environment to understand the limitations of the GNSS systems. We find scintillation mainly localised to plasma gradients, with predominantly phase scintillation at the leading edge of patches and both phase and amplitude scintillation at the trailing edge. A single edge may also contain different scintillation types at different locations.

Density Fluctuations in a Polar Coronal Hole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Michael; D’Huys, Elke; Savin, Daniel Wolf

2018-06-01

We have measured the root-mean-square (rms) amplitude of intensity fluctuations, ΔI, in plume and interplume regions of a polar coronal hole. These intensity fluctuations correspond to density fluctuations. Using data from the Sun Watcher using the Active Pixel System detector and Image Processing on the Project for Onboard Autonomy (Proba2), our results extend up to a height of about 1.35 R ⊙. One advantage of the rms analysis is that it does not rely on a detailed evaluation of the power spectrum, which is limited by noise levels to low heights in the corona. The rms approach can be performed up to larger heights where the noise level is greater, provided that the noise itself can be quantified. At low heights, both the absolute ΔI, and the amplitude relative to the mean intensity, ΔI/I, decrease with height. However, starting at about 1.2 R ⊙, ΔI/I increases, reaching 20%–40% by 1.35 R ⊙. This corresponds to density fluctuations of Δn e/n e ≈ 10%–20%. The increasing relative amplitude implies that the density fluctuations are generated in the corona itself. One possibility is that the density fluctuations are generated by an instability of Alfvén waves. This generation mechanism is consistent with some theoretical models and with observations of Alfvén wave amplitudes in coronal holes. Although we find that the energy of the observed density fluctuations is small, these fluctuations are likely to play an important indirect role in coronal heating by promoting the reflection of Alfvén waves and driving turbulence.

Magnetic field pitch angle and perpendicular velocity measurements from multi-point time-delay estimation of poloidal correlation reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prisiazhniuk, D.; Krämer-Flecken, A.; Conway, G. D.; Happel, T.; Lebschy, A.; Manz, P.; Nikolaeva, V.; Stroth, U.; the ASDEX Upgrade Team

2017-02-01

In fusion machines, turbulent eddies are expected to be aligned with the direction of the magnetic field lines and to propagate in the perpendicular direction. Time delay measurements of density fluctuations can be used to calculate the magnetic field pitch angle α and perpendicular velocity {{v}\\bot} profiles. The method is applied to poloidal correlation reflectometry installed at ASDEX Upgrade and TEXTOR, which measure density fluctuations from poloidally and toroidally separated antennas. Validation of the method is achieved by comparing the perpendicular velocity (composed of the E× B drift and the phase velocity of turbulence {{v}\\bot}={{v}E× B}+{{v}\\text{ph}} ) with Doppler reflectometry measurements and with neoclassical {{v}E× B} calculations. An important condition for the application of the method is the presence of turbulence with a sufficiently long decorrelation time. It is shown that at the shear layer the decorrelation time is reduced, limiting the application of the method. The magnetic field pitch angle measured by this method shows the expected dependence on the magnetic field, plasma current and radial position. The profile of the pitch angle reproduces the expected shape and values. However, comparison with the equilibrium reconstruction code cliste suggests an additional inclination of turbulent eddies at the pedestal position (2-3°). This additional angle decreases towards the core and at the edge.

The statistics of primordial density fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barrow, John D.; Coles, Peter

1990-05-01

The statistical properties of the density fluctuations produced by power-law inflation are investigated. It is found that, even the fluctuations present in the scalar field driving the inflation are Gaussian, the resulting density perturbations need not be, due to stochastic variations in the Hubble parameter. All the moments of the density fluctuations are calculated, and is is argued that, for realistic parameter choices, the departures from Gaussian statistics are small and would have a negligible effect on the large-scale structure produced in the model. On the other hand, the model predicts a power spectrum with n not equal to 1, and this could be good news for large-scale structure.

Observations of density fluctuations in an elongated Bose gas: ideal gas and quasicondensate regimes.

PubMed

Esteve, J; Trebbia, J-B; Schumm, T; Aspect, A; Westbrook, C I; Bouchoule, I

2006-04-07

We report in situ measurements of density fluctuations in a quasi-one-dimensional 87Rb Bose gas at thermal equilibrium in an elongated harmonic trap. We observe an excess of fluctuations compared to the shot-noise level expected for uncorrelated atoms. At low atomic density, the measured excess is in good agreement with the expected "bunching" for an ideal Bose gas. At high density, the measured fluctuations are strongly reduced compared to the ideal gas case. We attribute this reduction to repulsive interatomic interactions. The data are compared with a calculation for an interacting Bose gas in the quasicondensate regime.

2D microwave imaging reflectometer electronics.

PubMed

Spear, A G; Domier, C W; Hu, X; Muscatello, C M; Ren, X; Tobias, B J; Luhmann, N C

2014-11-01

A 2D microwave imaging reflectometer system has been developed to visualize electron density fluctuations on the DIII-D tokamak. Simultaneously illuminated at four probe frequencies, large aperture optics image reflections from four density-dependent cutoff surfaces in the plasma over an extended region of the DIII-D plasma. Localized density fluctuations in the vicinity of the plasma cutoff surfaces modulate the plasma reflections, yielding a 2D image of electron density fluctuations. Details are presented of the receiver down conversion electronics that generate the in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) reflectometer signals from which 2D density fluctuation data are obtained. Also presented are details on the control system and backplane used to manage the electronics as well as an introduction to the computer based control program.

Exploitation of high resolution beam spectroscopy diagnostics on MAST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michael, Clive; Debock, Maarten; Conway, Neil; Akers, Rob; Appel, Lynton; Field, Anthony; Walsh, Mike; Wisse, Marco

2009-11-01

Recent developments in beam spectroscopy on MAST, including CXRS, MSE and a pilot FIDA system have revealed new information about phenomena such as ITBs, MHD instabilities, transport and fast particle physics. For example, ITBs in the ion temperature and toroidal rotation have been observed with the 64ch CXRS system, while reverse-shear q profiles have been observed with the recently commissioned 35ch MSE system. Thus, the synergy of these diagnostics helps us to understand, among other things, the role of magnetic and rotational shear on ITBs. MSE measurements have also helped to understand MHD phenomena such as locked modes (characterized by changes in toroidal momentum, revealed by CXRS), sawteeth, and internal reconnection events. Finally, the temporal/spatial resolution and SNR of the MSE system have been exploited. Interesting results include the detection of low frequency (˜2kHz) magnetic field fluctuations, characterization of the radial structure of higher frequency (<100kHz) broadband and coherent density (BES) fluctuations, and the identification of short scale length features (˜1.8cm) in the current profile near the edge pedestal.

Residual fluctuations in the matter and radiation distribution after the decoupling epoch. [of early universe

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Silk, J.; Wilson, M. L.

1980-01-01

The residual spectra of matter and radiation fluctuations in the early universe are investigated, and the evolution of primordial adiabatic and isothermal fluctuations through the decoupling epoch is studied. Amplification of adiabatic density fluctuations during decoupling, or velocity 'overshoot', is largely suppressed by Compton drag. Consequently, the amplitude of density fluctuations entering the horizon prior to decoupling is larger than hitherto assumed in the adiabatic theory. Damping of primordial adiabatic density fluctuations by an order of magnitude occurs on mass-scales of 3 x 10 to the 13th solar masses (Omega = 1) or 10 to the 14th solar masses (Omega = 0.2). Comparison of the residual radiation fluctuations with observational limits indicates that the adiabatic theory is only acceptable if re-ionization of the intergalactic medium results in additional scattering of the radiation after decoupling. Primordial isothermal fluctuations are found to yield radiation fluctuations which are insensitive to the assumed spectrum and lie a factor of about 5 below current limits

Effect of Heating on Turbulent Density Fluctuations and Noise Generation From High Speed Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, Jayanta; Seasholtz, Richard G.; Elam, Kristie A.; Mielke, Amy F.; Eck, Dennis G.

2004-01-01

Heated jets in a wide range of temperature ratios (TR), and acoustic Mach numbers (Ma) were investigated experimentally using far field microphones and a molecular Rayleigh scattering technique. The latter provided density fluctuations measurements. Two sets of operating conditions were considered: (1) TR was varied between 0.84 and 2.7 while Ma was fixed at 0.9; (2) Ma was varied between 0.6 and 1.48, while TR was fixed at 2.27. The implementation of the molecular Rayleigh scattering technique required dust removal and usage of a hydrogen combustor to avoid soot particles. Time averaged density measurements in the first set of data showed differences in the peripheral density shear layers between the unheated and heated jets. The nozzle exit shear layer showed increased turbulence level with increased plume temperature. Nevertheless, further downstream the density fluctuations spectra are found to be nearly identical for all Mach number and temperature ratio conditions. To determine noise sources a correlation study between plume density fluctuations and far field sound pressure fluctuations was conducted. For all jets the core region beyond the end of the potential flow was found to be the strongest noise source. Except for an isothermal jet, the correlations did not differ significantly with increasing temperature ratio. The isothermal jet created little density fluctuations. Although the far field noise from this jet did not show any exceptional trend, the flow-sound correlations were very low. This indicated that the density fluctuations only acted as a "tracer parameter" for the noise sources.

Gravity waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fritts, David

1987-01-01

Gravity waves contributed to the establishment of the thermal structure, small scale (80 to 100 km) fluctuations in velocity (50 to 80 m/sec) and density (20 to 30%, 0 to peak). Dominant gravity wave spectrum in the middle atmosphere: x-scale, less than 100 km; z-scale, greater than 10 km; t-scale, less than 2 hr. Theorists are beginning to understand middle atmosphere motions. There are two classes: Planetary waves and equatorial motions, gravity waves and tidal motions. The former give rise to variability at large scales, which may alter apparent mean structure. Effects include density and velocity fluctuations, induced mean motions, and stratospheric warmings which lead to the breakup of the polar vortex and cooling of the mesosphere. On this scale are also equatorial quasi-biennial and semi-annual oscillations. Gravity wave and tidal motions produce large rms fluctuations in density and velocity. The magnitude of the density fluctuations compared to the mean density is of the order of the vertical wavelength, which grows with height. Relative density fluctuations are less than, or of the order of 30% below the mesopause. Such motions may cause significant and variable convection, and wind shear. There is a strong seasonal variation in gravity wave amplitude. Additional observations are needed to address and quantify mean and fluctuation statistics of both density and mean velocity, variability of the mean and fluctuations, and to identify dominant gravity wave scales and sources as well as causes of variability, both temporal and geographic.

Investigation of Density Fluctuations in Supersonic Free Jets and Correlation with Generated Noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, J.; Seasholtz, R. G.

2000-01-01

The air density fluctuations in the plumes of fully-expanded, unheated free jets were investigated experimentally using a Rayleigh scattering based technique. The point measuring technique used a continuous wave laser, fiber-optic transmission and photon counting electronics. The radial and centerline profiles of time-averaged density and root-mean-square density fluctuation provided a comparative description of jet growth. To measure density fluctuation spectra a two-Photomultiplier tube technique was used. Crosscorrelation between the two PMT signals significantly reduced electronic shot noise contribution. Turbulent density fluctuations occurring up to a Strouhal number (Sr) of 2.5 were resolved. A remarkable feature of density spectra, obtained from the same locations of jets in 0.5< M<1.5 range, is a constant Strouhal frequency for peak fluctuations. A detailed survey at Mach numbers M = 0.95, 1.4 and 1.8 showed that, in general, distribution of various Strouhal frequency fluctuations remained similar for the three jets. In spite of the similarity in the flow fluctuation the noise characteristics were found to be significantly different. Spark schlieren photographs and near field microphone measurements confirmed that the eddy Mach wave radiation was present in Mach 1.8 jet, and was absent in Mach 0.95 jet. To measure correlation between the flow and the far field sound pressure fluctuations, a microphone was kept at a distance of 50 diameters, 30 deg. to the flow direction, and the laser probe volume was moved from point to point in the flow. The density fluctuations in the peripheral shear layer of Mach 1.8 jet showed significant correlation up to the measurement limit of Sr = 2.5, while for Mach 0.95 jet no correlation was measured. Along the centerline measurable correlation was found from the end of the potential core and at the low frequency range (Sr less than 0.5). Usually the normalized correlation values increased with an increase of the jet Mach number. The experimental data point out eddy Mach waves as a strong source of sound generation in supersonic jets and fail to locate the primary noise mechanism in subsonic jets.

Edge effects and their influence on lemur density and distribution in Southeast Madagascar.

PubMed

Lehman, Shawn M; Rajaonson, Andry; Day, Sabine

2006-02-01

Edge effects are caused by the penetration of abiotic and biotic conditions from the matrix into forest interiors. Although edge effects influence the biogeography of many tropical organisms, they have not been studied directly in primates. Edge effects are particularly relevant to lemurs due to the loss of 80-90% of forests in Madagascar. In this study, data are presented on how biotic edge effects influenced the distribution and density of lemurs in the Vohibola III Classified Forest in southeastern Madagascar. In total, 415 lemur surveys were conducted during June-October 2003 and May-September 2004 along six 1,250-m transects that ran perpendicular to the forest edge. Data were also collected on lemur food trees along the six transects (density, height, diameter at breast height, area, volume, and distance to forest edge). Four nocturnal species (Avahi laniger, Cheirogaleus major, Lepilemur microdon, and Microcebus rufus) and four diurnal species (Eulemur rubriventer, Eulemur fulvus rufus, Hapalemur grisesus griseus, and Propithecus diadema edwardsi) were sighted during surveys. Regression analyses of lemur densities as a function of distance to forest edge provided edge tolerances for A. laniger (edge-tolerant), M. rufus (edge-tolerant), E. rubriventer (edge-tolerant or omnipresent), and H. g. griseus (omnipresent). The density and distribution of M. rufus and their foods trees were correlated. Edge-related variations in food quality and predation pressures may also be influencing lemurs in Vohibola III. Tolerance for edge effects may explain, in part, how lemurs have survived extreme habitat loss and forest fragmentation in southeastern Madagascar.

Low-noise heterodyne receiver for electron cyclotron emission imaging and microwave imaging reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tobias, B.; Domier, C. W.; Luhmann, N. C.; Luo, C.; Mamidanna, M.; Phan, T.; Pham, A.-V.; Wang, Y.

2016-11-01

The critical component enabling electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) to resolve 2D and 3D electron temperature and density perturbations is the heterodyne imaging array that collects and downconverts radiated emission and/or reflected signals (50-150 GHz) to an intermediate frequency (IF) band (e.g. 0.1-18 GHz) that can be transmitted by a shielded coaxial cable for further filtering and detection. New circuitry has been developed for this task, integrating gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) mounted on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. The improved topology significantly increases electromagnetic shielding from out-of-band interference, leads to 10× improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and dramatic cost savings through integration. The current design, optimized for reflectometry and edge radiometry on mid-sized tokamaks, has demonstrated >20 dB conversion gain in upper V-band (60-75 GHz). Implementation of the circuit in a multi-channel electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) array will improve the diagnosis of edge-localized modes and fluctuations of the high-confinement, or H-mode, pedestal.

Low-noise heterodyne receiver for electron cyclotron emission imaging and microwave imaging reflectometry.

PubMed

Tobias, B; Domier, C W; Luhmann, N C; Luo, C; Mamidanna, M; Phan, T; Pham, A-V; Wang, Y

2016-11-01

The critical component enabling electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) to resolve 2D and 3D electron temperature and density perturbations is the heterodyne imaging array that collects and downconverts radiated emission and/or reflected signals (50-150 GHz) to an intermediate frequency (IF) band (e.g. 0.1-18 GHz) that can be transmitted by a shielded coaxial cable for further filtering and detection. New circuitry has been developed for this task, integrating gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) mounted on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. The improved topology significantly increases electromagnetic shielding from out-of-band interference, leads to 10× improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and dramatic cost savings through integration. The current design, optimized for reflectometry and edge radiometry on mid-sized tokamaks, has demonstrated >20 dB conversion gain in upper V-band (60-75 GHz). Implementation of the circuit in a multi-channel electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) array will improve the diagnosis of edge-localized modes and fluctuations of the high-confinement, or H-mode, pedestal.

Assessing the Nature of the Distribution of Localised States in Bulk GaAsBi.

PubMed

Wilson, Tom; Hylton, Nicholas P; Harada, Yukihiro; Pearce, Phoebe; Alonso-Álvarez, Diego; Mellor, Alex; Richards, Robert D; David, John P R; Ekins-Daukes, Nicholas J

2018-04-24

A comprehensive assessment of the nature of the distribution of sub band-gap energy states in bulk GaAsBi is presented using power and temperature dependent photoluminescence spectroscopy. The observation of a characteristic red-blue-red shift in the peak luminescence energy indicates the presence of short-range alloy disorder in the material. A decrease in the carrier localisation energy demonstrates the strong excitation power dependence of localised state behaviour and is attributed to the filling of energy states furthest from the valence band edge. Analysis of the photoluminescence lineshape at low temperature presents strong evidence for a Gaussian distribution of localised states that extends from the valence band edge. Furthermore, a rate model is employed to understand the non-uniform thermal quenching of the photoluminescence and indicates the presence of two Gaussian-like distributions making up the density of localised states. These components are attributed to the presence of microscopic fluctuations in Bi content, due to short-range alloy disorder across the GaAsBi layer, and the formation of Bi related point defects, resulting from low temperature growth.

Density and magnetic fluctuations in type III-ELM pedestal evolution in JET: experimental and numerical characterization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

De Masi, G.; Predebon, I.; Spagnolo, S.; Meneses, L.; Delabie, E.; Lupelli, I.; Hillesheim, J. C.; Maggi, C.; Contributors, JET

2018-04-01

Density and magnetic fluctuation measurements in low-β type-III ELM discharges are obtained in the Joint European Torus (JET). They are observed during the inter-ELM pedestal evolution, after the LH transition phase, at about 60-70 kHz. Density fluctuations are measured with a correlation reflectometer system installed on the low-field side and they are localized at the pedestal top. Magnetic fluctuations with a spatial scale k_yρ_i˜ 0.1 are measured through a high resolution coil array. The main features and the relations with local plasma parameters are presented. The nature of these fluctuations is discussed along with linear gyrokinetic simulations. Ion temperature gradient (ITG) modes are the dominant instabilities in the frequency range of interest. In terms of radial localization, typical oscillation frequency and qualitative relation with the possible linear drive, ITG modes are consistent with the experimental density fluctuations measurements. Micro-tearing modes (MTMs), found unstable with a lower growth rate, appear a possible explanation for magnetic fluctuations in terms of typical wavenumbers and direction of propagation.

Poynting vector, energy densities, and pressure of collective transverse electromagnetic fluctuations in unmagnetized plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schlickeiser, R.

2012-01-01

A systematic calculation of the electromagnetic properties (Poynting vector, electromagnetic energy, and pressure) of the collective transverse fluctuations in unmagnetized plasmas with velocity-anisotropic plasma particle distributions functions is presented. Time-averaged electromagnetic properties for monochromatic weakly damped wave-like fluctuations and space-averaged electromagnetic properties for monochromatic weakly propagating and aperiodic fluctuations are calculated. For aperiodic fluctuations, the Poynting vector as well as the sum of the space-averaged electric and magnetic field energy densities vanish. However, aperiodic fluctuations possess a positive pressure given by its magnetic energy density. This finite pressure density pa of aperiodic fluctuations has important consequences for the dynamics of cosmic unmagnetized plasmas such as the intergalactic medium after reionization. Adopting the standard cosmological evolution model, we show that this additional pressure changes the expansion law of the universe leading to further deceleration. Negative vacuum pressure counterbalances this deceleration to an accelerating universe provided that the negative vacuum pressure is greater than 1.5pa, which we estimate to be of the order 2.1 . 10-16 dyn cm-2.

An experimental study of turbulence by phase-contrast imaging in the DIII-D tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coda, Stefano

1997-10-01

A CO2-laser imaging system employing the Zernike phase-contrast technique was designed, built, installed, and operated on the DIII-D tokamak. This system measures the line integrals of plasma density fluctuations along 16 vertical chords at the outer edge of the tokamak (0.85

Density dependence in demography and dispersal generates fluctuating invasion speeds

PubMed Central

Li, Bingtuan; Miller, Tom E. X.

2017-01-01

Density dependence plays an important role in population regulation and is known to generate temporal fluctuations in population density. However, the ways in which density dependence affects spatial population processes, such as species invasions, are less understood. Although classical ecological theory suggests that invasions should advance at a constant speed, empirical work is illuminating the highly variable nature of biological invasions, which often exhibit nonconstant spreading speeds, even in simple, controlled settings. Here, we explore endogenous density dependence as a mechanism for inducing variability in biological invasions with a set of population models that incorporate density dependence in demographic and dispersal parameters. We show that density dependence in demography at low population densities—i.e., an Allee effect—combined with spatiotemporal variability in population density behind the invasion front can produce fluctuations in spreading speed. The density fluctuations behind the front can arise from either overcompensatory population growth or density-dependent dispersal, both of which are common in nature. Our results show that simple rules can generate complex spread dynamics and highlight a source of variability in biological invasions that may aid in ecological forecasting. PMID:28442569

First-order finite-Larmor-radius fluid modeling of tearing and relaxation in a plasma pincha)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

King, J. R.; Sovinec, C. R.; Mirnov, V. V.

2012-05-01

Drift and Hall effects on magnetic tearing, island evolution, and relaxation in pinch configurations are investigated using a non-reduced first-order finite-Larmor-radius (FLR) fluid model with the nonideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) with rotation, open discussion (NIMROD) code [C.R. Sovinec and J. R. King, J. Comput. Phys. 229, 5803 (2010)]. An unexpected result with a uniform pressure profile is a drift effect that reduces the growth rate when the ion sound gyroradius (ρs) is smaller than the tearing-layer width. This drift is present only with warm-ion FLR modeling, and analytics show that it arises from ∇B and poloidal curvature represented in the Braginskii gyroviscous stress. Nonlinear single-helicity computations with experimentally relevant ρs values show that the warm-ion gyroviscous effects reduce saturated-island widths. Computations with multiple nonlinearly interacting tearing fluctuations find that m = 1 core-resonant-fluctuation amplitudes are reduced by a factor of two relative to single-fluid modeling by the warm-ion effects. These reduced core-resonant-fluctuation amplitudes compare favorably to edge coil measurements in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch [R. N. Dexter et al., Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)]. The computations demonstrate that fluctuations induce both MHD- and Hall-dynamo emfs during relaxation events. The presence of a Hall-dynamo emf implies a fluctuation-induced Maxwell stress, and the simulation results show net transport of parallel momentum. The computed magnitude of force densities from the Maxwell and competing Reynolds stresses, and changes in the parallel flow profile, are qualitatively and semi-quantitatively similar to measurements during relaxation in MST.

First-order finite-Larmor-radius fluid modeling of tearing and relaxation in a plasma pinch

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

King, J. R.; Tech-X Corporation, 5621 Arapahoe Ave., Suite A Boulder, Colorado 80303; Sovinec, C. R.

Drift and Hall effects on magnetic tearing, island evolution, and relaxation in pinch configurations are investigated using a non-reduced first-order finite-Larmor-radius (FLR) fluid model with the nonideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) with rotation, open discussion (NIMROD) code [C.R. Sovinec and J. R. King, J. Comput. Phys. 229, 5803 (2010)]. An unexpected result with a uniform pressure profile is a drift effect that reduces the growth rate when the ion sound gyroradius ({rho}{sub s}) is smaller than the tearing-layer width. This drift is present only with warm-ion FLR modeling, and analytics show that it arises from {nabla}B and poloidal curvature represented in themore » Braginskii gyroviscous stress. Nonlinear single-helicity computations with experimentally relevant {rho}{sub s} values show that the warm-ion gyroviscous effects reduce saturated-island widths. Computations with multiple nonlinearly interacting tearing fluctuations find that m = 1 core-resonant-fluctuation amplitudes are reduced by a factor of two relative to single-fluid modeling by the warm-ion effects. These reduced core-resonant-fluctuation amplitudes compare favorably to edge coil measurements in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST) reversed-field pinch [R. N. Dexter et al., Fusion Technol. 19, 131 (1991)]. The computations demonstrate that fluctuations induce both MHD- and Hall-dynamo emfs during relaxation events. The presence of a Hall-dynamo emf implies a fluctuation-induced Maxwell stress, and the simulation results show net transport of parallel momentum. The computed magnitude of force densities from the Maxwell and competing Reynolds stresses, and changes in the parallel flow profile, are qualitatively and semi-quantitatively similar to measurements during relaxation in MST.« less

Spatial variations in Eulemur fulvus rufus and Lepilemur mustelinus densities in Madagascar.

PubMed

Lehman, Shawn M

2007-01-01

I present data on variations in Eulemur fulvus rufus and Lepilemur mustelinus densities as well as tree characteristics (height, diameter and stem frequency) between edge and interior forest habitats in southeastern Madagascar. Line transect surveys were conducted from June 2003 to November 2005 in edge and interior forest habitats in the Vohibola III Classified Forest. Although E. f. rufus densities were significantly lower in edge habitats than in interior habitats, density estimates for L. mustelinus did not differ significantly between habitats. Trees in edge habitats were significantly shorter, had smaller diameters and had lower stem frequencies (for those >25 cm in diameter) than trees in interior habitats. Spatial characteristics of food abundance and quality may explain lemur density patterns in Vohibola III. Low E. f. rufus densities may reduce seed dispersal in edge habitats, which has important consequences for the long-term viability of forest ecosystems in Madagascar. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The effects of gusts on the fluctuating airloads of airfoils in transonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mccroskey, W. J.

1984-01-01

Unsteady interactions of distributed and sharp-edged gusts with a stationary airfoil have been analyzed in two-dimensional transonic flow.A simple method of introducing such disturbances has been numerically implemented within the framework of unsteady, transonic small-disturbance theory. Representative solutions for various airfoils subjected to chordwise and transverse gusts show that the strength and unsteady motion of the shock wave on the airfoil significantly affect the flowfield development and, consequently, the dynamic airloads. Also a study was made of the reductions in the unsteady airloads that can be achieved by the proper active control motion of a trailing-edge flap, and a simple gust-alleviation strategy was developed. However, the chordwise pressure distributions associated with gusts are very different from those produced by trailing-edge flap oscillations. Consequently, the fluctuating lift and the unsteady pitching moments cannot both be eliminated simultaneously.

Lemur responses to edge effects in the Vohibola III classified forest, Madagascar.

PubMed

Lehman, Shawn M; Rajaonson, Andry; Day, Sabine

2006-03-01

Forest edges are dynamic zones characterized by the penetration (to varying depths and intensities) of conditions from the surrounding environment (matrix) into the forest interior. Although edge effects influence many tropical organisms, they have not been studied directly in primates. Edge effects are particularly relevant to lemurs because of the highly fragmented forest landscapes found in Madagascar. In this study, data are presented regarding how the densities of six lemur species (Avahi laniger, Cheirogaleus major, Eulemur rubriventer, Hapalemur griseus griseus, Microcebus rufus, and Propithecus diadema edwardsi) varied between six 500-m interior transects and six 500-m edge transects in the Vohibola III Classified Forest in SE Madagascar. Diurnal (n = 433) and nocturnal (n = 128) lemur surveys were conducted during June-October 2003 and May-November 2004. A. laniger, E. rubriventer, and H. g. griseus exhibited a neutral edge response (no differences in densities between habitats). M. rufus and P. d. edwardsi had a positive edge response (higher densities in edge habitats), which may be related to edge-related variations in food abundance and quality. Positive edge responses by M. rufus and P. d. edwardsi may ultimately be detrimental due to edge-related anthropogenic factors (e.g., hunting by local people). The negative edge response exhibited by C. major (lower densities in edge habitats) may result from heightened ambient temperatures that inhibit torpor in edge habitats.

Characterisation of SOL density fluctuations in front of the LHCD PAM launcher in Tore

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

Oosako, T.; Ekedahl, A.; Goniche, M.

2011-12-23

The density fluctuations, modified by Lower Hybrid Wave (LHW), is analyzed in Tore Supra with reference to the injected LHW power, density and the gap between LCFS (Last Closed Flux Surface) and the PAM (passive-active-multijunction) launcher. The density fluctuations are measured with RF probes installed at the PAM launcher front. A density scan at nominal toroidal field (3.8 T) shows that the fluctuations rate stays nearly constant ({approx}50%) for <3.5x10{sup 19}m{sup -3} and with LHW power up to 2MW. However, when increasing the density above <{approx}4.2x10{sup 19}m{sup -3}, using strong gas puffing, the fluctuation rate increases to >70%more » and is characterized by strong negative spikes, with typical frequency >100kHz. These are most likely originating from acceleration of electrons in the LHW near field due to parasitic absorption, as evidenced on the IR images, showing hot spots on the side limiters.« less

Permutation entropy and statistical complexity analysis of turbulence in laboratory plasmas and the solar wind.

PubMed

Weck, P J; Schaffner, D A; Brown, M R; Wicks, R T

2015-02-01

The Bandt-Pompe permutation entropy and the Jensen-Shannon statistical complexity are used to analyze fluctuating time series of three different turbulent plasmas: the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the plasma wind tunnel of the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX), drift-wave turbulence of ion saturation current fluctuations in the edge of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD), and fully developed turbulent magnetic fluctuations of the solar wind taken from the Wind spacecraft. The entropy and complexity values are presented as coordinates on the CH plane for comparison among the different plasma environments and other fluctuation models. The solar wind is found to have the highest permutation entropy and lowest statistical complexity of the three data sets analyzed. Both laboratory data sets have larger values of statistical complexity, suggesting that these systems have fewer degrees of freedom in their fluctuations, with SSX magnetic fluctuations having slightly less complexity than the LAPD edge I(sat). The CH plane coordinates are compared to the shape and distribution of a spectral decomposition of the wave forms. These results suggest that fully developed turbulence (solar wind) occupies the lower-right region of the CH plane, and that other plasma systems considered to be turbulent have less permutation entropy and more statistical complexity. This paper presents use of this statistical analysis tool on solar wind plasma, as well as on an MHD turbulent experimental plasma.

The influence of the membrane-polymer interface on colloidal membrane dynamics and phase behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakhary, Mark J.

A primary challenge in the field of self-assembly is to identify simple interactions that produce well-defined, complex, and controllable materials. A large part of this task is to creatively engineer appropriate assembly components with such suitable interactions built-in. Here, we demonstrate that rod-like subunits, experimentally modeled by fd bacteriophage viruses, with simple and predictable hard-core repulsive interactions, exhibit a great wealth of fascinating self-assembly behavior. These rods form two-dimensional liquid crystalline colloidal membranes consisting of monolayers of aligned particles owing purely to entropic considerations. Due to surface tension, rods near the edge of the monolayers twist, resulting in an elastic nematic ring surrounding the fluid-like membrane interior, and it is the rich phenomena rooted in the interplay between the edge and the interior that is the subject of this thesis. The chiral nature of the fd subunits causes a symmetry breaking at the membrane edge, which leads to chiral control of interfacial tension and resultantly a controllable, reversible morphological transition between membranes and one-dimensional twisted ribbons. Using optical microscopic and optical tweezer techniques, we show that a nucleation barrier exists in association with the membrane-ribbon transition, and investigate this barrier using fluctuation analysis as well as highly controlled force-extension experiments. The finite bending rigidity of the membrane edge is studied, and we show that long filamentous polymers spontaneously adhere to the edge, introducing the concept of geometrical edge-active agents. By analyzing the suppressed edge fluctuations of filament-bound membranes, it is found that the edge bending rigidity varies by up to an order of magnitude in a predictable and controllable way. Finally, we study the effect of the monolayer edge on the membrane coalescence, and observe two types of stable liquid crystalline defects that form at the coalescence site due to chiral incompatibility and frustration. By observing the fluctuations of these structures under various sample conditions, we quantify physical parameters associated with the defects, as well as their respective regions of stability. Optical tweezers are used to easily effect controllable membrane self-coalescence, which allows for imprinting defect networks, transforming between defect types, and imparting irreversible topological alterations to defects.

Edge effects in the primate community of the biological dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, Amazonas, Brazil.

PubMed

Lenz, Bryan B; Jack, Katharine M; Spironello, Wilson R

2014-11-01

While much is known about abiotic and vegetative edge effects in tropical forests, considerably less is known about the impact of forest edges on large mammals. In this study, we examine edge effects in a primate community to determine: 1) the distance from the edge over which edge effects in primate density are detectable, 2) whether individual species exhibit edge effects in their density, and 3) whether biological characteristics can be used to predict primate presence in edge habitats. Given their importance to many primate species, we also examine the influence of the number of large trees. We found edge penetration distances of 150 m for the five species that experienced edge effects, suggesting that primates respond to edge-related changes in the plant community that are known to be strongest over the first 150 m. Four species had higher edge densities: Alouatta macconnelli (folivore-frugivore), Chiropotes chiropotes (frugivorous seed predator), Saguinus midas (frugivore-faunivore), and Sapajus apella apella (frugivore-faunivore); one species' density was lower: Ateles paniscus (frugivore); and the final species, Pithecia chrysocephala (frugivorous seed predator), did not show an edge-related pattern. The lone significant relationship between the biological characteristics examined (body weight, diet, group size, and home range size) and primate presence in edge habitats was a negative relationship with the amount of fruit consumed. Though we did not examine primate responses to edges that border a denuded matrix, we have shown that edges influence primate distribution even following decades of secondary forest regeneration at habitat edges. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Temperature and density anti-correlations in solar wind fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zank, G. P.; Matthaeus, W. H.; Klein, L. W.

1990-01-01

Recent theoretical investigations of low Mach number flows, that describe two distinct approaches by fluids to the incompressible regime are summarized. The first includes the effects of relatively strong density and temperature fluctuations (Type I), while the second places fluctuations in mechanical pressure, density, and temperature on an equal footing (Type II). In the latter case, the relations between density and pressure are recovered, whereas the former case yields departures from incompressible behavior in that density and temperature fluctuations are predicted to be anti-correlated. It is suggested that nearly incompressible fluids can be classified as either Type I or II, and it is shown that the well-known pressure-balanced structures represent a subclass of static solutions within this classification. Two examples from Voyager data illustrate the potential for observing these distinct nearly incompressible dynamical ordering in the solar wind.

Vortex-Density Fluctuations, Energy Spectra, and Vortical Regions in Superfluid Turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baggaley, Andrew W.; Laurie, Jason; Barenghi, Carlo F.

2012-11-01

Measurements of the energy spectrum and of the vortex-density fluctuation spectrum in superfluid turbulence seem to contradict each other. Using a numerical model, we show that at each instance of time the total vortex line density can be decomposed into two parts: one formed by metastable bundles of coherent vortices, and one in which the vortices are randomly oriented. We show that the former is responsible for the observed Kolmogorov energy spectrum, and the latter for the spectrum of the vortex line density fluctuations.

Adjacent Habitat Influence on Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Densities and the Associated Damage at Field Corn and Soybean Edges

PubMed Central

Venugopal, P. Dilip; Coffey, Peter L.; Dively, Galen P.; Lamp, William O.

2014-01-01

The local dispersal of polyphagous, mobile insects within agricultural systems impacts pest management. In the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, stink bugs, especially the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål 1855), contribute to economic losses across a range of cropping systems. Here, we characterized the density of stink bugs along the field edges of field corn and soybean at different study sites. Specifically, we examined the influence of adjacent managed and natural habitats on the density of stink bugs in corn and soybean fields at different distances along transects from the field edge. We also quantified damage to corn grain, and to soybean pods and seeds, and measured yield in relation to the observed stink bug densities at different distances from field edge. Highest density of stink bugs was limited to the edge of both corn and soybean fields. Fields adjacent to wooded, crop and building habitats harbored higher densities of stink bugs than those adjacent to open habitats. Damage to corn kernels and to soybean pods and seeds increased with stink bug density in plots and was highest at the field edges. Stink bug density was also negatively associated with yield per plant in soybean. The spatial pattern of stink bugs in both corn and soybeans, with significant edge effects, suggests the use of pest management strategies for crop placement in the landscape, as well as spatially targeted pest suppression within fields. PMID:25295593

Adjacent habitat influence on stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) densities and the associated damage at field corn and soybean edges.

PubMed

Venugopal, P Dilip; Coffey, Peter L; Dively, Galen P; Lamp, William O

2014-01-01

The local dispersal of polyphagous, mobile insects within agricultural systems impacts pest management. In the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, stink bugs, especially the invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål 1855), contribute to economic losses across a range of cropping systems. Here, we characterized the density of stink bugs along the field edges of field corn and soybean at different study sites. Specifically, we examined the influence of adjacent managed and natural habitats on the density of stink bugs in corn and soybean fields at different distances along transects from the field edge. We also quantified damage to corn grain, and to soybean pods and seeds, and measured yield in relation to the observed stink bug densities at different distances from field edge. Highest density of stink bugs was limited to the edge of both corn and soybean fields. Fields adjacent to wooded, crop and building habitats harbored higher densities of stink bugs than those adjacent to open habitats. Damage to corn kernels and to soybean pods and seeds increased with stink bug density in plots and was highest at the field edges. Stink bug density was also negatively associated with yield per plant in soybean. The spatial pattern of stink bugs in both corn and soybeans, with significant edge effects, suggests the use of pest management strategies for crop placement in the landscape, as well as spatially targeted pest suppression within fields.

A phase contrast imaging–interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

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

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.

2016-11-15

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. This work describes the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI–interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10.6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density fluctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz

Thermal and active fluctuations of a compressible bilayer vesicle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sachin Krishnan, T. V.; Yasuda, Kento; Okamoto, Ryuichi; Komura, Shigeyuki

2018-05-01

We discuss thermal and active fluctuations of a compressible bilayer vesicle by using the results of hydrodynamic theory for vesicles. Coupled Langevin equations for the membrane deformation and the density fields are employed to calculate the power spectral density matrix of membrane fluctuations. Thermal contribution is obtained by means of the fluctuation dissipation theorem, whereas active contribution is calculated from exponentially decaying time correlation functions of active random forces. We obtain the total power spectral density as a sum of thermal and active contributions. An apparent response function is further calculated in order to compare with the recent microrheology experiment on red blood cells. An enhanced response is predicted in the low-frequency regime for non-thermal active fluctuations.

Traffic jams induced by fluctuation of a leading car.

PubMed

Nagatani, T

2000-04-01

We present a phase diagram of the different kinds of congested traffic triggered by fluctuation of a leading car in an open system without sources and sinks. Traffic states and density waves are investigated numerically by varying the amplitude of fluctuation using a car following model. The phase transitions among the free traffic, oscillatory congested traffic, and homogeneous congested traffic occur by fluctuation of a leading car. With increasing the amplitude of fluctuation, the transition between the free traffic and oscillatory traffic occurs at lower density and the transition between the homogeneous congested traffic and the oscillatory traffic occurs at higher density. The oscillatory congested traffic corresponds to the coexisting phase. Also, the moving localized clusters appear just above the transition lines.

Fluctuation diagrams for hot-wire anemometry in subsonic compressible flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stainback, P. C.; Nagabushana, K. A.

1991-01-01

The concept of using 'fluctuation diagrams' for describing basic fluctuations in compressible flows was reported by Kovasznay in the 1950's. The application of this technique, for the most part, was restricted to supersonic flows. Recently, Zinovev and Lebiga published reports where they considered the fluctuation diagrams in subsonic compressible flows. For the above studies, the velocity and density sensitivities of the heated wires were equal. However, there are considerable data, much taken in the 1950's, which indicate that under some conditions the velocity and density sensitivities are not equal in subsonic compressible flows. Therefore, possible fluctuation diagrams are described for the cases where the velocity and density sensitivities are equal and the more general cases where they are unequal.

Semiclassical electron transport at the edge of a two-dimensional topological insulator: Interplay of protected and unprotected modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khalaf, E.; Skvortsov, M. A.; Ostrovsky, P. M.

2016-03-01

We study electron transport at the edge of a generic disordered two-dimensional topological insulator, where some channels are topologically protected from backscattering. Assuming the total number of channels is large, we consider the edge as a quasi-one-dimensional quantum wire and describe it in terms of a nonlinear sigma model with a topological term. Neglecting localization effects, we calculate the average distribution function of transmission probabilities as a function of the sample length. We mainly focus on the two experimentally relevant cases: a junction between two quantum Hall (QH) states with different filling factors (unitary class) and a relatively thick quantum well exhibiting quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect (symplectic class). In a QH sample, the presence of topologically protected modes leads to a strong suppression of diffusion in the other channels already at scales much shorter than the localization length. On the semiclassical level, this is accompanied by the formation of a gap in the spectrum of transmission probabilities close to unit transmission, thereby suppressing shot noise and conductance fluctuations. In the case of a QSH system, there is at most one topologically protected edge channel leading to weaker transport effects. In order to describe `topological' suppression of nearly perfect transparencies, we develop an exact mapping of the semiclassical limit of the one-dimensional sigma model onto a zero-dimensional sigma model of a different symmetry class, allowing us to identify the distribution of transmission probabilities with the average spectral density of a certain random-matrix ensemble. We extend our results to other symmetry classes with topologically protected edges in two dimensions.

Effect of magnetic and density fluctuations on the propagation of lower hybrid waves in tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vahala, George; Vahala, Linda; Bonoli, Paul T.

1992-12-01

Lower hybrid waves have been used extensively for plasma heating, current drive, and ramp-up as well as sawteeth stabilization. The wave kinetic equation for lower hybrid wave propagation is extended to include the effects of both magnetic and density fluctuations. This integral equation is then solved by Monte Carlo procedures for a toroidal plasma. It is shown that even for magnetic/density fluctuation levels on the order of 10-4, there are significant magnetic fluctuation effects on the wave power deposition into the plasma. This effect is quite pronounced if the magnetic fluctuation spectrum is peaked within the plasma. For Alcator-C-Mod [I. H. Hutchinson and the Alcator Group, Proceedings of the IEEE 13th Symposium on Fusion Engineering (IEEE, New York, 1990), Cat. No. 89CH 2820-9, p. 13] parameters, it seems possible to be able to infer information on internal magnetic fluctuations from hard x-ray data—especially since the effects of fluctuations on electron power density can explain the hard x-ray data from the JT-60 tokamak [H. Kishimoto and JT-60 Team, in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1989), Vol. I, p. 67].

Brownian Motion with Active Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romanczuk, Pawel; Schimansky-Geier, Lutz

2011-06-01

We study the effect of different types of fluctuation on the motion of self-propelled particles in two spatial dimensions. We distinguish between passive and active fluctuations. Passive fluctuations (e.g., thermal fluctuations) are independent of the orientation of the particle. In contrast, active ones point parallel or perpendicular to the time dependent orientation of the particle. We derive analytical expressions for the speed and velocity probability density for a generic model of active Brownian particles, which yields an increased probability of low speeds in the presence of active fluctuations in comparison to the case of purely passive fluctuations. As a consequence, we predict sharply peaked Cartesian velocity probability densities at the origin. Finally, we show that such a behavior may also occur in non-Gaussian active fluctuations and discuss briefly correlations of the fluctuating stochastic forces.

