Plasma-surface interaction in the Be/W environment: Conclusions drawn from the JET-ILW for ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brezinsek, S.; JET-EFDA contributors

2015-08-01

The JET ITER-Like Wall experiment (JET-ILW) provides an ideal test bed to investigate plasma-surface interaction (PSI) and plasma operation with the ITER plasma-facing material selection employing beryllium in the main chamber and tungsten in the divertor. The main PSI processes: material erosion and migration, (b) fuel recycling and retention, (c) impurity concentration and radiation have be1en studied and compared between JET-C and JET-ILW. The current physics understanding of these key processes in the JET-ILW revealed that both interpretation of previously obtained carbon results (JET-C) and predictions to ITER need to be revisited. The impact of the first-wall material on the plasma was underestimated. Main observations are: (a) low primary erosion source in H-mode plasmas and reduction of the material migration from the main chamber to the divertor (factor 7) as well as within the divertor from plasma-facing to remote areas (factor 30 - 50). The energetic threshold for beryllium sputtering minimises the primary erosion source and inhibits multi-step re-erosion in the divertor. The physical sputtering yield of tungsten is low as 10-5 and determined by beryllium ions. (b) Reduction of the long-term fuel retention (factor 10 - 20) in JET-ILW with respect to JET-C. The remaining retention is caused by implantation and co-deposition with beryllium and residual impurities. Outgassing has gained importance and impacts on the recycling properties of beryllium and tungsten. (c) The low effective plasma charge (Zeff = 1.2) and low radiation capability of beryllium reveal the bare deuterium plasma physics. Moderate nitrogen seeding, reaching Zeff = 1.6 , restores in particular the confinement and the L-H threshold behaviour. ITER-compatible divertor conditions with stable semi-detachment were obtained owing to a higher density limit with ILW. Overall JET demonstrated successful plasma operation in the Be/W material combination and confirms its advantageous PSI behaviour

Plasma flow patterns in and around magnetosheath jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plaschke, Ferdinand; Hietala, Heli

2018-05-01

The magnetosheath is commonly permeated by localized high-speed jets downstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock. These jets are much faster than the ambient magnetosheath plasma, thus raising the question of how that latter plasma reacts to incoming jets. We have performed a statistical analysis based on 662 cases of one THEMIS spacecraft observing a jet and another (second) THEMIS spacecraft providing context observations of nearby plasma to uncover the flow patterns in and around jets. The following results are found: along the jet's path, slower plasma is accelerated and pushed aside ahead of the fastest core jet plasma. Behind the jet core, plasma flows into the path to fill the wake. This evasive plasma motion affects the ambient magnetosheath, close to the jet's path. Diverging and converging plasma flows ahead and behind the jet are complemented by plasma flows opposite to the jet's propagation direction, in the vicinity of the jet. This vortical plasma motion results in a deceleration of ambient plasma when a jet passes nearby.

Measurement of deuterium-labeled phylloquinone in plasma by LC-APCI-MS

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Deuterium-labeled vegetables were fed to humans for the measurement of both unlabeled and deuterium-labeled phylloquinone in plasma. We developed a technique to determine the quantities of these compounds using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (LC...

Effect of ELMs on deuterium-loaded-tungsten plasma facing components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Umstadter, K. R.; Rudakov, D. L.; Wampler, W.; Watkins, J. G.; Wong, C. P. C.

2011-08-01

Prior heat pulse testing of plasma facing components (PFCs) has been completed in vacuum environments without the presence of background plasma. Edge localized modes (ELMs) will not be this kind of isolated event and one should know the effect of a plasma background during these transients. Heat-pulse experiments have been conducted in the PISCES-A device utilizing laser heating in a divertor-like plasma background. Initial results indicate that the erosion of PFCs is enhanced as compared to heat pulse or plasma only tests. To determine if the enhanced erosion effect is a phenomena only witnessed in the laboratory PISCES device, tungsten and graphite samples were exposed to plasmas in the lower divertor of the DIII-D tokamak using the Divertor Material Evaluation System (DiMES). Mass loss analysis indicates that materials that contain significant deuterium prior to experiencing a transient heating event will erode faster than those that have no or little retained deuterium.

Direct depth distribution measurement of deuterium in bulk tungsten exposed to high-flux plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, C. N.; Shimada, M.

2017-05-01

Understanding tritium retention and permeation in plasma-facing components is critical for fusion safety and fuel cycle control. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) is shown to be an effective tool to reveal the depth profile of deuterium in tungsten. Results confirm the detection of deuterium. A ˜46 μm depth profile revealed that the deuterium content decreased precipitously in the first 7 μm, and detectable amounts were observed to depths in excess of 20 μm. The large probing depth of GD-OES (up to 100s of μm) enables studies not previously accessible to the more conventional techniques for investigating deuterium retention. Of particular applicability is the use of GD-OES to measure the depth profile for experiments where high deuterium concentration in the bulk material is expected: deuterium retention in neutron irradiated materials, and ultra-high deuterium fluences in burning plasma environment.

The deuterium depth profile in neutron-irradiated tungsten exposed to plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimada, Masashi; Cao, G.; Hatano, Y.; Oda, T.; Oya, Y.; Hara, M.; Calderoni, P.

2011-12-01

Tungsten samples (99.99% purity from A.L.M.T. Corp., 6 mm in diameter, 0.2 mm in thickness) were irradiated by high-flux neutrons at 50 °C to 0.025 dpa in the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Subsequently, the neutron-irradiated tungsten samples were exposed to high-flux deuterium plasmas (ion flux: 1021-1022 m-2 s-1, ion fluence: 1025-1026 m-2) in the Tritium Plasma Experiment at Idaho National Laboratory. This paper reports the results of deuterium depth profiling in neutron-irradiated tungsten exposed to plasmas at 100, 200 and 500 °C via nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). The NRA measurements show that a significant amount of deuterium (>0.1 at.% D/W) remains trapped in the bulk material (up to 5 μm) at 500 °C. Tritium Migration Analysis Program simulation results using the NRA profiles indicate that different trapping mechanisms exist for neutron-irradiated and unirradiated tungsten.

Plasma confinement at JET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nunes, I.; JET Contributors

2016-01-01

Operation with a Be/W wall at JET (JET-ILW) has an impact on scenario development and energy confinement with respect to the carbon wall (JET-C). The main differences observed were (1) strong accumulation of W in the plasma core and (2) the need to mitigate the divertor target temperature to avoid W sputtering by Be and other low Z impurities and (3) a decrease of plasma energy confinement. A major difference is observed on the pedestal pressure, namely a reduction of the pedestal temperature which, due to profile stiffness the plasma core temperature is also reduced leading to a degradation of the global confinement. This effect is more pronounced in low β N scenarios. At high β N, the impact of the wall on the plasma energy confinement is mitigated by the weaker plasma energy degradation with power relative to the IPB98(y, 2) scaling calculated empirically for a CFC first wall. The smaller tolerable impurity concentration for tungsten (<10-5) compared to that of carbon requires the use of electron heating methods to prevent W accumulation in the plasma core region as well as gas puffing to avoid W entering the plasma core by ELM flushing and reduction of the W source by decreasing the target temperature. W source and the target temperature can also be controlled by impurity seeding. Nitrogen and Neon have been used and with both gases the reduction of the W source and the target temperature is observed. Whilst more experiments with Neon are necessary to assess its impact on energy confinement, a partial increase of plasma energy confinement is observed with Nitrogen, through the increase of edge temperature. The challenge for scenario development at JET is to extend the pulse length curtailed by its transient behavior (W accumulation or MHD), but more importantly by the divertor target temperature limits. Re-optimisation of the scenarios to mitigate the effect of the change of wall materials maintaining high global energy confinement similar to JET-C is

Direct depth distribution measurement of deuterium in bulk tungsten exposed to high-flux plasma

DOE PAGES

Taylor, Chase N.; Shimada, M.

2017-05-08

Understanding tritium retention and permeation in plasma-facing components is critical for fusion safety and fuel cycle control. Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES) is shown to be an effective tool to reveal the depth profile of deuterium in tungsten. Results confirm the detection of deuterium. Furthermore, a ~46 µm depth profile revealed that the deuterium content decreased precipitously in the first 7 µm, and detectable amounts were observed to depths in excess of 20 µm. The large probing depth of GD-OES (up to 100s of µm) enables studies not previously accessible to the more conventional techniques for investigating deuterium retention.more » Of particular applicability is the use of GD-OES to measure the depth profile for experiments where high diffusion is expected: deuterium retention in neutron irradiated materials, and ultra-high deuterium fluences in burning plasma environment.« less

Influence of sub-surface damage evolution on low-energy-plasma-driven deuterium permeation through tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapser, Stefan; Balden, Martin; Fiorini da Silva, Tiago; Elgeti, Stefan; Manhard, Armin; Schmid, Klaus; Schwarz-Selinger, Thomas; von Toussaint, Udo

2018-05-01

Low-energy-plasma-driven deuterium permeation through tungsten at 300 K and 450 K has been investigated. Microstructural analysis by scanning electron microscopy, assisted by focused ion beam, revealed sub-surface damage evolution only at 300 K. This damage evolution was correlated with a significant evolution of the deuterium amount retained below the plasma-exposed surface. Although both of these phenomena were observed for 300 K exposure temperature only, the deuterium permeation flux at both exposure temperatures was indistinguishable within the experimental uncertainty. The permeation flux was used to estimate the maximum ratio of solute-deuterium to tungsten atoms during deuterium-plasma exposure at both temperatures and thus in the presence and absence of damage evolution. Diffusion-trapping simulations revealed the proximity of damage evolution to the implantation surface as the reason for an only insignificant decrease of the permeation flux.

Isotope effects on L-H threshold and confinement in tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maggi, C. F.; Weisen, H.; Hillesheim, J. C.; Chankin, A.; Delabie, E.; Horvath, L.; Auriemma, F.; Carvalho, I. S.; Corrigan, G.; Flanagan, J.; Garzotti, L.; Keeling, D.; King, D.; Lerche, E.; Lorenzini, R.; Maslov, M.; Menmuir, S.; Saarelma, S.; Sips, A. C. C.; Solano, E. R.; Belonohy, E.; Casson, F. J.; Challis, C.; Giroud, C.; Parail, V.; Silva, C.; Valisa, M.; Contributors, JET

2018-01-01

The dependence of plasma transport and confinement on the main hydrogenic ion isotope mass is of fundamental importance for understanding turbulent transport and, therefore, for accurate extrapolations of confinement from present tokamak experiments, which typically use a single hydrogen isotope, to burning plasmas such as ITER, which will operate in deuterium-tritium mixtures. Knowledge of the dependence of plasma properties and edge transport barrier formation on main ion species is critical in view of the initial, low-activation phase of ITER operations in hydrogen or helium and of its implications on the subsequent operation in deuterium-tritium. The favourable scaling of global energy confinement time with isotope mass, which has been observed in many tokamak experiments, remains largely unexplained theoretically. Moreover, the mass scaling observed in experiments varies depending on the plasma edge conditions. In preparation for upcoming deuterium-tritium experiments in the JET tokamak with the ITER-like Be/W Wall (JET-ILW), a thorough experimental investigation of isotope effects in hydrogen, deuterium and tritium plasmas is being carried out, in order to provide stringent tests of plasma energy, particle and momentum transport models. Recent hydrogen and deuterium isotope experiments in JET-ILW on L-H power threshold, L-mode and H-mode confinement are reviewed and discussed in the context of past and more recent isotope experiments in tokamak plasmas, highlighting common elements as well as contrasting observations that have been reported. The experimental findings are discussed in the context of fundamental aspects of plasma transport models.

Magnetosheath jets: MMS observations of internal structures and jet interactions with ambient plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Plaschke, F.; Karlsson, T.; Hietala, H.; Archer, M. O.; Voros, Z.; Nakamura, R.; Magnes, W.; Baumjohann, W.; Torbert, R. B.; Russell, C. T.; Giles, B. L.

2017-12-01

The dayside magnetosheath downstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock is commonly permeated by high-speed jets. Under low IMF cone angle conditions, large scale jets alone (with cross-sectional diameters of over 2 Earth radii) have been found to impact the subsolar magnetopause once every 6 minutes - smaller scale jets occurring much more frequently. The consequences of jet impacts on the magnetopause can be significant: they may trigger local reconnection and waves, alter radiation belt electron drift paths, disturb the geomagnetic field, and potentially generate diffuse throat aurora at the dayside ionosphere. Although some basic statistical properties of jets are well-established, their internal structure and interactions with the surrounding magnetosheath plasma are rather unknown. We present Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) observations which reveal a rich jet-internal structure of high-amplitude plasma moment and magnetic field variations and associated currents. These variations/structures are generally found to be in thermal and magnetic pressure balance; they mostly (but not always) convect with the plasma flow. Small velocity differences between plasma and structures are revealed via four-spacecraft timing analysis. Inside a jet core region, where the plasma velocity maximizes, structures are found to propagate forward (i.e., with the jet), whereas backward propagation is found outside that core region. Although super-magnetosonic flows are detected by MMS in the spacecraft frame of reference, no fast shock is seen as the jet plasma is sub-magnetosonic with respect to the ambient magnetosheath plasma. Instead, the fast jet plasma pushes ambient magnetosheath plasma ahead of the jet out of the way, possibly generating anomalous sunward flows in the vicinity, and modifies the magnetic field aligning it with the direction of jet propagation.

On the structure of pulsed plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cavolowsky, John Arthur

A pulsed plasma jet is a turbulent, inhomogeneous fluid mechanical discharge capable of initiating and inhancing combustion. Having shown the ability to ignite lean fuel mixtures, is now offers the potential for real-time control of combustion processes. The fluid mechanical and chemical properties of such jets are explored. The fluid mechanical structure of the jet was examined using two optical diagnostic techniques. Self-light streak photography provided information on the motion of luminous gas particles in its core. The turbulent, thermal evolution of the jet was explored using high speed laser schlieren cinematography. By examine plasma jet generators with both opaque and transparent plasma cavities, detailed information on plasma formation and jet structure, beginning with the electric arc discharge in the cavity, was obtained. Molecular beam mass spectroscopy was used to determine temperature and species concentration in the jet. Both noncombustible and combustible jets were studied. Species measurements in combustible jets revealed significant concentrations of radicals and products of complete as well as incomplete combustion.

Eulerian and Lagrangian Plasma Jet Modeling for the Plasma Liner Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatcher, Richard; Cassibry, Jason; Stanic, Milos; Loverich, John; Hakim, Ammar

2011-10-01

The Plasma Liner Experiment (PLX) aims to demonstrate the feasibility of using spherically-convergent plasma jets to from an imploding plasma liner. Our group has modified two hydrodynamic simulation codes to include radiative loss, tabular equations of state (EOS), and thermal transport. Nautilus, created by TechX Corporation, is a finite-difference Eulerian code which solves the MHD equations formulated as systems of hyperbolic conservation laws. The other is SPHC, a smoothed particle hydrodynamics code produced by Stellingwerf Consulting. Use of the Lagrangian fluid particle approach of SPH is motivated by the ability to accurately track jet interfaces, the plasma vacuum boundary, and mixing of various layers, but Eulerian codes have been in development for much longer and have better shock capturing. We validate these codes against experimental measurements of jet propagation, expansion, and merging of two jets. Precursor jets are observed to form at the jet interface. Conditions that govern evolution of two and more merging jets are explored.

On non-equilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jets and plasma bullet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Xinpei

2012-10-01

Because of the enhanced plasma chemistry, atmospheric pressure nonequilibrium plasmas (APNPs) have been widely studied for several emerging applications such as biomedical applications. For the biomedical applications, plasma jet devices, which generate plasma in open space (surrounding air) rather than in confined discharge gaps only, have lots of advantages over the traditional dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) devices. For example, it can be used for root canal disinfection, which can't be realized by the traditional plasma device. On the other hand, currently, the working gases of most of the plasma jet devices are noble gases or the mixtures of the noble gases with small amount of O2, or air. If ambient air is used as the working gas, several serious difficulties are encountered in the plasma generation process. Amongst these are high gas temperatures and disrupting instabilities. In this presentation, firstly, a brief review of the different cold plasma jets developed to date is presented. Secondly, several different plasma jet devices developed in our lab are reported. The effects of various parameters on the plasma jets are discussed. Finally, one of the most interesting phenomena of APNP-Js, the plasma bullet is discussed and its behavior is described. References: [1] X. Lu, M. Laroussi, V. Puech, Plasma Sources Sci. Technol. 21, 034005 (2012); [2] Y. Xian, X. Lu, S. Wu, P. Chu, and Y. Pan, Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 123702 (2012); [3] X. Pei, X. Lu, J. Liu, D. Liu, Y. Yang, K. Ostrikov, P. Chu, and Y. Pan, J. Phys. D 45, 165205 (2012).

Integrated modelling of H-mode pedestal and confinement in JET-ILW

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saarelma, S.; Challis, C. D.; Garzotti, L.; Frassinetti, L.; Maggi, C. F.; Romanelli, M.; Stokes, C.; Contributors, JET

2018-01-01

A pedestal prediction model Europed is built on the existing EPED1 model by coupling it with core transport simulation using a Bohm-gyroBohm transport model to self-consistently predict JET-ILW power scan for hybrid plasmas that display weaker power degradation than the IPB98(y, 2) scaling of the energy confinement time. The weak power degradation is reproduced in the coupled core-pedestal simulation. The coupled core-pedestal model is further tested for a 3.0 MA plasma with the highest stored energy achieved in JET-ILW so far, giving a prediction of the stored plasma energy within the error margins of the measured experimental value. A pedestal density prediction model based on the neutral penetration is tested on a JET-ILW database giving a prediction with an average error of 17% from the experimental data when a parameter taking into account the fuelling rate is added into the model. However the model fails to reproduce the power dependence of the pedestal density implying missing transport physics in the model. The future JET-ILW deuterium campaign with increased heating power is predicted to reach plasma energy of 11 MJ, which would correspond to 11-13 MW of fusion power in equivalent deuterium-tritium plasma but with isotope effects on pedestal stability and core transport ignored.

Double-Layered Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Jaegu; Matsuo, Keita; Yoshida, Hidekazu; Namihira, Takao; Katsuki, Sunao; Akiyama, Hidenori

2009-08-01

In this paper, we present a double-layered atmospheric pressure plasma jet (DLAPPJ) that is expected to improve conventional single-layered atmospheric pressure plasma jets. With the additional introduction of nitrogen gas into the outer nozzle between the inner and outer tubes, the plasma plume is boosted, resulting in a brighter and longer plasma torch, which may have more radicals and which may broaden the application range of atmospheric pressure plasma jets. The characteristics of the proposed device were investigated with the measurement of the visible torch length, wettability tests and optical emission spectroscopy. The results obtained imply that the DLAPPJ can be used for target-based plasma treatments, that is, (a) oxidation-related applications, such as surface treatment, biological decontamination and apoptosis induction, and (b) nitrification-related applications such as NO generation for wound healing and surface modification, by controlling radicals in plasmas.

Deuterium retention and release behaviours of tungsten and deuterium co-deposited layers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiao, L.; Zhang, H. W.; Xu, J.; Chai, L. Q.; Hu, M.; Wang, P.

2018-04-01

Tungsten (W) layer deposited in argon and deuterium atmosphere by magnetron sputtering was used as a model system to study the deuterium (D) retention and release behavior in co-deposited W layer. After deposition several selected samples were exposed in deuterium plasma at 370 K with a flux of 4.0 × 1021 D/(m2 s) up to a fluence of 1.1 × 1025 D/m2. Structures of co-deposited W layers are investigated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), and the corresponding D retention and release behaviors are studied as functions of deposition and exposure parameters using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). Two main D release peaks were detected from TDS spectra located near 600 and 800 K in these W and D co-deposited layers, and total deuterium retention increased linearly as a function of W layer's thickness. After deuterium plasma exposure, the total D retention amount in W layer increases significantly and D release peak shifts to lower temperature. Clearly, despite the high density of defects expected in co-deposited W layers, the initial deuterium retention before exposure to the deuterium plasma is low even for the samples with a W&D layer. But due to the high densities of defects, during the deuterium plasma exposure the deuterium retention increases faster for co-deposited layer than for the bulk W sample.

Mechanisms of Plasma Acceleration in Coronal Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soto, N.; Reeves, K.; Savcheva, A. S.

2016-12-01

Jets are small explosions that occur frequently in the Sun possibly driven by the local reconfiguration of the magnetic field, or reconnection. There are two types of coronal jets: standard jets and blowout jets. The purpose of this project is to determine which mechanisms accelerate plasma in two different jets, one that occurred in January 17, 2015 at the disk of the sun and another in October 24, 2015 at the limb. Two possible acceleration mechanisms are chromospheric evaporation and magnetic acceleration. Using SDO/AIA, Hinode/XRT and IRIS data, we create height-time plots, and calculate the velocities of each wavelength for both jets. We calculate the potential magnetic field of the jet and the general region around it to gain a more detailed understanding of its structure, and determine if the jet is likely to be either a standard or blowout jet. Finally, we calculate the magnetic field strength for different heights along the jet spire, and use differential emission measures to calculate the plasma density. Once we have these two values, we calculate the Alfven speed. When analyzing our results we are looking for certain patterns in our velocities. If the plasma in a jet is accelerated by chromospheric evaporation, we expect the velocities to increase as function of temperature, which is what we observed in the October 24th jet. The magnetic models for this jet also show the Eiffel Tower shaped structure characteristic of standard jets, which tend to have plasma accelerated by this mechanism. On the other hand, if the acceleration mechanism were magnetic acceleration, we would expect the velocities to be similar regardless of temperature. For the January 17th jet, we saw that along the spire, the velocities where approximately 200 km/s in all wavelengths, but the velocities of hot plasma detected at the base were closer to the Alfven speed, which was estimated to be about 2,000 km/s. These observations suggest that the plasma in the January 17th jet is

Experimental studies of collisional plasma shocks and plasma interpenetration via merging supersonic plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, S. C.; Moser, A. L.; Merritt, E. C.; Adams, C. S.

2015-11-01

Over the past 4 years on the Plasma Liner Experiment (PLX) at LANL, we have studied obliquely and head-on-merging supersonic plasma jets of an argon/impurity or hydrogen/impurity mixture. The jets are formed/launched by pulsed-power-driven railguns. In successive experimental campaigns, we characterized the (a) evolution of plasma parameters of a single plasma jet as it propagated up to ~ 1 m away from the railgun nozzle, (b) density profiles and 2D morphology of the stagnation layer and oblique shocks that formed between obliquely merging jets, and (c) collisionless interpenetration transitioning to collisional stagnation between head-on-merging jets. Key plasma diagnostics included a fast-framing CCD camera, an 8-chord visible interferometer, a survey spectrometer, and a photodiode array. This talk summarizes the primary results mentioned above, and highlights analyses of inferred post-shock temperatures based on observations of density gradients that we attribute to shock-layer thickness. We also briefly describe more recent PLX experiments on Rayleigh-Taylor-instability evolution with magnetic and viscous effects, and potential future collisionless shock experiments enabled by low-impurity, higher-velocity plasma jets formed by contoured-gap coaxial guns. Supported by DOE Fusion Energy Sciences and LANL LDRD.

Modelling of combined ICRF and NBI heating in JET hybrid plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallart, Dani; Mantsinen, Mervi; Challis, Clive; Frigione, Domenico; Graves, Jonathan; Hobirk, Joerg; Belonohy, Eva; Czarnecka, Agata; Eriksson, Jacob; Goniche, Marc; Hellesen, Carl; Jacquet, Philippe; Joffrin, Emmanuel; Krawczyk, Natalia; King, Damian; Lennholm, Morten; Lerche, Ernesto; Pawelec, Ewa; Sips, George; Solano, Emilia; Tsalas, Maximos; Valisa, Marco

2017-10-01

During the 2015-2016 JET campaigns many efforts have been devoted to the exploration of high performance plasma scenarios envisaged for ITER operation. In this paper we model the combined ICRF+NBI heating in selected key hybrid discharges using PION. The antenna frequency was tuned to match the cyclotron frequency of minority hydrogen (H) at the center of the tokamak coinciding with the second harmonic cyclotron resonance of deuterium. The modelling takes into account the synergy between ICRF and NBI heating through the second harmonic cyclotron resonance of deuterium beam ions which allows us to assess its impact on the neutron rate RNT. We evaluate the influence of H concentration which was varied in different discharges in order to test their role in the heating performance. According to our modelling, the ICRF enhancement of RNT increases by decreasing the H concentration which increases the ICRF power absorbed by deuterons. We find that in the recent hybrid discharges this ICRF enhancement was in the range of 10-25%. Finally, we extrapolate the results to D-T and find that the best performing hybrid discharges correspond to an equivalent fusion power of ˜7.0 MW in D-T.

Laboratory plasma physics experiments using merging supersonic plasma jets

DOE PAGES

Hsu, S. C.; Moser, A. L.; Merritt, E. C.; ...

2015-04-01

We describe a laboratory plasma physics experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory that uses two merging supersonic plasma jets formed and launched by pulsed-power-driven railguns. The jets can be formed using any atomic species or mixture available in a compressed-gas bottle and have the following nominal initial parameters at the railgun nozzle exit: n e ≈ n i ~ 10¹⁶ cm⁻³, T e ≈ T i ≈ 1.4 eV, V jet ≈ 30–100 km/s, mean chargemore » $$\\bar{Z}$$ ≈ 1, sonic Mach number M s ≡ V jet/C s > 10, jet diameter = 5 cm, and jet length ≈ 20 cm. Experiments to date have focused on the study of merging-jet dynamics and the shocks that form as a result of the interaction, in both collisional and collisionless regimes with respect to the inter-jet classical ion mean free path, and with and without an applied magnetic field. However, many other studies are also possible, as discussed in this paper.« less

Laboratory plasma physics experiments using merging supersonic plasma jets

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

Hsu, S. C.; Moser, A. L.; Merritt, E. C.

We describe a laboratory plasma physics experiment at Los Alamos National Laboratory that uses two merging supersonic plasma jets formed and launched by pulsed-power-driven railguns. The jets can be formed using any atomic species or mixture available in a compressed-gas bottle and have the following nominal initial parameters at the railgun nozzle exit: n e ≈ n i ~ 10¹⁶ cm⁻³, T e ≈ T i ≈ 1.4 eV, V jet ≈ 30–100 km/s, mean chargemore » $$\\bar{Z}$$ ≈ 1, sonic Mach number M s ≡ V jet/C s > 10, jet diameter = 5 cm, and jet length ≈ 20 cm. Experiments to date have focused on the study of merging-jet dynamics and the shocks that form as a result of the interaction, in both collisional and collisionless regimes with respect to the inter-jet classical ion mean free path, and with and without an applied magnetic field. However, many other studies are also possible, as discussed in this paper.« less

Tungsten nitride coatings obtained by HiPIMS as plasma facing materials for fusion applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tiron, Vasile; Velicu, Ioana-Laura; Porosnicu, Corneliu; Burducea, Ion; Dinca, Paul; Malinský, Petr

2017-09-01

In this work, tungsten nitride coatings with nitrogen content in the range of 19-50 at% were prepared by reactive multi-pulse high power impulse magnetron sputtering as a function of the argon and nitrogen mixture and further exposed to a deuterium plasma jet. The elemental composition, morphological properties and physical structure of the samples were investigated by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Deuterium implantation was performed using a deuterium plasma jet and its retention in nitrogen containing tungsten films was investigated using thermal desorption spectrometry. Deuterium retention and release behaviour strongly depend on the nitrogen content in the coatings and the films microstructure. All nitride coatings have a polycrystalline structure and retain a lower deuterium level than the pure tungsten sample. Nitrogen content in the films acts as a diffusion barrier for deuterium and leads to a higher desorption temperature, therefore to a higher binding energy.

Structure and Dynamics of Colliding Plasma Jets

DOE PAGES

Li, C.; Ryutov, D.; Hu, S.; ...

2013-12-01

Monoenergetic-proton radiographs of laser-generated, high-Mach-number plasma jets colliding at various angles shed light on the structures and dynamics of these collisions. The observations compare favorably with results from 2D hydrodynamic simulations of multistream plasma jets, and also with results from an analytic treatment of electron flow and magnetic field advection. In collisions of two noncollinear jets, the observed flow structure is similar to the analytic model’s prediction of a characteristic feature with a narrow structure pointing in one direction and a much thicker one pointing in the opposite direction. Spontaneous magnetic fields, largely azimuthal around the colliding jets and generatedmore » by the well-known ∇T e ×∇n e Biermann battery effect near the periphery of the laser spots, are demonstrated to be “frozen in” the plasma (due to high magnetic Reynolds number R M ~5×10⁴) and advected along the jet streamlines of the electron flow. These studies provide novel insight into the interactions and dynamics of colliding plasma jets.« less

Enhancement of deuterium retention in damaged tungsten by plasma-induced defect clustering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Younggil; Roh, Ki-Baek; Sheen, Mi-Hyang; Kim, Nam-Kyun; Song, Jaemin; Kim, Young-Woon; Kim, Gon-Ho

2017-12-01

The enhancement of deuterium retention was investigated for tungsten in the presence of both 2.8 MeV self-ion induced cascade damage and fuel hydrogen isotope plasma. Vacancy clustering in cascade damaged polycrystalline tungsten occurred due to deuterium irradiation and was observed near the grain boundary by using all-step transmission electron microscopy analysis. Analysis of the highest desorption temperature peak using thermal desorption spectroscopy supports reasonable evidence of defect clustering in the damaged polycrystalline tungsten. The defect clustering was neither observed on the damaged polycrystalline tungsten without deuterium irradiation nor on the damaged single-crystalline tungsten with deuterium irradiation. This result implies the synergetic role of deuterium and grain boundary on defect clustering. This study proposes a path for the defect transform from point defect to defect cluster, by the agglomeration between irradiated deuterium and cascade damage-induced defect. This agglomeration may induce more severe damage on the tungsten divertor at which the high fuel hydrogen ions, fast neutrons, and self-ions are irradiated simultaneously and it would increase the in-vessel tritium inventory.

Interaction of argon and helium plasma jets and jets arrays with account for gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babaeva, Natalia Yu.; Naidis, George V.; Panov, Vladislav A.; Wang, Ruixue; Zhao, Yong; Shao, Tao

2018-06-01

In this paper, we discuss results from an experimental and computational study of the properties of a single jet and two-tube jet arrays operating in argon and helium. The jets are positioned horizontally. It was shown in experiments that the helium plasma plume bends upward and the plumes in the two-tubes jet array tend to divert due to the jet-jet interaction. To investigate these potential interactions, a computational study was performed of one- and two-tube argon and helium jet arrays having variable spacing. The effects of buoyancy forces on the jet-to-jet interaction of the plasma plumes are also investigated. Velocities of ionization waves inside and outside the tubes are estimated and compared for the argon and helium ionization waves. We show that in helium jet-jet interactions primarily depend on the spacing between the tubes and on the buoyancy forces. The helium plumes tend to merge into one single stream before dissipating, while the argon plasma plumes are less sensitive to the spacing of the jet tubes.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jet

DOEpatents

Selwyn, Gary S.

1999-01-01

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. A .gamma.-mode, resonant-cavity plasma discharge that can be operated at atmospheric pressure and near room temperature using 13.56 MHz rf power is described. Unlike plasma torches, the discharge produces a gas-phase effluent no hotter than 250.degree. C. at an applied power of about 300 W, and shows distinct non-thermal characteristics. In the simplest design, two concentric cylindrical electrodes are employed to generate a plasma in the annular region therebetween. A "jet" of long-lived metastable and reactive species that are capable of rapidly cleaning or etching metals and other materials is generated which extends up to 8 in. beyond the open end of the electrodes. Films and coatings may also be removed by these species. Arcing is prevented in the apparatus by using gas mixtures containing He, which limits ionization, by using high flow velocities, and by properly shaping the rf-powered electrode. Because of the atmospheric pressure operation, no ions survive for a sufficiently long distance beyond the active plasma discharge to bombard a workpiece, unlike low-pressure plasma sources and conventional plasma processing methods.

Structural Changes in the Vanadium Sample Surface Induced by Pulsed High-Temperature Deuterium Plasma and Deuterium Ion Fluxes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borovitskaya, I. V.; Pimenov, V. N.; Gribkov, V. A.; Padukh, M.; Bondarenko, G. G.; Gaidar, A. I.; Paramonova, V. V.; Morozov, E. V.

2017-11-01

The structural changes in the vanadium sample surface are studied as functions of the conditions of irradiation by pulsed high-temperature deuterium plasma and deuterium ion fluxes in the Plasma Focus installation. It is found that processes of partial evaporation, melting, and crystallization of the surface layer of vanadium samples take place in the plasma flux power density range q = 108-1010 W/cm2 and the ion flux density range q = 1010-1012 W/cm2. The surface relief is wavelike. There are microcracks, gas-filled bubbles (blisters), and traces of fracture on the surface. The blisters are failed in the solid state. The character of blister fracture is similar to that observed during usual ion irradiation in accelerators. The samples irradiated at relatively low power density ( q = 107-108 W/cm2) demonstrate the ejection of microparticles (surface fragments) on the side facing plasma. This process is assumed to be due to the fact that the unloading wave formed in the sample-target volume reaches its irradiated surface. Under certain irradiation conditions (sample-anode distance, the number of plasma pulses), a block microstructure with block sizes of several tens of microns forms on the sample surfaces. This structure is likely to form via directional crack propagation upon cooling of a thin melted surface layer.

Intra-jet shocks in two counter-streaming, weakly collisional plasma jets

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

Ryutov, D. D.; Kugland, N. L.; Park, H.-S.

2012-07-15

Counterstreaming laser-generated plasma jets can serve as a test-bed for the studies of a variety of astrophysical phenomena, including collisionless shock waves. In the latter problem, the jet's parameters have to be chosen in such a way as to make the collisions between the particles of one jet with the particles of the other jet very rare. This can be achieved by making the jet velocities high and the Coulomb cross-sections correspondingly low. On the other hand, the intra-jet collisions for high-Mach-number jets can still be very frequent, as they are determined by the much lower thermal velocities of themore » particles of each jet. This paper describes some peculiar properties of intra-jet hydrodynamics in such a setting: the steepening of smooth perturbations and shock formation affected by the presence of the 'stiff' opposite flow; the role of a rapid electron heating in shock formation; ion heating by the intrajet shock. The latter effect can cause rapid ion heating which is consistent with recent counterstreaming jet experiments by Ross et al.[Phys. Plasmas 19, 056501 (2012)].« less

[Temperature measurement of DC argon plasma jet].

PubMed

Yan, Jian-Hua; Pan, Xin-Chao; Ma, Zeng-Yi; Tu, Xin; Cen, Ke-Fa

2008-01-01

The electron temperature of DC arc plasma jet is an important parameter, which determines the characteristics of plasma jet. The measurement of emission spectrum was performed to obtain the spectral intensities of some Ar lines and the method of diagrammatic view of Boltzmann was adopted to calculate the electron temperature. The results indicated that the electron temperature dropped at different speed along with the axes of the plasma jet and rose rapidly when the current was increased, and it also rose when the flowrate of argon was increased.

Cellular membrane collapse by atmospheric-pressure plasma jet

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

Kim, Kangil; Sik Yang, Sang, E-mail: jsjlee@ajou.ac.kr, E-mail: ssyang@ajou.ac.kr; Jun Ahn, Hak

2014-01-06

Cellular membrane dysfunction caused by air plasma in cancer cells has been studied to exploit atmospheric-pressure plasma jets for cancer therapy. Here, we report that plasma jet treatment of cervical cancer HeLa cells increased electrical conductivity across the cellular lipid membrane and caused simultaneous lipid oxidation and cellular membrane collapse. We made this finding by employing a self-manufactured microelectrode chip. Furthermore, increased roughness of the cellular lipid membrane and sequential collapse of the membrane were observed by atomic force microscopy following plasma jet treatment. These results suggest that the cellular membrane catastrophe occurs via coincident altered electrical conductivity, lipid oxidation,more » and membrane roughening caused by an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet, possibly resulting in cellular vulnerability to reactive species generated from the plasma as well as cytotoxicity to cancer cells.« less

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

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

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

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

Plasma Jet Simulations Using a Generalized Ohm's Law

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ebersohn, Frans; Shebalin, John V.; Girimaji, Sharath S.

2012-01-01

Plasma jets are important physical phenomena in astrophysics and plasma propulsion devices. A currently proposed dual jet plasma propulsion device to be used for ISS experiments strongly resembles a coronal loop and further draws a parallel between these physical systems [1]. To study plasma jets we use numerical methods that solve the compressible MHD equations using the generalized Ohm s law [2]. Here, we will discuss the crucial underlying physics of these systems along with the numerical procedures we utilize to study them. Recent results from our numerical experiments will be presented and discussed.

Coupled interactions between tungsten surfaces and transient high-heat-flux deuterium plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takamura, S.; Uesugi, Y.

2015-03-01

Fundamental studies on the interactions between transient deuterium-plasma heat pulses and tungsten surfaces were carried out in terms of electrical, mechanical and thermal response in a compact plasma device AIT-PID (Aichi Institute of Technology-Plasma Irradiation Device). Firstly, electron-emission-induced surface-temperature increase is discussed in the surface-temperature range near tungsten's melting point, which is accomplished by controlling the sheath voltage and power transmission factor. Secondly, anomalous penetration of tungsten atomic efflux into the surrounding plasma was observed in addition to a normal layered population; it is discussed in terms of the effect of substantial tungsten influx into the deuterium plasma, which causes dissipation of plasma electron energy. Thirdly, a momentum input from pulsed plasma onto a tungsten target was observed visually. The force is estimated numerically by the accelerated ion flow to the target as well as the reaction of tungsten-vapour efflux. Finally, a discussion follows on the effects of the plasma heat pulses on the morphology of tungsten surface (originally a helium-induced ‘fuzzy’ nanostructure). A kind of bifurcated effect is obtained: melting and annealing. Open questions remain for all the phenomena observed, although sheath-voltage-dependent plasma-heat input may be a key parameter. Discussions on all these phenomena are provided by considering their implications to tokamak fusion devices.

Characterization of human plasma proteome dynamics using deuterium oxide.

PubMed

Wang, Ding; Liem, David A; Lau, Edward; Ng, Dominic C M; Bleakley, Brian J; Cadeiras, Martin; Deng, Mario C; Lam, Maggie P Y; Ping, Peipei

2014-08-01

High-throughput quantification of human protein turnover via in vivo administration of deuterium oxide ((2) H2 O) is a powerful new approach to examine potential disease mechanisms. Its immediate clinical translation is contingent upon characterizations of the safety and hemodynamic effects of in vivo administration of (2) H2 O to human subjects. We recruited ten healthy human subjects with a broad demographic variety to evaluate the safety, feasibility, efficacy, and reproducibility of (2) H2 O intake for studying protein dynamics. We designed a protocol where each subject orally consumed weight-adjusted doses of 70% (2) H2 O daily for 14 days to enrich body water and proteins with deuterium. Plasma proteome dynamics was measured using a high-resolution MS method we recently developed. This protocol was successfully applied in ten human subjects to characterize the endogenous turnover rates of 542 human plasma proteins, the largest such human dataset to-date. Throughout the study, we did not detect physiological effects or signs of discomfort from (2) H2 O consumption. Our investigation supports the utility of a (2) H2 O intake protocol that is safe, accessible, and effective for clinical investigations of large-scale human protein turnover dynamics. This workflow shows promising clinical translational value for examining plasma protein dynamics in human diseases. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Characterization of human plasma proteome dynamics using deuterium oxide

PubMed Central

Wang, Ding; Liem, David A; Lau, Edward; Ng, Dominic CM; Bleakley, Brian J; Cadeiras, Martin; Deng, Mario C; Lam, Maggie PY; Ping, Peipei

2016-01-01

Purpose High-throughput quantification of human protein turnover via in vivo administration of deuterium oxide (2H2O) is a powerful new approach to examine potential disease mechanisms. Its immediate clinical translation is contingent upon characterizations of the safety and hemodynamic effects of in vivo administration of 2H2O to human subjects. Experimental design We recruited 10 healthy human subjects with a broad demographic variety to evaluate the safety, feasibility, efficacy, and reproducibility of 2H2O intake for studying protein dynamics. We designed a protocol where each subject orally consumed weight-adjusted doses of 70% 2H2O daily for 14 days to enrich body water and proteins with deuterium. Plasma proteome dynamics was measured using a high-resolution MS method we recently developed. Results This protocol was successfully applied in 10 human subjects to characterize the endogenous turnover rates of 542 human plasma proteins, the largest such human dataset to-date. Throughout the study, we did not detect physiological effects or signs of discomfort from 2H2O consumption. Conclusions and clinical relevance Our investigation supports the utility of a 2H2O intake protocol that is safe, accessible, and effective for clinical investigations of large-scale human protein turnover dynamics. This workflow shows promising clinical translational value for examining plasma protein dynamics in human diseases. PMID:24946186

Dynamics of apokamp-type atmospheric pressure plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2017-02-01

The paper describes a new discharge source of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) in air with no gas supply through the discharge region. In this discharge mode, plasma jets develop from the bending point of a bright current channel between two electrodes and are therefore termed an apokamp (from Greek `off' and `bend'). The apokamp can represent single plasma jets of length up 6 cm or several jets, and the temperature of such jets can range from more than 1000 °C at their base to 100-250 °C at their tip. Apokamps are formed at maximum applied voltage of positive polarity, provided that the second electrode is capacitively decoupled with ground. According to high-speed photography with time resolution from several nanoseconds to several tens of nanoseconds, the apokamp consists of a set of plasma bullets moving with a velocity of 100-220 km/s, which excludes the convective mechanism of plasma decay. Estimates on a 100-ns scale show that the near-electrode zones and the zones from which apokamps develop are close in temperature.

Plasma Jet Interaction with Thomson Scattering Probe Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byvank, Tom; Banasek, Jacob; Potter, William; Kusse, Bruce

2016-10-01

Thomson scattering systems can diagnose plasma temperatures and velocities. When probing a plasma jet with the Thomson scattering laser, we observe a laser-plasma interaction that inputs energy into the plasma jet. The absorbed energy causes a bubble of low density ( 5*1017 cm-2) in the jet (unperturbed 1018 cm-2). A pulsed power machine (1 MA peak current, 100 ns rise time) with a radial foil (15 μm thick Al) configuration generates the plasma jet. We compare the effects of using 10 J and 1 J laser energies, for which the 10 J laser is a larger perturbation. We discuss how the interaction affects the Thomson scattering temperature and velocity measurements. Work supported by National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Stewardship Sciences Academic Programs under Department of Energy (DOE) Cooperative Agreement DE-NA0001836 and National Science Foundation (NSF) Grant PHY-1102471.

Characterization of a low pressure supersonic plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Caldirola, S.; Barni, R.; Riccardi, C.

2014-11-01

Plasma assisted supersonic jet deposition (PA-SJD) is a technique which combines a inductively coupled plasma (ICP) with a supersonic jet for the fabrication of thin films having a desired morphology. A reactive argon-oxygen plasma is employed to dissociate an organic precursor (titanium tetra-isopropoxide for TiO2 thin films) in a first vacuum chamber which is connected through a nozzle to a lower pressure chamber. The pressure difference produces a supersonic jet, seeded with nanoparticles. Along the jet the nucleation and aggregation of nanoparticles can be controlled to obtain nanostructured depositions. We report here the results of an analysis performed with a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) which was used to sample neutrals and ions from the jet at different positions along the centerline of the supersonic expansion.

A New Way to Generate Collimated Plasma Jets?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Rachel; Kuranz, C. C.; Sweeney, R. M.; Drake, R. P.

2012-05-01

We may have a new way to generate collimated, high-Mach-number plasma jets for laboratory astrophysics experiments. Analytic calculations show that irradiating the rear side of a cone-shaped foil can produce a collimated plasma jet with a Mach number of more than 2. Preliminary numeric simulations confirm this. We intend to test this method with a day of experiments at OMEGA (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, New York) in April 2012; results may be available in time for this meeting. If successful, this will be the first step in an experimental campaign to investigate the affects of magnetic fields on mixing plasma jets. We hope to create a swirling disk of magnetized plasma_and possibly witness the turbulent dynamo_by firing roughly half a dozen such jets towards each other. However, for such an experiment to succeed, the disk must rotate more quickly than it expands, requiring the contributing jets to have M > 2. This work is funded by the NNSA-DS and SC-OFES Joint Program in High-Energy-Density Laboratory Plasmas, grant number DE-FG52-09NA29548, and by the National Laser User Facility Program, grant number DE-NA0000850.

Ion Beam And Plasma Jet Generated By A 3 kJ Plasma Focus

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

Lim, L. K.; Ngoi, S. K.; Yap, S. L.

The plasma focus device is well known as a copious source of X-ray, neutrons, ion and electron beams. In this work, the characteristics of energetic ion beam emission in a 3 kJ Mather-type plasma focus is studied. The plasma focus system is operated at low pressure with argon as the working gas. The objective of the project is to obtain the argon ion beam and the plasma jet. The ion beam and plasma jet are used for material processing. In order to investigate the effect of the ion beam and plasma jet, crystalline silicon substrates are placed above the anode.more » Samples obtained after irradiation with the plasma focus discharge are analyzed by using the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX).« less

Artificial plasma jet in the ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haerendel, G.; Sagdeev, R. Z.

The dynamics of an artificially injected plasma beam in the near-earth space are analyzed in terms of the beam structure, its propagation across the magnetic field, and the resulting wave phenomena (Porcupine Project, flight 4, March 31, 1979). Out of the four ejectable canisters attached to the main payload, two were instrumented by the U.S., one by the USSR (the Xenon plasma beam experiment), and one by West Germany (carrying a barium ion jet experiment). The propagation of the plasma seems to occur in three stages, with high-frequency broad-band oscillations mainly localized in the 'core' of the jet, while low-frequency oscillations were spatially separated from it. The generation region of LF oscillations was found to be much wider than the jet core. As a result of the interaction between the plasma beam and the ambient medium a heating of electrons, up to energies of about 20 eV, associated with LF noise was observed. The behavior of high-energy ions and the observed HF wave phenomena need further analysis.

Plasma diagnostics of non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shashurin, Alexey; Scott, David; Keidar, Michael; Shneider, Mikhail

2014-10-01

Intensive development and biomedical application of non-equilibrium atmospheric plasma jet (NEAPJ) facilitates rapid growth of the plasma medicine field. The NEAPJ facility utilized at the George Washington University (GWU) demonstrated efficacy for treatment of various cancer types (lung, bladder, breast, head, neck, brain and skin). In this work we review recent advances of the research conducted at GWU concerned with the development of NEAPJ diagnostics including Rayleigh Microwave Scattering setup, method of streamer scattering on DC potential, Rogowski coils, ICCD camera and optical emission spectroscopy. These tools allow conducting temporally-resolved measurements of plasma density, electrical potential, charge and size of the streamer head, electrical currents flowing though the jet, ionization front propagation speed etc. Transient dynamics of plasma and discharge parameters will be considered and physical processes involved in the discharge will be analyzed including streamer breakdown, electrical coupling of the streamer tip with discharge electrodes, factors determining NEAPJ length, cross-sectional shape and propagation path etc.