Measurement of Correlation Between Flow Density, Velocity, and Density*velocity(sup 2) with Far Field Noise in High Speed Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, Jayanta; Seasholtz, Richard G.; Elam, Kristie A.

2002-01-01

To locate noise sources in high-speed jets, the sound pressure fluctuations p', measured at far field locations, were correlated with each of radial velocity v, density rho, and phov(exp 2) fluctuations measured from various points in jet plumes. The experiments follow the cause-and-effect method of sound source identification, where correlation is related to the first, and correlation to the second source terms of Lighthill's equation. Three fully expanded, unheated plumes of Mach number 0.95, 1.4 and 1.8 were studied for this purpose. The velocity and density fluctuations were measured simultaneously using a recently developed, non-intrusive, point measurement technique based on molecular Rayleigh scattering. It was observed that along the jet centerline the density fluctuation spectra S(sub rho) have different shapes than the radial velocity spectra S(sub v), while data obtained from the peripheral shear layer show similarity between the two spectra. Density fluctuations in the jet showed significantly higher correlation, than either rhov(sub 2) or v fluctuations. It is found that a single point correlation from the peak sound emitting region at the end of the potential core can account for nearly 10% of all noise at 30 to the jet axis. The correlation, representing the effectiveness of a longitudinal quadrupole in generating noise 90 to the jet axis, is found to be zero within experimental uncertainty. In contrast rhov(exp 2) fluctuations were better correlated with sound pressure fluctuation at the 30 location. The strongest source of sound is found to lie at the centerline and beyond the end of potential core.

Density-Gradient-Driven trapped-electron-modes in improved-confinement RFP plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duff, James; Sarff, John; Ding, Weixing; Brower, David; Parke, Eli; Chapman, Brett; Terry, Paul; Pueschel, M. J.; Williams, Zach

2017-10-01

Short wavelength density fluctuations in improved-confinement MST plasmas exhibit multiple features characteristic of the trapped-electron-mode (TEM). Core transport in the RFP is normally governed by magnetic stochasticity stemming from long wavelength tearing modes that arise from current profile peaking, which are suppressed via inductive control for this work. The improved confinement is associated with an increase in the pressure gradient that can destabilize drift waves. The measured density fluctuations have f 50 kHz, kϕρs < 0.14 , and propagate in the electron drift direction. Their spectral emergence coincides with a sharp decrease in global tearing mode associated fluctuations, their amplitude increases with local density gradient, and they exhibit a density-gradient threshold at R /Ln 15 . The GENE code, modified for the RFP, predicts the onset of density-gradient-driven TEM for these strong-gradient plasma conditions. While nonlinear analysis shows a large Dimits shift associated with predicted strong zonal flows, the inclusion of residual magnetic fluctuations, comparable to experimental magnetic fluctuations, causes a collapse of the zonal flows and an increase in the predicted transport to a level close to the experimentally measured heat flux. Work supported by US DOE.

Dynamo-driven plasmoid formation from a current-sheet instability

DOE PAGES

Ebrahimi, F.

2016-12-15

Axisymmetric current-carrying plasmoids are formed in the presence of nonaxisymmetric fluctuations during nonlinear three-dimensional resistive MHD simulations in a global toroidal geometry. In this study, we utilize the helicity injection technique to form an initial poloidal flux in the presence of a toroidal guide field. As helicity is injected, two types of current sheets are formed from the oppositely directed field lines in the injector region (primary reconnecting current sheet), and the poloidal flux compression near the plasma edge (edge current sheet). We first find that nonaxisymmetric fluctuations arising from the current-sheet instability isolated near the plasma edge have tearingmore » parity but can nevertheless grow fast (on the poloidal Alfven time scale). These modes saturate by breaking up the current sheet. Second, for the first time, a dynamo poloidal flux amplification is observed at the reconnection site (in the region of the oppositely directed magnetic field). This fluctuation-induced flux amplification increases the local Lundquist number, which then triggers a plasmoid instability and breaks the primary current sheet at the reconnection site. Finally, the plasmoids formation driven by large-scale flux amplification, i.e., a large-scale dynamo, observed here has strong implications for astrophysical reconnection as well as fast reconnection events in laboratory plasmas.« less

On optical imaging through aircraft turbulent boundary layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sutton, G. W.

1980-01-01

Optical resolution quality as affected by aircraft turbulent boundary layers is analyzed. Wind-tunnel data was analyzed to obtained the variation of boundary layer turbulence scale length and mass density rms fluctuations with Mach number. The data gave good agreement with a mass density fluctuation turbulence spectrum that is either isotropic of orthogonally anisotropic. The data did not match an isotropic turbulence velocity spectrum which causes an anisotropic non-orthogonal mass density fluctuation spectrum. The results indicate that the average mass density rms fluctuation is about 10% of the maximum mass density across the boundary layer and that the transverse turbulence scale size is about 10% of the boundary layer thickness. The results indicate that the effect of the turbulent boundary layer is large angle scattering which decreases contrast but not resolution. Using extinction as a criteria the range of acceptable aircraft operating conditions are given.

First-principles approach to calculating energy level alignment at aqueous semiconductor interfaces.

PubMed

Kharche, Neerav; Muckerman, James T; Hybertsen, Mark S

2014-10-24

A first-principles approach is demonstrated for calculating the relationship between an aqueous semiconductor interface structure and energy level alignment. The physical interface structure is sampled using density functional theory based molecular dynamics, yielding the interface electrostatic dipole. The  GW approach from many-body perturbation theory is used to place the electronic band edge energies of the semiconductor relative to the occupied 1b1 energy level in water. The application to the specific cases of nonpolar (101¯0) facets of GaN and ZnO reveals a significant role for the structural motifs at the interface, including the degree of interface water dissociation and the dynamical fluctuations in the interface Zn-O and O-H bond orientations. These effects contribute up to 0.5 eV.

Fluctuations around equilibrium laws in ergodic continuous-time random walks.

PubMed

Schulz, Johannes H P; Barkai, Eli

2015-06-01

We study occupation time statistics in ergodic continuous-time random walks. Under thermal detailed balance conditions, the average occupation time is given by the Boltzmann-Gibbs canonical law. But close to the nonergodic phase, the finite-time fluctuations around this mean are large and nontrivial. They exhibit dual time scaling and distribution laws: the infinite density of large fluctuations complements the Lévy-stable density of bulk fluctuations. Neither of the two should be interpreted as a stand-alone limiting law, as each has its own deficiency: the infinite density has an infinite norm (despite particle conservation), while the stable distribution has an infinite variance (although occupation times are bounded). These unphysical divergences are remedied by consistent use and interpretation of both formulas. Interestingly, while the system's canonical equilibrium laws naturally determine the mean occupation time of the ergodic motion, they also control the infinite and Lévy-stable densities of fluctuations. The duality of stable and infinite densities is in fact ubiquitous for these dynamics, as it concerns the time averages of general physical observables.

Stochastic transport models for mixing in variable-density turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakosi, J.; Ristorcelli, J. R.

2011-11-01

In variable-density (VD) turbulent mixing, where very-different- density materials coexist, the density fluctuations can be an order of magnitude larger than their mean. Density fluctuations are non-negligible in the inertia terms of the Navier-Stokes equation which has both quadratic and cubic nonlinearities. Very different mixing rates of different materials give rise to large differential accelerations and some fundamentally new physics that is not seen in constant-density turbulence. In VD flows material mixing is active in a sense far stronger than that applied in the Boussinesq approximation of buoyantly-driven flows: the mass fraction fluctuations are coupled to each other and to the fluid momentum. Statistical modeling of VD mixing requires accounting for basic constraints that are not important in the small-density-fluctuation passive-scalar-mixing approximation: the unit-sum of mass fractions, bounded sample space, and the highly skewed nature of the probability densities become essential. We derive a transport equation for the joint probability of mass fractions, equivalent to a system of stochastic differential equations, that is consistent with VD mixing in multi-component turbulence and consistently reduces to passive scalar mixing in constant-density flows.

Studies on the latitudinal distribution of ground-based geomagnetic pulsations and fluctuations in the interplanetary medium using discrete mathematical analysis methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zelinsky, N. R.; Kleimenova, N. G.; Malysheva, L. M.

2014-07-01

Ground-based geomagnetic Pc5 (2-7 mHz) pulsations, caused by the passage of dense transients (density disturbances) in the solar wind, were analyzed. It was shown that intensive bursts can appear in the density of the solar wind and its fluctuations, up to Np ˜ 30-50 cm3, even during the most magnetically calm year in the past decades (2009). The analysis, performed using one of the latest methods of discrete mathematical analysis (DMA), is presented. The energy functional of a time-series fragment (called "anomaly rectification" in DMA terms) of two such events was calculated. It was established that fluctuations in the dynamic pressure (density) of the solar wind (SW) cause the global excitation of Pc5 geomagnetic pulsations in the daytime sector of the Earth's magnetosphere, i.e., from polar to equatorial latitudes. Such pulsations started and ended suddenly and simultaneously at all latitudes. Fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) have turned up to be less geoeffective in exciting geomagnetic pulsations than fluctuations in the SW density. The pulsation generation mechanisms in various structural regions of the magnetosphere were probably different. It was therefore concluded that the most probable source of ground-based pulsations are fluctuations of the corresponding periods in the SW density.

Simultaneous use of camera and probe diagnostics to unambiguously identify and study the dynamics of multiple underlying instabilities during the route to plasma turbulence.

PubMed

Thakur, S C; Brandt, C; Light, A; Cui, L; Gosselin, J J; Tynan, G R

2014-11-01

We use multiple-tip Langmuir probes and fast imaging to unambiguously identify and study the dynamics of underlying instabilities during the controlled route to fully-developed plasma turbulence in a linear magnetized helicon plasma device. Langmuir probes measure radial profiles of electron temperature, plasma density and potential; from which we compute linear growth rates of instabilities, cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations, Reynold's stress, particle flux, vorticity, time-delay estimated velocity, etc. Fast imaging complements the 1D probe measurements by providing temporally and spatially resolved 2D details of plasma structures associated with the instabilities. We find that three radially separated plasma instabilities exist simultaneously. Density gradient driven resistive drift waves propagating in the electron diamagnetic drift direction separate the plasma into an edge region dominated by strong, velocity shear driven Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities and a central core region which shows coherent Rayleigh-Taylor modes propagating in the ion diamagnetic drift direction. The simultaneous, complementary use of both probes and camera was crucial to identify the instabilities and understand the details of the very rich plasma dynamics.

Small-scale plasma turbulence and intermittency in the high latitude F region based on the ICI-2 sounding rocket experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spicher, A.; Miloch, W.; Moen, J. I.; Clausen, L. B. N.

2015-12-01

Small-scale plasma irregularities and turbulence are common phenomena in the F layer of the ionosphere, both in the equatorial and polar regions. A common approach in analyzing data from experiments on space and ionospheric plasma irregularities are power spectra. Power spectra give no information about the phases of the waveforms, and thus do not allow to determine whether some of the phases are correlated or whether they exhibit a random character. The former case would imply the presence of nonlinear wave-wave interactions, while the latter suggests a more turbulent-like process. Discerning between these mechanisms is crucial for understanding high latitude plasma irregularities and can be addressed with bispectral analysis and higher order statistics. In this study, we use higher order spectra and statistics to analyze electron density data observed with the ICI-2 sounding rocket experiment at a meter-scale resolution. The main objective of ICI-2 was to investigate plasma irregularities in the cusp in the F layer ionosphere. We study in detail two regions intersected during the rocket flight and which are characterized by large density fluctuations: a trailing edge of a cold polar cap patch, and a density enhancement subject to cusp auroral particle precipitation. While these two regions exhibit similar power spectra, our analysis reveals that their internal structure is different. The structures on the edge of the polar cap patch are characterized by significant coherent mode coupling and intermittency, while the plasma enhancement associated with precipitation exhibits stronger random characteristics. This indicates that particle precipitation may play a fundamental role in ionospheric plasma structuring by creating turbulent-like structures.

Edge Density Imaging: Mapping the Anatomic Embedding of the Structural Connectome Within the White Matter of the Human Brain

PubMed Central

Owen, Julia P.; Chang, Yi-Shin; Mukherjee, Pratik

2015-01-01

The structural connectome has emerged as a powerful tool to characterize the network architecture of the human brain and shows great potential for generating important new biomarkers for neurologic and psychiatric disorders. The edges of the cerebral graph traverse white matter to interconnect cortical and subcortical nodes, although the anatomic embedding of these edges is generally overlooked in the literature. Mapping the paths of the connectome edges could elucidate the relative importance of individual white matter tracts to the overall network topology of the brain and also lead to a better understanding of the effect of regionally-specific white matter pathology on cognition and behavior. In this work, we introduce edge density imaging (EDI), which maps the number of network edges that pass through every white matter voxel. Test-retest analysis shows good to excellent reliability for edge density (ED) measurements, with consistent results using different cortical and subcortical parcellation schemes and different diffusion MR imaging acquisition parameters. We also demonstrate that ED yields complementary information to both traditional and emerging voxel-wise metrics of white matter microstructure and connectivity, including fractional anisotropy, track density, fiber orientation dispersion and neurite density. Our results demonstrate spatially ordered variations of ED throughout the white matter, notably including greater ED in posterior than anterior cerebral white matter. The EDI framework is employed to map the white matter regions that are enriched with pathways connecting rich club nodes and also those with high densities of intra-modular and inter-modular edges. We show that periventricular white matter has particularly high ED and high densities of rich club edges, which is significant for diseases in which these areas are selectively affected, ranging from white matter injury of prematurity in infants to leukoaraiosis in the elderly. Using edge betweenness centrality, we identify specific white matter regions involved in a large number of shortest paths, some containing highly connected rich club edges while others are relatively isolated within individual modules. Overall, these findings reveal an intricate relationship between white matter anatomy and the structural connectome, motivating further exploration of EDI for biomarkers of cognition and behavior. PMID:25592996

Fluctuations at the blue edge of saturated wind lines in IUE spectra of O-type stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Owocki, Stanley P.; Fullerton, Alex

1993-01-01

We examine basic issues involved in synthesizing resonance-line profiles from 1-D, dynamical models of highly structured hot-star winds. Although these models exhibit extensive variations in density as well as velocity, the density scale length is still typically much greater than the Sobolev length. The line transfer is thus treated using a Sobolev approach, as generalized by Rybicki & Hummer (1978) to take proper account of the multiple Sobolev resonances arising from the nonmonotonic velocity field. The resulting reduced-Lambda-matrix equation describing nonlocal coupling of the source function is solved by iteration, and line profiles and then derived from formal solution integration using this source function. The more appropriate methods that instead use either a stationary or a structured, local source function yield qualitatively similar line-profiles, but are found to violate photon conservation by 10 percent or more. The full results suggest that such models may indeed be able to reproduce naturally some of the qualitative properties long noted in observed UV line profiles, such as discrete absorption components in unsaturated lines, or the blue-edge variability in saturated lines. However, these particular models do not yet produce the black absorption troughs commonly observed in saturated lines, and it seems that this and other important discrepancies (e.g., in acceleration time scale of absorption components) may require development of more complete models that include rotation and other 2-D and/or 3-D effects.

Edge effects in vertically-oriented graphene based electric double-layer capacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Huachao; Yang, Jinyuan; Bo, Zheng; Zhang, Shuo; Yan, Jianhua; Cen, Kefa

2016-08-01

Vertically-oriented graphenes (VGs) have been demonstrated as a promising active material for electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), partially due to their edge-enriched structure. In this work, the 'edge effects', i.e., edges as the promoters of high capacitance, in VG based EDLCs are investigated with experimental research and numerical simulations. VGs with diverse heights (i.e., edge-to-basal ratios) and edge densities are prepared with varying the plasma-enabled growth time and employing different plasma sources. Electrochemical measurements show that the edges play a predominant role on the charge storage behavior of VGs. A simulation is further conducted to unveil the roles of the edges on the separation and adsorption of ions within VG channels. The initial charge distribution of a VG plane is obtained with density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which is subsequently applied to a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation system to gain the insights into the microscope EDLC structures. Compared with the basal planes, the edges present higher initial charge density (by 4.2 times), higher ion packing density (by 2.6 times), closer ion packing location (by 0.8 Å), and larger ion separation degree (by 14%). The as-obtained findings will be instructive in designing the morphology and structure of VGs for enhanced capacitive performances.

Quasi-linear theory of electron density and temperature fluctuations with application to MHD generators and MPD arc thrusters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, M.

1972-01-01

Fluctuations in electron density and temperature coupled through Ohm's law are studied for an ionizable medium. The nonlinear effects are considered in the limit of a third order quasi-linear treatment. Equations are derived for the amplitude of the fluctuation. Conditions under which a steady state can exist in the presence of the fluctuation are examined and effective transport properties are determined. A comparison is made to previously considered second order theory. The effect of third order terms indicates the possibility of fluctuations existing in regions predicted stable by previous analysis.

High-Reynolds-number turbulent-boundary-layer wall pressure fluctuations with skin-friction reduction by air injection.

PubMed

Winkel, Eric S; Elbing, Brian R; Ceccio, Steven L; Perlin, Marc; Dowling, David R

2008-05-01

The hydrodynamic pressure fluctuations that occur on the solid surface beneath a turbulent boundary layer are a common source of flow noise. This paper reports multipoint surface pressure fluctuation measurements in water beneath a high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layer with wall injection of air to reduce skin-friction drag. The experiments were conducted in the U.S. Navy's Large Cavitation Channel on a 12.9-m-long, 3.05-m-wide hydrodynamically smooth flat plate at freestream speeds up to 20 ms and downstream-distance-based Reynolds numbers exceeding 200 x 10(6). Air was injected from one of two spanwise slots through flush-mounted porous stainless steel frits (approximately 40 microm mean pore diameter) at volume flow rates from 17.8 to 142.5 l/s per meter span. The two injectors were located 1.32 and 9.78 m from the model's leading edge and spanned the center 87% of the test model. Surface pressure measurements were made with 16 flush-mounted transducers in an "L-shaped" array located 10.7 m from the plate's leading edge. When compared to no-injection conditions, the observed wall-pressure variance was reduced by as much as 87% with air injection. In addition, air injection altered the inferred convection speed of pressure fluctuation sources and the streamwise coherence of pressure fluctuations.

Alfven resonance mode conversion in the Phaedrus-T current drive experiments: Modelling and density fluctuations measurements

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

Vukovic, M.; Harper, M.; Breun, R.

1995-12-31

Current drive experiments on the Phaedrus-T tokamak performed with a low field side two-strap fast wave antenna at frequencies below {omega}{sub cH} show loop volt drops of up to 30% with strap phasing (0, {pi}/2). RF induced density fluctuations in the plasma core have also been observed with a microwave reflectometer. It is believed that they are caused by kinetic Alfven waves generated by mode conversion of fast waves at the Alfven resonance. Correlation of the observed density fluctuations with the magnitude of the {Delta}V{sub loop} suggest that the {Delta}V{sub loop} is attributable to current drive/heating due to mode convertedmore » kinetic Alfven waves. The toroidal cold plasma wave code LION is used to model the Alfven resonance mode conversion surfaces in the experiments while the cylindrical hot plasma kinetic wave code ISMENE is used to model the behavior of kinetic Alfven waves at the Alfven resonance location. Initial results obtained from limited density, magnetic field, antenna phase, and impurity scans show good agreement between the RF induced density fluctuations and the predicted behavior of the kinetic Alfven waves. Detailed comparisons between the density fluctuations and the code predictions are presented.« less

Dynamical Scaling Implications of Ferrari, Prähofer, and Spohn's Remarkable Spatial Scaling Results for Facet-Edge Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Einstein, T. L.; Pimpinelli, Alberto

2014-06-01

Spurred by theoretical predictions from Ferrari et al. (Phys Rev E 69:035102(R), 2004), we rederived and extended their result heuristically. With experimental colleagues we used STM line scans to corroborate their prediction that the fluctuations of the step bounding a facet exhibit scaling properties distinct from those of isolated steps or steps on vicinal surfaces. The correlation functions was shown to go as , decidedly different from the behavior for fluctuations of isolated steps.

Molecular Rayleigh Scattering Diagnostic for Dynamic Temperature, Velocity, and Density Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, Amy R.; Elam, Kristie A.; Sung, Chi-Jen

2006-01-01

A molecular Rayleigh scattering technique is developed to measure dynamic gas temperature, velocity, and density in unseeded turbulent flows at sampling rates up to 16 kHz. A high power CW laser beam is focused at a point in an air jet plume and Rayleigh scattered light is collected and spectrally resolved. The spectrum of the light, which contains information about the temperature and velocity of the flow, is analyzed using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The circular interference fringe pattern is divided into four concentric regions and sampled at 1 and 16 kHz using photon counting electronics. Monitoring the relative change in intensity within each region allows for measurement of gas temperature and velocity. Independently monitoring the total scattered light intensity provides a measure of gas density. A low speed heated jet is used to validate the measurement of temperature fluctuations and an acoustically excited nozzle flow is studied to validate velocity fluctuation measurements. Power spectral density calculations of the property fluctuations, as well as mean and fluctuating quantities are presented. Temperature fluctuation results are compared with constant current anemometry measurements and velocity fluctuation results are compared with constant temperature anemometry measurements at the same locations.

Microturbulence in HT-6M Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zeng, Lei; Yu, Changxuan; Cao, Jinxiang; Zhu, Guoliang; Zhang, Daqing; Li, Youyi

1993-08-01

The small scale density fluctuations in the interior of HT-6M Ohmic plasma have been studied by CO2 laser collective scattering system in deuterium discharges covering a range of bar neqa (chord-average density times safety factor at the limiter) and energy confinement time. The relative density fluctuation level in the interior is inversely proportional to the toroidal magnetic field and average density, and the energy confinement time τE decreases with the fluctuation level increasing in the region where τE linearly increases with bar neqa and statisfies the Goldston scaling law. It is suggested that the microturbulence in the interior zone is responsible for anomalous transport in tokamaks.

Origin of density fluctuations in extended inflation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kolb, Edward W.; Salopek, David S.; Turner, Michael S.

1990-01-01

The density fluctuations (both curvature and isocurvature) that arise due to quantum fluctuations in a simple model of extended inflation based upon the Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory are calculated. Curvature fluctuations arise due to quantum fluctuations in the Brans-Dicke field, in general have a nonscale-invariant spectrum, and can have an amplitude that is cosmologically acceptable and interesting without having to tune any coupling constant to a very small value. The density perturbations that arise due to the inflation field are subdominant. If there are other massless fields in the theory, e.g., an axion or an ilion, then isocurvature fluctuations arise in these fields too. Production of gravitational waves and the massless particles associated with excitations of the Brans-Dicke field are also discussed. Several attempts at more realistic models of extended inflation are also analyzed. The importance of the Einstein conformal frame in calculating curvature fluctuations is emphasized. When viewed in this frame, extended inflation closely resembles slow-rollover inflation with an exponential potential and the usual formula for the amplitude of curvature perturbations applies.

Kinetic simulation of edge instability in fusion plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fulton, Daniel Patrick

In this work, gyrokinetic simulations in edge plasmas of both tokamaks and field reversed. configurations (FRC) have been carried out using the Gyrokinetic Toroidal Code (GTC) and A New Code (ANC) has been formulated for cross-separatrix FRC simulation. In the tokamak edge, turbulent transport in the pedestal of an H-mode DIII-D plasma is. studied via simulations of electrostatic driftwaves. Annulus geometry is used and simulations focus on two radial locations corresponding to the pedestal top with mild pressure gradient and steep pressure gradient. A reactive trapped electron instability with typical ballooning mode structure is excited in the pedestal top. At the steep gradient, the electrostatic instability exhibits unusual mode structure, peaking at poloidal angles theta=+- pi/2. Simulations find this unusual mode structure is due to steep pressure gradients in the pedestal but not due to the particular DIII-D magnetic geometry. Realistic DIII-D geometry has a stabilizing effect compared to a simple circular tokamak geometry. Driftwave instability in FRC is studied for the first time using gyrokinetic simulation. GTC. is upgraded to treat realistic equilibrium calculated by an MHD equilibrium code. Electrostatic local simulations in outer closed flux surfaces find ion-scale modes are stable due to the large ion gyroradius and that electron drift-interchange modes are excited by electron temperature gradient and bad magnetic curvature. In the scrape-off layer (SOL) ion-scale modes are excited by density gradient and bad curvature. Collisions have weak effects on instabilities both in the core and SOL. Simulation results are consistent with density fluctuation measurements in the C-2 experiment using Doppler backscattering (DBS). The critical density gradients measured by the DBS qualitatively agree with the linear instability threshold calculated by GTC simulations. One outstanding critical issue in the FRC is the interplay between turbulence in the FRC. core and SOL regions. While the magnetic flux coordinates used by GTC provide a number of computational advantages, they present unique challenges at the magnetic field separatrix. To address this limitation, a new code, capable of coupled core-SOL simulations, is formulated, implemented, and successfully verified.

Density Fluctuations in the Solar Wind Driven by Alfvén Wave Parametric Decay

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowen, Trevor A.; Badman, Samuel; Hellinger, Petr; Bale, Stuart D.

2018-02-01

Measurements and simulations of inertial compressive turbulence in the solar wind are characterized by anti-correlated magnetic fluctuations parallel to the mean field and density structures. This signature has been interpreted as observational evidence for non-propagating pressure balanced structures, kinetic ion-acoustic waves, as well as the MHD slow-mode. Given the high damping rates of parallel propagating compressive fluctuations, their ubiquity in satellite observations is surprising and suggestive of a local driving process. One possible candidate for the generation of compressive fluctuations in the solar wind is the Alfvén wave parametric instability. Here, we test the parametric decay process as a source of compressive waves in the solar wind by comparing the collisionless damping rates of compressive fluctuations with growth rates of the parametric decay instability daughter waves. Our results suggest that generation of compressive waves through parametric decay is overdamped at 1 au, but that the presence of slow-mode-like density fluctuations is correlated with the parametric decay of Alfvén waves.

Low-noise heterodyne receiver for electron cyclotron emission imaging and microwave imaging reflectometry

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

Tobias, B., E-mail: bjtobias@pppl.gov; Domier, C. W.; Luhmann, N. C.

2016-11-15

The critical component enabling electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) to resolve 2D and 3D electron temperature and density perturbations is the heterodyne imaging array that collects and downconverts radiated emission and/or reflected signals (50–150 GHz) to an intermediate frequency (IF) band (e.g. 0.1–18 GHz) that can be transmitted by a shielded coaxial cable for further filtering and detection. New circuitry has been developed for this task, integrating gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) mounted on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. The improved topology significantly increases electromagnetic shielding from out-of-band interference, leads tomore » 10× improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and dramatic cost savings through integration. The current design, optimized for reflectometry and edge radiometry on mid-sized tokamaks, has demonstrated >20 dB conversion gain in upper V-band (60-75 GHz). Implementation of the circuit in a multi-channel electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) array will improve the diagnosis of edge-localized modes and fluctuations of the high-confinement, or H-mode, pedestal.« less

Low-noise heterodyne receiver for electron cyclotron emission imaging and microwave imaging reflectometry

DOE PAGES

Tobias, B.; Domier, C. W.; Luhmann, Jr., N. C.; ...

2016-07-25

The critical component enabling electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) and microwave imaging reflectometry (MIR) to resolve 2D and 3D electron temperature and density perturbations is the heterodyne imaging array that collects and downconverts radiated emission and/or reflected signals (50-150 GHz) to an intermediate frequency (IF) band (e.g. 0.1-18 GHz) that can be transmitted by a shielded coaxial cable for further filtering and detection. New circuitry has been developed for this task, integrating gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) mounted on a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) substrate. The improved topology significantly increases electromagnetic shielding from out-of-band interference, leads tomore » 10x improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio, and dramatic cost savings through integration. The current design, optimized for reflectometry and edge radiometry on mid-sized tokamaks, has demonstrated >20 dB conversion gain in upper V-band (60-75 GHz). As a result, implementation of the circuit in a multi-channel electron cyclotron emission imaging (ECEI) array will improve the diagnosis of edge-localized modes and fluctuations of the high-confinement, or H-mode, pedestal.« less

Energetics of edge oxidization of graphene nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yasuma, Airi; Yamanaka, Ayaka; Okada, Susumu

2018-06-01

On the basis of the density functional theory, we studied the geometries and energetics of O atoms adsorbed on graphene edges for simulating the initial stage of the edge oxidization of graphene. Our calculations showed that oxygen atoms are preferentially adsorbed onto the graphene edges with the zigzag portion, resulting in a large adsorption energy of about 5 eV. On the other hand, the edges with armchair shape are rarely oxidized, or the oxidization causes substantial structural reconstructions, because of the stable covalent bond at the armchair edge with the triple bond nature. Furthermore, the energetics sensitively depends on the edge angles owing to the inhomogeneity of the charge density at the edge atomic sites.

Symmetrical metallic and magnetic edge states of nanoribbon from semiconductive monolayer PtS2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shan; Zhu, Heyu; Liu, Ziran; Zhou, Guanghui

2018-03-01

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMD) MoS2 or graphene could be designed to metallic nanoribbons, which always have only one edge show metallic properties due to symmetric protection. In present work, a nanoribbon with two parallel metallic and magnetic edges was designed from a noble TMD PtS2 by employing first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT). Edge energy, bonding charge density, band structure, density of states (DOS) and simulated scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) of four possible edge states of monolayer semiconductive PtS2 were systematically studied. Detailed calculations show that only Pt-terminated edge state among four edge states was relatively stable, metallic and magnetic. Those metallic and magnetic properties mainly contributed from 5d orbits of Pt atoms located at edges. What's more, two of those central symmetric edges coexist in one zigzag nanoribbon, which providing two atomic metallic wires thus may have promising application for the realization of quantum effects, such as Aharanov-Bohm effect and atomic power transmission lines in single nanoribbon.

Edge simulations in ELMy H-mode discharges of EAST tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, T. Y.; Huang, Y. Q.; Xu, X. Q.; Wu, Y. B.; Wang, L.; Zheng, Z.; Liu, J. B.; Zang, Q.; Li, Y. Y.; Zhao, D.

2017-10-01

Simulations of ELM crash followed by a coherent mode, leading to transient divertor heat flux on EAST are achieved by the six-field two-fluid model in BOUT + + . Three EAST ELMy H-mode discharges with different pedestal structure, geometry and plasma current Ip are studied. The ELM-driven crash of the profiles in pedestal is reproduced, and the footprints of ELM filaments on targets are comparable with the measurements from divertor probes. A coherent mode is also found in the edge region in all the simulations after the ELM crash. The frequency and poloidal wave number are in the range of the edge coherent mode (ECM) on EAST. The magnetic fluctuations of the mode are smaller than the electric field fluctuations. The detailed comparisons between simulated mode structures with measurements will be reported. Statistical analysis on the simulated turbulent fluctuations shows that both the turbulent and blobby electron anomalous transport can pump the pedestal energy out into SOL, and then flow to divertors. The similar trend of the heat flux width with Ip is obtained in the simulations. The effects of the SOL current driven by LHW on ELMs will be discussed in this paper. This work was performed under the auspices of the US DOE by LLNL under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. It was supported by the China NSF 11405215 and 11675217.

Constraints for proton structure fluctuations from exclusive scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mäntysaari, H.; Schenke, B.

2017-08-01

We constrain the average density profile of the proton and the amount of event-by-event fluctuations by simultaneously calculating the coherent and incoherent exclusive diffractive vector meson production cross section in deep inelastic scattering. Working within the Color Glass Condensate picture, we find that the gluonic density of the proton must have large geometric fluctuations in order to describe the experimentally measured large incoherent cross section.

Radiative transfer in scattering stochastic atmospheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silant'ev, N. A.; Alekseeva, G. A.; Novikov, V. V.

2017-12-01

Many stars, active galactic nuclei, accretion discs etc. are affected by the stochastic variations of temperature, turbulent gas motions, magnetic fields, number densities of atoms and dust grains. These stochastic variations influence on the extinction factors, Doppler widths of lines and so on. The presence of many reasons for fluctuations gives rise to Gaussian distribution of fluctuations. The usual models leave out of account the fluctuations. In many cases the consideration of fluctuations improves the coincidence of theoretical values with the observed data. The objective of this paper is the investigation of the influence of the number density fluctuations on the form of radiative transfer equations. We consider non-magnetized atmosphere in continuum.

Two Point Space-Time Correlation of Density Fluctuations Measured in High Velocity Free Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, Jayanta

2006-01-01

Two-point space-time correlations of air density fluctuations in unheated, fully-expanded free jets at Mach numbers M(sub j) = 0.95, 1.4, and 1.8 were measured using a Rayleigh scattering based diagnostic technique. The molecular scattered light from two small probe volumes of 1.03 mm length was measured for a completely non-intrusive means of determining the turbulent density fluctuations. The time series of density fluctuations were analyzed to estimate the integral length scale L in a moving frame of reference and the convective Mach number M(sub c) at different narrow Strouhal frequency (St) bands. It was observed that M(sub c) and the normalized moving frame length scale L*St/D, where D is the jet diameter, increased with Strouhal frequency before leveling off at the highest resolved frequency. Significant differences were observed between data obtained from the lip shear layer and the centerline of the jet. The wave number frequency transform of the correlation data demonstrated progressive increase in the radiative part of turbulence fluctuations with increasing jet Mach number.

First-principles approach to calculating energy level alignment at aqueous semiconductor interfaces

DOE PAGES

Kharche, Neerav; Muckerman, James T.; Hybertsen, Mark S.

2014-10-21

A first-principles approach is demonstrated for calculating the relationship between an aqueous semiconductor interface structure and energy level alignment. The physical interface structure is sampled using density functional theory based molecular dynamics, yielding the interface electrostatic dipole. The GW approach from many-body perturbation theory is used to place the electronic band edge energies of the semiconductor relative to the occupied 1 b₁ energy level in water. The application to the specific cases of nonpolar (101¯0 ) facets of GaN and ZnO reveals a significant role for the structural motifs at the interface, including the degree of interface water dissociation andmore » the dynamical fluctuations in the interface Zn-O and O-H bond orientations. As a result, these effects contribute up to 0.5 eV.« less

Improved time-frequency analysis of ASDEX Upgrade reflectometry data using the reassigned spectrogram technique.

PubMed

Varela, P; Silva, A; da Silva, F; da Graça, S; Manso, M E; Conway, G D

2010-10-01

The spectrogram is one of the best-known time-frequency distributions suitable to analyze signals whose energy varies both in time and frequency. In reflectometry, it has been used to obtain the frequency content of FM-CW signals for density profile inversion and also to study plasma density fluctuations from swept and fixed frequency data. Being implemented via the short-time Fourier transform, the spectrogram is limited in resolution, and for that reason several methods have been developed to overcome this problem. Among those, we focus on the reassigned spectrogram technique that is both easily automated and computationally efficient requiring only the calculation of two additional spectrograms. In each time-frequency window, the technique reallocates the spectrogram coordinates to the region that most contributes to the signal energy. The application to ASDEX Upgrade reflectometry data results in better energy concentration and improved localization of the spectral content of the reflected signals. When combined with the automatic (data driven) window length spectrogram, this technique provides improved profile accuracy, in particular, in regions where frequency content varies most rapidly such as the edge pedestal shoulder.

Influence of broadening and high-injection effects on GaAs-AlGaAs quantum well lasers

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

Blood, P.; Colak, S.; Kucharska, A.I.

1988-08-01

The authors have calculated gain spectra and gain-current relations for GaAs-AlGaAs quantum well lasers using a model which incorporates a phenomenological description of bandgap narrowing due to many-body effects at high injection, transmission broadening by a carrier-density-dependent intraband scattering process, and broadening of the density of states function by fluctuations in the well width. The justification for including all these phenomena is made by examining spontaneous emission spectra observed through contact windows on quantum well layers. Using reasonable values of the parameters describing these effects, the model predicts correctly the observed lengthening of the laser emission wavelength with respect tomore » the absorption edge and correctly describes the variation of this wavelength, which they have observed for a set of devices with different numbers of quantum wells and the same well width. For a single GaAs quantum well laser 25 A wide, with the same parameters, the model predicts an increase in threshold current by a factor of 2.5 compared to an ideal quantum well without these effects.« less

Fluctuations and intermittent poloidal transport in a simple toroidal plasma

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

Goud, T. S.; Ganesh, R.; Saxena, Y. C.

In a simple magnetized toroidal plasma, fluctuation induced poloidal flux is found to be significant in magnitude. The probability distribution function of the fluctuation induced poloidal flux is observed to be strongly non-Gaussian in nature; however, in some cases, the distribution shows good agreement with the analytical form [Carreras et al., Phys. Plasmas 3, 2664 (1996)], assuming a coupling between the near Gaussian density and poloidal velocity fluctuations. The observed non-Gaussian nature of the fluctuation induced poloidal flux and other plasma parameters such as density and fluctuating poloidal velocity in this device is due to intermittent and bursty nature ofmore » poloidal transport. In the simple magnetized torus used here, such an intermittent fluctuation induced poloidal flux is found to play a crucial role in generating the poloidal flow.« less

Experimental investigations of turbulent temperature fluctuations and phase angles in ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Freethy, Simon

2017-10-01

A complete experimental understanding of the turbulent fluctuations in tokamak plasmas is essential for providing confidence in the extrapolation of heat transport models to future experimental devices and reactors. Guided by ``predict first'' nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations with the GENE code, two new turbulence diagnostics were designed and have been installed on ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) to probe the fundamentals of ion-scale turbulent electron heat transport. The first, a 30-channel correlation ECE (CECE) radiometer, measures radial profiles (0.5

Effective size of density-dependent two-sex populations: the effect of mating systems.

PubMed

Myhre, A M; Engen, S; SAEther, B-E

2017-08-01

Density dependence in vital rates is a key feature affecting temporal fluctuations of natural populations. This has important implications for the rate of random genetic drift. Mating systems also greatly affect effective population sizes, but knowledge of how mating system and density regulation interact to affect random genetic drift is poor. Using theoretical models and simulations, we compare N e in short-lived, density-dependent animal populations with different mating systems. We study the impact of a fluctuating, density-dependent sex ratio and consider both a stable and a fluctuating environment. We find a negative relationship between annual N e /N and adult population size N due to density dependence, suggesting that loss of genetic variation is reduced at small densities. The magnitude of this decrease was affected by mating system and life history. A male-biased, density-dependent sex ratio reduces the rate of genetic drift compared to an equal, density-independent sex ratio, but a stochastic change towards male bias reduces the N e /N ratio. Environmental stochasticity amplifies temporal fluctuations in population size and is thus vital to consider in estimation of effective population sizes over longer time periods. Our results on the reduced loss of genetic variation at small densities, particularly in polygamous populations, indicate that density regulation may facilitate adaptive evolution at small population sizes. © 2017 European Society For Evolutionary Biology. Journal of Evolutionary Biology © 2017 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.

Interplanetary Type III Bursts and Electron Density Fluctuations in the Solar Wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krupar, V.; Maksimovic, M.; Kontar, E. P.; Zaslavsky, A.; Santolik, O.; Soucek, J.; Kruparova, O.; Eastwood, J. P.; Szabo, A.

2018-04-01

Type III bursts are generated by fast electron beams originated from magnetic reconnection sites of solar flares. As propagation of radio waves in the interplanetary medium is strongly affected by random electron density fluctuations, type III bursts provide us with a unique diagnostic tool for solar wind remote plasma measurements. Here, we performed a statistical survey of 152 simple and isolated type III bursts observed by the twin-spacecraft Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory mission. We investigated their time–frequency profiles in order to retrieve decay times as a function of frequency. Next, we performed Monte Carlo simulations to study the role of scattering due to random electron density fluctuations on time–frequency profiles of radio emissions generated in the interplanetary medium. For simplification, we assumed the presence of isotropic electron density fluctuations described by a power law with the Kolmogorov spectral index. Decay times obtained from observations and simulations were compared. We found that the characteristic exponential decay profile of type III bursts can be explained by the scattering of the fundamental component between the source and the observer despite restrictive assumptions included in the Monte Carlo simulation algorithm. Our results suggest that relative electron density fluctuations < δ {n}{{e}}> /{n}{{e}} in the solar wind are 0.06–0.07 over wide range of heliospheric distances.

Derivation of dynamo current drive in a closed-current volume and stable current sustainment in the HIT-SI experiment

DOE PAGES

Hossack, A. C.; Sutherland, D. A.; Jarboe, T. R.

2017-02-01

A derivation is given showing that the current inside a closed-current volume can be sustained against resistive dissipation by appropriately phased magnetic perturbations. Imposed-dynamo current drive (IDCD) theory is used to predict the toroidal current evolution in the HIT-SI experiment as a function of magnetic fluctuations at the edge. Analysis of magnetic fields from a HIT-SI discharge shows that the injector-imposed fluctuations are sufficient to sustain the measured toroidal current without instabilities whereas the small, plasma-generated magnetic fluctuations are not sufficiently large to sustain the current.

Derivation of dynamo current drive in a closed-current volume and stable current sustainment in the HIT-SI experiment

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

Hossack, A. C.; Sutherland, D. A.; Jarboe, T. R.

A derivation is given showing that the current inside a closed-current volume can be sustained against resistive dissipation by appropriately phased magnetic perturbations. Imposed-dynamo current drive (IDCD) theory is used to predict the toroidal current evolution in the HIT-SI experiment as a function of magnetic fluctuations at the edge. Analysis of magnetic fields from a HIT-SI discharge shows that the injector-imposed fluctuations are sufficient to sustain the measured toroidal current without instabilities whereas the small, plasma-generated magnetic fluctuations are not sufficiently large to sustain the current.

L-H transition and pedestal studies on MAST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, H.; De Bock, M. F. M.; Conway, N. J.; Freethy, S. J.; Gibson, K.; Hiratsuka, J.; Kirk, A.; Michael, C. A.; Morgan, T.; Scannell, R.; Naylor, G.; Saarelma, S.; Saveliev, A. N.; Shevchenko, V. F.; Suttrop, W.; Temple, D.; Vann, R. G. L.; MAST, the; NBI Teams

2011-11-01

On MAST studies of the profile evolution of the electron temperature (Te), electron density (ne), radial electric field (Er) as well as novel measurements of the ion temperature (Ti) and toroidal current density (jphi) in the pedestal region allow further insight into the processes forming and defining the pedestal such as the H-mode access conditions and MHD stability. This includes studies of fast evolution of Te, ne and Er with Δt = 0.2 ms time resolution and the evolution of pe and jphi through an edge-localized mode (ELM) cycle. Measurements of the H-mode power threshold, PL-H revealed that about 40% more power is required to access H-mode in 4He than in D and that a change in the Z-position of the X-point can change PL-H significantly in single and double null configurations. The profile measurements in the L-mode phase prior to H-mode suggest that neither the gradient nor the value of the mean Te or Er at the plasma edge play a major role in triggering the L-H transition. After the transitions, first the fluctuations are suppressed, then the Er shear layer and the ne pedestal develops followed by the Te pedestal. In the banana regime at low collisionality (νsstarf) ∇Ti ≈ 0 leading to Ti > Te in the pedestal region with Ti ~ 0.3 keV close to the separatrix. A clear correlation of ∇Ti with νsstarf is observed. The measured jphi (using the motional Stark effect) Te and ne are in broad agreement with the common peeling-ballooning stability picture for ELMs and neoclassical calculations of the bootstrap current. The jphi and ∇pe evolution Δt ≈ 2 ms as well as profiles in discharges with counter current neutral beam injection raise questions with respect to this edge stability picture.

Theory of ion Bernstein wave induced shear suppression of turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Craddock, G. G.; Diamond, P. H.; Ono, M.; Biglari, H.

1994-06-01

The theory of radio frequency induced ion Bernstein wave- (IBW) driven shear flow in the edge is examined, with the goal of application of shear suppression of fluctuations. This work is motivated by the observed confinement improvement on IBW heated tokamaks [Phys. Fluids B 5, 241 (1993)], and by previous low-frequency work on RF-driven shear flows [Phys. Rev. Lett. 67, 1535 (1991)]. It is found that the poloidal shear flow is driven electrostatically by both Reynolds stress and a direct ion momentum source, analogous to the concepts of helicity injection and electron momentum input in current drive, respectively. Flow drive by the former does not necessarily require momentum input to the plasma to induce a shear flow. For IBW, the direct ion momentum can be represented by direct electron momentum input, and a charge separation induced stress that imparts little momentum to the plasma. The derived Er profile due to IBW predominantly points inward, with little possibility of direction change, unlike low-frequency Alfvénic RF drive. The profile scale is set by the edge density gradient and electron dissipation. Due to the electrostatic nature of ion Bernstein waves, the poloidal flow contribution dominates in Er. Finally, the necessary edge power absorbed for shear suppression on Princeton Beta Experiment-Modified (PBX-M) [9th Topical Conference on Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas, Charleston, SC, 1991 (American Institute of Physics, New York, 1991), p. 129] is estimated to be 100 kW distributed over 5 cm.

Monitoring of the turbulent solar wind with the upgraded Large Phased Array of the Lebedev Institute of Physics: First results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shishov, V. I.; Chashei, I. V.; Oreshko, V. V.; Logvinenko, S. V.; Tyul'bashev, S. A.; Subaev, I. A.; Svidskii, P. M.; Lapshin, V. B.; Dagkesamanskii, R. D.

2016-12-01

The design properties and technical characteristics of the upgraded Large Phased Array (LPA) are briefly described. The results of an annual cycle of observations of interplanetary scintillations of radio sources on the LPA with the new 96-beam BEAM 3 system are presented. Within a day, about 5000 radio sources displaying second-timescale fluctuations in their flux densities due to interplanetary scintillations were observed. At present, the parameters of many of these radio sources are unknown. Therefore, the number of sources with root-mean-square flux-density fluctuations greater than 0.2 Jy in a 3° × 3° area of sky was used to characterize the scintillation level. The observational data obtained during the period of the maximum of solar cycle 24 can be interpreted using a three-component model for the spatial structure of the solar wind, consisting of a stable global component, propagating disturbances, and corotating structures. The global component corresponds to the spherically symmetric structure of the distribution of the turbulent interplanetary plasma. Disturbances propagating from the Sun are observed against the background of the global structure. Propagating disturbances recorded at heliocentric distances of 0.4-1 AU and at all heliolatitudes reach the Earth's orbit one to two days after the scintillation enhancement. Enhancements of ionospheric scintillations are observed during night-time. Corotating disturbances have a recurrence period of 27 d . Disturbances of the ionosphere are observed as the coronal base of a corotating structure approaches the western edge of the solar limb.

Fundamental Studies of the Silicon Carbide MOS Interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swandono, Steven

Climate change has placed a spotlight on renewable energy. Power electronics are essential to minimize energy loss when electricity is converted to a form used on the power grid. With silicon devices now approaching performance limits, SiC MOSFET can deliver power electronics to greater heights. However, the power capability of SiC MOSFETs is constrained by having low interface carrier mobility. It was coincidentally discovered that MOSFETs with oxide grown in alumina tubes have significantly higher mobility. We believe that the large surface potential fluctuations in SiC MOS interface results in percolation transport, and sodium ions from the alumina tubes reduces these percolative effects. Fabrication of SiC MOSFETs with different oxide thickness can vary the surface potential fluctuations and is used to verify the impact of percolation transport on SiC interface mobility. Characterization techniques on SiC devices are adopted from their silicon counterparts. Many characterization techniques are not tailored to the specification of SiC materials and hence, result in conflicting results during comparison of data among different research groups. The later chapters discussed the inaccuracies in the MOS AC conductance technique caused by the non-linear surface potential - gate voltage relationship and an energy-dependent interface state density. Using an exact model, we quantify errors in the extraction of interface state density, capture cross section, and position of the surface Fermi level when analyzed using the standard Nicollian-Goetzberger equations. We show that the exponential dependence of capture cross section on energy near the band edges is an artifact of the data analysis.

High-Beta Electromagnetic Turbulence in LAPD Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, G.; Carter, T. A.; Pueschel, M. J.; Jenko, F.; Told, D.; Terry, P. W.

2015-11-01

The introduction of a new LaB6 cathode plasma source in the Large Plasma Device has enabled the study of pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and transport variations at significantly higher plasma β. Density fluctuations are observed to decrease with increasing β while magnetic fluctuations increase. Furthermore, the perpendicular magnetic fluctuations are seen to saturate while parallel (compressional) magnetic fluctuations increase continuously with β. These observations are compared to linear and nonlinear simulations with the GENE code. The results are consistent with the linear excitation of a Gradient-driven Drift Coupling mode (GDC) which relies on grad-B drift due to parallel magnetic fluctuations and can be driven by density or temperature gradients.

Simulations of Turbulence in Tokamak Edge and Effects of Self-Consistent Zonal Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Bruce; Umansky, Maxim

2013-10-01

Progress is reported on simulations of electromagnetic drift-resistive ballooning turbulence in the tokamak edge. This extends previous work to include self-consistent zonal flows and their effects. The previous work addressed simulation of L-mode tokamak edge turbulence using the turbulence code BOUT that solves Braginskii-based plasma fluid equations in tokamak edge domain. The calculations use realistic single-null geometry and plasma parameters of the DIII-D tokamak and produce fluctuation amplitudes, fluctuation spectra, and particle and thermal fluxes that compare favorably to experimental data. In the effect of sheared ExB poloidal rotation is included with an imposed static radial electric field fitted to experimental data. In the new work here we include the radial electric field self-consistently driven by the microturbulence, which contributes to the sheared ExB poloidal rotation (zonal flow generation). We present simulations with/without zonal flows for both cylindrical geometry, as in the UCLA Large Plasma Device, and for the DIII-D tokamak L-mode cases in to quantify the influence of self-consistent zonal flows on the microturbulence and the concomitant transport. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

On the emergence of macroscopic transport barriers from staircase structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashourvan, Arash; Diamond, P. H.

2017-01-01

This paper presents a theory for the formation and evolution of coupled density staircases and zonal shear profiles in a simple model of drift-wave turbulence. Density, vorticity, and fluctuation potential enstrophy are the fields evolved in this system. Formation of staircase structures is due to inhomogeneous mixing of generalized potential vorticity (PV), resulting in the sharpening of density and vorticity gradients in some regions, and weakening them in others. When the PV gradients steepen, the density staircase structure develops into a lattice of mesoscale "jumps," and "steps," which are, respectively, the regions of local gradient steepening and flattening. The jumps merge and migrate in radius, leading to the development of macroscale profile structures from mesoscale elements. The positive feedback process, which drives the staircase formation occurs via a Rhines scale dependent mixing length. We present extensive studies of bifurcation physics of the global state, including results on the global flux-gradient relations (flux landscapes) predicted by the model. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, depending on the sources and boundary conditions, either a region of enhanced confinement, or a region with strong turbulence can form at the edge. This suggests that the profile self-organization is a global process, though one which can be described by a local, but nonlinear model. This model is the first to demonstrate how the mesoscale condensation of staircases leads to global states of enhanced confinement.

Environment of Submillimeter Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hou, K.-c.; Chen, L.-w.

2013-10-01

To study the environment of high-redshift star-forming galaxies — submillimeter galaxies (SMGs) — and their role during large-scale structure formation, we have estimated the galaxy number density fluctuations around SMGs, and analyzed their cross correlation functions with Lyman alpha emitters (LAEs), and optical-selected galaxies with photometric redshift in the COSMOS and ECDFS fields. Only a marginal cross-correlation between SMGs and optical-selected galaxies at most redshifts intervals is found in our results, except a relatively strong correlation detected in the cases of AzTEC-detected SMGs with galaxies at z ˜2.6 and 3.6. The density fluctuations around SMGs with redshift estimated show most SMGs located in a high-density region. There is no correlation signal between LAEs and SMGs, and the galaxy density fluctuations indicate a slightly anti-correlation on a scale smaller than 2 Mpc. Furthermore, we also investigate the density fluctuations of passive and starforming galaxies selected by optical and near infrared colors at similar redshift around SMGs. Finally the implication from our results to the interconnection between high-redshift galaxy populations is discussed.

Effects of Density and Impurity on Edge Localized Modes in Tokamaks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ping

2017-10-01

Plasma density and impurity concentration are believed to be two of the key elements governing the edge tokamak plasma conditions. Optimal levels of plasma density and impurity concentration in the edge region have been searched for in order to achieve the desired fusion gain and divertor heat/particle load mitigation. However, how plasma density or impurity would affect the edge pedestal stability may have not been well known. Our recent MHD theory modeling and simulations using the NIMROD code have found novel effects of density and impurity on the dynamics of edge-localized modes (ELMs) in tokamaks. First, previous MHD analyses often predict merely a weak stabilizing effect of toroidal flow on ELMs in experimentally relevant regimes. We find that the stabilizing effects on the high- n ELMs from toroidal flow can be significantly enhanced with the increased edge plasma density. Here n denotes the toroidal mode number. Second, the stabilizing effects of the enhanced edge resistivity due to lithium-conditioning on the low- n ELMs in the high confinement (H-mode) discharges in NSTX have been identified. Linear stability analysis of the experimentally constrained equilibrium suggests that the change in the equilibrium plasma density and pressure profiles alone due to lithium-conditioning may not be sufficient for a complete suppression of the low- n ELMs. The enhanced resistivity due to the increased effective electric charge number Zeff after lithium-conditioning provides additional stabilization of the low- n ELMs. These new effects revealed in our theory analyses may help further understand recent ELM experiments and suggest new control schemes for ELM suppression and mitigation in future experiments. They may also pose additional constraints on the optimal levels of plasma density and impurity concentration in the edge region for H-mode tokamak operation. Supported by National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Science Program of China Grants 2014GB124002 and 2015GB101004, the 100 Talent Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and U.S. Department of Energy Grants DE-FG02-86ER53218 and DE-FC02-08ER54975.

On the generation of side-edge flap noise. [part span trailing edge flaps

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Howe, M. S.

1981-01-01

A theory is proposed for estimating the noise generated at the side edges of part span trailing edge flaps in terms of pressure fluctuations measured just in-board of the side edge of the upper surface of the flap. Asymptotic formulae are developed in the opposite extremes of Lorentz contracted acoustic wavelength large/small compared with the chord of the flap. Interpolation between these limiting results enables the field shape and its dependence on subsonic forward flight speed to be predicted over the whole frequency range. It is shown that the mean width of the side edge gap between the flap and the undeflected portion of the airfoil has a significant influence on the intensity of the radiated sound. It is estimated that the noise generated at a single side edge of a full scale part span flap can exceed that produced along the whole of the trailing edge of the flap by 3 dB or more.

Mechanism study on pressure fluctuation of pump-turbine runner with large blade lean angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yulin, Fan; Xuhe, Wang; Baoshan, Zhu; Dongyue, Zhou; Xijun, Zhou

2016-11-01

Excessive pressure fluctuations in the vaneless space can cause mechanical vibration and even mechanical failures in pump-turbine operation. Mechanism studies on the pressure fluctuations and optimization design of blade geometry to reduce the pressure fluctuations have important significance in industrial production. In the present paper, two pump-turbine runners with big positive and negative blade lean angle were designed by using a multiobjective design strategy. Model test showed that the runner with negative blade lean angle not only had better power performance, but also had lower pressure fluctuation than the runner with positive blade lean angle. In order to figure out the mechanism of pressure fluctuation reduction in the vaneless;jik8space, full passage model for both runners were built and transient CFD computations were conducted to simulate the flow states inside the channel. Detailed flow field analyses indicated that the difference of low-pressure area in the trailing edge of blade pressure side were the main causes of pressure fluctuation reduction in the vaneless space.

Noise and degradation of amorphous silicon devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakker, J. P. R.

2003-10-01

Electrical noise measurements are reported on two devices of the disordered semiconductor hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H). The material is applied in sandwich structures and in thin-film transistors (TFTs). In a sandwich configuration of an intrinsic layer and two thin doped layers, the observed 1/f resistance noise can be attributed to a distribution of energy levels in the system. Two candidates which eventually could explain the origin of the energy distribution are investigated: generation-recombination noise and long-range potential fluctuations. A simulation program was applied to fit the current-voltage characteristics and resolves the defect density, the energy position and width of the Gaussian distributions of deep defects. Generation-recombination (g-r) is calculated for a one-dimensional semiconductor device with traps, taking the transport of local fluctuations into account. Although the times characterizing capture and emission for deep defects are in the right (ms) range, the calculated noise intensity is five to six orders of magnitude below the measured noise level. Another noise source must cause the 1/f noise in a-Si:H. The alternative is provided by the theory of long-range potential fluctuations. The timescale of the fluctuations is again the capture or emission time for deep defects. When an electron is emitted or captured, the charge state of a deep defect fluctuates. As a result, the potential around that defect will fluctuate, being screened by the surrounding defects. Free electrons will instantaneously adjust to the local potential. The adjustment causes a resistance fluctuation, which is measured as a voltage fluctuation in presence of a constant current. The theory predicts the noise intensity accurately, without any adjustable parameters. Unlike the intensity, the spectral shape is fitted by adjustment of two parameters of the potential landscape. The complete temperature dependence of the noise spectra is consistently described by a Gaussian distribution of potential barriers, located 0.27 eV above the conduction band edge, with a halfwidth of 0.09 eV. A large number of experiments is explained by the theory of long-range potential fluctuations: the thickness dependence, the absence of an isotope effect and the analogous results for oppositely doped devices. From these experiments, it is concluded that a universal potential landscape exists in undoped a-Si:H. Further, the relation between degradation upon prolonged light-soaking and noise is studied. After degradation, the curvature of noise spectra is unaffected, while the intensity increases slightly. These observations are consistent with the theoretical predictions using the observed increase of the defect density. It seems that the potential landscape does not change significantly upon degradation. Noise measurements in the sub-threshold regime of a-Si:H TFTs turn out to yield diffusion noise. Diffusion of electrons through the one-dimensional channel is identified as the source of the noise. The drift mobility extracted from the combined noise and conduction data is below the value that characterizes the on-state. The number of free electrons as determined from combined noise and conduction measurements are in quantitative agreement with an alternative determination from conduction measurements only.

Large-Scale Structure and Hyperuniformity of Amorphous Ices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martelli, Fausto; Torquato, Salvatore; Giovambattista, Nicolas; Car, Roberto

2017-09-01

We investigate the large-scale structure of amorphous ices and transitions between their different forms by quantifying their large-scale density fluctuations. Specifically, we simulate the isothermal compression of low-density amorphous ice (LDA) and hexagonal ice to produce high-density amorphous ice (HDA). Both HDA and LDA are nearly hyperuniform; i.e., they are characterized by an anomalous suppression of large-scale density fluctuations. By contrast, in correspondence with the nonequilibrium phase transitions to HDA, the presence of structural heterogeneities strongly suppresses the hyperuniformity and the system becomes hyposurficial (devoid of "surface-area fluctuations"). Our investigation challenges the largely accepted "frozen-liquid" picture, which views glasses as structurally arrested liquids. Beyond implications for water, our findings enrich our understanding of pressure-induced structural transformations in glasses.

General framework for fluctuating dynamic density functional theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Durán-Olivencia, Miguel A.; Yatsyshin, Peter; Goddard, Benjamin D.; Kalliadasis, Serafim

2017-12-01

We introduce a versatile bottom-up derivation of a formal theoretical framework to describe (passive) soft-matter systems out of equilibrium subject to fluctuations. We provide a unique connection between the constituent-particle dynamics of real systems and the time evolution equation of their measurable (coarse-grained) quantities, such as local density and velocity. The starting point is the full Hamiltonian description of a system of colloidal particles immersed in a fluid of identical bath particles. Then, we average out the bath via Zwanzig’s projection-operator techniques and obtain the stochastic Langevin equations governing the colloidal-particle dynamics. Introducing the appropriate definition of the local number and momentum density fields yields a generalisation of the Dean-Kawasaki (DK) model, which resembles the stochastic Navier-Stokes description of a fluid. Nevertheless, the DK equation still contains all the microscopic information and, for that reason, does not represent the dynamical law of observable quantities. We address this controversial feature of the DK description by carrying out a nonequilibrium ensemble average. Adopting a natural decomposition into local-equilibrium and nonequilibrium contribution, where the former is related to a generalised version of the canonical distribution, we finally obtain the fluctuating-hydrodynamic equation governing the time-evolution of the mesoscopic density and momentum fields. Along the way, we outline the connection between the ad hoc energy functional introduced in previous DK derivations and the free-energy functional from classical density-functional theory. The resultant equation has the structure of a dynamical density-functional theory (DDFT) with an additional fluctuating force coming from the random interactions with the bath. We show that our fluctuating DDFT formalism corresponds to a particular version of the fluctuating Navier-Stokes equations, originally derived by Landau and Lifshitz. Our framework thus provides the formal apparatus for ab initio derivations of fluctuating DDFT equations capable of describing the dynamics of soft-matter systems in and out of equilibrium.

Isocurvature fluctuations through axion trapping by cosmic string wakes

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

Layek, Biswanath

2005-03-15

We consider wakelike density fluctuations produced by cosmic strings at the quark-hadron transition in the early universe. We show that low momentum axions which are produced through the radiation from the axionic string at an earlier stage, may get trapped inside these wakes due to delayed hadronization in these overdense regions. As the interfaces, bordering the wakes, collapse, the axions pick-up momentum from the walls and finally leave the wake regions. These axions thus can produce large scale isocurvature fluctuations. We have calculated the detailed profile of these axionic density fluctuations and discuss its astrophysical consequences.

Impedance of an intense plasma-cathode electron source for tokamak startup

DOE PAGES

Hinson, Edward Thomas; Barr, Jayson L.; Bongard, Michael W.; ...

2016-05-31

In this study, an impedance model is formulated and tested for the ~1kV, ~1kA/cm 2, arc-plasma cathode electron source used for local helicity injection tokamak startup. A double layer sheath is established between the high-density arc plasma (n arc ≈ 10 21 m -3) within the electron source, and the less dense external tokamak edge plasma (n edge ≈ 10 18 m -3) into which current is injected at the applied injector voltage, V inj. Experiments on the Pegasus spherical tokamak show the injected current, I inj, increases with V inj according to the standard double layer scaling I injmore » ~ V inj 3/2 at low current and transitions to I inj ~ V inj 1/2 at high currents. In this high current regime, sheath expansion and/or space charge neutralization impose limits on the beam density n b ~ I inj/V inj 1/2. For low tokamak edge density n edge and high I inj, the inferred beam density n b is consistent with the requirement n b ≤ n edge imposed by space-charge neutralization of the beam in the tokamak edge plasma. At sufficient edge density, n b ~ n arc is observed, consistent with a limit to n b imposed by expansion of the double layer sheath. These results suggest that n arc is a viable control actuator for the source impedance.« less

Electromotive force in strongly compressible magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yokoi, N.

2017-12-01

Variable density fluid turbulence is ubiquitous in geo-fluids, not to mention in astrophysics. Depending on the source of density variation, variable density fluid turbulence may be divided into two categories: the weak compressible (entropy mode) turbulence for slow flow and the strong compressible (acoustic mode) turbulence for fast flow. In the strong compressible turbulence, the pressure fluctuation induces a strong density fluctuation ρ ', which is represented by the density variance <ρ'2> (<·> denotes the ensemble average). The turbulent effect on the large-scale magnetic-field B induction is represented by the turbulent electromotive force (EMF) (u': velocity fluctuation, b': magnetic-field fluctuation). In the usual treatment in the dynamo theory, the expression for the EMF has been obtained in the framework of incompressible or weak compressible turbulence, where only the variation of the mean density <ρ>, if any, is taken into account. We see from the equation of the density fluctuation ρ', the density variance <ρ'2> is generated by the large mean density variation ∂<ρ> coupled with the turbulent mass flux <ρ'u'>. This means that in the region where the mean density steeply changes, the density variance effect becomes relevant for the magnetic field evolution. This situation is typically the case for phenomena associated with shocks and compositional discontinuities. With the aid of the analytical theory of inhomogeneous compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence, the expression for the turbulent electromotive force is investigated. It is shown that, among others, an obliqueness (misalignment) between the mean density gradient ∂<ρ> and the mean magnetic field B may contribute to the EMF as ≈χ B×∂<ρ> with the turbulent transport coefficient χ proportional to the density variance (χ <ρ'2>). This density variance effect is expected to strongly affect the EMF near the interface, and changes the transport properties of turbulence. In the case of an interface under the MHD slow shock, the magnetic reconnection rate may be enhanced by this effect. Physical origin of this effect is discussed in some possible geophysical applications.

Extreme ultraviolet and Soft X-ray diagnostic upgrade on the HBT-EP tokamak: Progress and Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desanto, S.; Levesque, J. P.; Battey, A.; Brooks, J. W.; Mauel, M. E.; Navratil, G. A.; Hansen, C. J.

2017-10-01

In order to understand internal MHD mode structure in a tokamak plasma, it is helpful to understand temperature and density fluctuations within that plasma. In the HBT-EP tokamak, the plasma emits bremsstrahlung radiation in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft x-ray (SXR) regimes, and the emitted power is primarily related to electron density and temperature. This radiation is detected by photodiode arrays located at several different angular positions near the plasma's edge, each array making several views through a poloidal slice of plasma. From these measurements a 2-d emissivity profile of that slice can be reconstructed with tomographic algorithms. This profile cannot directly tell us whether the emissivity is due to electron density, temperature, line emission, or charge recombination; however, when combined with information from other diagnostics, it can provide strong evidence of the type of internal mode or modes depending on the temporal-spatial context. We present ongoing progress and results on the installation of a new system that will eventually consist of four arrays of 16 views each and a separate two-color, 16-chord tangential system, which will provide an improved understanding of the internal structure of HBT-EP plasmas. Supported by U.S. DOE Grant DE-FG02-86ER5322.

Reverse flow events and small-scale effects in the cusp ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spicher, A.; Ilyasov, A. A.; Miloch, W. J.; Chernyshov, A. A.; Clausen, L. B. N.; Moen, J. I.; Abe, T.; Saito, Y.

2016-10-01

We report in situ measurements of plasma irregularities associated with a reverse flow event (RFE) in the cusp F region ionosphere. The Investigation of Cusp Irregularities 3 (ICI-3) sounding rocket, while flying through a RFE, encountered several regions with density irregularities down to meter scales. We address in detail the region with the most intense small-scale fluctuations in both the density and in the AC electric field, which were observed on the equatorward edge of a flow shear, and coincided with a double-humped jet of fast flow. Due to its long-wavelength and low-frequency character, the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) alone cannot be the source of the observed irregularities. Using ICI-3 data as inputs, we perform a numerical stability analysis of the inhomogeneous energy-density-driven instability (IEDDI) and demonstrate that it can excite electrostatic ion cyclotron waves in a wide range of wave numbers and frequencies for the electric field configuration observed in that region, which can give rise to the observed small-scale turbulence. The IEDDI can seed as a secondary process on steepened vortices created by a primary KHI. Such an interplay between macroprocesses and microprocesses could be an important mechanism for ion heating in relation to RFEs.

Reynolds Stress and Sheared Poloidal Flow in the Edge Plasma Region of the HT-6M Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wen-Hao; Yu, Chang-Xuan; Xu, Yu-Hong; Ling, Bi-Li; Gong, Xian-Zu; Liu, Bao-Hua; Wan, Bao-Nian

2001-02-01

High spatial resolution measurements of the electrostatic Reynolds stress, radial electric field and poloidal phase velocity of fluctuations in the edge region of the HT-6M tokamak are carried out. The Reynolds stress shows a radial gradient in proximity to the poloidal velocity shear. A comparison of the profiles between the Reynolds stress gradient and the poloidal velocity damping reveals some similarity in their magnitude and radial structure. These facts suggest that the turbulence-induced Reynolds stress may play a significant role in generating the poloidal flow in the plasma edge region.

High power fast wave experiments in LAPD: interaction with density fluctuations and status/plans for ICRH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carter, Troy; Martin, Michael; van Compernolle, Bart; Gekelman, Walter; Pribyl, Pat; Vincena, Stephen; Tripathi, Shreekrishna; van Eester, Dirk; Crombe, Kristel

2016-10-01

The LArge Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA is a 17 m long, up to 60 cm diameter magnetized plasma column with typical plasma parameters ne 1012 -1013 cm-3, Te 1 - 10 eV, and B 1 kG. A new high-power ( 200 kW) RF system and antenna has been developed for LAPD, enabling the generation of large amplitude fast waves in LAPD. Interaction between the fast waves and density fluctuations is observed, resulting in modulation of the coupled RF power. Two classes of RF-induced density fluctuations are observed. First, a coherent (10 kHz) oscillation is observed spatially near the antenna in response to the initial RF turn-on transient. Second, broadband density fluctuations are enhanced when the RF power is above a threshold a threshold. Strong modulation of the fast wave magnetic fluctuations is observed along with broadening of the primary RF spectral line. Ultimately, high power fast waves will be used for ion heating in LAPD through minority species fundamental heating or second harmonic minority or majority heating. Initial experimental results from heating experiments will be presented along with a discussion of future plans. BaPSF supported by NSF and DOE.

INTERPRETATION OF THE STRUCTURE FUNCTION OF ROTATION MEASURE IN THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM

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

Xu, Siyao; Zhang, Bing, E-mail: syxu@pku.edu.cn, E-mail: zhang@physics.unlv.edu

2016-06-20

The observed structure function (SF) of rotation measure (RM) varies as a broken power-law function of angular scales. The systematic shallowness of its spectral slope is inconsistent with the standard Kolmogorov scaling. This motivates us to examine the statistical analysis on RM fluctuations. The correlations of RM constructed by Lazarian and Pogosyan are demonstrated to be adequate in explaining the observed features of RM SFs through a direct comparison between the theoretically obtained and observationally measured SF results. By segregating the density and magnetic field fluctuations and adopting arbitrary indices for their respective power spectra, we find that when themore » SFs of RM and emission measure have a similar form over the same range of angular scales, the statistics of the RM fluctuations reflect the properties of density fluctuations. RM SFs can be used to evaluate the mean magnetic field along the line of sight, but cannot serve as an informative source on the properties of turbulent magnetic field in the interstellar medium. We identify the spectral break of RM SFs as the inner scale of a shallow spectrum of electron density fluctuations, which characterizes the typical size of discrete electron density structures in the observed region.« less

Massive superclusters as a probe of the nature and amplitude of primordial density fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kaiser, N.; Davis, M.

1985-01-01

It is pointed out that correlation studies of galaxy positions have been widely used in the search for information about the large-scale matter distribution. The study of rare condensations on large scales provides an approach to extend the existing knowledge of large-scale structure into the weakly clustered regime. Shane (1975) provides a description of several apparent massive condensations within the Shane-Wirtanen catalog, taking into account the Serpens-Virgo cloud and the Corona cloud. In the present study, a description is given of a model for estimating the frequency of condensations which evolve from initially Gaussian fluctuations. This model is applied to the Corona cloud to estimate its 'rareness' and thereby estimate the rms density contrast on this mass scale. An attempt is made to find a conflict between the density fluctuations derived from the Corona cloud and independent constraints. A comparison is conducted of the estimate and the density fluctuations predicted to arise in a universe dominated by cold dark matter.

Spherical harmonics analysis of surface density fluctuations of spherical ionic SDS and nonionic C12E8 micelles: A molecular dynamics study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshii, Noriyuki; Nimura, Yuki; Fujimoto, Kazushi; Okazaki, Susumu

2017-07-01

The surface structure and its fluctuation of spherical micelles were investigated using a series of density correlation functions newly defined by spherical harmonics and Legendre polynomials based on the molecular dynamics calculations. To investigate the influence of head-group charges on the micelle surface structure, ionic sodium dodecyl sulfate and nonionic octaethyleneglycol monododecylether (C12E8) micelles were investigated as model systems. Large-scale density fluctuations were observed for both micelles in the calculated surface static structure factor. The area compressibility of the micelle surface evaluated by the surface static structure factor was tens-of-times larger than a typical value of a lipid membrane surface. The structural relaxation time, which was evaluated from the surface intermediate scattering function, indicates that the relaxation mechanism of the long-range surface structure can be well described by the hydrostatic approximation. The density fluctuation on the two-dimensional micelle surface has similar characteristics to that of three-dimensional fluids near the critical point.

Spherical harmonics analysis of surface density fluctuations of spherical ionic SDS and nonionic C12E8 micelles: A molecular dynamics study.

PubMed

Yoshii, Noriyuki; Nimura, Yuki; Fujimoto, Kazushi; Okazaki, Susumu

2017-07-21

The surface structure and its fluctuation of spherical micelles were investigated using a series of density correlation functions newly defined by spherical harmonics and Legendre polynomials based on the molecular dynamics calculations. To investigate the influence of head-group charges on the micelle surface structure, ionic sodium dodecyl sulfate and nonionic octaethyleneglycol monododecylether (C 12 E 8 ) micelles were investigated as model systems. Large-scale density fluctuations were observed for both micelles in the calculated surface static structure factor. The area compressibility of the micelle surface evaluated by the surface static structure factor was tens-of-times larger than a typical value of a lipid membrane surface. The structural relaxation time, which was evaluated from the surface intermediate scattering function, indicates that the relaxation mechanism of the long-range surface structure can be well described by the hydrostatic approximation. The density fluctuation on the two-dimensional micelle surface has similar characteristics to that of three-dimensional fluids near the critical point.

Quasi-Lagrangian measurements of density surface fluctuations and power spectra in the stratosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Quinn, Elizabeth P.; Holzworth, Robert H.

1987-01-01

Pressure and temperature data from eight superpressure balloon flights at 26 km in the southern hemisphere stratosphere are analyzed. The balloons, which float on a constant density surface, travel steadily westward during summer and eastward during winter, as expected from local climatology. Two types of fluctuations are observed: neutral buoyancy oscillations (NBO) of around 4 min, and 0.1- to 1-hour oscillations that are characterized as small-amplitude density surface fluctuations. Lapse rates and densities are calculated and found to agree well with the expected values. Examples of wave damping and simultaneous fluctuation at two nearby balloons are presented. Spectral analysis is performed clearly showing the NBO and that the majority of the power is in the mesoscale range. Spectral slopes of power versus frequency are measured to be on the average -2.18 + or - 0.24 for pressure and -1.72 + or - 0.24 for temperature. These slopes are compared to the predictions of turbulence theories and the theory of a universal gravity wave spectrum.

Capillary evaporation of the ionic liquid [EMIM][BF4] in nanoscale solvophobic confinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shrivastav, Gourav; Remsing, Richard C.; Kashyap, Hemant K.

2018-05-01

Solvent density fluctuations play a crucial role in liquid-vapor transitions in solvophobic confinement and can also be important for understanding solvation of polar and apolar solutes. In the case of ionic liquids (ILs), density fluctuations can be used to understand important processes in the context of nanoscale aggregation and colloidal self-assemblies. In this article, we explore the nature of density fluctuations associated with capillary evaporation of the IL 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM][BF4]) in the confined region of model solvophobic nanoscale sheets by using molecular dynamics simulations combined with non-Boltzmann sampling techniques. We demonstrate that density fluctuations of the confined IL play an important role in capillary evaporation, suggesting analogies to dewetting transitions involving water. Significant changes in the interfacial structure of the IL are also detailed and suggested to underlie a non-classical (non-parabolic) dependence of the free energy barrier to evaporation on the degree of confinement.

Dynamic Responses in a Plant-Insect System to Fertilization by Cormorant Feces

PubMed Central

Kolb, Gundula; Hambäck, Peter A.

2015-01-01

Theoretical arguments suggest that increased plant productivity may not only increase consumer densities but also their fluctuations. While increased consumer densities are commonly observed in fertilization experiments, experiments are seldom performed at a spatial and temporal scale where effects on population fluctuations may be observed. In this study we used a natural gradient in soil fertility caused by cormorant nesting. Cormorants feed on fish but defecate on their nesting islands. On these islands we studied soil nutrient availability, plant nutrient content and the density of Galerucella beetles, main herbivores feeding on Lythrum salicaria. In a common garden experiment, we followed larval development on fertilized plants and estimated larval stoichiometry. Soil nutrient availability varied among islands, and several cormorant islands had very high N and P soil content. Plant nutrient content, however, did not vary among islands, and there was no correlation between soil and plant nutrient contents. Beetle densities increased with plant nutrient content in the field study. However, there was either no effect on temporal fluctuations in beetle density or that temporal fluctuations decreased (at high P). In the common garden experiment, we found limited responses in either larval survival or pupal weights to fertilization. A possible mechanism for the limited effect of fertilization on density fluctuations may be that the distribution of L. salicaria on nesting islands was restricted to sites with a lower N and P content, presumably because high N loads are toxic. PMID:26463193

Experimental study of a free turbulent shear flow at Mach 19 with electron-beam and conventional probes. [flow measurement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harvey, W. P.; Hunter, W. D., Jr.

1975-01-01

An experimental study of the initial development region of a hypersonic turbulent free mixing layer was made. Data were obtained at three stations downstream of a M = 19 nozzle over a Reynolds range of 1.3 million to 3.3 million per meter and at a total temperature of about 1670 K. In general, good agreement was obtained between electron-beam and conventional probe measurements of local mean flow parameters. Measurements of fluctuating density indicated that peak root-mean-square (rms) levels are higher in the turbulent free mixing layer than in boundary layers for Mach numbers less than 9. The intensity of rms density fluctuations in the free stream is similar in magnitude to pressure fluctuations in high Mach number flows. Spectrum analyses of the measured fluctuating density through the shear layer indicate significant fluctuation energy at the lower frequencies (0.2 to 5 kHZ) which correspond to large-scale disturbances in the high-velocity region of the shear layer.

Access to a New Plasma Edge State with High Density and Pressures using Quiescent H-mode

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

Solomon, Wayne M.; Snyder, P. B.; Burrell, K. H.

2014-07-01

A path to a new high performance regime has been discovered in tokamaks that could improve the attractiveness of a fusion reactor. Experiments on DIII-D using a quiescent H-mode edge have navigated a valley of improved edge peeling-ballooning stability that opens up with strong plasma shaping at high density, leading to a doubling of the edge pressure over standard edge localized mode (ELM)ing H-mode at these parameters. The thermal energy confinement time increases both as a result of the increased pedestal height and improvements in the core transport and reduced low-k turbulence. Calculations of the pedestal height and width asmore » a function of density using constraints imposed by peeling-ballooning and kinetic-ballooning theory are in quantitative agreement with the measurements.« less

Topological phase in a two-dimensional metallic heavy-fermion system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Tsuneya; Peters, Robert; Fujimoto, Satoshi; Kawakami, Norio

2013-04-01

We report on a topological insulating state in a heavy-fermion system away from half filling, which is hidden within a ferromagnetic metallic phase. In this phase, the cooperation of the RKKY interaction and the Kondo effect, together with the spin-orbit coupling, induces a spin-selective gap, bringing about topologically nontrivial properties. This topological phase is robust against a change in the chemical potential in a much wider range than the gap size. We analyze these remarkable properties by using dynamical mean field theory and the numerical renormalization group. Its topological properties support a gapless chiral edge mode, which exhibits a non-Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid behavior due to the coupling with bulk ferromagnetic spin fluctuations. We also propose that the effects of the spin fluctuations on the edge mode can be detected via the NMR relaxation time measurement.

Homogeneous buoyancy-generated turbulence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Batchelor, G. K.; Canuto, V. M.; Chasnov, J. R.

1992-01-01

Using a theoretical analysis of fundamental equations and a numerical simulation of the flow field, the statistically homogeneous motion that is generated by buoyancy forces after the creation of homogeneous random fluctuations in the density of infinite fluid at an initial instant is examined. It is shown that analytical results together with numerical results provide a comprehensive description of the 'birth, life, and death' of buoyancy-generated turbulence. Results of numerical simulations yielded the mean-square density mean-square velocity fluctuations and the associated spectra as functions of time for various initial conditions, and the time required for the mean-square density fluctuation to fall to a specified small value was estimated.

Local fluctuations of the signed traded volumes and the dependencies of demands: a copula analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shanshan; Guhr, Thomas

2018-03-01

We investigate how the local fluctuations of the signed traded volumes affect the dependence of demands between stocks. We analyze the empirical dependence of demands using copulas and show that they are well described by a bivariate K copula density function. We find that large local fluctuations strongly increase the positive dependence but lower slightly the negative one in the copula density. This interesting feature is due to cross-correlations of volume imbalances between stocks. Also, we explore the asymmetries of tail dependencies of the copula density, which are moderate for the negative dependencies but strong for the positive ones. For the latter, we reveal that large local fluctuations of the signed traded volumes trigger stronger dependencies of demands than of supplies, probably indicating a bull market with persistent raising of prices.

Seahorse (Hippocampinae) population fluctuations in the Ria Formosa Lagoon, south Portugal.

PubMed

Correia, M; Caldwell, I R; Koldewey, H J; Andrade, J P; Palma, J

2015-09-01

Comparisons of three sets of surveys in the Ria Formosa Lagoon, Portugal, over a 13 year period (2001-2002, 2008-2009 and 2010-2013) revealed significant population fluctuations in at least one of the two seahorse (Hippocampinae) species living there, and that those fluctuations were potentially associated with habitat changes in the lagoon. After a significant decline between the first two survey periods (2001-2002 v. 2008-2009), long-snouted seahorse Hippocampus guttulatus populations increased significantly between 2008-2009 surveys and new 2010-2013 surveys. There were no significant differences in H. guttulatus populations between the 2001-2002 and 2010-2013 surveys. In contrast, there were no significant differences in short-snouted seahorse Hippocampus hippocampus densities among the 16 sites surveyed throughout the three sampling periods, although the ability to detect any change was hampered by the low densities of this species in all time periods. Fluctuations in H. guttulatus densities were positively correlated with the percentage of holdfast coverage, but with none of the other environmental variables tested. These results highlight the importance of holdfast availability in maintaining stable seahorse populations. While population fluctuations are certainly more promising than a consistent downward decline, such extreme fluctuations observed for seahorses in the Ria Formosa Lagoon could still leave these two species vulnerable to any additional stressors, particularly during low density periods. © 2015 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Deep Throttle Turbopump Technology Design Concepts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guinzburg, Adiel; Williams, Morgan; Ferguson, Tom; Garcia, Roberto (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

The objective of this project is to increase the throttling range of turbopumps from 30 to 120% of the design value, while maintaining high performance levels. Details are given on wide flow range issues, H-Q characteristics, stall characteristics, energy levels, pressure fluctuations at impeller exit, WFR impeller characteristics, commercial diffuser pumps, slotted or tandem vanes, leading edge characteristics, leading edge models, throat models, diffusion passage models, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodologies, and CFD flow cases.

Density fluctuations from strings and galaxy formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vilenkin, A.; Shafi, Q.

1983-01-01

The spectra of density fluctuations caused by strings in a universe dominated either by baryons, neutrinos, or axions are presented. Realistic scenarios for galaxy formation seem possible in all three cases. Examples of grand unified theories which lead to strings with the desired mass scales are given.

Particle transport in DIII-D plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kress, Peter; Mordijck, Saskia

2017-10-01

By analyzing the plasma opacity and density evolution during the ELM cycle in DIII-D H-mode plasmas in which the amount of gas fueling was altered, we find evidence for an inward particle pinch at the plasma edge which seems to become more pronounced at higher density. Furthermore, at the plasma edge we find a correlation between the pedestal density and opacity, which measures neutral penetration depth. The changes in edge opacity during an ELM cycle were calculated by using a detailed time history of measured plasma profiles. At the same time, the density evolution during an ELM cycle was investigated. We find that if the edge density increases through an increase in gas fueling, then opacity increases and neutral fueling penetration depth decreases. We also find that density at the top of the pedestal recovers faster following an ELM when the overall density level is higher, leading to a hollow profile inside of the pedestal top. All these results indicate that there must be an inward particle pinch in the pedestal which will be crucial in the fueling of future burning plasma devices. Supported by US DOE DE-SC0007880, DIII-D Grant Number DE-FC02-04ER54698.

New detection system and signal processing for the tokamak ISTTOK heavy ion beam diagnostic.

PubMed

Henriques, R B; Nedzelskiy, I S; Malaquias, A; Fernandes, H

2012-10-01

The tokamak ISTTOK havy ion beam diagnostic (HIBD) operates with a multiple cell array detector (MCAD) that allows for the plasma density and the plasma density fluctuations measurements simultaneously at different sampling volumes across the plasma. To improve the capability of the plasma density fluctuations investigations, a new detection system and new signal conditioning amplifier have been designed and tested. The improvements in MCAD design are presented which allow for nearly complete suppression of the spurious plasma background signal by applying a biasing potential onto special electrodes incorporated into MCAD. The new low cost and small size transimpedance amplifiers are described with the parameters of 400 kHz, 10(7) V/A, 0.4 nA of RMS noise, adequate for the plasma density fluctuations measurements.

Driving mechanism of unsteady separation shock motion in hypersonic interactive flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dolling, D. S.; Narlo, J. C., II

1987-01-01

Wall pressure fluctuations were measured under the steady separation shock waves in Mach 5 turbulent interactions induced by unswept circular cylinders on a flat plate. The wall temperature was adiabatic. A conditional sampling algorithm was developed to examine the statistics of the shock wave motion. The same algorithm was used to examine data taken in earlier studies in the Princeton University Mach 3 blowdown tunnel. In these earlier studies, hemicylindrically blunted fins of different leading-edge diameters were tested in boundary layers which developed on the tunnel floor and on a flat plate. A description of the algorithm, the reasons why it was developed and the sensitivity of the results to the threshold settings, are discussed. The results from the algorithm, together with cross correlations and power spectral density estimates suggests that the shock motion is driven by the low-frequency unsteadiness of the downstream separated, vortical flow.