Extending helium partial pressure measurement technology to JET DTE2 and ITER.

PubMed

Klepper, C C; Biewer, T M; Kruezi, U; Vartanian, S; Douai, D; Hillis, D L; Marcus, C

2016-11-01

The detection limit for helium (He) partial pressure monitoring via the Penning discharge optical emission diagnostic, mainly used for tokamak divertor effluent gas analysis, is shown here to be possible for He concentrations down to 0.1% in predominantly deuterium effluents. This result from a dedicated laboratory study means that the technique can now be extended to intrinsically (non-injected) He produced as fusion reaction ash in deuterium-tritium experiments. The paper also examines threshold ionization mass spectroscopy as a potential backup to the optical technique, but finds that further development is needed to attain with plasma pulse-relevant response times. Both these studies are presented in the context of continuing development of plasma pulse-resolving, residual gas analysis for the upcoming JET deuterium-tritium campaign (DTE2) and for ITER.

Effect of DC magnetic field on atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safari, R.; Sohbatzadeh, F.

2015-05-01

In this work, external DC magnetic field effect on the atmospheric pressure plasma jet has been investigated, experimentally. The magnetic field has been produced using a Helmholtz coil configuration. It has been applied parallel and transverse to the jet flow. The strength of the DC magnetic field is 0-0.28 and 0-0.57 Tesla between the two coils in parallel and transverse applications, respectively. It has been shown that the plasma gas flow plays the main role in magneto-active collision-dominated plasma. The effect of plasma fluid velocity on the jet emission has been discussed, qualitatively. It has been observed that the external DC magnetic field has different trends in parallel and transverse applications. The measurements reveal that the plasma jet irradiance increases in parallel field, while it decreases in transverse field. The former has been attributed to increasing plasma number density and the latter to loss of plasma species that reduces the magneto-plasma jet irradiance and in turn shrinks plasma jet number density. As a result, the plasma fluid velocity is responsible for such trends though the magneto-active plasma remains isotropic.

Plasma jet takes off.

PubMed Central

Frazer, L

1999-01-01

Thanks to a series of joint research projects by Los Alamos National Laboratory, Beta Squared of Allen, Texas, and the University of California at Los Angeles, there is now a more environmentally sound method for cleaning semiconductor chips that may also be effective in cleaning up chemical, bacterial, and nuclear contaminants. The Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet uses a type of ionized gas called plasma to clean up contaminants by binding to them and lifting them away. In contrast to the corrosive acids and chemical solvents traditionally used to clean semiconductor chips, the jet oxidizes contaminants, producing only benign gaseous by-products such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. The new technology is also easy to transport, cleans thoroughly and quickly, and presents no hazards to its operators. PMID:10417375

Inductive Measurement of Plasma Jet Electrical Conductivity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turner, Matthew W.; Hawk, Clark W.; Litchford, Ron J.

2005-01-01

An inductive probing scheme, originally developed for shock tube studies, has been adapted to measure explosive plasma jet conductivities. In this method, the perturbation of an applied magnetic field by a plasma jet induces a voltage in a search coil, which, in turn, can be used to infer electrical conductivity through the inversion of a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. A 1-inch diameter probe was designed and constructed, and calibration was accomplished by firing an aluminum slug through the probe using a light-gas gun. Exploratory laboratory experiments were carried out using plasma jets expelled from 15-gram high explosive shaped charges. Measured conductivities were in the range of 3 kS/m for unseeded octol charges and 20 kS/m for seeded octol charges containing 2% potassium carbonate by mass.

Formation and extraction of a dense plasma jet from a helicon-plasma-injected inertial electrostatic confinement device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ulmen, Benjamin Adam

An inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) device has several pressure and grid-geometry dependent modes of operation for the confinement of plasma. Although the symmetric grid star-mode is the most often studied for its application to fusion, the asymmetric grid jet-mode has its own potential application for electric space propulsion. The jet-mode gets its name from the characteristic bright plasma jet emanating from the central grid. In this dissertation work, a full study was undertaken to provide an understanding on the formation and propagation of the IEC plasma jet-mode. The IEC device vacuum system and all diagnostics were custom assembled during this work. Four diagnostics were used to measure different aspects of the jet. A spherical plasma probe was used to explore the coupling of an external helicon plasma source to the IEC device. The plasma current in the jet was measured by a combination of a Faraday cup and a gridded energy analyzer (GEA). The Faraday cup also included a temperature sensor for collection of thermal power measurements used to compute the efficiency of the IEC device in coupling power into the jet. The GEA allowed for measurement of the electron energy spectra. The force provided by the plasma jet was measured using a piezoelectric force sensor. Each of these measurements provided an important window into the nature of the plasma jet. COMSOL simulations provided additional evidence needed to create a model to explain the formation of the jet. It will be shown that the jet consists of a high energy electron beam having a peak energy of approximately half of the full grid potential. It is born near the aperture of the grid as a result of the escaping core electrons. Several other attributes of the plasma jet will be presented as well as a way forward to utilizing this device and operational mode for future plasma space propulsion.

Impact of the Hall effect on high-energy-density plasma jets.

PubMed

Gourdain, P-A; Seyler, C E

2013-01-04

Using a 1-MA, 100 ns-rise-time pulsed power generator, radial foil configurations can produce strongly collimated plasma jets. The resulting jets have electron densities on the order of 10(20) cm(-3), temperatures above 50 eV and plasma velocities on the order of 100 km/s, giving Reynolds numbers of the order of 10(3), magnetic Reynolds and Péclet numbers on the order of 1. While Hall physics does not dominate jet dynamics due to the large particle density and flow inside, it strongly impacts flows in the jet periphery where plasma density is low. As a result, Hall physics affects indirectly the geometrical shape of the jet and its density profile. The comparison between experiments and numerical simulations demonstrates that the Hall term enhances the jet density when the plasma current flows away from the jet compared to the case where the plasma current flows towards it.

Analysis of ELM stability with extended MHD models in JET, JT-60U and future JT-60SA tokamak plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aiba, N.; Pamela, S.; Honda, M.; Urano, H.; Giroud, C.; Delabie, E.; Frassinetti, L.; Lupelli, I.; Hayashi, N.; Huijsmans, G.; JET Contributors, the; Research Unit, JT-60SA

2018-01-01

The stability with respect to a peeling-ballooning mode (PBM) was investigated numerically with extended MHD simulation codes in JET, JT-60U and future JT-60SA plasmas. The MINERVA-DI code was used to analyze the linear stability, including the effects of rotation and ion diamagnetic drift ({ω }* {{i}}), in JET-ILW and JT-60SA plasmas, and the JOREK code was used to simulate nonlinear dynamics with rotation, viscosity and resistivity in JT-60U plasmas. It was validated quantitatively that the ELM trigger condition in JET-ILW plasmas can be reasonably explained by taking into account both the rotation and {ω }* {{i}} effects in the numerical analysis. When deuterium poloidal rotation is evaluated based on neoclassical theory, an increase in the effective charge of plasma destabilizes the PBM because of an acceleration of rotation and a decrease in {ω }* {{i}}. The difference in the amount of ELM energy loss in JT-60U plasmas rotating in opposite directions was reproduced qualitatively with JOREK. By comparing the ELM affected areas with linear eigenfunctions, it was confirmed that the difference in the linear stability property, due not to the rotation direction but to the plasma density profile, is thought to be responsible for changing the ELM energy loss just after the ELM crash. A predictive study to determine the pedestal profiles in JT-60SA was performed by updating the EPED1 model to include the rotation and {ω }* {{i}} effects in the PBM stability analysis. It was shown that the plasma rotation predicted with the neoclassical toroidal viscosity degrades the pedestal performance by about 10% by destabilizing the PBM, but the pressure pedestal height will be high enough to achieve the target parameters required for the ITER-like shape inductive scenario in JT-60SA.

Analysis of the interaction of deuterium plasmas with tungsten in the Fuego-Nuevo II device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramos, Gonzalo; Castillo, Fermín; Nieto, Martín; Martínez, Marco; Rangel, José; Herrera-Velázquez, Julio

2012-10-01

Tungsten is one of the main candidate materials for plasma-facing components in future fusion power plants. The Fuego-Nuevo II, a plasma focus device, which can produce dense magnetized helium and deuterium plasmas, has been adapted to address plasma-facing materials questions. In this paper we present results of tungsten targets exposed to deuterium plasmas in the Fuego Nuevo II device, using different experimental conditions. The plasma generated and accelerated in the coaxial gun is expected to have, before the pinch, energies of the order of hundreds eV and velocities of the order of 40,000 m s-1. At the pinch, the ions are reported to have energies of the order of 1.5 keV at most. The samples, analysed with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) in cross section show a damage profile to depths of the order of 580 nm, which are larger than those expected for ions with 1.5 keV, and may be evidence of ion acceleration. An analysis with the SRIM (Stopping Range of Ions in Matter) package calculations is shown.

Characteristics of Plasma Synthetic Jet Actuators in Crossflow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santhanakrishnan, Arvind; Jacob, Jamey

2006-11-01

The plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA) consists of two annular electrodes separated by dielectric material that results in a circular region of dielectric barrier discharge plasma. In quiescent conditions, this plasma ring produces a synthetic jet which can be used for active flow control applications. Unsteady pulsing of the actuator results in the formation of multiple primary and secondary vortex rings, the latter remaining fixed or trapped in space. The jet is observed to be formed by the advection and interaction of the primary vortices, resembling a conventional synthetic jet. This presentation examines the operation of the PSJA in a crossflow at three different jet to freestream velocity ratios. PIV measurements in the streamwise and cross-stream planes are used to illustrate the three dimensionality of the jet and associated vortical structures. The strength of the vortex ring is found to vary along its circumference due to interaction with the freestream. The boundary layer characteristics obtained from these experiments suggest that the mechanism of the PSJA in crossflow is similar to an active boundary layer trip. Both the penetration of the jet and effectiveness of the trip action are found to decrease with increase in freestream velocity. The effects of unsteady pulsing and increasing input power on actuator created crossflow vortices will also be presented.

Capillary plasma jet: A low volume plasma source for life science applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Topala, I.; Nagatsu, M.

2015-02-01

In this letter, we present results from multispectroscopic analysis of protein films, after exposure to a peculiar plasma source, i.e., the capillary plasma jet. This plasma source is able to generate very small pulsed plasma volumes, in kilohertz range, with characteristic dimensions smaller than 1 mm. This leads to specific microscale generation and transport of all plasma species. Plasma diagnosis was realized using general electrical and optical methods. Depending on power level and exposure duration, this miniature plasma jet can induce controllable modifications to soft matter targets. Detailed discussions on protein film oxidation and chemical etching are supported by results from absorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and microscopy techniques. Further exploitation of principles presented here may consolidate research interests involving plasmas in biotechnologies and plasma medicine, especially in patterning technologies, modified biomolecule arrays, and local chemical functionalization.

Quasi-isentropic compressibility of a strongly nonideal deuterium plasma at pressures of up to 5500 GPa: Nonideality and degeneracy effects

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

Mochalov, M. A., E-mail: postmaster@ifv.vniief.ru; Il’kaev, R. I.; Fortov, V. E.

We report on the experimental results on the quasi-isentropic compressibility of a strongly nonideal deuterium plasma that have been obtained on setups of cylindrical and spherical geometries in the pressure range of up to P ≈ 5500 GPa. We describe the characteristics of experimental setups, as well as the methods for the diagnostics and interpretation of the experimental results. The trajectory of metal shells that compress the deuterium plasma was detected using powerful pulsed X-ray sources with a maximal electron energy of up to 60 MeV. The values of the plasma density, which varied from ρ ≈ 0.8 g/cm{sup 3}more » to ρ ≈ 6 g/cm{sup 3}, which corresponds to pressure P ≈ 5500 GPa (55 Mbar), were determined from the measured value of the shell radius at the instant that it was stopped. The pressure of the compressed plasma was determined using gasdynamic calculations taking into account the actual characteristics of the experimental setups. We have obtained a strongly compressed deuterium plasma in which electron degeneracy effects under the conditions of strong interparticle interaction are significant. The experimental results have been compared with the theoretical models of a strongly nonideal partly degenerate plasma. We have obtained experimental confirmation of the plasma phase transition in the pressure range near 150 GPa (1.5 Mbar), which is in keeping with the conclusion concerning anomaly in the compressibility of the deuterium plasma drawn in [1].« less

Comparison between the water activation effects by pulsed and sinusoidal helium plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Han; Liu, Dingxin; Xia, Wenjie; Chen, Chen; Wang, Weitao; Liu, Zhijie; Wang, Xiaohua; Kong, Michael G.

2018-01-01

Comparisons between pulsed and sinusoidal plasma jets have been extensively reported for the discharge characteristics and gaseous reactive species, but rarely for the aqueous reactive species in water solutions treated by the two types of plasma jets. This motivates us to compare the concentrations of aqueous reactive species induced by a pulsed and a sinusoidal plasma jet, since it is widely reported that these aqueous reactive species play a crucial role in various plasma biomedical applications. Experimental results show that the aqueous H2O2, OH/O2-, and O2-/ONOO- induced by the pulsed plasma jet have higher concentrations, and the proportional difference increases with the discharge power. However, the emission intensities of OH(A) and O(3p5P) are higher for the sinusoidal plasma jet, which may be attributed to its higher gas temperature since more water vapor could participate in the plasma. In addition, the efficiency of bacterial inactivation induced by the pulsed plasma jet is higher than that for the sinusoidal plasma jet, in accordance with the concentration relation of aqueous reactive species for the two types of plasma jets.

Dynamics of Magnetized Plasma Jets and Bubbles Launched into a Background Magnetized Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallace, B.; Zhang, Y.; Fisher, D. M.; Gilmore, M.

2016-10-01

The propagation of dense magnetized plasma, either collimated with mainly azimuthal B-field (jet) or toroidal with closed B-field (bubble), in a background plasma occurs in a number of solar and astrophysical cases. Such cases include coronal mass ejections moving in the background solar wind and extragalactic radio lobes expanding into the extragalactic medium. Understanding the detailed MHD behavior is crucial for correctly modeling these events. In order to further the understanding of such systems, we are investigating the injection of dense magnetized jets and bubbles into a lower density background magnetized plasma using a coaxial plasma gun and a background helicon or cathode plasma. In both jet and bubble cases, the MHD dynamics are found to be very different when launched into background plasma or magnetic field, as compared to vacuum. In the jet case, it is found that the inherent kink instability is stabilized by velocity shear developed due to added magnetic tension from the background field. In the bubble case, rather than directly relaxing to a minimum energy Taylor state (spheromak) as in vacuum, there is an expansion asymmetry and the bubble becomes Rayleigh-Taylor unstable on one side. Recent results will be presented. Work supported by the Army Research Office Award No. W911NF1510480.

First result of deuterium retention in neutron-irradiated tungsten exposed to high flux plasma in TPE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shimada, Masashi; Hatano, Y.; Calderoni, P.; Oda, T.; Oya, Y.; Sokolov, M.; Zhang, K.; Cao, G.; Kolasinski, R.; Sharpe, J. P.

2011-08-01

With the Japan-US joint research project Tritium, Irradiations, and Thermofluids for America and Nippon (TITAN), an initial set of tungsten samples (99.99% purity, A.L.M.T. Co.) were irradiated by high flux neutrons at 323 K to 0.025 dpa in High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Subsequently, one of the neutron-irradiated tungsten samples was exposed to a high-flux deuterium plasma (ion flux: 5 × 1021 m-2 s-1, ion fluence: 4 × 1025 m-2) in the Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The deuterium retention in the neutron-irradiated tungsten was 40% higher in comparison to the unirradiated tungsten. The observed broad desorption spectrum from neutron-irradiated tungsten and associated TMAP modeling of the deuterium release suggest that trapping occurs in the bulk material at more than three different energy sites.

Large area atmospheric-pressure plasma jet

DOEpatents

Selwyn, Gary S.; Henins, Ivars; Babayan, Steve E.; Hicks, Robert F.

2001-01-01

Large area atmospheric-pressure plasma jet. A plasma discharge that can be operated at atmospheric pressure and near room temperature using 13.56 MHz rf power is described. Unlike plasma torches, the discharge produces a gas-phase effluent no hotter than 250.degree. C. at an applied power of about 300 W, and shows distinct non-thermal characteristics. In the simplest design, two planar, parallel electrodes are employed to generate a plasma in the volume therebetween. A "jet" of long-lived metastable and reactive species that are capable of rapidly cleaning or etching metals and other materials is generated which extends up to 8 in. beyond the open end of the electrodes. Films and coatings may also be removed by these species. Arcing is prevented in the apparatus by using gas mixtures containing He, which limits ionization, by using high flow velocities, and by properly spacing the rf-powered electrode. Because of the atmospheric pressure operation, there is a negligible density of ions surviving for a sufficiently long distance beyond the active plasma discharge to bombard a workpiece, unlike the situation for low-pressure plasma sources and conventional plasma processing methods.

The effect of a metal wall on confinement in JET and ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beurskens, M. N. A.; Schweinzer, J.; Angioni, C.; Burckhart, A.; Challis, C. D.; Chapman, I.; Fischer, R.; Flanagan, J.; Frassinetti, L.; Giroud, C.; Hobirk, J.; Joffrin, E.; Kallenbach, A.; Kempenaars, M.; Leyland, M.; Lomas, P.; Maddison, G.; Maslov, M.; McDermott, R.; Neu, R.; Nunes, I.; Osborne, T.; Ryter, F.; Saarelma, S.; Schneider, P. A.; Snyder, P.; Tardini, G.; Viezzer, E.; Wolfrum, E.; the ASDEX Upgrade Team; Contributors, JET-EFDA

2013-12-01

In both JET and ASDEX Upgrade (AUG) the plasma energy confinement has been affected by the presence of a metal wall by the requirement of increased gas fuelling to avoid tungsten pollution of the plasma. In JET with a beryllium/tungsten wall the high triangularity baseline H-mode scenario (i.e. similar to the ITER reference scenario) has been the strongest affected and the benefit of high shaping to give good normalized confinement of H98 ˜ 1 at high Greenwald density fraction of fGW ˜ 0.8 has not been recovered to date. In AUG with a full tungsten wall, a good normalized confinement H98 ˜ 1 could be achieved in the high triangularity baseline plasmas, albeit at elevated normalized pressure βN > 2. The confinement lost with respect to the carbon devices can be largely recovered by the seeding of nitrogen in both JET and AUG. This suggests that the absence of carbon in JET and AUG with a metal wall may have affected the achievable confinement. Three mechanisms have been tested that could explain the effect of carbon or nitrogen (and the absence thereof) on the plasma confinement. First it has been seen in experiments and by means of nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations (with the GENE code), that nitrogen seeding does not significantly change the core temperature profile peaking and does not affect the critical ion temperature gradient. Secondly, the dilution of the edge ion density by the injection of nitrogen is not sufficient to explain the plasma temperature and pressure rise. For this latter mechanism to explain the confinement improvement with nitrogen seeding, strongly hollow Zeff profiles would be required which is not supported by experimental observations. The confinement improvement with nitrogen seeding cannot be explained with these two mechanisms. Thirdly, detailed pedestal structure analysis in JET high triangularity baseline plasmas have shown that the fuelling of either deuterium or nitrogen widens the pressure pedestal. However, in JET-ILW this

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation study of plasma jets and plasma-surface contact in coaxial plasma accelerators

DOE PAGES

Subramaniam, Vivek; Raja, Laxminarayan L.

2017-06-13

Recent experiments by Loebner et al. [IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 44, 1534 (2016)] studied the effect of a hypervelocity jet emanating from a coaxial plasma accelerator incident on target surfaces in an effort to mimic the transient loading created during edge localized mode disruption events in fusion plasmas. In this study, we present a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical model to simulate plasma jet formation and plasma-surface contact in this coaxial plasma accelerator experiment. The MHD system of equations is spatially discretized using a cell-centered finite volume formulation. The temporal discretization is performed using a fully implicit backward Euler scheme and themore » resultant stiff system of nonlinear equations is solved using the Newton method. The numerical model is employed to obtain some key insights into the physical processes responsible for the generation of extreme stagnation conditions on the target surfaces. Simulations of the plume (without the target plate) are performed to isolate and study phenomena such as the magnetic pinch effect that is responsible for launching pressure pulses into the jet free stream. The simulations also yield insights into the incipient conditions responsible for producing the pinch, such as the formation of conductive channels. The jet-target impact studies indicate the existence of two distinct stages involved in the plasma-surface interaction. A fast transient stage characterized by a thin normal shock transitions into a pseudo-steady stage that exhibits an extended oblique shock structure. A quadratic scaling of the pinch and stagnation conditions with the total current discharged between the electrodes is in qualitative agreement with the results obtained in the experiments. Finally, this also illustrates the dominant contribution of the magnetic pressure term in determining the magnitude of the quantities of interest.« less

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation study of plasma jets and plasma-surface contact in coaxial plasma accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramaniam, Vivek; Raja, Laxminarayan L.

2017-06-01

Recent experiments by Loebner et al. [IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 44, 1534 (2016)] studied the effect of a hypervelocity jet emanating from a coaxial plasma accelerator incident on target surfaces in an effort to mimic the transient loading created during edge localized mode disruption events in fusion plasmas. In this paper, we present a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical model to simulate plasma jet formation and plasma-surface contact in this coaxial plasma accelerator experiment. The MHD system of equations is spatially discretized using a cell-centered finite volume formulation. The temporal discretization is performed using a fully implicit backward Euler scheme and the resultant stiff system of nonlinear equations is solved using the Newton method. The numerical model is employed to obtain some key insights into the physical processes responsible for the generation of extreme stagnation conditions on the target surfaces. Simulations of the plume (without the target plate) are performed to isolate and study phenomena such as the magnetic pinch effect that is responsible for launching pressure pulses into the jet free stream. The simulations also yield insights into the incipient conditions responsible for producing the pinch, such as the formation of conductive channels. The jet-target impact studies indicate the existence of two distinct stages involved in the plasma-surface interaction. A fast transient stage characterized by a thin normal shock transitions into a pseudo-steady stage that exhibits an extended oblique shock structure. A quadratic scaling of the pinch and stagnation conditions with the total current discharged between the electrodes is in qualitative agreement with the results obtained in the experiments. This also illustrates the dominant contribution of the magnetic pressure term in determining the magnitude of the quantities of interest.

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation study of plasma jets and plasma-surface contact in coaxial plasma accelerators

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

Subramaniam, Vivek; Raja, Laxminarayan L.

Recent experiments by Loebner et al. [IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 44, 1534 (2016)] studied the effect of a hypervelocity jet emanating from a coaxial plasma accelerator incident on target surfaces in an effort to mimic the transient loading created during edge localized mode disruption events in fusion plasmas. In this study, we present a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical model to simulate plasma jet formation and plasma-surface contact in this coaxial plasma accelerator experiment. The MHD system of equations is spatially discretized using a cell-centered finite volume formulation. The temporal discretization is performed using a fully implicit backward Euler scheme and themore » resultant stiff system of nonlinear equations is solved using the Newton method. The numerical model is employed to obtain some key insights into the physical processes responsible for the generation of extreme stagnation conditions on the target surfaces. Simulations of the plume (without the target plate) are performed to isolate and study phenomena such as the magnetic pinch effect that is responsible for launching pressure pulses into the jet free stream. The simulations also yield insights into the incipient conditions responsible for producing the pinch, such as the formation of conductive channels. The jet-target impact studies indicate the existence of two distinct stages involved in the plasma-surface interaction. A fast transient stage characterized by a thin normal shock transitions into a pseudo-steady stage that exhibits an extended oblique shock structure. A quadratic scaling of the pinch and stagnation conditions with the total current discharged between the electrodes is in qualitative agreement with the results obtained in the experiments. Finally, this also illustrates the dominant contribution of the magnetic pressure term in determining the magnitude of the quantities of interest.« less

The effect of working gas impurities on plasma jets

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

Liu, X. Y.; He, M. B., E-mail: pulhmb@mail.hust.edu.cn; IFSA Collaborative Innovation Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240

Air intrusion reduced the purity of working gas inside the tube for plasma jet, and thereby, affected the discharge dynamics. In this paper, the effect of using working gas with different purity level (helium purity 99.99999%, 99.99%, 99.9%, and 99%) on photoionization and the chemical reactivity of plasma jet were studied using a 2 dimensional plasma jet model. Photoionization of air species acted as a source of pre-ionization in front of the ionization region, which facilitated the transition from localized discharge to streamers inside the tube. The density of reactive species inside the tube was found to increase with themore » concentration of working gas impurities. For the highest purity helium (99.99999%), despite a low photoionization rate and the distance between the photoionization region and ionization region inside the tube, by increasing the applied voltage and decreasing the distance between the electrode and nozzle, plasma jets were formed.« less

Cold atmospheric pressure air plasma jet for medical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kolb, J. F.; Mohamed, A.-A. H.; Price, R. O.; Swanson, R. J.; Bowman, A.; Chiavarini, R. L.; Stacey, M.; Schoenbach, K. H.

2008-06-01

By flowing atmospheric pressure air through a direct current powered microhollow cathode discharge, we were able to generate a 2cm long plasma jet. With increasing flow rate, the flow becomes turbulent and temperatures of the jet are reduced to values close to room temperature. Utilizing the jet, yeast grown on agar can be eradicated with a treatment of only a few seconds. Conversely, animal studies show no skin damage even with exposures ten times longer than needed for pathogen extermination. This cold plasma jet provides an effective mode of treatment for yeast infections of the skin.

Diagnostics of an AC driven atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma jet and its use for radially directed jet array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, W.; Wang, R.

2017-08-01

An alternating current atmospheric pressure plasma jet is generated with noble gas or noble gas/oxygen admixture as working gas. A "core plasma filament" is observed at the center of the dielectric tube and extends to the plasma jet at higher peak-to-peak voltages. This type of plasma jet is believed to be of the same nature with the reported plasma bullet driven by pulsed DC power sources. Double current probes are used to assess the speed of the plasma bullet and show that the speed is around 104-105 m/s. The time dependence of the downstream bullet speed is attributed to the gas heating and in turn the increase of the reduced electric field E/N. Optical emission spectra show the dependence of helium and oxygen emission intensities on the concentration of oxygen additive in the carrier gas, with peak values found at 0.5% O2. Multiple radial jets are realized on dielectric tubes of different sizes. As a case study, one of these multi-jet devices is used to treat B. aureus on the inner surface of a plastic beaker and is shown to be more effective than a single jet.

Streaked Thomson Scattering on Laboratory Plasma Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banasek, Jacob; Byvank, Tom; Rocco, Sophia; Kusse, Bruce; Hammer, David

2017-10-01

Streaked Thomson scattering measurements have been performed on plasma jets created from a 15 μm thick radial Al or Ti foil load on COBRA, a 1 MA pulsed power machine. The goal was to measure the electron temperatures inside the center of the plasma jet created by the radial foil. The laser used for these measurements had a maximum energy of 10 J at 526.5 nm in a 3 ns duration pulse. Early experiments showed using the full energy significantly heats the 5 ×1018 cm-3 jet by inverse bremsstrahlung radiation. Here we used a streak camera to record the scattered spectrum and measure the evolving electron temperature of this laser heated jet. Analysis of the streak camera image showed that the electron temperature of the Al jet was increased from about 25 eV to 80-100 eV within about 2 ns. The Ti jets showed even stronger interaction with the laser, being heated to over 150 eV, and showed some heating even when only 1 J of laser energy was used. Also, the ion-acoustic peaks in the scattered spectrum from the Ti jets were significantly narrower than those from Al jets. Initial results will also be presented with scattered spectra taken at two different times within a single experiment by splitting the probe beam. This research is supported by the NNSA Stewardship Sciences Academic Programs under DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-NA0001836.

Silicon etching of difluoromethane atmospheric pressure plasma jet combined with its spectroscopic analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sung, Yu-Ching; Wei, Ta-Chin; Liu, You-Chia; Huang, Chun

2018-06-01

A capacitivly coupled radio-frequency double-pipe atmospheric-pressure plasma jet is used for etching. An argon carrier gas is supplied to the plasma discharge jet; and CH2F2 etch gas is inserted into the plasma discharge jet, near the silicon substrate. Silicon etchings rate can be efficiently-controlled by adjusting the feeding etching gas composition and plasma jet operating parameters. The features of silicon etched by the plasma discharge jet are discussed in order to spatially spreading plasma species. Electronic excitation temperature and electron density are detected by increasing plasma power. The etched silicon profile exhibited an anisotropic shape and the etching rate was maximum at the total gas flow rate of 4500 sccm and CH2F2 concentration of 11.1%. An etching rate of 17 µm/min was obtained at a plasma power of 100 W.

Confluence or independence of microwave plasma bullets in atmospheric argon plasma jet plumes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ping; Chen, Zhaoquan; Mu, Haibao; Xu, Guimin; Yao, Congwei; Sun, Anbang; Zhou, Yuming; Zhang, Guanjun

2018-03-01

Plasma bullet is the formation and propagation of a guided ionization wave (streamer), normally generated in atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). In most cases, only an ionization front produces in a dielectric tube. The present study shows that two or three ionization fronts can be generated in a single quartz tube by using a microwave coaxial resonator. The argon APPJ plumes with a maximum length of 170 mm can be driven by continuous microwaves or microwave pulses. When the input power is higher than 90 W, two or three ionization fronts propagate independently at first; thereafter, they confluence to form a central plasma jet plume. On the other hand, the plasma bullets move independently as the lower input power is applied. For pulsed microwave discharges, the discharge images captured by a fast camera show the ionization process in detail. Another interesting finding is that the strongest lightening plasma jet plumes always appear at the shrinking phase. Both the discharge images and electromagnetic simulations suggest that the confluence or independent propagation of plasma bullets is resonantly excited by the local enhanced electric fields, in terms of wave modes of traveling surface plasmon polaritons.

A multi-technique analysis of deuterium trapping and near-surface precipitate growth in plasma-exposed tungsten

DOE PAGES

Kolasinski, Robert; Shimada, Masashi; Oya, Yasuhisa; ...

2015-08-17

We examine how deuterium becomes trapped in plasma-exposed tungsten and forms near-surface platelet-shaped precipitates. How these bubbles nucleate and grow, as well as the amount of deuterium trapped within, is crucial for interpreting the experimental database. Here, we use a combined experimental/theoretical approach to provide further insight into the underlying physics. With the Tritium Plasma Experiment, we exposed a series of ITER-gradetungsten samples to high flux D plasmas (up to 1.5 × 10 22 m -2 s -1) at temperatures ranging between 103 and 554 °C. Retention of deuterium trapped in the bulk, assessed through thermal desorption spectrometry, reached amore » maximum at 230 °C and diminished rapidly thereafter for T > 300 °C. Post-mortem examination of the surfaces revealed non-uniform growth of bubbles ranging in diameter between 1 and 10 μm over the surface with a clear correlation with grain boundaries. Electron back-scattering diffraction maps over a large area of the surface confirmed this dependence; grains containing bubbles were aligned with a preferred slip vector along the <111> directions. Focused ion beam profiles suggest that these bubbles nucleated as platelets at depths of 200 nm–1 μm beneath the surface and grew as a result of expansion of sub-surface cracks. Furthermore, to estimate the amount of deuterium trapped in these defects relative to other sites within the material, we applied a continuum-scale treatment of hydrogen isotope precipitation. Additionally, we propose a straightforward model of near-surface platelet expansion that reproduces bubble sizes consistent with our measurements. For the tungsten microstructure considered here, we find that bubbles would only weakly affect migration of D into the material, perhaps explaining why deep trapping was observed in prior studies with plasma-exposed neutron-irradiated specimens. We foresee no insurmountable issues that would prevent the theoretical framework developed here from

Z-pinch Plasma Temperature and Implosion Velocity from Laboratory Plasma Jets using Thomson Scattering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banasek, Jacob; Byvank, Tom; Kusse, Bruce; Hammer, David

2016-10-01

We discuss the use of collective Thomson scattering to determine the implosion velocity and other properties of laboratory plasma jets. The plasma jet is created using a 1 MA pulsed power machine with a 15 μm Al radial foil load. The Thomson scattering laser has a maximum energy of 10 J at 526.5 nm with a pulse duration of 3 ns. Using a time gated ICCD camera and spectrometer system we are able to record the scattered spectrum from 9 or 18 regions along the laser path with sub-mm spatial resolution. Collecting scattered radiation from the same area at two different angles simultaneously enables determination of both the radial and azimuthal velocities. The scattered spectrum for non-magnetized jets indicates a radial implosion velocity of 27 km/s into the jets. A determination of ion and electron temperatures from the scattered spectrum is in progress. Comparing results using a laser energy of 10 J and 1 J shows noticeable effects on plasma jet properties when using 10 J. Therefore the lower laser energy must be used to determine the plasma properties. This research is supported by the NNSA Stewardship Sciences Academic Programs under DOE Cooperative Agreement DE-NA0001836.

Laminar and turbulent flow modes of cold atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basher, Abdulrahman H.; Mohamed, Abdel-Aleam H.

2018-05-01

Laminar and turbulent flow modes of a cold atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet are investigated in this work. The effects of the gas flow rate, applied voltage, and frequency on each plasma mode and on intermodal transitions are characterized using photographic, electrical, and spectroscopic techniques. Increasing the gas flow rate increases the plasma jet length in the laminar mode. Upon transition to the turbulent mode, increasing the gas flow rate leads to a decrease in the plasma jet length. The flow rate at which the jet transitions from laminar to turbulent increases with the applied voltage. The presence of nitric oxide (NO) radicals is indicated by the emission spectra of the turbulent plasmas only, while excited Ar, N2, OH, and O excited species are produced in both laminar and turbulent modes. With no distinctive behavior observed upon transition between the two operating modes, the power consumption was found to be insensitive to gas flow rate variation, while the energy density was found to decrease exponentially with the gas flow rate. Rotational and vibrational temperature measurements of the two plasma modes indicated that they are of the non-thermal equilibrium plasma type. Since they offer NO radicals while maintaining the benefits of the laminar plasma jet, the turbulent plasma jet is more useful than its laminar counterpart in biomedical applications.

Modeling the Compression of Merged Compact Toroids by Multiple Plasma Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thio, Y. C. Francis; Knapp, Charles E.; Kirkpatrick, Ron; Rodgers, Stephen L. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A fusion propulsion scheme has been proposed that makes use of the merging of a spherical distribution of plasma jets to dynamically form a gaseous liner. The gaseous liner is used to implode a magnetized target to produce the fusion reaction in a standoff manner. In this paper, the merging of the plasma jets to form the gaseous liner is investigated numerically. The Los Alamos SPHINX code, based on the smoothed particle hydrodynamics method is used to model the interaction of the jets. 2-D and 3-D simulations have been performed to study the characteristics of the resulting flow when these jets collide. The results show that the jets merge to form a plasma liner that converge radially which may be used to compress the central plasma to fusion conditions. Details of the computational model and the SPH numerical methods will be presented together with the numerical results.

Dust generation at interaction of plasma jet with surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ticos, Catalin; Toader, Dorina; Banu, Nicoleta; Scurtu, Adrian; Oane, Mihai

2013-10-01

Coatings of W and C with widths of a few microns will be exposed to plasma jet for studying the erosion of the surface and detachment of micron size dust particles. A coaxial plasma gun has been built inside a vacuum chamber for producing supersonic plasma jets. Its design is based on a 50 kJ coaxial plasma gun which has been successfully used for accelerating hypervelocity dust. Initial shots were carried out for a capacitor bank with C = 12 μF and charged up to 2 kV. Currents of tens of amps were measured with a Rogowsky coil and plasma flow speeds of 4 km/s were inferred from high-speed images of jet propagation. An upgrade consisting in adding capacitors in parallel will be performed in order to increase the energy up to 2 kJ. A coil will be installed at the gun muzzle to compress the plasma flow and increase the energy density of the jet on the sample surface. A CCD camera with a maximum recording speed of 100 k fps and a maximum resolution of 1024 × 1024 pixels was set for image acquisition of the plasma and dust. A laser system used to illuminate the ejected dust from the surface includes a laser diode emitting at 650 nm with a beam power of 25 mW. The authors acknowledge support from EURATOM WP13-IPH-A03-P2-02-BS22.

Hydrophilic surface modification of coronary stent using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet for endothelialization.

PubMed

Shim, Jae Won; Bae, In-Ho; Park, Dae Sung; Lee, So-Youn; Jang, Eun-Jae; Lim, Kyung-Seob; Park, Jun-Kyu; Kim, Ju Han; Jeong, Myung Ho

2018-03-01

The first two authors contributed equally to this study. Bioactivity and cell adhesion properties are major factors for fabricating medical devices such as coronary stents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the advantages of atmospheric-pressure plasma jet in enhancing the biocompatibility and endothelial cell-favorites. The experimental objects were divided into before and after atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment with the ratio of nitrogen:argon = 3:1, which is similar to air. The treated surfaces were basically characterized by means of a contact angle analyzer for the activation property on their surfaces. The effect of atmospheric-pressure plasma jet on cellular response was examined by endothelial cell adhesion and XTT analysis. It was difficult to detect any changeable morphology after atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment on the surface. The roughness was increased after atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment compared to nonatmospheric-pressure plasma jet treatment (86.781 and 7.964 nm, respectively). The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed that the surface concentration of the C-O groups increased slightly from 6% to 8% after plasma activation. The contact angle dramatically decreased in the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet treated group (22.6 ± 15.26°) compared to the nonatmospheric-pressure plasma jet treated group (72.4 ± 15.26°) ( n = 10, p < 0.05). The effect of the increment in hydrophilicity due to the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet on endothelial cell migration and proliferation was 85.2% ± 12.01% and 34.2% ± 2.68%, respectively, at 7 days, compared to the nonatmospheric-pressure plasma jet treated group (58.2% ± 11.44% in migration, n = 10, p < 0.05). Taken together, the stent surface could easily obtain a hydrophilic property by the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet method. Moreover, the atmospheric-pressure plasma jet might affect re-endothelialization after stenting.

Schlieren Cinematography of Current Driven Plasma Jet Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loebner, Keith; Underwood, Thomas; Cappelli, Mark

2016-10-01

Schlieren cinematography of a pulsed plasma deflagration jet is presented and analyzed. An ultra-high frame rate CMOS camera coupled to a Z-type laser Schlieren apparatus is used to obtain flow-field refractometry data for the continuous flow Z-pinch formed within the plasma deflagration jet. The 10 MHz frame rate for 256 consecutive frames provides high temporal resolution, enabling turbulent fluctuations and plasma instabilities to be visualized over the course of a single pulse (20 μs). The Schlieren signal is radiometrically calibrated to obtain a two dimensional mapping of the refraction angle of the axisymmetric pinch plasma, and this mapping is then Abel inverted to derive the plasma density distribution as a function radius, axial coordinate, and time. Analyses of previously unknown discharge characteristics and comparisons with prior work are discussed.

Cold plasma decontamination using flexible jet arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konesky, Gregory

2010-04-01

Arrays of atmospheric discharge cold plasma jets have been used to decontaminate surfaces of a wide range of microorganisms quickly, yet not damage that surface. Its effectiveness in decomposing simulated chemical warfare agents has also been demonstrated, and may also find use in assisting in the cleanup of radiological weapons. Large area jet arrays, with short dwell times, are necessary for practical applications. Realistic situations will also require jet arrays that are flexible to adapt to contoured or irregular surfaces. Various large area jet array prototypes, both planar and flexible, are described, as is the application to atmospheric decontamination.

Effect of feed-gas humidity on nitrogen atmospheric-pressure plasma jet for biological applications.

PubMed

Stephan, Karl D; McLean, Robert J C; DeLeon, Gian; Melnikov, Vadim

2016-11-14

We investigate the effect of feed-gas humidity on the oxidative properties of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet using nitrogen gas. Plasma jets operating at atmospheric pressure are finding uses in medical and biological settings for sterilization and other applications involving oxidative stress applied to organisms. Most jets use noble gases, but some researchers use less expensive nitrogen gas. The feed-gas water content (humidity) has been found to influence the performance of noble-gas plasma jets, but has not yet been systematically investigated for jets using nitrogen gas. Low-humidity and high-humidity feed gases were used in a nitrogen plasma jet, and the oxidation effect of the jet was measured quantitatively using a chemical dosimeter known as FBX (ferrous sulfate-benzoic acid-xylenol orange). The plasma jet using high humidity was found to have about ten times the oxidation effect of the low-humidity jet, as measured by comparison with the addition of measured amounts of hydrogen peroxide to the FBX dosimeter. Atmospheric-pressure plasma jets using nitrogen as a feed gas have a greater oxidizing effect with a high level of humidity added to the feed gas.

Interactions of Deuterium Plasma with Lithiated and Boronized Surfaces in NSTX-U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krstic, Predrag

2015-09-01

The main research goal of the presented research has been to understand the changes in surface composition and chemistry at the nanoscopic temporal and spatial scales for long pulse Plasma Facing Components (PFCs) and link these to the overall machine performance of the National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U). A study is presented of the lithium surface science, with atomic spatial and temporal resolutions. The dynamic surface responds and evolves in a mixed material environments (D, Li, C, B, O, Mo, W) with impingement of plasma particles in the energy range below 100 eV. The results, obtained by quantum-classical molecular dynamics, include microstructure changes, erosion, surface chemistry, deuterium implantation and permeation. Main objectives of the research are i) a comparison of Li and B deposition on carbon, ii) the role of oxygen and other impurities e.g. boron, carbon in the lithium performance, and iii) how this performance will change when lithium is applied to a high-Z refractory metal substrate (Mo, W). In addition to predicting and understanding the phenomenology of the processes, we will show plasma induced erosion of PFCs, including chemical and physical sputtering yields at various temperatures (300-700 K) as well as deuterium uptake/recycling. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Fusion Energy Science, Award Number DE-SC0013752.

New insights on the propagation of pulsed atmospheric plasma streams: From single jet to multi jet arrays

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

Robert, E.; Darny, T.; Dozias, S.

2015-12-15

Atmospheric pressure plasma propagation inside long dielectric tubes is analyzed for the first time through nonintrusive and nonperturbative time resolved bi-directional electric field (EF) measurements. This study unveils that plasma propagation occurs in a region where longitudinal EF exists ahead the ionization front position usually revealed from plasma emission with ICCD measurement. The ionization front propagation induces the sudden rise of a radial EF component. Both of these EF components have an amplitude of several kV/cm for helium or neon plasmas and are preserved almost constant along a few tens of cm inside a capillary. All these experimental measurements aremore » in excellent agreement with previous model calculations. The key roles of the voltage pulse polarity and of the target nature on the helium flow patterns when plasma jet is emerging in ambient air are documented from Schlieren visualization. The second part of this work is then dedicated to the development of multi jet systems, using two different setups, based on a single plasma source. Plasma splitting in dielectric tubes drilled with sub millimetric orifices, but also plasma transfer across metallic tubes equipped with such orifices are reported and analyzed from ICCD imaging and time resolved EF measurements. This allows for the design and the feasibility validation of plasma jet arrays but also emphasizes the necessity to account for voltage pulse polarity, target potential status, consecutive helium flow modulation, and electrostatic influence between the produced secondary jets.« less

Research on Plasma Synthetic Jet Actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Che, X. K.; Nie, W. S.; Hou, Z. Y.

2011-09-01

Circular dielectric barrier surface discharge (DBDs) actuator is a new concept of zero mass synthetic jet actuator. The characteristic of discharge and flow control effect of annular-circular plasma synthetic jet actuator has been studied by means of of numerical simulation and experiment. The discharge current density, electron density, electrostatic body force density and flowfield have been obtained. The results show annular-circular actuator can produce normal jet whose velocity will be greater than 2.0 m/s. The jet will excite circumfluence. In order to insure the discharge is generated in the exposed electrode annular and produce centripetal and normal electrostatic body force, the width and annular diameter of exposed electrode must be big enough, or an opposite phase drove voltage potential should be applied between the two electrodes.

Direct current plasma jet at atmospheric pressure operating in nitrogen and air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, X. L.; Nikiforov, A. Yu.; Vanraes, P.; Leys, Ch.

2013-01-01

An atmospheric pressure direct current (DC) plasma jet is investigated in N2 and dry air in terms of plasma properties and generation of active species in the active zone and the afterglow. The influence of working gases and the discharge current on plasma parameters and afterglow properties are studied. The electrical diagnostics show that discharge can be sustained in two different operating modes, depending on the current range: a self-pulsing regime at low current and a glow regime at high current. The gas temperature and the N2 vibrational temperature in the active zone of the jet and in the afterglow are determined by means of emission spectroscopy, based on fitting spectra of N2 second positive system (C3Π-B3Π) and the Boltzmann plot method, respectively. The spectra and temperature differences between the N2 and the air plasma jet are presented and analyzed. Space-resolved ozone and nitric oxide density measurements are carried out in the afterglow of the jet. The density of ozone, which is formed in the afterglow of nitrogen plasma jet, is quantitatively detected by an ozone monitor. The density of nitric oxide, which is generated only in the air plasma jet, is determined by means of mass-spectroscopy techniques.

Control of radial propagation and polarity in a plasma jet in surrounding Ar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gong, W.; Yue, Y.; Ma, F.; Yu, F.; Wan, J.; Nie, L.; Bazaka, K.; Xian, Y.; Lu, X.; Ostrikov, K.

2018-01-01

In recent years, the use of shielding gas to prevent the diffusion of the ambient air, particularly oxygen and nitrogen species, into the effluent of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet, and thus control the nature of chemical species used in the plasma treatment has increased. In this paper, the radial propagation of a plasma jet in ambient Ar is examined to find the key determinants of the polarity of plasma jets. The dynamics of the discharge reveal that the radial diffusion discharge is a special phenomenon observed only at the falling edge of the pulses. The radial transport of electrons, which is driven by the radial component of the applied electric field at the falling edge of the pulse, is shown to play an important role in increasing the seed electron density in the surrounding Ar. This result suggests a method to provide seed electrons at atmospheric pressure with a negative discharge. The polarity of the plasma jet is found to be determined by the pulse width rather than the polarity of the applied voltage, as it dictates the relative difference in the intensity of the two discharges in a single pulse, where the stronger discharge in a pulse dominates the behavior of the plasma jet. Accordingly, a method to control the polarity of a plasma jet through varying the pulse width is developed. Since plasma jets of different polarities differ remarkably in terms of their characteristics, the method to control the polarity reported in this paper will be of use for such applications as plasma-enhanced processing of materials and plasma biomedicine.