Propagation Dynamics Associated with Resonant Magnetic Perturbation Fields in High-Confinement Mode Plasmas inside the KSTAR Tokamak.

PubMed

Xiao, W W; Evans, T E; Tynan, G R; Yoon, S W; Jeon, Y M; Ko, W H; Nam, Y U; Oh, Y K

2017-11-17

The propagation dynamics of resonant magnetic perturbation fields in KSTAR H-mode plasmas with injection of small edge perturbations produced by a supersonic molecular beam injection is reported for the first time. The results show that the perturbation field first excites a plasma response on the q=3 magnetic surface and then propagates inward to the q=2 surface with a radially averaged propagation velocity of resonant magnetic perturbations field equal to 32.5  m/ s. As a result, the perturbation field brakes the toroidal rotation on the q=3 surface first causing a momentum transport perturbation that propagates both inward and outward. A higher density fluctuation level is observed. The propagation velocity of the resonant magnetic perturbations field is larger than the radial propagation velocity of the perturbation in the toroidal rotation.

Fluctuation-Noise Model for PEM Fuel Cell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denisov, E. S.; Salakhova, A. Sh.; Adiutantov, N. A.; Evdokimov, Yu. K.

2017-08-01

The fluctuation-noise model is presented. This model allows to describe the power spectral density of PEM fuel cell electrical fluctuation. The proposed model can be used for diagnostics of PEM fuel cell state of health.

Measurement of neoclassically predicted edge current density at ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dunne, M. G.; McCarthy, P. J.; Wolfrum, E.; Fischer, R.; Giannone, L.; Burckhart, A.; the ASDEX Upgrade Team

2012-12-01

Experimental confirmation of neoclassically predicted edge current density in an ELMy H-mode plasma is presented. Current density analysis using the CLISTE equilibrium code is outlined and the rationale for accuracy of the reconstructions is explained. Sample profiles and time traces from analysis of data at ASDEX Upgrade are presented. A high time resolution is possible due to the use of an ELM-synchronization technique. Additionally, the flux-surface-averaged current density is calculated using a neoclassical approach. Results from these two separate methods are then compared and are found to validate the theoretical formula. Finally, several discharges are compared as part of a fuelling study, showing that the size and width of the edge current density peak at the low-field side can be explained by the electron density and temperature drives and their respective collisionality modifications.

Edge length dynamics on graphs with applications to p-adic AdS/CFT

DOE PAGES

Gubser, Steven S.; Heydeman, Matthew; Jepsen, Christian; ...

2017-06-30

We formulate a Euclidean theory of edge length dynamics based on a notion of Ricci curvature on graphs with variable edge lengths. In order to write an explicit form for the discrete analog of the Einstein-Hilbert action, we require that the graph should either be a tree or that all its cycles should be sufficiently long. The infinite regular tree with all edge lengths equal is an example of a graph with constant negative curvature, providing a connection with p-adic AdS/CFT, where such a tree takes the place of anti-de Sitter space. Here, we compute simple correlators of the operatormore » holographically dual to edge length fluctuations. This operator has dimension equal to the dimension of the boundary, and it has some features in common with the stress tensor.« less

Edge length dynamics on graphs with applications to p-adic AdS/CFT

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

Gubser, Steven S.; Heydeman, Matthew; Jepsen, Christian

We formulate a Euclidean theory of edge length dynamics based on a notion of Ricci curvature on graphs with variable edge lengths. In order to write an explicit form for the discrete analog of the Einstein-Hilbert action, we require that the graph should either be a tree or that all its cycles should be sufficiently long. The infinite regular tree with all edge lengths equal is an example of a graph with constant negative curvature, providing a connection with p-adic AdS/CFT, where such a tree takes the place of anti-de Sitter space. Here, we compute simple correlators of the operatormore » holographically dual to edge length fluctuations. This operator has dimension equal to the dimension of the boundary, and it has some features in common with the stress tensor.« less

Statistical properties of MHD fluctuations associated with high speed streams from HELIOS 2 observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bavassano, B.; Dobrowolny, H.; Fanfoni, G.; Mariani, F.; Ness, N. F.

1981-01-01

Helios 2 magnetic data were used to obtain several statistical properties of MHD fluctuations associated with the trailing edge of a given stream served in different solar rotations. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the variance matrix, total power and degree of compressibility of the fluctuations were derived and discussed both as a function of distance from the Sun and as a function of the frequency range included in the sample. The results obtained add new information to the picture of MHD turbulence in the solar wind. In particular, a dependence from frequency range of the radial gradients of various statistical quantities is obtained.

Derivation of dynamo current drive in a closed-current volume and stable current sustainment in the HIT-SI experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hossack, A. C.; Sutherland, D. A.; Jarboe, T. R.

2017-02-01

A derivation is given showing that the current inside a closed-current volume can be sustained against resistive dissipation by appropriately phased magnetic perturbations. Imposed-dynamo current drive theory is used to predict the toroidal current evolution in the helicity injected torus with steady inductive helicity injection (HIT-SI) experiment as a function of magnetic fluctuations at the edge. Analysis of magnetic fields from a HIT-SI discharge shows that the injector-imposed fluctuations are sufficient to sustain the measured toroidal current without instabilities whereas the small, plasma-generated magnetic fluctuations are not sufficiently large to sustain the current.

Measurement of Initial Conditions at Nozzle Exit of High Speed Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, J.; Zaman, K. B. M. Q.; Seasholtz, R. G.

2004-01-01

The time averaged and unsteady density fields close to the nozzle exit (0.1 less than or = x/D less than or = 2, x: downstream distance, D: jet diameter) of unheated free jets at Mach numbers of 0.95, 1.4, and 1.8 were measured using a molecular Rayleigh scattering based technique. The initial thickness of shear layer and its linear growth rate were determined from time-averaged density survey and a modeling process, which utilized the Crocco-Busemann equation to relate density profiles to velocity profiles. The model also corrected for the smearing effect caused by a relatively long probe length in the measured density data. The calculated shear layer thickness was further verified from a limited hot-wire measurement. Density fluctuations spectra, measured using a two-Photomultiplier-tube technique, were used to determine evolution of turbulent fluctuations in various Strouhal frequency bands. For this purpose spectra were obtained from a large number of points inside the flow; and at every axial station spectral data from all radial positions were integrated. The radially-integrated fluctuation data show an exponential growth with downstream distance and an eventual saturation in all Strouhal frequency bands. The initial level of density fluctuations was calculated by extrapolation to nozzle exit.

Large-scale structure of randomly jammed spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ikeda, Atsushi; Berthier, Ludovic; Parisi, Giorgio

2017-05-01

We numerically analyze the density field of three-dimensional randomly jammed packings of monodisperse soft frictionless spherical particles, paying special attention to fluctuations occurring at large length scales. We study in detail the two-point static structure factor at low wave vectors in Fourier space. We also analyze the nature of the density field in real space by studying the large-distance behavior of the two-point pair correlation function, of density fluctuations in subsystems of increasing sizes, and of the direct correlation function. We show that such real space analysis can be greatly improved by introducing a coarse-grained density field to disentangle genuine large-scale correlations from purely local effects. Our results confirm that both Fourier and real space signatures of vanishing density fluctuations at large scale are absent, indicating that randomly jammed packings are not hyperuniform. In addition, we establish that the pair correlation function displays a surprisingly complex structure at large distances, which is however not compatible with the long-range negative correlation of hyperuniform systems but fully compatible with an analytic form for the structure factor. This implies that the direct correlation function is short ranged, as we also demonstrate directly. Our results reveal that density fluctuations in jammed packings do not follow the behavior expected for random hyperuniform materials, but display instead a more complex behavior.

Electromagnetic turbulence and transport in increased β LAPD Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rossi, Giovanni; Carter, Troy; Pueschel, Mj; Jenko, Frank; Terry, Paul; Told, Daniel

2016-10-01

The new LaB6 plasma source in LAPD has enabled the production of magnetized, increased β plasmas (up to 15%). We report on the modifications of pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and transport with increased plasma β. Density fluctuations decrease with increasing β while magnetic fluctuations increase. B ⊥ fluctuations saturate while parallel (compressional) magnetic fluctuations increase continuously with β. At the highest β values Î δ ||/ δ B ⊥ 2 and δ B/B 1%. The measurements are consistent with the excitation of the Gradient-driven Drift Coupling (GDC). This instability prefers k|| = 0 and grows in finite β plasmas due to density and temperature gradients through the production of parallel magnetic field fluctuations and resulting ⊥ B|| drifts. Comparisons between experimental measurements and theoretical predictions for the GDC will be shown. Direct measurements of electrostatic particle flux have been performed and show a strong reduction with increasing β. No evidence is found (e.g. density profile shape) of enhanced confinement, suggesting that other transport mechanisms are active. Preliminary measurements indicate that electromagnetic transport due to parallel magnetic field fluctuations at first increases with β but is subsequently suppressed at higher β values.

The effect of collisionality and diamagnetism on the plasma dynamo

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

Ji, H.; Yagi, Y.; Hattori, K.

1995-04-28

Fluctuation-induced dynamo forces are measured over a wide range of electron collisionality in the edge of TPE-1RM20 Reversed-Field Pinch (RFP). In the collisionless region the Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) dynamo alone can sustain the parallel current, while in the collisional region a new dynamo mechanism resulting from the fluctuations in the electron diamagnetic drift becomes dominant. A comprehensive picture of the RFP dynamo emerges by combining with earlier results from MST and REPUTE RFPs.

The noisy edge of traveling waves

PubMed Central

Hallatschek, Oskar

2011-01-01

Traveling waves are ubiquitous in nature and control the speed of many important dynamical processes, including chemical reactions, epidemic outbreaks, and biological evolution. Despite their fundamental role in complex systems, traveling waves remain elusive because they are often dominated by rare fluctuations in the wave tip, which have defied any rigorous analysis so far. Here, we show that by adjusting nonlinear model details, noisy traveling waves can be solved exactly. The moment equations of these tuned models are closed and have a simple analytical structure resembling the deterministic approximation supplemented by a nonlocal cutoff term. The peculiar form of the cutoff shapes the noisy edge of traveling waves and is critical for the correct prediction of the wave speed and its fluctuations. Our approach is illustrated and benchmarked using the example of fitness waves arising in simple models of microbial evolution, which are highly sensitive to number fluctuations. We demonstrate explicitly how these models can be tuned to account for finite population sizes and determine how quickly populations adapt as a function of population size and mutation rates. More generally, our method is shown to apply to a broad class of models, in which number fluctuations are generated by branching processes. Because of this versatility, the method of model tuning may serve as a promising route toward unraveling universal properties of complex discrete particle systems. PMID:21187435

Low Density ITB Studies Using the Upgraded C-Mod Reflectometry System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dominguez, A.; Edlund, E.; Fiore, C. L.; Lin, L.; Marmar, E. S.; Snipes, J. A.; Porkolab, M.; Kramer, G. J.; Rowan, W. L.

2007-11-01

The Alcator C-Mod reflectometry system was recently upgraded in two ways: The low frequency channels were changed from amplitude modulation - in which two microwave signals, slightly separated in frequency, are injected into the plasma - to baseband, where a single frequency is used, in order to improve density fluctuation measurements. The second change, a variable frequency channel operating over the range from 122GHz to 140GHz (with corresponding density cutoffs of 1.84-2.43x10^20m-3) has been installed in collaboration with PPPL. Initial results from the upgraded system are presented, including the study of low density Internal Transport Barriers. Using O-mode waves, the reflectometry system is able to radially localize density fluctuations on the low field side along the tokamak midplane. It can, therefore, be used to probe the foot of low density ITBs. The corresponding reflectometry data will be compared to those of other fluctuation diagnostics, including Phase Contrast Imaging and magnetic pick-up coils.

Access to a new plasma edge state with high density and pressures using the quiescent H mode

DOE PAGES

Solomon, Wayne M.; Snyder, Philip B.; Burrell, Keith H.; ...

2014-09-24

A path to a new high performance regime has been discovered in tokamaks that could improve the attractiveness of a fusion reactor. Experiments on DIII-D using a quiescent H-mode edge have navigated a valley of improved edge peeling-ballooning stability that opens up with strong plasma shaping at high density, leading to a doubling of the edge pressure over the standard H mode with edge localized modes at these parameters. The thermal energy confinement time increases as a result of both the increased pedestal height and improvements in the core transport and reduced low-k turbulence. As a result, calculations of themore » pedestal height and width as a function of density using constraints imposed by peeling-ballooning and kinetic-ballooning theory are in quantitative agreement with the measurements.« less

Theoretical study on third-order nonlinear optical properties in hexagonal graphene nanoflakes: Edge shape effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nagai, Hiroshi; Nakano, Masayoshi; Yoneda, Kyohei; Fukui, Hitoshi; Minami, Takuya; Bonness, Sean; Kishi, Ryohei; Takahashi, Hideaki; Kubo, Takashi; Kamada, Kenji; Ohta, Koji; Champagne, Benoît; Botek, Edith

2009-08-01

Using hybrid density functional theory methods, we investigate the second hyperpolarizabilities ( γ) of hexagonal shaped finite graphene fragments, which are referred to as hexagonal graphene nanoflakes (HGNFs), with two types of edge shapes: zigzag (Z) and armchair (A) edges. It is found that Z-HGNF, which gives intermediate diradical characters ( y), exhibits about 3.3 times larger orthogonal components of γ ( γ xxxx = γ yyyy in this case) than A-HGNF, which gives zero y value (closed-shell system). The γ density analysis reveals that this enhancement originates in the significant contribution of γ densities on edge regions in Z-HGNF. These observations strongly indicate that Z-HGNF is a promising candidate of open-shell singlet NLO systems.

Correlations of stock price fluctuations under multi-scale and multi-threshold scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sui, Guo; Li, Huajiao; Feng, Sida; Liu, Xueyong; Jiang, Meihui

2018-01-01

The multi-scale method is widely used in analyzing time series of financial markets and it can provide market information for different economic entities who focus on different periods. Through constructing multi-scale networks of price fluctuation correlation in the stock market, we can detect the topological relationship between each time series. Previous research has not addressed the problem that the original fluctuation correlation networks are fully connected networks and more information exists within these networks that is currently being utilized. Here we use listed coal companies as a case study. First, we decompose the original stock price fluctuation series into different time scales. Second, we construct the stock price fluctuation correlation networks at different time scales. Third, we delete the edges of the network based on thresholds and analyze the network indicators. Through combining the multi-scale method with the multi-threshold method, we bring to light the implicit information of fully connected networks.

Urbanization impacts on mammals across urban-forest edges and a predictive model of edge effects.

PubMed

Villaseñor, Nélida R; Driscoll, Don A; Escobar, Martín A H; Gibbons, Philip; Lindenmayer, David B

2014-01-01

With accelerating rates of urbanization worldwide, a better understanding of ecological processes at the wildland-urban interface is critical to conserve biodiversity. We explored the effects of high and low-density housing developments on forest-dwelling mammals. Based on habitat characteristics, we expected a gradual decline in species abundance across forest-urban edges and an increased decline rate in higher contrast edges. We surveyed arboreal mammals in sites of high and low housing density along 600 m transects that spanned urban areas and areas turn on adjacent native forest. We also surveyed forest controls to test whether edge effects extended beyond our edge transects. We fitted models describing richness, total abundance and individual species abundance. Low-density housing developments provided suitable habitat for most arboreal mammals. In contrast, high-density housing developments had lower species richness, total abundance and individual species abundance, but supported the highest abundances of an urban adapter (Trichosurus vulpecula). We did not find the predicted gradual decline in species abundance. Of four species analysed, three exhibited no response to the proximity of urban boundaries, but spilled over into adjacent urban habitat to differing extents. One species (Petaurus australis) had an extended negative response to urban boundaries, suggesting that urban development has impacts beyond 300 m into adjacent forest. Our empirical work demonstrates that high-density housing developments have negative effects on both community and species level responses, except for one urban adapter. We developed a new predictive model of edge effects based on our results and the literature. To predict animal responses across edges, our framework integrates for first time: (1) habitat quality/preference, (2) species response with the proximity to the adjacent habitat, and (3) spillover extent/sensitivity to adjacent habitat boundaries. This framework will allow scientists, managers and planners better understand and predict both species responses across edges and impacts of development in mosaic landscapes.

Lower hybrid wave edge power loss quantification on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faust, I. C.; Brunner, D.; LaBombard, B.; Parker, R. R.; Terry, J. L.; Whyte, D. G.; Baek, S. G.; Edlund, E.; Hubbard, A. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Kuang, A. Q.; Reinke, M. L.; Shiraiwa, S.; Wallace, G. M.; Walk, J. R.

2016-05-01

For the first time, the power deposition of lower hybrid RF waves into the edge plasma of a diverted tokamak has been systematically quantified. Edge deposition represents a parasitic loss of power that can greatly impact the use and efficiency of Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) at reactor-relevant densities. Through the use of a unique set of fast time resolution edge diagnostics, including innovative fast-thermocouples, an extensive set of Langmuir probes, and a Lyα ionization camera, the toroidal, poloidal, and radial structure of the power deposition has been simultaneously determined. Power modulation was used to directly isolate the RF effects due to the prompt ( t < τ E ) response of the scrape-off-layer (SOL) plasma to Lower Hybrid Radiofrequency (LHRF) power. LHRF power was found to absorb more strongly in the edge at higher densities. It is found that a majority of this edge-deposited power is promptly conducted to the divertor. This correlates with the loss of current drive efficiency at high density previously observed on Alcator C-Mod, and displaying characteristics that contrast with the local RF edge absorption seen on other tokamaks. Measurements of ionization in the active divertor show dramatic changes due to LHRF power, implying that divertor region can be a key for the LHRF edge power deposition physics. These observations support the existence of a loss mechanism near the edge for LHRF at high density ( n e > 1.0 × 10 20 (m-3)). Results will be shown addressing the distribution of power within the SOL, including the toroidal symmetry and radial distribution. These characteristics are important for deducing the cause of the reduced LHCD efficiency at high density and motivate the tailoring of wave propagation to minimize SOL interaction, for example, through the use of high-field-side launch.

Lower Hybrid wave edge power loss quantification on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faust, I. C.

2015-11-01

For the first time, the power deposition of Lower Hybrid RF waves into the edge plasma of a diverted tokamak has been systematically quantified. Edge deposition represents a parasitic loss of power that can greatly impact the use and efficiency of Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) at reactor-relevant densities. Through the use of a unique set of fast time resolution edge diagnostics, including innovative fast-thermocouples, an extensive set of Langmuir probes, and a Lyα ionization camera, the toroidal, poloidal and radial structure of the power deposition has been simultaneously determined. Power modulation was used to directly isolate the RF effects due to the prompt (t <τE) response of the scrape-off-layer (SOL) plasma to LHRF power. LHRF power was found to absorb more strongly in the edge at higher densities. It is found that a majority of this edge-deposited power is promptly conducted to the divertor. This correlates with the loss of current drive efficiency at high density previously observed on Alcator C-Mod, and displaying characteristics that contrast with the local RF edge absorption seen on other tokamaks. Measurements of ionization in the active divertor show dramatic changes due to LHRF power, implying that divertor region can be key for the LHRF edge power deposition physics. These observations support the existence a loss mechanism near the edge for LHRF at high density (ne > 1 . 0 .1020 [m-3]). Results will be shown addressing the distribution of power within the SOL, including the toroidal symmetry and radial distribution. These characteristics are important for deducing the cause of the reduced LHCD efficiency at high density and motivates the tailoring of wave propagation to minimize SOL interaction, for example, through the use of high-field-side launch. This work was performed on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, a DoE Office of Science user facility, and is supported by USDoE award DE-FC02-99ER54512.

Urbanization Impacts on Mammals across Urban-Forest Edges and a Predictive Model of Edge Effects

PubMed Central

Villaseñor, Nélida R.; Driscoll, Don A.; Escobar, Martín A. H.; Gibbons, Philip; Lindenmayer, David B.

2014-01-01

With accelerating rates of urbanization worldwide, a better understanding of ecological processes at the wildland-urban interface is critical to conserve biodiversity. We explored the effects of high and low-density housing developments on forest-dwelling mammals. Based on habitat characteristics, we expected a gradual decline in species abundance across forest-urban edges and an increased decline rate in higher contrast edges. We surveyed arboreal mammals in sites of high and low housing density along 600 m transects that spanned urban areas and areas turn on adjacent native forest. We also surveyed forest controls to test whether edge effects extended beyond our edge transects. We fitted models describing richness, total abundance and individual species abundance. Low-density housing developments provided suitable habitat for most arboreal mammals. In contrast, high-density housing developments had lower species richness, total abundance and individual species abundance, but supported the highest abundances of an urban adapter (Trichosurus vulpecula). We did not find the predicted gradual decline in species abundance. Of four species analysed, three exhibited no response to the proximity of urban boundaries, but spilled over into adjacent urban habitat to differing extents. One species (Petaurus australis) had an extended negative response to urban boundaries, suggesting that urban development has impacts beyond 300 m into adjacent forest. Our empirical work demonstrates that high-density housing developments have negative effects on both community and species level responses, except for one urban adapter. We developed a new predictive model of edge effects based on our results and the literature. To predict animal responses across edges, our framework integrates for first time: (1) habitat quality/preference, (2) species response with the proximity to the adjacent habitat, and (3) spillover extent/sensitivity to adjacent habitat boundaries. This framework will allow scientists, managers and planners better understand and predict both species responses across edges and impacts of development in mosaic landscapes. PMID:24810286

Hysteresis and fast timescales in transport relations of toroidal plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Itoh, K.; Itoh, S.-I.; Ida, K.; Inagaki, S.; Kamada, Y.; Kamiya, K.; Dong, J. Q.; Hidalgo, C.; Evans, T.; Ko, W. H.; Park, H.; Tokuzawa, T.; Kubo, S.; Kobayashi, T.; Kosuga, Y.; Sasaki, M.; Yun, G. S.; Song, S. D.; Kasuya, N.; Nagashima, Y.; Moon, C.; Yoshinuma, M.; Makino, R.; Tsujimura, T.; Tsuchiya, H.; Stroth, U.

2017-10-01

This article assesses current understanding of hysteresis in transport relations, and its impact on the field. The rapid changes of fluxes compared to slow changes of plasma parameters are overviewed for both core and edge plasmas. The modulation ECH experiment is explained, in which the heating power cycles on-and-off periodically, revealing hysteresis and fast changes in the gradient-flux relation. The key finding is that hystereses were observed simultaneously in both the the gradient-flux and gradient-fluctuation relations. Hysteresis with rapid timescale exists in the channels of energy, electron and impurity densities, and plausibly in momentum. Advanced methods of data analysis are explained. Transport hysteresis can be studied by observing the higher harmonics of temperature perturbation δ Tm in heating modulation experiments. The hysteresis introduces the term δ Tm , which depends on the harmonic number m in an algebraic manner (not exponential decay). Next, the causes of hysteresis and its fast timescale are discussed. The nonlocal-in-space coupling works here, but does not suffice. One mechanism for ‘the heating heats turbulence’ is that the external source S in phase space for heating has its fluctuation in turbulent plasma. This coupling can induce the direct input of heating power into fluctuations. The height of the jump in transport hysteresis is smaller for heavier hydrogen isotopes, and could be one of the origins of isotope effects on confinement. Finally, the impacts of transport hysteresis on the control system are assessed. Control systems must be designed so as to protect the system from sudden plasma loss.

Significance of out-of-plane electronic contributions in Bi-cuprates studied by resonant photoelectron spectroscopy at the Cu2p edge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Janowitz, Christoph; Schmeißer, Dieter

2018-04-01

In high-temperature superconductors with a layered crystal structure, the copper-oxygen planes are commonly considered to dominate the electronic properties around the Fermi energy. As a consequence, out-of-plane contributions are often neglected in the description of these materials. Here we report on a resonant photoemission study of Pb0,4Bi1,6Sr2,0CaCu2O8 ((Pb, Bi)-2212) and Pb0,6Bi1,4Sr1.5La0.5CuO6 ((Pb, Bi)-2201)) single crystals to unravel the resonant decay mechanisms at the Cu2p absorption edge. We find evidence for a pronounced polarization dependence caused by two different Auger processes for in-plane and out-of-plane orientations. We deduce that the lowest energy valence state—which is involved in the two Auger processes—consists of three-dimensional contributions by admixed out-of-plane Sr, Bi, and O2p states. It also suggests that the doping-induced charge density is dynamic, fluctuating within the Cu-O plane, and spills out perpendicular to it. This suggests that out-of-plane electronic degrees of freedom should be included in future consistent theoretical models of these materials.

Pennsylvanian Tyler stratigraphic seismic concepts

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

Moore, C.E.; Archer, R.J.

Recent drilling in the Rattler Butte area of central Montana has renewed interest in the Pennsylvanian Tyler Formation as a drilling objective. New production in this area, coupled with the surrounding well density, provides an ideal situation for further development of Tyler stratigraphic-seismic exploration concepts and methods. Both geologic and geophysical Tyler thickness maps have proven to be useful tools in delineating eroded Heath and subsequent lower Tyler deposition. Seismic modeling has revealed a series of possible Tyler-Heath erosional edge characteristics, providing another tool for Tyler-Heath boundary definition. In modeling specific seismic sand signatures, it was found that seismic charactermore » and amplitude are dependent upon both formation thickness and lithology. Detailed mapping of the study area also revealed a new environmental interpretation of the Tyler. Unlike the fluvial system to the north, the Tyler regime in the Rattler Butte area appears to have fluctuated among fluvial, deltaic, and marine systems. Two hydrocarbon occurrence patterns have been noted within the Tyler: (1) although reservoir quality sands are present throughout the Tyler, those within the lower Tyler are more likely to contain hydrocarbons, and (2) close proximity to the Tyler-Heath erosional edge increases the chances of discovering oil-filled Tyler sands. Combined use of these exploration tools should greatly enhance the chances for successful lower Tyler exploration.« less

Gyrokinetic simulation of edge blobs and divertor heat-load footprint

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, C. S.; Ku, S.; Hager, R.; Churchill, M.; D'Azevedo, E.; Worley, P.

2015-11-01

Gyrokinetic study of divertor heat-load width Lq has been performed using the edge gyrokinetic code XGC1. Both neoclassical and electrostatic turbulence physics are self-consistently included in the simulation with fully nonlinear Fokker-Planck collision operation and neutral recycling. Gyrokinetic ions and drift kinetic electrons constitute the plasma in realistic magnetic separatrix geometry. The electron density fluctuations from nonlinear turbulence form blobs, as similarly seen in the experiments. DIII-D and NSTX geometries have been used to represent today's conventional and tight aspect ratio tokamaks. XGC1 shows that the ion neoclassical orbit dynamics dominates over the blob physics in setting Lq in the sample DIII-D and NSTX plasmas, re-discovering the experimentally observed 1/Ip type scaling. Magnitude of Lq is in the right ballpark, too, in comparison with experimental data. However, in an ITER standard plasma, XGC1 shows that the negligible neoclassical orbit excursion effect makes the blob dynamics to dominate Lq. Differently from Lq 1mm (when mapped back to outboard midplane) as was predicted by simple-minded extrapolation from the present-day data, XGC1 shows that Lq in ITER is about 1 cm that is somewhat smaller than the average blob size. Supported by US DOE and the INCITE program.

Extreme fluctuations in stochastic network coordination with time delays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hunt, D.; Molnár, F.; Szymanski, B. K.; Korniss, G.

2015-12-01

We study the effects of uniform time delays on the extreme fluctuations in stochastic synchronization and coordination problems with linear couplings in complex networks. We obtain the average size of the fluctuations at the nodes from the behavior of the underlying modes of the network. We then obtain the scaling behavior of the extreme fluctuations with system size, as well as the distribution of the extremes on complex networks, and compare them to those on regular one-dimensional lattices. For large complex networks, when the delay is not too close to the critical one, fluctuations at the nodes effectively decouple, and the limit distributions converge to the Fisher-Tippett-Gumbel density. In contrast, fluctuations in low-dimensional spatial graphs are strongly correlated, and the limit distribution of the extremes is the Airy density. Finally, we also explore the effects of nonlinear couplings on the stability and on the extremes of the synchronization landscapes.

Response of the Equatorial Ionosphere to the Geomagnetic DP 2 Current System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yizengaw, E.; Moldwin, M. B.; Zesta, E.; Magoun, M.; Pradipta, R.; Biouele, C. M.; Rabiu, A. B.; Obrou, O. K.; Bamba, Z.; Paula, E. R. De

2016-01-01

The response of equatorial ionosphere to the magnetospheric origin DP 2 current system fluctuations is examined using ground-based multiinstrument observations. The interaction between the solar wind and fluctuations of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz, penetrates nearly instantaneously to the dayside equatorial region at all longitudes and modulates the electrodynamics that governs the equatorial density distributions. In this paper, using magnetometers at high and equatorial latitudes, we demonstrate that the quasiperiodic DP 2 current system penetrates to the equator and causes the dayside equatorial electrojet (EEJ) and the independently measured ionospheric drift velocity to fluctuate coherently with the high-latitude DP 2 current as well as with the IMF Bz component. At the same time, radar observations show that the ionospheric density layers move up and down, causing the density to fluctuate up and down coherently with the EEJ and IMF Bz.

Microscopic Phase-Space Exploration Modeling of ^{258}Fm Spontaneous Fission.

PubMed

Tanimura, Yusuke; Lacroix, Denis; Ayik, Sakir

2017-04-14

We show that the total kinetic energy (TKE) of nuclei after the spontaneous fission of ^{258}Fm can be well reproduced using simple assumptions on the quantum collective phase space explored by the nucleus after passing the fission barrier. Assuming energy conservation and phase-space exploration according to the stochastic mean-field approach, a set of initial densities is generated. Each density is then evolved in time using the nuclear time-dependent density-functional theory with pairing. This approach goes beyond the mean-field theory by allowing spontaneous symmetry breaking as well as a wider dynamical phase-space exploration leading to larger fluctuations in collective space. The total kinetic energy and mass distributions are calculated. New information on the fission process: fluctuations in scission time, strong correlation between TKE and collective deformation, as well as prescission particle emission, are obtained. We conclude that fluctuations of the TKE and mass are triggered by quantum fluctuations.

Axial distribution of plasma fluctuations, plasma parameters, deposition rate and grain size during copper deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopikishan, S.; Banerjee, I.; Pathak, Anand; Mahapatra, S. K.

2017-08-01

Floating potential fluctuations, plasma parameters and deposition rate have been investigated as a function of axial distance during deposition of copper in direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering system. Fluctuations were analyzed using phase space, power spectra and amplitude bifurcation plots. It has been observed that the fluctuations are modified from chaotic to ordered state with increase in the axial distance from cathode. Plasma parameters such as electron density (ne), electron temperature (Te) and deposition rate (Dr) were measured and correlated with plasma fluctuations. It was found that more the deposition rate, greater the grain size, higher the electron density, higher the electron temperature and more chaotic the oscillations near the cathode. This observation could be helpful to the thin film technology industry to optimize the required film.

H-mode pedestal stability and ELMs in Alcator C-Mod

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mossessian, Dmitri

2002-11-01

For steady state H-mode operation, a relaxation mechanism is required to limit build-up of the edge gradient and impurity accumulation. The major relaxation mechanism seen on most of the existing tokamaks - large type I ELMs - drive high particle and energy fluxes that present a significant power load on the divertor plates. On Alcator C-Mod, however, type I ELMs are not observed. Instead, more benign mechanisms - EDA and small grassy ELMs - appear to drive enhanced particle transport at the edge of H-mode plasmas. Both have good energy confinement, no impurity accumulation, and are steady state. In EDA the edge relaxation mechanism is provided by a quasicoherent electromagnetic mode localized in the outer part of the pedestal. Non-linear gyrofluid and linear gyrokinetic simulations, as well as real geometry fluctuation modeling based on fluid equations show the presence of a coherent mode. Based on those results the observed mode is tentatively identified as resistive ballooning. At higher edge pressure gradient the mode is replaced by broadband fluctuations and small irregular ELMs are observed. Based on ideal MHD calculations that include effects of bootstrap current, these ELMs are identified as medium n coupled ideal peeling/ballooning modes. The stability threshold and modes structure of these modes are studied with recently developed linear MHD stability code ELITE and the results are compared with the observed dependence of the ELMs' character on pedestal parameters and plasma shape.

Kinetic-scale fluctuations resolved with the Fast Plasma Investigation on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gershman, D. J.; Figueroa-Vinas, A.; Dorelli, J.; Goldstein, M. L.; Shuster, J. R.; Avanov, L. A.; Boardsen, S. A.; Stawarz, J. E.; Schwartz, S. J.; Schiff, C.; Lavraud, B.; Saito, Y.; Paterson, W. R.; Giles, B. L.; Pollock, C. J.; Strangeway, R. J.; Russell, C. T.; Torbert, R. B.; Moore, T. E.; Burch, J. L.

2017-12-01

Measurements from the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission have enabled unprecedented analyses of kinetic-scale plasma physics. FPI regularly provides estimates of current density and pressure gradients of sufficient accuracy to evaluate the relative contribution of terms in plasma equations of motion. In addition, high-resolution three-dimensional velocity distribution functions of both ions and electrons provide new insights into kinetic-scale processes. As an example, for a monochromatic kinetic Alfven wave (KAW) we find non-zero, but out-of-phase parallel current density and electric field fluctuations, providing direct confirmation of the conservative energy exchange between the wave field and particles. In addition, we use fluctuations in current density and magnetic field to calculate the perpendicular and parallel wavelengths of the KAW. Furthermore, examination of the electron velocity distribution inside the KAW reveals a population of electrons non-linearly trapped in the kinetic-scale magnetic mirror formed between successive wave peaks. These electrons not only contribute to the wave's parallel electric field but also account for over half of the density fluctuations within the wave, supplying an unexpected mechanism for maintaining quasi-neutrality in a KAW. Finally, we demonstrate that the employed wave vector determination technique is also applicable to broadband fluctuations found in Earth's turbulent magnetosheath.

The Influence of Mesh Density on the Impact Response of a Shuttle Leading-Edge Panel Finite Element Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jackson, Karen E.; Fasanella, Edwin L.; Lyle, Karen H.; Spellman, Regina L.

2004-01-01

A study was performed to examine the influence of varying mesh density on an LS-DYNA simulation of a rectangular-shaped foam projectile impacting the space shuttle leading edge Panel 6. The shuttle leading-edge panels are fabricated of reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) material. During the study, nine cases were executed with all possible combinations of coarse, baseline, and fine meshes of the foam and panel. For each simulation, the same material properties and impact conditions were specified and only the mesh density was varied. In the baseline model, the shell elements representing the RCC panel are approximately 0.2-in. on edge, whereas the foam elements are about 0.5-in. on edge. The element nominal edge-length for the baseline panel was halved to create a fine panel (0.1-in. edge length) mesh and doubled to create a coarse panel (0.4-in. edge length) mesh. In addition, the element nominal edge-length of the baseline foam projectile was halved (0.25-in. edge length) to create a fine foam mesh and doubled (1.0- in. edge length) to create a coarse foam mesh. The initial impact velocity of the foam was 775 ft/s. The simulations were executed in LS-DYNA version 960 for 6 ms of simulation time. Contour plots of resultant panel displacement and effective stress in the foam were compared at five discrete time intervals. Also, time-history responses of internal and kinetic energy of the panel, kinetic and hourglass energy of the foam, and resultant contact force were plotted to determine the influence of mesh density. As a final comparison, the model with a fine panel and fine foam mesh was executed with slightly different material properties for the RCC. For this model, the average degraded properties of the RCC were replaced with the maximum degraded properties. Similar comparisons of panel and foam responses were made for the average and maximum degraded models.

Calculation of the Intensity of Physical Time Fluctuations Using the Standard Solar Model and its Comparison with the Results of Experimental Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morozov, A. N.

2017-11-01

The article reviews the possibility of describing physical time as a random Poisson process. An equation allowing the intensity of physical time fluctuations to be calculated depending on the entropy production density within irreversible natural processes has been proposed. Based on the standard solar model the work calculates the entropy production density inside the Sun and the dependence of the intensity of physical time fluctuations on the distance to the centre of the Sun. A free model parameter has been established, and the method of its evaluation has been suggested. The calculations of the entropy production density inside the Sun showed that it differs by 2-3 orders of magnitude in different parts of the Sun. The intensity of physical time fluctuations on the Earth's surface depending on the entropy production density during the sunlight-to-Earth's thermal radiation conversion has been theoretically predicted. A method of evaluation of the Kullback's measure of voltage fluctuations in small amounts of electrolyte has been proposed. Using a simple model of the Earth's surface heat transfer to the upper atmosphere, the effective Earth's thermal radiation temperature has been determined. A comparison between the theoretical values of the Kullback's measure derived from the fluctuating physical time model and the experimentally measured values of this measure for two independent electrolytic cells showed a good qualitative and quantitative concurrence of predictions of both theoretical model and experimental data.

Interaction between the lower hybrid wave and density fluctuations in the scrape-off layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peysson, Y.; Madi, M.; Decker, J.; Kabalan, K.

2015-12-01

In the present paper, the perturbation of the launched power spectrum of the Lower Hybrid wave at the separatrix by electron density fluctuations in the scrape-off layer is investigated. Considering a slab geometry with magnetic field lines parallel to the toroidal direction, the full wave equation is solved using Comsol Multiphysics® for a fully active multi-junction like LH antenna made of two modules. When electron density fluctuations are incorporated in the dielectric tensor over a thin perturbed layer in front of the grill, it is shown that the power spectrum may be strongly modified from the antenna mouth to the plasma separatrix as the wave propagates. The diffraction effect leads to the appearance of multiple satellite lobes with randomly varying positions, a feature consistent with the recently developed model that has been applied successfully to high density discharges on the Tokamak Tore Supra corresponding to the large spectral gap regime [Decker J. et al. Phys. Plasma 21 (2014) 092504]. The perturbation is found to be maximum for the Fourier components of the fluctuating spectrum in the vicinity of the launched LH wavelength.

Effect of the collective motions of molecules inside a condensed phase on fluctuations in the density of small bodies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tovbin, Yu. K.

2017-11-01

An approach to calculating the effects of fluctuations in density that considers the collective motions of molecules in small condensed phases (e.g., droplets, microcrystals, adsorption at microcrystal faces) is proposed. Statistical sums of the vibrational, rotational, and translational motions of molecules are of a collective character expressed in the dependences of these statistical sums on the local configurations of neighboring molecules. This changes their individual contributions to the free energy and modifies fluctuations in density in the inner homogeneous regions of small bodies. Interactions between nearest neighbors are considered in a quasi-chemical approximation that reflects the effects of short-range direct correlations. Expressions for isotherms relating the densities of mixture components to the chemical potentials in a thermostat are obtained, along with equations for pair distribution functions.

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

Munsat, Tobin

Overview of University of Colorado Efforts: The University of Colorado group has focused on two primary fronts during the grant period: development of a variety of multi-point diagnostic and/or imaging analysis techniques, and momentum-transport related experiments on a variety of devices (NSTX at PPPL, CSDX at UCSD, LAPD at UCLA, DIII-D at GA). Experimental work has taken advantage of several diagnostic instruments, including fast-framing cameras for imaging of electron density fluctuations (either directly or using injected gas puffs), ECEI for imaging of electron temperature fluctuations, and multi-tipped Langmuir and magnetic probes for corroborating measurements of Reynolds and Maxwell stresses. Modemore » Characterization in CSDX: We have performed a series of experiments at the CSDX linear device at UCSD, in collaboration with Center PI G. Tynan's group. The experiments included a detailed study of velocity estimation techniques, including direct comparisons between Langmuir probes and image-based velocimetry from fast-framing camera data. We used the camera data in a second set of studies to identify the spatial and spectral structure of coherent modes, which illuminates wave behavior to a level of detail previously unavailable, and enables direct comparison of dispersion curves to theoretical estimates. In another CSDX study, similar techniques were used to demonstrate a controlled transition from nonlinearly coupled discrete eigenmodes to fully developed broadband turbulence. The axial magnetic field was varied from 40-240 mT, which drove the transition. At low magnetic fields, the plasma is dominated by drift waves. As the magnetic field is increased, a strong potential gradient at the edge introduces an ExB shear-driven instability. At the transition, another mode with signatures of a rotation-induced Rayleigh–Taylor instability appears at the central plasma region. Concurrently, large axial velocities were found in the plasma core. For larger magnetic fields, all of the instabilities co-exist, leading to rich plasma dynamics and fully developed broadband turbulence. Edge-Turbulence and Flow Experiments in NSTX: A series of Gas Puff Imaging (GPI) observations on NSTX revealed a quasi-periodic oscillation in the plasma edge preceding the L-H transition in a limited set of neutral beam heated plasmas. These ~3 kHz flow oscillations exhibit both long wavelength and long correlation lengths, suggesting they are zonal-flow-like. The flow oscillations are strongly correlated with modulations of the level of edge turbulence, thus the system appears to undergo a predator--prey-type limit-cycle preceding the L-H transition. However, a clear trigger for the L-H transition was not observed. Reynolds stress profiles were obtained directly from image velocimetry for L-mode periods ELM-Precursor Studies in NSTX: A separate study based on NSTX-GPI data captured the two-dimensional evolution of edge-localized mode (ELM) precursors. Precursor events were observed preceding ELMs and ELM-induced H–L back-transitions in radio-frequency heated H-mode plasmas, and the growth of the precursor mode through the ELM filamentation was imaged in the plane perpendicular to the local B-field. Strong edge intensity modulations appeared to propagate in the electron diamagnetic direction while steadily drifting radially outwards. Intensity fluctuations were observed at frequencies around 20 kHz and wavenumbers of 0.05-0.2 cm -1. Upon growing to a trigger point, precursor fluctuations were seen to form filamentary structures and move into the scrape-off layer (SOL) explosively with radial velocities peaking at 8 km/s. Once in the SOL, filaments reverse their propagation direction and travel in the ion diamagnetic direction. Edge intensity fluctuations were strongly correlated with magnetic signals from Mirnov coils, and toroidally distributed coils estimated toroidal mode numbers of n=5-10. Quantitatively similar precursors have been observed in ohmic H-mode plasmas as well, though significantly fewer events are seen in the ohmic cases and none were observed in the near-threshold NBI H-modes studied. Development of Velocimetry and Image Analysis Techniques: Along with the experiments listed above, the Colorado group has continued to explore various velocimetry techniques and their range of validity. We have developed a “linear optical flow” code, which calculates smooth velocity maps while accurately assessing local regions of high curl. This is critical for separating spatial scales of velocity behavior, and thus transport. This code has recently come on-line, and we are currently using it to revisit a number of older datasets. Additionally, we have worked on developing pattern-recognition techniques for imaging diagnostics, based on established digital image compression algorithms. This has the potential to open the analysis of turbulent plasma behavior beyond the well-trodden Fourier and wavelet approaches. Finally, we have extended several of these image-analysis routines to multiple other diagnostic sets, including GPI datasets in NSTX and ECEI imaging on DIII-D. In one study, correlation maps were used to measure the full 2-D mode structure of drift-wave level structures using ECEI for the first time. This enabled direct comparison to gyrokinetic simulations using the GEM code, from which is was determined that TEM modes were being measured in DIII-D.« less

Stochastic modelling of intermittent fluctuations in the scrape-off layer: Correlations, distributions, level crossings, and moment estimation

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

Garcia, O. E., E-mail: odd.erik.garcia@uit.no; Kube, R.; Theodorsen, A.

A stochastic model is presented for intermittent fluctuations in the scrape-off layer of magnetically confined plasmas. The fluctuations in the plasma density are modeled by a super-position of uncorrelated pulses with fixed shape and duration, describing radial motion of blob-like structures. In the case of an exponential pulse shape and exponentially distributed pulse amplitudes, predictions are given for the lowest order moments, probability density function, auto-correlation function, level crossings, and average times for periods spent above and below a given threshold level. Also, the mean squared errors on estimators of sample mean and variance for realizations of the process bymore » finite time series are obtained. These results are discussed in the context of single-point measurements of fluctuations in the scrape-off layer, broad density profiles, and implications for plasma–wall interactions due to the transient transport events in fusion grade plasmas. The results may also have wide applications for modelling fluctuations in other magnetized plasmas such as basic laboratory experiments and ionospheric irregularities.« less

Incoherent scatter radar observations of the ionosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hagfors, Tor

1989-01-01

Incoherent scatter radar (ISR) has become the most powerful means of studying the ionosphere from the ground. Many of the ideas and methods underlying the troposphere and stratosphere (ST) radars have been taken over from ISR. Whereas the theory of refractive index fluctuations in the lower atmosphere, depending as it does on turbulence, is poorly understood, the theory of the refractivity fluctuations in the ionosphere, which depend on thermal fluctuations, is known in great detail. The underlying theory is one of the most successful theories in plasma physics, and allows for many detailed investigations of a number of parameters such as electron density, electron temperature, ion temperature, electron mean velocity, and ion mean velocity as well as parameters pertaining to composition, neutral density and others. Here, the author reviews the fundamental processes involved in the scattering from a plasma undergoing thermal or near thermal fluctuations in density. The fundamental scattering properties of the plasma to the physical parameters characterizing them from first principles. He does not discuss the observation process itself, as the observational principles are quite similar whether they are applied to a neutral gas or a fluctuating plasma.

Relationship between dislocation and the visible luminescence band observed in ZnO epitaxial layers grown on c-plane p-GaN templates by chemical vapor deposition technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saroj, Rajendra K.; Dhar, S.

2016-08-01

ZnO epitaxial layers are grown on c-plane GaN (p-type)/sapphire substrates using a chemical vapor deposition technique. Structural and luminescence properties of these layers have been studied systematically as a function of various growth parameters. It has been found that high quality ZnO epitaxial layers can indeed be grown on GaN films at certain optimum conditions. It has also been observed that the growth temperature and growth time have distinctly different influences on the screw and edge dislocation densities. While the growth temperature affects the density of edge dislocations more strongly than that of screw dislocations, an increase of growth duration leads to a rapid drop in the density of screw dislocation, whereas the density of edge dislocation hardly changes. Densities of both edge and screw dislocations are found to be minimum at a growth temperature of 500 °C. Interestingly, the defect related visible luminescence intensity also shows a minimum at the same temperature. Our study indeed suggests that the luminescence feature is related to threading edge dislocation. A continuum percolation model, where the defects responsible for visible luminescence are considered to be formed under the influence of the strain field surrounding the threading edge dislocations, is proposed. The theory explains the observed variation of the visible luminescence intensity as a function of the concentration of the dislocations.

Superconducting pairing and the pseudogap in the nematic dynamical stripe phase of La2-xSrxCuO4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugai, S.; Takayanagi, Y.; Hayamizu, N.; Muroi, T.; Shiozaki, R.; Nohara, J.; Takenaka, K.; Okazaki, K.

2013-11-01

Fully absorption coefficient corrected Raman spectra were obtained in La2-xSrxCuO4. The B1g spectra have a Fleury-Loudon type two-magnon peak (resonant term) whose energy decreases from 3180 cm-1 (394 meV) to 440 cm-1 (55 meV) on increasing the carrier density from x = 0 to 0.25, while the B2g spectra have a 1000-3500 cm-1 (124-434 meV) hump (hill) whose lower-edge energy increases from x = 0 to 0.115 and then stays constant to x = 0.25. The B2g hump is assigned to the electronic scattering (non-resonant term) of the spectral function with magnetic self-energy. The completely different carrier density dependence arises from anisotropic magnetic excitations of spin-charge stripes. The B1g spectra were assigned to the sum of k ∥ and k⊥ stripe excitations and the B2g spectra to k⊥ stripe excitations according to the calculation by Seibold and Lorenzana (2006 Phys. Rev. B 73 144515). The k ∥ and k⊥ stripe excitations in fluctuating spin-charge stripes were separately detected for the first time. The appearance of only k⊥ stripe excitations in the electronic scattering arises from the charge hopping perpendicular to the stripe. This is the same direction as the Burgers vector of the edge dislocation in metal. The successive charge hopping in the Burgers vector direction across the charge stripes may cause Cooper pairs as predicted by Zaanen et al (2004 Ann. Phys. 310 181). Indeed, this is supported by the experimental fact that the superconducting coherent length coincides with the inter-charge stripe distance in the wide carrier density range. The one-directional charge hopping perpendicular to the stripe causes the flat Fermi surface and the pseudogap near (π,0) and (0,π), but the states around (π/2,π/2) cannot be produced. The low-energy Raman scattering disclosed that the electronic states at the Fermi arc around (π/2,π/2) are coupled to the A1g soft phonon of the tetragonal-orthorhombic phase transition. This suggests that the Fermi arc is produced by the electron-phonon interaction. All the present Raman data suggest that Cooper pairs are formed at moving edge dislocations of dynamical charge stripes.

Plasma Density Effects on Toroidal Flow Stabilization of Edge Localized Modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Shikui; Zhu, Ping; Banerjee, Debabrata

2016-10-01

Recent EAST experiments have demonstrated mitigation and suppression of edge localized modes (ELMs) with toroidal rotation flow in higher collisionality regime, suggesting potential roles of plasma density. In this work, the effects of plasma density on the toroidal flow stabilization of the high- n edge localized modes have been extensively studied in linear calculations for a circular-shaped limiter H-mode tokamak, using the initial-value extended MHD code NIMROD. In the single MHD model, toroidal flow has a weak stabilizing effects on the high- n modes. Such a stabilization, however, can be significantly enhanced with the increase in plasma density. Furthermore, our calculations show that the enhanced stabilization of high- n modes from toroidal flow with higher edge plasma density persists in the 2-fluid MHD model. These findings may explain the ELM mitigation and suppression by toroidal rotation in higher collisionality regime due to the enhancement of plasma density obtained in EAST experiment. Supported by the National Magnetic Confinement Fusion Program of China under Grant Nos. 2014GB124002 and 2015GB101004, the 100 Talent Program and the President International Fellowship Initiative of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Experimental studies of toroidal correlations of plasma density fluctuations along the magnetic field lines in the T-10 tokamak and first results of numerical modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buldakov, M. A.; Vershkov, V. A.; Isaev, M. Yu; Shelukhin, D. A.

2017-10-01

The antenna system of reflectometry diagnostics at the T-10 tokamak allows to study long-range toroidal correlations of plasma density fluctuations along the magnetic field lines. The antenna systems are installed in two poloidal cross-sections of the vacuum chamber separated by a 90° angle in the toroidal direction. The experiments, which were conducted at the low field side, showed that the high level of toroidal correlations is observed only for quasi-coherent fluctuations. However, broadband and stochastic low frequency fluctuations are not correlated. Numerical modeling of the plasma turbulence structure in the T-10 tokamak was conducted to interpret the experimental results and take into account non-locality of reflectometry measurements. In the model used, it was assumed that the magnitudes of density fluctuations are constant along the magnetic field lines. The 2D full-wave Tamic-RTH code was used to model the reflectometry signals. High level of correlations for quasi-coherent fluctuations was obtained during the modeling, which agrees with the experimental observations. However, the performed modeling also predicts high level of correlations for broadband fluctuations, which contradicts the experimental data. The modeling showed that the effective reflection radius, from which the information on quasi-coherent plasma turbulence is obtained, is shifted outwards from the reflection radius by approximately 7 mm.

The radio-frequency fluctuation effect on the floating harmonic method

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

Lee, Jaewon; Kim, Kyung-Hyun; Kim, Dong-Hwan

2016-08-15

The radio-frequency (RF) plasma diagnostics with an electrical probe facing a challenge, because the RF fluctuation oscillates the plasma potential and distorts the current-voltage (I-V) curve. As Langmuir probe is widely used in plasma diagnostics, many researchers have been studying the effect of RF fluctuation on probe and compensation methods. On the other hand, there have not been enough studies on the fluctuation effect on the floating harmonic method. Therefore, we investigated the impact of RF fluctuation on the floating harmonic method theoretically and experimentally. When the electrons are in ideal Maxwellian distribution, the floating potential is negatively shifted bymore » the RF fluctuation, but the fluctuation does not distort I-V curve around the floating potential. However, in practical plasmas, the I-V curve and their harmonic components are distorted. This RF fluctuation effect becomes more significant in a low density plasma with a high impedance sheath. The second harmonic current decreases with the RF fluctuation while the first harmonic current is merely affected. Therefore, the electron temperatures measured with the floating harmonic method under low density plasma with uncompensated probe are overestimated than the results obtained with the compensated probe.« less

Correlation between the outer flow and the turbulent production in a boundary layer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cliff, W. C.; Sandborn, V. A.

1975-01-01

Space-time velocity correlation measurements between fluctuations occurring in the convoluting outer edge of a flat boundary layer with fluctuations occurring near the viscous subregion were made. The correlations indicate that information is propagated from the outer region to the inner region. The migration of turbulence away from the wall was previously studied in the open literature. The results presented here along with the migration results lend support to the limit cycle model for turbulence production.

Density fluctuation correlation measurements in ASDEX Upgrade using poloidal and radial correlation reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prisiazhniuk, D.; Conway, G. D.; Krämer-Flecken, A.; Stroth, U.; the ASDEX Upgrade Team

2018-07-01

The poloidal correlation reflectometry diagnostic operated in ordinary mode with additional radial correlation channel is applied in this paper to investigate the correlation of the turbulent density fluctuations. The perpendicular and radial correlation lengths, l ⊥ and l r , the perpendicular velocity v⊥ and the dissipation (mutation) time τ d are measured simultaneously from the outer core to edge in the L-mode plasmas of ASDEX Upgrade. It is shown that in the outer core region (0.6 < ρ pol < 0.9) the measured correlation lengths scale with the drift wave length, l ⊥ ≈ 5ρ s and l r ≈ 10ρ s , while the dissipation time is inversely correlated with the velocity τ d ≈ 40/v ⊥(τ d is in μs and v ⊥ in km s–1). In the pedestal region (0.925 < ρ pol < 0.98), where the E × B shear flows are present, a loss of measured correlation is observed which can be explained by a combination of small propagation velocity and an additional reduction of τ d . In the E r well region (ρ pol ≈ 0.99), the measured perpendicular correlation length increases {l}\\perp ≈ 13{ρ }s and the radial correlation length decreases l r ≈ 4ρ s compared to the outer core values. The correlation measurements are interpreted in the frame of the linear regime of reflectometry (applied only to ρ pol < 0.9). Using the Born approximation we show that the finite wavenumber sensitivity of the reflectometer increases the measured l ⊥and l r , but does not affect the measured τ d . By the including diagnostic correction the real correlation lengths l ⊥ ≈ l r ≈ 3ρ s are estimated.

Interaction of the electron density fluctuations with electron cyclotron waves from the equatorial launcher in ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snicker, A.; Poli, E.; Maj, O.; Guidi, L.; Köhn, A.; Weber, H.; Conway, G. D.; Henderson, M.; Saibene, G.

2018-01-01

We present a numerical investigation of electron cyclotron beams interacting with electron density fluctuations in the ITER 15 MA H-mode scenario. In particular, here we study how the beam from the equatorial launcher, which shall be utilized to influence the sawtooth instability, is affected by the fluctuations. Moreover, we present the theory and first estimates of the power that is scattered from the injected O-mode to a secondary X-mode in the presence of the fluctuations. It is shown that for ITER parameters the scattered power stays within acceptable limits and broadening of the equatorial beams is less than those from the upper launcher.

Role of chiral quantum Hall edge states in nuclear spin polarization.

PubMed

Yang, Kaifeng; Nagase, Katsumi; Hirayama, Yoshiro; Mishima, Tetsuya D; Santos, Michael B; Liu, Hongwu

2017-04-20

Resistively detected NMR (RDNMR) based on dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) in a quantum Hall ferromagnet (QHF) is a highly sensitive method for the discovery of fascinating quantum Hall phases; however, the mechanism of this DNP and, in particular, the role of quantum Hall edge states in it are unclear. Here we demonstrate the important but previously unrecognized effect of chiral edge modes on the nuclear spin polarization. A side-by-side comparison of the RDNMR signals from Hall bar and Corbino disk configurations allows us to distinguish the contributions of bulk and edge states to DNP in QHF. The unidirectional current flow along chiral edge states makes the polarization robust to thermal fluctuations at high temperatures and makes it possible to observe a reciprocity principle of the RDNMR response. These findings help us better understand complex NMR responses in QHF, which has important implications for the development of RDNMR techniques.

A first-principle calculation of the XANES spectrum of Cu2+ in water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La Penna, G.; Minicozzi, V.; Morante, S.; Rossi, G. C.; Stellato, F.

2015-09-01

The progress in high performance computing we are witnessing today offers the possibility of accurate electron density calculations of systems in realistic physico-chemical conditions. In this paper, we present a strategy aimed at performing a first-principle computation of the low energy part of the X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) spectrum based on the density functional theory calculation of the electronic potential. To test its effectiveness, we apply the method to the computation of the X-ray absorption near edge structure part of the XAS spectrum in the paradigmatic, but simple case of Cu2+ in water. In order to keep into account the effect of the metal site structure fluctuations in determining the experimental signal, the theoretical spectrum is evaluated as the average over the computed spectra of a statistically significant number of simulated metal site configurations. The comparison of experimental data with theoretical calculations suggests that Cu2+ lives preferentially in a square-pyramidal geometry. The remarkable success of this approach in the interpretation of XAS data makes us optimistic about the possibility of extending the computational strategy we have outlined to the more interesting case of molecules of biological relevance bound to transition metal ions.

Modification of turbulent particle transport and intermittency by biased rotation in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dove, J.; Carter, T. A.; Maggs, J. E.

2006-10-01

The edge plasma in LAPD is rotated through the application of a bias voltage between the plasma source cathode and the vacuum vessel wall. As the bias voltage is applied and increased past a threshold value, the measured density profile steepens dramatically (from Ln> 10 ρs to Ln˜2 ρs) at a radius near the peak of the flow shear. Turbulent transport flux measurements in this region show that the flux is reduced and then suppressed completely as the threshold is approached. The amplitude of the density and azimuthal electric field fluctuations is observed to decrease during biased rotation, the product of the amplitudes decreasing by a factor of 5. However the dominant change appears in the cross-phase, which is altered dramatically, leading to the observed suppression and reversal of the turbulent flux. Detailed two-dimensional turbulent correlation measurements have been performed. During biased rotation, a dramatic increase in the azimuthal correlation is observed, however there is little change in the radial correlation length. An investigation of the modification of intermittent (or ``blobby'') transport due to the shear flow is underway and initial results will be presented.

The trap DOS in small molecule organic semiconductors: A quantitative comparison of thin-film transistors with single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalb, Wolfgang; Haas, Simon; Pernstich, Kurt; Mathis, Thomas; Batlogg, Bertram

2010-03-01

Our study shows that it is possible to reach one of the ultimate goals of organic electronics: organic field-effect transistors can be produced with trap densities as low as in the bulk of single crystals. Several analytical methods to calculate the spectral density of localized states in the band gap (trap DOS) from measured data were used to clarify, if the different methods lead to similar results. We then compared quantitatively trap DOS information from the literature, correcting for differences due to different calculation methods. In the bulk of single crystals the trap DOS is lower by several orders of magnitude than in thin films. The compilation of all data strongly suggests that structural defects at grain boundaries are the main cause of ``fast'' traps in TFT's made with vacuum-evaporated pentacene. For high-performance transistors made with small molecule semiconductors such as rubrene it is essential to reduce the dipolar disorder caused by water adsorbed on the gate dielectric. We will discuss to what degree band broadening due to the thermal fluctuations of the intermolecular transfer integral is reflected in the trap DOS very close (<0.15 eV) to the mobility edge.

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

Schaffner, D. A.; Carter, T. A.; Rossi, G. D.

Continuous control over azimuthal flow and shear in the edge of the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) [W. Gekelman et al., Rev. Sci. Instr. 62, 2875 (1991)] has been achieved using a biasable limiter. This flow control has allowed a careful study of the effect of flow shear on pressure-gradient-driven turbulence and particle transport in LAPD. The combination of externally controllable shear in a turbulent plasma along with the detailed spatial diagnostic capabilities on LAPD makes the experiment a useful testbed for validation of shear suppression models. Motivated by these models, power-law fits are made to the density and radial velocitymore » fluctuation amplitudes, particle flux, density-potential crossphase, and radial correlation length. The data show a break in the trend of these quantities when the shearing rate (γ{sub s}=∂V{sub θ}/∂r) is comparable to the turbulent decorrelation rate (1/τ{sub ac}). No one model captures the trends in the all turbulent quantities for all values of the shearing rate, but some models successfully match the trend in either the weak (γ{sub s}τ{sub ac}<1) or strong (γ{sub s}τ{sub ac}>1) shear limits.« less

A Mesh Refinement Study on the Impact Response of a Shuttle Leading-Edge Panel Finite Element Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fasanella, Edwin L.; Jackson, Karen E.; Lyle, Karen H.; Spellman, Regina L.

2006-01-01

A study was performed to examine the influence of varying mesh density on an LS-DYNA simulation of a rectangular-shaped foam projectile impacting the space shuttle leading edge Panel 6. The shuttle leading-edge panels are fabricated of reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) material. During the study, nine cases were executed with all possible combinations of coarse, baseline, and fine meshes of the foam and panel. For each simulation, the same material properties and impact conditions were specified and only the mesh density was varied. In the baseline model, the shell elements representing the RCC panel are approximately 0.2-in. on edge, whereas the foam elements are about 0.5-in. on edge. The element nominal edge-length for the baseline panel was halved to create a fine panel (0.1-in. edge length) mesh and doubled to create a coarse panel (0.4-in. edge length) mesh. In addition, the element nominal edge-length of the baseline foam projectile was halved (0.25-in. edge length) to create a fine foam mesh and doubled (1.0-in. edge length) to create a coarse foam mesh. The initial impact velocity of the foam was 775 ft/s. The simulations were executed in LS-DYNA for 6 ms of simulation time. Contour plots of resultant panel displacement and effective stress in the foam were compared at four discrete time intervals. Also, time-history responses of internal and kinetic energy of the panel, kinetic and hourglass energy of the foam, and resultant contact force were plotted to determine the influence of mesh density.

Observations of fine scale structure in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thrane, E. V.; Grandal, B.

1980-06-01

An electrostatic probe designed to measure ion density with high time resolution and accuracy was flown on a Nike-Apache rocket from Andoeya Rocket Range on March 1 1978. Spectra of the spatial density fluctuations were derived in one kilometer height intervals from 65 to 127 km. Below 95 km the power spectra had a slope of about -5/3, as expected for isotropic turbulence. Above 95 km the fluctuations were stronger and showed a white noise power spectrum. These fluctuations are most likely due to plasma instabilities.

The contribution of transient counterion imbalances to DNA bending fluctuations.

PubMed

Manning, Gerald S

2006-05-01

A two-sided model for DNA is employed to analyze fluctuations of the spatial distribution of condensed counterions and the effect of these fluctuations on transient bending. We analyze two classes of fluctuations. In the first, the number of condensed counterions on one side of the DNA remains at its average value, while on the other side, counterions are lost to bulk solution or gained from it. The second class of fluctuations is characterized by movement of some counterions from one side of the DNA to the other. The root-mean-square fluctuation for each class is calculated from counterion condensation theory. The amplitude of the root-mean-square fluctuation depends on the ionic strength as well as the length of the segment considered and is of the order 5-10%. Both classes of fluctuation result in transient bends toward the side of greater counterion density. The bending amplitudes are approximately 15% of the total root-mean-square bends associated with the persistence length of DNA. We are thus led to suggest that asymmetric fluctuations of counterion density contribute modestly but significantly toward the aggregate of thermalized solvent fluctuations that cause bending deformations of DNA free in solution. The calculations support the idea that counterions may exert some modulating influence on the fine structure of DNA.

Observation of the origin of d0 magnetism in ZnO nanostructures using X-ray-based microscopic and spectroscopic techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, Shashi B.; Wang, Yu-Fu; Shao, Yu-Cheng; Lai, Hsuan-Yu; Hsieh, Shang-Hsien; Limaye, Mukta V.; Chuang, Chen-Hao; Hsueh, Hung-Chung; Wang, Hsaiotsu; Chiou, Jau-Wern; Tsai, Hung-Ming; Pao, Chih-Wen; Chen, Chia-Hao; Lin, Hong-Ji; Lee, Jyh-Fu; Wu, Chun-Te; Wu, Jih-Jen; Pong, Way-Faung; Ohigashi, Takuji; Kosugi, Nobuhiro; Wang, Jian; Zhou, Jigang; Regier, Tom; Sham, Tsun-Kong

2014-07-01

Efforts have been made to elucidate the origin of d0 magnetism in ZnO nanocactuses (NCs) and nanowires (NWs) using X-ray-based microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The photoluminescence and O K-edge and Zn L3,2-edge X-ray-excited optical luminescence spectra showed that ZnO NCs contain more defects than NWs do and that in ZnO NCs, more defects are present at the O sites than at the Zn sites. Specifically, the results of O K-edge scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and the corresponding X-ray-absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy demonstrated that the impurity (non-stoichiometric) region in ZnO NCs contains a greater defect population than the thick region. The intensity of O K-edge STXM-XANES in the impurity region is more predominant in ZnO NCs than in NWs. The increase in the unoccupied (occupied) density of states at/above (at/below) the conduction-band minimum (valence-band maximum) or the Fermi level is related to the population of defects at the O sites, as revealed by comparing the ZnO NCs to the NWs. The results of O K-edge and Zn L3,2-edge X-ray magnetic circular dichroism demonstrated that the origin of magnetization is attributable to the O 2p orbitals rather than the Zn d orbitals. Further, the local density approximation (LDA) + U verified that vacancies in the form of dangling or unpaired 2p states (due to Zn vacancies) induced a significant local spin moment in the nearest-neighboring O atoms to the defect center, which was determined from the uneven local spin density by analyzing the partial density of states of O 2p in ZnO.Efforts have been made to elucidate the origin of d0 magnetism in ZnO nanocactuses (NCs) and nanowires (NWs) using X-ray-based microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The photoluminescence and O K-edge and Zn L3,2-edge X-ray-excited optical luminescence spectra showed that ZnO NCs contain more defects than NWs do and that in ZnO NCs, more defects are present at the O sites than at the Zn sites. Specifically, the results of O K-edge scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) and the corresponding X-ray-absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy demonstrated that the impurity (non-stoichiometric) region in ZnO NCs contains a greater defect population than the thick region. The intensity of O K-edge STXM-XANES in the impurity region is more predominant in ZnO NCs than in NWs. The increase in the unoccupied (occupied) density of states at/above (at/below) the conduction-band minimum (valence-band maximum) or the Fermi level is related to the population of defects at the O sites, as revealed by comparing the ZnO NCs to the NWs. The results of O K-edge and Zn L3,2-edge X-ray magnetic circular dichroism demonstrated that the origin of magnetization is attributable to the O 2p orbitals rather than the Zn d orbitals. Further, the local density approximation (LDA) + U verified that vacancies in the form of dangling or unpaired 2p states (due to Zn vacancies) induced a significant local spin moment in the nearest-neighboring O atoms to the defect center, which was determined from the uneven local spin density by analyzing the partial density of states of O 2p in ZnO. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Scanning photoelectron microscopy (SPEM) results of ZnO NCs and NWs. Computational details and calculated total and partial density of states (PDOS) of bulk wurtzite ZnO with oxygen anion vacancies (VO). See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr01961j

Flat Plate Wake Velocity Statistics Obtained With Circular And Elliptic Trailing Edges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rai, Man Mohan

2016-01-01

The near wake of a flat plate with circular and elliptic trailing edges is investigated with data from direct numerical simulations. The plate length and thickness are the same in both cases. The separating boundary layers are turbulent and statistically identical. Therefore the wake is symmetric in the two cases. The emphasis in this study is on a comparison of the wake-distributions of velocity components, normal intensity and fluctuating shear stress obtained in the two cases.

Sensory Organ Like Response of Zigzag Edge Graphene Nanoribbons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shenoy, Vijay; Bhowmick, Somnath

2011-03-01

Using a continuum Dirac theory, we study the density and spin response of zigzag edge terminated graphene ribbons subjected to edge potentials and Zeeman fields. Our analytical calculations of the density and spin responses of the closed system (fixed particle number) to the static edge fields, show a highly nonlinear Weber-Fechner type behavior where the response depends logarithmically on the edge potential. The dependence of the response on the size of the system (e.g.~width of a nanoribbon) is also uncovered. Zigzag edge graphene nanoribbons, therefore, provide a realization of response of organs such as the eye and ear that obey Weber-Fechner law. We validate our analytical results with tight binding calculations. These results are crucial in understanding important effects of electron-electron interactions in graphene nanoribbons such as edge magnetism etc., and also suggest possibilities for device applications of graphene nanoribbons. Work supported by DST, India through MONAMI and Ramanujan grants.

The topology of large-scale structure. I - Topology and the random phase hypothesis. [galactic formation models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weinberg, David H.; Gott, J. Richard, III; Melott, Adrian L.

1987-01-01

Many models for the formation of galaxies and large-scale structure assume a spectrum of random phase (Gaussian), small-amplitude density fluctuations as initial conditions. In such scenarios, the topology of the galaxy distribution on large scales relates directly to the topology of the initial density fluctuations. Here a quantitative measure of topology - the genus of contours in a smoothed density distribution - is described and applied to numerical simulations of galaxy clustering, to a variety of three-dimensional toy models, and to a volume-limited sample of the CfA redshift survey. For random phase distributions the genus of density contours exhibits a universal dependence on threshold density. The clustering simulations show that a smoothing length of 2-3 times the mass correlation length is sufficient to recover the topology of the initial fluctuations from the evolved galaxy distribution. Cold dark matter and white noise models retain a random phase topology at shorter smoothing lengths, but massive neutrino models develop a cellular topology.

Density fluctuations in aqueous solution of ionic liquid with lower critical solution temperature: Mixture of tetrabutylphosphonium trifluoroacetate and water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nitta, Ayako; Morita, Takeshi; Saita, Shohei; Kohno, Yuki; Ohno, Hiroyuki; Nishikawa, Keiko

2015-05-01

Aqueous solutions of tetrabutylphosphonium trifluoroacetate ([P4444]CF3COO) exhibit a LCST-type phase transition with the critical point near 0.025 in mole fraction of [P4444]CF3COO at T = 302 K. The phase behavior of [P4444]CF3COO-water mixtures was investigated by evaluating their density fluctuations, which provide quantitative descriptions of the mixing states of the solutions. The concentration dependence of the density fluctuations was investigated at 293 and 301 K for the mixtures without distinguishing the components and for the individual components ([P4444]CF3COO and water). A drastic change in the mixing state was observed for the solution when the critical point was approached.

Spatial and temporal patterns of microclimates at an urban forest edge and their management implications.

PubMed

Li, Yingnan; Kang, Wanmo; Han, Yiwen; Song, Youngkeun

2018-01-23

Fragmented forests generate a variety of forest edges, leading to microclimates in the edge zones that differ from those in the forest interior. Understanding microclimatic variation is an important consideration for managers because it helps when making decisions about how to restrict the extent of edge effects. Thus, our study attempted to characterize the changing microclimate features at an urban forest edge located on Mt. Gwanak, Seoul, South Korea. We examined edge effects on air temperature, relative humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture, and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) during the hottest three consecutive days in August 2016. Results showed that each variable responded differently to the edge effects. This urban forest edge had an effect on temporal changes at a diurnal scale in all microclimate variables, except soil moisture. In addition, all variables except relative humidity were significantly influenced by the edge effect up to 15 m inward from the forest boundary. The relative humidity fluctuated the most and showed the deepest extent of the edge effect. Moreover, the edge widths calculated from the relative humidity and air temperature both peaked in the late afternoon (16:00 h). Our findings provide a reference for forest managers in designing urban forest zones and will contribute to the conservation of fragmented forests in urban areas.

Nonlinear dynamics and intermittency in a turbulent reacting wake with density ratio as bifurcation parameter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suresha, Suhas; Sujith, R. I.; Emerson, Benjamin; Lieuwen, Tim

2016-10-01

The flame or flow behavior of a turbulent reacting wake is known to be fundamentally different at high and low values of flame density ratio (ρu/ρb ), as the flow transitions from globally stable to unstable. This paper analyzes the nonlinear dynamics present in a bluff-body stabilized flame, and identifies the transition characteristics in the wake as ρu/ρb is varied over a Reynolds number (based on the bluff-body lip velocity) range of 1000-3300. Recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) of the experimentally obtained time series of the flame edge fluctuations reveals that the time series is highly aperiodic at high values of ρu/ρb and transitions to increasingly correlated or nearly periodic behavior at low values. From the RQA of the transverse velocity time series, we observe that periodicity in the flame oscillations are related to periodicity in the flow. Therefore, we hypothesize that this transition from aperiodic to nearly periodic behavior in the flame edge time series is a manifestation of the transition in the flow from globally stable, convective instability to global instability as ρu/ρb decreases. The recurrence analysis further reveals that the transition in periodicity is not a sudden shift; rather it occurs through an intermittent regime present at low and intermediate ρu/ρb . During intermittency, the flow behavior switches between aperiodic oscillations, reminiscent of a globally stable, convective instability, and periodic oscillations, reminiscent of a global instability. Analysis of the distribution of the lengths of the periodic regions in the intermittent time series and the first return map indicate the presence of type-II intermittency.

Rayleigh Scattering Diagnostic for Measurement of Temperature, Velocity, and Density Fluctuation Spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mielke, Amy F.; Elam, Kristie A.; Sung, Chih-Jen; Panda, Jayanta

2006-01-01

A molecular Rayleigh scattering technique is developed to measure dynamic gas temperature, velocity, and density in unseeded turbulent flows at sampling rates up to 10 kHz. A high power CW laser beam is focused at a point in a heated air jet plume and Rayleigh scattered light is collected and spectrally resolved. The spectrum of the light, which contains information about the temperature, velocity, and density of the flow, is analyzed using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The circular interference fringe pattern is divided into four concentric regions and sampled at 1 and 10 kHz using photon counting electronics. Monitoring the relative change in intensity within each region allows for measurement of gas temperature and velocity. Independently monitoring the total scattered light intensity provides a measure of gas density. Power spectral density calculations of temperature, velocity, and density fluctuations, as well as mean and fluctuating quantities are demonstrated for various radial locations in the jet flow at a fixed axial distance from the jet exit plane. Results are compared with constant current anemometry and pitot probe measurements at the same locations.

Large Fluctuations for Spatial Diffusion of Cold Atoms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aghion, Erez; Kessler, David A.; Barkai, Eli

2017-06-01

We use a new approach to study the large fluctuations of a heavy-tailed system, where the standard large-deviations principle does not apply. Large-deviations theory deals with tails of probability distributions and the rare events of random processes, for example, spreading packets of particles. Mathematically, it concerns the exponential falloff of the density of thin-tailed systems. Here we investigate the spatial density Pt(x ) of laser-cooled atoms, where at intermediate length scales the shape is fat tailed. We focus on the rare events beyond this range, which dominate important statistical properties of the system. Through a novel friction mechanism induced by the laser fields, the density is explored with the recently proposed non-normalized infinite-covariant density approach. The small and large fluctuations give rise to a bifractal nature of the spreading packet. We derive general relations which extend our theory to a class of systems with multifractal moments.

Antarctic krill under sea ice: elevated abundance in a narrow band just south of ice edge.

PubMed

Brierley, Andrew S; Fernandes, Paul G; Brandon, Mark A; Armstrong, Frederick; Millard, Nicholas W; McPhail, Steven D; Stevenson, Peter; Pebody, Miles; Perrett, James; Squires, Mark; Bone, Douglas G; Griffiths, Gwyn

2002-03-08

We surveyed Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) under sea ice using the autonomous underwater vehicle Autosub-2. Krill were concentrated within a band under ice between 1 and 13 kilometers south of the ice edge. Within this band, krill densities were fivefold greater than that of open water. The under-ice environment has long been considered an important habitat for krill, but sampling difficulties have previously prevented direct observations under ice over the scale necessary for robust krill density estimation. Autosub-2 enabled us to make continuous high-resolution measurements of krill density under ice reaching 27 kilometers beyond the ice edge.

Shrinking of core neoclassical tearing mode magnetic islands due to edge localized modes and the role of ion-scale turbulence in island recovery in DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bardóczi, L.; Rhodes, T. L.; Carter, T. A.; La Haye, R. J.; Bañón Navarro, A.; McKee, G. R.

2017-06-01

Experimental signature of long-wavelength turbulence accelerating the recovery of Neoclassical Tearing Mode (NTM) magnetic islands after they have been transiently reduced in size due to interaction with Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) is reported for the first time. This work shows that perturbations associated with ELMs result in peaking of the electron temperature (Te) in the O-point region of saturated core m/n = 2/1 islands (m/n being the poloidal/toroidal mode numbers). In synchronization with this Te peak, the island width shrinks by as much as 30% suggesting a key role of the Te peak in NTM stability due to modified pressure gradient (∇p) and perturbed bootstrap current (δjBS) at the O-point. Next, this Te peak relaxes via anomalous transport (i.e., the diffusivity is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the neoclassical value) and the island recovers. Long-wavelength turbulent density fluctuations ( n ˜ ) are reduced at the O-point of flat islands but these fluctuations are increased when Te is peaked which offers an explanation for the observed anomalous transport that is responsible for the relaxation of the Te peak. Linear gyrokinetic simulations indicate that n ˜ inside the peaked island is dominantly driven by the Ion Temperature Gradient instability. These measurements suggest that n ˜ accelerates NTM recovery after an ELM crash via accelerating the relaxation of ∇p at the O-point. These observations are qualitatively replicated by coupled predator-prey equations and modified Rutherford equation. In this simple model, turbulence accelerates NTM recovery via relaxing ∇p and therefore restoring δjBS at the O-point. The key physics of the relationship between the Te peak and NTM stability has potentially far-reaching consequences, such as NTM control via pellet injection in high-β tokamak plasmas.

Shrinking of core neoclassical tearing mode magnetic islands due to edge localized modes and the role of ion-scale turbulence in island recovery in DIII-D

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

Bardóczi, Laszlo; Rhodes, Terry L.; Carter, Troy A.

Experimental signature of long-wavelength turbulence accelerating the recovery of Neoclassical Tearing Mode (NTM) magnetic islands after they have been transiently reduced in size due to inter- action with Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) is reported for the first time. This work shows that per- turbations associated with ELMs result in peaking of the electron temperature (Te) in the O-point region of saturated core m/n 1/4 2/1 islands (m/n being the poloidal/toroidal mode numbers). In syn- chronization with this Te peak, the island width shrinks by as much as 30% suggesting a key role of the Te peak in NTM stability duemore » to modified pressure gradient (rp) and perturbed bootstrap cur- rent (djBS) at the O-point. Next, this Te peak relaxes via anomalous transport (i.e., the diffusivity is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the neoclassical value) and the island recovers. Long-wavelength turbulent density fluctuations (n~) are reduced at the O-point of flat islands but these fluctuations are increased when Te is peaked which offers an explanation for the observed anomalous transport that is responsible for the relaxation of the Te peak. Linear gyrokinetic simulations indicate that n~ inside the peaked island is dominantly driven by the Ion Temperature Gradient instability. These measure- ments suggest that n~ accelerates NTM recovery after an ELM crash via accelerating the relaxation of rp at the O-point. These observations are qualitatively replicated by coupled predator-prey equations and modified Rutherford equation. In this simple model, turbulence accelerates NTM recovery via relaxing rp and therefore restoring djBS at the O-point. The key physics of the rela- tionship between the Te peak and NTM stability has potentially far-reaching consequences, such as NTM control via pellet injection in high-b tokamak plasmas.« less

Shrinking of core neoclassical tearing mode magnetic islands due to edge localized modes and the role of ion-scale turbulence in island recovery in DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Bardóczi, Laszlo; Rhodes, Terry L.; Carter, Troy A.; ...

2017-06-08

Experimental signature of long-wavelength turbulence accelerating the recovery of Neoclassical Tearing Mode (NTM) magnetic islands after they have been transiently reduced in size due to inter- action with Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) is reported for the first time. This work shows that per- turbations associated with ELMs result in peaking of the electron temperature (Te) in the O-point region of saturated core m/n 1/4 2/1 islands (m/n being the poloidal/toroidal mode numbers). In syn- chronization with this Te peak, the island width shrinks by as much as 30% suggesting a key role of the Te peak in NTM stability duemore » to modified pressure gradient (rp) and perturbed bootstrap cur- rent (djBS) at the O-point. Next, this Te peak relaxes via anomalous transport (i.e., the diffusivity is 2 orders of magnitude larger than the neoclassical value) and the island recovers. Long-wavelength turbulent density fluctuations (n~) are reduced at the O-point of flat islands but these fluctuations are increased when Te is peaked which offers an explanation for the observed anomalous transport that is responsible for the relaxation of the Te peak. Linear gyrokinetic simulations indicate that n~ inside the peaked island is dominantly driven by the Ion Temperature Gradient instability. These measure- ments suggest that n~ accelerates NTM recovery after an ELM crash via accelerating the relaxation of rp at the O-point. These observations are qualitatively replicated by coupled predator-prey equations and modified Rutherford equation. In this simple model, turbulence accelerates NTM recovery via relaxing rp and therefore restoring djBS at the O-point. The key physics of the rela- tionship between the Te peak and NTM stability has potentially far-reaching consequences, such as NTM control via pellet injection in high-b tokamak plasmas.« less

Hole localization, water dissociation mechanisms, and band alignment at aqueous-titania interfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyons, John L.

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising method for generating clean energy, but materials that can efficiently act as photocatalysts are scarce. This is in part due to the fact that exposure to water can strongly alter semiconductor surfaces and therefore photocatalyst performance. Many materials are not stable in aqueous environments; in other cases, local changes in structure may occur, affecting energy-level alignment. Even in the simplest case, dynamic fluctuations modify the organization of interface water. Accounting for such effects requires knowledge of the dominant local structural motifs and also accurate semiconductor band-edge positions, making quantitative prediction of energy-level alignments computationally challenging. Here we employ a combined theoretical approach to study the structure, energy alignment, and hole localization at aqueous-titania interfaces. We calculate the explicit aqueous-semiconductor interface using ab initio molecular dynamics, which provides the fluctuating atomic structure, the extent of water dissociation, and the resulting electrostatic potential. For both anatase and rutile TiO2 we observe spontaneous water dissociation and re-association events that occur via distinct mechanisms. We also find a higher-density water layer occurring on anatase. In both cases, we find that the second monolayer of water plays a crucial role in controlling the extent of water dissociation. Using hybrid functional calculations, we then investigate the propensity for dissociated waters to stabilize photo-excited carriers, and compare the results of rutile and anatase aqueous interfaces. Finally, we use the GW approach from many-body perturbation theory to obtain the position of semiconductor band edges relative to the occupied 1b1 level and thus the redox levels of water, and examine how local structural modifications affect these offsets. This work was performed in collaboration with N. Kharche, M. Z. Ertem, J. T. Muckerman, and M. S. Hybertsen. It made use of resources at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, which is a U.S. DOE Office of Science Facility, at Brookhaven National Lab.

Population Fluctuations and Synchrony of Grassland Butterflies in Relation to Species Traits

PubMed Central

Franzén, Markus; Nilsson, Sven G.; Johansson, Victor; Ranius, Thomas

2013-01-01

Population fluctuations and synchrony influence population persistence; species with larger fluctuations and more synchronised population fluctuations face higher extinction risks. Here, we analyse the effect of diet specialisation, mobility, length of the flight period, and distance to the northern edge of the species’ distribution in relation to between-year population fluctuations and synchrony of butterfly species. All butterfly species associated with grasslands were surveyed over five successive years at 19 grassland sites in a forest-dominated landscape (50 km2) in southern Sweden. At both the local and regional level, we found larger population fluctuations in species with longer flight periods. Population fluctuations were more synchronous among localities in diet specialists. Species with a long flight period might move more to track nectar resources compared to species with shorter flight period, and if nectar sources vary widely between years and localities it may explain that population fluctuations increase with increasing flight length. Diet generalists can use different resources (in this case host plants) at different localities and this can explain the lower synchrony in population fluctuations among generalist species. Higher degree of synchrony is one possible explanation for the higher extinction risks that have been observed for more specialised species. Therefore, diet specialists are more often threatened and require more conservation efforts than generalists. PMID:24205169

High-amplitude fluctuations and alternative dynamical states of midges in Lake Myvatn.

PubMed

Ives, Anthony R; Einarsson, Arni; Jansen, Vincent A A; Gardarsson, Arnthor

2008-03-06

Complex dynamics are often shown by simple ecological models and have been clearly demonstrated in laboratory and natural systems. Yet many classes of theoretically possible dynamics are still poorly documented in nature. Here we study long-term time-series data of a midge, Tanytarsus gracilentus (Diptera: Chironomidae), in Lake Myvatn, Iceland. The midge undergoes density fluctuations of almost six orders of magnitude. Rather than regular cycles, however, these fluctuations have irregular periods of 4-7 years, indicating complex dynamics. We fit three consumer-resource models capable of qualitatively distinct dynamics to the data. Of these, the best-fitting model shows alternative dynamical states in the absence of environmental variability; depending on the initial midge densities, the model shows either fluctuations around a fixed point or high-amplitude cycles. This explains the observed complex population dynamics: high-amplitude but irregular fluctuations occur because stochastic variability causes the dynamics to switch between domains of attraction to the alternative states. In the model, the amplitude of fluctuations depends strongly on minute resource subsidies into the midge habitat. These resource subsidies may be sensitive to human-caused changes in the hydrology of the lake, with human impacts such as dredging leading to higher-amplitude fluctuations. Tanytarsus gracilentus is a key component of the Myvatn ecosystem, representing two-thirds of the secondary productivity of the lake and providing vital food resources to fish and to breeding bird populations. Therefore the high-amplitude, irregular fluctuations in midge densities generated by alternative dynamical states dominate much of the ecology of the lake.