Multiple Plasma Ejections and Intermittent Nature of Magnetic Reconnection in Solar Chromospheric Anemone Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, K. A. P.; Isobe, H.; Nishizuka, N.; Nishida, K.; Shibata, K.

2012-11-01

The recent discovery of chromospheric anemone jets with the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on board Hinode has shown an indirect evidence of magnetic reconnection in the solar chromosphere. However, the basic nature of magnetic reconnection in chromosphere is still unclear. We studied nine chromospheric anemone jets from SOT/Hinode using Ca II H filtergrams, and we found multiple bright, plasma ejections along the jets. In most cases, the major intensity enhancements (larger than 30% relative to the background intensity) of the loop correspond to the timing of the plasma ejections. The typical lifetime and size of the plasma ejecta are about 20-60 s and 0.3-1.5 Mm, respectively. The height-time plot of jet shows many sub-structures (or individual jets) and the typical lifetime of the individual jet is about one to five minutes. Before the onset of the jet activity, a loop appears in Ca II H and gradually increases in size, and after few minutes several jets are launched from the loop. Once the jet activity starts and several individual jets are launched, the loop starts shrinking with a speed of ~4 km s-1. In some events, a downward moving blob with a speed of ~35 km s-1 was observed, associated with the upward moving plasma along one of the legs of the loop hosting the jets. The upward moving plasma gradually developed into jets. Multiple plasma ejections in chromospheric anemone jet show the strongly time-dependent as well as intermittent nature of magnetic reconnection in the solar chromosphere.

Spectroscopic studies of the parameters of plasma jets during their propagation in the background plasma on the PF-3 facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dan'ko, S. A.; Ananyev, S. S.; Kalinin, Yu G.; Krauz, V. I.; Myalton, V. V.

2017-04-01

This paper presents measurement results of neon and helium plasma parameters in axial jets generated in plasma focus discharge. They were obtained in the course of experiments on laboratory modeling of astrophysical jets performed at the PF-3 facility. The plasma concentration was determined according to Stark broadening of spectral lines; the ionization temperature was determined by the average ion charge. The values of the concentration and temperature of jet plasma and background plasma at two distances from the pinch are also presented. In addition, an estimation was made of the heat content losses of the neon and helium jets during their movement through the surrounding medium.

Mixing and unmixedness in plasma jets 1: Near-field analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ilegbusi, Olusegun J.

1993-01-01

The flow characteristics in the near-field of a plasma jet are simulated with a two-fluid model. This model accounts for both gradient-diffusion mixing and uni-directional sifting motion resulting from pressure-gradient-body-force imbalance. This latter mechanism is believed to be responsible for the umixedness observed in plasma jets. The unmixedness is considered to be essentially a Rayleigh-Taylor kind instability. Transport equations are solved for the individual plasma and ambient gas velocities, temperatures and volume fractions. Empirical relations are employed for the interface transfers of mass, momentum and heat. The empirical coefficients are first established by comparison of predictions with available experimental data for shear flows. The model is then applied to an Argon plasma jet ejecting into stagnant air. The predicted results show the significant build-up of unmixed air within the plasma gas, even relatively far downstream of the torch. By adjusting the inlet condition, the model adequately reproduces the experimental data.

Numerical and experimental study on a pulsed-dc plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, X. Y.; Pei, X. K.; Lu, X. P.; Liu, D. W.

2014-06-01

A numerical and experimental study of plasma jet propagation in a low-temperature, atmospheric-pressure, helium jet in ambient air is presented. A self-consistent, multi-species, two-dimensional axially symmetric plasma model with detailed finite-rate chemistry of helium-air mixture composition is used to provide insights into the propagation of the plasma jet. The obtained simulation results suggest that the sheath forms near the dielectric tube inner surface and shields the plasma channel from the tube surface. The strong electric field at the edge of the dielectric field enhances the ionization in the air mixing layer; therefore, the streamer head becomes ring-shaped when the streamer runs out of the tube. The avalanche-to-streamer transition is the main mechanism of streamer advancement. Penning ionization dominates the ionization reactions and increases the electrical conductivity of the plasma channel. The simulation results are supported by experimental observations under similar discharge conditions.

Neutron spectroscopy measurements of 14 MeV neutrons at unprecedented energy resolution and implications for deuterium-tritium fusion plasma diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigamonti, D.; Giacomelli, L.; Gorini, G.; Nocente, M.; Rebai, M.; Tardocchi, M.; Angelone, M.; Batistoni, P.; Cufar, A.; Ghani, Z.; Jednorog, S.; Klix, A.; Laszynska, E.; Loreti, S.; Pillon, M.; Popovichev, S.; Roberts, N.; Thomas, D.; Contributors, JET

2018-04-01

An accurate calibration of the JET neutron diagnostics with a 14 MeV neutron generator was performed in the first half of 2017 in order to provide a reliable measurement of the fusion power during the next JET deuterium-tritium (DT) campaign. In order to meet the target accuracy, the chosen neutron generator has been fully characterized at the Neutron Metrology Laboratory of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington, United Kingdom. The present paper describes the measurements of the neutron energy spectra obtained using a high-resolution single-crystal diamond detector (SCD). The measurements, together with a new neutron source routine ‘ad hoc’ developed for the MCNP code, allowed the complex features of the neutron energy spectra resulting from the mixed D/T beam ions interacting with the T/D target nuclei to be resolved for the first time. From the spectral analysis a quantitative estimation of the beam ion composition has been made. The unprecedented intrinsic energy resolution (<1% full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 14 MeV) of diamond detectors opens up new prospects for diagnosing DT plasmas, such as, for instance, the possibility to study non-classical slowing down of the beam ions by neutron spectroscopy on ITER.

On the evolution of jet energy and opening angle in strongly coupled plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chesler, Paul M.; Rajagopal, Krishna

2016-05-01

We calculate how the energy and the opening angle of jets in {N} = 4 SYM theory evolve as they propagate through the strongly coupled plasma of that theory. We define the rate of energy loss dE jet /dx and the jet opening angle in a straightforward fashion directly in the gauge theory before calculating both holographically, in the dual gravitational description. In this way, we rederive the previously known result for dE jet /dx without the need to introduce a finite slab of plasma. We obtain a striking relationship between the initial opening angle of the jet, which is to say the opening angle that it would have had if it had found itself in vacuum instead of in plasma, and the thermalization distance of the jet. Via this relationship, we show that {N} = 4 SYM jets with any initial energy that have the same initial opening angle and the same trajectory through the plasma experience the same fractional energy loss. We also provide an expansion that describes how the opening angle of the {N} = 4 SYM jets increases slowly as they lose energy, over the fraction of their lifetime when their fractional energy loss is not yet large. We close by looking ahead toward potential qualitative lessons from our results for QCD jets produced in heavy collisions and propagating through quark-gluon plasma.

Inductive and electrostatic acceleration in relativistic jet-plasma interactions.

PubMed

Ng, Johnny S T; Noble, Robert J

2006-03-24

We report on the observation of rapid particle acceleration in numerical simulations of relativistic jet-plasma interactions and discuss the underlying mechanisms. The dynamics of a charge-neutral, narrow, electron-positron jet propagating through an unmagnetized electron-ion plasma was investigated using a three-dimensional, electromagnetic, particle-in-cell computer code. The interaction excited magnetic filamentation as well as electrostatic plasma instabilities. In some cases, the longitudinal electric fields generated inductively and electrostatically reached the cold plasma-wave-breaking limit, and the longitudinal momentum of about half the positrons increased by 50% with a maximum gain exceeding a factor of 2 during the simulation period. Particle acceleration via these mechanisms occurred when the criteria for Weibel instability were satisfied.

Influence of gas flow and applied voltage on interaction of jets in a cross-field helium plasma jet array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wan, Meng; Liu, Feng; Fang, Zhi; Zhang, Bo; Wan, Hui

2017-09-01

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet arrays can greatly enhance the treatment area to fulfill the need for large-scale surface processing, while the spatial uniformity of the plasma jet array is closely related to the interactions of the adjacent jets. In this paper, a three-tube one-dimensional (1D) He plasma jet array with a cross-field needle-ring electrode structure is used to investigate the influences of the gas flow rate and applied voltage on the interactions of the adjacent jets through electrical, optical, and fluid measurements. The repulsion of the adjacent plume channels is observed using an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) and the influence of the gas flow rate and applied voltage on the electrostatic repulsion force, Coulomb force, is discussed. It is found that electrical coupling, mainly electrostatic repulsion force, exists among the jets in the array, which causes both the divergence of the lateral plumes and the nonlinear changes of the discharge power and the transport charge. The deflection angle of the lateral plumes with respect to the central plume in the optical images increases with the increase of applied voltage and decreases with the increase of gas flow rate. The deflection angle of the lateral plumes in the optical images is obviously larger than that of the lateral gas streams in the Schlieren images under the same experimental conditions, and the unconformity of the deflection angles is mainly attributed to the electrostatic repulsion force in adjacent plasma plume channels. The experimental results can help understand the interaction mechanisms of jets in the array and design controllable and scalable plasma jet arrays.

MMS Observations of Protons and Heavy Ions Acceleration at Plasma Jet Fronts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Catapano, F.; Retino, A.; Zimbardo, G.; Cozzani, G.; Breuillard, H.; Le Contel, O.; Alexandrova, A.; Mirioni, L.; Cohen, I. J.; Turner, D. L.; Perri, S.; Greco, A.; Mauk, B.; Torbert, R. B.; Russell, C. T.; Khotyaintsev, Y. V.; Lindqvist, P. A.; Ergun, R.; Giles, B. L.; Fuselier, S. A.; Moore, T. E.; Burch, J.

2017-12-01

Plasma jet fronts in the Earth's magnetotail are kinetic-scale boundaries separating hot fast plasma jets, generally attributed to reconnection outflows, from colder ambient plasma. Jet fronts are typically associated with a sharp increase of the vertical component of the magnetic field Bz, an increase of the plasma temperature and a drop of plasma density. Spacecraft observations and numerical simulations indicate that jet fronts are sites of major ion acceleration. The exact acceleration mechanisms as well as the dependence of such mechanisms on ion composition are not fully understood, yet. Recent high-resolution measurements of ion distribution functions in the magnetotail allow for the first time to study the acceleration mechanisms in detail. Here, we show several examples of jet fronts and discuss ion acceleration therein. We show fronts that propagate in the mid-tail magnetotail both as isolated laminar boundaries and as multiple boundaries embedded in strong magnetic fluctuations and turbulence. We also show fronts in the near-Earth jet braking region, where they interact with the dipolar magnetic field and are significantly decelerated/diverted. Finally, we study the acceleration of different ion species (H+, He++, O+) at different types of fronts and we discuss possible different acceleration mechanisms and how they depend on the ion species.

High-energy-density plasma jet generated by laser-cone interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ke, Y. Z.; Yang, X. H.; Ma, Y. Y.; Xu, B. B.; Ge, Z. Y.; Gan, L. F.; Meng, L.; Wang, S. W.; Kawata, S.

2018-04-01

The generation of high-energy-density (HED) plasma jet from a laser ablating thin cone target is studied theoretically and by numerical simulations. Theoretical analysis and 1D simulations show that a maximum kinetic energy conversion efficiency (CE) of 26% can be achieved when nearly 80% of the foil is ablated by laser. A HED plasma jet is generated when an intense laser (˜1015 W/cm2) irradiates the cone target, inducing a great enhancement of energy density compared to that of the planar target, which is attributed to the cumulative effect of the cone shape and the new generation mechanism of jet, i.e., laser directly accelerating the cone wall onto the axis. The characteristic of jet is influenced by the cone geometry, i.e., thickness and cone angle. It is found that a cone with a half opening angle around 70 ° and the optimized thickness (˜5 μm) can induce a jet with a high CE and long duration, whose peak energy density can reach 3.5 × 1015 erg/cm3. The results can be beneficial for laser-driven novel neutron sources and other fusion related experiments, where HED plasma jet can be applied.

Degradation of bromophenol blue molecule during argon plasma jet irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matinzadeh, Ziba; Shahgoli, Farhad; Abbasi, Hamed; Ghoranneviss, Mahmood; Salem, Mohammad Kazem

2017-06-01

The aim of this paper is to study degradation of a bromophenol blue molecule (C19H10Br4O5S) using direct irradiation of cold atmospheric argon plasma jet. The pH of the bromophenol blue solution has been measured as well as its absorbance spectra and conductivity before and after the irradiation of non-thermal plasma jet in various time durations. The results indicated that the lengths of conjugated systems in the molecular structure of bromophenol blue decreased, and that the bromophenol blue solution was decolorized as a result of the decomposition of bromophenol blue. This result shows that non-thermal plasma jet irradiation is capable of decomposing, and can also be used for water purification.

Non-thermal plasma jet without electrical shock for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baik, Ku Youn; Kang, Han Lim; Kim, Junseong; Park, Shin Young; Bang, Ji Yun; Uhm, Han S.; Choi, Eun Ha; Cho, Guangsup

2013-10-01

A plasma jet without an electrical shock was generated through a Y-shaped tube in which voltages with opposite phases were applied to a pair of tubes. The plasma plume generated at the intersection had a plasma potential of a 60-90 V and high concentrations of reactive species sufficient to induce a high level of lethality on gram-negative bacteria on a tissue mimic. The selective lethality of bacteria on an epithelial-cell-containing tissue mimic could be modulated using oxidant and antioxidant chemicals, thereby leading to the possibility of a shock-reduced plasma jet for biomedical applications.

The magnetically driven plasma jet produces a pressure of 33 GPa on PTS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Qiang; Dan, Jiakun; Wang, Guilin; Guo, Shuai; Zhang, Siqun; Cai, Hongchun; Ren, Xiao; Wang, Kunlun; Zhou, Shaotong; Zhang, Zhaohui; Huang, Xianbin

2017-01-01

We report on experiments in which a magnetically driven plasma jet was used to hit a 500 μm thick planar aluminum target. The plasma jet was produced by using a 50 μm thick aluminum radial foil, which was subjected to 4 MA, 90 ns rising time current on the primary test stand pulsed power facility. The subsequent magnetic bubbles propagate with radial velocity reaching 200 km/s and an axial velocity of 230 km/s. After the plasma knocks onto the target, a shock forms in the target. When the shock gets to the backside of the target, we measure the velocity of the moving surface using dual laser heterodyne velocimetry. By using the Hugoniot relations, we know that the plasma jet produced a pressure of 33 GPa. According to the measured pressure and the velocity of the plasma jet, the density of the jet can be also roughly estimated.

On the evolution of jet energy and opening angle in strongly coupled plasma

DOE PAGES

Chesler, Paul M.; Rajagopal, Krishna

2016-05-17

We calculate how the energy and the opening angle of jets in N = 4SYM theory evolve as they propagate through the strongly coupled plasma of that theory. We define the rate of energy loss dE jet/dx and the jet opening angle in a straightforward fashion directly in the gauge theory before calculating both holographically, in the dual gravitational description. In this way, we rederive the previously known result for dE jet/dx without the need to introduce a finite slab of plasma. We obtain a striking relationship between the initial opening angle of the jet, which is to say themore » opening angle that it would have had if it had found itself in vacuum instead of in plasma, and the thermalization distance of the jet. Via this relationship, we show that N = 4SYM jets with any initial energy that have the same initial opening angle and the same trajectory through the plasma experience the same fractional energy loss. We also provide an expansion that describes how the opening angle of the N = 4SYM jets increases slowly as they lose energy, over the fraction of their lifetime when their fractional energy loss is not yet large. In conclusion, we close by looking ahead toward potential qualitative lessons from our results for QCD jets produced in heavy collisions and propagating through quark-gluon plasma.« less

Thermalization of mini-jets in a quark-gluon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iancu, Edmond; Wu, Bin

2015-10-01

We complete the physical picture for the evolution of a high-energy jet propagating through a weakly-coupled quark-gluon plasma by investigating the thermalization of the soft components of the jet. We argue that the following scenario should hold: the leading particle emits a significant number of mini-jets which promptly evolve via quasi-democratic branchings and thus degrade into a myriad of soft gluons, with energies of the order of the medium temperature T. Via elastic collisions with the medium constituents, these soft gluons relax to local thermal equilibrium with the plasma over a time scale which is considerably shorter than the typical lifetime of the mini-jet. The thermalized gluons form a tail which lags behind the hard components of the jet. We support this scenario, first, via parametric arguments and, next, by studying a simplified kinetic equation, which describes the jet dynamics in longitudinal phase-space. We solve the kinetic equation using both (semi-)analytical and numerical methods. In particular, we obtain the first exact, analytic, solutions to the ultrarelativistic Fokker-Planck equation in one-dimensional phase-space. Our results confirm the physical picture aforementioned and demonstrate the quenching of the jet via multiple branching followed by the thermalization of the soft gluons in the cascades.

Cold atmospheric plasma jet in an axial DC electric field

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

Lin, Li, E-mail: lilin@gwu.edu, E-mail: keidar@gwu.edu; Keidar, Michael, E-mail: lilin@gwu.edu, E-mail: keidar@gwu.edu

2016-08-15

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) jet is currently intensively investigated as a tool for new and potentially transformative cancer treatment modality. However, there are still many unknowns about the jet behavior that requires attention. In this paper, a helium CAP jet is tested in an electrostatic field generated by a copper ring. Using Rayleigh microwave scattering method, some delays of the electron density peaks for different ring potentials are observed. Meanwhile, a similar phenomenon associated with the bullet velocity is found. Chemical species distribution along the jet is analyzed based on the jet optical emission spectra. The spectra indicate that amore » lower ring potential, i.e., lower DC background electric field, can increase the amount of excited N{sub 2}, N{sub 2}{sup +}, He, and O in the region before the ring, but can decrease the amount of excited NO and HO almost along the entire jet. Combining all the results above, we discovered that an extra DC potential mainly affects the temporal plasma jet properties. Also, it is possible to manipulate the chemical compositions of the jet using a ring with certain electric potentials.« less

Fast Faraday cup for fast ion beam TOF measurements in deuterium filled plasma focus device and correlation with Lee model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Damideh, Vahid; Ali, Jalil; Saw, Sor Heoh; Rawat, Rajdeep Singh; Lee, Paul; Chaudhary, Kashif Tufail; Rizvi, Zuhaib Haider; Dabagh, Shadab; Ismail, Fairuz Diyana; Sing, Lee

2017-06-01

In this work, the design and construction of a 50 Ω fast Faraday cup and its results in correlation with the Lee Model Code for fast ion beam and ion time of flight measurements for a Deuterium filled plasma focus device are presented. Fast ion beam properties such as ion flux, fluence, speed, and energy at 2-8 Torr Deuterium are studied. The minimum 34 ns full width at half maximum ion signal at 12 kV, 3 Torr Deuterium in INTI PF was captured by a Faraday cup. The maximum ion energy of 67 ± 5 keV at 4 Torr Deuterium was detected by the Faraday cup. Ion time of flight measurements by the Faraday cup show consistent correlation with Lee Code results for Deuterium especially at near to optimum pressures.

Investigation on Plasma Jet Flow Phenomena During DC Air Arc Motion in Bridge-Type Contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Guofu; Bo, Kai; Chen, Mo; Zhou, Xue; Qiao, Xinlei

2016-05-01

Arc plasma jet flow in the air was investigated under a bridge-type contacts in a DC 270 V resistive circuit. We characterized the arc plasma jet flow appearance at different currents by using high-speed photography, and two polished contacts were used to search for the relationship between roughness and plasma jet flow. Then, to make the nature of arc plasma jet flow phenomena clear, a simplified model based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) theory was established and calculated. The simulated DC arc plasma was presented with the temperature distribution and the current density distribution. Furthermore, the calculated arc flow velocity field showed that the circular vortex was an embodiment of the arc plasma jet flow progress. The combined action of volume force and contact surface was the main reason of the arc jet flow. supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51307030, 51277038)

Astrophysics of magnetically collimated jets generated from laser-produced plasmas.

PubMed

Ciardi, A; Vinci, T; Fuchs, J; Albertazzi, B; Riconda, C; Pépin, H; Portugall, O

2013-01-11

The generation of astrophysically relevant jets, from magnetically collimated, laser-produced plasmas, is investigated through three-dimensional, magnetohydrodynamic simulations. We show that for laser intensities I∼10(12)-10(14) W cm(-2), a magnetic field in excess of ∼0.1  MG, can collimate the plasma plume into a prolate cavity bounded by a shock envelope with a standing conical shock at its tip, which recollimates the flow into a supermagnetosonic jet beam. This mechanism is equivalent to astrophysical models of hydrodynamic inertial collimation, where an isotropic wind is focused into a jet by a confining circumstellar toruslike envelope. The results suggest an alternative mechanism for a large-scale magnetic field to produce jets from wide-angle winds.

Deuterium temperature, drift velocity, and density measurements in non-Maxwellian plasmas at ASDEX Upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salewski, M.; Geiger, B.; Jacobsen, A. S.; Abramovic, I.; Korsholm, S. B.; Leipold, F.; Madsen, B.; Madsen, J.; McDermott, R. M.; Moseev, D.; Nielsen, S. K.; Nocente, M.; Rasmussen, J.; Stejner, M.; Weiland, M.; The EUROfusion MST1 Team; The ASDEX Upgrade Team

2018-03-01

We measure the deuterium density, the parallel drift velocity, and parallel and perpendicular temperatures (T_\\Vert , T_\\perp ) in non-Maxwellian plasmas at ASDEX Upgrade. This is done by taking moments of the ion velocity distribution function measured by tomographic inversion of five simultaneously acquired spectra of D_α -light. Alternatively, we fit the spectra using a bi-Maxwellian distribution function. The measured kinetic temperatures (T_\\Vert =9 keV, T_\\perp=11 keV) reveal the anisotropy of the plasma and are substantially higher than the measured boron temperature (7 keV). The Maxwellian deuterium temperature computed with TRANSP (6 keV) is not uniquely measurable due to the fast ions. Nevertheless, simulated kinetic temperatures accounting for fast ions based on TRANSP (T_\\Vert =8.3 keV, T_\\perp=10.4 keV) are in excellent agreement with the measurements. Similarly, the Maxwellian deuterium drift velocity computed with TRANSP (300 km s-1) is not uniquely measurable, but the simulated kinetic drift velocity accounting for fast ions agrees with the measurements (400 km s-1) and is substantially larger than the measured boron drift velocity (270 km s-1). We further find that ion cyclotron resonance heating elevates T_\\Vert and T_\\perp each by 2 keV without evidence for preferential heating in the D_α spectra. Lastly, we derive an expression for the 1D projection of an arbitrarily drifting bi-Maxwellian onto a diagnostic line-of-sight.

Emergent kink stability of a magnetized plasma jet injected into a transverse background magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yue; Gilmore, Mark; Hsu, Scott C.; Fisher, Dustin M.; Lynn, Alan G.

2017-11-01

We report experimental results on the injection of a magnetized plasma jet into a transverse background magnetic field in the HelCat linear plasma device at the University of New Mexico [M. Gilmore et al., J. Plasma Phys. 81(1), 345810104 (2015)]. After the plasma jet leaves the plasma-gun muzzle, a tension force arising from an increasing curvature of the background magnetic field induces in the jet a sheared axial-flow gradient above the theoretical kink-stabilization threshold. We observe that this emergent sheared axial flow stabilizes the n = 1 kink mode in the jet, whereas a kink instability is observed in the jet when there is no background magnetic field present.

Development of atmospheric pressure large area plasma jet for sterilisation and investigation of molecule and plasma interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zerbe, Kristina; Iberler, Marcus; Jacoby, Joachim; Wagner, Christopher

2016-09-01

The intention of the project is the development and improvement of an atmospheric plasma jet based on various discharge forms (e.g. DBD, RF, micro-array) for sterilisation of biomedical equipment and investigation of biomolecules under the influence of plasma stress. The major objective is to design a plasma jet with a large area and an extended length. Due to the success on small scale plasma sterilisation the request of large area plasma has increased. Many applications of chemical disinfection in environmental and medical cleaning could thereby be complemented. Subsequently, the interaction between plasma and biomolecules should be investigated to improve plasma strerilisation. Special interest will be on non equilibrium plasma electrons affecting the chemical bindings of organic molecules.

Plasma jet ignition device

DOEpatents

McIlwain, Michael E.; Grant, Jonathan F.; Golenko, Zsolt; Wittstein, Alan D.

1985-01-15

An ignition device of the plasma jet type is disclosed. The device has a cylindrical cavity formed in insulating material with an electrode at one end. The other end of the cylindrical cavity is closed by a metal plate with a small orifice in the center which plate serves as a second electrode. An arc jumping between the first electrode and the orifice plate causes the formation of a highly-ionized plasma in the cavity which is ejected through the orifice into the engine cylinder area to ignite the main fuel mixture. Two improvements are disclosed to enhance the operation of the device and the length of the plasma plume. One improvement is a metal hydride ring which is inserted in the cavity next to the first electrode. During operation, the high temperature in the cavity and the highly excited nature of the plasma breaks down the metal hydride, liberating hydrogen which acts as an additional fuel to help plasma formation. A second improvement consists of a cavity insert containing a plurality of spaced, metal rings. The rings act as secondary spark gap electrodes reducing the voltage needed to maintain the initial arc in the cavity.

LIF and fast imaging plasma jet characterization relevant for NTP biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riès, D.; Dilecce, G.; Robert, E.; Ambrico, P. F.; Dozias, S.; Pouvesle, J.-M.

2014-07-01

In the field of biomedical application, many publications report on non-thermal plasma jet potentialities for cell behaviour modifications in cancer treatment, wound healing or sterilization. However most previous plasma jet characterizations were performed when jets expend freely in air. Only recently has the influence of the targeted surface been properly considered. In this work, modifications induced by various types of targets, mimicking the biological samples, in the plasma propagation and production of hydroxyl radicals are evidenced through time-resolved intensified charge-coupled device imaging and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) measurements. A LIF model, also specifically dedicated to estimate air and water penetration inside the jet, is used and proves to be well adapted to characterize the plasma jet under biomedical application conditions. It is shown that the plasma produced by the plasma gun counter-propagates after impinging the surface which, for the same operating parameters, leads to an increase of almost one order of magnitude in the maximum OH density (from ˜2 × 1013 cm-3 for open-air propagation to ˜1 × 1014 cm-3 for a grounded metal target). The nature of the target, especially its electrical conductivity, as well as gas flow rate and voltage amplitude are playing a key role in the production of hydroxyl radicals. The strong interplay between gas flow dynamics and plasma propagation is here confirmed by air and water distribution measurements. The need for a multi-diagnostic approach, as well as great care in setting up the in situ characterization of plasma jets, is here emphasized. Special attention must not only be paid to voltage amplitude and gas flow rate but also to the nature, humidity and conductivity of the target.

Searching for order in atmospheric pressure plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schäfer, Jan; Sigeneger, Florian; Šperka, Jiří; Rodenburg, Cornelia; Foest, Rüdiger

2018-01-01

The self-organized discharge behaviour occurring in a non-thermal radio-frequency plasma jet in rare gases at atmospheric pressure was investigated. The frequency of the azimuthal rotation of filaments in the active plasma volume and their inclination were measured along with the gas temperature under varying discharge conditions. The gas flow and heating were described theoretically by a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The rotation frequencies obtained by both methods qualitatively agree. The results demonstrate that the plasma filaments forming an inclination angle α with the axial gas velocity u z are forced to a transversal movement with the velocity {u}φ =\\tan (α )\\cdot {u}z, which is oriented in the inclination direction. Variations of {u}φ in the model reveal that the observed dynamics minimizes the energy loss due to convective heat transfer by the gas flow. The control of the self-organization regime motivates the application of the plasma jet for precise and reproducible material processing.

Collisional-radiative simulations of a supersonic and radiatively cooled aluminum plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Espinosa, G.; Gil, J. M.; Rodriguez, R.; Rubiano, J. G.; Mendoza, M. A.; Martel, P.; Minguez, E.; Suzuki-Vidal, F.; Lebedev, S. V.; Swadling, G. F.; Burdiak, G.; Pickworth, L. A.; Skidmore, J.

2015-12-01

A computational investigation based on collisional-radiative simulations of a supersonic and radiatively cooled aluminum plasma jet is presented. The jet, both in vacuum and in argon ambient gas, was produced on the MAGPIE (Mega Ampere Generator for Plasma Implosion Experiments) generator and is formed by ablation of an aluminum foil driven by a 1.4 MA, 250 ns current pulse in a radial foil Z-pinch configuration. In this work, population kinetics and radiative properties simulations of the jet in different theoretical approximations were performed. In particular, local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE), non-LTE steady state (SS) and non-LTE time dependent (TD) models have been considered. This study allows us to make a convenient microscopic characterization of the aluminum plasma jet.

Sterilization of bacterial endospores by an atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet

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

Uhm, Han S.; Lim, Jin P.; Li, Shou Z.

2007-06-25

Argon plasma jets penetrate deep into ambient air and create a path for oxygen radicals to sterilize microbes. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores indicates that an argon-oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby demonstrating its capability to clean surfaces and its usefulness for reinstating contaminated equipment as free from toxic biological warfare agents. However, the spore-killing efficiency of the atmospheric-pressure argon-oxygen jet depends very sensitively on the oxygen concentration in the argon gas.

Use of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet for Polymer Surface Modification: An Overview

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

Kuettner, Lindsey A.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are playing an increasingly important role in materials processing procedures. Plasma treatment is a useful tool to modify surface properties of materials, especially polymers. Plasma reacts with polymer surfaces in numerous ways thus the type of process gas and plasma conditions must be explored for chosen substrates and materials to maximize desired properties. This report discusses plasma treatments and looks further into atmospheric-pressure plasma jets and the effects of gases and plasma conditions. Following the short literature review, a general overview of the future work and research at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is discussed.

Studying the non-thermal plasma jet characteristics and application on bacterial decontamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-rawaf, Ali F.; Fuliful, Fadhil Khaddam; Khalaf, Mohammed K.; Oudah, Husham. K.

2018-04-01

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma jet represents an excellent approach for the decontamination of bacteria. In this paper, we want to improve and characterize a non-thermal plasma jet to employ it in processes of sterilization. The electrical characteristics was studied to describe the discharge of the plasma jet and the development of plasma plume has been characterized as a function of helium flow rate. Optical emission spectroscopy was employed to detect the active species inside the plasma plume. The inactivation efficiency of non-thermal plasma jet was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria by measuring the diameter of inhibition zone and the number of surviving cells. The results presented that the plasma plume temperature was lower than 34° C at a flow rate of 4 slm, which will not cause damage to living tissues. The diameter of inhibition zone is directly extended with increased exposure time. We confirmed that the inactivation mechanism was unaffected by UV irradiation. In addition, we concluded that the major reasons for the inactivation process of bacteria is because of the action of the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species which formed from ambient air, while the charged particles played a minor role in the inactivation process.

Control of ROS and RNS productions in liquid in atmospheric pressure plasma-jet system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uchida, Giichiro; Ito, Taiki; Takenaka, Kosuke; Ikeda, Junichiro; Setsuhara, Yuichi

2016-09-01

Non-thermal plasma jets are of current interest in biomedical applications such as wound disinfection and even treatment of cancer tumors. Beneficial therapeutic effects in medical applications are attributed to excited species of oxygen and nitrogen from air. However, to control the production of these species in the plasma jet is difficult because their production is strongly dependent on concentration of nitrogen and oxygen from ambient air into the plasma jet. In this study, we analyze the discharge characteristics and the ROS and RNS productions in liquid in low- and high-frequency plasma-jet systems. Our experiments demonstrated the marked effects of surrounding gas near the plasma jet on ROS and RNS productions in liquid. By controlling the surround gas, the O2 and N2 main plasma jets are selectively produced even in open air. We also show that the concentration ratio of NO2- to H2O2 in liquid is precisely tuned from 0 to 0.18 in deionized water by changing N2 gas ratio (N2 / (N2 +O2)) in the main discharge gas, where high NO2- ratio is obtained at N2 gas ratio at N2 / (N2 +O2) = 0 . 8 . The low-frequency plasma jet with controlled surrounding gas is an effective plasma source for ROS and RNS productions in liquid, and can be a useful tool for biomedical applications. This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas ``Plasma Medical Innovation'' (24108003) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT).

Investigation of MHD Instabilities in Jets and Bubbles Using a Compact Coaxial Plasma Gun in a Background Magnetized Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y.; Fisher, D. M.; Wallace, B.; Gilmore, M.; Hsu, S. C.

2016-10-01

A compact coaxial plasma gun is employed for experimental investigation of launching plasma into a lower density background magnetized plasma. Experiments are being conducted in the linear device HelCat at UNM. Four distinct operational regimes with qualitatively different dynamics are identified by fast CCD camera images. For regime I plasma jet formation, a global helical magnetic configuration is determined by a B-dot probe array data. Also the m =1 kink instability is observed and verified. Furthermore, when the jet is propagating into background magnetic field, a longer length and lifetime jet is formed. Axial shear flow caused by the background magnetic tension force contributes to the increased stability of the jet body. In regime II, a spheromak-like plasma bubble formation is identified when the gun plasma is injected into vacuum. In contrast, when the bubble propagates into a background magnetic field, the closed magnetic field configuration does not hold anymore and a lateral side, Reilgh-Taylor instability develops. Detailed experimental data and analysis will be presented for these cases.

Impurity re-distribution in the corner regions of the JET divertor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Widdowson, A.; Coad, J. P.; Alves, E.; Baron-Wiechec, A.; Barradas, N. P.; Catarino, N.; Corregidor, V.; Heinola, K.; Krat, S.; Likonen, J.; Matthews, G. F.; Mayer, M.; Petersson, P.; Rubel, M.; Contributors, JET

2017-12-01

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) will use a mixture of deuterium (D) and tritium (T) as the fuel to generate power. Since T is both radioactive and expensive the Joint European Torus (JET) has been at the forefront of research to discover how much T is used and where it may be retained within the main reaction chamber. Until the year 2010 the JET plasma facing components were constructed of carbon fibre composites. During the JET carbon (C) phases impurities accumulated at the corners of the divertor located towards the bottom of the chamber in regions shadowed from the plasma where they are very difficult to reach and remove. This build-up of C and the associated H-isotope (including T) retention were of particular concern for future fusion reactors therefore, in 2010 JET changed the wall protection to (mainly) Be and the divertor to tungsten (W)—the JET ITER-like wall (ILW)—the choice of materials for ITER. This paper reveals that with the JET ILW impurities are still accumulating in the shadowed regions, with Be being the majority element, though the overall quantities are very much reduced from those in the C phases. Material will be transported into the shadowed regions principally when the plasma strike points are on the corner tiles, but particles typically have about a 75% probability of reflection from line-of sight surfaces, and multiple reflection/scattering results in deposition over all surfaces.

Note: Design and investigation of a multichannel plasma-jet triggered gas switch.

PubMed

Tie, Weihao; Liu, Xuandong; Zhang, Qiaogen; Liu, Shanhong

2014-07-01

We described the fabrication and testing of a multichannel plasma-jet triggered gas switch (MPJTGS). A novel six-channel annular micro-plasma-gun was embedded in the trigger electrode to generate multichannel plasma jets as a nanosecond trigger pulse arrived. The gas breakdown in multiple sites of the spark gap was induced and fixed around jet orifices by the plasma jets. We tested the multichannel discharge characteristics of the MPJTGS in two working modes with charge voltage of 50 kV, trigger voltage of +40 kV (25 ns rise time), and trigger energy of 240 J, 32 J, and 2 J, respectively, at different working coefficients. Results show that the average number of discharge channels increased as the trigger energy increased, and decreased as the working coefficient decreased. At a working coefficient of 87.1% and trigger energy of 240 J, the average number of discharge channels in Mode II could reach 4.1.

Reduction of ion transport and turbulence via dilution with nitrogen and neon injection in C-Mod deuterium plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Porkolab, M.; Ennever, P.; Baek, S. G.; Creely, A. J.; Edlund, E. M.; Hughes, J.; Rice, J. E.; Rost, J. C.; White, A. E.; Reinke, M. L.; Staebler, G.; Candy, J.; Alcator C-Mod Team

2016-10-01

Recent experiments on C-Mod ohmic plasmas and gyrokinetic studies indicated that dilution of deuterium plasmas by injection of nitrogen decreased the ion diffusivity and may also alter the direction of intrinsic toroidal rotation. Simulations with TGLF and GYRO showed that dilution of deuterium ions in low density (LOC) plasmas increased the critical ion temperature gradient, while in high density (SOC) plasmas it decreased the stiffness. The density fluctuation spectrum measured in low q95 plasmas with Phase Contrast Imaging (PCI), and corroborated with spatially localized reflectometer measurements show a reduction of turbulence near r/a = 0.8 with kρs <= 1, in agreement with modeling predictions in this region where the ion turbulence is well above marginal stability. Measurements also indicate that reversal of the toroidal rotation direction near the SOC-LOC transition may depend on ion collisionality rather than that of electrons. New experiments with neon seeding, which may be more relevant to ITER than with nitrogen seeding, show similar results. The impact of dilution on Te turbulence as measured with CECE diagnostic will also be presented. Supported by US DOE Awards DE-FG02-94-ER54235 and DE-FC02-99-ER54512.

Radial magnetic compression in the expelled jet of a plasma deflagration accelerator

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

Loebner, Keith T. K., E-mail: kloebner@stanford.edu; Underwood, Thomas C.; Mouratidis, Theodore

2016-02-29

A spectroscopic study of a pulsed plasma deflagration accelerator is carried out that confirms the existence of a strong compression in the emerging jet at the exit plane of the device. An imaging spectrometer is used to collect broadened Hα emission from a transaxial slice of the emerging jet at high spatial resolution, and the radial plasma density profile is computed from Voigt fits of the Abel inverted emissivity profiles. The plasma temperature, determined via Doppler broadening of impurity line emission, is compared against the temperature predictions of a radial magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium model applied to the measured density profiles. Empiricalmore » scaling laws developed for the plasma density, combined with the measured and predicted temperatures, indicate that a radially equilibrated Z-pinch is formed within the expelled plasma jet at the exit plane during the deflagration process.« less

Progress in development of neutron energy spectrometer for deuterium plasma operation in KSTARa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tomita, H.; Yamashita, F.; Nakayama, Y.; Morishima, K.; Yamamoto, Y.; Sakai, Y.; Cheon, M. S.; Isobe, M.; Ogawa, K.; Hayashi, S.; Kawarabayashi, J.; Iguchi, T.

2014-11-01

Two types of DD neutron energy spectrometer (NES) are under development for deuterium plasma operation in KSTAR to understand behavior of beam ions in the plasma. One is based on the state-of-the-art nuclear emulsion technique. The other is based on a coincidence detection of a recoiled proton and a scattered neutron caused by an elastic scattering of an incident DD neutron, which is called an associated particle coincidence counting-NES. The prototype NES systems were installed at J-port in KSTAR in 2012. During the 2012 and 2013 experimental campaigns, multiple shots-integrated neutron spectra were preliminarily obtained by the nuclear emulsion-based NES system.

Interfacial Stability of Spherically Converging Plasma Jets for Magnetized Target Fusion

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thio, Y. C. Francis; Cassibry, Jason; Wu, S. T.; Eskridge, Richard; Smith, James; Lee, Michael; Rodgers, Stephen L. (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

A fusion propulsion scheme has been proposed that makes use of the merging of a spherical distribution of plasma jets to dynamically form a gaseous liner to implode a magnetized target to produce the fusion reaction. In this paper, a study is made of the interfacial stability of the interaction of these jets. Specifically, the Orr-Sommerfeld equation is integrated to obtain the growth rate of a perturbation to the primary flow at the interface between the colliding jets. The results lead to an estimate on the tolerances on the relative flow velocities of the merging plasma jets to form a stable, imploding liner. The results show that the maximum temporal growth rate of the perturbed flow at the jet interface is very small in comparison with the time to full compression of the liner. These data suggest that, as far as the stability of the interface between the merging jets is concerned, the formation of the gaseous liner can withstand velocity variation of the order of 10% between the neighboring jets over the density and temperature ranges investigated.

Influence of O2 or H2O in a plasma jet and its environment on plasma electrical and biochemical performances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adhikari, Ek R.; Samara, Vladimir; Ptasinska, Sylwia

2018-05-01

Because environmental conditions, such as room temperature and humidity, fluctuate arbitrarily, effects of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) used in medical applications operating at various places and time might vary. Therefore, understanding the possible effects of air components in and outside APPJs is essential for clinical use, which requires reproducibility of plasma performance. These air components can influence the formation of reactive species in the APPJ, and the type and amount of these species formed depend on the feed gas inside the APPJ and the plasma jet environment. In this study, we monitored changes in plasma current and power, as well as in the level of DNA damage attributable to plasma irradiation, by adjusting the fraction of oxygen and water vapor in the plasma jet environment and feed gas. Here, DNA was used as a molecular probe to identify chemical changes that occurred in the plasma jet under these various environmental conditions. The damaged and undamaged fractions of DNA were quantified using agarose gel electrophoresis. We obtained an optimal amount of oxygen or water vapor in the plasma jet environment, as well as in the feed gas, which increased the level of DNA damage significantly. This increase can be attributed primarily to the formation of reactive species caused by water and oxygen decomposition in the APPJ detected with mass spectrometry. Moreover, we observed that the plasma power remained the same or decreased when gas was added to the jet environment or the feed gas, respectively, but in both cases, DNA damage increased. This indicates the superiority of plasma chemistry over the electrical power applied for APPJ ignition of the plasma sources used in medical applications.

Experimental Characterization of Magnetogasdynamic Phenomena in Ultra-High Velocity Pulsed Plasma Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loebner, Keith; Wang, Benjamin; Cappelli, Mark

2014-10-01

The formation and propagation of high velocity plasma jets in a pulsed, coaxial, deflagration-type discharge is examined experimentally. A sensitive, miniaturized, immersed probe array is used to map out magnetic flux density and associated radial current density as a function of time and axial position. This array is also used to probe the magnetic field gradient across the exit of the accelerator and in the jet formation region. Sensitive interferometry via a continuous-wave helium-neon laser source is used to probe the structure of the plasma jet over multiple chords and axial locations. A two dimensional plasma density gradient profile at an instant in time during jet formation is compiled via Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor analysis. The qualitative characteristics of rarefaction and/or shock wave formation as a function of chamber back-pressure is examined via fast-framing ICCD imaging. These measurements are compared to existing resistive MHD simulations of the coaxial deflagration accelerator and the ensuing rarefaction jet that is expelled from the electrode assembly. The physical mechanisms governing the behavior of the discharge and the formation of these high energy density plasma jets are proposed and validated against both theoretical models and numerically simulated behavior. This research was conducted with Government support under and awarded by DoD, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, 32 CFR 168a.

Dynamics of Plasma Jets and Bubbles Launched into a Transverse Background Magnetic Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yue

2017-10-01

A coaxial magnetized plasma gun has been utilized to launch both plasma jets (open B-field) and plasma bubbles (closed B-field) into a transverse background magnetic field in the HelCat (Helicon-Cathode) linear device at the University of New Mexico. These situations may have bearing on fusion plasmas (e.g. plasma injection for tokamak fueling, ELM pacing, or disruption mitigation) and astrophysical settings (e.g. astrophysical jet stability, coronal mass ejections, etc.). The magnetic Reynolds number of the gun plasma is 100 , so that magnetic advection dominates over magnetic diffusion. The gun plasma ram pressure, ρjetVjet2 >B02 / 2μ0 , the background magnetic pressure, so that the jet or bubble can easily penetrate the background B-field, B0. When the gun axial B-field is weak compared to the gun azimuthal field, a current-driven jet is formed with a global helical magnetic configuration. Applying the transverse background magnetic field, it is observed that the n = 1 kink mode is stabilized, while magnetic probe measurements show contrarily that the safety factor q(a) drops below unity. At the same time, a sheared axial jet velocity is measured. We conclude that the tension force arising from increasing curvature of the background magnetic field induces the measured sheared flow gradient above the theoretical kink-stabilization threshold, resulting in the emergent kink stabilization of the injected plasma jet. In the case of injected bubbles, spheromak-like plasma formation is verified. However, when the spheromak plasma propagates into the transverse background magnetic field, the typical self-closed global symmetry magnetic configuration does not hold any more. In the region where the bubble toroidal field opposed the background B-field, the magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor (MRT) instability has been observed. Details of the experiment setup, diagnostics, experimental results and theoretical analysis will be presented. Supported by the National Science Foundation

Revealing plasma oscillation in THz spectrum from laser plasma of molecular jet.

PubMed

Li, Na; Bai, Ya; Miao, Tianshi; Liu, Peng; Li, Ruxin; Xu, Zhizhan

2016-10-03

Contribution of plasma oscillation to the broadband terahertz (THz) emission is revealed by interacting two-color (ω/2ω) laser pulses with a supersonic jet of nitrogen molecules. Temporal and spectral shifts of THz waves are observed as the plasma density varies. The former owes to the changing refractive index of the THz waves, and the latter correlates to the varying plasma frequency. Simulation of considering photocurrents, plasma oscillation and decaying plasma density explains the broadband THz spectrum and the varying THz spectrum. Plasma oscillation only contributes to THz waves at low plasma density owing to negligible plasma absorption. At the longer medium or higher density, the combining effects of plasma oscillation and absorption results in the observed low-frequency broadband THz spectra.

A pulsed plasma jet with the various Ar/N2 mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barkhordari, A.; Ganjovi, A.; Mirzaei, I.; Falahat, A.; Rostami Ravari, M. N.

2017-12-01

In this paper, using the Optical Emission Spectroscopy technique, the physical properties of a fabricated pulsed DBD plasma jet are studied. Ar/N2 gaseous mixture is taken as operational gas, and Ar contribution in Ar/N2 mixture is varied from 75 to 95%. Through the optical emission spectra analysis of the pulsed DBD plasma jet, the rotational, vibrational and excitation temperatures and density of electrons in plasma medium of the pulsed plasma jet are obtained. It is seen that, at the wavelength of 750.38 nm, the radiation intensity from the Ar 4p → 4 s transition increases at the higher Ar contributions in Ar/N2 mixture. It is found that, for 95% of Ar presence in the mixture, the emission intensities from argon and molecular nitrogen are higher, and the emission line intensities will increase nonlinearly. In addition, it is observed that the quenching of Ar* by N2 results in the higher intensities of N2 excited molecules. Moreover, at the higher percentages of Ar in Ar/N2 mixture, while all the plasma temperatures are increased, the plasma electron density is reduced.

Influence of Plasma Jet Temperature Profiles in Arc Discharge Methods of Carbon Nanotubes Synthesis

PubMed Central

Raniszewski, Grzegorz; Wiak, Slawomir; Pietrzak, Lukasz; Szymanski, Lukasz; Kolacinski, Zbigniew

2017-01-01

One of the most common methods of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesis is application of an electric-arc plasma. However, the final product in the form of cathode deposit is composed of carbon nanotubes and a variety of carbon impurities. An assay of carbon nanotubes produced in arc discharge systems available on the market shows that commercial cathode deposits contain about 10% CNTs. Given that the quality of the final product depends on carbon–plasma jet parameters, it is possible to increase the yield of the synthesis by plasma jet control. Most of the carbon nanotubes are multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). It was observed that the addition of catalysts significantly changes the plasma composition, effective ionization potential, the arc channel conductance, and in effect temperature of the arc and carbon elements flux. This paper focuses on the influence of metal components on plasma-jet forming containing carbon nanotubes cathode deposit. The plasma jet temperature control system is presented. PMID:28336884

Influence of Plasma Jet Temperature Profiles in Arc Discharge Methods of Carbon Nanotubes Synthesis.

PubMed

Raniszewski, Grzegorz; Wiak, Slawomir; Pietrzak, Lukasz; Szymanski, Lukasz; Kolacinski, Zbigniew

2017-02-23

One of the most common methods of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) synthesis is application of an electric-arc plasma. However, the final product in the form of cathode deposit is composed of carbon nanotubes and a variety of carbon impurities. An assay of carbon nanotubes produced in arc discharge systems available on the market shows that commercial cathode deposits contain about 10% CNTs. Given that the quality of the final product depends on carbon-plasma jet parameters, it is possible to increase the yield of the synthesis by plasma jet control. Most of the carbon nanotubes are multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). It was observed that the addition of catalysts significantly changes the plasma composition, effective ionization potential, the arc channel conductance, and in effect temperature of the arc and carbon elements flux. This paper focuses on the influence of metal components on plasma-jet forming containing carbon nanotubes cathode deposit. The plasma jet temperature control system is presented.

Discharge characteristics and hydrodynamics behaviors of atmospheric plasma jets produced in various gas flow patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setsuhara, Yuichi; Uchida, Giichiro; Nakajima, Atsushi; Takenaka, Kosuke; Koga, Kazunori; Shiratani, Masaharu

2015-09-01

Atmospheric nonequilibrium plasma jets have been widely employed in biomedical applications. For biomedical applications, it is an important issue to understand the complicated mechanism of interaction of the plasma jet with liquid. In this study, we present analysis of the discharge characteristics of a plasma jet impinging onto the liquid surface under various gas flow patterns such as laminar and turbulence flows. For this purpose, we analyzed gas flow patters by using a Schlieren gas-flow imaging system in detail The plasma jet impinging into the liquid surface expands along the liquid surface. The diameter of the expanded plasma increases with gas flow rate, which is well explained by an increase in the diameter of the laminar gas-flow channel. When the gas flow rate is further increased, the gas flow mode transits from laminar to turbulence in the gas flow channel, which leads to the shortening of the plasm-jet length. Our experiment demonstrated that the gas flow patterns strongly affect the discharge characteristics in the plasma-jet system. This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas ``Plasma Medical Innovation'' (24108003) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT).

Atmospheric pressure resistive barrier air plasma jet induced bacterial inactivation in aqueous environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiyagarajan, Magesh; Sarani, Abdollah; Gonzales, Xavier

2013-03-01

An atmospheric pressure resistive barrier air plasma jet is designed to inactivate bacteria in aqueous media in direct and indirect exposure modes of treatment. The resistive barrier plasma jet is designed to operate at both dc and standard 50-60 Hz low frequency ac power input and the ambient air at 50% humidity level was used as the operating gas. The voltage-current characteristics of the plasma jet were analyzed and the operating frequency of the discharge was measured to be 20 kHz and the plasma power was measured to be 26 W. The plasma jet rotational temperatures (Trot) are obtained from the optical emission spectra, from the N2C-B(2+) transitions by matching the experimental spectrum results with the Spectra Air (SPECAIR) simulation spectra. The reactive oxygen and nitrogen species were measured using optical emission spectroscopy and gas analyzers, for direct and indirect treatment modes. The nitric oxides (NO) were observed to be the predominant long lived reactive nitrogen species produced by the plasma. Three different bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), Escherichia coli (Gram-negative), and Neisseria meningitidis (Gram-negative) were suspended in an aqueous media and treated by the resistive barrier air plasma jet in direct and indirect exposure modes. The results show that a near complete bacterial inactivation was achieved within 120 s for both direct and indirect plasma treatment of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. Conversely, a partial inactivation of N. meningitidis was observed by 120 s direct plasma exposure and insignificant inactivation was observed for the indirect plasma exposure treatment. Plasma induced shifts in N. meningitidis gene expression was analyzed using pilC gene expression as a representative gene and the results showed a reduction in the expression of the pilC gene compared to untreated samples suggesting that the observed protection against NO may be regulated by other genes.

Radiographic research of the Bi plasma jet formed by the vacuum arc discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artyomov, A. P.; Rousskikh, A. G.; Fedunin, A. V.; Chaikovsky, S. A.; Zhigalin, A. S.; Oreshkin, V. I.

2017-05-01

The results of experiments on a soft x-ray radiography (≈ 1-2 keV) of a bismuth plasma formed by the high-current vacuum arc discharge are represented. The plasma gun with the arc current ≈ 60 kA and the current rise time ≈ 7 μs was used to produce the Bi plasma jet. The compact pulsed radiograph XPG-1 (250 kA, 220 ns) with an X-pinch load consisting of four Mo wires with a diameter 25 μm was used as a source of the soft X-ray radiation. The X-ray backlighting images of the researched plasma jet and the Bi step-wedge with a step thickness of ≈ 100 nm were recorded simultaneously in the course of the experiment. A comparison of the plasma jet x-ray image with the current trace has enabled to estimate dependencies of the linear mass on the arc current. The experiments have shown that when the arc current density reaches ≈ 3·105 A/cm2, the evaporation rate of the electrode material reaches ≈ 100 μg/μs, that under the plasma velocity ≈ 0.5 cm/μs, provides a plasma jet linear mass ≈ 200 μg/cm. At a distance of ≈ 1-2 mm from the arc cathode surface, the sharp increase of the jet linear mass (up to ≈ 500 μg/cm) occurred.

First-principles thermal conductivity of warm-dense deuterium plasmas for inertial confinement fusion applications.

PubMed

Hu, S X; Collins, L A; Boehly, T R; Kress, J D; Goncharov, V N; Skupsky, S

2014-04-01

Thermal conductivity (κ) of both the ablator materials and deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel plays an important role in understanding and designing inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. The extensively used Spitzer model for thermal conduction in ideal plasmas breaks down for high-density, low-temperature shells that are compressed by shocks and spherical convergence in imploding targets. A variety of thermal-conductivity models have been proposed for ICF hydrodynamic simulations of such coupled and degenerate plasmas. The accuracy of these κ models for DT plasmas has recently been tested against first-principles calculations using the quantum molecular-dynamics (QMD) method; although mainly for high densities (ρ > 100 g/cm3), large discrepancies in κ have been identified for the peak-compression conditions in ICF. To cover the wide range of density-temperature conditions undergone by ICF imploding fuel shells, we have performed QMD calculations of κ for a variety of deuterium densities of ρ = 1.0 to 673.518 g/cm3, at temperatures varying from T = 5 × 103 K to T = 8 × 106 K. The resulting κQMD of deuterium is fitted with a polynomial function of the coupling and degeneracy parameters Γ and θ, which can then be used in hydrodynamic simulation codes. Compared with the "hybrid" Spitzer-Lee-More model currently adopted in our hydrocode lilac, the hydrosimulations using the fitted κQMD have shown up to ∼20% variations in predicting target performance for different ICF implosions on OMEGA and direct-drive-ignition designs for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The lower the adiabat of an imploding shell, the more variations in predicting target performance using κQMD. Moreover, the use of κQMD also modifies the shock conditions and the density-temperature profiles of the imploding shell at early implosion stage, which predominantly affects the final target performance. This is in contrast to the previous speculation that κQMD changes mainly the

First-principles thermal conductivity of warm-dense deuterium plasmas for inertial confinement fusion applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, S. X.; Collins, L. A.; Boehly, T. R.; Kress, J. D.; Goncharov, V. N.; Skupsky, S.

2014-04-01

Thermal conductivity (κ) of both the ablator materials and deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel plays an important role in understanding and designing inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions. The extensively used Spitzer model for thermal conduction in ideal plasmas breaks down for high-density, low-temperature shells that are compressed by shocks and spherical convergence in imploding targets. A variety of thermal-conductivity models have been proposed for ICF hydrodynamic simulations of such coupled and degenerate plasmas. The accuracy of these κ models for DT plasmas has recently been tested against first-principles calculations using the quantum molecular-dynamics (QMD) method; although mainly for high densities (ρ > 100 g/cm3), large discrepancies in κ have been identified for the peak-compression conditions in ICF. To cover the wide range of density-temperature conditions undergone by ICF imploding fuel shells, we have performed QMD calculations of κ for a variety of deuterium densities of ρ = 1.0 to 673.518 g/cm3, at temperatures varying from T = 5 × 103 K to T = 8 × 106 K. The resulting κQMD of deuterium is fitted with a polynomial function of the coupling and degeneracy parameters Γ and θ, which can then be used in hydrodynamic simulation codes. Compared with the "hybrid" Spitzer-Lee-More model currently adopted in our hydrocode lilac, the hydrosimulations using the fitted κQMD have shown up to ˜20% variations in predicting target performance for different ICF implosions on OMEGA and direct-drive-ignition designs for the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The lower the adiabat of an imploding shell, the more variations in predicting target performance using κQMD. Moreover, the use of κQMD also modifies the shock conditions and the density-temperature profiles of the imploding shell at early implosion stage, which predominantly affects the final target performance. This is in contrast to the previous speculation that κQMD changes mainly the

Surface modification and deuterium retention in reduced-activation steels exposed to low-energy, high-flux pure and helium-seeded deuterium plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alimov, V. Kh; Ogorodnikova, O. V.; Hatano, Y.; Gasparyan, YuM.; Efimov, V. S.; Mayer, M.; Zhou, Z.; Oyaizu, M.; Isobe, K.; Nakamura, H.; Hayashi, T.

2018-04-01

Surface topography of and deuterium (D) retention in reduced activation ferritic-martensitic Eurofer'97 and ferritic oxide dispersion strengthening ODS-16Cr steels have been studied after exposure at 600 K to low-energy (70 and 200 eV), high-flux (∼1022 D/m2s) pure D and D-10%He plasmas with D fluence of 2 × 1025 D/m2. The methods used were scanning electron microscopy, energy-scanning D(3He,p)4He nuclear reaction, and thermal desorption spectroscopy. As a result of the plasma exposures, nano-sized structures are formed on the steel surfaces. After exposure to pure D plasmas, a significant fraction of D is accumulated in the bulk, at depths larger than 8 μm. After exposures to D-He plasmas, D is retained mainly in the near-surface layers. In spite of the fact that the He fluence was lower than the D fluence, the He retention in the steels is one order of magnitude higher than the D retention.

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet as a Dry Alternative to Inkjet Printing in Flexible Electronics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gandhiraman, Ram Prasad; Lopez, Arlene; Koehne, Jessica; Meyyappan, M.

2016-01-01

We have developed an atmospheric pressure plasma jet printing system that works at room temperature to 50 deg C unlike conventional aerosol assisted techniques which require a high temperature sintering step to obtain desired thin films. Multiple jets can be configured to increase throughput or to deposit multiple materials, and the jet(s) can be moved across large areas using a x-y stage. The plasma jet has been used to deposit carbon nanotubes, graphene, silver nanowires, copper nanoparticles and other materials on substrates such as paper, cotton, plastic and thin metal foils.

Plasma action on helium flow in cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Darny, T.; Pouvesle, J.-M.; Fontane, J.; Joly, L.; Dozias, S.; Robert, E.

2017-10-01

In this work, helium flow modifications, visualized by schlieren imaging, induced by the plasma generated in a plasma jet have been studied in conditions used for biomedical treatments (jet being directed downwards with a low helium flow rate). It has been shown that the plasma action can shift up to few centimeters downstream the effects of buoyancy, which allows to the helium flow to reach a target below in conditions for which it is not the case when the plasma is off. This study reveals the critical role of large and long lifetime negative ions during repetitive operations in the kHz regime, inducing strong modifications in the gas propagation. The cumulative added streamwise momentum transferred to ambient air surrounding molecules resulting from a series of applied voltage pulses induces a gradual built up of a helium channel on tens of millisecond timescale. In some conditions, a remarkable stable cylindrical helium channel can be generated to the target with plasma supplied by negative polarity voltage pulses whereas a disturbed flow results from positive polarity operation. This has a direct effect on air penetration in the helium channel and then on the reactive species production over the target which is of great importance for biomedical applications. It has also been shown that with an appropriate combination of negative and positive polarity pulses, it is possible to benefit from both polarity features in order to optimize the plasma plume propagation and plasma delivery to a target.

Experimental investigation on frequency characteristics of plasma synthetic jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Haohua; Kotsonis, Marios

2017-11-01

The performance of a two-electrode plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA) is investigated for a wide range of dimensionless actuation frequencies ( f*) using high-speed phase-locked particle imaging velocimetry measurements. The jet-induced velocity fields in the axisymmetric plane are measured during both transient and steady working stages of the PSJA. When f* increases, the jet duration time (Tjet) is reduced, while the peak suction velocity (Us) increases consistently. Three integral parameters including the total expelled gas mass, impulse, and issued mechanical energy also decline considerably with increasing frequency, which is shown to relate to both the reduced cavity density and the decreasing jet duration. Theoretical analysis reveals that the mean cavity density decreases monotonically with the square root of the discharge frequency. The decreasing rate is inversely proportional to a thermal cut-off frequency ( fc, 210 Hz for the current study), which scales with the convective heat transfer coefficient between the actuator cavity walls and the cavity gas, as well as the area of the cavity internal surface. In the time-averaged velocity fields, the jet centreline velocity (U¯ c) exhibits a local maximum in the axial coordinate. The nondimensional maximum centreline velocity reduces with increasing frequency of operation. The jet spreading rate of the plasma synthetic jets (PSJs) decreases from 0.14 to 0.09 with increasing frequency. During the transient working stage of a PSJ, the exit velocity trace elapses 20 successive actuation cycles to stabilize. In contrast to the exit velocity, approximately 130 cycles are needed for the mean cavity density/temperature to reach steady values.

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet with high-voltage power supply based on piezoelectric transformer.

PubMed

Babij, Michał; Kowalski, Zbigniew W; Nitsch, Karol; Silberring, Jerzy; Gotszalk, Teodor

2014-05-01

The dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, an example of the nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), generates low-temperature plasmas that are suitable for the atomization of volatile species and can also be served as an ionization source for ambient mass and ion mobility spectrometry. A new design of APPJ for mass spectrometry has been built in our group. In these plasma sources magnetic transformers (MTs) and inductors are typically used in power supplies but they present several drawbacks that are even more evident when dealing with high-voltage normally used in APPJs. To overcome these disadvantages, high frequency generators with the absence of MT are proposed in the literature. However, in the case of miniaturized APPJs these conventional power converters, built of ferromagnetic cores and inductors or by means of LC resonant tank circuits, are not so useful as piezoelectric transformer (PT) based power converters due to bulky components and small efficiency. We made and examined a novel atmospheric pressure plasma jet with PT supplier served as ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry, and especially mobile spectrometry where miniaturization, integration of components, and clean plasma are required. The objective of this paper is to describe the concept, design, and implementation of this miniaturized piezoelectric transformer-based atmospheric pressure plasma jet.

Progress in development of neutron energy spectrometer for deuterium plasma operation in KSTAR

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

Tomita, H., E-mail: tomita@nagoya-u.jp; Yamashita, F.; Nakayama, Y.

2014-11-15

Two types of DD neutron energy spectrometer (NES) are under development for deuterium plasma operation in KSTAR to understand behavior of beam ions in the plasma. One is based on the state-of-the-art nuclear emulsion technique. The other is based on a coincidence detection of a recoiled proton and a scattered neutron caused by an elastic scattering of an incident DD neutron, which is called an associated particle coincidence counting-NES. The prototype NES systems were installed at J-port in KSTAR in 2012. During the 2012 and 2013 experimental campaigns, multiple shots-integrated neutron spectra were preliminarily obtained by the nuclear emulsion-based NESmore » system.« less

Supersonic plasma jets in experiments for radiophysical testing of bodies flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balakirev, B. A.; Bityurin, V. A.; Bocharov, A. N.; Brovkin, V. G.; Vedenin, P. V.; Lashkov, V. A.; Mashek, I. Ch; Pashchina, A. S.; Petrovskiy, V. P.; Khoronzhuk, R. S.; Dobrovolskaya, A. S.

2018-01-01

The action of differently oriented magnetic fields on the parameters of bow shock created in the vicinity of aerodynamic bodies placed into the supersonic gas-plasma flows is studied. For these experiments two types of the high speed plasma jet sources are used—magneto-plasma compressor (MPC) and powerful pulse capillary type discharge. MPC allows to create the plasma jets with gas flow velocity of 10 ± 2 km/s, lifetime 30-50 μs, temperature Te ≈ 3 ± 0.5 eV, electron density about ne ˜ 1016cm-3 and temperature Te ≈ 3 ± 0.5 eV. The jet source based on powerful capillary discharge creates the flows with lifetime 1-20 ms, Mach numbers 3-8, plasma flow velocity 3-10 km/s, vibration and rotation temperatures 9000-14000 and 3800-6000 K respectively. The results of our first experiments show the possibility of using gas-plasma sources based on MPC and powerful capillary discharge for aerodynamic and radiophysical experiments. Comparatively small magnetic field B = 0.23-0.5 T, applied to the obtained bow shocks, essentially modify them. This can lead to a change in shape and an increase in the distance between the detached shock wave and the streamlined body surface if B is parallel to the jet velocity or to decrease this parameter if B is orthogonal to the oncoming flow. Probably, the first case can be useful for reducing the thermal load and aerodynamic drug of streamlined body and the second case can be used to control the radio-transparency of the plasma layer and solving the blackout problem.

Atmospheric nonequilibrium mini-plasma jet created by a 3D printer

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

Takamatsu, Toshihiro, E-mail: toshihiro@plasma.es.titech.ac.jp; Tokyo Institute of Technology, Department of Energy Sciences, J2-32, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8502; Kawano, Hiroaki

2015-07-15

In this study, a small-sized plasma jet source with a 3.7 mm head diameter was created via a 3D printer. The jet’s emission properties and OH radical concentrations (generated by argon, helium, and nitrogen plasmas) were investigated using optical emission spectrometry (OES) and electron spin resonance (ESR). As such, for OES, each individual gas plasma propagates emission lines that derive from gases and ambient air inserted into the measurement system. For the case of ESR, a spin adduct of the OH radical is typically observed for all gas plasma treatment scenarios with a 10 s treatment by helium plasma generatingmore » the largest amount of OH radicals at 110 μM. Therefore, it was confirmed that a plasma jet source made by a 3D printer can generate stable plasmas using each of the aforementioned three gases.« less

Propagation of atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet into ambient air at laminar gas flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinchuk, M.; Stepanova, O.; Kurakina, N.; Spodobin, V.

2017-05-01

The formation of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) in a gas flow passing through the discharge gap depends on both gas-dynamic properties and electrophysical parameters of the plasma jet generator. The paper presents the results of experimental and numerical study of the propagation of the APPJ in a laminar flow of helium. A dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) generated inside a quartz tube equipped with a coaxial electrode system, which provided gas passing through it, served as a plasma source. The transition of the laminar regime of gas flow into turbulent one was controlled by the photography of a formed plasma jet. The corresponding gas outlet velocity and Reynolds numbers were revealed experimentally and were used to simulate gas dynamics with OpenFOAM software. The data of the numerical simulation suggest that the length of plasma jet at the unvarying electrophysical parameters of DBD strongly depends on the mole fraction of ambient air in a helium flow, which is established along the direction of gas flow.

Two-dimensional numerical study of two counter-propagating helium plasma jets in air at atmospheric pressure

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

Yan, Wen; Sang, Chaofeng; Wang, Dezhen, E-mail: wangdez@dlut.edu.cn

In this paper, a computational study of two counter-propagating helium plasma jets in ambient air is presented. A two-dimensional fluid model is applied to investigate the physical processes of the two plasma jets interaction (PJI) driven by equal and unequal voltages, respectively. In all studied cases, the PJI results in a decrease of both plasma bullets propagation velocity. When the two plasma jets are driven by equal voltages, they never merge but rather approach each other around the middle of the gas gap at a minimum approach distance, and the minimal distance decreases with the increase of both the appliedmore » voltages and initial electron density, but increases with the increase of the relative permittivity. When the two plasma jets are driven by unequal voltages, we observe the two plasma jets will merge at the position away from the middle of the gas gap. The effect of applied voltage difference on the PJI is also studied.« less

Plasma Jet Interactions with Liquids in Partial Fulfillment of an NRL Karles Fellowship

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-30

Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375-5320 NRL/MR/6750--15-9650 Plasma Jet Interactions with Liquids in Partial Fulfillment of an NRL... Plasma Physics Division i REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98...ABSTRACT Plasma Jet Interactions with Liquids in Partial Fulfillment of an NRL Karle’s Fellowship Sandra (Hernandez) Hangarter Naval Research Laboratory 4555

Experimental characterization of a transition from collisionless to collisional interaction between head-on-merging supersonic plasma jets

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

Moser, Auna L., E-mail: mosera@fusion.gat.com; Hsu, Scott C., E-mail: scotthsu@lanl.gov

We present results from experiments on the head-on merging of two supersonic plasma jets in an initially collisionless regime for the counter-streaming ions. The plasma jets are of either an argon/impurity or hydrogen/impurity mixture and are produced by pulsed-power-driven railguns. Based on time- and space-resolved fast-imaging, multi-chord interferometry, and survey-spectroscopy measurements of the overlapping region between the merging jets, we observe that the jets initially interpenetrate, consistent with calculated inter-jet ion collision lengths, which are long. As the jets interpenetrate, a rising mean-charge state causes a rapid decrease in the inter-jet ion collision length. Finally, the interaction becomes collisional andmore » the jets stagnate, eventually producing structures consistent with collisional shocks. These experimental observations can aid in the validation of plasma collisionality and ionization models for plasmas with complex equations of state.« less

Laboratory Plasma Source as an MHD Model for Astrophysical Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mayo, Robert M.

1997-01-01

The significance of the work described herein lies in the demonstration of Magnetized Coaxial Plasma Gun (MCG) devices like CPS-1 to produce energetic laboratory magneto-flows with embedded magnetic fields that can be used as a simulation tool to study flow interaction dynamic of jet flows, to demonstrate the magnetic acceleration and collimation of flows with primarily toroidal fields, and study cross field transport in turbulent accreting flows. Since plasma produced in MCG devices have magnetic topology and MHD flow regime similarity to stellar and extragalactic jets, we expect that careful investigation of these flows in the laboratory will reveal fundamental physical mechanisms influencing astrophysical flows. Discussion in the next section (sec.2) focuses on recent results describing collimation, leading flow surface interaction layers, and turbulent accretion. The primary objectives for a new three year effort would involve the development and deployment of novel electrostatic, magnetic, and visible plasma diagnostic techniques to measure plasma and flow parameters of the CPS-1 device in the flow chamber downstream of the plasma source to study, (1) mass ejection, morphology, and collimation and stability of energetic outflows, (2) the effects of external magnetization on collimation and stability, (3) the interaction of such flows with background neutral gas, the generation of visible emission in such interaction, and effect of neutral clouds on jet flow dynamics, and (4) the cross magnetic field transport of turbulent accreting flows. The applicability of existing laboratory plasma facilities to the study of stellar and extragalactic plasma should be exploited to elucidate underlying physical mechanisms that cannot be ascertained though astrophysical observation, and provide baseline to a wide variety of proposed models, MHD and otherwise. The work proposed herin represents a continued effort on a novel approach in relating laboratory experiments to

Alfvén cascades in JET discharges with NBI-heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sharapov, S. E.; Alper, B.; Baranov, Yu. F.; Berk, H. L.; Borba, D.; Boswell, C.; Breizman, B. N.; Challis, C. D.; de Baar, M.; DeLa Luna, E.; Evangelidis, E. A.; Hacquin, S.; Hawkes, N. C.; Kiptily, V. G.; Pinches, S. D.; Sandquist, P.; Voitsekhovich, I.; Young, N. P.; Contributors, JET-EFDA

2006-10-01

Alfvén cascade (AC) eigenmodes excited by energetic ions accelerated with ion-cyclotron resonance heating in JET reversed-shear discharges are studied experimentally in high-density plasmas fuelled by neutral beam injection (NBI) and by deuterium pellets. The recently developed O-mode interferometry technique and Mirnov coils are employed for detecting ACs. The spontaneous improvements in plasma confinement (internal transport barrier (ITB) triggering events) and grand ACs are found to correlate within 0.2 s in JET plasmas with densities up to ~5 × 1019 m-3. Measurements with high time resolution show that ITB triggering events happen before 'grand' ACs in the majority of JET discharges, indicating that this improvement in confinement is likely to be associated with the decrease in the density of rational magnetic surfaces just before qmin(t) passes an integer value. Experimentally observed ACs excited by sub-Alfvénic NBI-produced ions with parallel velocities as low as V||NBI ap 0.2 · VA are found to be most likely associated with the geodesic acoustic effect that significantly modifies the shear-Alfvén dispersion relation at low frequency. Experiments were performed with a tritium NBI-blip (short time pulse) into JET plasmas with NBI-driven ACs. Although considerable NBI-driven AC activity was present, good agreement was found both in the radial profile and in the time evolution of DT neutrons between the neutron measurements and the TRANSP code modelling based on the Coulomb collision model, indicating the ACs have at most a small effect on fast particle confinement in this case.

Synthesis of Silane and Silicon in a Non-equilibrium Plasma Jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Calcote, H. F.

1978-01-01

The original objective of this program was to determine the feasibility of high volume, low-cost production of high purity silane or solar cell grade silicon using a non equilibrium plasma jet. The emphasis was changed near the end of the program to determine the feasibility of preparing photovoltaic amorphous silicon films directly using this method. The non equilibrium plasma jet should be further evaluated as a technique for producing high efficiency photovoltaic amorphous silicon films.

Laser-optical measurements of the velocities of the plasma jets formed from different gases in a kilojoule-range plasma focus facility

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

Polukhin, S. N., E-mail: snpol@lebedev.ru; Dzhamankulov, A. M.; Gurei, A. E.

The velocities of the plasma jets formed from Ne, N{sub 2}, Ar, and Xe gases in plasma focus facilities were determined by means of laser-optical shadowgraphy of the shock waves generated at the jet leading edge. In spite of the almost tenfold ratio between the atomic weights of these gases, the outflow velocities of the plasma jets formed in experiments with these gases differ by less than twice, in the range of (0.7–1.1) × 10{sup 7} cm/s under similar discharge conditions. The energies of the jet ions were found to vary from 0.7 keV for nitrogen to 4 keV formore » xenon.« less

MTF Driven by Plasma Liner Dynamically Formed by the Merging of Plasma Jets: An Overview

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thio, Y. C. Francis; Eskridge, Richard; Martin, Adam; Smith, James; Lee, Michael; Rodgers, Stephen L. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

One approach for standoff delivery of the momentum flux for compressing the target in MTF consists of using a spherical array of plasma jets to form a spherical plasma shell imploding towards the center of a magnetized plasma, a compact toroid (Figure 1). A 3-year experiment (PLX-1) to explore the physics of forming a 2-D plasma liner (shell) by merging plasma jets is described. An overview showing how this 3-year project (PLX-1) fits into the program plan at the national and international level for realizing MTF for energy and propulsion is discussed. Assuming that there will be a parallel program in demonstrating and establishing the underlying physics principles of MTF using whatever liner is appropriate (e.g. a solid liner) with a goal of demonstrating breakeven by 2010, the current research effort at NASA MSFC attempts to complement such a program by addressing the issues of practical embodiment of MTF for propulsion. Successful conclusion of PLX-1 will be followed by a Physics Feasibility Experiment (PLX-2) for the Plasma Liner Driven MTF.

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet with high-voltage power supply based on piezoelectric transformer

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

Babij, Michał; Kowalski, Zbigniew W., E-mail: zbigniew.w.kowalski@pwr.wroc.pl; Nitsch, Karol

The dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet, an example of the nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), generates low-temperature plasmas that are suitable for the atomization of volatile species and can also be served as an ionization source for ambient mass and ion mobility spectrometry. A new design of APPJ for mass spectrometry has been built in our group. In these plasma sources magnetic transformers (MTs) and inductors are typically used in power supplies but they present several drawbacks that are even more evident when dealing with high-voltage normally used in APPJs. To overcome these disadvantages, high frequency generators with themore » absence of MT are proposed in the literature. However, in the case of miniaturized APPJs these conventional power converters, built of ferromagnetic cores and inductors or by means of LC resonant tank circuits, are not so useful as piezoelectric transformer (PT) based power converters due to bulky components and small efficiency. We made and examined a novel atmospheric pressure plasma jet with PT supplier served as ionization source for ambient mass spectrometry, and especially mobile spectrometry where miniaturization, integration of components, and clean plasma are required. The objective of this paper is to describe the concept, design, and implementation of this miniaturized piezoelectric transformer-based atmospheric pressure plasma jet.« less

Complex astrophysical experiments relating to jets, solar loops, and water ice dusty plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellan, P. M.; Zhai, X.; Chai, K. B.; Ha, B. N.

2015-10-01

> Recent results of three astrophysically relevant experiments at Caltech are summarized. In the first experiment magnetohydrodynamically driven plasma jets simulate astrophysical jets that undergo a kink instability. Lateral acceleration of the kinking jet spawns a Rayleigh-Taylor instability, which in turn spawns a magnetic reconnection. Particle heating and a burst of waves are observed in association with the reconnection. The second experiment uses a slightly different setup to produce an expanding arched plasma loop which is similar to a solar corona loop. It is shown that the plasma in this loop results from jets originating from the electrodes. The possibility of a transition from slow to fast expansion as a result of the expanding loop breaking free of an externally imposed strapping magnetic field is investigated. The third and completely different experiment creates a weakly ionized plasma with liquid nitrogen cooled electrodes. Water vapour injected into this plasma forms water ice grains that in general are ellipsoidal and not spheroidal. The water ice grains can become quite long (up to several hundred microns) and self-organize so that they are evenly spaced and vertically aligned.

Shielding methods of quasilaminar jets outflowing from plasma torch with interelectrode insert

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solonenko, O. P.; Smirnov, A. V.

2017-05-01

Investigations of two methods of protection against mixing of surrounding air atmosphere with the free lengthy jets outflowing at low Reynolds numbers from plasma torches with interelectrode insertion (IEI) were carried out. The offered methods allow to significantly reduce the mixing of oxygen with plasma jets that gives a possibility of synthesis, treatment and spraying of powder materials, as well as melting of coatings critical to oxidation.

Self-consistent fluid modeling and simulation on a pulsed microwave atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zhaoquan; Yin, Zhixiang; Chen, Minggong; Hong, Lingli; Xia, Guangqing; Hu, Yelin; Huang, Yourui; Liu, Minghai; Kudryavtsev, A. A.

2014-10-01

In present study, a pulsed lower-power microwave-driven atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet has been introduced with the type of coaxial transmission line resonator. The plasma jet plume is with room air temperature, even can be directly touched by human body without any hot harm. In order to study ionization process of the proposed plasma jet, a self-consistent hybrid fluid model is constructed in which Maxwell's equations are solved numerically by finite-difference time-domain method and a fluid model is used to study the characteristics of argon plasma evolution. With a Guass type input power function, the spatio-temporal distributions of the electron density, the electron temperature, the electric field, and the absorbed power density have been simulated, respectively. The simulation results suggest that the peak values of the electron temperature and the electric field are synchronous with the input pulsed microwave power but the maximum quantities of the electron density and the absorbed power density are lagged to the microwave power excitation. In addition, the pulsed plasma jet excited by the local enhanced electric field of surface plasmon polaritons should be the discharge mechanism of the proposed plasma jet.

A model for straight and helical solar jets: II. Parametric study of the plasma beta.

PubMed

Pariat, E; Dalmasse, K; DeVore, C R; Antiochos, S K; Karpen, J T

2016-12-01

Jets are dynamic, impulsive, well-collimated plasma events that develop at many different scales and in different layers of the solar atmosphere. Jets are believed to be induced by magnetic reconnection, a process central to many astrophysical phenomena. Within the solar atmosphere, jet-like events develop in many different environments, e.g., in the vicinity of active regions as well as in coronal holes, and at various scales, from small photospheric spicules to large coronal jets. In all these events, signatures of helical structure and/or twisting/rotating motions are regularly observed. The present study aims to establish that a single model can generally reproduce the observed properties of these jet-like events. In this study, using our state-of-the-art numerical solver ARMS, we present a parametric study of a numerical tridimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of solar jet-like events. Within the MHD paradigm, we study the impact of varying the atmospheric plasma β on the generation and properties of solar-like jets. The parametric study validates our model of jets for plasma β ranging from 10 -3 to 1, typical of the different layers and magnetic environments of the solar atmosphere. Our model of jets can robustly explain the generation of helical solar jet-like events at various β ≤ 1. This study introduces the new original result that the plasma β modifies the morphology of the helical jet, explaining the different observed shapes of jets at different scales and in different layers of the solar atmosphere. Our results allow us to understand the energisation, triggering, and driving processes of jet-like events. Our model allows us to make predictions of the impulsiveness and energetics of jets as determined by the surrounding environment, as well as the morphological properties of the resulting jets.

A Model for Straight and Helical Solar Jets: II. Parametric Study of the Plasma Beta

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pariat, E.; Dalmasse, K.; DeVore, C. R.; Antiochos, S. K.; Karpen, J. T.

2016-01-01

Context. Jets are dynamic, impulsive, well-collimated plasma events that develop at many different scales and in different layers of the solar atmosphere. Aims. Jets are believed to be induced by magnetic reconnection, a process central to many astrophysical phenomena. Within the solar atmosphere, jet-like events develop in many different environments, e.g. in the vicinity of active regions as well as in coronal holes, and at various scales, from small photospheric spicules to large coronal jets. In all these events, signatures of helical structure and/or twisting/rotating motions are regularly observed. The present study aims to establish that a single model can generally reproduce the observed properties of these jet-like events. Methods. In this study, using our state-of-the-art numerical solver ARMS, we present a parametric study of a numerical tridimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of solar jet-like events. Within the MHD paradigm, we study the impact of varying the atmospheric plasma beta on the generation and properties of solar-like jets. Results. The parametric study validates our model of jets for plasma beta ranging from 10(sup 3) to 1, typical of the different layers and magnetic environments of the solar atmosphere. Our model of jets can robustly explain the generation of helical solar jet-like events at various beta less than or equal to 1. We show that the plasma beta modifies the morphology of the helical jet, explaining the different observed shapes of jets at different scales and in different layers of the solar atmosphere. Conclusions. Our results allow us to understand the energisation, triggering, and driving processes of jet-like events. Our model allows us to make predictions of the impulsiveness and energetics of jets as determined by the surrounding environment, as well as the morphological properties of the resulting jets.

Experimental characterization of a transition from collisionless to collisional interaction between head-on-merging supersonic plasma jets a)

DOE PAGES

Moser, Auna L.; Hsu, Scott C.

2015-05-01

We present results from experiments on the head-on merging of two supersonic plasma jets in an initially collisionless regime for the counter-streaming ions [A. L. Moser & S. C. Hsu, Phys. Plasmas, submitted (2014)]. The plasma jets are of either an argon/impurity or hydrogen/impurity mixture and are produced by pulsed-power-driven railguns. Based on time- and space-resolved fast-imaging, multi-chord interferometry, and survey-spectroscopy measurements of the overlapping region between the merging jets, we observe that the jets initially interpenetrate, consistent with calculated inter-jet ion collision lengths, which are long. As the jets interpenetrate, a rising mean-charge state causes a rapid decrease inmore » the inter-jet ion collision length. Finally, the interaction becomes collisional and the jets stagnate, eventually producing structures consistent with collisional shocks. These experimental observations can aid in the validation of plasma collisionality and ionization models for plasmas with complex equations of state.« less

Experimental characterization of a transition from collisionless to collisional interaction between head-on-merging supersonic plasma jets a)

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

Moser, Auna L.; Hsu, Scott C.

We present results from experiments on the head-on merging of two supersonic plasma jets in an initially collisionless regime for the counter-streaming ions [A. L. Moser & S. C. Hsu, Phys. Plasmas, submitted (2014)]. The plasma jets are of either an argon/impurity or hydrogen/impurity mixture and are produced by pulsed-power-driven railguns. Based on time- and space-resolved fast-imaging, multi-chord interferometry, and survey-spectroscopy measurements of the overlapping region between the merging jets, we observe that the jets initially interpenetrate, consistent with calculated inter-jet ion collision lengths, which are long. As the jets interpenetrate, a rising mean-charge state causes a rapid decrease inmore » the inter-jet ion collision length. Finally, the interaction becomes collisional and the jets stagnate, eventually producing structures consistent with collisional shocks. These experimental observations can aid in the validation of plasma collisionality and ionization models for plasmas with complex equations of state.« less

Irradiation of nuclear materials with laser-plasma filaments produced in air and deuterium by terrawatt (TW) laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avotina, Liga; Lungu, Mihail; Dinca, Paul; Butoi, Bogdan; Cojocaru, Gabriel; Ungureanu, Razvan; Marcu, Aurelian; Luculescu, Catalin; Hapenciuc, Claudiu; Ganea, Paul C.; Petjukevics, Aleksandrs; Lungu, Cristian P.; Kizane, Gunta; Ticos, C. M.; Antohe, Stefan

2018-01-01

Be-C-W mixed materials with variable atomic ratios were exposed to high power (TW) laser induced filamentation plasma in air in normal conditions and in deuterium at a reduced pressure of 20 Torr. Morphological and structural investigations were performed on the irradiated zones for both ambient conditions. The presence of low-pressure deuterium increased the overall ablation rate for all samples. From the elemental concentration point of view, the increase of the carbon percentage has led to an increase in the ablation rate. An increase of the tungsten percentage had the opposite effect. From structural spectroscopic investigations using XPS, Raman and FT-IR of the irradiated and non-irradiated sample surfaces, we conclude that deuterium-induced enhancement of the ablation process could be explained by preferential amorphous carbon removal, possibly by forming deuterated hydrocarbons which further evaporated, weakening the layer structure.

Removal of floating dust in glow discharge using plasma jet

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

Ticos, C. M.; Jepu, I.; Lungu, C. P.

2010-07-05

Dust can be an inconvenient source of impurities in plasma processing reactors and in many cases it can cause damage to the plasma-treated surfaces. A technique for dust expulsion out of the trapping region in plasma is presented here, based on the wind force exerted on dust particles by a pulsed plasma jet. Its applicability is demonstrated by removing floating dust in the sheath of parallel-plate capacitive radio-frequency plasma.

Ram-pressure scaling and non-uniformity characterization of a spherically imploding liner formed by hypervelocity plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassibry, Jason; Dougherty, Jesse; Thompson, Seth; Hsu, Scott; Witherspoon, F. D.; University of AL in Huntsville Team; Los Alamos National Laboratory Team; HyperV Technologies Corp. Team

2014-10-01

Three-dimensional modeling of plasma liner formation and implosion is performed using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics Code (SPHC) with radiation, thermal transport, and tabular equations of state (EOS), accounting for ionization, in support of a proposed 60-gun plasma liner formation experiment for plasma-jet driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). Previous SPHC modeling showed that ideal gas law scaling of peak stagnation pressure increased linearly with density and number of jets, quadratically with jet radius and velocity, and inversely with the initial jet length, while results with tabular EOS, thermal transport, and radiation have greater sensitivity to the initial jet distribution. A series of simulations are conducted to study the effects of initial jet conditions on peak ram pressure and liner non-uniformity during plasma liner implosion. The growth rate of large-amplitude density perturbations introduced by the discrete jets are computed and compared with predictions by the Bell-Plesset equation.

Expansion of a multicomponent current-carrying plasma jet into vacuum

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

Krasov, V. I.; Paperny, V. L., E-mail: paperny@math.isu.runnet.ru

An expression for the ion−ion coupling in a multicomponent plasma jet is derived for an arbitrary ratio between the thermal and relative velocities of the components. The obtained expression is used to solve the problem on the expansion of a current-carrying plasma microjet emitted from the cathode surface into vacuum. Two types of plasmas with two ion components are analyzed: (i) plasma in which the ion components of equal masses are in the charge states Z{sub 1}= +1 and Z{sub 2}= +2 and (ii) plasma with ions in equal charge states but with the mass ratio m{sub 1}/m{sub 2} =more » 2. It is shown that, for such plasmas, the difference between the velocities of the plasma components remains substantial (about 10% of the average jet velocity in case (i) and 15% in case (ii)) at distances of several centimeters from the emission center, where it can be measured experimentally, provided that its initial value at the emitting cathode surface exceeds a certain threshold. This effect is investigated as a function of the mass ratio and charge states of the ion components.« less

[Study on the fluctuation phenomena of arc plasma spraying jet].

PubMed

Zhao, Wen-hua; Liu, Di; Tian, Kuo

2002-08-01

The turbulence phenomenon is one of the most attractive characteristics of a DC arc plasma spraying jet. Most of the previous investigations believe that there is a laminar flow region in core of the jet. A spectrum diagnostic system has been built up in this paper to investigate these effects with the aid of high-speed digital camera. The FFT method has been applied to the analysis on the arc voltage and light signals. The influence of the arc behavior and the power supply on the jet is full-scale. It seems that there is not a laminar flow region in core of the jet. Moreover, from the light dynamic variation graph, the jet fluctuation due to the arc voltage behavior maybe is the dominant characteristic of the jet behavior.

Risk assessment of the application of a plasma jet in dermatology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lademann, Juergen; Richter, Heike; Alborova, Alena; Humme, Daniel; Patzelt, Alexa; Kramer, Axel; Weltmann, Klaus-Dieter; Hartmann, Bernd; Ottomann, Christian; Fluhr, Joachim W.; Hinz, Peter; Hübner, Georg; Lademann, Olaf

2009-09-01

Regardless of the fact that several highly efficient antiseptics are commercially available, the antiseptic treatment of chronic wounds remains a problem. In the past, electrical plasma discharges have been frequently used in biometrical science for disinfection and sterilization of material surfaces. Plasma systems usually have a temperature of several hundred degrees. Recently, it was reported that ``cold'' plasma can be applied onto living tissue. In in vitro studies on cell culture, it could be demonstrated that this new plasma possesses excellent antiseptic properties. We perform a risk assessment concerning the in vivo application of a ``cold'' plasma jet on patients and volunteers. Two potential risk factors, UV radiation and temperature, are evaluated. We show that the UV radiation of the plasma in the used system is an order of magnitude lower than the minimal erythema dose, necessary to produce sunburn on the skin in vivo. Additionally, thermal damage of the tissue by the plasma can be excluded. The results of the risk assessment stimulate the in vivo application of the investigated plasma jet in the treatment of chronic wounds.

Performance of the prototype LaBr3 spectrometer developed for the JET gamma-ray camera upgrade.

PubMed

Rigamonti, D; Muraro, A; Nocente, M; Perseo, V; Boltruczyk, G; Fernandes, A; Figueiredo, J; Giacomelli, L; Gorini, G; Gosk, M; Kiptily, V; Korolczuk, S; Mianowski, S; Murari, A; Pereira, R C; Cippo, E P; Zychor, I; Tardocchi, M

2016-11-01

In this work, we describe the solution developed by the gamma ray camera upgrade enhancement project to improve the spectroscopic properties of the existing JET γ-ray camera. Aim of the project is to enable gamma-ray spectroscopy in JET deuterium-tritium plasmas. A dedicated pilot spectrometer based on a LaBr 3 crystal coupled to a silicon photo-multiplier has been developed. A proper pole zero cancellation network able to shorten the output signal to a length of 120 ns has been implemented allowing for spectroscopy at MHz count rates. The system has been characterized in the laboratory and shows an energy resolution of 5.5% at E γ = 0.662 MeV, which extrapolates favorably in the energy range of interest for gamma-ray emission from fast ions in fusion plasmas.

Diagnostics of Thermal Spraying Plasma Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fauchais, P.; Coudert, J. F.; Vardelle, M.; Vardelle, A.; Denoirjean, A.

D.C. thermal plasma jets are strongly affected on the one hand by the arc root fluctuations at the anode, resulting in a type of pulsed flow and enhanced turbulence, and on the other hand by the entrainment of surrounding cold gas in the plasma jet. These phenomena and the resulting temperature distributions have been studied using a wide range of diagnostic techniques including fast cameras, laser doppler anemometry (LDA), coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS), Rayleigh scattering, emission spectroscopy, Schlieren photography, enthalpy probes and sampling probes. The information given by these techniques is evaluated and compared. The effect of the arc fluctuations on the spectroscopic measurements is emphasized and the possibility of using these fluctuations to determine informations on the arc behaviour and the axial velocity of the jet is presented. Optimization of plasma processing of solid particules requires information about their size and surface temperature, as well as number flux and velocity distributions at various locations in the flow field. The different statistical techniques of in-flight measurements are discussed together with their limitations. A method to determine the temperature and species density of the vapor cloud or comet travelling with each particule in flight is then presented. However, such statistical measurements present ambiguities in their interpretation, which can be adressed only by additional measurements to determine the velocity, diameter, and surface temperature of a single particule in flight. Moreover, information on single particules is required in order to understand the coating properties, which depend strongly on the way the particules flatten and solidify upon impact. A method to obtain data related to a single particule in flight and to follow the temperature evolution of the corresponding splat upon cooling is presented. The paper concludes with the description of the experimental techniques to follow the

Contrasting characteristics of aqueous reactive species induced by cross-field and linear-field plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Han; Chen, Chen; Liu, Dingxin; Xu, Dehui; Liu, Zhijie; Wang, Xiaohua; Kong, Michael G.