Sound Sources Identified in High-Speed Jets by Correlating Flow Density Fluctuations With Far-Field Noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, Jayanta; Seasholtz, Richard G.

2003-01-01

Noise sources in high-speed jets were identified by directly correlating flow density fluctuation (cause) to far-field sound pressure fluctuation (effect). The experimental study was performed in a nozzle facility at the NASA Glenn Research Center in support of NASA s initiative to reduce the noise emitted by commercial airplanes. Previous efforts to use this correlation method have failed because the tools for measuring jet turbulence were intrusive. In the present experiment, a molecular Rayleigh-scattering technique was used that depended on laser light scattering by gas molecules in air. The technique allowed accurate measurement of air density fluctuations from different points in the plume. The study was conducted in shock-free, unheated jets of Mach numbers 0.95, 1.4, and 1.8. The turbulent motion, as evident from density fluctuation spectra was remarkably similar in all three jets, whereas the noise sources were significantly different. The correlation study was conducted by keeping a microphone at a fixed location (at the peak noise emission angle of 30 to the jet axis and 50 nozzle diameters away) while moving the laser probe volume from point to point in the flow. The following figure shows maps of the nondimensional coherence value measured at different Strouhal frequencies ([frequency diameter]/jet speed) in the supersonic Mach 1.8 and subsonic Mach 0.95 jets. The higher the coherence, the stronger the source was.

Langmuir turbulence driven by beams in solar wind plasmas with long wavelength density fluctuations

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

Krafft, C., E-mail: catherine.krafft@u-psud.fr; Universite´ Paris Sud, 91405 Orsay Cedex; Volokitin, A., E-mail: a.volokitin@mail.ru

2016-03-25

The self-consistent evolution of Langmuir turbulence generated by electron beams in solar wind plasmas with density inhomogeneities is calculated by numerical simulations based on a 1D Hamiltonian model. It is shown, owing to numerical simulations performed with parameters relevant to type III solar bursts’ conditions at 1 AU, that the presence of long-wavelength random density fluctuations of sufficiently large average level crucially modifies the well-known process of beam interaction with Langmuir waves in homogeneous plasmas.

Periodic fluctuations in correlation-based connectivity density time series: Application to wind speed-monitoring network in Switzerland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laib, Mohamed; Telesca, Luciano; Kanevski, Mikhail

2018-02-01

In this paper, we study the periodic fluctuations of connectivity density time series of a wind speed-monitoring network in Switzerland. By using the correlogram-based robust periodogram annual periodic oscillations were found in the correlation-based network. The intensity of such annual periodic oscillations is larger for lower correlation thresholds and smaller for higher. The annual periodicity in the connectivity density seems reasonably consistent with the seasonal meteo-climatic cycle.

Detection limit for rate fluctuations in inhomogeneous Poisson processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shintani, Toshiaki; Shinomoto, Shigeru

2012-04-01

Estimations of an underlying rate from data points are inevitably disturbed by the irregular occurrence of events. Proper estimation methods are designed to avoid overfitting by discounting the irregular occurrence of data, and to determine a constant rate from irregular data derived from a constant probability distribution. However, it can occur that rapid or small fluctuations in the underlying density are undetectable when the data are sparse. For an estimation method, the maximum degree of undetectable rate fluctuations is uniquely determined as a phase transition, when considering an infinitely long series of events drawn from a fluctuating density. In this study, we analytically examine an optimized histogram and a Bayesian rate estimator with respect to their detectability of rate fluctuation, and determine whether their detectable-undetectable phase transition points are given by an identical formula defining a degree of fluctuation in an underlying rate. In addition, we numerically examine the variational Bayes hidden Markov model in its detectability of rate fluctuation, and determine whether the numerically obtained transition point is comparable to those of the other two methods. Such consistency among these three principled methods suggests the presence of a theoretical limit for detecting rate fluctuations.

Detection limit for rate fluctuations in inhomogeneous Poisson processes.

PubMed

Shintani, Toshiaki; Shinomoto, Shigeru

2012-04-01

Estimations of an underlying rate from data points are inevitably disturbed by the irregular occurrence of events. Proper estimation methods are designed to avoid overfitting by discounting the irregular occurrence of data, and to determine a constant rate from irregular data derived from a constant probability distribution. However, it can occur that rapid or small fluctuations in the underlying density are undetectable when the data are sparse. For an estimation method, the maximum degree of undetectable rate fluctuations is uniquely determined as a phase transition, when considering an infinitely long series of events drawn from a fluctuating density. In this study, we analytically examine an optimized histogram and a Bayesian rate estimator with respect to their detectability of rate fluctuation, and determine whether their detectable-undetectable phase transition points are given by an identical formula defining a degree of fluctuation in an underlying rate. In addition, we numerically examine the variational Bayes hidden Markov model in its detectability of rate fluctuation, and determine whether the numerically obtained transition point is comparable to those of the other two methods. Such consistency among these three principled methods suggests the presence of a theoretical limit for detecting rate fluctuations.

Photoemission and Photoabsorption Investigation of the Electronic Structure of Ytterbium Doped Strontium Fluoroapatite

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

Nelson, A J; van Buuren, T; Bostedt, C

X-ray photoemission and x-ray photoabsorption were used to study the composition and the electronic structure of ytterbium doped strontium fluoroapatite (Yb:S-FAP). High resolution photoemission measurements on the valence band electronic structure was used to evaluate the density of occupied states of this fluoroapatite. Element specific density of unoccupied electronic states in Yb:S-FAP were probed by x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) at the Yb 4d (N{sub 4,5}-edge), Sr 3d (M{sub 4,5}-edge), P 2p (L{sub 2,3}-edge), F 1s and O 1s (K-edges) absorption edges. These results provide the first measurements of the electronic structure and surface chemistry of this material.

Study of ion-gyroscale fluctuations in low-density L-mode plasmas heated by NBI on KSTAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, W.; Ko, S. H.; Leem, J.; Yun, G. S.; Park, H. K.; Wang, W. X.; Budny, R. V.; Kim, K. W.; Luhmann, N. C., Jr.; The KSTAR Team

2018-04-01

Broadband density fluctuations with peak frequency ranging from 150 to 400 kHz were measured using a multichannel microwave imaging reflectometer in core region of the low-density L-mode plasmas heated by neutral beam injection on KSTAR. These fluctuations have been studied by comparing the dominant mode scales estimated from the measurement with those predicted from linear gyrokinetic simulation. The measured poloidal wavenumbers are qualitatively comparable to those of the ‘fastest growing modes’ from simulations, whereas they are larger than those of the ‘transport-dominant modes’ by about a factor of three. The agreement on wavenumbers between the measurement and linear simulation (for the fastest growing modes) is probably due to sufficiently weak E × B flow shear compared to the maximum linear growth rate. Meanwhile, the transport-dominant modes seem to be related to the fluctuations in lower frequencies (˜80-150 kHz) observed in some of the measurement.

Observation of trapped-electron-mode microturbulence in reversed field pinch plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duff, J. R.; Williams, Z. R.; Brower, D. L.; Chapman, B. E.; Ding, W. X.; Pueschel, M. J.; Sarff, J. S.; Terry, P. W.

2018-01-01

Density fluctuations in the large-density-gradient region of improved confinement Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch (RFP) plasmas exhibit multiple features that are characteristic of the trapped-electron mode (TEM). Core transport in conventional RFP plasmas is governed by magnetic stochasticity stemming from multiple long-wavelength tearing modes. Using inductive current profile control, these tearing modes are reduced, and global confinement is increased to that expected for comparable tokamak plasmas. Under these conditions, new short-wavelength fluctuations distinct from global tearing modes appear in the spectrum at a frequency of f ˜ 50 kHz, which have normalized perpendicular wavenumbers k⊥ρs≲ 0.2 and propagate in the electron diamagnetic drift direction. They exhibit a critical-gradient threshold, and the fluctuation amplitude increases with the local electron density gradient. These characteristics are consistent with predictions from gyrokinetic analysis using the Gene code, including increased TEM turbulence and transport from the interaction of remnant tearing magnetic fluctuations and zonal flow.

Modeling turbulent/chemistry interactions using assumed pdf methods

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaffney, R. L, Jr.; White, J. A.; Girimaji, S. S.; Drummond, J. P.

1992-01-01

Two assumed probability density functions (pdfs) are employed for computing the effect of temperature fluctuations on chemical reaction. The pdfs assumed for this purpose are the Gaussian and the beta densities of the first kind. The pdfs are first used in a parametric study to determine the influence of temperature fluctuations on the mean reaction-rate coefficients. Results indicate that temperature fluctuations significantly affect the magnitude of the mean reaction-rate coefficients of some reactions depending on the mean temperature and the intensity of the fluctuations. The pdfs are then tested on a high-speed turbulent reacting mixing layer. Results clearly show a decrease in the ignition delay time due to increases in the magnitude of most of the mean reaction rate coefficients.

The effect of electron cyclotron heating on density fluctuations at ion and electron scales in ITER baseline scenario discharges on the DIII-D tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marinoni, A.; Pinsker, R. I.; Porkolab, M.; Rost, J. C.; Davis, E. M.; Burrell, K. H.; Candy, J.; Staebler, G. M.; Grierson, B. A.; McKee, G. R.; Rhodes, T. L.; The DIII-D Team

2017-12-01

Experiments simulating the ITER baseline scenario on the DIII-D tokamak show that torque-free pure electron heating, when coupled to plasmas subject to a net co-current beam torque, affects density fluctuations at electron scales on a sub-confinement time scale, whereas fluctuations at ion scales change only after profiles have evolved to a new stationary state. Modifications to the density fluctuations measured by the phase contrast imaging diagnostic (PCI) are assessed by analyzing the time evolution following the switch-off of electron cyclotron heating (ECH), thus going from mixed beam/ECH to pure neutral beam heating at fixed βN . Within 20 ms after turning off ECH, the intensity of fluctuations is observed to increase at frequencies higher than 200 kHz in contrast, fluctuations at lower frequency are seen to decrease in intensity on a longer time scale, after other equilibrium quantities have evolved. Non-linear gyro-kinetic modeling at ion and electron scales scales suggest that, while the low frequency response of the diagnostic is consistent with the dominant ITG modes being weakened by the slow-time increase in flow shear, the high frequency response is due to prompt changes to the electron temperature profile that enhance electron modes and generate a larger heat flux and an inward particle pinch. These results suggest that electron heated regimes in ITER will feature multi-scale fluctuations that might affect fusion performance via modifications to profiles.

Induced Superconductivity in the Quantum Spin Hall Edge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ren, Hechen; Hart, Sean; Wagner, Timo; Leubner, Philipp; Muehlbauer, Mathias; Bruene, Christoph; Buhmann, Hartmut; Molenkamp, Laurens; Yacoby, Amir

2014-03-01

Two-dimensional topological insulators have a gapped bulk and helical edge states, making it a quantum spin Hall insulator. Combining such edge states with superconductivity can be an excellent platform for observing and manipulating localized Majorana fermions. In the context of condensed matter, these are emergent electronic states that obey non-Abelian statistics and hence support fault-tolerant quantum computing. To realize such theoretical constructions, an essential step is to show these edge channels are capable of carrying coherent supercurrent. In our experiment, we fabricate Josephson junctions with HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells, a two-dimensional material that becomes a quantum spin Hall insulator when the quantum well is thicker than 6.3 nm and the bulk density is depleted. In this regime, we observe supercurrents whose densities are confined to the edges of the junctions, with edge widths ranging from 180 nm to 408 nm. To verify the topological nature of these edges, we measure identical junctions with HgTe/HgCdTe quantum wells thinner than 6.3 nm and observe only uniform supercurrent density across the junctions. This research is supported by Microsoft Corporation Project Q, the NSF DMR-1206016, the DOE SCGF Program, the German Research Foundation, and EU ERC-AG program.

Viking S-band Doppler RMS phase fluctuations used to calibrate the mean 1976 equatorial corona

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berman, A. L.; Wackley, J. A.

1977-01-01

Viking S-band Doppler RMS phase fluctuations (noise) and comparisons of Viking Doppler noise to Viking differenced S-X range measurements are used to construct a mean equatorial electron density model for 1976. Using Pioneer Doppler noise results (at high heliographic latitudes, also from 1976), an equivalent nonequatorial electron density model is approximated.

Spin-density fluctuations and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem in 3 d ferromagnetic metals

DOE PAGES

Wysocki, Alex L.; Valmispild, V. N.; Kutepov, A.; ...

2017-11-15

Spatial and time scales of spin-density fluctuations (SDFs) were analyzed in 3d ferromagnets using ab initio linear-response calculations of complete wave-vector and energy dependence of the dynamic spin susceptibility tensor. We demonstrate that SDFs are spread continuously over the entire Brillouin zone and while the majority of them reside within the 3d bandwidth, a significant amount comes from much higher energies. A validity of the adiabatic approximation in spin dynamics is discussed. The SDF spectrum is shown to have two main constituents: a minor low-energy spin-wave contribution and a much larger high-energy component from more localized excitations. Furthermore, using themore » fluctuation-dissipation theorem, the on-site spin correlator and the related effective fluctuating moment were properly evaluated and their universal dependence on the 3d band population is further discussed.« less

Dynamical transition, hydrophobic interface, and the temperature dependence of electrostatic fluctuations in proteins.

PubMed

Lebard, David N; Matyushov, Dmitry V

2008-12-01

Molecular dynamics simulations have revealed a dramatic increase, with increasing temperature, of the amplitude of electrostatic fluctuations caused by water at the active site of metalloprotein plastocyanin. The increased breadth of electrostatic fluctuations, expressed in terms of the reorganization energy of changing the redox state of the protein, is related to the formation of the hydrophobic protein-water interface, allowing large-amplitude collective fluctuations of the water density in the protein's first solvation shell. On top of the monotonic increase of the reorganization energy with increasing temperature, we have observed a spike at approximately 220 K also accompanied by a significant slowing of the exponential collective Stokes shift dynamics. In contrast to the local density fluctuations of the hydration-shell waters, these spikes might be related to the global property of the water solvent crossing the Widom line or undergoing a weak first-order transition.

Origin of Stability in Particle Sedimentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Segre, Philip N.

2003-01-01

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is used to study the slow settling motions of spheres in suspensions ranging from dilute to highly concentrated, 0.0001 less than phi less than 0.50. During sedimentation, particle velocity fluctuations are found to be organized into regions of characteristic size xi approximately 11 a phi (exp -1/3). A simple model, based upon buoyant mass fluctuations DELTAm given by random density fluctuations in a region of size xi, accurately predicts the magnitudes of the velocity fluctuations DELTAV. We also find a new universal relation for particle diffusion during sedimentation. It can be written in a Stokes-Einstein form as Dapproximately(DELTAmxi)/(6pietaxi), where the effective temperature DELTAmgxi is the gravitational potential energy of density fluctuations. In addition related experiments examining inertial effects and transient states, that are aimed at uncovering the origin of the new lengthscale xi, will also be given.

Spin-density fluctuations and the fluctuation-dissipation theorem in 3 d ferromagnetic metals

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

Wysocki, Alex L.; Valmispild, V. N.; Kutepov, A.

Spatial and time scales of spin-density fluctuations (SDFs) were analyzed in 3d ferromagnets using ab initio linear-response calculations of complete wave-vector and energy dependence of the dynamic spin susceptibility tensor. We demonstrate that SDFs are spread continuously over the entire Brillouin zone and while the majority of them reside within the 3d bandwidth, a significant amount comes from much higher energies. A validity of the adiabatic approximation in spin dynamics is discussed. The SDF spectrum is shown to have two main constituents: a minor low-energy spin-wave contribution and a much larger high-energy component from more localized excitations. Furthermore, using themore » fluctuation-dissipation theorem, the on-site spin correlator and the related effective fluctuating moment were properly evaluated and their universal dependence on the 3d band population is further discussed.« less

Langmuir Probe Distortions and Probe Compensation in an Inductively Coupled Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ji, J. S.; Cappelli, M. A.; Kim, J. S.; Rao, M. V. V. S.; Sharma, S. P.

1999-01-01

In many RF discharges, Langmuir probe measurements are usually made against a background of sinusoidal (and not so sinusoidal) fluctuations in the plasma parameters such as the plasma potential (Vp), the electron number density (ne), and the electron temperature (Te). The compensation of sinusoidal fluctuations in Vp has been extensively studied and is relatively well understood. Less attention has been paid to the possible distortions introduced by small fluctuations in plasma density and/or plasma temperature, which may arise in the sheath and pre-sheath regions of RF discharges. Here, we present the results of a model simulation of probe characteristics subject to fluctuations in both Vp and ne. The modeling of probe distortion due to possible fluctuations in Te is less straightforward. A comparison is presented of calculations with experimental measurements using a compensated and uncompensated Langmuir probe in an inductively coupled GEC reference cell plasma, operating on Ar and Ar/CF4 mixtures. The plasma parameters determined from the compensated probe characteristics are compared to previous measurements of others made in similar discharges, and to our own measurements of the average electron density derived from electrical impedance measurements.

Enhanced hyperuniformity from random reorganization.

PubMed

Hexner, Daniel; Chaikin, Paul M; Levine, Dov

2017-04-25

Diffusion relaxes density fluctuations toward a uniform random state whose variance in regions of volume [Formula: see text] scales as [Formula: see text] Systems whose fluctuations decay faster, [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text], are called hyperuniform. The larger [Formula: see text], the more uniform, with systems like crystals achieving the maximum value: [Formula: see text] Although finite temperature equilibrium dynamics will not yield hyperuniform states, driven, nonequilibrium dynamics may. Such is the case, for example, in a simple model where overlapping particles are each given a small random displacement. Above a critical particle density [Formula: see text], the system evolves forever, never finding a configuration where no particles overlap. Below [Formula: see text], however, it eventually finds such a state, and stops evolving. This "absorbing state" is hyperuniform up to a length scale [Formula: see text], which diverges at [Formula: see text] An important question is whether hyperuniformity survives noise and thermal fluctuations. We find that hyperuniformity of the absorbing state is not only robust against noise, diffusion, or activity, but that such perturbations reduce fluctuations toward their limiting behavior, [Formula: see text], a uniformity similar to random close packing and early universe fluctuations, but with arbitrary controllable density.

Measurement of electron temperature and density of the edge plasma of JET by ECE and microwave reflectometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlett, D. V.; Costley, A. E.; Porte, L.; Prentice, R.; Salmon, N. A.; Sips, G.

1990-12-01

The potential of electron cyclotron emission and microwave reflectometry as techniques for measuring the electron temperature and density in the edge region of tokamak plasmas is investigated. Experiments to realize this potential on JET are described and some illustrative results presented.

Ultraviolet luminosity density of the universe during the epoch of reionization

PubMed Central

Mitchell-Wynne, Ketron; Cooray, Asantha; Gong, Yan; Ashby, Matthew; Dolch, Timothy; Ferguson, Henry; Finkelstein, Steven; Grogin, Norman; Kocevski, Dale; Koekemoer, Anton; Primack, Joel; Smidt, Joseph

2015-01-01

The spatial fluctuations of the extragalactic background light trace the total emission from all stars and galaxies in the Universe. A multiwavelength study can be used to measure the integrated emission from first galaxies during reionization when the Universe was about 500 million years old. Here we report arcmin-scale spatial fluctuations in one of the deepest sky surveys with the Hubble Space Telescope in five wavebands between 0.6 and 1.6 μm. We model-fit the angular power spectra of intensity fluctuation measurements to find the ultraviolet luminosity density of galaxies at redshifts greater than 8 to be . This level of integrated light emission allows for a significant surface density of fainter primeval galaxies that are below the point-source detection level in current surveys. PMID:26348033

Ultraviolet luminosity density of the universe during the epoch of reionization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitchell-Wynne, Ketron; Cooray, Asantha; Gong, Yan; Ashby, Matthew; Dolch, Timothy; Ferguson, Henry; Finkelstein, Steven; Grogin, Norman; Kocevski, Dale; Koekemoer, Anton; Primack, Joel; Smidt, Joseph

2015-09-01

The spatial fluctuations of the extragalactic background light trace the total emission from all stars and galaxies in the Universe. A multiwavelength study can be used to measure the integrated emission from first galaxies during reionization when the Universe was about 500 million years old. Here we report arcmin-scale spatial fluctuations in one of the deepest sky surveys with the Hubble Space Telescope in five wavebands between 0.6 and 1.6 μm. We model-fit the angular power spectra of intensity fluctuation measurements to find the ultraviolet luminosity density of galaxies at redshifts greater than 8 to be . This level of integrated light emission allows for a significant surface density of fainter primeval galaxies that are below the point-source detection level in current surveys.

Tuning electronic properties in graphene quantum dots by chemical functionalization: Density functional theory calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdelsalam, Hazem; Elhaes, Hanan; Ibrahim, Medhat A.

2018-03-01

The energy gap and dipole moment of chemically functionalized graphene quantum dots are investigated by density functional theory. The energy gap can be tuned through edge passivation by different elements or groups. Edge passivation by oxygen considerably decreases the energy gap in hexagonal nanodots. Edge states in triangular quantum dots can also be manipulated by passivation with fluorine. The dipole moment depends on: (a) shape and edge termination of the quantum dot, (b) attached group, and (c) position to which the groups are attached. Depending on the position of attached groups, the total dipole can be increased, decreased, or eliminated.

Monte Carlo Simulations of Electron Energy-Loss Spectra with the Addition of Fine Structure from Density Functional Theory Calculations.

PubMed

Attarian Shandiz, Mohammad; Guinel, Maxime J-F; Ahmadi, Majid; Gauvin, Raynald

2016-02-01

A new approach is presented to introduce the fine structure of core-loss excitations into the electron energy-loss spectra of ionization edges by Monte Carlo simulations based on an optical oscillator model. The optical oscillator strength is refined using the calculated electron energy-loss near-edge structure by density functional theory calculations. This approach can predict the effects of multiple scattering and thickness on the fine structure of ionization edges. In addition, effects of the fitting range for background removal and the integration range under the ionization edge on signal-to-noise ratio are investigated.

Drift of Phase Fluctuations in the ABC Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertini, Lorenzo; Buttà, Paolo

2013-07-01

In a recent work, Bodineau and Derrida analyzed the phase fluctuations in the ABC model. In particular, they computed the asymptotic variance and, on the basis of numerical simulations, they conjectured the presence of a drift, which they guessed to be an antisymmetric function of the three densities. By assuming the validity of the fluctuating hydrodynamic approximation, we prove the presence of such a drift, providing an analytical expression for it. This expression is then shown to be an antisymmetric function of the three densities. The antisymmetry of the drift can also be inferred from a symmetry property of the underlying microscopic dynamics.

High-sensitivity density fluctuation detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Azzazy, M.; Modarress, D.; Hoeft, T.

1987-01-01

A high-sensitivity differential interferometer has been developed to detect small density fluctuations over an optical path length of the order of the boundary layer thickness near transition. Two experimental configurations have been used to evaluate the performance of the interferometer: an open shear-layer configuration and a wind-tunnel turbulent spot configuration. In each experiment small temperature fluctuations were introduced as the signal source. Simultaneous cold-wire measurements have been compared with the interferometer data. The comparison shows that the interferometer is sensitive to very weak phase variations of the order of 0.001 of the laser wavelength.

Influence of a falling edge on high power microwave pulse combination

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

Li, Jiawei; Huang, Wenhua; Science and Technology on High Power Microwave Laboratory, Northwest Institute of Nuclear Technology, Xi'an 710024

This paper presents an explanation of the influence of a microwave falling edge on high-power microwave pulse combination. Through particle-in-cell simulations, we discover that the falling edge is the driving factor that limits the output power of the combined pulses. We demonstrate that the space charge field, which accumulates to become comparable to the E-field at the falling edge of the former pulse, will trap the electrons in the gas layer and decrease its energy to attain a high ionization rate. Hence, avalanche discharge, caused by trapped electrons, makes the plasma density to approach the critical density and cuts offmore » the latter microwave pulse. An X-band combination experiment is conducted with different pulse intervals. This experiment confirms that the high density plasma induced by the falling edge can cut off the latter pulse, and that the time required for plasma recombination in the transmission channel is several microseconds. To ensure a high output power for combined pulses, the latter pulse should be moved ahead of the falling edge of the former one, and consequently, a beat wave with high peak power becomes the output by adding two pulses with normal amplitudes.« less

Influence of a falling edge on high power microwave pulse combination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jiawei; Huang, Wenhua; Zhu, Qi; Xiao, Renzhen; Shao, Hao

2016-07-01

This paper presents an explanation of the influence of a microwave falling edge on high-power microwave pulse combination. Through particle-in-cell simulations, we discover that the falling edge is the driving factor that limits the output power of the combined pulses. We demonstrate that the space charge field, which accumulates to become comparable to the E-field at the falling edge of the former pulse, will trap the electrons in the gas layer and decrease its energy to attain a high ionization rate. Hence, avalanche discharge, caused by trapped electrons, makes the plasma density to approach the critical density and cuts off the latter microwave pulse. An X-band combination experiment is conducted with different pulse intervals. This experiment confirms that the high density plasma induced by the falling edge can cut off the latter pulse, and that the time required for plasma recombination in the transmission channel is several microseconds. To ensure a high output power for combined pulses, the latter pulse should be moved ahead of the falling edge of the former one, and consequently, a beat wave with high peak power becomes the output by adding two pulses with normal amplitudes.

Joint constraints on galaxy bias and σ{sub 8} through the N-pdf of the galaxy number density

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

Arnalte-Mur, Pablo; Martínez, Vicent J.; Vielva, Patricio

We present a full description of the N-probability density function of the galaxy number density fluctuations. This N-pdf is given in terms, on the one hand, of the cold dark matter correlations and, on the other hand, of the galaxy bias parameter. The method relies on the assumption commonly adopted that the dark matter density fluctuations follow a local non-linear transformation of the initial energy density perturbations. The N-pdf of the galaxy number density fluctuations allows for an optimal estimation of the bias parameter (e.g., via maximum-likelihood estimation, or Bayesian inference if there exists any a priori information on themore » bias parameter), and of those parameters defining the dark matter correlations, in particular its amplitude (σ{sub 8}). It also provides the proper framework to perform model selection between two competitive hypotheses. The parameters estimation capabilities of the N-pdf are proved by SDSS-like simulations (both, ideal log-normal simulations and mocks obtained from Las Damas simulations), showing that our estimator is unbiased. We apply our formalism to the 7th release of the SDSS main sample (for a volume-limited subset with absolute magnitudes M{sub r} ≤ −20). We obtain b-circumflex  = 1.193 ± 0.074 and σ-bar{sub 8} = 0.862 ± 0.080, for galaxy number density fluctuations in cells of the size of 30h{sup −1}Mpc. Different model selection criteria show that galaxy biasing is clearly favoured.« less

Invited Review Article: Gas puff imaging diagnostics of edge plasma turbulence in magnetic fusion devices

DOE PAGES

Zweben, S. J.; Terry, J. L.; Stotler, D. P.; ...

2017-04-27

Gas puff imaging (GPI) is a diagnostic of plasma turbulence which uses a puff of neutral gas at the plasma edge to increase the local visible light emission for improved space-time resolution of plasma fluctuations. This paper reviews gas puff imaging diagnostics of edge plasma turbulence in magnetic fusion research, with a focus on the instrumentation, diagnostic cross-checks, and interpretation issues. The gas puff imaging hardware, optics, and detectors are described for about 10 GPI systems implemented over the past similar to 15 years. Comparison of GPI results with other edge turbulence diagnostic results is described, and many common featuresmore » are observed. Here, several issues in the interpretation of GPI measurements are discussed, and potential improvements in hardware and modeling are suggested.« less

Invited Review Article: Gas puff imaging diagnostics of edge plasma turbulence in magnetic fusion devices

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

Zweben, S. J.; Terry, J. L.; Stotler, D. P.

Gas puff imaging (GPI) is a diagnostic of plasma turbulence which uses a puff of neutral gas at the plasma edge to increase the local visible light emission for improved space-time resolution of plasma fluctuations. This paper reviews gas puff imaging diagnostics of edge plasma turbulence in magnetic fusion research, with a focus on the instrumentation, diagnostic cross-checks, and interpretation issues. The gas puff imaging hardware, optics, and detectors are described for about 10 GPI systems implemented over the past similar to 15 years. Comparison of GPI results with other edge turbulence diagnostic results is described, and many common featuresmore » are observed. Here, several issues in the interpretation of GPI measurements are discussed, and potential improvements in hardware and modeling are suggested.« less

Correlated isocurvature fluctuation in quintessence and suppressed cosmic microwave background anisotropies at low multipoles.

PubMed

Moroi, Takeo; Takahashi, Tomo

2004-03-05

We consider cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy in models with quintessence, taking into account isocurvature fluctuation. It is shown that, if the primordial fluctuation of the quintessence has a correlation with the adiabatic density fluctuations, the CMB angular power spectrum C(l) at low multipoles can be suppressed without affecting C(l) at high multipoles. A possible scenario for generating a correlated mixture of the quintessence and adiabatic fluctuations is also discussed.

Spontaneous density fluctuations in granular flow and traffic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrmann, Hans J.

It is known that spontaneous density waves appear in granular material flowing through pipes or hoppers. A similar phenomenon is known from traffic jams on highways. Using numerical simulations we show that several types of waves exist and find that the density fluctuations follow a power law spectrum. We also investigate one-dimensional traffic models. If positions and velocities are continuous variables the model shows self-organized criticality driven by the slowest car. Lattice gas and lattice Boltzmann models reproduce the experimentally observed effects. Density waves are spontaneously generated when the viscosity has a non-linear dependence on density or shear rate as it is the case in traffic or granular flow.

Ion isotropy and fluctuations in the solar wind

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kellogg, Paul J.; Lin, Naiguo

1997-01-01

The effects of measured fluctuations, with only general considerations as to their source, are considered. Data from interplanetary scintillations and fluctuations in plasma density provided data on electric fields, while fluctuations in magnetic fields are measured directly. Data from the unified radio and plasma experiment (URAP) on Ulysses is used to fill in higher frequency ranges, to assess the variations in the fluctuations with time and space, and to help to identify wave modes. It is shown that electric field fluctuations are of the right order of magnitude to maintain ion isotropy.

Electronic Structures of Silicene Nanoribbons: Two-Edge-Chemistry Modification and First-Principles Study.

PubMed

Yao, Yin; Liu, Anping; Bai, Jianhui; Zhang, Xuanmei; Wang, Rui

2016-12-01

In this paper, we investigate the structural and electronic properties of zigzag silicene nanoribbons (ZSiNRs) with edge-chemistry modified by H, F, OH, and O, using the ab initio density functional theory method and local spin-density approximation. Three kinds of spin polarized configurations are considered: nonspin polarization (NM), ferromagnetic spin coupling for all electrons (FM), ferromagnetic ordering along each edge, and antiparallel spin orientation between the two edges (AFM). The H, F, and OH groups modified 8-ZSiNRs have the AFM ground state. The directly edge oxidized (O1) ZSiNRs yield the same energy and band structure for NM, FM, and AFM configurations, owning to the same s p (2) hybridization. And replacing the Si atoms on the two edges with O atoms (O2) yields FM ground state. The edge-chemistry-modified ZSiNRs all exhibit metallic band structures. And the modifications introduce special edge state strongly localized at the Si atoms in the edge, except for the O1 form. The modification of the zigzag edges of silicene nanoribbons is a key issue to apply the silicene into the field effect transistors (FETs) and gives more necessity to better understand the experimental findings.

Binary collision approximations for the memory function for density fluctuations in equilibrium atomic liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Noah, Joyce E.

Time correlation functions of density fluctuations of liquids at equilibrium can be used to relate the microscopic dynamics of a liquid to its macroscopic transport properties. Time correlation functions are especially useful since they can be generated in a variety of ways, from scattering experiments to computer simulation to analytic theory. The kinetic theory of fluctuations in equilibrium liquids is an analytic theory for calculating correlation functions using memory functions. In this work, we use a diagrammatic formulation of the kinetic theory to develop a series of binary collision approximations for the collisional part of the memory function. We define binary collisions as collisions between two distinct density fluctuations whose identities are fixed during the duration of a collsion. R approximations are for the short time part of the memory function, and build upon the work of Ranganathan and Andersen. These approximations have purely repulsive interactions between the fluctuations. The second type of approximation, RA approximations, is for the longer time part of the memory function, where the density fluctuations now interact via repulsive and attractive forces. Although RA approximations are a natural extension of R approximations, they permit two density fluctuations to become trapped in the wells of the interaction potential, leading to long-lived oscillatory behavior, which is unphysical. Therefore we consider S approximations which describe binary particles which experience the random effect of the surroundings while interacting via repulsive or repulsive and attractive interactions. For each of these approximations for the memory function we numerically solve the kinetic equation to generate correlation functions. These results are compared to molecular dynamics results for the correlation functions. Comparing the successes and failures of the different approximations, we conclude that R approximations give more accurate intermediate and long time results while RA and S approximations do particularly well at predicting the short time behavior. Lastly, we also develop a series of non-graphically derived approximations and use an optimization procedure to determine the underlying memory function from the simulation data. These approaches provide valuable information about the memory function that will be used in the development of future kinetic theories.

Dislocation density evolution in the process of high-temperature treatment and creep of EK-181 steel

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

Vershinina, Tatyana, E-mail: vershinina@bsu.edu.ru

2017-03-15

X-ray diffraction has been used to study the dislocation structure in ferrite-martensite high-chromium steel EK-181 in the states after heat treatment and high-temperature creep. The influence of heat treatment and stress on evolution of lath martensite structure was investigated by and electron back-scattered diffraction. The effect of nitrogen content on the total dislocation density, fraction of edge and screw dislocation segments are analyzed. - Highlights: •Fraction of edge dislocation in quenched state depends on nitrogen concentration. •Nitrogen affects the character of dislocation structure evolution during annealing. •Edge dislocations fraction influences on dislocation density after aging and creep.

A collective scattering system for measuring electron gyroscale fluctuations on the National Spherical Torus Experiment.

PubMed

Smith, D R; Mazzucato, E; Lee, W; Park, H K; Domier, C W; Luhmann, N C

2008-12-01

A collective scattering system has been installed on the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) to measure electron gyroscale fluctuations in NSTX plasmas. The system measures fluctuations with k( perpendicular)rho(e) less, similar0.6 and k( perpendicular) less, similar20 cm(-1). Up to five distinct wavenumbers are measured simultaneously, and the large toroidal curvature of NSTX plasmas provides enhanced spatial localization. Steerable optics can position the scattering volume throughout the plasma from the magnetic axis to the outboard edge. Initial measurements indicate rich turbulent dynamics on the electron gyroscale. The system will be a valuable tool for investigating the connection between electron temperature gradient turbulence and electron thermal transport in NSTX plasmas.

Turbulent Structures in a Pine Forest with a Deep and Sparse Trunk Space: Stand and Edge Regions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dupont, Sylvain; Irvine, Mark R.; Bonnefond, Jean-Marc; Lamaud, Eric; Brunet, Yves

2012-05-01

Forested landscapes often exhibit large spatial variability in vertical and horizontal foliage distributions. This variability may affect canopy-atmosphere exchanges through its action on the development of turbulent structures. Here we investigate in neutral stratification the turbulent structures encountered in a maritime pine forest characterized by a high, dense foliated layer associated with a deep and sparse trunk space. Both stand and edge regions are considered. In situ measurements and the results of large-eddy simulations are used and analyzed together. In stand conditions, far from the edge, canopy-top structures appear strongly damped by the dense crown layer. Turbulent wind fluctuations within the trunk space, where the momentum flux vanishes, are closely related to these canopy-top structures through pressure diffusion. Consequently, autocorrelation and spectral analyses are not quite appropriate to characterize the vertical scale of coherent structures in this type of canopy, as pressure diffusion enhances the actual scale of structures. At frequencies higher than those associated with canopy-top structures, wind fluctuations related to wake structures developing behind tree stems are observed within the trunk space. They manifest themselves in wind velocity spectra as secondary peaks in the inertial subrange region, confirming the hypothesis of spectral short-cuts in vegetation canopies. In the edge region specific turbulent structures develop just below the crown layer, in addition to canopy-top structures. They are generated by the wind shear induced by the sub-canopy wind jet that forms at the edge. These structures provide a momentum exchange mechanism similar to that observed at the canopy top but in the opposite direction and with a lower magnitude. They may develop as in plane mixing-layer flows, with some perturbations induced by canopy-top structures. Wake structures are also observed within the trunk space in the edge region.

Thermal Density Functional Theory: Time-Dependent Linear Response and Approximate Functionals from the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem

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

Pribram-Jones, Aurora; Grabowski, Paul E.; Burke, Kieron

We present that the van Leeuwen proof of linear-response time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is generalized to thermal ensembles. This allows generalization to finite temperatures of the Gross-Kohn relation, the exchange-correlation kernel of TDDFT, and fluctuation dissipation theorem for DFT. Finally, this produces a natural method for generating new thermal exchange-correlation approximations.

Thermal Density Functional Theory: Time-Dependent Linear Response and Approximate Functionals from the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem

DOE PAGES

Pribram-Jones, Aurora; Grabowski, Paul E.; Burke, Kieron

2016-06-08

We present that the van Leeuwen proof of linear-response time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is generalized to thermal ensembles. This allows generalization to finite temperatures of the Gross-Kohn relation, the exchange-correlation kernel of TDDFT, and fluctuation dissipation theorem for DFT. Finally, this produces a natural method for generating new thermal exchange-correlation approximations.

Nekton density patterns and hurricane recovery in submerged aquatic vegetation, and along non-vegetated natural and created edge habitats

USGS Publications Warehouse

La Peyre, M.K.; Gordon, J.

2012-01-01

We compared nekton habitat value of submerged aquatic vegetation, flooded non-vegetated natural and man-made edge habitats in mesohaline interior marsh areas in southwest Louisiana using a 1-m 2 throw trap and 3-mm bag seine. When present, SAV habitats supported close to 4 times greater densities and higher species richness of nekton as compared to either natural or man-made edge habitats, which supported similar densities to one another. Three species of concern (bayou killifish, diamond killifish, chain pipefish) were targeted in the analysis, and two of the three were collected almost entirely in SAV habitat. During the course of the study, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav passed directly over the study sites in September 2008. Subsequent analyses indicated significant reductions in resident nekton density 1-mo post hurricanes, and only limited recovery 13-mo post-hurricane. Possible alteration of environmental characteristics such as scouring of SAV habitat, deposition of sediment over SAV, edge erosion and marsh loss, and extended high salinities may explain these lasting impacts. ?? 2011.

Structure-driven turbulence in ``No man's Land''

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosuga, Yusuke; Diamond, Patrick

2012-10-01

Structures are often observed in many physical systems. In tokamaks, for example, such structures are observed as density blobs and holes. Such density blobs and holes are generated at the tokamak edge, where strong gradient perturbations generate an outgoing blob and an incoming hole. Since density holes can propagate from the edge to the core, such structures may play an important role in understanding the phenomenology of the edge-core coupling region, so-called ``No Man's Land.'' In this work, we discuss the dynamics of such structures in real space. In particular, we consider the dynamics of density blobs and holes in the Hasegawa-Wakatani system. Specific questions addressed here include: i) how these structures extract free energy and enhance transport? how different is the relaxation driven by such structures from that driven by linear drift waves? ii) how these structures interact with shear flows? In particular, how these structures interact with a shear layer, which can absorb structures resonantly? iii) how can we calculate the coupled evolution of structures and shear flows? Implications for edge-core coupling problem are discussed as well.

Compatibility of lithium plasma-facing surfaces with high edge temperatures in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment

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

Majeski, R.; Bell, R. E.; Boyle, D. P.

We measured high edge electron temperatures (200 eV or greater) at the wall-limited plasma boundary in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX). Flat electron temperature profiles are a long-predicted consequence of low recycling boundary conditions. Plasma density in the outer scrape-off layer is very low, 2-3 x 10(17) m(-3), consistent with a low recycling metallic lithium boundary. In spite of the high edge temperature, the core impurity content is low. Z(eff) is estimated to be similar to 1.2, with a very modest contribution (< 0.1) from lithium. Experiments are transient. Gas puffing is used to increase the plasma density. After gasmore » injection stops, the discharge density is allowed to drop, and the edge is pumped by the low recycling lithium wall. An upgrade to LTX-LTX-beta, which includes a 35A, 20 kV neutral beam injector (on loan to LTX from Tri-Alpha Energy) to provide core fueling to maintain constant density, as well as auxiliary heating, is underway. LTX-beta is briefly described.« less

Compatibility of lithium plasma-facing surfaces with high edge temperatures in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment

DOE PAGES

Majeski, R.; Bell, R. E.; Boyle, D. P.; ...

2017-03-20

We measured high edge electron temperatures (200 eV or greater) at the wall-limited plasma boundary in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX). Flat electron temperature profiles are a long-predicted consequence of low recycling boundary conditions. Plasma density in the outer scrape-off layer is very low, 2-3 x 10(17) m(-3), consistent with a low recycling metallic lithium boundary. In spite of the high edge temperature, the core impurity content is low. Z(eff) is estimated to be similar to 1.2, with a very modest contribution (< 0.1) from lithium. Experiments are transient. Gas puffing is used to increase the plasma density. After gasmore » injection stops, the discharge density is allowed to drop, and the edge is pumped by the low recycling lithium wall. An upgrade to LTX-LTX-beta, which includes a 35A, 20 kV neutral beam injector (on loan to LTX from Tri-Alpha Energy) to provide core fueling to maintain constant density, as well as auxiliary heating, is underway. LTX-beta is briefly described.« less

Compatibility of lithium plasma-facing surfaces with high edge temperatures in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majeski, R.; Bell, R. E.; Boyle, D. P.; Kaita, R.; Kozub, T.; LeBlanc, B. P.; Lucia, M.; Maingi, R.; Merino, E.; Raitses, Y.; Schmitt, J. C.; Allain, J. P.; Bedoya, F.; Bialek, J.; Biewer, T. M.; Canik, J. M.; Buzi, L.; Koel, B. E.; Patino, M. I.; Capece, A. M.; Hansen, C.; Jarboe, T.; Kubota, S.; Peebles, W. A.; Tritz, K.