2017-06-01

A comparative study on aqueous reactive species in deionized water treated by two types of plasma jets is presented. Classified by the direction of the electric field in the jet device, a linear-field jet and cross-field jet have been set up. Concentrations of several aqueous reactive species are measured quantitatively by chemical fluorescent assays and electron spin resonance spectrometer. Results show that these two-type plasma jets would generate approximately the same gaseous reactive species under the same discharge power, but the linear-field plasma jet is much more efficient at delivering those species to the remote deionized water. This leads to a much more aqueous short-lived species including OH and \\text{O}2- produced in water, which are mainly correlated to the solvation of gaseous short-lived species such as ions and electrons. Regarding the long-lived species of aqueous H2O2, the concentration grows faster when treated by the linear-field plasma jet in the initial stage, but after 10 min it is similar to that treated by the cross-field counterpart due to the vapor-liquid equilibrium. The aqueous peroxynitrite is also predicted to be produced as a result of the air inclusion in the feeding gas.

Quasi-Isentropic Compressibility of Deuterium at a Pressure of 12 TPa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mochalov, M. A.; Il'kaev, R. I.; Fortov, V. E.; Mikhailov, A. L.; Arinin, V. A.; Blikov, A. O.; Komrakov, V. A.; Maksimkin, I. P.; Ogorodnikov, V. A.; Ryzhkov, A. V.

2018-04-01

An experimental result for the quasi-isentropic compressibility of a strongly nonideal deuterium plasma compressed in a spherical device by the pressure P = 11400 GPa (114 Mbar) to the density ρ ≈ 10g/cm3 has been reported. The characteristics of the experimental device, diagnostic methods, and experimental results have been described. The trajectory of motion of metallic shells compressing a deuterium plasma has been recorded using intense pulsed sources of X rays with the boundary energy of electrons up to 60 MeV. The deuterium plasma density ρ ≈ 10g/cm3 has been determined from the measured radius of the shell at the time of its "stop." The pressure of the compressed plasma has been determined from gas-dynamic calculations taking into account the real characteristics of the experimental device.

Axial plasma jet characterization on a microsecond x-pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jaar, G. S.; Appartaim, R. K.

2018-06-01

The jets produced on a microsecond x-pinch (quarter period T1/4 ˜ 1 μs, dI/dt ˜ 0.35 kA/ns) have been studied through light-field schlieren imaging and optical framing photographs across 4 different materials: Al, Ti, Mo, and W. The axial velocity of the jets was measured and exhibited no dependence on atomic number (Z) of the wire material. There may be a dependence on another factor(s), namely, the current rise rate. The average axial jet velocity across all four materials was measured to be 2.9 ± 0.5 × 106 cm/s. The average jet diameter and the average radial jet expansion rate displayed inverse relationships with Z, which may be attributed to radiative cooling and inertia. Asymmetry between the anode and cathode jet behavior was observed and is thought to be caused by electron beam activity. The mean divergence angle of the jet was found to vary with wire material and correlated inversely with the thermal conductivity of the cold wire. Optical images indicated a two-layer structure in Al jets which may be caused by standing shocks and resemble phenomena observed in astrophysical jet formation and collimation. Kinks in the jets have also been observed which may be caused by m = 1 MHD instability modes or by the interaction of the jet with the electrode plasma.

Optical Emission Spectroscopy of an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet During Tooth Bleaching Gel Treatment.

PubMed

Šantak, Vedran; Zaplotnik, Rok; Tarle, Zrinka; Milošević, Slobodan

2015-11-01

Optical emission spectroscopy was performed during atmospheric pressure plasma needle helium jet treatment of various tooth-bleaching gels. When the gel sample was inserted under the plasma plume, the intensity of all the spectral features increased approximately two times near the plasma needle tip and up to two orders of magnitude near the sample surface. The color change of the hydroxylapatite pastille treated with bleaching gels in conjunction with the atmospheric pressure plasma jet was found to be in correlation with the intensity of OH emission band (309 nm). Using argon as an additive to helium flow (2 L/min), a linear increase (up to four times) of OH intensity and, consequently, whitening (up to 10%) of the pastilles was achieved. An atmospheric pressure plasma jet activates bleaching gel, accelerates OH production, and accelerates tooth bleaching (up to six times faster).

Modelling the helium plasma jet delivery of reactive species into a 3D cancer tumour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szili, Endre J.; Oh, Jun-Seok; Fukuhara, Hideo; Bhatia, Rishabh; Gaur, Nishtha; Nguyen, Cuong K.; Hong, Sung-Ha; Ito, Satsuki; Ogawa, Kotaro; Kawada, Chiaki; Shuin, Taro; Tsuda, Masayuki; Furihata, Mutsuo; Kurabayashi, Atsushi; Furuta, Hiroshi; Ito, Masafumi; Inoue, Keiji; Hatta, Akimitsu; Short, Robert D.

2018-01-01

Cold atmospheric plasmas have attracted significant worldwide attention for their potential beneficial effects in cancer therapy. In order to further improve the effectiveness of plasma in cancer therapy, it is important to understand the generation and transport of plasma reactive species into tissue fluids, tissues and cells, and moreover the rates and depths of delivery, particularly across physical barriers such as skin. In this study, helium (He) plasma jet treatment of a 3D cancer tumour, grown on the back of a live mouse, induced apoptosis within the tumour to a depth of 2.8 mm. The He plasma jet was shown to deliver reactive oxygen species through the unbroken skin barrier before penetrating through the entire depth of the tumour. The depth and rate of transport of He plasma jet generated H2O2, NO3 - and NO2 -, as well as aqueous oxygen [O2(aq)], was then tracked in an agarose tissue model. This provided an approximation of the H2O2, NO3 -, NO2 - and O2(aq) concentrations that might have been generated during the He plasma jet treatment of the 3D tumour. It is proposed that the He plasma jet can induce apoptosis within a tumour by the ‘deep’ delivery of H2O2, NO3 - and NO2 - coupled with O2(aq); the latter raising oxygen tension in hypoxic tissue.

3-D MHD modeling and stability analysis of jet and spheromak plasmas launched into a magnetized plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Dustin; Zhang, Yue; Wallace, Ben; Gilmore, Mark; Manchester, Ward; Arge, C. Nick

2016-10-01

The Plasma Bubble Expansion Experiment (PBEX) at the University of New Mexico uses a coaxial plasma gun to launch jet and spheromak magnetic plasma configurations into the Helicon-Cathode (HelCat) plasma device. Plasma structures launched from the gun drag frozen-in magnetic flux into the background magnetic field of the chamber providing a rich set of dynamics to study magnetic turbulence, force-free magnetic spheromaks, and shocks. Preliminary modeling is presented using the highly-developed 3-D, MHD, BATS-R-US code developed at the University of Michigan. BATS-R-US employs an adaptive mesh refinement grid that enables the capture and resolution of shock structures and current sheets, and is particularly suited to model the parameter regime under investigation. CCD images and magnetic field data from the experiment suggest the stabilization of an m =1 kink mode trailing a plasma jet launched into a background magnetic field. Results from a linear stability code investigating the effect of shear-flow as a cause of this stabilization from magnetic tension forces on the jet will be presented. Initial analyses of a possible magnetic Rayleigh Taylor instability seen at the interface between launched spheromaks and their entraining background magnetic field will also be presented. Work supported by the Army Research Office Award No. W911NF1510480.

Study of supersonic plasma technology jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selezneva, Svetlana; Gravelle, Denis; Boulos, Maher; van de Sanden, Richard; Schram, Dc

2001-10-01

Recently some new techniques using remote thermal plasma for thin film deposition and plasma chemistry processes were developed. These techniques include PECVD of diamonds, diamond-like and polymer films; a-C:H and a-Si:H films. The latter are of especial interest because of their applications for solar cell production industry. In remote plasma deposition, thermal plasma is formed by means of one of traditional plasma sources. The chamber pressure is reduced with the help of continuous pumping. In that way the flow is accelerated up to the supersonic speed. The plasma expansion is controlled using a specific torch nozzle design. To optimize the deposition process detailed knowledge about the gas dynamic structure of the jet and chemical kinetics mechanisms is required. In the paper, we show how the flow pattern and the character of the deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium differs in plasmas generated by different plasma sources, such as induction plasma torch, traditional direct current arc and cascaded arc. We study the effects of the chamber pressure, nozzle design and carrier gas on the resulting plasma properties. The analysis is performed by means of numerical modeling using commercially available FLUENT program with incorporated user-defined subroutines for two-temperature model. The results of continuum mechanics approach are compared with that of the kinetic Monte Carlo method and with the experimental data.

Hybrid model for simulation of plasma jet injection in tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galkin, Sergei A.; Bogatu, I. N.

2016-10-01

Hybrid kinetic model of plasma treats the ions as kinetic particles and the electrons as charge neutralizing massless fluid. The model is essentially applicable when most of the energy is concentrated in the ions rather than in the electrons, i.e. it is well suited for the high-density hyper-velocity C60 plasma jet. The hybrid model separates the slower ion time scale from the faster electron time scale, which becomes disregardable. That is why hybrid codes consistently outperform the traditional PIC codes in computational efficiency, still resolving kinetic ions effects. We discuss 2D hybrid model and code with exact energy conservation numerical algorithm and present some results of its application to simulation of C60 plasma jet penetration through tokamak-like magnetic barrier. We also examine the 3D model/code extension and its possible applications to tokamak and ionospheric plasmas. The work is supported in part by US DOE DE-SC0015776 Grant.

Deuterium supersaturation in low-energy plasma-loaded tungsten surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, L.; Jacob, W.; von Toussaint, U.; Manhard, A.; Balden, M.; Schmid, K.; Schwarz-Selinger, T.

2017-01-01

Fundamental understanding of hydrogen-metal interactions is challenging due to a lack of knowledge on defect production and/or evolution upon hydrogen ingression, especially for metals undergoing hydrogen irradiation with ion energy below the displacement thresholds reported in literature. Here, applying a novel low-energy argon-sputter depth profiling method with significantly improved depth resolution for tungsten (W) surfaces exposed to deuterium (D) plasma at 300 K, we show the existence of a 10 nm thick D-supersaturated surface layer (DSSL) with an unexpectedly high D concentration of ~10 at.% after irradiation with ion energy of 215 eV. Electron back-scatter diffraction reveals that the W lattice within this DSSL is highly distorted, thus strongly blurring the Kikuchi pattern. We explain this strong damage by the synergistic interaction of energetic D ions and solute D atoms with the W lattice. Solute D atoms prevent the recombination of vacancies with interstitial W atoms, which are produced by collisions of energetic D ions with W lattice atoms (Frenkel pairs). This proposed damaging mechanism could also be active on other hydrogen-irradiated metal surfaces. The present work provides deep insight into hydrogen-induced lattice distortion at plasma-metal interfaces and sheds light on its modelling work.

Patterned graphene functionalization via mask-free scanning of micro-plasma jet under ambient condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Dong; Wu, Shu-Qun; Yu, Yao; Liu, Lin; Lu, Xin-Pei; Wu, Yue

2014-03-01

In this work, a mask-free method is introduced for patterned nitrogen doping of graphene using a micro-plasma jet under ambient condition. Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra indicate that nitrogen atoms are incorporated into the graphene lattice with the two-dimensional spatial distribution precisely controlled in the range of mm down to 10 μm. Since the chemistry of the micro-plasma jet can be controlled by the choice of the gas mixture, this direct writing process with micro-plasma jet can be a versatile approach for patterned functionalization of graphene with high spatial resolution. This could have promising applications in graphene-based electronics.

Plasma-Jet-Driven Magneto-Inertial Fusion (PJMIF): Physics and Design for a Plasma Liner Formation Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Scott; Cassibry, Jason; Witherspoon, F. Douglas

2014-10-01

Spherically imploding plasma liners are a potential standoff compression driver for magneto-inertial fusion, which is a hybrid of and operates in an intermediate density between those of magnetic and inertial fusion. We propose to use an array of merging supersonic plasma jets to form a spherically imploding plasma liner. The jets are to be formed by pulsed coaxial guns with contoured electrodes that are placed sufficiently far from the location of target compression such that no hardware is repetitively destroyed. As such, the repetition rate can be higher (e.g., 1 Hz) and ultimately the power-plant economics can be more attractive than most other MIF approaches. During the R&D phase, a high experimental shot rate at reasonably low cost (e.g., < 1 k/shot) may be achieved with excellent diagnostic access, thus enabling a rapid learning rate. After some background on PJMIF and its prospects for reactor-relevant energy gain, this poster describes the physics objectives and design of a proposed 60-gun plasma-liner-formation experiment, which will provide experimental data on: (i) scaling of peak liner ram pressure versus initial jet parameters, (ii) liner non-uniformity characterization and control, and (iii) control of liner profiles for eventual gain optimization.

Interferometric analysis of laboratory photoionized plasmas utilizing supersonic gas jet targets.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, Kyle James; Ivanov, Vladimir; Mancini, Roberto; Mayes, Daniel C.

2018-06-01

Photoionized plasmas are an important component of active galactic nuclei, x-ray binary systems and other astrophysical objects. Laboratory produced photoionized plasmas have mainly been studied at large scale facilities, due to the need for high intensity broadband x-ray flux. Using supersonic gas jets as targets has allowed university scale pulsed power generators to begin similar research. The two main advantages of this approach with supersonic gas jets include: possibility of a closer location to the x-ray source and no attenuation related to material used for containment and or tamping. Due to these factors, this experimental platform creates a laboratory environment that more closely resembles astrophysical environments. This system was developed at the Nevada Terawatt Facility using the 1 MA pulsed power generator Zebra. Neon, argon, and nitrogen supersonic gas jets are produced approximately 7-8mm from the z-pinch axis. The high intensity broadband x-ray flux produced by the collapse of the z-pinch wire array implosion irradiates the gas jet. Cylindrical wire arrays are made with 4 and 8 gold 10µm thick wire. The z-pinch radiates approximately 12-16kj of x-ray energy, with x-ray photons under 1Kev in energy. The photoionized plasma is measured via x-ray absorption spectroscopy and interferometry. A Mach-Zehnder interferometer is used to the measure neutral density of the jet prior to the zebra shot at a wavelength of 266 nm. A dual channel air-wedge shearing interferometer is used to measure electron density of the ionized gas jet during the shot, at wavelengths of 532nm and 266nm. Using a newly developed interferometric analysis tool, average ionization state maps of the plasma can be calculated. Interferometry for nitrogen and argon show an average ionization state in the range of 3-8. Preliminary x-ray absorption spectroscopy collected show neon absorption lines. This work was sponsored in part by DOE Office of Science Grant DE-SC0014451.

A Planar Source of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhdanova, O. S.; Kuznetsov, V. S.; Panarin, V. A.; Skakun, V. S.; Sosnin, E. A.; Tarasenko, V. F.

2018-01-01

In a single-barrier discharge with voltage sharpening and low gas consumption (up to 1 L/min), plane atmospheric pressure plasma jets with a width of up to 3 cm and length of up to 4 cm in air are formed in the slit geometry of the discharge zone. The energy, temperature, and spectral characteristics of the obtained jets have been measured. The radiation spectrum contains intense maxima corresponding to vibrational transitions of the second positive system of molecular nitrogen N2 ( C 3Π u → B 3Π g ) and comparatively weak transition lines of the first positive system of the N 2 + ion ( B 2Σ u + → X 2Σ g ). By an example of inactivation of the Staphylococcus aureus culture (strain ATCC 209), it is shown that plasma is a source of chemically active particles providing the inactivation of microorganisms.

Nanosecond pulsed humid Ar plasma jet in air: shielding, discharge characteristics and atomic hydrogen production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yatom, Shurik; Luo, Yuchen; Xiong, Qing; Bruggeman, Peter J.

2017-10-01

Gas phase non-equilibrium plasmas jets containing water vapor are of growing interest for many applications. In this manuscript, we report a detailed study of an atmospheric pressure nanosecond pulsed Ar  +  0.26% H2O plasma jet. The plasma jet operates in an atmospheric pressure air surrounding but is shielded with a coaxial argon flow to limit the air diffusion into the jet effluent core. The jet impinges on a metal plate electrode and produces a stable plasma filament (transient spark) between the needle electrode in the jet and the metal plate. The stable plasma filament is characterized by spatially and time resolved electrical and optical diagnostics. This includes Rayleigh scattering, Stark broadening of the hydrogen Balmer lines and two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence (TaLIF) to obtain the gas temperature, the electron density and the atomic hydrogen density respectively. Electron densities and atomic hydrogen densities up to 5 × 1022 m-3 and 2 × 1022 m-3 have been measured. This shows that atomic hydrogen is one of the main species in high density Ar-H2O plasmas. The gas temperature does not exceed 550 K in the core of the plasma. To enable in situ calibration of the H TaLIF at atmospheric pressure a previously published O density calibration scheme is extended to include a correction for the line profiles by including overlap integrals as required by H TaLIF. The line width of H TaLIF, due to collision broadening has the same trend as the neutral density obtained by Rayleigh scattering. This suggests the possibility to use this technique to in situ probe neutral gas densities.

The ‘neutron deficit’ in the JET tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weisen, H.; Kim, Hyun-Tae; Strachan, J.; Scott, S.; Baranov, Y.; Buchanan, J.; Fitzgerald, M.; Keeling, D.; King, D. B.; Giacomelli, L.; Koskela, T.; Weisen, M. J.; Giroud, C.; Maslov, M.; Core, W. G.; Zastrow, K.-D.; Syme, D. B.; Popovichev, S.; Conroy, S.; Lengar, I.; Snoj, L.; Batistoni, P.; Santala, M.; Contributors, JET

2017-07-01

The measured D-D neutron rate of neutral beam heated JET baseline and hybrid H-modes in deuterium is found to be between approximately 50% and 100% of the neutron rate expected from the TRANSP code, depending on the plasma parameters. A number of candidate explanations for the shortfall, such as fuel dilution, errors in beam penetration and effectively available beam power have been excluded. As the neutron rate in JET is dominated by beam-plasma interactions, the ‘neutron deficit’ may be caused by a yet unidentified form of fast particle redistribution. Modelling, which assumes fast particle transport to be responsible for the deficit, indicates that such redistribution would have to happen at time scales faster than both the slowing down time and the energy confinement time. Sawteeth and edge localised modes are found to make no significant contribution to the deficit. There is also no obvious correlation with magnetohydrodynamic activity measured using magnetic probes at the tokamak vessel walls. Modelling of fast particle orbits in the 3D fields of neoclassical tearing modes shows that realistically sized islands can only contribute a few percent to the deficit. In view of these results it appears unlikely that the neutron deficit results from a single physical process in the plasma.

Holographic Jet Shapes and their Evolution in Strongly Coupled Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brewer, Jasmine; Rajagopal, Krishna; Sadofyev, Andrey; van der Schee, Wilke

2017-11-01

Recently our group analyzed how the probability distribution for the jet opening angle is modified in an ensemble of jets that has propagated through an expanding cooling droplet of plasma [K. Rajagopal, A. V. Sadofyev, W. van der Schee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 (2016) 211603]. Each jet in the ensemble is represented holographically by a string in the dual 4+1- dimensional gravitational theory with the distribution of initial energies and opening angles in the ensemble given by perturbative QCD. In [K. Rajagopal, A. V. Sadofyev, W. van der Schee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 (2016) 211603], the full string dynamics were approximated by assuming that the string moves at the speed of light. We are now able to analyze the full string dynamics for a range of possible initial conditions, giving us access to the dynamics of holographic jets just after their creation. The nullification timescale and the features of the string when it has nullified are all results of the string evolution. This emboldens us to analyze the full jet shape modification, rather than just the opening angle modification of each jet in the ensemble as in [K. Rajagopal, A. V. Sadofyev, W. van der Schee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 (2016) 211603]. We find the result that the jet shape scales with the opening angle at any particular energy. We construct an ensemble of dijets with energies and energy asymmetry distributions taken from events in proton-proton collisions, opening angle distribution as in [K. Rajagopal, A. V. Sadofyev, W. van der Schee, Phys. Rev. Lett. 116 (2016) 211603], and jet shape taken from proton-proton collisions and scaled according to our result. We study how these observables are modified after we send the ensemble of dijets through the strongly-coupled plasma.

Modelling of plasma generation and thin film deposition by a non-thermal plasma jet at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sigeneger, F.; Becker, M. M.; Foest, R.; Loffhagen, D.

2016-09-01

The gas flow and plasma in a miniaturized non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet for plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition has been investigated by means of hydrodynamic modelling. The investigation focuses on the interplay between the plasma generation in the active zone where the power is supplied by an rf voltage to the filaments, the transport of active plasma particles due to the gas flow into the effluent, their reactions with the thin film precursor molecules and the transport of precursor fragments towards the substrate. The main features of the spatially two-dimensional model used are given. The results of the numerical modelling show that most active particles of the argon plasma are mainly confined within the active volume in the outer capillary of the plasma jet, with the exception of molecular argon ions which are transported remarkably into the effluent together with slow electrons. A simplified model of the precursor kinetics yields radial profiles of precursor fragment fluxes onto the substrate, which agree qualitatively with the measured profiles of thin films obtained by static film deposition experiments.

Characterization of Wet Air Plasma Jet Powered by Sinusoidal High Voltage and Nanosecond Pulses for Plasma Agricultural Application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takashima, Keisuke; Shimada, Keisuke; Konishi, Hideaki; Kaneko, Toshiro

2015-09-01

Not only for the plasma sterilization but also for many of plasma life-science applications, atmospheric pressure plasma devices that allowed us to control its state and reactive species production are deserved to resolve the roles of the chemical species. Influence of the hydroxyl radical and ozone on germination of conidia of a strawberry pathogen is presented. Water addition to air plasma jet significantly improves germination suppression performance, while measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reduced. Although the results show a negative correlation between ROS and the germination suppression, this infers the importance of chemical composition generated by plasma. For further control of the plasma product, a plasma jet powered by sinusoidal high voltage and nanosecond pulses is developed and characterized with the voltage-charge Lissajous. Control of breakdown phase and discharge power by pulse-imposed phase is presented. This work is supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) Grant Number 15K17480 and Exploratory Research Grant Number 23644199.

Optimizing Dense Plasma Focus Neutron Yields with Fast Gas Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMahon, Matthew; Kueny, Christopher; Stein, Elizabeth; Link, Anthony; Schmidt, Andrea

2016-10-01

We report a study using the particle-in-cell code LSP to perform fully kinetic simulations modeling dense plasma focus (DPF) devices with high density gas jets on axis. The high density jet models fast gas puffs which allow for more mass on axis while maintaining the optimal pressure for the DPF. As the density of the jet compared to the background fill increases we find the neutron yield increases, as does the variability in the neutron yield. Introducing perturbations in the jet density allow for consistent seeding of the m =0 instability leading to more consistent ion acceleration and higher neutron yields with less variability. Jets with higher on axis density are found to have the greatest yield. The optimal jet configuration is explored. This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Impact of plasma jet vacuum ultraviolet radiation on reactive oxygen species generation in bio-relevant liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jablonowski, H.; Bussiahn, R.; Hammer, M. U.; Weltmann, K.-D.; von Woedtke, Th.; Reuter, S.

2015-12-01

Plasma medicine utilizes the combined interaction of plasma produced reactive components. These are reactive atoms, molecules, ions, metastable species, and radiation. Here, ultraviolet (UV, 100-400 nm) and, in particular, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 10-200 nm) radiation generated by an atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet were investigated regarding plasma emission, absorption in a humidified atmosphere and in solutions relevant for plasma medicine. The energy absorption was obtained for simple solutions like distilled water (dH2O) or ultrapure water and sodium chloride (NaCl) solution as well as for more complex ones, for example, Rosewell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI 1640) cell culture media. As moderate stable reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was studied. Highly reactive oxygen radicals, namely, superoxide anion (O2•-) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH), were investigated by the use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. All species amounts were detected for three different treatment cases: Plasma jet generated VUV and UV radiation, plasma jet generated UV radiation without VUV part, and complete plasma jet including all reactive components additionally to VUV and UV radiation. It was found that a considerable amount of radicals are generated by the plasma generated photoemission. From the experiments, estimation on the low hazard potential of plasma generated VUV radiation is discussed.

Geometry optimization of linear and annular plasma synthetic jet actuators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neretti, G.; Seri, P.; Taglioli, M.; Shaw, A.; Iza, F.; Borghi, C. A.

2017-01-01

The electrohydrodynamic (EHD) interaction induced in atmospheric air pressure by a surface dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) actuator has been experimentally investigated. Plasma synthetic jet actuators (PSJAs) are DBD actuators able to induce an air stream perpendicular to the actuator surface. These devices can be used in the field of aerodynamics to prevent or induce flow separation, modify the laminar to turbulent transition inside the boundary layer, and stabilize or mix air flows. They can also be used to enhance indirect plasma treatment effects, increasing the reactive species delivery rate onto surfaces and liquids. This can play a major role in plasma processing and chemical kinetics modelling, where often only diffusive mechanisms are considered. This paper reports on the importance that different electrode geometries can have on the performance of different PSJAs. A series of DBD aerodynamic actuators designed to produce perpendicular jets has been fabricated on two-layer printed circuit boards (PCBs). Both linear and annular geometries were considered, testing different upper electrode distances in the linear case and different diameters in the annular one. An AC voltage supplied at a peak of 11.5 kV and a frequency of 5 kHz was used. Lower electrodes were connected to the ground and buried in epoxy resin to avoid undesired plasma generation on the lower actuator surface. Voltage and current measurements were carried out to evaluate the active power delivered to the discharges. Schlieren imaging allowed the induced jets to be visualized and gave an estimate of their evolution and geometry. Pitot tube measurements were performed to obtain the velocity profiles of the PSJAs and to estimate the mechanical power delivered to the fluid. The optimal values of the inter-electrode distance and diameter were found in order to maximize jet velocity, mechanical power or efficiency. Annular geometries were found to achieve the best performance.

Characterizations of atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma jets and their applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karakas, Erdinc

2011-12-01

Atmospheric pressure low temperature plasma jets (APLTPJs) driven by short pulses have recently received great attention because of their potential in biomedical and environmental applications. This potential is due to their user-friendly features, such as low temperature, low risk of arcing, operation at atmospheric pressure, easy handheld operation, and low concentration of ozone generation. Recent experimental observations indicate that an ionization wave exists and propagates along the plasma jet. The plasma jet created by this ionization wave is not a continuous medium but rather consists of a bullet-like-structure known as "Plasma Bullet". More interestingly, these plasma bullets actually have a donut-shaped makeup. The nature of the plasma bullet is especially interesting because it propagates in the ambient air at supersonic velocities without any externally applied electric field. In this dissertation, experimental insights are reported regarding the physical and chemical characteristics of the APLTPJs. The dynamics of the plasma bullet are investigated by means of a high-speed ICCD camera. A plasma bullet propagation model based on the streamer theory is confirmed with adequate explanations. It is also found that a secondary discharge, ignited by the charge accumulation on the dielectric electrode surfaces at the end of the applied voltage, interrupts the plasma bullet propagation due to an opposing current along the ionization channel. The reason for this interesting phenomenon is explained in detail. The plasma bullet comes to an end when the helium mole fraction along the ionization channel, or applied voltage, or both, are less than some critical values. The presence of an inert gas channel in the surrounding air, such as helium or argon, has a critical role in plasma bullet formation and propagation. For this reason, a fluid dynamics study is employed by a commercially available simulation software, COMSOL, based on finite element method. Spatio

FAR-TECH's Nanoparticle Plasma Jet System and its Application to Disruptions, Deep Fueling, and Diagnostics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, J. R.; Bogatu, I. N.; Galkin, S. A.; Kim, J. S.

2012-10-01

Hyper-velocity plasma jets have potential applications in tokamaks for disruption mitigation, deep fueling and diagnostics. Pulsed power based solid-state sources and plasma accelerators offer advantages of rapid response and mass delivery at high velocities. Fast response is critical for some disruption mitigation scenario needs, while high velocity is especially important for penetration into tokamak plasma and its confining magnetic field, as in the case of deep fueling. FAR-TECH is developing the capability of producing large-mass hyper-velocity plasma jets. The prototype solid-state source has produced: 1) >8.4 mg of H2 gas only, and 2) >25 mg of H2 and >180 mg of C60 in a H2/C60 gas mixture. Using a coaxial plasma gun coupled to the source, we have successfully demonstrated the acceleration of composite H/C60 plasma jets, with momentum as high as 0.6 g.km/s, and containing an estimated C60 mass of ˜75 mg. We present the status of FAR-TECH's nanoparticle plasma jet system and discuss its application to disruptions, deep fueling, and diagnostics. A new TiH2/C60 solid-state source capable of generating significantly higher quantities of H2 and C60 in <0.5 ms will be discussed.

Resonant ion acceleration by plasma jets: Effects of jet breaking and the magnetic-field curvature.

PubMed

Artemyev, A V; Vasiliev, A A

2015-05-01

In this paper we consider resonant ion acceleration by a plasma jet originating from the magnetic reconnection region. Such jets propagate in the background magnetic field with significantly curved magnetic-field lines. Decoupling of ion and electron motions at the leading edge of the jet results in generation of strong electrostatic fields. Ions can be trapped by this field and get accelerated along the jet front. This mechanism of resonant acceleration resembles surfing acceleration of charged particles at a shock wave. To describe resonant acceleration of ions, we use adiabatic theory of resonant phenomena. We show that particle motion along the curved field lines significantly influences the acceleration rate. The maximum gain of energy is determined by the particle's escape from the system due to this motion. Applications of the proposed mechanism to charged-particle acceleration in the planetary magnetospheres and the solar corona are discussed.

Development of positron annihilation spectroscopy for investigating deuterium decorated voids in neutron-irradiated tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, C. N.; Shimada, M.; Merrill, B. J.; Akers, D. W.; Hatano, Y.

2015-08-01

The present work is a continuation of a recent research to develop and optimize positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS) for characterizing neutron-irradiated tungsten. Tungsten samples were exposed to neutrons in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and damaged to 0.025 and 0.3 dpa. Subsequently, they were exposed to deuterium plasmas in the Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) at Idaho National Laboratory. The implanted deuterium was desorbed through sample heating to 900 °C, and Doppler broadening (DB)-PAS was performed both before and after heating. Results show that deuterium impregnated tungsten is identified as having a smaller S-parameter. The S-parameter increases after deuterium desorption. Microstructural changes also occur during sample heating. These effects can be isolated from deuterium desorption by comparing the S-parameters from the deuterium-free back face with the deuterium-implanted front face. The application of using DB-PAS to examine deuterium retention in tungsten is examined.

Neutron and Gamma-ray Detection in Reversed-Field Pinch Deuterium Plasmas in the RFX-mod Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuin, Matteo; Stevanato, Luca; Martines, Emilio; Gonzalez, Winder; Cavazzana, Roberto; Cester, Davide; Nebbia, G.; Sajo-Bohus, Laszlo; Viesti, Giuseppe

2014-10-01

An experimental analysis of neutron and gamma-ray fluxes exiting purely ohmically heated plasmas in reversed-field pinch (RFP) configuration is presented. The diagnostic system, installed in the RFX-mod, is made of 2 scintillators (EJ-301 liquid and NaI(Tl)) coupled to flat-panel photomultipliers, which can be operated under magnetic fields. The production of neutrons and gamma rays in Deuterium plasmas is found to be strongly dependent on the Ohmic input power, with a threshold value of about 1.2 MA in terms of plasma current level, below which low levels of gamma rays and almost no neutrons are detected. Neutron and gamma production is characterized by a bursty behavior, correlated to the spontaneous magnetic reconnection events, occurring almost cyclically in the RFP plasmas. The role of ion heating and particle acceleration during such events is discussed.

Atmospheric cold plasma jet for plant disease treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Xianhui; Liu, Dongping; Zhou, Renwu; Song, Ying; Sun, Yue; Zhang, Qi; Niu, Jinhai; Fan, Hongyu; Yang, Si-ze

2014-01-01

This study shows that the atmospheric cold plasma jet is capable of curing the fungus-infected plant leaves and controlling the spread of infection as an attractive tool for plant disease management. The healing effect was significantly dependent on the size of the black spots infected with fungal cells and the leaf age. The leaves with the diameter of black spots of <2 mm can completely recover from the fungus-infected state. The plasma-generated species passing through the microns-sized stomas in a leaf can weaken the function of the oil vacuoles and cell membrane of fungal cells, resulting in plasma-induced inactivation.

Plasma Jet Interactions with Liquids in Partial Fulfillment of an NRL Karle’s Fellowship

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-30

Naval Research Laboratory Washington, DC 20375-5320 NRL/MR/6750--15-9650 Plasma Jet Interactions with Liquids in Partial Fulfillment of an NRL... Plasma Physics Division i REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98...ABSTRACT Plasma Jet Interactions with Liquids in Partial Fulfillment of an NRL Karle’s Fellowship Sandra (Hernandez) Hangarter Naval Research Laboratory 4555

Impact of plasma jet vacuum ultraviolet radiation on reactive oxygen species generation in bio-relevant liquids

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

Jablonowski, H.; Hammer, M. U.; Reuter, S.

Plasma medicine utilizes the combined interaction of plasma produced reactive components. These are reactive atoms, molecules, ions, metastable species, and radiation. Here, ultraviolet (UV, 100–400 nm) and, in particular, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV, 10–200 nm) radiation generated by an atmospheric pressure argon plasma jet were investigated regarding plasma emission, absorption in a humidified atmosphere and in solutions relevant for plasma medicine. The energy absorption was obtained for simple solutions like distilled water (dH{sub 2}O) or ultrapure water and sodium chloride (NaCl) solution as well as for more complex ones, for example, Rosewell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI 1640) cell culture media. As moderate stablemore » reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide (H{sub 2}O{sub 2}) was studied. Highly reactive oxygen radicals, namely, superoxide anion (O{sub 2}{sup •−}) and hydroxyl radicals ({sup •}OH), were investigated by the use of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. All species amounts were detected for three different treatment cases: Plasma jet generated VUV and UV radiation, plasma jet generated UV radiation without VUV part, and complete plasma jet including all reactive components additionally to VUV and UV radiation. It was found that a considerable amount of radicals are generated by the plasma generated photoemission. From the experiments, estimation on the low hazard potential of plasma generated VUV radiation is discussed.« less

Pulsating jet-like structures in magnetized plasma

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

Goncharov, V. P.; Pavlov, V. I.

The formation of pulsating jet-like structures has been studied in the scope of the nonhydrostatic model of a magnetized plasma with horizontally nonuniform density. We discuss two mechanisms which are capable of stopping the gravitational spreading appearing to grace the Rayleigh-Taylor instability and to lead to the formation of stationary or oscillating localized structures. One of them is caused by the Coriolis effect in the rotating frames, and another is connected with the Lorentz effect for magnetized fluids. Magnetized jets/drops with a positive buoyancy must oscillate in transversal size and can manifest themselves as “radio pulsars.” The estimates of theirmore » frequencies are made for conditions typical for the neutron star's ocean.« less

Jet-conversion photons from an anisotropic quark-gluon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, Lusaka; Roy, Pradip

2010-10-01

We calculate the pT distributions of jet-conversion photons from a quark-gluon plasma with pre-equilibrium momentum-space anisotropy. A phenomenological model has been used for the time evolution of the hard momentum scale phard(τ) and anisotropy parameter ξ(τ). As a result of pre-equilibrium momentum-space anisotropy, we find significant modification of the jet-conversion photon pT distribution. For example, with fixed initial condition pre-equilibrium anisotropy, we predict a significant enhancement of the jet-photon pT distribution in the entire region, whereas for pre-equilibrium anisotropy with fixed final multiplicity (FFM), suppression of the jet-conversion photon pT distribution is observed. The results with FFM (as it is the most realistic situation) have been compared with high pT PHENIX photon data. It is found that the data are reproduced well if the isotropization time lies within 1.5 fm/c.

Experimental investigation of supersonic low pressure air plasma flows obtained with different arc-jet operating conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lago, Viviana; Ndiaye, Abdoul-Aziz

2012-11-01

A stationary arc-jet plasma flow at low pressure is used to simulate some properties of the gas flow surrounding a vehicle during its entry into celestial body's atmospheres. This paper presents an experimental study concerning plasmas simulating a re-entry into our planet. Optical measurements have been carried out for several operating plasma conditions in the free stream, and in the shock layer formed in front of a flat cylindrical plate, placed in the plasma jet. The analysis of the spectral radiation enabled the identification of the emitting species, the determination of the rotational and vibrational temperatures in the free-stream and in the shock layer and the determination of the distance of the shock to the flat plate face. Some plasma fluid parameters like, stagnation pressure, specific enthalpy and heat flux have been determined experimentally along the plasma-jet axis.

Cracks and nanodroplets produced on tungsten surface samples by dense plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ticoş, C. M.; Galaţanu, M.; Galaţanu, A.; Luculescu, C.; Scurtu, A.; Udrea, N.; Ticoş, D.; Dumitru, M.

2018-03-01

Small samples of 12.5 mm in diameter made from pure tungsten were exposed to a dense plasma jet produced by a coaxial plasma gun operated at 2 kJ. The surface of the samples was analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after applying consecutive plasma shots. Cracks and craters were produced in the surface due to surface tensions during plasma heating. Nanodroplets and micron size droplets could be observed on the samples surface. An energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis revealed that the composition of these droplets coincided with that of the gun electrode material. Four types of samples were prepared by spark plasma sintering from powders with the average particle size ranging from 70 nanometers up to 80 μm. The plasma power load to the sample surface was estimated to be ≈4.7 MJ m-2 s-1/2 per shot. The electron temperature and density in the plasma jet had peak values 17 eV and 1.6 × 1022 m-3, respectively.

A Sub-microsecond Pulsed Plasma Jet for Endodontic Biofilm Disinfection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Chunqi; Schaudinn, Christoph; Jaramillo, David E.; Gundersen, Martin A.; Costerton, J. William

A pulsed, tapered cylindrical plasma jet, several centimeter long and <2 mm in diameter, has been generated by a concentric tubular device for root canal disinfection. This plasma dental probe is typically powered with ˜100 ns, 1 kHz, multi-kilovolt electric pulses and filled with 5 SLPM (standard liter per minute) He/(1%)O2 flow. We report here an in vitro study of the antimicrobial effect of the room temperature plasma jet against monolayer Enterococcus faecalis biofilms on bovine dentins. Resultant colony-forming unit counts were associated with changes in bacterial cell morphology observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) following the treatment and control. Treatment of dentin discs cultivated with E. faecalis monolayer biofilms with the plasma (average power ≈ 1 W) for 5 min resulted in 92.4% kill (P < 0.0001). Severe disruption of the cell membranes was observed for the plasma treatment group, while the morphology of the cells remained intact for the negative control group. In addition, a pilot ex vivo test was conducted to examine the bactericidal effect of the plasma against saliva-derived biofilms cultivated in human root canals. Conspicuous biofilm disruption and cleared dentinal surfaces were observed in the canal after the plasma treatment for 5 min. We ­conclude that this non-thermal pulsed plasma-based technology is a potential ­alternative or supplement to existing protocols for root canal disinfection.

Observation of increased space-charge limited thermionic electron emission current by neutral gas ionization in a weakly-ionized deuterium plasma

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

Hollmann, E. M.; Yu, J. H.; Doerner, R. P.

2015-09-14

The thermionic electron emission current emitted from a laser-produced hot spot on a tungsten target in weakly-ionized deuterium plasma is measured. It is found to be one to two orders of magnitude larger than expected for bipolar space charge limited thermionic emission current assuming an unperturbed background plasma. This difference is attributed to the plasma being modified by ionization of background neutrals by the emitted electrons. This result indicates that the allowable level of emitted thermionic electron current can be significantly enhanced in weakly-ionized plasmas due to the presence of large neutral densities.

Studies on cryogenic Xe capillary jet target for laser-produced plasma EUV-light source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inoue, T.; Nica, P. E.; Kaku, K.; Shimoura, A.; Amano, S.; Miyamoto, S.; Mochizuki, T.

2006-03-01

In this paper, characterizations of a cryogenic Xe capillary jet target for a laser-produced plasma extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light source are reported. The capillary jet target is a candidate of fast-supplying targets for mitigating debris generation and target consumption in a vacuum chamber without reducing the EUV conversion efficiency. Xe capillary jets (jet velocity ~ 0.4 m/s) were generated in vacuum by using annular nozzles chilled to ~ 170 K at a Xe backing pressure of ~ 0.7 MPa. Forming mechanisms of the capillary jet targets were studied by using numerical calculations. Furthermore, laser-produced plasma EUV generation was performed by irradiating a Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm, ~ 0.5 J, 10 ns, 120 μmφ, ~ 4×10 11 W/cm2) on a Xe capillary jet target (outer / inner diameter = 100 / 70 μmφ). The angular distribution of EUV generation was approximately uniform around the Xe capillary jet target, and the peak kinetic energy of the fast-ions was evaluated to be ~ 2 keV.

Performance of the prototype LaBr{sub 3} spectrometer developed for the JET gamma-ray camera upgrade

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

Rigamonti, D., E-mail: davide.rigamonti@mib.infn.it; Nocente, M.; Gorini, G.

2016-11-15

In this work, we describe the solution developed by the gamma ray camera upgrade enhancement project to improve the spectroscopic properties of the existing JET γ-ray camera. Aim of the project is to enable gamma-ray spectroscopy in JET deuterium-tritium plasmas. A dedicated pilot spectrometer based on a LaBr{sub 3} crystal coupled to a silicon photo-multiplier has been developed. A proper pole zero cancellation network able to shorten the output signal to a length of 120 ns has been implemented allowing for spectroscopy at MHz count rates. The system has been characterized in the laboratory and shows an energy resolution ofmore » 5.5% at E{sub γ} = 0.662 MeV, which extrapolates favorably in the energy range of interest for gamma-ray emission from fast ions in fusion plasmas.« less

Applied axial magnetic field effects on laboratory plasma jets: Density hollowing, field compression, and azimuthal rotation

DOE PAGES

Byvank, T.; Banasek, J. T.; Potter, W. M.; ...

2017-12-07

We experimentally measure the effects of an applied axial magnetic field (B z) on laboratory plasma jets and compare experimental results with numerical simulations using an extended magnetohydrodynamics code. A 1 MA peak current, 100 ns rise time pulse power machine is used to generate the plasma jet. On application of the axial field, we observe on-axis density hollowing and a conical formation of the jet using interferometry, compression of the applied B z using magnetic B-dot probes, and azimuthal rotation of the jet using Thomson scattering. Experimentally, we find densities ≤ 5×10 17 cm -3 on-axis relative to jetmore » densities of ≥ 3×10 18 cm -3. For aluminum jets, 6.5 ± 0.5 mm above the foil, we find on-axis compression of the applied 1.0 ± 0.1 T B z to a total 2.4 ± 0.3 T, while simulations predict a peak compression to a total 3.4 T at the same location. On the aluminum jet boundary, we find ion azimuthal rotation velocities of 15-20 km/s, while simulations predict 14 km/s at the density peak. We discuss possible sources of discrepancy between the experiments and simulations, including: surface plasma on B-dot probes, optical fiber spatial resolution, simulation density floors, and 2D vs. 3D simulation effects. Lastly, this quantitative comparison between experiments and numerical simulations helps elucidate the underlying physics that determine the plasma dynamics of magnetized plasma jets.« less

Applied axial magnetic field effects on laboratory plasma jets: Density hollowing, field compression, and azimuthal rotation

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

Byvank, T.; Banasek, J. T.; Potter, W. M.

We experimentally measure the effects of an applied axial magnetic field (B z) on laboratory plasma jets and compare experimental results with numerical simulations using an extended magnetohydrodynamics code. A 1 MA peak current, 100 ns rise time pulse power machine is used to generate the plasma jet. On application of the axial field, we observe on-axis density hollowing and a conical formation of the jet using interferometry, compression of the applied B z using magnetic B-dot probes, and azimuthal rotation of the jet using Thomson scattering. Experimentally, we find densities ≤ 5×10 17 cm -3 on-axis relative to jetmore » densities of ≥ 3×10 18 cm -3. For aluminum jets, 6.5 ± 0.5 mm above the foil, we find on-axis compression of the applied 1.0 ± 0.1 T B z to a total 2.4 ± 0.3 T, while simulations predict a peak compression to a total 3.4 T at the same location. On the aluminum jet boundary, we find ion azimuthal rotation velocities of 15-20 km/s, while simulations predict 14 km/s at the density peak. We discuss possible sources of discrepancy between the experiments and simulations, including: surface plasma on B-dot probes, optical fiber spatial resolution, simulation density floors, and 2D vs. 3D simulation effects. Lastly, this quantitative comparison between experiments and numerical simulations helps elucidate the underlying physics that determine the plasma dynamics of magnetized plasma jets.« less

Simulation of Plasma Jet Merger and Liner Formation within the PLX- α Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samulyak, Roman; Chen, Hsin-Chiang; Shih, Wen; Hsu, Scott

2015-11-01

Detailed numerical studies of the propagation and merger of high Mach number argon plasma jets and the formation of plasma liners have been performed using the newly developed method of Lagrangian particles (LP). The LP method significantly improves accuracy and mathematical rigor of common particle-based numerical methods such as smooth particle hydrodynamics while preserving their main advantages compared to grid-based methods. A brief overview of the LP method will be presented. The Lagrangian particle code implements main relevant physics models such as an equation of state for argon undergoing atomic physics transformation, radiation losses in thin optical limit, and heat conduction. Simulations of the merger of two plasma jets are compared with experimental data from past PLX experiments. Simulations quantify the effect of oblique shock waves, ionization, and radiation processes on the jet merger process. Results of preliminary simulations of future PLX- alpha experiments involving the ~ π / 2 -solid-angle plasma-liner configuration with 9 guns will also be presented. Partially supported by ARPA-E's ALPHA program.

Inactivation of Gram-positive biofilms by low-temperature plasma jet at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marchal, F.; Robert, H.; Merbahi, N.; Fontagné-Faucher, C.; Yousfi, M.; Romain, C. E.; Eichwald, O.; Rondel, C.; Gabriel, B.

2012-08-01

This work is devoted to the evaluation of the efficiency of a new low-temperature plasma jet driven in ambient air by a dc-corona discharge to inactivate adherent cells and biofilms of Gram-positive bacteria. The selected microorganisms were lactic acid bacteria, a Weissella confusa strain which has the particularity to excrete a polysaccharide polymer (dextran) when sucrose is present. Both adherent cells and biofilms were treated with the low-temperature plasma jet for different exposure times. The antimicrobial efficiency of the plasma was tested against adherent cells and 48 h-old biofilms grown with or without sucrose. Bacterial survival was estimated using both colony-forming unit counts and fluorescence-based assays for bacterial cell viability. The experiments show the ability of the low-temperature plasma jet at atmospheric pressure to inactivate the bacteria. An increased resistance of bacteria embedded within biofilms is clearly observed. The resistance is also significantly higher with biofilm in the presence of sucrose, which indicates that dextran could play a protective role.