2017-05-01

High edge electron temperatures (200 eV or greater) have been measured at the wall-limited plasma boundary in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX). Flat electron temperature profiles are a long-predicted consequence of low recycling boundary conditions. Plasma density in the outer scrape-off layer is very low, 2-3 × 1017 m-3, consistent with a low recycling metallic lithium boundary. Despite the high edge temperature, the core impurity content is low. Zeff is estimated to be ˜1.2, with a very modest contribution (<0.1) from lithium. Experiments are transient. Gas puffing is used to increase the plasma density. After gas injection stops, the discharge density is allowed to drop, and the edge is pumped by the low recycling lithium wall. An upgrade to LTX-LTX-β, which includes a 35A, 20 kV neutral beam injector (on loan to LTX from Tri-Alpha Energy) to provide core fueling to maintain constant density, as well as auxiliary heating, is underway. LTX-β is briefly described.

Plasma Irregularities on the Leading and Trailing Edges of Polar Cap Patches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lamarche, L. J.; Varney, R. H.; Gillies, R.; Chartier, A.; Mitchell, C. N.

2017-12-01

Plasma irregularities in the polar cap have often been attributed to the gradient drift instability (GDI). Traditional fluid theories of GDI predicts irregularity growth only on the trailing edge of polar patches, where the plasma density gradient is parallel to the plasma drift velocity, however many observations show irregularities also form on the leading edge of patches. We consider decameter-scale irregularities detected by polar-latitude SuperDARN (Super Dual Auroral Radar Network) radars with any relationship between the background density gradients and drift velocity. Global electron density from the Multi-Instrument Data Analysis System (MIDAS), a GPS tomography routine, is used to provide context for where irregularities are observed relative to polar patches and finer-scale background density gradients are found from 3D imaging from both the North and Canada faces of the Resolute Bay Incoherent Scatter Radars (RISR-N and RISR-C) jointly. Shear-based instabilities are considered as mechanisms by which plasma irregularities could form on the leading edge of patches. Theoretical predictions of instability growth from both GDI and shear instabilities are compared with irregularity observations for the October 13, 2016 storm.

Helical variation of density profiles and fluctuations in the tokamak pedestal with applied 3D fields and implications for confinement

DOE PAGES

Wilcox, R. S.; Rhodes, T. L.; Shafer, M. W.; ...

2018-04-19

Smore » mall 3D perturbations to the magnetic field in DIII-D ( δ B / B ~ 2 × 10 - 4 ) result in large modulations of density fluctuation amplitudes in the pedestal, which are shown using Doppler backscattering measurements to vary by a factor of 2. Helical perturbations of equilibrium density within flux surfaces have previously been observed in the pedestal of DIII-D plasmas when 3D fields are applied and were correlated with density fluctuation asymmetries in the pedestal. These intra-surface density and pressure variations are shown through two fluid MHD modeling studies using the M3D-C1 code to be due to the misalignment of the density and temperature equilibrium iso-surfaces in the pedestal region. This modeling demonstrates that the phase shift between the two iso-surfaces corresponds to the diamagnetic direction of the two species, with the mass density surfaces shifted in the ion diamagnetic direction relative to the temperature and magnetic flux iso-surfaces. Finally, the resulting pedestal density, potential, and turbulence asymmetries within flux surfaces near the separatrix may be at least partially responsible for several poorly understood phenomena that occur with the application of 3D fields in tokamaks, including density pump out and the increase in power required to transition from L- to H-mode.« less

Helical variation of density profiles and fluctuations in the tokamak pedestal with applied 3D fields and implications for confinement

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

Wilcox, R. S.; Rhodes, T. L.; Shafer, M. W.

Smore » mall 3D perturbations to the magnetic field in DIII-D ( δ B / B ~ 2 × 10 - 4 ) result in large modulations of density fluctuation amplitudes in the pedestal, which are shown using Doppler backscattering measurements to vary by a factor of 2. Helical perturbations of equilibrium density within flux surfaces have previously been observed in the pedestal of DIII-D plasmas when 3D fields are applied and were correlated with density fluctuation asymmetries in the pedestal. These intra-surface density and pressure variations are shown through two fluid MHD modeling studies using the M3D-C1 code to be due to the misalignment of the density and temperature equilibrium iso-surfaces in the pedestal region. This modeling demonstrates that the phase shift between the two iso-surfaces corresponds to the diamagnetic direction of the two species, with the mass density surfaces shifted in the ion diamagnetic direction relative to the temperature and magnetic flux iso-surfaces. Finally, the resulting pedestal density, potential, and turbulence asymmetries within flux surfaces near the separatrix may be at least partially responsible for several poorly understood phenomena that occur with the application of 3D fields in tokamaks, including density pump out and the increase in power required to transition from L- to H-mode.« less

Helical variation of density profiles and fluctuations in the tokamak pedestal with applied 3D fields and implications for confinement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilcox, R. S.; Rhodes, T. L.; Shafer, M. W.; Sugiyama, L. E.; Ferraro, N. M.; Lyons, B. C.; McKee, G. R.; Paz-Soldan, C.; Wingen, A.; Zeng, L.

2018-05-01

Small 3D perturbations to the magnetic field in DIII-D ( δB /B ˜2 ×10-4 ) result in large modulations of density fluctuation amplitudes in the pedestal, which are shown using Doppler backscattering measurements to vary by a factor of 2. Helical perturbations of equilibrium density within flux surfaces have previously been observed in the pedestal of DIII-D plasmas when 3D fields are applied and were correlated with density fluctuation asymmetries in the pedestal. These intra-surface density and pressure variations are shown through two fluid MHD modeling studies using the M3D-C1 code to be due to the misalignment of the density and temperature equilibrium iso-surfaces in the pedestal region. This modeling demonstrates that the phase shift between the two iso-surfaces corresponds to the diamagnetic direction of the two species, with the mass density surfaces shifted in the ion diamagnetic direction relative to the temperature and magnetic flux iso-surfaces. The resulting pedestal density, potential, and turbulence asymmetries within flux surfaces near the separatrix may be at least partially responsible for several poorly understood phenomena that occur with the application of 3D fields in tokamaks, including density pump out and the increase in power required to transition from L- to H-mode.

Simulations of Tokamak Edge Turbulence Including Self-Consistent Zonal Flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cohen, Bruce; Umansky, Maxim

2013-10-01

Progress on simulations of electromagnetic drift-resistive ballooning turbulence in the tokamak edge is summarized in this mini-conference talk. A more detailed report on this work is presented in a poster at this conference. This work extends our previous work to include self-consistent zonal flows and their effects. The previous work addressed the simulation of L-mode tokamak edge turbulence using the turbulence code BOUT. The calculations used realistic single-null geometry and plasma parameters of the DIII-D tokamak and produced fluctuation amplitudes, fluctuation spectra, and particle and thermal fluxes that compare favorably to experimental data. In the effect of sheared ExB poloidal rotation is included with an imposed static radial electric field fitted to experimental data. In the new work here we include the radial electric field self-consistently driven by the microturbulence, which contributes to the sheared ExB poloidal rotation (zonal flow generation). We present simulations with/without zonal flows for both cylindrical geometry, as in the UCLA Large Plasma Device, and for the DIII-D tokamak L-mode cases in to quantify the influence of self-consistent zonal flows on the microturbulence and the concomitant transport. This work was performed under the auspices of the US Department of Energy under contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Influence of soil pathogens on early regeneration success of tropical trees varies between forest edge and interior.

PubMed

Krishnadas, Meghna; Comita, Liza S

2018-01-01

Soil fungi are key mediators of negative density-dependent mortality in seeds and seedlings, and the ability to withstand pathogens in the shaded understory of closed-canopy forests could reinforce light gradient partitioning by tree species. For four species of tropical rainforest trees-two shade-tolerant and two shade-intolerant-we conducted a field experiment to examine the interactive effects of fungal pathogens, light, and seed density on germination and early seedling establishment. In a fully factorial design, seeds were sown into 1 m 2 plots containing soil collected from underneath conspecific adult trees, with plots assigned to forest edge (high light) or shaded understory, high or low density, and fungicide or no fungicide application. We monitored total seed germination and final seedling survival over 15 weeks. Shade-intolerant species were strongly constrained by light; their seedlings survived only at the edge. Fungicide application significantly improved seedling emergence and/or survival for three of the four focal species. There were no significant interactions between fungicide and seed density, suggesting that pathogen spread with increased aggregation of seeds and seedlings did not contribute to pathogen-mediated mortality. Two species experienced significant edge-fungicide interactions, but fungicide effects in edge vs. interior forest varied with species and recruitment stage. Our results suggest that changes to plant-pathogen interactions could affect plant recruitment in human-impacted forests subject to fragmentation and edge-effects.

Current Fluctuations in Stochastic Lattice Gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertini, L.; de Sole, A.; Gabrielli, D.; Jona-Lasinio, G.; Landim, C.

2005-01-01

We study current fluctuations in lattice gases in the macroscopic limit extending the dynamic approach for density fluctuations developed in previous articles. More precisely, we establish a large deviation theory for the space-time fluctuations of the empirical current which include the previous results. We then estimate the probability of a fluctuation of the average current over a large time interval. It turns out that recent results by Bodineau and Derrida [Phys. Rev. Lett.922004180601] in certain cases underestimate this probability due to the occurrence of dynamical phase transitions.

Evolution of Structure in the Intergalactic Medium and the Nature of the LY-Alpha Forest

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bi, Hongguang; Davidsen, Arthur F.

1997-01-01

We have performed a detailed statistical study of the evolution of structure in a photoionized intergalactic medium (IGM) using analytical simulations to extend the calculation into the mildly nonlinear density regime found to prevail at z = 3. Our work is based on a simple fundamental conjecture: that the probability distribution function of the density of baryonic diffuse matter in the universe is described by a lognormal (LN) random field. The LN distribution has several attractive features and follows plausibly from the assumption of initial linear Gaussian density and velocity fluctuations at arbitrarily early times. Starting with a suitably normalized power spectrum of primordial fluctuations in a universe dominated by cold dark matter (CDM), we compute the behavior of the baryonic matter, which moves slowly toward minima in the dark matter potential on scales larger than the Jeans length. We have computed two models that succeed in matching observations. One is a nonstandard CDM model with OMEGA = 1, h = 0.5, and GAMMA = 0.3, and the other is a low-density flat model with a cosmological constant (LCDM), with OMEGA = 0.4, OMEGA(sub LAMBDA) = 0.6, and h = 0.65. In both models, the variance of the density distribution function grows with time, reaching unity at about z = 4, where the simulation yields spectra that closely resemble the Ly-alpha forest absorption seen in the spectra of high-z quasars. The calculations also successfully predict the observed properties of the Ly-alpha forest clouds and their evolution from z = 4 down to at least z = 2, assuming a constant intensity for the metagalactic UV background over this redshift range. However, in our model the forest is not due to discrete clouds, but rather to fluctuations in a continuous intergalactic medium. At z = 3; typical clouds with measured neutral hydrogen column densities N(sub H I) = 10(exp 13.3), 10(exp 13.5), and 10(exp 11.5) /sq cm correspond to fluctuations with mean total densities approximately 10, 1, and 0.1 times the universal mean baryon density. Perhaps surprisingly, fluctuations whose amplitudes are less than or equal to the mean density still appear as "clouds" because in our model more than 70% of the volume of the IGM at z = 3 is filled with gas at densities below the mean value.

A simple phenomenological model for grain clustering in turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hopkins, Philip F.

2016-01-01

We propose a simple model for density fluctuations of aerodynamic grains, embedded in a turbulent, gravitating gas disc. The model combines a calculation for the behaviour of a group of grains encountering a single turbulent eddy, with a hierarchical approximation of the eddy statistics. This makes analytic predictions for a range of quantities including: distributions of grain densities, power spectra and correlation functions of fluctuations, and maximum grain densities reached. We predict how these scale as a function of grain drag time ts, spatial scale, grain-to-gas mass ratio tilde{ρ }, strength of turbulence α, and detailed disc properties. We test these against numerical simulations with various turbulence-driving mechanisms. The simulations agree well with the predictions, spanning ts Ω ˜ 10-4-10, tilde{ρ }˜ 0{-}3, α ˜ 10-10-10-2. Results from `turbulent concentration' simulations and laboratory experiments are also predicted as a special case. Vortices on a wide range of scales disperse and concentrate grains hierarchically. For small grains this is most efficient in eddies with turnover time comparable to the stopping time, but fluctuations are also damped by local gas-grain drift. For large grains, shear and gravity lead to a much broader range of eddy scales driving fluctuations, with most power on the largest scales. The grain density distribution has a log-Poisson shape, with fluctuations for large grains up to factors ≳1000. We provide simple analytic expressions for the predictions, and discuss implications for planetesimal formation, grain growth, and the structure of turbulence.

Nonlinear MHD simulations of QH-mode DIII-D plasmas and implications for ITER high Q scenarios

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, F.; Huijsmans, G. T. A.; Loarte, A.; Garofalo, A. M.; Solomon, W. M.; Hoelzl, M.; Nkonga, B.; Pamela, S.; Becoulet, M.; Orain, F.; Van Vugt, D.

2018-01-01

In nonlinear MHD simulations of DIII-D QH-mode plasmas it has been found that low n kink/peeling modes (KPMs) are unstable and grow to a saturated kink-peeling mode. The features of the dominant saturated KPMs, which are localised toroidally by nonlinear coupling of harmonics, such as mode frequencies, density fluctuations and their effect on pedestal particle and energy transport, are in good agreement with the observations of the edge harmonic oscillation typically present in DIII-D QH-mode experiments. The nonlinear evolution of MHD modes including both kink-peeling modes and ballooning modes, is investigated through MHD simulations by varying the pedestal current and pressure relative to the initial conditions of DIII-D QH-mode plasma. The edge current and pressure at the pedestal are key parameters for the plasma either saturating to a QH-mode regime or a ballooning mode dominant regime. The influence of E × B flow and its shear on the QH-mode plasma has been investigated. E × B flow shear has a strong stabilisation effect on the medium to high-n modes but is destabilising for the n = 2 mode. The QH-mode extrapolation results of an ITER Q = 10 plasma show that the pedestal currents are large enough to destabilise n = 1-5 KPMs, leading to a stationary saturated kink-peeling mode.

Remotely sensed indicators of habitat heterogeneity and biological diversity: A preliminary report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Imhoff, Marc; Sisk, Thomas; Milne, Anthony; Morgan, Garth; Orr, Tony

1995-01-01

The relationship between habitat area, spatial dynamics of the landscape, and species diversity is an important theme in population and conservation biology. Of particular interest is how populations of various species are affected by increasing habitat edges due to fragmentation. Over the last decade, assumptions regarding the effects of habitat edges on biodiversity have fluctuated wildly, from the belief that they have a positive effect to the belief that they have a clearly negative effect. This change in viewpoint has been brought about by an increasing recognition of the importance of geographic scale and a reinterpretation of natural history observations. In this preliminary report from an ongoing project, we explore the use of remote sensing technology and geographic information systems to further our understanding of how species diversity and population density are affected by habitat heterogeneity and landscape composition. A primary feature of this study is the investigation of SAR for making more rigorous investigations of habitat structure by exploiting the interaction between radar backscatter and vegetation structure and biomass. A major emphasis will be on the use of SAR data to define relative structural types based on measures of structural consolidation using the vegetation surface area to volume ratio (SA/V). Past research has shown that SAR may be sensitive to this form of structural expression which may affect biodiversity.

Feasibility of measuring temperature and density fluctuations in air using laser-induced O2 fluorescence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Massey, G. A.; Lemon, C. J.

1984-01-01

A tunable line-narrowed ArF laser can selectively excite several rotation al lines of the Schumann-Runge band system of O2 in air. The resulting ultraviolet fluorescence can be monitored at 90 deg to the laser beam axis, permitting space and time resolved observation of density and temperature fluctuations in turbulence. Experiments and calculations show that + or - 1 K, + or - 1 percent density, 1 cu mm spatial, and 1 microsecond temporal resolution can be achieved simultaneously under some conditions.

Fragmentation, rings and coarsening: structure and transformations of nanocrystal aggregate networks on a liquid surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Bo; Scheidtmann, Jens; Mayer, Joachim; Wuttig, Matthias; Michely, Thomas

2002-01-01

Deposition of Ag on a silicon oil surface leads to the formation of nm-sized Ag crystals floating on the oil surface. These nanocrystals mutually attract each other, forming strongly branched nanocrystal aggregates and continuous aggregate networks. Transformation processes of such nanocrystal aggregate networks are imaged in situ by optical microscopy. The observations are explained on the basis of a simple model involving diffusion of nanocrystals along aggregate edges and the rupture of branches resulting from branch width fluctuations due to edge diffusion.

Low-frequency fluctuation spectra and associated particle transport in the NASA Lewis bumpy-torus plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, C. M.; Krawczonek, W. M.; Roth, J. R.; Hong, J. Y.; Kim, Y. C.; Powers, E. J.

1978-01-01

The strong radial electric field associated with the Penning discharge and the strong toroidal magnetic field give rise to a diversity of E/B phenomena, such as rotating waves and spokes, which in turn manifest themselves as space-time fluctuations of the plasma density and potential. Work is done to further understand the nature and origin of the fluctuations and their connection with fluctuation-induced transport. The approach is to monitor the density and potential fluctuations; to digitize the data; and to generate, with the aid of a computer, various spectral properties by means of the fast fourier transform. Of particular interest is the computer-generated transport spectrum that indicates in a quantitative way which fluctuation spectral components contribute to transport and which do not. All experimental measurements of the spectral characteristics of the plasma are given in absolute units rather than as relative values. Preliminary measurements of the transport spectrum of the ion population are given, and it is shown that the fluctuation-induced transport is in order-of-magnitude agreement with that inferred from the steady state current flowing to the electrodes that generate the plasma.

Active Brownian particles with velocity-alignment and active fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Großmann, R.; Schimansky-Geier, L.; Romanczuk, P.

2012-07-01

We consider a model of active Brownian particles (ABPs) with velocity alignment in two spatial dimensions with passive and active fluctuations. Here, active fluctuations refers to purely non-equilibrium stochastic forces correlated with the heading of an individual active particle. In the simplest case studied here, they are assumed to be independent stochastic forces parallel (speed noise) and perpendicular (angular noise) to the velocity of the particle. On the other hand, passive fluctuations are defined by a noise vector independent of the direction of motion of a particle, and may account, for example, for thermal fluctuations. We derive a macroscopic description of the ABP gas with velocity-alignment interaction. Here, we start from the individual-based description in terms of stochastic differential equations (Langevin equations) and derive equations of motion for the coarse-grained kinetic variables (density, velocity and temperature) via a moment expansion of the corresponding probability density function. We focus here on the different impact of active and passive fluctuations on onset of collective motion and show how active fluctuations in the active Brownian dynamics can change the phase-transition behaviour of the system. In particular, we show that active angular fluctuations lead to an earlier breakdown of collective motion and to the emergence of a new bistable regime in the mean-field case.

The effect of Electron Cyclotron Heating on density fluctuations at ion and electron scales in ITER Baseline Scenario discharges on the DIII-D tokamak

DOE PAGES

Marinoni, Alessandro; Pinsker, Robert I.; Porkolab, Miklos; ...

2017-08-01

Experiments simulating the ITER Baseline Scenario on the DIII-D tokamak show that torque-free pure electron heating, when coupled to plasmas subject to a net co-current beam torque, affects density fluctuations at electron scales on a sub-confinement time scale, whereas fluctuations at ion scales change only after profiles have evolved to a new stationary state. Modifications to the density fluctuations measured by the Phase Contrast Imaging diagnostic (PCI) are assessed by analyzing the time evolution following the switch-off of Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH), thus going from mixed beam/ECH to pure neutral beam heating at fixed β N . Within 20 msmore » after turning off ECH, the intensity of fluctuations is observed to increase at frequencies higher than 200 kHz; in contrast, fluctuations at lower frequency are seen to decrease in intensity on a longer time scale, after other equilibrium quantities have evolved. Non-linear gyro-kinetic modeling at ion and electron scales scales suggest that, while the low frequency response of the diagnostic is consistent with the dominant ITG modes being weakened by the slow-time increase in flow shear, the high frequency response is due to prompt changes to the electron temperature profile that enhance electron modes and generate a larger heat flux and an inward particle pinch. Furthermore, these results suggest that electron heated regimes in ITER will feature multi-scale fluctuations that might affect fusion performance via modifications to profiles.« less

QM/MD studies on graphene growth from small islands on the Ni(111) surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiao, Menggai; Song, Wei; Qian, Hu-Jun; Wang, Ying; Wu, Zhijian; Irle, Stephan; Morokuma, Keiji

2016-01-01

Quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulations of graphene growth from small island precursors in different carbon nucleation densities on the Ni(111) surface at high temperatures have been conducted. The results indicate that small islands are not static, i.e. lateral diffusion and vertical fluctuation are frequently observed. In the case of low carbon nucleation density, carbon atoms or small carbon patches diffuse and attach to the edge of the nuclei to expand the size of the growing carbon network. The growth of graphene precursors is accompanied by the corresponding changes in the bonding of nickel atoms with the precipitation of subsurface carbon atoms. This is because the carbon-carbon interaction is stronger than the nickel-carbon interaction. In the case of high carbon nucleation densities, the dominant ripening mechanism depends on different growth stages. In the initial stage, the coalescence of carbon islands takes place via the Smoluchowski ripening mechanism. In the later stage the Smoluchowski ripening process is damped owing to the higher diffusion barrier of larger clusters and the restriction of movement by self-assembled nickel step edges. The cross-linking mechanism eventually takes over by the coalescence of extended polyyne chains between graphene islands. In either case, the Ostwald ripening process is not found in our molecular dynamics simulations due to the stability of carbon-carbon bonds within the islands. These investigations should be instructive to the control of graphene growth in experiments.Quantum chemical molecular dynamics simulations of graphene growth from small island precursors in different carbon nucleation densities on the Ni(111) surface at high temperatures have been conducted. The results indicate that small islands are not static, i.e. lateral diffusion and vertical fluctuation are frequently observed. In the case of low carbon nucleation density, carbon atoms or small carbon patches diffuse and attach to the edge of the nuclei to expand the size of the growing carbon network. The growth of graphene precursors is accompanied by the corresponding changes in the bonding of nickel atoms with the precipitation of subsurface carbon atoms. This is because the carbon-carbon interaction is stronger than the nickel-carbon interaction. In the case of high carbon nucleation densities, the dominant ripening mechanism depends on different growth stages. In the initial stage, the coalescence of carbon islands takes place via the Smoluchowski ripening mechanism. In the later stage the Smoluchowski ripening process is damped owing to the higher diffusion barrier of larger clusters and the restriction of movement by self-assembled nickel step edges. The cross-linking mechanism eventually takes over by the coalescence of extended polyyne chains between graphene islands. In either case, the Ostwald ripening process is not found in our molecular dynamics simulations due to the stability of carbon-carbon bonds within the islands. These investigations should be instructive to the control of graphene growth in experiments. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: There are two movies showing the simulation process and they are provided in separate files. Movie S1 is the evolution of QM/MD simulations of the growth of graphene from one C13 on the Ni(111) surface for trajectory D@C13. Movie S2 is the evolution of QM/MD simulations of the growth of graphene from two C13 species on the Ni(111) surface for trajectory C@2C13. Fig. S1 shows the optimized geometries of C13-G and C13-H on the Ni(111) surface. Fig. S2 is the final structures of trajectories A-J@C13 following 400 ps QM/MD simulation for the Ni(111) + C13 system. Fig. S3 is the final structures of trajectories A-J@2C13 following 350 ps QM/MD simulation for the Ni(111) + 2C13 system. Fig. S4 shows average polygonal carbon ring populations formed during graphene growth from the Ni(111) + C13 and Ni(111) + 2C13 systems. Fig. S5 shows the averaged δ value of the C13 clusters and the nickel catalyst in the Ni(111) + C13 and Ni(111) + 2C13 systems. Fig. S6 depicts the total Mermin free energy as a function of simulation time in the Ni(111) + 2C13 system. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr07680c

Understanding roles of E  ×  B flow and magnetic shear on the formation of internal and edge transport barriers using two-field bifurcation concept

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chatthong, B.; Onjun, T.

2016-01-01

A set of heat and particle transport equations with the inclusion of E  ×  B flow and magnetic shear is used to understand the formation and behaviors of edge transport barriers (ETBs) and internal transport barriers (ITBs) in tokamak plasmas based on two-field bifurcation concept. A simple model that can describe the E  ×  B flow shear and magnetic shear effect in tokamak plasma is used for anomalous transport suppression with the effect of bootstrap current included. Consequently, conditions and formations of ETB and ITB can be visualized and studied. It can be seen that the ETB formation depends sensitively on the E  ×  B flow shear suppression with small dependence on the magnetic shear suppression. However, the ITB formation depends sensitively on the magnetic shear suppression with a small dependence on the E  ×  B flow shear suppression. Once the H-mode is achieved, the s-curve bifurcation diagram is modified due to an increase of bootstrap current at the plasma edge, resulting in reductions of both L-H and H-L transition thresholds with stronger hysteresis effects. It is also found that both ITB and ETB widths appear to be governed by heat or particle sources and the location of the current peaking. In addition, at a marginal flux just below the L-H threshold, a small perturbation in terms of heat or density fluctuation can result in a transition, which can remain after the perturbation is removed due to the hysteresis effect.

Short wavelength turbulence generated by shear in the quiescent H-mode edge on DIII–D

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

Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; Dorris, J.

2014-06-15

A region of turbulence with large radial wavenumber (k{sub r}ρ{sub s}>1) is found in the high-shear portion of the plasma edge in Quiescent H-mode (QH-mode) on DIII–D using the Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI) diagnostic. At its peak outside the minimum of the E{sub r} well, the turbulence exhibits large amplitude n{sup ~}/n∼40%, with large radial wavenumber |k{sup ¯}{sub r}/k{sup ¯}{sub θ}|∼11 and short radial correlation length L{sub r}/ρ{sub i}∼0.2. The turbulence inside the E{sub r} well minimum is characterized by the opposite sign in radial wavenumber from that of turbulence outside the minimum, consistent with the expected effects of velocitymore » shear. The PCI diagnostic provides a line-integrated measurement of density fluctuations, so data are taken during a scan of plasma position at constant parameters to allow the PCI to sample a range in k{sub r}/k{sub θ}. Analysis of the Doppler shift and plasma geometry allows the turbulence to be localized to a narrow region 3 mm inside the last closed flux surface, outside the minimum of the E{sub r} well. The turbulence amplitude and radial wavenumber and correlation length are determined by fitting the PCI results with a simple non-isotropic turbulence model with two regions of turbulence. These PCI observations, made in QH-mode, are qualitatively similar to those made in standard edge localized modes (ELM)-free H-mode and between ELMs, suggesting a similar role for large k{sub r} turbulence there.« less

Measurements of density, temperature, and their fluctuations in turbulent supersonic flow using UV laser spectroscopy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Fletcher, Douglas G.; Mckenzie, R. L.

1992-01-01

Nonintrusive measurements of density, temperature, and their turbulent fluctuation levels were obtained in the boundary layer of an unseeded, Mach 2 wind tunnel flow. The spectroscopic technique that was used to make the measurements is based on the combination of laser-induced oxygen fluorescence and Raman scattering by oxygen and nitrogen from the same laser pulse. Results from this demonstration experiment are compared with previous measurements obtained in the same facility using conventional probes and an earlier spectroscopic technique. Densities and temperatures measured with the current technique agree with the previous surveys to within 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively. The fluctuation amplitudes for both variables agree with the measurements obtained using the earlier spectroscopic technique and show evidence of an unsteady, weak shock wave that perturbs the boundary layer.

Detection of the power spectrum of cosmic microwave background lensing by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope.

PubMed

Das, Sudeep; Sherwin, Blake D; Aguirre, Paula; Appel, John W; Bond, J Richard; Carvalho, C Sofia; Devlin, Mark J; Dunkley, Joanna; Dünner, Rolando; Essinger-Hileman, Thomas; Fowler, Joseph W; Hajian, Amir; Halpern, Mark; Hasselfield, Matthew; Hincks, Adam D; Hlozek, Renée; Huffenberger, Kevin M; Hughes, John P; Irwin, Kent D; Klein, Jeff; Kosowsky, Arthur; Lupton, Robert H; Marriage, Tobias A; Marsden, Danica; Menanteau, Felipe; Moodley, Kavilan; Niemack, Michael D; Nolta, Michael R; Page, Lyman A; Parker, Lucas; Reese, Erik D; Schmitt, Benjamin L; Sehgal, Neelima; Sievers, Jon; Spergel, David N; Staggs, Suzanne T; Swetz, Daniel S; Switzer, Eric R; Thornton, Robert; Visnjic, Katerina; Wollack, Ed

2011-07-08

We report the first detection of the gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background through a measurement of the four-point correlation function in the temperature maps made by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope. We verify our detection by calculating the levels of potential contaminants and performing a number of null tests. The resulting convergence power spectrum at 2° angular scales measures the amplitude of matter density fluctuations on comoving length scales of around 100 Mpc at redshifts around 0.5 to 3. The measured amplitude of the signal agrees with Lambda cold dark matter cosmology predictions. Since the amplitude of the convergence power spectrum scales as the square of the amplitude of the density fluctuations, the 4σ detection of the lensing signal measures the amplitude of density fluctuations to 12%.

ECE-imaging of the H-mode pedestal (invited).

PubMed

Tobias, B J; Austin, M E; Boom, J E; Burrell, K H; Classen, I G J; Domier, C W; Luhmann, N C; Nazikian, R; Snyder, P B

2012-10-01

A synthetic diagnostic has been developed that reproduces the highly structured electron cyclotron emission (ECE) spectrum radiated from the edge region of H-mode discharges. The modeled dependence on local perturbations of the equilibrium plasma pressure allows for interpretation of ECE data for diagnosis of local quantities. Forward modeling of the diagnostic response in this region allows for improved mapping of the observed fluctuations to flux surfaces within the plasma, allowing for the poloidal mode number of coherent structures to be resolved. In addition, other spectral features that are dependent on both T(e) and n(e) contain information about pedestal structure and the electron energy distribution of localized phenomena, such as edge filaments arising during edge-localized mode (ELM) activity.

Cosmological consequences of grand unified theories on density fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindley, D.

1981-05-01

Recent investigations into the cosmological consequences of grand unified theories (GUTs) of elementary particles have shown that the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe can be explained without recourse to the hypothesis of specific initial conditions. It is shown here that the origin of inhomogeneities in the matter distribution, which are thought to be responsible for the later formation of galaxies, cannot be explained by a simple addition of density fluctuations to the standard model. The appearance of these fluctuations, after the epoch when baryon number is fixed, is almost purely adiabatic, any departure from adiabaticity falling off in inverse proportion to the mass of the perturbation.

Measurements of surface-pressure fluctuations on the XB-70 airplane at local Mach numbers up to 2.45

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, T. L.; Dods, J. B., Jr.; Hanly, R. D.

1973-01-01

Measurements of surface-pressure fluctuations were made at two locations on the XB-70 airplane for nine flight-test conditions encompassing a local Mach number range from 0.35 to 2.45. These measurements are presented in the form of estimated power spectral densities, coherence functions, and narrow-band-convection velocities. The estimated power spectral densities compared favorably with wind-tunnel data obtained by other experimenters. The coherence function and convection velocity data supported conclusions by other experimenters that low-frequency surface-pressure fluctuations consist of small-scale turbulence components with low convection velocity.

Implementation of the new multichannel X-mode edge density profile reflectometer for the ICRF antenna on ASDEX Upgrade

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

Aguiam, D. E., E-mail: daguiam@ipfn.tecnico.ulisboa.pt; Silva, A.; Carvalho, P. J.

A new multichannel frequency modulated continuous-wave reflectometry diagnostic has been successfully installed and commissioned on ASDEX Upgrade to measure the plasma edge electron density profile evolution in front of the Ion Cyclotron Range of Frequencies (ICRF) antenna. The design of the new three-strap ICRF antenna integrates ten pairs (sending and receiving) of microwave reflectometry antennas. The multichannel reflectometer can use three of these to measure the edge electron density profiles up to 2 × 10{sup 19} m{sup −3}, at different poloidal locations, allowing the direct study of the local plasma layers in front of the ICRF antenna. ICRF power coupling,more » operational effects, and poloidal variations of the plasma density profile can be consistently studied for the first time. In this work the diagnostic hardware architecture is described and the obtained density profile measurements were used to track outer radial plasma position and plasma shape.« less

Mapping the conduction band edge density of states of γ-In2Se3 by diffuse reflectance spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Pradeep; Vedeshwar, Agnikumar G.

2018-03-01

It is demonstrated that the measured diffuse reflectance spectra of γ-In2Se3 can be used to map the conduction band edge density of states through Kubelka-Munk analysis. The Kubelka-Munk function derived from the measured spectra almost mimics the calculated density of states in the vicinity of conduction band edge. The calculation of density of states was carried out using first-principles approach yielding the structural, electronic, and optical properties. The calculations were carried out implementing various functionals and only modified Tran and Blaha (TB-MBJ) results tally closest with the experimental result of band gap. The electronic and optical properties were calculated using FP-LAPW + lo approach based on the Density Functional Theory formalism implementing only TB-mBJ functional. The electron and hole effective masses have been calculated as me * = 0.25 m 0 and mh * = 1.11 m 0 , respectively. The optical properties clearly indicate the anisotropic nature of γ-In2Se3.

Trap density of states in small-molecule organic semiconductors: A quantitative comparison of thin-film transistors with single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalb, Wolfgang L.; Haas, Simon; Krellner, Cornelius; Mathis, Thomas; Batlogg, Bertram

2010-04-01

We show that it is possible to reach one of the ultimate goals of organic electronics: producing organic field-effect transistors with trap densities as low as in the bulk of single crystals. We studied the spectral density of localized states in the band gap [trap density of states (trap DOS)] of small-molecule organic semiconductors as derived from electrical characteristics of organic field-effect transistors or from space-charge-limited current measurements. This was done by comparing data from a large number of samples including thin-film transistors (TFT’s), single crystal field-effect transistors (SC-FET’s) and bulk samples. The compilation of all data strongly suggests that structural defects associated with grain boundaries are the main cause of “fast” hole traps in TFT’s made with vacuum-evaporated pentacene. For high-performance transistors made with small-molecule semiconductors such as rubrene it is essential to reduce the dipolar disorder caused by water adsorbed on the gate dielectric surface. In samples with very low trap densities, we sometimes observe a steep increase in the trap DOS very close (<0.15eV) to the mobility edge with a characteristic slope of 10-20 meV. It is discussed to what degree band broadening due to the thermal fluctuation of the intermolecular transfer integral is reflected in this steep increase in the trap DOS. Moreover, we show that the trap DOS in TFT’s with small-molecule semiconductors is very similar to the trap DOS in hydrogenated amorphous silicon even though polycrystalline films of small-molecules with van der Waals-type interaction on the one hand are compared with covalently bound amorphous silicon on the other hand.

Fundamental Flaws In The Derivation Of Stevens' Law For Taste Within Norwich's Entropy Theory of Perception

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

Nizami, Lance

2010-03-01

Norwich's Entropy Theory of Perception (1975-present) is a general theory of perception, based on Shannon's Information Theory. Among many bold claims, the Entropy Theory presents a truly astounding result: that Stevens' Law with an Index of 1, an empirical power relation of direct proportionality between perceived taste intensity and stimulus concentration, arises from theory alone. Norwich's theorizing starts with several extraordinary hypotheses. First, 'multiple, parallel receptor-neuron units' without collaterals 'carry essentially the same message to the brain', i.e. the rate-level curves are identical. Second, sensation is proportional to firing rate. Third, firing rate is proportional to the taste receptor's 'resolvablemore » uncertainty'. Fourth, the 'resolvable uncertainty' is obtained from Shannon's Information Theory. Finally, 'resolvable uncertainty' also depends upon the microscopic thermodynamic density fluctuation of the tasted solute. Norwich proves that density fluctuation is density variance, which is proportional to solute concentration, all based on the theory of fluctuations in fluid composition from Tolman's classic physics text, 'The Principles of Statistical Mechanics'. Altogether, according to Norwich, perceived taste intensity is theoretically proportional to solute concentration. Such a universal rule for taste, one that is independent of solute identity, personal physiological differences, and psychophysical task, is truly remarkable and is well-deserving of scrutiny. Norwich's crucial step was the derivation of density variance. That step was meticulously reconstructed here. It transpires that the appropriate fluctuation is Tolman's mean-square fractional density fluctuation, not density variance as used by Norwich. Tolman's algebra yields a 'Stevens Index' of -1 rather than 1. As 'Stevens Index' empirically always exceeds zero, the Index of -1 suggests that it is risky to infer psychophysical laws of sensory response from information theory and stimulus physics while ignoring empirical biological transformations, such as sensory transduction. Indeed, it raises doubts as to whether the Entropy Theory actually describes psychophysical laws at all.« less

Numerical investigation of frequency spectrum in the Hasegawa-Wakatani model

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

Kim, Juhyung; Terry, P. W.

2013-10-15

The wavenumber-frequency spectrum of the two-dimensional Hasegawa-Wakatani model is investigated in the hydrodynamic, intermediate, and adiabatic regimes. A nonlinear frequency and a line width related to energy transfer properties provide a measure of the average frequency and spectral broadening, respectively. In the adiabatic regime, narrow spectra, typical of wave turbulence, are observed with a nonlinear frequency shift in the electron drift direction. In the hydrodynamic regime, broad spectra with almost zero nonlinear frequencies are observed. Nonlinear frequency shifts are shown to be related to nonlinear energy transfer by vorticity advection through the high frequency region of the spectrum. In themore » intermediate regime, the nonlinear frequency shift for density fluctuations is observed to be weaker than that of electrostatic potential fluctuations. The weaker frequency shift of the density fluctuations is due to nonlinear density advection, which favors energy transfer in the low frequency range. Both the nonlinear frequency and the spectral width increase with poloidal wavenumber k{sub y}. In addition, in the adiabatic regime where the nonlinear interactions manifest themselves in the nonlinear frequency shift, the cross-phase between the density and potential fluctuations is observed to match a linear relation, but only if the linear response of the linearly stable eigenmode branch is included. Implications of these numerical observations are discussed.« less

Relationship between frequency power spectra and intermittent, large-amplitude bursts in the Alcator C-Mod scrape-off layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theodorsen, A.; Garcia, O. E.; Kube, R.; LaBombard, B.; Terry, J. L.

2017-11-01

Fluctuations in the boundary region of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak have been analyzed using gas puff imaging data from a set of Ohmically heated plasma density scan experiments. It is found that the relative fluctuation amplitudes are modest and close to normally distributed at the separatrix but become increasingly larger and skewed towards the main chamber wall. The frequency power spectra are nevertheless similar for all radial positions and line-averaged densities. Predictions of a stochastic model, describing the plasma fluctuations as a super-position of uncorrelated pulses, are shown to be in excellent agreement with the measurements. This implies that the pulse duration is the same, while the degree of pulse overlap decreases radially outwards in the scrape-off layer. The universal frequency power spectral density is thus determined by the shape and duration of the large-amplitude bursts associated with blob-like structures. The model also describes the rate of threshold level crossings, for which the exponential tails underline the intermittency of the fluctuations in the far scarpe-off layer.

Energy dynamics in a simulation of LAPD turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Friedman, B.; Carter, T. A.; Umansky, M. V.; Schaffner, D.; Dudson, B.

2012-10-01

Energy dynamics calculations in a 3D fluid simulation of drift wave turbulence in the linear Large Plasma Device [W. Gekelman et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)] illuminate processes that drive and dissipate the turbulence. These calculations reveal that a nonlinear instability dominates the injection of energy into the turbulence by overtaking the linear drift wave instability that dominates when fluctuations about the equilibrium are small. The nonlinear instability drives flute-like (k∥=0) density fluctuations using free energy from the background density gradient. Through nonlinear axial wavenumber transfer to k∥≠0 fluctuations, the nonlinear instability accesses the adiabatic response, which provides the requisite energy transfer channel from density to potential fluctuations as well as the phase shift that causes instability. The turbulence characteristics in the simulations agree remarkably well with experiment. When the nonlinear instability is artificially removed from the system through suppressing k∥=0 modes, the turbulence develops a coherent frequency spectrum which is inconsistent with experimental data. This indicates the importance of the nonlinear instability in producing experimentally consistent turbulence.

Analysis of plasma particle and energy fluxes to material surfaces from tokamak edge turbulence simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umansky, M. V.; Cohen, B. I.; Rognlien, T. D.; Boedo, J. A.; Rudakov, D. L.

2012-10-01

Recent BOUT simulations of edge plasma turbulence in L-mode regime in the boundary region of DIII-D tokamak have demonstrated reasonable match with key edge diagnostics [1]. Order-of-magnitude level agreement has been found in the characteristic amplitude, wavenumber, and frequency of turbulent fluctuations, as compared with experimental data from reciprocating edge Langmuir probe and Beam Emission Spectroscopy systems. Owing to this encouraging agreement, output data from these simulations are analyzed to get insights on physical mechanisms and properties of plasma particle and energy fluxes to material surfaces. Of particular interest is plasma turbulence propagating into, or generated in, the far scrape-off layer region where plasma interacts with material walls. Results of statistical analyses of simulated turbulence plasma transport will be presented and physical implications will be discussed. [4pt] [1] B.I. Cohen et al., APS-DPP 2012

Temperature and radiation effects at the fluorine K-edge in LiF

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

Schwartz, Craig P.; Ponce, Francisco; Friedrich, Stephan

Here, the fluorine K-edge of LiF is studied both experimentally and theoretically as a function of temperature. Instantaneous thermal fluctuations in atomic positions are shown in molecular dynamics simulations to increase in amplitude from 0.029 to 0.064 nm in the temperature range from 40 to 298 K. This is sufficient to cause instantaneous deviations from local octahedral atomic symmetry in this rock-salt crystal, resulting in altered electronic structure. The lowered symmetry of the lowest core-excited states of fluorine atoms is evident in X-ray absorption spectra at the F K-edge. In addition, sufficient radiation exposure produces a new X-ray absorption peak,more » below the F K-edge of LiF, which is assigned to defects in LiF based on both calculations and comparison to previous experiments.« less

Temperature and radiation effects at the fluorine K-edge in LiF

DOE PAGES

Schwartz, Craig P.; Ponce, Francisco; Friedrich, Stephan; ...

2017-05-30

Here, the fluorine K-edge of LiF is studied both experimentally and theoretically as a function of temperature. Instantaneous thermal fluctuations in atomic positions are shown in molecular dynamics simulations to increase in amplitude from 0.029 to 0.064 nm in the temperature range from 40 to 298 K. This is sufficient to cause instantaneous deviations from local octahedral atomic symmetry in this rock-salt crystal, resulting in altered electronic structure. The lowered symmetry of the lowest core-excited states of fluorine atoms is evident in X-ray absorption spectra at the F K-edge. In addition, sufficient radiation exposure produces a new X-ray absorption peak,more » below the F K-edge of LiF, which is assigned to defects in LiF based on both calculations and comparison to previous experiments.« less

Current density distributions, field distributions and impedance analysis of segmented deep brain stimulation electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Xuefeng F.; Grill, Warren M.