The microscopic Z-pinch process of current-carrying rarefied deuterium plasma shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ning, Cheng; Feng, Zhixing; Xue, Chuang; Li, Baiwen

2015-02-01

For insight into the microscopic mechanism of Z-pinch dynamic processes, a code of two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation has been developed in cylindrical coordinates. In principle, the Z-pinch of current-carrying rarefied deuterium plasma shell has been simulated by means of this code. Many results related to the microscopic processes of the Z-pinch are obtained. They include the spatio-temporal distributions of electromagnetic field, current density, forces experienced by the ions and electrons, positions and energy distributions of particles, and trailing mass and current. In radial direction, the electric and magnetic forces exerted on the electrons are comparable in magnitude, while the forces exerted on the ions are mainly the electric forces. So in the Z-pinch process, the electrons are first accelerated in Z direction and get higher velocities; then, they are driven inwards to the axis at the same time by the radial magnetic forces (i.e., Lorentz forces) of them. That causes the separations between the electrons and ions because the ion mass is much larger than the electron's, and in turn a strong electrostatic field is produced. The produced electrostatic field attracts the ions to move towards the electrons. When the electrons are driven along the radial direction to arrive at the axis, they shortly move inversely due to the static repellency among them and their tiny mass, while the ions continue to move inertially inwards, and later get into stagnation, and finally scatter outwards. Near the stagnation, the energies of the deuterium ions mostly range from 0.3 to 6 keV, while the electron energies are mostly from 5 to 35 keV. The radial components, which can contribute to the pinched plasma temperature, of the most probable energies of electron and ion at the stagnation are comparable to the Bennett equilibrium temperature (about 1 keV), and also to the highest temperatures of electron and ion obtained in one dimensional radiation

Model analysis and electrical characterization of atmospheric pressure cold plasma jet in pin electrode configuration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deepak, G. Divya; Joshi, N. K.; Prakash, Ram

2018-05-01

In this study, both model analysis and electrical characterization of a dielectric barrier discharge based argon plasma jet have been carried at atmospheric pressure in a pin electrode configuration. The plasma and fluid dynamics modules of COMSOL multi-physics code have been used for the modeling of the plasma jet. The plasma parameters, such as, electron density, electron temperature and electrical potential have been analyzed with respect to the electrical parameters, i.e., supply voltage and supply frequency with and without the flow of gas. In all the experiments, gas flow rate has been kept constant at 1 liter per minute. This electrode configuration is subjected to a range of supply frequencies (10-25 kHz) and supply voltages (3.5-6.5 kV). The power consumed by the device has been estimated at different applied combinations (supply voltage & frequency) for optimum power consumption at maximum jet length. The maximum power consumed by the device in this configuration for maximum jet length of ˜26 mm is just ˜1 W.

Comparative study between chemical and atmospheric pressure plasma jet cleaning on glass substrate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elfa, Rizan Rizon; Ahmad, Mohd Khairul; Fhong, Soon Chin; Sahdan, Mohd Zainizan; Nayan, Nafarizal

2017-01-01

The atmospheric pressure plasma jet with low frequency and argon as working gas is presented in this paper to demonstrate its application for glass substrate clean and modification. The glass substrate clean by atmospheric pressure plasma jet is an efficient method to replace other substrate clean method. A comparative analysis is done in this paper between substrate cleaned by chemical and plasma treatment methods. Water contact angle reading is taken for a different method of substrate clean and period of treatment. Under the plasma treatment, the sample shows low surface adhesion due to having the surface property of super hydrophilic surface 7.26°. This comparative analysis is necessary in the industrial application for cost production due to sufficient time and method of substrate clean.

Effect of cold atmospheric pressure He-plasma jet on DNA change and mutation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yaopromsiri, C.; Yu, L. D.; Sarapirom, S.; Thopan, P.; Boonyawan, D.

2015-12-01

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet (CAPPJ) effect on DNA change was studied for assessment of its safety. The experiment utilized a home-developed CAPPJ using 100% helium to directly treat naked DNA plasmid pGFP (plasmid green fluorescent protein). A traversal electric field was applied to separate the plasma components and both dry and wet sample conditions were adopted to investigate various factor roles in changing DNA. Plasma species were measured by using optical emission spectroscopy. DNA topological form change was analyzed by gel electrophoresis. The plasma jet treated DNA was transferred into bacterial Escherichia coli cells for observing mutation. The results show that the He-CAPPJ could break DNA strands due to actions from charge, radicals and neutrals and potentially cause genetic modification of living cells.

Interaction between plasma synthetic jet and subsonic turbulent boundary layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Haohua; Kotsonis, Marios

2017-04-01

This paper experimentally investigates the interaction between a plasma synthetic jet (PSJ) and a subsonic turbulent boundary layer (TBL) using a hotwire anemometer and phase-locked particle imaging velocimetry. The PSJ is interacting with a fully developed turbulent boundary layer developing on the flat wall of a square wind tunnel section of 1.7 m length. The Reynolds number based on the freestream velocity (U∞ = 20 m/s) and the boundary layer thickness (δ99 = 34.5 mm) at the location of interaction is 44 400. A large-volume (1696 mm3) three-electrode plasma synthetic jet actuator (PSJA) with a round exit orifice (D = 2 mm) is adopted to produce high-speed (92 m/s) and short-duration (Tjet = 1 ms) pulsed jets. The exit velocity variation of the adopted PSJA in a crossflow is shown to remain almost identical to that in quiescent conditions. However, the flow structures emanating from the interaction between the PSJ and the TBL are significantly different from what were observed in quiescent conditions. In the midspan xy plane (z = 0 mm), the erupted jet body initially follows a wall-normal trajectory accompanied by the formation of a distinctive front vortex ring. After three convective time scales the jet bends to the crossflow, thus limiting the peak penetration depth to approximately 0.58δ99. Comparison of the normalized jet trajectories indicates that the penetration ability of the PSJ is less than steady jets with the same momentum flow velocity. Prior to the jet diminishing, a recirculation region is observed in the leeward side of the jet body, experiencing first an expansion and then a contraction in the area. In the cross-stream yz plane, the signature structure of jets in a crossflow, the counter-rotating vortex pair (CVP), transports high-momentum flow from the outer layer to the near-wall region, leading to a fuller velocity profile and a drop in the boundary layer shape factor (1.3 to 1.2). In contrast to steady jets, the CVP produced by the PSJ

Langmuir probe diagnostics of an atmospheric pressure, vortex-stabilized nitrogen plasma jet

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

Prevosto, L.; Mancinelli, B. R.; Kelly, H.

Langmuir probe measurements in an atmospheric pressure direct current (dc) plasma jet are reported. Sweeping probes were used. The experiment was carried out using a dc non-transferred arc torch with a rod-type cathode and an anode of 5 mm diameter. The torch was operated at a nominal power level of 15 kW with a nitrogen flow rate of 25 Nl min{sup -1}. A flat ion saturation region was found in the current-voltage curve of the probe. The ion saturation current to a cylindrical probe in a high-pressure non local thermal equilibrium (LTE) plasma was modeled. Thermal effects and ionization/recombination processesmore » inside the probe perturbed region were taken into account. Averaged radial profiles of the electron and heavy particle temperatures as well as the electron density were obtained. An electron temperature around 11 000 K, a heavy particle temperature around 9500 K and an electron density of about 4 Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 22} m{sup -3}, were found at the jet centre at 3.5 mm downstream from the torch exit. Large deviations from kinetic equilibrium were found throughout the plasma jet. The electron and heavy particle temperature profiles showed good agreement with those reported in the literature by using spectroscopic techniques. It was also found that the temperature radial profile based on LTE was very close to that of the electrons. The calculations have shown that this method is particularly useful for studying spraying-type plasma jets characterized by electron temperatures in the range 9000-14 000 K.« less

The temperature and ion energy dependence of deuterium retention in lithium films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buzi, Luxherta; Koel, Bruce E.; Skinner, Charles H.

2016-10-01

Lithium conditioning of plasma facing components in magnetic fusion devices has improved plasma performance and lowered hydrogen recycling. For applications of lithium in future high heat flux and long pulse duration machines it is important to understand and parameterize deuterium retention in lithium. This work presents surface science studies of deuterium retention in lithium films as a function of surface temperature, incident deuterium ion energy and flux. Initial experiments are performed on thin (3-30 ML) lithium films deposited on a single crystal molybdenum substrate to avoid effects due to grain boundaries, intrinsic defects and impurities. A monoenergetic and mass-filtered deuterium ion beam was generated in a differentially pumped Colutron ion gun. Auger electron spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to identify the elemental composition and temperature programmed desorption was used to measure the deuterium retention under the different conditions. Support was provided through DOE Contract Number DE-AC02-09CH11466.

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet for bacterial decontamination and property improvement of fruit and vegetable processing wastewater

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohamed, Abdel-Aleam H.; Shariff, Samir M. Al; Ouf, Salama A.; Benghanem, Mohamed

2016-05-01

An atmospheric pressure plasma jet was tested for decontaminating and improving the characteristics of wastewater derived from blackberry, date palm, tomato and beetroot processing industries. The jet was generated by blowing argon gas through a cylindrical alumina tube while a high voltage was applied between two electrodes surrounding the tube. Oxygen gas was mixed with argon at the rate of 0.2% and the argon mass flow was fixed at 4.5 slm. Images show that the generated plasma jet penetrated the treated wastewater samples. Plasma emission spectra show the presence of O and OH radicals as well as excited molecular nitrogen and argon. Complete decontamination of wastewater derived from date palm and tomato processing was achieved after 120 and 150 s exposure to the plasma jet, respectively. The bacterial count of wastewater from blackberry and beetroot was reduced by 0.41 and 2.24 log10 colony-forming units (CFU) per ml, respectively, after 180 s. Escherichia coli was the most susceptible bacterial species to the cold plasma while Shigella boydii had the minimum susceptibility, recording 1.30 and 3.34 log10 CFU ml-1, respectively, as compared to the 7.00 log10 initial count. The chemical oxygen demands of wastewater were improved by 57.5-93.3% after 180 s exposure to the plasma jet being tested. The endotoxins in the wastewater were reduced by up to 90.22%. The variation in plasma effectiveness is probably related to the antioxidant concentration of the different investigated wastewaters.

Evolution of the mean jet shape and dijet asymmetry distribution of an ensemble of holographic jets in strongly coupled plasma

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

Brewer, Jasmine; Rajagopal, Krishna; Sadofyev, Andrey

Some of the most important experimentally accessible probes of the quark- gluon plasma (QGP) produced in heavy ion collisions come from the analysis of how the shape and energy of sprays of energetic particles produced within a cone with a specified opening angle (jets) in a hard scattering are modified by their passage through the strongly coupled, liquid, QGP. We model an ensemble of back-to-back dijets for the purpose of gaining a qualitative understanding of how the shapes of the individual jets and the asymmetry in the energy of the pairs of jets in the ensemble are modified by theirmore » passage through an expanding cooling droplet of strongly coupled plasma, in the model in a holographic gauge theory that is dual to a 4+1-dimensional black-hole spacetime that is asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS). We build our model by constructing an ensemble of strings in the dual gravitational description of the gauge theory. We model QCD jets in vacuum using strings whose endpoints are moving “downward” into the gravitational bulk spacetime with some fixed small angle, an angle that represents the opening angle (ratio of jet mass to jet energy) that the QCD jet would have in vacuum. Such strings must be moving through the gravitational bulk at (close to) the speed of light; they must be (close to) null. This condition does not specify the energy distribution along the string, meaning that it does not specify the shape of the jet being modeled. We study the dynamics of strings that are initially not null and show that strings with a wide range of initial conditions rapidly accelerate and become null and, as they do, develop a similar distribution of their energy density. We use this distribution of the energy density along the string, choose an ensemble of strings whose opening angles and energies are distributed as in perturbative QCD, and show that we can then fix one of the two model parameters such that the mean jet shape for the jets in the ensemble that we

Evolution of the mean jet shape and dijet asymmetry distribution of an ensemble of holographic jets in strongly coupled plasma

DOE PAGES

Brewer, Jasmine; Rajagopal, Krishna; Sadofyev, Andrey; ...

2018-02-02

Some of the most important experimentally accessible probes of the quark- gluon plasma (QGP) produced in heavy ion collisions come from the analysis of how the shape and energy of sprays of energetic particles produced within a cone with a specified opening angle (jets) in a hard scattering are modified by their passage through the strongly coupled, liquid, QGP. We model an ensemble of back-to-back dijets for the purpose of gaining a qualitative understanding of how the shapes of the individual jets and the asymmetry in the energy of the pairs of jets in the ensemble are modified by theirmore » passage through an expanding cooling droplet of strongly coupled plasma, in the model in a holographic gauge theory that is dual to a 4+1-dimensional black-hole spacetime that is asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS). We build our model by constructing an ensemble of strings in the dual gravitational description of the gauge theory. We model QCD jets in vacuum using strings whose endpoints are moving “downward” into the gravitational bulk spacetime with some fixed small angle, an angle that represents the opening angle (ratio of jet mass to jet energy) that the QCD jet would have in vacuum. Such strings must be moving through the gravitational bulk at (close to) the speed of light; they must be (close to) null. This condition does not specify the energy distribution along the string, meaning that it does not specify the shape of the jet being modeled. We study the dynamics of strings that are initially not null and show that strings with a wide range of initial conditions rapidly accelerate and become null and, as they do, develop a similar distribution of their energy density. We use this distribution of the energy density along the string, choose an ensemble of strings whose opening angles and energies are distributed as in perturbative QCD, and show that we can then fix one of the two model parameters such that the mean jet shape for the jets in the ensemble that we

Evolution of the mean jet shape and dijet asymmetry distribution of an ensemble of holographic jets in strongly coupled plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brewer, Jasmine; Rajagopal, Krishna; Sadofyev, Andrey; van der Schee, Wilke

2018-02-01

Some of the most important experimentally accessible probes of the quark- gluon plasma (QGP) produced in heavy ion collisions come from the analysis of how the shape and energy of sprays of energetic particles produced within a cone with a specified opening angle (jets) in a hard scattering are modified by their passage through the strongly coupled, liquid, QGP. We model an ensemble of back-to-back dijets for the purpose of gaining a qualitative understanding of how the shapes of the individual jets and the asymmetry in the energy of the pairs of jets in the ensemble are modified by their passage through an expanding cooling droplet of strongly coupled plasma, in the model in a holographic gauge theory that is dual to a 4+1-dimensional black-hole spacetime that is asymptotically anti-de Sitter (AdS). We build our model by constructing an ensemble of strings in the dual gravitational description of the gauge theory. We model QCD jets in vacuum using strings whose endpoints are moving "downward" into the gravitational bulk spacetime with some fixed small angle, an angle that represents the opening angle (ratio of jet mass to jet energy) that the QCD jet would have in vacuum. Such strings must be moving through the gravitational bulk at (close to) the speed of light; they must be (close to) null. This condition does not specify the energy distribution along the string, meaning that it does not specify the shape of the jet being modeled. We study the dynamics of strings that are initially not null and show that strings with a wide range of initial conditions rapidly accelerate and become null and, as they do, develop a similar distribution of their energy density. We use this distribution of the energy density along the string, choose an ensemble of strings whose opening angles and energies are distributed as in perturbative QCD, and show that we can then fix one of the two model parameters such that the mean jet shape for the jets in the ensemble that we have built

Comparison of characteristics and downstream uniformity of linear-field and cross-field atmospheric pressure plasma jet array in He

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Bo; Fang, Zhi; Liu, Feng; Zhou, Renwu; Zhou, Ruoyu

2018-06-01

Using an atmospheric pressure plasma jet array is an effective way for expanding the treatment area of a single jet, and generating arrays with well downstream uniformity is of great interest for its applications. In this paper, a plasma jet array in helium is generated in a linear-field jet array with a ring-ring electrode structure excited by alternating current. The characteristics and downstream uniformity of the array and their dependence on the applied voltage and gas flow rate are investigated through optical, electrical, and Schlieren diagnostics. The results are compared with those of our reported work of a cross-field jet array with a needle-ring electrode structure. The results show that the linear-field jet array can generate relatively large-scale plasma with better uniformity and longer plumes than the cross-field case. The divergences observed in gas channels and the plasma plume trajectories are much less than those of the cross-field one. The deflection angle of lateral plumes is less than 6°, which is independent of the gas flow rate and applied voltage. The maximum downstream plumes of 23 mm can be obtained at 7 kV peak applied voltage and 4 l/min gas flow rate. The better uniformity of linear-field jet arrays is due to the effective suppression of hydrodynamic and electrical interactions among the jets in the arrays with a more uniform electric field distribution. The hydrodynamic interaction induced by the gas heating in the linear-field jet array is less than that of the cross-field one. The more uniform electric field distribution in the linear-field jet arrays can reduce the divergence of the propagation trajectories of the plasma plumes. It will generate less residual charge between the adjacent discharges and thus can reduce the accumulation effect of Coulomb force between the plasma plumes. The reported results can help design controllable and scalable plasma jet arrays with well uniformity for material surface and biomedical treatments.

The study of the plasma jets of lead and silver simulating spent nuclear fuel components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antonov, N. N.; Gavrikov, A. V.; Smirnov, V. P.; Liziakin, G. D.; Usmanov, R. A.; Vorona, N. A.; Timirkhanov, R. A.

2018-01-01

One of the tasks that must be solved to develop a spent nuclear fuel (SNF) plasma separation method is a creation of plasma source of substances simulating SNF components. Plasma of the diffuse arc discharge in a magnetic field with an incandescent cathode was considered in this paper, as such source. The discharge was initiated in a model substances vapor (lead and silver). Evaporation was carried out by crucible induction heating. Current- voltage characteristics of the discharge were obtained. Spectral analysis of the plasma jets radiation and double probe characteristics measurements in the area behind the anode were carried out. The minimum potential difference between the anode and cathode reached a value of about 7 V at current of about 1 A. When the potential difference in the discharge gap was close to 30 V (4.5 A) and 10 V (5.2 A) electron temperature in the plasma jet was 5-7 eV and 1-3 eV, respectively. Plasma density in jets took the value from 1011 cm-3 to 1012 cm-3. The obtained results indicate the possibility of using this type of discharge for the SNF plasma separation method approbation.

Impact of electric field from a plasma jet on biological targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Douat, Claire; Darny, Thibault; Iseni, Sylvain; Damany, Xavier; Dozias, Sebastien; Pouvesle, Jean-Michel; Robert, Eric; Vijayarangan, Vinodini; Delalande, Anthony; Pichon, Chantal

2016-09-01

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets have demonstrated their ability in biomedical applications thanks to their low gas temperature and their capacity to produce radicals, ions, electrons, UV radiation and electric fields. However the understanding of the interactions between the plasma and living cells and tissues is still far from being completely understood. Recently, Robert et al characterized two components of the electric field from a plasma jet and showed that the latter can propagate deeply in tissues on several mm. In this work, we focus on the study of the electric field induced by the plasma and its influence on the cell membrane. Propidium iodide, dextran sulfate and plasmid DNA are used to measure the permeability of the membrane, while an electro-optic probe is used to measure the longitudinal and the radial components of the electric field. The two components are both spatially and temporally resolved. To investigate the contribution of the electric field on the cell membrane, a dielectric barrier is used between the plasma and the biological target. A comparison with and without the barrier will be presented for both biological and agriculture applications.

Controlling the nitric and nitrous oxide production of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Douat, Claire; Hubner, Simon; Engeln, Richard; Benedikt, Jan

2016-09-01

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets are non-thermal plasmas and have the ability to create reactive species. These features make it a very attractive tool for biomedical applications. In this work, we studied NO and N2O production, which are two species having biomedical properties. NO plays a role in the vascularization and in ulcer treatment, while N2O is used as anesthetic and analgesic gas. In this study, the plasma source is similar to the COST Reference Microplasma Jet (µ-APPJ). Helium is used as feed gas with small admixtures of molecular nitrogen and oxygen of below 1%. The absolute densities of NO and N2O were measured in the effluent of an atmospheric pressure RF plasma jet by means of ex-situ quantum-cascade laser absorption spectroscopy via a multi-pass cell in Herriot configuration. We will show that the species' production is dependent on several parameters such as power, flow and oxygen and nitrogen admixture. The NO and N2O densities are strongly dependent on the N2-O2 ratio. Changing this ratio allows for choosing between a NO-rich or a N2O-rich regime.

Reduction and degradation of amyloid aggregates by a pulsed radio-frequency cold atmospheric plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayliss, D. L.; Walsh, J. L.; Shama, G.; Iza, F.; Kong, M. G.

2009-11-01

Surface-borne amyloid aggregates with mature fibrils are used as a non-infectious prion model to evaluate cold atmospheric plasmas (CAPs) as a prion inactivation strategy. Using a helium-oxygen CAP jet with pulsed radio-frequency (RF) excitation, amyloid aggregates deposited on freshly cleaved mica discs are reduced substantially leaving only a few spherical fragments of sub-micrometer sizes in areas directly treated by the CAP jet. Outside the light-emitting part of the CAP jet, plasma treatment results in a 'skeleton' of much reduced amyloid stacks with clear evidence of fibril fragmentation. Analysis of possible plasma species and the physical configuration of the jet-sample interaction suggests that the skeleton structures observed are unlikely to have arisen as a result of physical forces of detachment, but instead by progressive diffusion of oxidizing plasma species into porous amyloid aggregates. Composition of chemical bonds of this reduced amyloid sample is very different from that of intact amyloid aggregates. These suggest the possibility of on-site degradation by CAP treatment with little possibility of spreading contamination elsewhere , thus offering a new reaction chemistry route to protein infectivity control with desirable implications for the practical implementation of CAP-based sterilization systems.

Transfer of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet through a long flexible plastic tube

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kostov, Konstantin G.; Machida, Munemasa; Prysiazhnyi, Vadym; Honda, Roberto Y.

2015-04-01

This work proposes an experimental configuration for the generation of a cold atmospheric pressure plasma jet at the downstream end of a long flexible plastic tube. The device consists of a cylindrical dielectric chamber where an insulated metal rod that serves as high-voltage electrode is inserted. The chamber is connected to a long (up to 4 m) commercial flexible plastic tube, equipped with a thin floating Cu wire. The wire penetrates a few mm inside the discharge chamber, passes freely (with no special support) along the plastic tube and terminates a few millimeters before the tube end. The system is flushed with Ar and the dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is ignited inside the dielectric chamber by a low frequency ac power supply. The gas flow is guided by the plastic tube while the metal wire, when in contact with the plasma inside the DBD reactor, acquires plasma potential. There is no discharge inside the plastic tube, however an Ar plasma jet can be extracted from the downstream tube end. The jet obtained by this method is cold enough to be put in direct contact with human skin without an electric shock. Therefore, by using this approach an Ar plasma jet can be generated at the tip of a long plastic tube far from the high-voltage discharge region, which provides the safe operation conditions and device flexibility required for medical treatment.

Inductive Measurement of Plasma Jet Electrical Conductivity (MSFC Center Director's discretionary Fund). Part 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Turner, M. W.; Hawk, C. W.; Litchford, R. J.

2001-01-01

Measurement of plasma jet electrical conductivity has utility in the development of explosively driven magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) energy converters as well as magnetic flux compression reaction chambers for nuclear/chemical pulse propulsion and power. Within these types of reactors, the physical parameter of critical importance to underlying MHD processes is the magnetic Reynolds number, the value of which depends upon the product of plasma electrical conductivity and velocity. Therefore, a thorough understanding of MHD phenomena at high magnetic Reynolds number is essential, and methods are needed for the accurate and reliable measurement of electrical conductivity in high-speed plasma jets. It is well known that direct measurements using electrodes suffer from large surface resistance, and an electrodeless technique is desired. To address this need, an inductive probing scheme, originally developed for shock tube studies, has been adapted. In this method, the perturbation of an applied magnetic field by a plasma jet induces a voltage in a search coil, which, in turn, can be used to infer electrical conductivity through the inversion of a Fredholm integral equation of the first kind. A 1-in.-diameter probe using a light-gas gun. Exploratory laboratory experiments were carried out using plasma jets expelled from 15-g shaped charges. Measured conductivities were in the range of 4 kS/m for unseeded octol charges and 26 kS/m for seeded octol charges containing 2-percent potassium carbonate by mass.

One-Dimensional Burn Dynamics of Plasma-Jet Magneto-Inertial Fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santarius, John

2009-11-01

This poster will discuss several issues related to using plasma jets to implode a Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) liner onto a magnetized plasmoid and compress it to fusion-relevant temperatures [1]. The problem of pure plasma jet convergence and compression without a target present will be investigated. Cases with a target present will explore how well the liner's inertia provides transient plasma stability and confinement. The investigation uses UW's 1-D Lagrangian radiation-hydrodynamics code, BUCKY, which solves single-fluid equations of motion with ion-electron interactions, PdV work, table-lookup equations of state, fast-ion energy deposition, and pressure contributions from all species. Extensions to the code include magnetic field evolution as the plasmoid compresses plus dependence of the thermal conductivity and fusion product energy deposition on the magnetic field.[4pt] [1] Y.C. F. Thio, et al.,``Magnetized Target Fusion in a Spheroidal Geometry with Standoff Drivers,'' in Current Trends in International Fusion Research, E. Panarella, ed. (National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 1999), p. 113.

Effect of toroidal field ripple on plasma rotation in JET

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

De Vries, P.; Salmi, A.; Parail, V.

Dedicated experiments on TF ripple effects on the performance of tokamak plasmas have been carried out at JET. The TF ripple was found to have a profound effect on the plasma rotation. The central Mach number, M, defined as the ratio of the rotation velocity and the thermal velocity, was found to drop as a function of TF ripple amplitude ( ) from an average value of M = 0.40 0.55 for operations at the standard JET ripple of = 0.08% to M = 0.25 0.40 for = 0.5% and M = 0.1 0.3 for = 1%. TF ripple effectsmore » should be considered when estimating the plasma rotation in ITER. With standard co-current injection of neutral beam injection (NBI), plasmas were found to rotate in the co-current direction. However, for higher TF ripple amplitudes ( ~ 1%) an area of counter rotation developed at the edge of the plasma, while the core kept its co-rotation. The edge counter rotation was found to depend, besides on the TF ripple amplitude, on the edge temperature. The observed reduction of toroidal plasma rotation with increasing TF ripple could partly be explained by TF ripple induced losses of energetic ions, injected by NBI. However, the calculated torque due to these losses was insufficient to explain the observed counter rotation and its scaling with edge parameters. It is suggested that additional TF ripple induced losses of thermal ions contribute to this effect.« less

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Modelling of streamer propagation in atmospheric-pressure helium plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Naidis, G. V.

2010-10-01

The results of a two-dimensional numerical simulation of positive streamer propagation in atmospheric-pressure helium jets injected into ambient air are presented. It is shown that depending on the jet width and the initial radial distribution of electron number density streamer structures of two types can be formed: one with maxima of electric field and electron density at the jet axis and another with maxima of these parameters near the boundary between the jet and surrounding air. The latter structure is similar to the observed ring-shaped structures of plasma bullets.

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet treatment of Salmonella Enteritidis inoculated eggshells.

PubMed

Moritz, Maike; Wiacek, Claudia; Koethe, Martin; Braun, Peggy G

2017-03-20

Contamination of eggshells with Salmonella Enteritidis remains a food safety concern. In many cases human salmonellosis within the EU can be traced back to raw or undercooked eggs and egg products. Atmospheric pressure plasma is a novel decontamination method that can reduce a wide range of pathogens. The aim of this work was to evaluate the possibility of using an effective short time cold plasma treatment to inactivate Salmonella Enteritidis on the eggshell. Therefore, artificially contaminated eggshells were treated with an atmospheric pressure plasma jet under different experimental settings with various exposure times (15-300s), distances from the plasma jet nozzle to the eggshell surface (5, 8 or 12mm), feed gas compositions (Ar, Ar with 0.2, 0.5 or 1.0% O 2 ), gas flow rates (5 and 7slm) and different inoculations of Salmonella Enteritidis (10 1 -10 6 CFU/cm 2 ). Atmospheric pressure plasma could reduce Salmonella Enteritidis on eggshells significantly. Reduction factors ranged between 0.22 and 2.27 log CFU (colony-forming units). Exposure time and, particularly at 10 4 CFU/cm 2 inoculation, feed gas had a major impact on Salmonella reduction. Precisely, longer exposure times led to higher reductions and Ar as feed gas was more effective than ArO 2 mixtures. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Long-term fuel retention and release in JET ITER-Like Wall at ITER-relevant baking temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heinola, K.; Likonen, J.; Ahlgren, T.; Brezinsek, S.; De Temmerman, G.; Jepu, I.; Matthews, G. F.; Pitts, R. A.; Widdowson, A.; Contributors, JET

2017-08-01

The fuel outgassing efficiency from plasma-facing components exposed in JET-ILW has been studied at ITER-relevant baking temperatures. Samples retrieved from the W divertor and Be main chamber were annealed at 350 and 240 °C, respectively. Annealing was performed with thermal desoprtion spectrometry (TDS) for 0, 5 and 15 h to study the deuterium removal effectiveness at the nominal baking temperatures. The remained fraction was determined by emptying the samples fully of deuterium by heating W and Be samples up to 1000 and 775 °C,respectively. Results showed the deposits in the divertor having an increasing effect to the remaining retention at temperatures above baking. Highest remaining fractions 54 and 87 % were observed with deposit thicknesses of 10 and 40 μm, respectively. Substantially high fractions were obtained in the main chamber samples from the deposit-free erosion zone of the limiter midplane, in which the dominant fuel retention mechanism is via implantation: 15 h annealing resulted in retained deuterium higher than 90 % . TDS results from the divertor were simulated with TMAP7 calculations. The spectra were modelled with three deuterium activation energies resulting in good agreement with the experiments.

Analysis of Ar plasma jets induced by single and double dielectric barrier discharges at atmospheric pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Judée, F.; Merbahi, N.; Wattieaux, G.; Yousfi, M.

2016-09-01

The aim is the comparison of different plasma parameters of single and double dielectric barrier discharge plasma jet configurations (S-DBD and D-DBD) which are potentially usable in biomedical applications. Both configurations are studied in terms of electric field distribution, electrical discharge characteristics, plasma parameters (estimated by optical emission spectroscopy analysis), and hydrodynamics of the plasma jet for electrical parameters of power supplies corresponding to an applied voltage of 10 kV, pulse duration of 1 μs, frequency of 9.69 kHz, and Ar flow of 2 l/min. We observed that the D-DBD configuration requires half the electrical power one needs to provide in the S-DBD case to generate a plasma jet with similar characteristics: excitation temperature around 4700 K, electron density around 2.5 × 1014 cm-3, gas temperature of about 320 K, a relatively high atomic oxygen concentration reaching up to 1000 ppm, the presence of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical, and atomic oxygen), and an irradiance in the UV-C range of about 20 μW cm-2. Moreover, it has been observed that D-DBD plasma jet is more sensitive to short pulse durations, probably due to the charge accumulation over the dielectric barrier around the internal electrode. This results in a significantly longer plasma length in the D-DBD configuration than in the S-DBD one up to a critical flow rate (2.25 l/min) before the occurrence of turbulence in the D-DBD case. Conversely, ionization wave velocities are significantly higher in the S-DBD setup (3.35 × 105 m/s against 1.02 × 105 m/s for D-DBD), probably due to the higher electrostatic field close to the high voltage electrode in the S-DBD plasma jet.

Progress in Development of C60 Nanoparticle Plasma Jet for Diagnostic of Runaway Electron Beam-Plasma Interaction and Disruption Mitigation Study for ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogatu, I. N.; Thompson, J. R.; Galkin, S. A.; Kim, J. S.

2013-10-01

We produced a C60 nanoparticle plasma jet (NPPJ) with uniquely fast response-to-delivery time (~ 1 - 2 ms) and unprecedentedly high momentum (~ 0 . 6 g .km/s). The C60 NPPJ was obtained by using a solid state TiH2/C60 pulsed power cartridge producing ~180 mg of C60 molecular gas by sublimation and by electromagnetic acceleration of the C60 plasma in a coaxial gun (~35 cm length, 96 kJ energy) with the output of a high-density (>1023 m-3) hyper-velocity (>4 km/s) plasma jet. The ~ 75 mg C60/C plasma jet has the potential to rapidly and deeply deliver enough mass to significantly increase electron density (to ne ~ 2 . 4 ×1021 m-3, i.e. ~ 60 times larger than typical DIII-D pre-disruption value, ne 0 ~ 4 ×1019 m-3), and to modify the 'critical electric field' and the runaway electrons (REs) collisional drag during different phases of REs dynamics. The C60 NPPJ, as a novel injection technique, allows RE beam-plasma interaction diagnostic by quantitative spectroscopy of C ions visible/UV line intensity. The system is scalable to ~ 1 - 2 g C60/C plasma jet output and technology is adaptable to ITER acceptable materials (BN and Be) for disruption mitigation. Work supported by US DOE DE-FG02-08ER85196 grant.

Generating Long Scale-Length Plasma Jets Embedded in a Uniform, Multi-Tesla Magnetic-Field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manuel, Mario; Kuranz, Carolyn; Rasmus, Alex; Klein, Sallee; Fein, Jeff; Belancourt, Patrick; Drake, R. P.; Pollock, Brad; Hazi, Andrew; Park, Jaebum; Williams, Jackson; Chen, Hui

2013-10-01

Collimated plasma jets emerge in many classes of astrophysical objects and are of great interest to explore in the laboratory. In many cases, these astrophysical jets exist within a background magnetic field where the magnetic pressure approaches the plasma pressure. Recent experiments performed at the Jupiter Laser Facility utilized a custom-designed solenoid to generate the multi-tesla fields necessary to achieve proper magnetization of the plasma. Time-gated interferometry, Schlieren imaging, and proton radiography were used to characterize jet evolution and collimation under varying degrees of magnetization. Experimental results will be presented and discussed. This work is funded by the NNSA-DS and SC-OFES Joint Program in High-Energy-Density Laboratory Plasmas, grant number DE-NA0001840, by the National Laser User Facility Program, grant number DE-NA0000850, by the Predictive Sciences Academic Alliances Program in NNSA-ASC, grant number DEFC52-08NA28616, and by NASA through Einstein Postdoctoral Fellowship grant number PF3-140111 awarded by the Chandra X-ray Center, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for NASA under contract NAS8-03060.

Influence of oxygen in atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet on sterilization of Bacillus atrophaeous spores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Jin-Pyo; Uhm, Han S.; Li, Shou-Zhe

2007-09-01

A nonequilibrium Ar /O2 plasma discharge at atmospheric pressure was carried out in a coaxial cylindrical reactor with a stepped electrode configuration powered by a 13.56MHz rf power supplier. The argon glow discharge with high electron density produces oxygen reactive species in large quantities. Argon plasma jets penetrate deep into ambient air and create a path for oxygen radicals to sterilize microbes. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores indicates that an argon-oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby demonstrating its capability to clean surfaces and its usefulness for reinstating contaminated equipment as free from toxic biological warfare agents. The decimal reduction time (D values) of the Ar /O2 plasma jet at an exposure distance of 0.5-1.5cm ranges from 5 to 57s. An actinometric comparison of the sterilization data shows that atomic oxygen radicals play a significant role in plasma sterilization. When observed under a scanning electron microscope, the average size of the spores appears to be greatly reduced due to chemical reactions with the oxygen radicals.

The influence of the Hall term on the development of magnetized laser-produced plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamlin, N. D.; Seyler, C. E.; Khiar, B.

2018-04-01

We present 2D axisymmetric simulation results describing the influence of the Hall term on laser-produced plasma jets and their interaction with an applied magnetic field parallel to the laser axis. Bending of the poloidal B-field lines produces an MHD shock structure surrounding a conical cavity, and a jet is produced from the convergence of the shock envelope. Both the jet and the conical cavity underneath it are bound by fast MHD shocks. We compare the MHD results generated using the extended-MHD code Physics as an Extended-MHD Relaxation System with an Efficient Upwind Scheme (PERSEUS) with MHD results generated using GORGON and find reasonable agreement. We then present extended-MHD results generated using PERSEUS, which show that the Hall term has several effects on the plasma jet evolution. A hot low-density current-carrying layer of plasma develops just outside the plume, which results in a helical rather than a purely poloidal B-field, and reduces magnetic stresses, resulting in delayed flow convergence and jet formation. The flow is partially frozen into the helical field, resulting in azimuthal rotation of the jet. The Hall term also produces field-aligned current in strongly magnetized regions. In particular, we find the influence of Hall physics on this problem to be scale-dependent. This points to the importance of mitigating the Hall effect in a laboratory setup, by increasing the jet density and system dimensions, in order to avoid inaccurate extrapolation to astrophysical scales.

EFFECTS OF LASER RADIATION ON MATTER. LASER PLASMA: Formation of a plasma jet of multiply charged ions in the interaction of a laser plasma with an external pulsed magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dyakin, V. M.; Pikuz, T. A.; Skobelev, I. Yu; Faenov, A. Ya; Wolowski, J.; Karpinski, L.; Kasperczuk, A.; Pisarczyk, T.

1994-12-01

A dense jet of a plasma consisting of multiply charged ions was generated in the interaction of a laser plasma with a strong external axial magnetic field. Images were formed by spectral lines and the soft x-ray spectrum range of the plasma jet was obtained with a large-aperture spectrograph containing a mica crystal bent to form a spherical surface with a radius of R = 10 cm. A tenfold increase in the density of the He-like Mg XI plasma, compared with a freely expanding plasma, was observed at a distance of 5 mm from the target.

In-liquid arc plasma jet and its application to phenol degradation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Jing-Lin; Park, Hyun-Woo; Hamdan, Ahmad; Cha, Min Suk

2018-03-01

We present a new method for achieving chemical reactions induced by plasmas with liquids—an in-liquid arc plasma jet system—designed to have a few advantages over the existing methods. High-speed imaging and optical emission spectroscopy were adopted to highlight the physical aspects of the in-liquid arc plasma jet system, and the feasibility of the system was investigated in a wastewater treatment case with phenol as the model contaminant. We found that the specific energy input is a reasonable parameter by which to characterize the overall process. The phenol removal reaction could be modeled as a pseudo-first-order reaction, and the reaction constant became smaller as the phenol concentration increased. However, complete decomposition of the phenol into water and carbon dioxide required very high energy because the final intermediate, oxalic acid, is relatively stable. Detailed chemical and physical analyses, including byproducts, ions, solution acidity, and conductivity, were conducted to evaluate this new method for use in the appropriate applications.

Evaluation of the sensitivity of bacterial and yeast cells to cold atmospheric plasma jet treatments.

PubMed

Sharkey, Michael A; Chebbi, Ahmed; McDonnell, Kevin A; Staunton, Claire; Dowling, Denis P

2015-06-07

The focus of this research was first to determine the influence of the atmospheric plasma drive frequency on the generation of atomic oxygen species and its correlation with the reduction of bacterial load after treatment in vitro. The treatments were carried out using a helium-plasma jet source called PlasmaStream™. The susceptibility of multiple microbial cell lines was investigated in order to compare the response of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as a yeast cell line to the atmospheric plasma treatment. It was observed for the source evaluated that at a frequency of 160 kHz, increased levels of oxygen-laden active species (i.e., OH, NO) were generated. At this frequency, the maximum level of bacterial inactivation in vitro was also achieved. Ex vivo studies (using freshly excised porcine skin as a human analog) were also carried out to verify the antibacterial effect of the plasma jet treatment at this optimal operational frequency and to investigate the effect of treatment duration on the reduction of bacterial load. The plasma jet treatment was found to yield a 4 log reduction in bacterial load after 6 min of treatment, with no observable adverse effects on the treatment surface. The gram-negative bacterial cell lines were found to be far more susceptible to the atmospheric plasma treatments than the gram-positive bacteria. Flow cytometric analysis of plasma treated bacterial cells (Escherichia coli) was conducted in order to attain a fundamental understanding of the mode of action of the treatment on bacteria at a cellular level. This study showed that after treatment with the plasma jet, E. coli cells progressed through the following steps of cell death; the inactivation of transport systems, followed by depolarization of the cytoplasmic membrane, and finally permeabilization of the cell wall.

Laser-driven proton and deuteron acceleration from a pure solid-density H2/D2 cryogenic jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Jongjin; Gauthier, Maxence; Aurand, Bastian; Curry, Chandra; Goede, Sebastian; Goyon, Clement; Williams, Jackson; Kerr, Shaun; Ruby, John; Propp, Adrienne; Ramakrishna, Bhuvanesh; Pak, Art; Hazi, Andy; Glenzer, Siegfried; Roedel, Christian

2015-11-01

Laser-driven proton acceleration has become of tremendous interest for the fundamental science and the potential applications in tumor therapy and proton radiography. We have developed a cryogenic liquid hydrogen jet, which can deliver a self-replenishing target of pure solid-density hydrogen or deuterium. This allows for a target compatible with high-repetition-rate experiments and results in a pure hydrogen plasma, facilitating comparison with simulations. A new modification has allowed for the formation of jets with rectangular profiles, facilitating comparison with foil targets. This jet was installed at the Titan laser and driven by laser pulses of 40-60 J of 527 nm laser light in 1 ps. The resulting proton and deuteron spectra were measured in multiple directions with Thomson parabola spectrometers and RCF stacks. The spectral and angular information suggest contribution from both the TNSA and RPA acceleration mechanisms.

Cosmic jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rees, M. J.

1986-01-01

The evidence that active galactic nuclei produce collimated plasma jets is summarised. The strongest radio galaxies are probably energised by relativistic plasma jets generated by spinning black holes interacting with magnetic fields attached to infalling matter. Such objects can produce e(+)-e(-) plasma, and may be relevant to the acceleration of the highest-energy cosmic ray primaries. Small-scale counterparts of the jet phenomenon within our own galaxy are briefly reviewed.

EDITORIAL: The interaction of radio-frequency fields with fusion plasmas: the JET experience The interaction of radio-frequency fields with fusion plasmas: the JET experience

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ongena, Jef

2012-07-01

The JET Task Force Heating is proud to present this special issue. It is the result of hard and dedicated work by everybody participating in the Task Force over the last four years and gives an overview of the experimental and theoretical results obtained in the period 2008-2010 with radio frequency heating of JET fusion plasmas. Topics studied and reported in this issue are: investigations into the operation of lower hybrid heating accompanied by new modeling results; new experimental results and insights into the physics of various ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) heating scenarios; progress in studies of intrinsic and ion cyclotron wave-induced plasma rotation and flows; a summary of the developments over the last years in designing an ion cyclotron radiofrequency heating (ICRH) system that can cope with the presence of fast load variations in the edge, as e.g. caused by pellets or edge localized modes (ELMs) during H-Mode operation; an overview of the results obtained with the ITER-like antenna operating in H-Mode with a packed array of straps and power densities close to those of the projected ITER ICRH antenna; and, finally, a summary of the results obtained in applying ion cyclotron waves for wall conditioning of the tokamak. This issue would not have been possible without the strong motivation and efforts (sometimes truly heroic) of all colleagues of the JET Task Force Heating. A sincere word of thanks, therefore, to all authors and co-authors involved in the experiments, analysis and compilation of the papers. It was a special privilege to work with all of them during the past very intense years. Thanks also to all other European and non-European scientists who contributed to the JET scientific programme, the operations team of JET and the colleagues of the Close Support Unit in Culham. Thanks also to the editors, Editorial Board and referees of Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, together with the publishing staff of IOPP, who have not only

Runaway Electrons Modeling and Nanoparticle Plasma Jet Penetration into Tokamak Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galkin, S. A.; Bogatu, I. N.

2017-10-01

A novel idea to probe runaway electrons (REs) by superfast injection of high velocity nanoparticle plasma jet (NPPJ) from a plasma accelerator needs to be sustained by both RE dynamics modeling and simulation of NPPJ penetration through increasing tokamak magnetic field. We present our recent progress in both areas. RE simulation is based on the model, including Dreicer and ``avalanche'' mechanisms of RE generation, with emphasis on high Zeff effects. The high-density hyper-velocity C60 and BN NPPJ penetration through transversal B-field is conducted with the Hybrid Electro-Magnetic code (HEM-2D) in cylindrical coordinates, with 1/R B-field dependence for both DIII-D and ITER tokamaks. Work is supported in part by US DOE SBIR Grant.

Experimental investigation on the effect of plasma jet in the triggered discharge process of a gas switch

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

Tie, W., E-mail: twh.110.666@163.com, E-mail: 84470220@qq.com; Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049; Liu, S.

The temporal and spatial evolution of a plasma jet generated by a spark discharge was observed. The electron temperature and density were obtained under different time and gas pressures by optical emission spectroscopy. Moreover, the discharge process of the plasma-jet triggered gas switch was recorded and analyzed at the lowest working coefficient. The results showed that the plasma jet moved forward in a bullet mode, and the advancing velocity increased with the decrease of pressure, and decreased with time growing. At initial time, the maximum velocity of a plasma jet could reach 3.68 × 10{sup 6 }cm/s. The electron temperature decreased from 2.0 eVmore » to 1.3 eV, and the electron density increased from 3.1 × 10{sup 15}/cm{sup 3} to 6.3 × 10{sup 15}/cm{sup 3} at the initial moment as the gas pressure increases from 0.1 MPa to 0.32 MPa. For a two-gap gas switch, the discharge performances were more depended on the second discharge spark gap (gap 2). Because plasma jet promoted the discharge in Gap 2, the gas switch operating in mode II had better triggered discharge characteristics. In the discharge process, the plasma-jet triggering had the effect of non-penetrating inducing, which not only provided initial electrons for reducing statistical lag but also enhanced the local electric field. The discharge was initiated and accelerated from electron avalanche to streamer. Therefore, a fast discharge was occurred in the gas switch.« less

Deuterium charge exchange recombination spectroscopy from the top of the pedestal to the scrape off layer in H-mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haskey, S. R.; Grierson, B. A.; Stagner, L.; Burrell, K. H.; Chrystal, C.; Groebner, R. J.; Ashourvan, A.; Pablant, N. A.

2017-10-01

Recent completion of the thirty two channel main-ion (deuterium) charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CER) diagnostic on DIII-D [J.L. Luxon, Nucl. Fusion 42 (2002) 614] enables detailed comparisons between impurity and main-ion temperature, density, and toroidal rotation. Sixteen sightlines cover the core of the plasma and another sixteen are densely packed towards the edge, providing high resolution measurements of the pedestal and steep gradient edge region of H-mode plasmas. The complexities of the Dα spectrum require fitting with a comprehensive model, as well as using iterative collisional radiative modeling to determine the underlying thermal deuterium ion properties. Large differences in the structure and magnitude of impurity (C6+) and main-ion (D+) toroidal rotation profiles are seen in the H-mode pedestal. Additionally the D+ temperature can be half the value of the C6+ temperature at the separatrix and shows more of a pedestal structure. Typically only the impurity properties are measured and the main-ion properties are either assumed to be the same, or inferred using neoclassical models, which require validation in the steep gradient region. These measured differences have implications for transport model validation, intrinsic rotation studies, pedestal stability, and the boundary conditions for scrape off layer and plasma material interactions studies.

Deuterium charge exchange recombination spectroscopy from the top of the pedestal to the scrape off layer in H-mode plasmas

DOE PAGES

Haskey, S. R.; Grierson, B. A.; Stagner, L.; ...

2017-10-25

Recent completion of the thirty two channel main-ion (deuterium) charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CER) diagnostic on DIII-D enables detailed comparisons between impurity and main-ion temperature, density, and toroidal rotation. Sixteen sightlines cover the core of the plasma and another sixteen are densely packed towards the edge, providing high resolution measurements of the pedestal and steep gradient edge region of H-mode plasmas. The complexities of the D α spectrum require fitting with a comprehensive model, as well as using iterative collisional radiative modeling to determine the underlying thermal deuterium ion properties. Large differences in the structure and magnitude of impurity (Cmore » 6+) and main-ion (D +) toroidal rotation profiles are seen in the H-mode pedestal. Additionally the D + temperature can be half the value of the C 6+ temperature at the separatrix and shows more of a pedestal structure. Typically only the impurity properties are measured and the main-ion properties are either assumed to be the same, or inferred using neoclassical models, which require validation in the steep gradient region. Furthermore, these measured differences have implications for transport model validation, intrinsic rotation studies, pedestal stability, and the boundary conditions for scrape off layer and plasma material interactions studies.« less

Jets in a strongly coupled anisotropic plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fadafan, Kazem Bitaghsir; Morad, Razieh

2018-01-01

In this paper, we study the dynamics of the light quark jet moving through the static, strongly coupled N=4, anisotropic plasma with and without charge. The light quark is presented by a 2-parameters point-like initial condition falling string in the context of the AdS/CFT. We calculate the stopping distance of the light quark in the anisotropic medium and compare it with its isotropic value. We study the dependency of the stopping distance to the both string initial conditions and background parameters such as anisotropy parameter or chemical potential. Although the typical behavior of the string in the anisotropic medium is similar to the one in the isotropic AdS-Sch background, the string falls faster to the horizon depending on the direction of moving. Particularly, the enhancement of quenching is larger in the beam direction. We find that the suppression of stopping distance is more prominent when the anisotropic plasma have the same temperature as the isotropic plasma.

Efficient Neutron Production from a Novel Configuration of Deuterium Gas-Puff Z-Pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klir, D.; Kubes, P.; Rezac, K.; Cikhardt, J.; Kravarik, J.; Sila, O.; Shishlov, A. V.; Kovalchuk, B. M.; Ratakhin, N. A.; Kokshenev, V. A.; Labetsky, A. Yu.; Cherdizov, R. K.; Fursov, F. I.; Kurmaev, N. E.; Dudkin, G. N.; Nechaev, B. A.; Padalko, V. N.; Orcikova, H.; Turek, K.

2014-03-01

A novel configuration of a deuterium z pinch has been used to generate fusion neutrons. Injecting an outer hollow cylindrical plasma shell around an inner deuterium gas puff, neutron yields from DD reactions reached Yn=(2.9±0.3)×1012 at 700 ns implosion time and 2.7 MA current. Such a neutron yield means a tenfold increase in comparison with previous deuterium gas puff experiments at the same current generator. The increase of beam-target yields was obtained by a larger amount of current assembled on the z-pinch axis, and subsequently by higher induced voltage and higher energies of deuterons. A stack of CR-39 track detectors on the z-pinch axis showed hydrogen ions up to 38 MeV. Maximum neutron energies of 15 and 22 MeV were observed by radial and axial time-of-flight detectors, respectively. The number of DD neutrons per one joule of stored plasma energy approached 5×107. This implies that deuterium gas puff z pinches belong to the most efficient plasma-based sources of DD neutrons.

The Influence of the Hall Term on the Development of Magnetized Laser-Produced Plasma Jets

DOE PAGES

Hamlin, N.D.; Seyler, C. E.; Khiar, B.

2018-04-29

We present 2D axisymmetric simulation results describing the influence of the Hall term on laser-produced plasma jets and their interaction with an applied magnetic field parallel to the laser axis. Bending of the poloidal B-field lines produces an MHD shock structure surrounding a conical cavity, and a jet is produced from the convergence of the shock envelope. Both the jet and the conical cavity underneath it are bound by fast MHD shocks. We compare the MHD results generated using the extended-MHD code Physics as an Extended-MHD Relaxation System with an Efficient Upwind Scheme (PERSEUS) with MHD results generated using GORGONmore » and find reasonable agreement. We then present extended-MHD results generated using PERSEUS, which show that the Hall term has several effects on the plasma jet evolution. A hot low-density current-carrying layer of plasma develops just outside the plume, which results in a helical rather than a purely poloidal B-field, and reduces magnetic stresses, resulting in delayed flow convergence and jet formation. The flow is partially frozen into the helical field, resulting in azimuthal rotation of the jet. The Hall term also produces field-aligned current in strongly magnetized regions. In particular, we find the influence of Hall physics on this problem to be scale-dependent. In conclusion, this points to the importance of mitigating the Hall effect in a laboratory setup, by increasing the jet density and system dimensions, in order to avoid inaccurate extrapolation to astrophysical scales.« less

The Influence of the Hall Term on the Development of Magnetized Laser-Produced Plasma Jets

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

Hamlin, N.D.; Seyler, C. E.; Khiar, B.

We present 2D axisymmetric simulation results describing the influence of the Hall term on laser-produced plasma jets and their interaction with an applied magnetic field parallel to the laser axis. Bending of the poloidal B-field lines produces an MHD shock structure surrounding a conical cavity, and a jet is produced from the convergence of the shock envelope. Both the jet and the conical cavity underneath it are bound by fast MHD shocks. We compare the MHD results generated using the extended-MHD code Physics as an Extended-MHD Relaxation System with an Efficient Upwind Scheme (PERSEUS) with MHD results generated using GORGONmore » and find reasonable agreement. We then present extended-MHD results generated using PERSEUS, which show that the Hall term has several effects on the plasma jet evolution. A hot low-density current-carrying layer of plasma develops just outside the plume, which results in a helical rather than a purely poloidal B-field, and reduces magnetic stresses, resulting in delayed flow convergence and jet formation. The flow is partially frozen into the helical field, resulting in azimuthal rotation of the jet. The Hall term also produces field-aligned current in strongly magnetized regions. In particular, we find the influence of Hall physics on this problem to be scale-dependent. In conclusion, this points to the importance of mitigating the Hall effect in a laboratory setup, by increasing the jet density and system dimensions, in order to avoid inaccurate extrapolation to astrophysical scales.« less

Optimizing Dense Plasma Focus Neutron Yields With Fast Gas Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMahon, Matthew; Stein, Elizabeth; Higginson, Drew; Kueny, Christopher; Link, Anthony; Schmidt, Andrea

2017-10-01

We report a study using the particle-in-cell code LSP to perform fully kinetic simulations modeling dense plasma focus (DPF) devices with high density gas jets on axis. The high-density jets are modeled in the large-eddy Navier-Stokes code CharlesX, which is suitable for modeling both sub-sonic and supersonic gas flow. The gas pattern, which is essentially static on z-pinch time scales, is imported from CharlesX to LSP for neutron yield predictions. Fast gas puffs allow for more mass on axis while maintaining the optimal pressure for the DPF. As the density of a subsonic jet increases relative to the background fill, we find the neutron yield increases, as does the variability in the neutron yield. Introducing perturbations in the jet density via super-sonic flow (also known as Mach diamonds) allow for consistent seeding of the m =0 instability leading to more consistent ion acceleration and higher neutron yields with less variability. Jets with higher on axis density are found to have the greatest yield. The optimal jet configuration and the necessary jet conditions for increasing neutron yield and reducing yield variability are explored. Simulations of realistic jet profiles are performed and compared to the ideal scenario. This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and supported by the Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program (15-ERD-034) at LLNL.

First neutron spectroscopy measurements with a pixelated diamond detector at JET

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

Muraro, A., E-mail: muraro@ifp.cnr.it; Giacomelli, L.; Grosso, G.

2016-11-15

A prototype Single crystal Diamond Detector (SDD) was installed at the Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 along an oblique line of sight and demonstrated the possibility to carry out neutron spectroscopy measurements with good energy resolution and detector stability in discharges heated by neutral beam injection and radio-frequency waves. Starting from these positive results, within the Vertical Neutron Spectrometer project of the Joint European Torus, we have developed a pixelated instrument consisting of a matrix of 12 independent SDDs, called the Diamond Vertical Neutron Spectrometer (DVNS), which boosts the detection efficiency of a single SDD by an order ofmore » magnitude. In this paper we describe the main features of the DVNS, including the detector design, energy resolution, and data acquisition system for on-line processing. Preliminary spectroscopy measurements of 2.5 MeV neutrons from the present deuterium plasma at JET are finally presented.« less

First neutron spectroscopy measurements with a pixelated diamond detector at JET.

PubMed

Muraro, A; Giacomelli, L; Nocente, M; Rebai, M; Rigamonti, D; Belli, F; Calvani, P; Figueiredo, J; Girolami, M; Gorini, G; Grosso, G; Murari, A; Popovichev, S; Trucchi, D M; Tardocchi, M

2016-11-01

A prototype Single crystal Diamond Detector (SDD) was installed at the Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 along an oblique line of sight and demonstrated the possibility to carry out neutron spectroscopy measurements with good energy resolution and detector stability in discharges heated by neutral beam injection and radio-frequency waves. Starting from these positive results, within the Vertical Neutron Spectrometer project of the Joint European Torus, we have developed a pixelated instrument consisting of a matrix of 12 independent SDDs, called the Diamond Vertical Neutron Spectrometer (DVNS), which boosts the detection efficiency of a single SDD by an order of magnitude. In this paper we describe the main features of the DVNS, including the detector design, energy resolution, and data acquisition system for on-line processing. Preliminary spectroscopy measurements of 2.5 MeV neutrons from the present deuterium plasma at JET are finally presented.

Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jet Surface Treatment for Use in Improving Adhesion

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

Kuettner, Lindsey Ann

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are a method of plasma treatment that plays an important role in material processing and modifying surface properties of materials, especially polymers. Gas plasmas react with polymer surfaces in numerous ways such as oxidation, radical formation, degradation, and promotion of cross-linking. Because of this, gas and plasma conditions can be explored for chosen processes to maximize desired properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate plasma parameters in order to modify surface properties for improved adhesion between aluminum and epoxy substrates using two types of adhesives. The background, results to date, and future work willmore » be discussed.« less

Response function of single crystal synthetic diamond detectors to 1-4 MeV neutrons for spectroscopy of D plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rebai, M.; Giacomelli, L.; Milocco, A.; Nocente, M.; Rigamonti, D.; Tardocchi, M.; Camera, F.; Cazzaniga, C.; Chen, Z. J.; Du, T. F.; Fan, T. S.; Giaz, A.; Hu, Z. M.; Marchi, T.; Peng, X. Y.; Gorini, G.

2016-11-01

A Single-crystal Diamond (SD) detector prototype was installed at Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 and the achieved results have shown its spectroscopic capability of measuring 2.5 MeV neutrons from deuterium plasmas. This paper presents measurements of the SD response function to monoenergetic neutrons, which is a key point for the development of a neutron spectrometer based on SDs and compares them with Monte Carlo simulations. The analysis procedure allows for a good reconstruction of the experimental results. The good pulse height energy resolution (equivalent FWHM of 80 keV at 2.5 MeV), gain stability, insensitivity to magnetic field, and compact size make SDs attractive as compact neutron spectrometers of high flux deuterium plasmas, such as for instance those needed for the ITER neutron camera.

Response function of single crystal synthetic diamond detectors to 1-4 MeV neutrons for spectroscopy of D plasmas

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

Rebai, M., E-mail: marica.rebai@mib.infn.it; Nocente, M.; Rigamonti, D.

2016-11-15

A Single-crystal Diamond (SD) detector prototype was installed at Joint European Torus (JET) in 2013 and the achieved results have shown its spectroscopic capability of measuring 2.5 MeV neutrons from deuterium plasmas. This paper presents measurements of the SD response function to monoenergetic neutrons, which is a key point for the development of a neutron spectrometer based on SDs and compares them with Monte Carlo simulations. The analysis procedure allows for a good reconstruction of the experimental results. The good pulse height energy resolution (equivalent FWHM of 80 keV at 2.5 MeV), gain stability, insensitivity to magnetic field, and compactmore » size make SDs attractive as compact neutron spectrometers of high flux deuterium plasmas, such as for instance those needed for the ITER neutron camera.« less

First Production of C60 Nanoparticle Plasma Jet for Study of Disruption Mitigation for ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bogatu, I. N.; Thompson, J. R.; Galkin, S. A.; Kim, J. S.; Brockington, S.; Case, A.; Messer, S. J.; Witherspoon, F. D.

2012-10-01

Unique fast response and large mass-velocity delivery of nanoparticle plasma jets (NPPJs) provide a novel application for ITER disruption mitigation, runaway electrons diagnostics and deep fueling. NPPJs carry a much larger mass than usual gases. An electromagnetic plasma gun provides a very high injection velocity (many km/s). NPPJ has much higher ram pressure than any standard gas injection method and penetrates the tokamak confining magnetic field. Assimilation is enhanced due to the NP large surface-to-volume ratio. Radially expanding NPPJs help achieving toroidal uniformity of radiation power. FAR-TECH's NPPJ system was successfully tested: a coaxial plasma gun prototype (˜35 cm length, 96 kJ energy) using a solid state TiH2/C60 pulsed power cartridge injector produced a hyper-velocity (>4 km/s), high-density (>10^23 m-3), C60 plasma jet in ˜0.5 ms, with ˜1-2 ms overall response-delivery time. We present the TiH2/C60 cartridge injector output characterization (˜180 mg of sublimated C60 gas) and first production results of a high momentum C60 plasma jet (˜0.6 g.km/s).

Influence of oxygen in atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet on sterilization of Bacillus atrophaeous spores

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

Lim, Jin-Pyo; Uhm, Han S.; Li, Shou-Zhe

2007-09-15

A nonequilibrium Ar/O{sub 2} plasma discharge at atmospheric pressure was carried out in a coaxial cylindrical reactor with a stepped electrode configuration powered by a 13.56 MHz rf power supplier. The argon glow discharge with high electron density produces oxygen reactive species in large quantities. Argon plasma jets penetrate deep into ambient air and create a path for oxygen radicals to sterilize microbes. A sterilization experiment with bacterial endospores indicates that an argon-oxygen plasma jet very effectively kills endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (ATCC 9372), thereby demonstrating its capability to clean surfaces and its usefulness for reinstating contaminated equipment as freemore » from toxic biological warfare agents. The decimal reduction time (D values) of the Ar/O{sub 2} plasma jet at an exposure distance of 0.5-1.5 cm ranges from 5 to 57 s. An actinometric comparison of the sterilization data shows that atomic oxygen radicals play a significant role in plasma sterilization. When observed under a scanning electron microscope, the average size of the spores appears to be greatly reduced due to chemical reactions with the oxygen radicals.« less

Computational and experimental investigation of plasma deflagration jets and detonation shocks in coaxial plasma accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramaniam, Vivek; Underwood, Thomas C.; Raja, Laxminarayan L.; Cappelli, Mark A.

2018-02-01

We present a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation to study the physical mechanisms underlying plasma acceleration in a coaxial plasma gun. Coaxial plasma accelerators are known to exhibit two distinct modes of operation depending on the delay between gas loading and capacitor discharging. Shorter delays lead to a high velocity plasma deflagration jet and longer delays produce detonation shocks. During a single operational cycle that typically consists of two discharge events, the plasma acceleration exhibits a behavior characterized by a mode transition from deflagration to detonation. The first of the discharge events, a deflagration that occurs when the discharge expands into an initially evacuated domain, requires a modification of the standard MHD algorithm to account for rarefied regions of the simulation domain. The conventional approach of using a low background density gas to mimic the vacuum background results in the formation of an artificial shock, inconsistent with the physics of free expansion. To this end, we present a plasma-vacuum interface tracking framework with the objective of predicting a physically consistent free expansion, devoid of the spurious shock obtained with the low background density approach. The interface tracking formulation is integrated within the MHD framework to simulate the plasma deflagration and the second discharge event, a plasma detonation, formed due to its initiation in a background prefilled with gas remnant from the deflagration. The mode transition behavior obtained in the simulations is qualitatively compared to that observed in the experiments using high framing rate Schlieren videography. The deflagration mode is further investigated to understand the jet formation process and the axial velocities obtained are compared against experimentally obtained deflagration plasma front velocities. The simulations are also used to provide insight into the conditions responsible for the generation and sustenance of

Energy loss of α-particle moving in warm dense deuterium plasma: Role of local field corrections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Zhen-Guo; Wang, Zhigang; Zhang, Ping

2017-11-01

We theoretically study the energy loss of α-particles traveling in the warm dense plasma (WDP) of deuterium (D) with temperatures from 10 to 100 eV and electron number densities from 1023 to 1024 cm-3. Beyond the random phase approximation (RPA) model, the extended Mermin dielectric function (MDF) model including the static and dynamic local field corrections (LFC) is employed in the calculations. Compared with the static LFC, the dynamic LFC introduced in the extended MDF model gives rise to a more significant departure from the RPA result. For the plasma conditions focused in this work, the departure induced by dynamic LFC reaches almost ˜ 30 % , which may be detected in the inertial confinement fusion (ICF) related experiment. Moreover, we find that the effect of static e-e collision may be of importance (unimportance) for the WDP of D with a temperature of tens (hundreds) of eV. Our findings may be important for ICF ignition since the uncertainty induced by the correlation effects between plasma component particles is crucial for the prediction of α-particle heating in fusion plasmas.

Atomic oxygen behavior at downstream of AC excited atmospheric pressure He plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takeda, Keigo; Ishikawa, Kenji; Tanaka, Hiromasa; Sekine, Makoto; Hori, Masaru

2016-09-01

Applications of atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJ) have been investigated in the plasma medical fields such as cancer therapy, blood coagulation, etc. Reactive species generated by the plasma jet interacts with the biological surface. Therefore, the issue attracts much attentions to investigate the plasma effects on targets. In our group, a spot-size AC excited He APPJ have been used for the plasma medicine. From diagnostics of the APPJ using optical emission spectroscopy, the gas temperature and the electron density was estimated to be 299 K and 3.4 ×1015 cm-3. The AC excited He APPJ which affords high density plasma at room temperature is considered to be a powerful tool for the medical applications. In this study, by using vacuum ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, the density of atomic oxygen on a floating copper as a target irradiated by the He APPJ was measured as a function of the distance between the plasma source and the copper wire. The measured density became a maximum value around 8 ×1013 cm-3 at 12 mm distance, and then decreased over the distance. It is considered that the behavior was due to the changes in the plasma density on the copper wire and influence of ambient air.

Fuel inventory and deposition in castellated structures in JET-ILW

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rubel, M.; Petersson, P.; Zhou, Y.; Coad, J. P.; Lungu, C.; Jepu, I.; Porosnicu, C.; Matveev, D.; Kirschner, A.; Brezinsek, S.; Widdowson, A.; Alves, E.; Contributors, JET

2017-06-01

Since 2011 the JET tokamak has been operated with a metal ITER-like wall (JET-ILW) including castellated beryllium limiters and lamellae-type bulk tungsten tiles in the divertor. This has allowed for a large scale test of castellated plasma-facing components (PFC). Procedures for sectioning the limiters into single blocks of castellation have been developed. This facilitated morphology studies of morphology of surfaces inside the grooves for limiters after experimental campaigns 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. The deposition in the 0.4-0.5 mm wide grooves of the castellation is ‘shallow’. It reaches 1-2 mm into the 12 mm deep gap. Deuterium concentrations are small (mostly below 1  ×  1018 cm-2). The estimated total amount of deuterium in all the castellated limiters does not exceed the inventory of the plasma-facing surfaces (PFS) of the limiters. There are only traces of Ni, Cr and Fe deposited in the castellation gaps. The same applies to the carbon content. Also low deposition of D, Be and C has been measured on the sides of the bulk tungsten lamellae pieces. Modelling clearly reflects: (a) a sharp decrease in the measured deposition profiles and(b) an increase in deposition with the gap width. Both experimental and modelling data give a strong indication and information to ITER that narrow gaps in the castellated PFC are essential. X-ray diffraction on PFS has clearly shown two distinct composition patterns: Be with an admixture of Be-W intermetallic compounds (e.g. Be22W) in the deposition zone, whilst only pure Be has been detected in the erosion zone. The lack of compound formation in the erosion zone indicates that no distinct changes in the thermo-mechanical properties of the Be PFC might be expected.

Application of atmospheric-pressure argon plasma jet for bread mold decontamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thonglor, P.; Amnuaycheewa, P.

2017-09-01

Atmospheric-pressure argon plasma (APAP) is a promising non-thermal technology for microbial control and prevention minimally affecting quality of foods. Effect of APAP jet on the growth of bread molds, including two Aspergillus sp., Rhizopus stolonifer, and Penicillium roqueforti, isolated from white bread were investigated. The molds were isolated, verified, cultured to fully grown on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and subsequently treated with APAP jet using plasma generating power at 24 W for 5, 10, and 20 min, respectively. The inhibition of mold growth was investigated by comparing fungal dry weights and the effect on fungal cell structure was observed using compound light microscope. The results indicated that the 20-min treatment time is most effective in retarding the growth of the three bread molds. However, this level of generating power did not lead to destruction of the cellular structures for all the four fungi. Plasma generating power and treatment time are significant parameters determining the success of bread mold decontamination and further investigation on real bread matrix is needed.

Design and characterization of an RF excited micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet for reference in plasma medicine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schulz-von der Gathen, Volker

2015-09-01

Over the last decade a huge variety of atmospheric pressure plasma jets has been developed and applied for plasma medicine. The efficiency of these non-equilibrium plasmas for biological application is based on the generated amounts of reactive species and radiation. The gas temperatures stay within a range tolerable for temperature-sensitive tissues. The variety of different discharge geometries complicates a direct comparison. In addition, in plasma-medicine the combination of plasma with reactive components, ambient air, as well as biologic tissue - typically also incorporating fluids - results in a complex system. Thus, real progress in plasma-medicine requires a profound knowledge of species, their fluxes and processes hitting biological tissues. That will allow in particular the necessary tailoring of the discharge to fit the conditions. The complexity of the problem can only be overcome by a common effort of many groups and requires a comparison of their results. A reference device based on the already well-investigated micro-scaled atmospheric pressure plasma jet is presented. It is developed in the frame of the European COST initiative MP1101 to establish a publicly available, stable and reproducible source, where required plasma conditions can be investigated. Here we present the design and the ideas behind. The presentation discusses the requirements for the reference source and operation conditions. Biological references are also defined by the initiative. A specific part of the talk will be attributed to the reproducibility of results from various samples of the device. Funding by the DFG within the Package Project PAK816 ``Plasma Cell Interaction in Dermatology'' and the Research Unit FOR 1123 ``Physics of microplasmas'' is gratefully acknowledged.

On a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet used for the deposition of silicon-organic films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schäfer, Jan; Sigeneger, Florian; Foest, Rüdiger; Loffhagen, Detlef; Weltmann, Klaus-Dieter

2018-05-01

This work represents a concise overview on the results achieved by the authors over the last years on the plasma of a non-thermal reactive plasma jet at atmospheric pressure and of related thin film formation by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). The source was developed considering the application of the plasma self-organization for PECVD. The experimental methods comprise spectroscopic measurements of plasma parameters in the active zone, temperature measurements in the active zone and the effluent as well as the analysis of deposited films at the substrate surface. The theoretical investigations are devoted to a single filament in the active zone using a phase-resolved model and to an overall description of the jet including the substrate using a period-averaged model.

Enhanced visible and near-infrared capabilities of the JET mirror-linked divertor spectroscopy system

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

Lomanowski, B. A., E-mail: b.a.lomanowski@durham.ac.uk; Sharples, R. M.; Meigs, A. G.

2014-11-15

The mirror-linked divertor spectroscopy diagnostic on JET has been upgraded with a new visible and near-infrared grating and filtered spectroscopy system. New capabilities include extended near-infrared coverage up to 1875 nm, capturing the hydrogen Paschen series, as well as a 2 kHz frame rate filtered imaging camera system for fast measurements of impurity (Be II) and deuterium Dα, Dβ, Dγ line emission in the outer divertor. The expanded system provides unique capabilities for studying spatially resolved divertor plasma dynamics at near-ELM resolved timescales as well as a test bed for feasibility assessment of near-infrared spectroscopy.

Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of a plasma jet/cloud streaming across a transverse magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Voitcu, Gabriel; Echim, Marius

2014-05-01

The dynamics of collisionless plasma jets/clouds in magnetic field configurations typical for the terrestrial magnetotail and frontside magnetosheath is a topic of interest for understanding the physics of the magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind. The presence of high-speed jets in the frontside magnetosheath has been recently proved experimentally by Cluster and THEMIS spacecrafts. There is increasing evidence that the bursty bulk flows in the magnetotail have jet-like features. In the present paper we use fully electromagnetic 3D explicit particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations to investigate the interaction of a localized three-dimensional plasma element/jet/cloud with a transverse magnetic field. We consider a plasma jet/cloud that moves in vacuum and perpendicular to an ambient magnetic field. Ampère and Faraday's laws are used to compute the self-consistent electric and magnetic fields on a three-dimensional spatial grid having a step-size of the order of the Debye length and using a time-step that resolves the plasma frequency. The initial magnetic field inside the simulation domain is uniform and the plasma bulk velocity at the beginning of the simulation is normal to the magnetic field direction. The total time scale of the simulation is of the order of few ion Larmor periods. Space and time variations of the plasma parameters and of the electromagnetic field are analyzed and discussed. We emphasize non-MHD effects like the energy-dispersion signatures at the edges of the plasma element, similar to results previously reported by Voitcu and Echim (2012) using test-kinetic simulations. Acknowledgments: Research supported by the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 313038/STORM, and a grant of the Romanian Ministry of National Education, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2012-4-0418.

Nanowelding and patterning of silver nanowires via mask-free atmospheric cold plasma-jet scanning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Lang; Li, Han-Yu; Ye, Dong; Yu, Yao; Liu, Lin; Wu, Yue

2017-06-01

Silver nanowire (AgNW) thin film is a promising candidate to replace traditional indium tin oxide in optoelectronics applications. To date however, the widespread application of AgNW thin film is limited by the weak point contacts between individual AgNWs and the lack of facile patterning techniques. Here, we demonstrate a novel and facile method to not only nanoweld AgNW junctions but also pattern AgNW thin films via mask-free cold plasma-jet scanning in ambient conditions. After the plasma-jet nanowelding treatment, the morphology of AgNWs change substantially and the junctions are welded together. The nanowelded AgNWs-based thin film shows enhanced electrical and mechanical properties. On the other hand, after the plasma-jet patterning treatment, the AgNWs are etched and transformed into separated large particles. Different kinds of patterns are produced via this patterning technique. At last, a simple light emitting diode circuit is fabricated to demonstrate the suitability of the nanowelded and patterned AgNW electrodes for flexible electronic devices.

Carbon impurities behavior and its impact on ion thermal confinement in high-ion-temperature deuterium discharges on the Large Helical Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mukai, K.; Nagaoka, K.; Takahashi, H.; Yokoyama, M.; Murakami, S.; Nakano, H.; Ida, K.; Yoshinuma, M.; Seki, R.; Kamio, S.; Fujiwara, Y.; Oishi, T.; Goto, M.; Morita, S.; Morisaki, T.; Osakabe, M.; LHD Experiment Group1, the

2018-07-01

The behavior of carbon impurities in deuterium plasmas and its impact on thermal confinement were investigated in comparison with hydrogen plasmas in the Large Helical Device (LHD). Deuterium plasma experiments have been started in the LHD and high-ion-temperature plasmas with central ion temperature (T i) of 10 keV were successfully obtained. The thermal confinement improvement could be sustained for a longer time compared with hydrogen plasmas. An isotope effect was observed in the time evolution of the carbon density profiles. A transiently peaked profile was observed in the deuterium plasmas due to the smaller carbon convection velocity and diffusivity in the deuterium plasmas compared with the hydrogen plasmas. The peaked carbon density profile was strongly correlated to the ion thermal confinement improvement. The peaking of the carbon density profile will be one of the clues to clarify the unexplained mechanisms for the formations of ion internal transport barrier and impurity hole on LHD. These results could also lead to a better understanding of the isotope effect in the thermal confinement in torus plasma.

LES of a Jet Excited by the Localized Arc Filament Plasma Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Clifford A.

2011-01-01

The fluid dynamics of a high-speed jet are governed by the instability waves that form in the free-shear boundary layer of the jet. Jet excitation manipulates the growth and saturation of particular instability waves to control the unsteady flow structures that characterize the energy cascade in the jet.The results may include jet noise mitigation or a reduction in the infrared signature of the jet. The Localized Arc Filament Plasma Actuators (LAFPA) have demonstrated the ability to excite a high-speed jets in laboratory experiments. Extending and optimizing this excitation technology, however, is a complex process that will require many tests and trials. Computational simulations can play an important role in understanding and optimizing this actuator technology for real-world applications. Previous research has focused on developing a suitable actuator model and coupling it with the appropriate computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods using two-dimensional spatial flow approximations. This work is now extended to three-dimensions (3-D) in space. The actuator model is adapted to a series of discrete actuators and a 3-D LES simulation of an excited jet is run. The results are used to study the fluid dynamics near the actuator and in the jet plume.

Dielectric barrier discharge and jet type plasma surface modifications of hybrid polymeric poly (ε-caprolactone)/chitosan scaffolds.

PubMed

Ozkan, Ozan; Turkoglu Sasmazel, Hilal

2018-04-01

In this study, dry air plasma jet and dielectric barrier discharge Ar + O 2 or Ar + N 2 plasma modifications and their effects on wettability, topography, functionality and biological efficiency of the hybrid polymeric poly (ε-caprolactone)/chitosan scaffolds were reported. The samples treated with Ar + O 2 dielectric barrier discharge plasma (80 sccm O 2 flow rate, 3-min treatment) or with dry air plasma jet (15-cm nozzle-sample distance, 13-min treatment) had the closest wettability (49.11 ± 1.83 and 53.60 ± 0.95, respectively) to the commercial tissue culture polystyrene used for cell cultivation. Scanning electron microscopy images and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry analysis showed increase in topographical roughness and OH/NH 2 functionality, respectively. Increased fluid uptake capacity for the scaffolds treated with Ar + O 2 dielectric barrier discharge plasma (73.60% ± 1.78) and dry air plasma jet (72.48% ± 0.75) were also noted. Finally, initial cell attachment as well as seven-day cell viability, growth and proliferation performances were found to be significantly better for both plasma treated scaffolds than for untreated scaffolds.

Measurement of the deuterium Balmer series line emission on EAST

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

Wu, C. R.; Xu, Z.; Jin, Z.

Volume recombination plays an important role towards plasma detachment for magnetically confined fusion devices. High quantum number states of the Balmer series of deuterium are used to study recombination. On EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), two visible spectroscopic measurements are applied for the upper/lower divertor with 13 channels, respectively. Both systems are coupled with Princeton Instruments ProEM EMCCD 1024B camera: one is equipped on an Acton SP2750 spectrometer, which has a high spectral resolution ∼0.0049 nm with 2400 gr/mm grating to measure the D{sub α}(H{sub α}) spectral line and with 1200 gr/mm grating to measure deuterium molecular Fulcher band emissionsmore » and another is equipped on IsoPlane SCT320 using 600 gr/mm to measure high-n Balmer series emission lines, allowing us to study volume recombination on EAST and to obtain the related line averaged plasma parameters (T{sub e}, n{sub e}) during EAST detached phases. This paper will present the details of the measurements and the characteristics of deuterium Balmer series line emissions during density ramp-up L-mode USN plasma on EAST.« less

Deuterium diffusion and retention in tungsten coated with barrier layer during ion irradiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Begrambekov, L. B.; Kaplevsky, A. S.; Dovganyuk, S. S.; Evsin, A. E.; Baryshnikova, I. E.

2017-12-01

The results of the comparative analysis of low-temperature desorption of deuterium from tungsten coated with aluminum and yttrium films under the irradiation by hydrogen plasma with oxygen impurity are presented. The irradiation of aluminum or yttrium coating by H2+1%O2 plasma leads to the desorption of implanted deuterium from the samples. It was shown that the number of atoms desorbed depends on the sign of enthalpy of hydrogen solution in the metal film.

Impact on the deuterium retention of simultaneous exposure of tungsten to a steady state plasma and transient heat cycling loads

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huber, A.; Sergienko, G.; Wirtz, M.; Steudel, I.; Arakcheev, A.; Brezinsek, S.; Burdakov, A.; Dittmar, T.; Esser, H. G.; Kreter, A.; Linke, J.; Linsmeier, Ch; Mertens, Ph; Möller, S.; Philipps, V.; Pintsuk, G.; Reinhart, M.; Schweer, B.; Shoshin, A.; Terra, A.; Unterberg, B.

2016-02-01

The impact on the deuterium retention of simultaneous exposure of tungsten to a steady-state plasma and transient cyclic heat loads has been studied in the linear PSI-2 facility with the main objective of qualifying tungsten (W) as plasma-facing material. The transient heat loads were applied by a high-energy laser, a Nd:YAG laser (λ = 1064 nm) with an energy per pulse of up to 32 J and a duration of 1 ms. A pronounced increase in the D retention by a factor of 13 has been observed during the simultaneous transient heat loads and plasma exposure. These data indicate that the hydrogen clustering is enhanced by the thermal shock exposures, as seen on the increased blister size due to mobilization and thermal production of defects during transients. In addition, the significant increase of the D retention during the simultaneous loads could be explained by an increased diffusion of D atoms into the W material due to strong temperature gradients during the laser pulse exposure and to an increased mobility of D atoms along the shock-induced cracks. Only 24% of the retained deuterium is located inside the near-surface layer (d<4 μm). Enhanced blister formation has been observed under combined loading conditions at power densities close to the threshold for damaging. Blisters are not mainly responsible for the pronounced increase of the D retention.

Neutron yield when fast deuterium ions collide with strongly charged tritium-saturated dust particles

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

Akishev, Yu. S., E-mail: akishev@triniti.ru; Karal’nik, V. B.; Petryakov, A. V.

2017-02-15

The ultrahigh charging of dust particles in a plasma under exposure to an electron beam with an energy up to 25 keV and the formation of a flux of fast ions coming from the plasma and accelerating in the strong field of negatively charged particles are considered. Particles containing tritium or deuterium atoms are considered as targets. The calculated rates of thermonuclear fusion reactions in strongly charged particles under exposure to accelerated plasma ions are presented. The neutron generation rate in reactions with accelerated deuterium and tritium ions has been calculated for these targets. The neutron yield has been calculatedmore » when varying the plasma-forming gas pressure, the plasma density, the target diameter, and the beam electron current density. Deuterium and tritium-containing particles are shown to be the most promising plasmaforming gas–target material pair for the creation of a compact gas-discharge neutron source based on the ultrahigh charging of dust particles by beam electrons with an energy up to 25 keV.« less

Enhancement of Quasistationary Shocks and Heating via Temporal Staging in a Magnetized Laser-Plasma Jet

DOE PAGES

Higginson, D. P.; Khiar, B.; Revet, G.; ...

2017-12-22

Here, we investigate the formation of a laser-produced magnetized jet under conditions of a varying mass ejection rate and a varying divergence of the ejected plasma flow. This is done by irradiating a solid target placed in a 20 T magnetic field with, first, a collinear precursor laser pulse (10 12 W/cm 2) and, then, a main pulse (10 13 W/cm 2) arriving 9–19 ns later. Varying the time delay between the two pulses is found to control the divergence of the expanding plasma, which is shown to increase the strength of and heating in the conical shock that ismore » responsible for jet collimation. These results show that plasma collimation due to shocks against a strong magnetic field can lead to stable, astrophysically relevant jets that are sustained over time scales 100 times the laser pulse duration (i.e., >70 ns), even in the case of strong variability at the source.« less

An Alternative to Annealing TiO2 Nanotubes for Morphology Preservation: Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Treatment.

PubMed

Seo, Sang-Hee; Uhm, Soo-Hyuk; Kwon, Jae-Sung; Choi, Eun Ha; Kim, Kwang-Mahn; Kim, Kyoung-Nam

2015-03-01

Titanium oxide nanotube layer formed by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is known to be excellent in biomaterial applications. However, the annealing process which is commonly performed on the TiO2 nanotubes cause defects in the nanotubular structure. The purpose of this work was to apply a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet on diameter-controlled TiO2 nanotubes to mimic the effects of annealing while maintaining the tubular structure for use as biomaterial. Diameter-controlled nanotube samples fabricated by plasma electrolytic oxidation were dried and prepared under three different conditions: untreated, annealed at 450 °C for 1 h in air with a heating rate of 10 °C/min, and treated with an air-based non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet for 5 minutes. The contact angle measurement was investigated to confirm the enhanced hydrophilicity of the TiO2 nanotubes. The chemical composition of the surface was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the morphology of TiO2 nanotubes was examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy. For the viability of the cell, the attachment of the osteoblastic cell line MC3T3-E1 was determined using the water-soluble tetrazolium salt assay. We found that there are no morphological changes in the TiO2 nanotubular structure after the plasma treatment. Also, we investigated a change in the chemical composition and enhanced hydrophilicity which result in improved cell behavior. The results of this study indicated that the non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet results in osteoblast functionality that is comparable to annealed samples while maintaining the tubular structure of the TiO2 nanotubes. Therefore, this study concluded that the use of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet on nanotube surfaces may replace the annealing process following plasma electrolytic oxidation.

Effect of Pulsed Plasma Jets on the Recovering Boundary Layer Downstream of a Reflected Shock Interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Greene, Benton; Clemens, Noel; Magari, Patrick; Micka, Daniel; Ueckermann, Mattheus

2015-11-01

Shock-induced turbulent boundary layer separation can have many detrimental effects in supersonic inlets including flow distortion and instability, structural fatigue, poor pressure recovery, and unstart. The current study investigates the effect of pulsed plasma jets on the recovering boundary layer downstream of a reflected shock wave-boundary layer interaction. The effects of pitch and skew angle of the jet as well as the heating parameter and discharge time scale are tested using several pulsing frequencies. In addition, the effect of the plasma jets on the undisturbed boundary layer at 6 mm and 11 mm downstream of the jets is measured. A pitot-static pressure probe is used to measure the velocity profile of the boundary layer 35 mm downstream of the plasma jets, and the degree of boundary layer distortion is compared between the different models and run conditions. Additionally, the effect of each actuator configuration on the shape of the mean separated region is investigated using surface oil flow visualization. Previous studies with lower energy showed a weak effect on the downstream boundary layer. The current investigation will attempt to increase this effect using a higher-energy discharge. Funded by AFRL through and SBIR in collaboration with Creare, LLC.

Cold atmospheric plasma jet-generated RONS and their selective effects on normal and carcinoma cells

PubMed Central

Kim, Sun Ja; Chung, T. H.

2016-01-01

Cold atmospheric helium plasma jets were fabricated and utilized for plasma–cell interactions. The effect of operating parameters and jet design on the generation of specific reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) within cells and cellular response were investigated. It was found that plasma treatment induced the overproduction of RONS in various cancer cell lines selectively. The plasma under a relatively low applied voltage induced the detachment of cells, a reduction in cell viability, and apoptosis, while the plasma under higher applied voltage led to cellular necrosis in our case. To determine whether plasma-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation occurs through interfering with mitochondria-related cellular response, we examined the plasma effects on ROS generation in both parental A549 cells and A549 ρ0 cells. It was observed that cancer cells were more susceptible to plasma-induced RONS (especially nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2−) radicals) than normal cells, and consequently, plasma induced apoptotic cell responses mainly in cancer cells. PMID:26838306

Plasma Jet (V)UV-Radiation Impact on Biologically Relevant Liquids and Cell Suspension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tresp, H.; Bussiahn, R.; Bundscherer, L.; Monden, A.; Hammer, M. U.; Masur, K.; Weltmann, K.-D.; Woedtke, Th. V.; Reuter, S.

2014-10-01

In this study the generation of radicals in plasma treated liquids has been investigated. To quantify the contribution of plasma vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the species investigated, three cases have been studied: UV of plasma jet only, UV and VUV of plasma jet combined, and the plasma effluent including all reactive components. The emitted VUV has been observed by optical emission spectroscopy and its effect on radical formation in liquids has been analyzed by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Radicals have been determined in ultrapure water (dH2O), as well as in more complex, biorelevant solutions like phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution, and two different cell culture media. Various compositions lead to different reactive species formation, e.g. in PBS superoxide anion and hydroxyl radicals have been detected, in cell suspension also glutathione thiyl radicals have been found. This study highlights that UV has no impact on radical generation, whereas VUV is relevant for producing radicals. VUV treatment of dH2O generates one third of the radical concentration produced by plasma-effluent treatment. It is relevant for plasma medicine because although plasma sources are operated in open air atmosphere, still VUV can lead to formation of biorelevant radicals. This work is funded by German Federal Ministry of Education a Research (BMBF) (Grant # 03Z2DN12+11).

DNA damage in oral cancer cells induced by nitrogen atmospheric pressure plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Xu; Klas, Matej; Liu, Yueying; Stack, M. Sharon; Ptasinska, Sylwia

2013-09-01

The nitrogen atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) has been shown to effectively induce DNA double strand breaks in SCC-25 oral cancer cells. The APPJ source constructed in our laboratory consists of two external electrodes wrapping around a quartz tube and nitrogen as a feed gas and operates based on dielectric barrier gas discharge. Generally, it is more challenging to ignite plasma in N2 atmosphere than in noble gases. However, this design provides additional advantages such as lower costs compared to the noble gases for future clinical operation. Different parameters of the APPJ configuration were tested in order to determine radiation dosage. To explore the effects of delayed damage and cell self-repairing, various incubation times of cells after plasma treatment were also performed. Reactive species generated in plasma jet and in liquid environment are essential to be identified and quantified, with the aim of unfolding the mystery of detailed mechanisms for plasma-induced cell apoptosis. Moreover, from the comparison of plasma treatment effect on normal oral cells OKF6T, an insight to the selectivity for cancer treatment by APPJ can be explored. All of these studies are critical to better understand the damage responses of normal and abnormal cellular systems to plasma radiation, which are useful for the development of advanced plasma therapy for cancer treatment at a later stage.

Numerical study of the influence of dielectric tube on propagation of atmospheric pressure plasma jet based on coplanar dielectric barrier discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haixin, HU; Feng, HE; Ping, ZHU; Jiting, OUYANG

2018-05-01

A 2D fluid model was employed to simulate the influence of dielectric on the propagation of atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet based on coplanar dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The spatio-temporal distributions of electron density, ionization rate, electrical field, spatial charge and the spatial structure were obtained for different dielectric tubes that limit the helium flow. The results show that the change of the relative permittivity of the dielectric tube where the plasma jet travels inside has no influence on the formation of DBD itself, but has great impact on the jet propagation. The velocity of the plasma jet changes drastically when the jet passes from a tube of higher permittivity to one of lower permittivity, resulting in an increase in jet length, ionization rate and electric field, as well as a change in the distribution of space charges and discharge states. The radius of the dielectric tube has a great influence on the ring-shaped or solid bullet structure. These results can well explain the behavior of the plasma jet from the dielectric tube into the ambient air and the hollow bullet in experiments.

New Safety and Technical Challenges and Operational Experience on the JET First Trace Tritium Experiment

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

Pearce, R.J.H.; Bell, A.C.; Brennan, D.

'Trace Tritium Experiments' (TTE) were successfully performed on JET in 2003. The Campaign marked the first use of tritium in JET plasmas since the Deuterium-Tritium Experiment (DTE1) Campaign in 1997, and was the first use of tritium in experiments under the EFDA organisation with the UKAEA as JET Operator. The safety and regulatory preparations for the experiment were extensive. Since JET has been operated by the UKAEA the operations have followed the model of a licensed nuclear site. The safe operation of the JET torus is demonstrated in a safety case. Key Safety Management Requirement (KSMR) and Key Safety Relatedmore » Equipment (KSRE) are identified in the Safety Case for DT operation. The safe operation of the torus is within the bounds of, and under the control of, an Authority to Operate (ATO). New technical challenges were presented by the need to inject and account for small quantities of tritium in very short pulses ({approx}80ms), with an accurate time stamp. The safety and operational management of the campaign are described. Valuable lessons were learned which would help in running future experiments. It is concluded that JET is in a strong position to run future trace tritium and full DT discharges.« less

Destruction of {alpha}-synuclein based amyloid fibrils by a low temperature plasma jet

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

Karakas, Erdinc; Laroussi, Mounir; Munyanyi, Agatha

2010-10-04

Amyloid fibrils are ordered beta-sheet aggregates that are associated with a number of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson. At present, there is no cure for these progressive and debilitating diseases. Here we report initial studies that indicate that low temperature atmospheric pressure plasma can break amyloid fibrils into smaller units in vitro. The plasma was generated by the 'plasma pencil', a device capable of emitting a long, low temperature plasma plume/jet. This avenue of research may facilitate the development of a plasma-based medical treatment.

Measurement of quasi-isentropic compressibility of helium and deuterium at pressures of 1500-2000 GPa

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

Mochalov, M. A., E-mail: postmaster@ifv.vniief.ru; Il'kaev, R. I.; Fortov, V. E.