2005-12-01

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes are designed to stimulate specific areas of the brain. The most widely used DBS electrode has a linear array of 4 cylindrical contacts that can be selectively turned on depending on the placement of the electrode and the specific area of the brain to be stimulated. The efficacy of DBS therapy can be improved by localizing the current delivery into specific populations of neurons and by increasing the power efficiency through a suitable choice of electrode geometrical characteristics. We investigated segmented electrode designs created by sectioning each cylindrical contact into multiple rings. Prototypes of these designs, made with different materials and larger dimensions than those of clinical DBS electrodes, were evaluated in vitro and in simulation. A finite element model was developed to study the effects of varying the electrode characteristics on the current density and field distributions in an idealized electrolytic medium and in vitro experiments were conducted to measure the electrode impedance. The current density over the electrode surface increased towards the edges of the electrode, and multiple edges increased the non-uniformity of the current density profile. The edge effects were more pronounced over the end segments than over the central segments. Segmented electrodes generated larger magnitudes of the second spatial difference of the extracellular potentials, and thus required lower stimulation intensities to achieve the same level of neuronal activation as solid electrodes. For a fixed electrode conductive area, increasing the number of segments (edges) decreased the impedance compared to a single solid electrode, because the average current density over the segments increased. Edge effects played a critical role in determining the current density distributions, neuronal excitation patterns, and impedance of cylindrical electrodes, and segmented electrodes provide a means to increase the efficiency of DBS.

Edge-effect interactions in fragmented and patchy landscapes.

PubMed

Porensky, Lauren M; Young, Truman P

2013-06-01

Ecological edges are increasingly recognized as drivers of landscape patterns and ecosystem processes. In fragmented and patchy landscapes (e.g., a fragmented forest or a savanna with scattered termite mounds), edges can become so numerous that their effects pervade the entire landscape. Results of recent studies in such landscapes show that edge effects can be altered by the presence or proximity of other nearby edges. We considered the theoretical significance of edge-effect interactions, illustrated various landscape configurations that support them and reviewed existing research on this topic. Results of studies from a variety of locations and ecosystem types show that edge-effect interactions can have significant consequences for ecosystems and conservation, including higher tree mortality rates in tropical rainforest fragments, reduced bird densities in grassland fragments, and bush encroachment and reduced wildlife densities in a tropical savanna. To clarify this underappreciated concept and synthesize existing work, we devised a conceptual framework for edge-effect interactions. We first worked to reduce terminological confusion by clarifying differences among terms such as edge intersection and edge interaction. For cases in which nearby edge effects interact, we proposed three possible forms of interaction: strengthening (presence of a second edge causes stronger edge effects), weakening (presence of a second edge causes weaker edge effects), and emergent (edge effects change completely in the presence of a second edge). By clarifying terms and concepts, this framework enables more precise descriptions of edge-effect interactions and facilitates comparisons of results among disparate study systems and response variables. A better understanding of edge-effect interactions will pave the way for more appropriate modeling, conservation, and management in complex landscapes. © 2013 Society for Conservation Biology.

Parametric dependence of density limits in the Tokamak Experiment for Technology Oriented Research (TEXTOR): Comparison of thermal instability theory with experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelly, F. A.; Stacey, W. M.; Rapp, J.

2001-11-01

The observed dependence of the TEXTOR [Tokamak Experiment for Technology Oriented Research: E. Hintz, P. Bogen, H. A. Claassen et al., Contributions to High Temperature Plasma Physics, edited by K. H. Spatschek and J. Uhlenbusch (Akademie Verlag, Berlin, 1994), p. 373] density limit on global parameters (I, B, P, etc.) and wall conditioning is compared with the predicted density limit parametric scaling of thermal instability theory. It is necessary first to relate the edge parameters of the thermal instability theory to n¯ and the other global parameters. The observed parametric dependence of the density limit in TEXTOR is generally consistent with the predicted density limit scaling of thermal instability theory. The observed wall conditioning dependence of the density limit can be reconciled with the theory in terms of the radiative emissivity temperature dependence of different impurities in the plasma edge. The thermal instability theory also provides an explanation of why symmetric detachment precedes radiative collapse for most low power shots, while a multifaceted asymmetric radiation from the edge MARFE precedes detachment for most high power shots.

Impedance of an intense plasma-cathode electron source for tokamak startup

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinson, E. T.; Barr, J. L.; Bongard, M. W.; Burke, M. G.; Fonck, R. J.; Perry, J. M.

2016-05-01

An impedance model is formulated and tested for the ˜1 kV , 1 kA/cm2 , arc-plasma cathode electron source used for local helicity injection tokamak startup. A double layer sheath is established between the high-density arc plasma ( narc≈1021 m-3 ) within the electron source, and the less dense external tokamak edge plasma ( nedge≈1018 m-3 ) into which current is injected at the applied injector voltage, Vinj . Experiments on the Pegasus spherical tokamak show that the injected current, Iinj , increases with Vinj according to the standard double layer scaling Iinj˜Vinj3 /2 at low current and transitions to Iinj˜Vinj1 /2 at high currents. In this high current regime, sheath expansion and/or space charge neutralization impose limits on the beam density nb˜Iinj/Vinj1 /2 . For low tokamak edge density nedge and high Iinj , the inferred beam density nb is consistent with the requirement nb≤nedge imposed by space-charge neutralization of the beam in the tokamak edge plasma. At sufficient edge density, nb˜narc is observed, consistent with a limit to nb imposed by expansion of the double layer sheath. These results suggest that narc is a viable control actuator for the source impedance.

The relationships between edge localized modes suppression, pedestal profiles and lithium wall coatings in NSTX

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

Boyle, D. P.; Maingi, R.; Snyder, P. B.

2011-01-01

Recently in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX), increasing lithium wall coatings suppressed edge localized modes (ELMs), gradually but not quite monotonically. This work details profile and stability analysis as ELMs disappeared throughout the lithium scan. While the quantity of lithium deposited between discharges did not uniquely determine the presence of ELMs, profile analysis demonstrated that lithium was correlated with wider density and pressure pedestals with peak gradients farther from the separatrix. Moreover, the ELMy and ELM-free discharges were cleanly separated by their density and pedestal widths and peak gradient locations. Ultimately, ELMs were only suppressed when lithium caused themore » density pedestal to widen and shift inward. These changes in the density gradient were directly reflected in the pressure gradient and calculated bootstrap current. This supports the theory that ELMs in NSTX are caused by peeling and/or ballooning modes, as kink/peeling modes are stabilized when the edge current and pressure gradient shift away from the separatrix. Edge stability analysis using ELITE corroborated this picture, as reconstructed equilibria from ELM-free discharges were generally farther from their kink/peeling stability boundaries than ELMy discharges. We conclude that density profile control provided by lithium is the key first step to ELM suppression in NSTX.« less

Gaps, rings, and non-axisymmetric structures in protoplanetary disks. From simulations to ALMA observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flock, M.; Ruge, J. P.; Dzyurkevich, N.; Henning, Th.; Klahr, H.; Wolf, S.

2015-02-01

Aims: Recent observations by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) of disks around young stars revealed distinct asymmetries in the dust continuum emission. In this work we wish to study axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric structures that are generated by the magneto-rotational instability in the outer regions of protoplanetary disks. We combine the results of state-of-the-art numerical simulations with post-processing radiative transfer (RT) to generate synthetic maps and predictions for ALMA. Methods: We performed non-ideal global 3D magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) stratified simulations of the dead-zone outer edge using the FARGO MHD code PLUTO. The stellar and disk parameters were taken from a parameterized disk model applied for fitting high-angular resolution multi-wavelength observations of various circumstellar disks. We considered a stellar mass of M∗ = 0.5 M⊙ and a total disk mass of about 0.085 M∗. The 2D initial temperature and density profiles were calculated consistently from a given surface density profile and Monte Carlo radiative transfer. The 2D Ohmic resistivity profile was calculated using a dust chemistry model. We considered two values for the dust-to-gas mass ratio, 10-2 and 10-4, which resulted in two different levels of magnetic coupling. The initial magnetic field was a vertical net flux field. The radiative transfer simulations were performed with the Monte Carlo-based 3D continuum RT code MC3D. The resulting dust reemission provided the basis for the simulation of observations with ALMA. Results: All models quickly turned into a turbulent state. The fiducial model with a dust-to-gas mass ratio of 10-2 developed a large gap followed by a jump in surface density located at the dead-zone outer edge. The jump in density and pressure was strong enough to stop the radial drift of particles at this location. In addition, we observed the generation of vortices by the Rossby wave instability at the jump location close to 60 AU. The vortices were steadily generated and destroyed at a cycle of 40 local orbits. The RT results and simulated ALMA observations predict that it is feasible to observe these large-scale structures that appear in magnetized disks without planets. Neither the turbulent fluctuations in the disk nor specific times of the model can be distinguished on the basis of high-angular resolution submillimeter observations alone. The same applies to the distinction between gaps at the dead-zone edges and planetary gaps, to the distinction between turbulent and simple unperturbed disks, and to the asymmetry created by the vortex.

Control of ion gyroscale fluctuations via electrostatic biasing and sheared E×B flow in the C-2 field reversed configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmitz, L.; Ruskov, E.; Deng, B. H.; Binderbauer, M.; Tajima, T.; Gota, H.; Tuszewski, M.

2016-03-01

Control of radial particle and thermal transport is instrumental for achieving and sustaining well-confined high-β plasma in a Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC). Radial profiles of low frequency ion gyro-scale density fluctuations (0.5≤kρs≤40), consistent with drift- or drift-interchange modes, have been measured in the scrape-off layer (SOL) and core of the C-2 Field-Reversed Configuration (FRC), together with the toroidal E×B velocity. It is shown here that axial electrostatic SOL biasing controls and reduces gyro-scale density fluctuations, resulting in very low FRC core fluctuation levels. When the radial E×B flow shearing rate decreases below the turbulence decorrelation rate, fluctuation levels increase substantially, concomitantly with onset of the n=2 instability and rapid loss of diamagnetism. Low turbulence levels, improved energy/particle confinement and substantially increased FRC life times are achieved when E×B shear near the separatrix is maintained via axial SOL biasing using an annular washer gun.

Increase in the Random Dopant Induced Threshold Fluctuations and Lowering in Sub 100 nm MOSFETs Due to Quantum Effects: A 3-D Density-Gradient Simulation Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Asenov, Asen; Slavcheva, G.; Brown, A. R.; Davies, J. H.; Saini, S.

2000-01-01

In this paper we present a detailed simulation study of the influence of quantum mechanical effects in the inversion layer on random dopant induced threshold voltage fluctuations and lowering in sub 100 nm MOSFETs. The simulations have been performed using a 3-D implementation of the density gradient (DG) formalism incorporated in our established 3-D atomistic simulation approach. This results in a self-consistent 3-D quantum mechanical picture, which implies not only the vertical inversion layer quantisation but also the lateral confinement effects related to current filamentation in the 'valleys' of the random potential fluctuations. We have shown that the net result of including quantum mechanical effects, while considering statistical dopant fluctuations, is an increase in both threshold voltage fluctuations and lowering. At the same time, the random dopant induced threshold voltage lowering partially compensates for the quantum mechanical threshold voltage shift in aggressively scaled MOSFETs with ultrathin gate oxides.

Shock wave oscillation driven by turbulent boundary layer fluctuations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plotkin, K. J.

1972-01-01

Pressure fluctuations due to the interaction of a shock wave with a turbulent boundary layer were investigated. A simple model is proposed in which the shock wave is convected from its mean position by velocity fluctuations in the turbulent boundary layer. Displacement of the shock is assumed limited by a linear restoring mechanism. Predictions of peak root mean square pressure fluctuation and spectral density are in excellent agreement with available experimental data.

Numerical methods for the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz Navier-Stokes equations.

PubMed

Bell, John B; Garcia, Alejandro L; Williams, Sarah A

2007-07-01

The Landau-Lifshitz Navier-Stokes (LLNS) equations incorporate thermal fluctuations into macroscopic hydrodynamics by using stochastic fluxes. This paper examines explicit Eulerian discretizations of the full LLNS equations. Several computational fluid dynamics approaches are considered (including MacCormack's two-step Lax-Wendroff scheme and the piecewise parabolic method) and are found to give good results for the variance of momentum fluctuations. However, neither of these schemes accurately reproduces the fluctuations in energy or density. We introduce a conservative centered scheme with a third-order Runge-Kutta temporal integrator that does accurately produce fluctuations in density, energy, and momentum. A variety of numerical tests, including the random walk of a standing shock wave, are considered and results from the stochastic LLNS solver are compared with theory, when available, and with molecular simulations using a direct simulation Monte Carlo algorithm.

SNW 2000 Proceedings. Oxide Thickness Variation Induced Threshold Voltage Fluctuations in Decanano MOSFETs: a 3D Density Gradient Simulation Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Asenov, Asen; Kaya, S.; Davies, J. H.; Saini, S.

2000-01-01

We use the density gradient (DG) simulation approach to study, in 3D, the effect of local oxide thickness fluctuations on the threshold voltage of decanano MOSFETs in a statistical manner. A description of the reconstruction procedure for the random 2D surfaces representing the 'atomistic' Si-SiO2 interface variations is presented. The procedure is based on power spectrum synthesis in the Fourier domain and can include either Gaussian or exponential spectra. The simulations show that threshold voltage variations induced by oxide thickness fluctuation become significant when the gate length of the devices become comparable to the correlation length of the fluctuations. The extent of quantum corrections in the simulations with respect to the classical case and the dependence of threshold variations on the oxide thickness are examined.

Effect of reduction in the density of states on fluctuation conductivity in Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+ x single crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chowdhury, P.; Bhatia, S. N.

1999-06-01

The in-plane ( ρab) and out-of-plane ( ρc) resistivities of BSCCO single crystals have been measured by six terminals technique. The ρab and ρc are well described by the fluctuation theory developed by Dorin et al. The main effect of these fluctuations is to cause a reduction in the quasi-particle density of states (DOS), leading to a negative contribution in the fluctuation conductivity Lawrence-Doniach (LD) and Maki-Thompson (MT) contributions. We have analyzed paraconductivity by adding this DOS contribution to LD and MT contributions. The analysis shows that approaches based on the conventional LD model alone cannot explain the paraconductivity along ab-plane and c-axis, even when the MT contribution is included.

Dynamic density functional theory with hydrodynamic interactions and fluctuations

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

Donev, Aleksandar, E-mail: donev@courant.nyu.edu; Vanden-Eijnden, Eric, E-mail: eve2@courant.nyu.edu

2014-06-21

We derive a closed equation for the empirical concentration of colloidal particles in the presence of both hydrodynamic and direct interactions. The ensemble average of our functional Langevin equation reproduces known deterministic Dynamic Density Functional Theory (DDFT) [M. Rex and H. Löwen, “Dynamical density functional theory with hydrodynamic interactions and colloids in unstable traps,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 101(14), 148302 (2008)], and, at the same time, it also describes the microscopic fluctuations around the mean behavior. We suggest separating the ideal (non-interacting) contribution from additional corrections due to pairwise interactions. We find that, for an incompressible fluid and in the absencemore » of direct interactions, the mean concentration follows Fick's law just as for uncorrelated walkers. At the same time, the nature of the stochastic terms in fluctuating DDFT is shown to be distinctly different for hydrodynamically-correlated and uncorrelated walkers. This leads to striking differences in the behavior of the fluctuations around Fick's law, even in the absence of pairwise interactions. We connect our own prior work [A. Donev, T. G. Fai, and E. Vanden-Eijnden, “A reversible mesoscopic model of diffusion in liquids: from giant fluctuations to Fick's law,” J. Stat. Mech.: Theory Exp. (2014) P04004] on fluctuating hydrodynamics of diffusion in liquids to the DDFT literature, and demonstrate that the fluid cannot easily be eliminated from consideration if one wants to describe the collective diffusion in colloidal suspensions.« less

Correlations between critical current density, j{sub c}, critical temperature, T{sub c}, and structural quality of Y{sub 1}B{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} thin superconducting films

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

Chrzanowski, J.; Xing, W.B.; Atlan, D.

1994-12-31

Correlations between critical current density (j{sub c}) critical temperature (T{sub c}) and the density of edge dislocations and nonuniform strain have been observed in YBCO thin films deposited by pulsed laser ablation on (001) LaAlO{sub 3} single crystals. Distinct maxima in j{sub c} as a function of the linewidths of the (00{ell}) Bragg reflections and as a function of the mosaic spread have been found in the epitaxial films. These maxima in j{sub c} indicate that the magnetic flux lines, in films of structural quality approaching that of single crystals, are insufficiently pinned which results in a decreased critical currentmore » density. T{sub c} increased monotonically with improving crystalline quality and approached a value characteristic of a pure single crystal. A strong correlation between j{sub c} and the density of edge dislocations N{sub D} was found. At the maximum of the critical current density the density of edge dislocations was estimated to be N{sub D}{approximately}1-2 x 10{sup 9}/cm{sup 2}.« less

Correlations between critical current density, j(sub c), critical temperature, T(sub c),and structural quality of Y1B2Cu3O(7-x) thin superconducting films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chrzanowski, J.; Xing, W. B.; Atlan, D.; Irwin, J. C.; Heinrich, B.; Cragg, R. A.; Zhou, H.; Angus, V.; Habib, F.; Fife, A. A.

1995-01-01

Correlations between critical current density (j(sub c)) critical temperature (T(sub c)) and the density of edge dislocations and nonuniform strain have been observed in YBCO thin films deposited by pulsed laser ablation on (001) LaAlO3 single crystals. Distinct maxima in j(sub c) as a function of the linewidths of the (00 l) Bragg reflections and as a function of the mosaic spread have been found in the epitaxial films. These maxima in j(sub c) indicate that the magnetic flux lines, in films of structural quality approachingthat of single crystals, are insufficiently pinned which results in a decreased critical current density. T(sub c) increased monotonically with improving crystalline quality and approached a value characteristic of a pure single crystal. A strong correlation between j(sub c) and the density of edge dislocations ND was found. At the maximum of the critical current density the density of edge dislocations was estimated to be N(sub D) approximately 1-2 x 10(exp 9)/sq cm.

Feedback controlled, reactor relevant, high-density, high-confinement scenarios at ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lang, P. T.; Blanken, T. C.; Dunne, M.; McDermott, R. M.; Wolfrum, E.; Bobkov, V.; Felici, F.; Fischer, R.; Janky, F.; Kallenbach, A.; Kardaun, O.; Kudlacek, O.; Mertens, V.; Mlynek, A.; Ploeckl, B.; Stober, J. K.; Treutterer, W.; Zohm, H.; ASDEX Upgrade Team

2018-03-01

One main programme topic at the ASDEX Upgrade all-metal-wall tokamak is development of a high-density regime with central densities at reactor grade level while retaining high-confinement properties. This required development of appropriate control techniques capable of coping with the pellet tool, a powerful means of fuelling but one which presented challenges to the control system for handling of related perturbations. Real-time density profile control was demonstrated, raising the core density well above the Greenwald density while retaining the edge density in order to avoid confinement losses. Recently, a new model-based approach was implemented that allows direct control of the central density. Investigations focussed first on the N-seeding scenario owing to its proven potential to yield confinement enhancements. Combining pellets and N seeding was found to improve the divertor buffering further and enhance the operational range accessible. For core densities up to about the Greenwald density, a clear improvement with respect to the non-seeding reference was achieved; however, at higher densities this benefit is reduced. This behaviour is attributed to recurrence of an outward shift of the edge density profile, resulting in a reduced peeling-ballooning stability. This is similar to the shift seen during strong gas puffing, which is required to prevent impurity influx in ASDEX Upgrade. First tests indicate that highly-shaped plasma configurations like the ITER base-line scenario, respond very well to pellet injection, showing efficient fuelling with no measurable impact on the edge density profile.

High Precision Edge Detection Algorithm for Mechanical Parts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Duan, Zhenyun; Wang, Ning; Fu, Jingshun; Zhao, Wenhui; Duan, Boqiang; Zhao, Jungui

2018-04-01

High precision and high efficiency measurement is becoming an imperative requirement for a lot of mechanical parts. So in this study, a subpixel-level edge detection algorithm based on the Gaussian integral model is proposed. For this purpose, the step edge normal section line Gaussian integral model of the backlight image is constructed, combined with the point spread function and the single step model. Then gray value of discrete points on the normal section line of pixel edge is calculated by surface interpolation, and the coordinate as well as gray information affected by noise is fitted in accordance with the Gaussian integral model. Therefore, a precise location of a subpixel edge was determined by searching the mean point. Finally, a gear tooth was measured by M&M3525 gear measurement center to verify the proposed algorithm. The theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the local edge fluctuation is reduced effectively by the proposed method in comparison with the existing subpixel edge detection algorithms. The subpixel edge location accuracy and computation speed are improved. And the maximum error of gear tooth profile total deviation is 1.9 μm compared with measurement result with gear measurement center. It indicates that the method has high reliability to meet the requirement of high precision measurement.

Restricted cross-scale habitat selection by American beavers.

PubMed

Francis, Robert A; Taylor, Jimmy D; Dibble, Eric; Strickland, Bronson; Petro, Vanessa M; Easterwood, Christine; Wang, Guiming

2017-12-01

Animal habitat selection, among other ecological phenomena, is spatially scale dependent. Habitat selection by American beavers Castor canadensis (hereafter, beaver) has been studied at singular spatial scales, but to date no research addresses multi-scale selection. Our objectives were to determine if beaver habitat selection was specialized to semiaquatic habitats and if variables explaining habitat selection are consistent between landscape and fine spatial scales. We built maximum entropy (MaxEnt) models to relate landscape-scale presence-only data to landscape variables, and used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate fine spatial scale habitat selection using global positioning system (GPS) relocation data. Explanatory variables between the landscape and fine spatial scale were compared for consistency. Our findings suggested that beaver habitat selection at coarse (study area) and fine (within home range) scales was congruent, and was influenced by increasing amounts of woody wetland edge density and shrub edge density, and decreasing amounts of open water edge density. Habitat suitability at the landscape scale also increased with decreasing amounts of grass frequency. As territorial, central-place foragers, beavers likely trade-off open water edge density (i.e., smaller non-forested wetlands or lodges closer to banks) for defense and shorter distances to forage and obtain construction material. Woody plants along edges and expanses of open water for predator avoidance may limit beaver fitness and subsequently determine beaver habitat selection.

Restricted cross-scale habitat selection by American beavers

PubMed Central

Taylor, Jimmy D; Dibble, Eric; Strickland, Bronson; Petro, Vanessa M; Easterwood, Christine; Wang, Guiming

2017-01-01

Abstract Animal habitat selection, among other ecological phenomena, is spatially scale dependent. Habitat selection by American beavers Castor canadensis (hereafter, beaver) has been studied at singular spatial scales, but to date no research addresses multi-scale selection. Our objectives were to determine if beaver habitat selection was specialized to semiaquatic habitats and if variables explaining habitat selection are consistent between landscape and fine spatial scales. We built maximum entropy (MaxEnt) models to relate landscape-scale presence-only data to landscape variables, and used generalized linear mixed models to evaluate fine spatial scale habitat selection using global positioning system (GPS) relocation data. Explanatory variables between the landscape and fine spatial scale were compared for consistency. Our findings suggested that beaver habitat selection at coarse (study area) and fine (within home range) scales was congruent, and was influenced by increasing amounts of woody wetland edge density and shrub edge density, and decreasing amounts of open water edge density. Habitat suitability at the landscape scale also increased with decreasing amounts of grass frequency. As territorial, central-place foragers, beavers likely trade-off open water edge density (i.e., smaller non-forested wetlands or lodges closer to banks) for defense and shorter distances to forage and obtain construction material. Woody plants along edges and expanses of open water for predator avoidance may limit beaver fitness and subsequently determine beaver habitat selection. PMID:29492032

Levy Matrices and Financial Covariances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burda, Zdzislaw; Jurkiewicz, Jerzy; Nowak, Maciej A.; Papp, Gabor; Zahed, Ismail

2003-10-01

In a given market, financial covariances capture the intra-stock correlations and can be used to address statistically the bulk nature of the market as a complex system. We provide a statistical analysis of three SP500 covariances with evidence for raw tail distributions. We study the stability of these tails against reshuffling for the SP500 data and show that the covariance with the strongest tails is robust, with a spectral density in remarkable agreement with random Lévy matrix theory. We study the inverse participation ratio for the three covariances. The strong localization observed at both ends of the spectral density is analogous to the localization exhibited in the random Lévy matrix ensemble. We discuss two competitive mechanisms responsible for the occurrence of an extensive and delocalized eigenvalue at the edge of the spectrum: (a) the Lévy character of the entries of the correlation matrix and (b) a sort of off-diagonal order induced by underlying inter-stock correlations. (b) can be destroyed by reshuffling, while (a) cannot. We show that the stocks with the largest scattering are the least susceptible to correlations, and likely candidates for the localized states. We introduce a simple model for price fluctuations which captures behavior of the SP500 covariances. It may be of importance for assets diversification.

Optimizing LHCD launcher using poloidal steering on Alcator C-Mod and ADX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonoli, P.; Labombard, B.; Parker, R.; Shiraiwa, S.; Wallace, G.; Wukitch, S.; Leccacorvi, R.; Vieira, R.; Alcator C-Mod Team

2014-10-01

The poloidal location of the lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) launcher has a strong influence on the trajectory and absorption of the LH wave (poloidal steering). The physics design of an additional off-midplane launcher (LH3) for Alcator C-Mod exploits this characteristic. By shifting the launcher from the mid-plane by 25cm, it is predicted to realize strong (>80%) single pass absorption localized at about r/a = 0.7 in conjunction with the mid-plane (LH2) antenna. While LH3 is a proposal to overcome the LH density limit and to provide a unique opportunity to validate LHCD simulation codes under reactor-like conditions, poloidal steering can be used more extensively by launching waves from the high field side (HFS). On ADX, the LHCD launcher is proposed to be located on the HFS. Better accessibility due to higher magnetic field allows for using lower N//, which results in higher current drive efficiency. Also a more quiescent edge plasma may reduce the effect of N// shifts due to scattering from density fluctuations. LHCD simulations for target plasmas expected on ADX, optimization of poloidal steering, and RF simulation of high field side launcher will be presented. This work supported by USDoE awards DE-FC02-99ER54512 and DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Quasi-periodic Behavior of Mini-disks in Binary Black Holes Approaching Merger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bowen, Dennis B.; Mewes, Vassilios; Campanelli, Manuela; Noble, Scott C.; Krolik, Julian H.; Zilhão, Miguel

2018-01-01

We present the first magnetohydrodynamic simulation in which a circumbinary disk around a relativistic binary black hole feeds mass to individual accretion disks (“mini-disks”) around each black hole. Mass flow through the accretion streams linking the circumbinary disk to the mini-disks is modulated quasi-periodically by the streams’ interaction with a nonlinear m = 1 density feature, or “lump,” at the inner edge of the circumbinary disk: the stream supplying each mini-disk comes into phase with the lump at a frequency 0.74 times the binary orbital frequency. Because the binary is relativistic, the tidal truncation radii of the mini-disks are not much larger than their innermost stable circular orbits; consequently, the mini-disks’ inflow times are shorter than the conventional estimate and are comparable to the stream modulation period. As a result, the mini-disks are always in inflow disequilibrium, with their masses and spiral density wave structures responding to the stream’s quasi-periodic modulation. The fluctuations in each mini-disk’s mass are so large that as much as 75% of the total mini-disk mass can be contained within a single mini-disk. Such quasi-periodic modulation of the mini-disk structure may introduce distinctive time-dependent features in the binary’s electromagnetic emission.

Growth and dissolution of spherical density enhancements in SCDEW cosmologies

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

Bonometto, Silvio A.; Mainini, Roberto, E-mail: bonometto@oats.inaf.it, E-mail: roberto.mainini@mib.infn.it

2017-06-01

Strongly Coupled Dark Energy plus Warm dark matter (SCDEW) cosmologies are based on the finding of a conformally invariant (CI) attractor solution during the early radiative expansion, requiring then the stationary presence of ∼ 1 % of coupled-DM and DE, since inflationary reheating. In these models, coupled-DM fluctuations, even in the early radiative expansion, grow up to non-linearity, as shown in a previous associated paper. Such early non-linear stages are modelized here through the evolution of a top-hat density enhancement. As expected, its radius R increases up to a maximum and then starts to decrease. Virial balance is reached whenmore » the coupled-DM density contrast is just 25–26 and DM density enhancement is O(10 %) of total density. Moreover, we find that this is not an equilibrium configuration as, afterwards, coupling causes DM particle velocities to increase, so that the fluctuation gradually dissolves. We estimate the duration of the whole process, from horizon crossing to dissolution, and find z {sub horizon}/ z {sub erasing} ∼ 3 × 10{sup 4}. Therefore, only fluctuations entering the horizon at z ∼< 10{sup 9}–10{sup 10} are able to accrete WDM with mass ∼ 100 eV—as soon as it becomes non-relativistic—so avoiding full disruption. Accordingly, SCDEW cosmologies, whose WDM has mass ∼ 100 eV, can preserve primeval fluctuations down to stellar mass scale.« less

Evidence for r- and K-selection in a wild bird population: a reciprocal link between ecology and evolution.

PubMed

Sæther, Bernt-Erik; Visser, Marcel E; Grøtan, Vidar; Engen, Steinar

2016-04-27

Understanding the variation in selection pressure on key life-history traits is crucial in our rapidly changing world. Density is rarely considered as a selective agent. To study its importance, we partition phenotypic selection in fluctuating environments into components representing the population growth rate at low densities and the strength of density dependence, using a new stochastic modelling framework. We analysed the number of eggs laid per season in a small song-bird, the great tit, and found balancing selection favouring large clutch sizes at small population densities and smaller clutches in years with large populations. A significant interaction between clutch size and population size in the regression for the Malthusian fitness reveals that those females producing large clutch sizes at small population sizes also are those that show the strongest reduction in fitness when population size is increased. This provides empirical support for ongoing r- and K-selection in this population, favouring phenotypes with large growth rates r at small population sizes and phenotypes with high competitive skills when populations are close to the carrying capacity K This selection causes long-term fluctuations around a stable mean clutch size caused by variation in population size, implying that r- and K-selection is an important mechanism influencing phenotypic evolution in fluctuating environments. This provides a general link between ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, operating through a joint influence of density dependence and environmental stochasticity on fluctuations in population size. © 2016 The Author(s).

Nonequilibrium forces following quenches in active and thermal matter.

PubMed

Rohwer, Christian M; Solon, Alexandre; Kardar, Mehran; Krüger, Matthias

2018-03-01

Nonequilibrium systems with conserved quantities like density or momentum are known to exhibit long-ranged correlations. This, in turn, leads to long-ranged fluctuation-induced (Casimir) forces, predicted to arise in a variety of nonequilibrium settings. Here, we study such forces, which arise transiently between parallel plates or compact inclusions in a gas of particles, following a change ("quench") in temperature or activity of the medium. Analytical calculations, as well as numerical simulations of passive or active Brownian particles, indicate two distinct forces: (i) The immediate effect of the quench is adsorption or desorption of particles of the medium to the immersed objects, which in turn initiates a front of relaxing (mean) density. This leads to time-dependent density-induced forces. (ii) A long-term effect of the quench is that density fluctuations are modified, manifested as transient (long-ranged) (pair-)correlations that relax diffusively to their (short-ranged) steady-state limit. As a result, transient fluctuation-induced forces emerge. We discuss the properties of fluctuation-induced and density-induced forces as regards universality, relaxation as a function of time, and scaling with distance between objects. Their distinct signatures allow us to distinguish the two types of forces in simulation data. Our simulations also show that a quench of the effective temperature of an active medium gives rise to qualitatively similar effects to a temperature quench in a passive medium. Based on this insight, we propose several scenarios for the experimental observation of the forces described here.

Nonequilibrium forces following quenches in active and thermal matter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohwer, Christian M.; Solon, Alexandre; Kardar, Mehran; Krüger, Matthias

2018-03-01

Nonequilibrium systems with conserved quantities like density or momentum are known to exhibit long-ranged correlations. This, in turn, leads to long-ranged fluctuation-induced (Casimir) forces, predicted to arise in a variety of nonequilibrium settings. Here, we study such forces, which arise transiently between parallel plates or compact inclusions in a gas of particles, following a change ("quench") in temperature or activity of the medium. Analytical calculations, as well as numerical simulations of passive or active Brownian particles, indicate two distinct forces: (i) The immediate effect of the quench is adsorption or desorption of particles of the medium to the immersed objects, which in turn initiates a front of relaxing (mean) density. This leads to time-dependent density-induced forces. (ii) A long-term effect of the quench is that density fluctuations are modified, manifested as transient (long-ranged) (pair-)correlations that relax diffusively to their (short-ranged) steady-state limit. As a result, transient fluctuation-induced forces emerge. We discuss the properties of fluctuation-induced and density-induced forces as regards universality, relaxation as a function of time, and scaling with distance between objects. Their distinct signatures allow us to distinguish the two types of forces in simulation data. Our simulations also show that a quench of the effective temperature of an active medium gives rise to qualitatively similar effects to a temperature quench in a passive medium. Based on this insight, we propose several scenarios for the experimental observation of the forces described here.

Density of states and magnetotransport in Weyl semimetals with long-range disorder

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pesin, D. A.; Mishchenko, E. G.; Levchenko, A.

2015-11-01

We study the density of states and magnetotransport properties of disordered Weyl semimetals, focusing on the case of a strong long-range disorder. To calculate the disorder-averaged density of states close to nodal points, we treat exactly the long-range random potential fluctuations produced by charged impurities, while the short-range component of disorder potential is included systematically and controllably with the help of a diagram technique. We find that, for energies close to the degeneracy point, long-range potential fluctuations lead to a finite density of states. In the context of transport, we discuss that a self-consistent theory of screening in magnetic field may conceivably lead to nonmonotonic low-field magnetoresistance.

High-density QCD phase transitions inside neutron stars: Glitches and gravitational waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Srivastava, A. M.; Bagchi, P.; Das, A.; Layek, B.

2017-10-01

We discuss physics of exotic high baryon density QCD phases which are believed to exist in the core of a neutron star. This can provide a laboratory for exploring exotic physics such as axion emission, KK graviton production etc. Much of the physics of these high-density phases is model-dependent and not very well understood, especially the densities expected to occur inside neutron stars. We follow a different approach and use primarily universal aspects of the physics of different high-density phases and associated phase transitions. We study effects of density fluctuations during transitions with and without topological defect production and study the effect on pulsar timings due to changing moment of inertia of the star. We also discuss gravitational wave production due to rapidly changing quadrupole moment of the star due to these fluctuations.

Imaging at an x-ray absorption edge using free electron laser pulses for interface dynamics in high energy density systems [Resonant phase contrast imaging for interface physics

DOE PAGES

Beckwith, M. A.; Jiang, S.; Schropp, A.; ...

2017-05-01

Tuning the energy of an x-ray probe to an absorption line or edge can provide material-specific measurements that are particularly useful for interfaces. Simulated hard x-ray images above the Fe K-edge are presented to examine ion diffusion across an interface between Fe 2O 3 and SiO 2 aerogel foam materials. The simulations demonstrate the feasibility of such a technique for measurements of density scale lengths near the interface with submicron spatial resolution. A proof-of-principle experiment is designed and performed at the Linac coherent light source facility. Preliminary data show the change of the interface after shock compression and heating withmore » simultaneous fluorescence spectra for temperature determination. Here, the results provide the first demonstration of using x-ray imaging at an absorption edge as a diagnostic to detect ultrafast phenomena for interface physics in high-energy-density systems.« less

Pressure effects on collective density fluctuations in water and protein solutions

PubMed Central

Russo, Daniela; Laloni, Alessio; Filabozzi, Alessandra; Heyden, Matthias

2017-01-01

Neutron Brillouin scattering and molecular dynamics simulations have been used to investigate protein hydration water density fluctuations as a function of pressure. Our results show significant differences between the pressure and density dependence of collective dynamics in bulk water and in concentrated protein solutions. Pressure-induced changes in the tetrahedral order of the water HB network have direct consequences for the high-frequency sound velocity and damping coefficients, which we find to be a sensitive probe for changes in the HB network structure as well as the wetting of biomolecular surfaces. PMID:29073065

Amplitude of primeval fluctuations from cosmological mass density reconstructions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seljak, Uros; Bertschinger, Edmund

1994-01-01

We use the POTENT reconstruction of the mass density field in the nearby universe to estimate the amplitude of the density fluctuation power spectrum for various cosmological models. We find that sigma(sub 8) Omega(sub m sup 0.6) = 1.3(sub -0.3 sup +0.4), almost independently of the power spectrum. This value agrees well with the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) normalization for the standard cold dark matter model, while alternative models predict an excessive amplitude compared with COBE. Flat, low Omega(sub m) models and tilted models with spectral index n less than 0.8 are particularly discordant.

Chaotic density fluctuations in L-mode plasmas of the DIII-D tokamak

DOE PAGES

Maggs, J. E.; Rhodes, Terry L.; Morales, G. J.

2015-03-05

Analysis of the time series obtained with the Doppler backscattering system (DBS) in the DIII-D tokamak shows that intermediate wave number plasma density fluctuations in low confinement (L-mode) tokamak plasmas are chaotic. Here, the supporting evidence is based on the shape of the power spectrum; the location of the signal in the complexity-entropy plane (C-H plane); and the population of the corresponding Bandt-Pompe probability distributions.

Ultraviolet luminosity density of the universe during the epoch of reionization.

PubMed

Mitchell-Wynne, Ketron; Cooray, Asantha; Gong, Yan; Ashby, Matthew; Dolch, Timothy; Ferguson, Henry; Finkelstein, Steven; Grogin, Norman; Kocevski, Dale; Koekemoer, Anton; Primack, Joel; Smidt, Joseph

2015-09-08

The spatial fluctuations of the extragalactic background light trace the total emission from all stars and galaxies in the Universe. A multiwavelength study can be used to measure the integrated emission from first galaxies during reionization when the Universe was about 500 million years old. Here we report arcmin-scale spatial fluctuations in one of the deepest sky surveys with the Hubble Space Telescope in five wavebands between 0.6 and 1.6 μm. We model-fit the angular power spectra of intensity fluctuation measurements to find the ultraviolet luminosity density of galaxies at redshifts greater than 8 to be log ρ(UV) = 27.4(+0.2)(-1.2) ergs(-1) Hz(-1) Mpc(-3) (1σ). This level of integrated light emission allows for a significant surface density of fainter primeval galaxies that are below the point-source detection level in current surveys.

Experimental evaluation of fluctuating density and radiated noise from a high temperature jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Massier, P. F.; Parthasarathy, S. P.; Cuffel, R. F.

1973-01-01

An experimental investigation has been conducted to characterize the fluctuating density within a high-temperature (1100 K) subsonic jet and to characterize by the noise radiated to the surroundings. Cross correlations obtained by introducing time delay to the signals detected from spatially separated crossed laser beams set up as a Schlieren system were used to determine radial and axial distributions of the convection velocity of the moving noise sources (eddies). In addition, the autocorrelation of the fluctuating density was evaluated in the moving frame of reference of the eddies. Also, the autocorrelation of the radiated noise in the moving reference frame was evaluated from cross correlations by introducing time delay to the signals detected by spatially separated pairs of microphones. Radial distributions of the mean velocity were obtained from measurements of the stagnation temperature, and stagnation and static pressures with the use of probes.

Effects of Density Fluctuations on Weakly Nonlinear Alfven Waves: An IST Perspective

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, R.; Hadley, N.

2012-12-01

The effects of random density fluctuations on oblique, 1D, weakly nonlinear Alfven waves is examined through a numerical study of an analytical model developed by Ruderman [M.S. Ruderman, Phys. Plasmas, 9 (7), pp. 2940-2945, (2002).]. Consistent with Ruderman's application to the one-parameter dark soliton, the effects on both one-parameter bright and dark solitons, the two-parameter soliton as well as pairs of one-parameter solitons were similar to that of Ohmic dissipation found by Hamilton et al. [R. Hamilton, D. Peterson, and S. Libby, J. Geophys. Res 114, A03104,doi:10.1029/2008JA013582 (2009).] It was found in all cases where bright or two-parameter solitons are present initially, that the effects of density fluctuations results in the eventual damping of such compressive wave forms and the formation of a train of dark solitons, or magnetic depressions.

A phase contrast imaging-interferometer system for detection of multiscale electron density fluctuations on DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, E. M.; Rost, J. C.; Porkolab, M.; Marinoni, A.; Van Zeeland, M. A.

2016-11-01

Heterodyne interferometry and phase contrast imaging (PCI) are robust, mature techniques for measuring low-k and high-k electron density fluctuations, respectively. This work describes the first-ever implementation of a combined PCI-interferometer. The combined system uses a single 10.6 μm probe beam, two interference schemes, and two detectors to measure electron density fluctuations at large spatiotemporal bandwidth (10 kHz

Angular fluctuations of a multi-component order describe the pseudogap regime of the cuprate superconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sachdev, Subir

2014-03-01

The hole-doped cuprate high temperature superconductors enter the pseudogap regime as their superconducting critical temperature, Tc, falls with decreasing hole density. Experiments have probed this regime for over two decades, but we argue that decisive new information has emerged from recent X-ray scattering experiments. The experiments observe incommensurate charge density wave fluctuations whose strength rises gradually over a wide temperature range above Tc, but then decreases as the temperature is lowered below Tc. We propose a theory in which the superconducting and charge-density wave orders exhibit angular fluctuations in a 6-dimensional space. The theory provides a natural quantitative fit to the X-ray data, and is consistent with other observed characteristics of the pseudogap. Results will also be presented on the microscopic origins of these order parameters. Work in collaboration with Lauren Hayward, Roger Melko, David Hawthorn, and Jay Sau.

Modeling Electronic-Nuclear Interactions for Excitation Energy Transfer Processes in Light-Harvesting Complexes.

PubMed

Lee, Mi Kyung; Coker, David F

2016-08-18

An accurate approach for computing intermolecular and intrachromophore contributions to spectral densities to describe the electronic-nuclear interactions relevant for modeling excitation energy transfer processes in light harvesting systems is presented. The approach is based on molecular dynamics (MD) calculations of classical correlation functions of long-range contributions to excitation energy fluctuations and a separate harmonic analysis and single-point gradient quantum calculations for electron-intrachromophore vibrational couplings. A simple model is also presented that enables detailed analysis of the shortcomings of standard MD-based excitation energy fluctuation correlation function approaches. The method introduced here avoids these problems, and its reliability is demonstrated in accurate predictions for bacteriochlorophyll molecules in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson pigment-protein complex, where excellent agreement with experimental spectral densities is found. This efficient approach can provide instantaneous spectral densities for treating the influence of fluctuations in environmental dissipation on fast electronic relaxation.