2012-10-15

The quasi-isentropic compressibility of helium and deuterium plasmas at pressures of up to 1500-2000 GPa has been measured using devices with spherical geometry and an X-ray diagnostic complex comprising three betatrons and a multichannel imaging system with electro-optic gamma detectors. A deuterium density of 4.5 g/cm{sup 3} and a helium density of 3.8 g/cm{sup 3} have been obtained at pressures of 2210 and 1580 GPa, respectively. The internal energy of a deuterium plasma at the indicated pressure is about 1 MJ/cm{sup 3}, which is about 100 times greater than the specific energy of condensed chemical explosives. Analysis of the obtainedmore » data shows that the degree of helium ionization under the achieved plasma compression parameters is about 0.9.« less

ICRH antenna S-matrix measurements and plasma coupling characterisation at JET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monakhov, I.; Jacquet, P.; Blackman, T.; Bobkov, V.; Dumortier, P.; Helou, W.; Lerche, E.; Kirov, K.; Milanesio, D.; Maggiora, R.; Noble, C.; Contributors, JET

2018-04-01

The paper is dedicated to the characterisation of multi-strap ICRH antenna coupling to plasma. Relevance of traditional concept of coupling resistance to antennas with mutually coupled straps is revised and the importance of antenna port excitation consistency for application of the concept is highlighted. A method of antenna S-matrix measurement in presence of plasma is discussed allowing deeper insight into the problem of antenna-plasma coupling. The method is based entirely on the RF plant hardware and control facilities available at JET and it involves application of variable phasing between the antenna straps during the RF plant operations at  >100 kW. Unlike traditional techniques relying on low-power (~10 mW) network analysers, the applied antenna voltage amplitudes are relevant to practical conditions of ICRH operations; crucially, they are high enough to minimise possible effects of antenna loading non-linearity due to the RF sheath effects and other phenomena which could affect low-power measurements. The method has been successfully applied at JET to conventional 4-port ICRH antennas energised at frequencies of 33 MHz, 42 MHz and 51 MHz during L-mode plasma discharges while different gas injection modules (GIMs) were used to maintain comparable plasma densities during the pulses. The S-matrix assessment and its subsequent processing yielding ‘global’ antenna coupling resistances in conditions of equalised port maximum voltages allowed consistent description of antenna coupling to plasma at different strap phasing, operational frequencies and applied GIMs. Comprehensive experimental characterisation of mutually coupled antenna straps in presence of plasma also provided a unique opportunity for in-depth verification of TOPICA computer simulations.

FAST TRACK COMMUNICATION: Effects of Penning ionization on the discharge patterns of atmospheric pressure plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qing; Zhu, Wen-Chao; Zhu, Xi-Ming; Pu, Yi-Kang

2010-09-01

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets, generated in a coaxial dielectric barrier discharge configuration, have been investigated with different flowing gases. Discharge patterns in different tube regions were compared in the flowing gases of helium, neon and krypton. To explain the difference of these discharge patterns, a theoretical analysis is presented to reveal the possible basic processes. A comparison of experimental and theoretical results identifies that Penning ionization is mainly responsible for the discharge patterns of helium and neon plasma jets.

Influences of the shielding cylinder on the length of radio-frequency cold atmospheric plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, He-Ping; Li, Jing; Zhang, Xiao-Fei; Guo, Heng; Chen, Jian; Department of Engineering Physics Team

2017-10-01

Cold atmospheric plasma jets driven by a radio frequency power supply contain abundant species and complex chemical reactions, which have wide applications in the fields of materials processing and modifications, food engineering, bio-medical science, etc. Our previous experiments have shown that the total length of a radio-frequency cold atmospheric plasma (RF-CAP) jet can exceed 1 meter with the shielding of a quartz tube. However, the shielding mechanisms of the solid cylinder has not been studied systematically. In this study, a two-dimensional, quasi-steady fluid model is used to investigate the influences of the shielding tube on the length of the RF-CAP jets under different conditions. The simulation results show that the total jet length grows monotonously; while simultaneously, the jet length out of the tube shows a non-monotonic variation trend, with the increase of the tube length, which is in good agreement with the experimental observations. The shielding mechanisms of the solid cylinder on the RF-CAP jet is also discussed in detail based on the modeling results. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (11475103, 21627812), the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFD0102106) and Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Program (20161080108).

The kINPen—a review on physics and chemistry of the atmospheric pressure plasma jet and its applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reuter, Stephan; von Woedtke, Thomas; Weltmann, Klaus-Dieter

2018-06-01

The kINPen® plasma jet was developed from laboratory prototype to commercially available non-equilibrium cold plasma jet for various applications in materials research, surface treatment and medicine. It has proven to be a valuable plasma source for industry as well as research and commercial use in plasma medicine, leading to very successful therapeutic results and its certification as a medical device. This topical review presents the different kINPen plasma sources available. Diagnostic techniques applied to the kINPen are introduced. The review summarizes the extensive studies of the physics and plasma chemistry of the kINPen performed by research groups across the world, and closes with a brief overview of the main application fields.

Characteristics of a Direct Current-driven plasma jet operated in open air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Xuechen; Di, Cong; Jia, Pengying; Bao, Wenting

2013-09-01

A DC-driven plasma jet has been developed to generate a diffuse plasma plume by blowing argon into the ambient air. The plasma plume, showing a cup shape with a diameter of several centimeters at a higher voltage, is a pulsed discharge despite a DC voltage is applied. The pulse frequency is investigated as a function of the voltage under different gap widths and gas flow rates. Results show that plasma bullets propagate from the hollow needle to the plate electrode by spatially resolved measurement. A supposition about non-electroneutral trail of the streamer is proposed to interpret these experimental phenomena.

Be ITER-like wall at the JET tokamak under plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsavalas, P.; Lagoyannis, A.; Mergia, K.; Rubel, M.; Triantou, K.; Harissopulos, S.; Kokkoris, M.; Petersson, P.; Contributors, JET

2017-12-01

The JET tokamak is operated with beryllium and tungsten plasma-facing components to prepare for the exploitation of ITER. To determine beryllium erosion and migration in JET a set of markers were installed. Specimens from different beryllium marker tiles of the main wall of the ITER-like wall (ILW) JET tokamak from the first and the second D-D campaign were analyzed with nuclear reaction analysis, x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction (XRD). Emphasis was on the determination of carbon plasma impurities deposited on beryllium surfaces. The 12C(d, p0)13C reaction was used to quantify carbon deposition and to determine depth profiles. Carbon quantities on the surface of the Be tiles are low, varying from (0.35 ± 0.07) × 1017 to (11.8 ± 0.6) × 1017 at cm-2 in the deposition depth from 0.4 to 6.7 μm, respectively. In the 0.4-0.5 mm wide grooves of castellation sides the carbon content is found up to (14.3 ± 2.5) × 1017 at cm-2 while it is higher (up to (38 ± 4) × 1017 at cm-2) in wider gaps (0.8 mm) separating tile segments. Oxygen (O), titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and tungsten (W) were detected in all samples exposed to plasma and the reference one but at lower quantities at the latter. In the central part of the Inner Wall Guard Limiter from the first ILW campaign and in the Outer Poloidal Limiter from the second ILW campaign the Ni interlayer has been completely eroded. XRD shows the formation of BeNi in most specimens.

Particle-in-cell simulations of collisionless shock formation via head-on merging of two laboratory supersonic plasma jets

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

Thoma, C.; Welch, D. R.; Hsu, S. C.

2013-08-15

We describe numerical simulations, using the particle-in-cell (PIC) and hybrid-PIC code lsp[T. P. Hughes et al., Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 2, 110401 (1999)], of the head-on merging of two laboratory supersonic plasma jets. The goals of these experiments are to form and study astrophysically relevant collisionless shocks in the laboratory. Using the plasma jet initial conditions (density ∼10{sup 14}–10{sup 16} cm{sup −3}, temperature ∼ few eV, and propagation speed ∼20–150 km/s), large-scale simulations of jet propagation demonstrate that interactions between the two jets are essentially collisionless at the merge region. In highly resolved one- and two-dimensional simulations, we showmore » that collisionless shocks are generated by the merging jets when immersed in applied magnetic fields (B∼0.1–1 T). At expected plasma jet speeds of up to 150 km/s, our simulations do not give rise to unmagnetized collisionless shocks, which require much higher velocities. The orientation of the magnetic field and the axial and transverse density gradients of the jets have a strong effect on the nature of the interaction. We compare some of our simulation results with those of previously published PIC simulation studies of collisionless shock formation.« less

Effects of atmospheric pressure plasma jet with floating electrode on murine melanoma and fibroblast cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, G.; Liu, J.; Yao, C.; Chen, S.; Lin, F.; Li, P.; Shi, X.; Zhang, Guan-Jun

2017-08-01

Atmospheric pressure cold plasma jets have been recently shown as a highly promising tool in certain cancer therapies. In this paper, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) with a one inner floating and two outer electrode configuration using helium gas for medical applications is developed. Subjected to a range of applied voltages with a frequency of 19.8 kHz at a fixed rate of gas flow (i.e., 3 l/min), electrical and optical characteristics of the APPJ are investigated. Compared with the device only with two outer electrodes, higher discharge current, longer jet, and more active species in the plasma plume at the same applied voltage together with the lower gas breakdown voltage can be achieved through embedding a floating inner electrode. Employing the APPJ with a floating electrode, the effects of identical plasma treatment time durations on murine melanoma cancer and normal fibroblast cells cultured in vitro are evaluated. The results of cell viability, cell apoptosis, and DNA damage detection show that the plasma can inactivate melanoma cells in a time-dependent manner from 10 s to 60 s compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, for fibroblast cells compared with their control group, the plasma with treatment time from 30 s to 60 s can induce significant changes (p < 0.05), showing a less cytotoxic effect than that on melanoma cells at the same treatment time. The different basal reactive oxygen species level and antioxidant superoxide dismutase level of two kinds of cells may account for their different responses towards the identical plasma exposure.

The Effects of Temperature and Oxidation on Deuterium Retention in Solid and Liquid Lithium Films on Molybdenum Plasma-Facing Components

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Capece, Angela

2014-10-01

Liquid metal plasma-facing components (PFCs) enable in-situ renewal of the surface, thereby offering a solution to neutron damage, erosion, and thermal fatigue experienced by solid PFCs. Lithium in particular has a high chemical affinity for hydrogen, which has resulted in reduced recycling and enhanced plasma performance on many fusion devices including TFTR, T11-M, FTU, CDX-U, LTX, TJ-II, and NSTX. A key component to the improvement in plasma performance is deuterium retention in Li; however, this process is not well understood in the complex tokamak environment. Recent surface science experiments conducted at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory have used electron spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption to understand the mechanisms for D retention in Li coatings on Mo substrates. The experiments were designed to give monolayer-control of Li films and were conducted in ultrahigh vacuum under controlled environments. An electron cyclotron resonance plasma source was used to deliver a beam of deuterium ions to the surface over a range of ion energies. Our work shows that D is retained as LiD in metallic Li films. However, when oxygen is present in the film, either by diffusion from the subsurface at high temperature or as a contaminant during the deposition process, Li oxides are formed that retain D as LiOD. Experiments indicate that LiD is more thermally stable than LiOD, which decomposes to liberate D2 gas and D2O at temperatures 100 K lower than the LiD decomposition temperature. Other experiments show how D retention varies with substrate temperature to provide insight into the differences between solid and liquid lithium films. This work was supported by DOE Contract No. DE AC02-09CH11466.

Plasma jets in the near-Earth's magnetotail (Julius Bartels Medal Lecture)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakamura, Rumi

2014-05-01

The Earth's magnetosphere is formed as a consequence of the interaction between the magnetized solar wind and the terrestrial magnetic field. While the large-scale and average (>hours) properties of the Earth's magnetotail current sheet can be well described by overall solar wind-magnetosphere interaction, the most dramatic energy conversion process takes place in an explosive manner involving transient (up to several minutes) and localized (up to a few RE) phenomena in the plasma sheet/current sheet regions. One of the most clear observables of such processes are the localized and transient plasma jets called Bursty bulk flows (BBF), embedding velocity peaks of 1-min duration, which are called flow bursts. This talk is a review of the current understanding of these plasma jets by highlighting the results from multi-spacecraft observations by the Cluster and THEMIS spacecraft. The first four-spacecraft mission Cluster crossed the near-Earth plasma sheet with inter-spacecraft distance of about 250 km to 10000 km, ideal for studying local structures of the flow bursts. The five-spacecraft THEMIS mission , separated by larger distances , succeeded to monitor the large-scale evolution of the fast flows from the mid-tail to the inner magnetosphere. Multi-point observations of BBFS have established the importance of measuring local gradients of the fields and the plasma to understand the BBF structures such as the spatial scales and 3D structure of localized Earthward convecting flux tubes. Among others the magnetic field disturbance forming at the front of BBF, called dipolarization front (DF), has been intensively studied. From the propagation properties of DF relative to the flows and by comparing with ionospheric data, the evolution of the fast flows in terms of magnetosphere-ionospheric coupling through field-aligned currents are established. An important aspect of BBF is the interaction of the Earthward plasma jets and the Earth's dipole field. Multi

Plasma core power exhaust in ELMy H-Mode in JET with ITER-Like Wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guillemaut, C.; Metzger, C.; Appel, L.; Drewelow, P.; Horvath, L.; Matthews, G. F.; Szepesi, G.; Solano, E. R.; contributors, JET

2018-07-01

The mitigation of target heat load in future steady state fusion devices will require dissipation of a significant amount of power through radiation. Plasma operations relying on ELMy H-modes could be problematic since ELMs may transport substantial amounts of power to the target without significant dissipation. Therefore, estimation of the average ELM power exhaust from the plasma core is crucial to evaluate the potential limitation on the power dissipation in ELMy H-mode regime. A series of more than 50 Type-I ELMy H-mode discharges in JET with ITER-Like Wall (JET-ILW) with a wide range of conditions has been used here to compare the average ELM power to the average input power. The effect of input power, ELM frequency, plasma current, confinement and radiation on ELM power exhaust has been studied and reported in this paper. Good agreement has been found here with previous studies made in carbon machines. This work suggests that it should not be possible to dissipate more than 70%–80% of the input power in Type-I ELMy H-modes in JET-ILW which is consistent with the maximum radiative fraction found experimentally.

On factors influencing arc filament plasma actuator performance in control of high speed jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hahn, Casey; Kearney-Fischer, Martin; Samimy, Mo

2011-12-01

Localized arc filament plasma actuators (LAFPAs) have been developed and used at The Gas Dynamics and Turbulence Laboratory for the purpose of controlling high-speed and high Reynolds number jets. The ability of LAFPAs for use in both subsonic and supersonic jets has been explored, and experiments to date have shown that these actuators have significant potential for mixing enhancement and noise control applications. While it has been established that the actuators manipulate instabilities of the jet, the exact nature of how the actuation couples to the flow is still unclear. All of the results previously reported have been based on a nozzle extension that has an azimuthal groove of 1 mm width and 0.5 mm depth along the inner surface approximately 1 mm upstream of nozzle extension exit. The ring groove was initially added to shield the plasma arcs from the high-momentum flow. However, the effect of the ring groove on the actuation mechanism is not known. To explore this effect, a new nozzle extension is designed, which relocates the actuators to the nozzle extension face and eliminates the ring groove. Schlieren images, particle image velocimetry and acoustic results of a Mach 0.9 jet of Reynolds number ~6.1 × 105 show similar trends and magnitudes with and without a ring groove. Thus, it is concluded that the ring groove does not play a primary role in the LAFPAs' control mechanism. Furthermore, the effect of the duty cycle of the actuator input pulse on the LAFPAs' control authority is investigated. The results show that the minimum duty cycle that provides complete plasma formation has the largest control over the jet.

The Effect of Ion Energy and Substrate Temperature on Deuterium Trapping in Tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roszell, John Patrick Town

Tungsten is a candidate plasma facing material for next generation magnetic fusion devices such as ITER and there are major operational and safety issues associated with hydrogen (tritium) retention in plasma facing components. An ion gun was used to simulate plasma-material interactions under various conditions in order to study hydrogen retention characteristics of tungsten thus enabling better predictions of hydrogen retention in ITER. Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS) was used to measure deuterium retention from ion irradiation while modelling of TDS spectra with the Tritium Migration Analysis Program (TMAP) was used to provide information about the trapping mechanisms involved in deuterium retention in tungsten. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) were used to determine the depth resolved composition of specimens used for irradiation experiments. Carbon and oxygen atoms will be among the most common contaminants within ITER. C and O contamination in polycrystalline tungsten (PCW) specimens even at low levels (˜0.1%) was shown to reduce deuterium retention by preventing diffusion of deuterium into the bulk of the specimen. This diffusion barrier was also responsible for the inhibition of blister formation during irradiations at 500 K. These observations may provide possible mitigation techniques for problems associated with tritium retention and mechanical damage to plasma facing components caused by hydrogen implantation. Deuterium trapping in PCW and single crystal tungsten (SCW) was studied as a function of ion energy and substrate temperature. Deuterium retention was shown to decrease with decreasing ion energy below 100 eV/D+. Irradiation of tungsten specimens with 10 eV/D+ ions was shown to retain up to an order of magnitude less deuterium than irradiation with 500 eV/D+ ions. Furthermore, the retention mechanism for deuterium was shown to be consistent across the entire energy range studied (10-500 e

Surface modification and deuterium retention in reduced-activation steels under low-energy deuterium plasma exposure. Part II: steels pre-damaged with 20 MeV W ions and high heat flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ogorodnikova, O. V.; Zhou, Z.; Sugiyama, K.; Balden, M.; Pintsuk, G.; Gasparyan, Yu.; Efimov, V.

2017-03-01

The reduced-activation ferritic/martensitic (RAFM) steels including Eurofer (9Cr) and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) steels by the addition of Y2O3 particles investigated in Part I were pre-damaged either with 20 MeV W ions at room temperature at IPP (Garching) or with high heat flux at FZJ (Juelich) and subsequently exposed to low energy (~20-200 eV per D) deuterium (D) plasma up to a fluence of 2.9  ×  1025 D m-2 in the temperature range from 290 K to 700 K. The pre-irradiation with 20 MeV W ions at room temperature up to 1 displacement per atom (dpa) has no noticeable influence on the steel surface morphology before and after the D plasma exposure. The pre-irradiation with W ions leads to the same concentration of deuterium in all kinds of investigated steels, regardless of the presence of nanoparticles and Cr content. It was found that (i) both kinds of irradiation with W ions and high heat flux increase the D retention in steels compared to undamaged steels and (ii) the D retention in both pre-damaged and undamaged steels decreases with a formation of surface roughness under the irradiation of steels with deuterium ions with incident energy which exceeds the threshold of sputtering. The increase in the D retention in RAFM steels pre-damaged either with W ions (damage up to ~3 µm) or high heat flux (damage up to ~10 µm) diminishes with increasing the temperature. It is important to mention that the near surface modifications caused by either implantation of high energy ions or a high heat flux load, significantly affect the total D retention at low temperatures or low fluences but have a negligible impact on the total D retention at elevated temperatures and high fluences because, in these cases, the D retention is mainly determined by bulk diffusion.

Plasma bullet current measurements in a free-stream helium capillary jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Jun-Seok; Walsh, James L.; Bradley, James W.

2012-06-01

A commercial current monitor has been used to measure the current associated with plasma bullets created in both the positive and negative half cycles of the sinusoidal driving voltage sustaining a plasma jet. The maximum values of the positive bullet current are typically ˜750 µA and persist for 10 µs, while the peaks in the negative current of several hundred μA are broad, persisting for about 40 µs. From the time delay of the current peaks with increasing distance from the jet nozzle, an average bullet propagation speed has been measured; the positive and negative bullets travel at 17.5 km s-1 and 3.9 km s-1 respectively. The net space charge associated with the bullet(s) has also been calculated; the positive and negative bullets contain a similar net charge of the order of 10-9 C measured at all monitor positions, with estimated charged particle densities nb of ˜1010-1011 cm-3 in the bullet.

Letter: Transient interaction between plasma jet and supersonic compression ramp flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, He-Xia; Tan, Hui-Jun; Sun, Shu; Zhang, Yu-Chao; Cheng, Lin

2018-04-01

The rapid flow evolution between a plasma jet and a 20° compression ramp flow is captured by a high-speed schlieren system at Mach 2.0. Several interesting flow phenomena are observed for the first time. The pulsed jet, which generates strong perturbations, forces the crossflow boundary layer to separate and forms a forward moving shock. A typical shock-on-shock interaction occurs when the precursor shock intersects with the original shock. The interaction is initially regular, and then it transforms into an irregular one with a Mach stem connecting the precursor shock and original ramp shock.

Deuterium trapping in tungsten

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poon, Michael

Tungsten is one of the primary material candidates being investigated for use in the first-wall of a magnetic confinement fusion reactor. An ion accelerator was used to simulate the type of ion interaction that may occur at a plasma-facing material. Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) was the primary tool used to analyze the effects of the irradiation. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) was used to determine the distribution of trapped D in the tungsten specimen. The tritium migration analysis program (TMAP) was used to simulate thermal desorption profiles from the D depth distributions. Fitting of the simulated thermal desorption profiles with the measured TDS results provided values of the D trap energies. Deuterium trapping in single crystal tungsten was studied as a function of the incident ion fluence, ion flux, irradiation temperature, irradiation history, and surface impurity levels during irradiation. The results show that deuterium was trapped at vacancies and voids. Two deuterium atoms could be trapped at a tungsten vacancy, with trapping energies of 1.4 eV and 1.2 eV for the first and second D atoms, respectively. In a tungsten void, D is trapped as atoms adsorbed on the inner walls of the void with a trap energy of 2.1 eV, or as D2 molecules inside the void with a trap energy of 1.2 eV. Deuterium trapping in polycrystalline tungsten was also studied as a function of the incident fluence, irradiation temperature, and irradiation history. Deuterium trapping in polycrystalline tungsten also occurs primarily at vacancies and voids with the same trap energies as in single crystal tungsten; however, the presence of grain boundaries promotes the formation of large surface blisters with high fluence irradiations at 500 K. In general, D trapping is greater in polycrystalline tungsten than in single crystal tungsten. To simulate mixed materials comprising of carbon (C) and tungsten, tungsten specimens were pre-irradiated with carbon ions prior to D

Estimates of RF-Induced Erosion at Antenna-Connected Beryllium Plasma-Facing Components in JET

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

Borodin, D.; Groth, M.; Airila, M.

2016-01-01

During high-power, ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH), RF sheath rectification and RF induced plasma-wall interactions (RF-PWI) can potentially limit long-pulse operation. With toroidally-spaced ICRH antennas, in an ITER-like wall (ILW) environment, JET provides an ideal environment for ITER-relevant, RF-PWI studies. JET pulses combining sequential toggling of the antennas with q95 (edge safety factor) sweeping were recently used to localize RF-enhanced Be I and Be II spectral line emission at outboard poloidal (beryllium) limiters. These measurements were carried out in the early stages of JET-ILW and in ICRF-only, L-mode discharges. The appearance of enhanced emission spots was explained by their magneticmore » connection to regions of ICRH antennas associated with higher RF-sheath rectification [1]. The measured emission lines were the same as those already qualified in ERO modelling of inboard limiter beryllium erosion in JET limiter plasmas [2]. In the present work, we revisit this spectroscopic study with the focus on obtaining estimates of the impact of these RF-PWI on sputtering and on net erosion of the affected limiter regions. To do this, the ERO erosion and re-deposition code [2] is deployed with the detailed geometry of a JET outboard limiter. The effect of RF-PWI on sputtering is represented by varying the surface negative biasing, which affects the incidence energy and the resulting sputtering yield. The observed variations in line emission, from [1], for JET pulse 81173 of about factor 3 can be reproduced with ~ 100 200 V bias. ERO simulations show that the influence of the respective E-field on the local Be transport is localized near the surface and relatively small. Still, the distribution of the 3D plasma parameters, shadowing and other geometrical effects are quite important. The plasma parameter simulated by Edge2D-EIRENE [3] are extrapolated towards the surface and mapped in 3D. These initial modelling results are consistent with the

Electrical and optical properties of Ar/NH{sub 3} atmospheric pressure plasma jet

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

Chang, Zheng-Shi, E-mail: changzhsh1984@163.com, E-mail: gjzhang@xjtu.edu.cn; Yao, Cong-Wei; Chen, Si-Le

Inspired by the Penning effect, we obtain a glow-like plasma jet by mixing ammonia (NH{sub 3}) into argon (Ar) gas under atmospheric pressure. The basic electrical and optical properties of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) are investigated. It can be seen that the discharge mode transforms from filamentary to glow-like when a little ammonia is added into the pure argon. The electrical and optical analyses contribute to the explanation of this phenomenon. The discharge mode, power, and current density are analyzed to understand the electrical behavior of the APPJ. Meanwhile, the discharge images, APPJ's length, and the components ofmore » plasma are also obtained to express its optical characteristics. Finally, we diagnose several parameters, such as gas temperature, electron temperature, and density, as well as the density number of metastable argon atoms of Ar/NH{sub 3} APPJ to help judge the usability in its applications.« less

Influences of the cold atmospheric plasma jet treatment on the properties of the demineralized dentin surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiaoming, ZHU; Heng, GUO; Jianfeng, ZHOU; Xiaofei, ZHANG; Jian, CHEN; Jing, LI; Heping, LI; Jianguo, TAN

2018-04-01

Improvement of the bonding strength and durability between the dentin surface and the composite resin is a challenging job in dentistry. In this paper, a radio-frequency atmospheric-pressure glow discharge (RF-APGD) plasma jet is employed for the treatment of the acid-etched dentin surfaces used for the composite restoration. The properties of the plasma treated dentin surfaces and the resin-dentin interfaces are analyzed using the x-ray photoemission spectroscopy, contact angle goniometer, scanning electron microscope and microtensile tester. The experimental results show that, due to the abundant chemically reactive species existing in the RF-APGD plasma jet under a stable and low energy input operating mode, the contact angle of the plasma-treated dentin surfaces decreases to a stable level with the increase of the atomic percentage of oxygen in the specimens; the formation of the long resin tags in the scattered clusters and the hybrid layers at the resin-dentin interfaces significantly improve the bonding strength and durability. These results indicate that the RF-APGD plasma jet is an effective tool for modifying the chemical properties of the dentin surfaces, and for improving the immediate bonding strength and the durability of the resin-dentin bonding in dentistry.

Effect of discharge polarity on the propagation of atmospheric-pressure helium plasma jets and the densities of OH, NO, and O radicals.

PubMed

Yonemori, Seiya; Ono, Ryo

2015-06-01

The atmospheric-pressure helium plasma jet is an emerging technology for plasma biomedical applications. In this paper, the authors focus on the effect of discharge polarity on propagation of the discharge and the densities of OH, NO, and O radicals. The plasma jet is applied to a glass surface placed on a grounded metal plate. Positive or negative voltage pulses with 25 μs duration, 8 kV amplitude, and 10 kpps repetition rate are used for the plasma jet. The plasma propagation is measured using a short-gated ICCD camera. The light emission intensity of the discharge generated at the rising phase of the voltage pulse is approximately equivalent for both polarities, while that generated during the falling phase is much higher for the negative discharge than the positive one. The shape of the discharge changes with the discharge polarity. The OH, NO, and O densities in the plasma jet are also measured for both polarities. It is found that the OH density is almost the same regardless the discharge polarity. Conversely, the negative discharge produces more O atoms and the positive discharge produces more NO molecules. These results indicate that the polarity of the discharge affects the densities of some reactive species produced in the plasma jet.

Helium atmospheric pressure plasma jets touching dielectric and metal surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norberg, Seth A.; Johnsen, Eric; Kushner, Mark J.

2015-07-01

Atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) are being investigated in the context plasma medicine and biotechnology applications, and surface functionalization. The composition of the surface being treated ranges from plastics, liquids, and biological tissue, to metals. The dielectric constant of these materials ranges from as low as 1.5 for plastics to near 80 for liquids, and essentially infinite for metals. The electrical properties of the surface are not independent variables as the permittivity of the material being treated has an effect on the dynamics of the incident APPJ. In this paper, results are discussed from a computational investigation of the interaction of an APPJ incident onto materials of varying permittivity, and their impact on the discharge dynamics of the plasma jet. The computer model used in this investigation solves Poisson's equation, transport equations for charged and neutral species, the electron energy equation, and the Navier-Stokes equations for the neutral gas flow. The APPJ is sustained in He/O2 = 99.8/0.2 flowing into humid air, and is directed onto dielectric surfaces in contact with ground with dielectric constants ranging from 2 to 80, and a grounded metal surface. Low values of relative permittivity encourage propagation of the electric field into the treated material and formation and propagation of a surface ionization wave. High values of relative permittivity promote the restrike of the ionization wave and the formation of a conduction channel between the plasma discharge and the treated surface. The distribution of space charge surrounding the APPJ is discussed.

Nonequilibrium atmospheric pressure plasma jet using a combination of 50 kHz/2 MHz dual-frequency power sources

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

Zhou, Yong-Jie; Yuan, Qiang-Hua; Li, Fei

2013-11-15

An atmospheric pressure plasma jet is generated by dual sinusoidal wave (50 kHz and 2 MHz). The dual-frequency plasma jet exhibits the advantages of both low frequency and radio frequency plasmas, namely, the long plasma plume and the high electron density. The radio frequency ignition voltage can be reduced significantly by using dual-frequency excitation compared to the conventional radio frequency without the aid of the low frequency excitation source. A larger operating range of α mode discharge can be obtained using dual-frequency excitation which is important to obtain homogeneous and low-temperature plasma. A larger controllable range of the gas temperaturemore » of atmospheric pressure plasma could also be obtained using dual-frequency excitation.« less

Long wavelength perfect fluidity from short distance jet transport in quark-gluon plasmas

DOE PAGES

Xu, J.; Liao, J.; Gyulassy, M.

2015-12-01

Here, we build a new phenomenological framework that bridges the long wavelength bulk viscous transport properties of the strongly-coupled quark-gluon plasma (sQGP) and short distance hard jet transport properties in the QGP. The full nonperturbative chromo-electric (E) and chromo-magnetic (M) structure of the near “perfect fluid” like sQGP in the critical transition region are integrated into a semi-Quark-Gluon-Monopole Plasma (sQGMP) model lattice-compatibly and implemented into the new CUJET3.0 jet quenching framework. All observables computed from CUJET3.0 are found to be consistent with available data at RHIC and LHC simultaneously. Moreover, a quantitative connection between the shear viscosity and jet transportmore » parameter is rigorously established within this framework. Finally, we deduce the T = 160-600 MeV dependence of the QGP’s η/s: its near vanishing value in the near T c regime is determined by the composition of E and M charges, it increases as T rises, and its high T limit is fixed by color screening scales.« less

Nanocapillary Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet: A Tool for Ultrafine Maskless Surface Modification at Atmospheric Pressure.

PubMed

Motrescu, Iuliana; Nagatsu, Masaaki

2016-05-18

With respect to microsized surface functionalization techniques we proposed the use of a maskless, versatile, simple tool, represented by a nano- or microcapillary atmospheric pressure plasma jet for producing microsized controlled etching, chemical vapor deposition, and chemical modification patterns on polymeric surfaces. In this work we show the possibility of size-controlled surface amination, and we discuss it as a function of different processing parameters. Moreover, we prove the successful connection of labeled sugar chains on the functionalized microscale patterns, indicating the possibility to use ultrafine capillary atmospheric pressure plasma jets as versatile tools for biosensing, tissue engineering, and related biomedical applications.

Experimental evidence for collisional shock formation via two obliquely merging supersonic plasma jets

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

Merritt, Elizabeth C., E-mail: emerritt@lanl.gov; Adams, Colin S.; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131

We report spatially resolved measurements of the oblique merging of two supersonic laboratory plasma jets. The jets are formed and launched by pulsed-power-driven railguns using injected argon, and have electron density ∼10{sup 14} cm{sup −3}, electron temperature ≈1.4 eV, ionization fraction near unity, and velocity ≈40 km/s just prior to merging. The jet merging produces a few-cm-thick stagnation layer, as observed in both fast-framing camera images and multi-chord interferometer data, consistent with collisional shock formation [E. C. Merritt et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 111, 085003 (2013)].

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet for Chem/Bio Warfare Decontamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herrmann, Hans W.; Henins, Ivars; Park, Jaeyoung; Selwyn, Gary S.

1999-11-01

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ) technology may provide a much needed method of CBW decontamination which, unlike traditional decon methods, is dry and nondestructive to sensitive equipment and materials. The APPJ discharge uses a high-flow feedgas consisting primarily of an inert carrier gas, such as He, and a small amount of a reactive additive, such as O2, which flows between capacitively-coupled electrodes powered at 13.56 MHz. The plasma generates highly reactive metastable and atomic species of oxygen which are then directed onto a contaminated surface. The reactive effluent of the APPJ has been shown to effectively neutralize VX nerve agent as well as simulants for anthrax and mustard blister agent. Research efforts are now being directed towards reducing He consumption and increasing the allowable stand-off distance. Recent results demonstrate that by replacing the O2 reactive additive with CO2, ozone formation is greatly reduced. This has the result of extending the lifetime of atomic oxygen by an order of magnitude or more. A recirculating APP Decon Chamber which combines heat, vacuum, forced convection and reactivity is currently being developed for enhanced decontamination of sensitive equipment. Several techniques are also being evaluated for use in an APP Decon Jet for decontamination of items which cannot be placed inside a chamber.

Comparative analysis of core heat transport of JET high density H-mode plasmas in carbon wall and ITER-like wall

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Hyun-Tae; Romanelli, M.; Voitsekhovitch, I.; Koskela, T.; Conboy, J.; Giroud, C.; Maddison, G.; Joffrin, E.; contributors, JET

2015-06-01

A consistent deterioration of global confinement in H-mode experiments has been observed in JET [1] following the replacement of all carbon plasma facing components (PFCs) with an all metal (‘ITER-like’) wall (ILW). This has been correlated to the observed degradation of the pedestal confinement, as lower electron temperature (Te) values are routinely measured at the top of the edge barrier region. A comparative investigation of core heat transport in JET-ILW and JET-CW (carbon wall) discharges has been performed, to assess whether core confinement has also been affected by the wall change. The results presented here have been obtained by analysing a set of discharges consisting of high density JET-ILW H-mode plasmas and comparing them against their counterpart discharges in JET-CW having similar global operational parameters. The set contains 10 baseline ({βN}=1.5∼ 2 ) discharge-pairs with 2.7 T toroidal magnetic field, 2.5 MA plasma current, and 14 to 17 MW of neutral beam injection (NBI) heating. Based on a Te profile analysis using high resolution Thomson scattering (HRTS) data, the Te profile peaking (i.e. core Te (ρ = 0.3) / edge Te (ρ = 0.7)) is found to be similar, and weakly dependent on edge Te, for both JET-ILW and JET-CW discharges. When ILW discharges are seeded with N2, core and edge Te both increase to maintain a similar peaking factor. The change in core confinement is addressed with interpretative TRANSP simulations. It is found that JET-ILW H-mode plasmas have higher NBI power deposition to electrons and lower NBI power deposition to ions as compared to the JET-CW counterparts. This is an effect of the lower electron temperature at the top of the pedestal. As a result, the core electron energy confinement time is reduced in JET-ILW discharges, but the core ion energy confinement time is not decreased. Overall, the core energy confinement is found to be the same in the JET-ILW discharges compared to the JET-CW counterparts.

Spectroscopic studies of non-thermal plasma jet at atmospheric pressure formed in low-current nonsteady-state plasmatron for biomedical applications

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

Demkin, V. P.; Melnichuk, S. V.; Demkin, O. V.

The optical and electrophysical characteristics of the nonequilibrium low-temperature plasma formed by a low-current nonsteady-state plasmatron are experimentally investigated in the present work. It is demonstrated that experimental data on the optical diagnostics of the plasma jet can provide a basis for the construction of a self-consistent physical and mathematical plasma model and for the creation of plasma sources with controllable electrophysical parameters intended for the generation of the required concentration of active particles. Results of spectroscopic diagnostics of plasma of the low-current nonsteady-state plasmatron confirm that the given source is efficient for the generation of charged particles and short-wavelengthmore » radiation—important plasma components for biomedical problems of an increase in the efficiency of treatment of biological tissues by charged particles. Measurement of the spatial distribution of the plasma jet potential by the probe method has demonstrated that a negative space charge is formed in the plasma jet possibly due to the formation of electronegative oxygen ions.« less

Schlieren flow visualization of helium atmospheric plasma jet and influence of the gas flow rate and applied voltage frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borghei, S. M.; Vaziri, N.; Alibabaei, S.

2018-03-01

We used schlieren photography to visualize the influence of gas flow rates of 1, 2.5, 5, 10 L/min and of the applied voltage frequency on a helium atmospheric plasma jet induced at the nozzle of a capillary tube. The expansion of the gas in the surrounding medium (air) was analyzed in the two different modes – plasma on/plasma off. Changes in the above parameters affect the gas flow regime and the hydrodynamics of the jet.

Plasma-Jet Magneto-Inertial Fusion Burn Calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santarius, John

2010-11-01

Several issues exist related to using plasma jets to implode a Magneto-Inertial Fusion (MIF) liner onto a magnetized plasmoid and compress it to fusion-relevant temperatures [1]. The poster will explore how well the liner's inertia provides transient plasma confinement and affects the burn dynamics. The investigation uses the University of Wisconsin's 1-D Lagrangian radiation-hydrodynamics code, BUCKY, which solves single-fluid equations of motion with ion-electron interactions, PdV work, table-lookup equations of state, fast-ion energy deposition, pressure contributions from all species, and one or two temperatures. Extensions to the code include magnetic field evolution as the plasmoid compresses plus dependence of the thermal conductivity on the magnetic field. [4pt] [1] Y.C. F. Thio, et al.,``Magnetized Target Fusion in a Spheroidal Geometry with Standoff Drivers,'' in Current Trends in International Fusion Research, E. Panarella, ed. (National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, Canada, 1999), p. 113.

Study of the ionization rate of the released deuterium in vacuum arc discharges with metal deuteride cathodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Fei-Xiang; Long, Ji-Dong; Zheng, Le; Dong, Pan; Li, Chen; Chen, Wei

2018-02-01

The ionization rate of the released deuterium from a metal deuteride cathode in vacuum arc discharges is investigated by both experiments and modeling analysis. Experimental results show that the deuterium ionization rate increases from 2% to 30% with the increasing arc current in the range of 2-100 A. Thus the full ionization assumption, as is widely used in arc plasma simulations, is not satisfied for the released deuterium at low discharge current. According to the modeling results, the neutral-to-ion conversion efficiency for the deuterium traveling across the cathodic spot region can be significantly less than one, due to the fast plasma expansion and rarefaction in the vacuum. In addition, the model also reveals that, unlike the metal atoms which are mainly ionized in the sheath region and flow back to the cathode, the deuterium ionization primarily occurs in the quasi-neutral region and moves towards the anode. Consequently, the cathodic sheath layer acts like a filter that increases the deuterium fraction beyond the sheath region.

Effect of external electric and magnetic field on propagation of atmospheric pressure plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Ping; Meng, Zhaozhong; Hu, Haixin; Ouyang, Jiting

2017-10-01

The behaviors of atmospheric pressure plasma jet produced by a coplanar dielectric barrier discharge (CDBD) in helium in external electrostatic and magnetic field are investigated experimentally. Time-resolved ICCD images of jet in electric field, magnetic field, and floating metal ring are recorded, respectively. The results show that the jet dynamics is affected significantly by a metal ring, an electric, and/or a magnetic field. In a transverse electric field, the jet shows behavior of deflection, broadening, and shortening according to the structure of electric field. In a transverse magnetic field, the jet deflects to up or down depending on the magnetic direction. The jet can be slowed down or obstructed by a floating metal ring on the jet path, but will still pass through the tube at higher applied voltages of DBD, without significant change in jet length or shape out of the tube compared with that without metal ring. A positive DC voltage on the metal ring helps to improve the jet length, but a negative voltage will reduce the length or completely stop the jet. The electric field to sustain the jet in helium is estimated to be about 24 ± 15 kV/cm from this experiment.

Tungsten Transport in the Core of JET H-mode Plasmas, Experiments and Modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Angioni, Clemente

2014-10-01

The physics of heavy impurity transport in tokamak plasmas plays an essential role towards the achievement of practical fusion energy. Reliable predictions of the behavior of these impurities require the development of realistic theoretical models and a complete understanding of present experiments, against which models can be validated. Recent experimental campaigns at JET with the ITER-like wall, with a W divertor, provide an extremely interesting and relevant opportunity to perform this combined experimental and theoretical research. Theoretical models of both neoclassical and turbulent transport must consistently include the impact of any poloidal asymmetry of the W density to enable quantitative predictions of the 2D W density distribution over the poloidal cross section. The agreement between theoretical predictions and experimentally reconstructed 2D W densities allows the identification of the main mechanisms which govern W transport in the core of JET H-mode plasmas. Neoclassical transport is largely enhanced by centrifugal effects and the neoclassical convection dominates, leading to central accumulation in the presence of central peaking of the density profiles and insufficiently peaked ion temperature profiles. The strength of the neoclassical temperature screening is affected by poloidal asymmetries. Only around mid-radius, turbulent diffusion offsets neoclassical transport. Consistently with observations in other devices, ion cyclotron resonance heating in the plasma center can flatten the electron density profile and peak the ion temperature profile and provide a means to reverse the neoclassical convection. MHD activity may hamper or speed up the accumulation process depending on mode number and plasma conditions. Finally, the relationship of JET results to a parallel modelling activity of the W behavior in the core of ASDEX Upgrade plasmas is presented. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation

Characterization and optimization of the HyperV PLX- α coaxial-gun plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Case, Andrew; Brockington, Sam; Cruz, Edward; Witherspoon, F. Douglas

2017-10-01

We present results from characterizing and optimizing performance of the contoured gap coaxial plasma guns under development for the ARPA-E Accelerating Low-Cost Plasma Heating And Assembly (ALPHA) program. Plasma jet diagnostics include fast photodiodes for velocimetry and interferometry for line integrated density. Additionally we present results from spectroscopy, both time resolved high resolution spectroscopy using a novel detector and time integrated survey spectroscopy, for measurements of velocity and temperature as well as impurities. Fast imaging gives plume geometry and time integrated imaging gives overall light emission. Results from a novel long record length camera developed by HyperV will also be presented. Experimental results are compared to the desired target parameters for the plasma jets. The target values for the plasmoid are velocity of 50 km/s, mass of 3.5 mg, and length of 10 cm. The best results so far from the exploration of parameter space for gun operation are: 4 mg at >50 km/s, with a length of 10 cm. Peak axial density 34 cm downstream from the muzzle is 2 ×1016 cm-3. This work supported by the ARPA-E ALPHA Program under contract DE-AR0000566.

[The Characteristic Research of ·OH Induced by Water on an Argon Plasma Jet].

PubMed

Liu, Kun; Liao, Hua; Zheng, Pei-chao; Wang, Chen-ying; Liu, Hong-di; Danil, Dobrynin

2015-07-01

·OH plays a crucial role in many fields, having aroused wide public concern in the world. Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet, which can be achieved by portable device due to working without the vacuum environment, has the advantages of high concentration of reactive species, high electron temperature and low gas temperature. It has become an important research topic in the field of gas discharge with a strong prospect. Especially, how to induce plasma jet to produce ·OH has become a new hotpot in the field of low-temperature plasma. It has been reported that mass ·OH can be induced successfully when water vapor is added to the working gas, but it will be unstable when the concentrate of water reaches a certain degree. Thus, a device of argon plasma jet with a Ring-to-Ring Electrode Configuration has been designed to interact with water in the surrounding air to generate ·OH under atmospheric pressure. In order to increase the production of ·OH, ultrasonic atomizing device is introduced to promote water concentration around the plasma plume. The generating rule of OH(A2J) induced by water has been extensively studied under different voltages and flow rate. ·OH output induced by the plasma has been tested by emission spectrometry, and at the meanwhile, Ar atomic spectral lines at 810.41 and 811.48 nm are also recorded in order to calculate the electron temperature in argon plasma plume. The results show that the water surrounding the plasma plume can be induced to produce ·OH, and OH(A2 ∑+) output increases with the electrode voltage rising from 20 to 28 kV. When the flow rate increases from 100 to 200 L x h(-1), the OH(A2∑+) output increases, but from 200 to 600 L x h(-1), it decreases. The production rules of OH(A2∑+) is the same as that of electron temperature. Therefore, the presumption is proved that ·OH output mainly affected by electron temperature.

RF atmospheric plasma jet surface treatment of paper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pawlat, Joanna; Terebun, Piotr; Kwiatkowski, Michał; Diatczyk, Jaroslaw

2016-09-01

A radio frequency RF atmospheric pressure plasma jet was used to enhance the wettability of cellulose-based paper of 90 g m-2 and 160 g m-2 grammage as a perspective platform for antibiotic sensitivity tests. Helium and argon were the carrier gases for oxygen and nitrogen; pure water and rapeseed oil were used for goniometric tests. The influence of the flow rate and gas type, the power of the discharge, and distance from the nozzle was examined. The surface structure was observed using an optical microscope. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra were investigated in order to determine whether cellulose degradation processes occurred. The RF plasma jet allowed us to decrease the surface contact angle without drastic changes in other features of the tested material. Experiments confirmed the significant influence of the distance between the treated sample and reactor nozzle, especially for treatment times longer than 15 s due to the greater concentration of reactive species at the surface of the sample, which decreases with distance—and their accumulation effect with time. The increase of discharge power plays an important role in decreasing the surface contact angle for times longer than 10 s. Higher power had a positive effect on the amount of generated active particles and facilitated the ignition of discharge. However, a too high value can cause a rise in temperature of the material and heat-caused damage.

Experimental demonstration of Martian soil simulant removal from a surface using a pulsed plasma jet.

PubMed

Ticoş, C M; Scurtu, A; Toader, D; Banu, N

2015-03-01

A plasma jet produced in a small coaxial plasma gun operated at voltages up to 2 kV and working in pure carbon dioxide (CO2) at a few Torr is used to remove Martian soil simulant from a surface. A capacitor with 0.5 mF is charged up from a high voltage source and supplies the power to the coaxial electrodes. The muzzle of the coaxial plasma gun is placed at a few millimeters near the dusty surface and the jet is fired parallel with the surface. Removal of dust is imaged in real time with a high speed camera. Mars regolith simulant JSC-Mars-1A with particle sizes up to 5 mm is used on different types of surfaces made of aluminium, cotton fabric, polyethylene, cardboard, and phenolic.

Experimental demonstration of Martian soil simulant removal from a surface using a pulsed plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ticoş, C. M.; Scurtu, A.; Toader, D.; Banu, N.

2015-03-01

A plasma jet produced in a small coaxial plasma gun operated at voltages up to 2 kV and working in pure carbon dioxide (CO2) at a few Torr is used to remove Martian soil simulant from a surface. A capacitor with 0.5 mF is charged up from a high voltage source and supplies the power to the coaxial electrodes. The muzzle of the coaxial plasma gun is placed at a few millimeters near the dusty surface and the jet is fired parallel with the surface. Removal of dust is imaged in real time with a high speed camera. Mars regolith simulant JSC-Mars-1A with particle sizes up to 5 mm is used on different types of surfaces made of aluminium, cotton fabric, polyethylene, cardboard, and phenolic.

Cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets: Interaction with plasmid DNA and tailored electron heating using dual-frequency excitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niemi, K.; O'Neill, C.; Cox, L. J.; Waskoenig, J.; Hyland, W. B.; McMahon, S. J.; Reuter, S.; Currell, F. J.; Graham, W. G.; O'Connell, D.; Gans, T.

2012-05-01

Recent progress in plasma science and technology has enabled the development of a new generation of stable cold non-equilibrium plasmas operating at ambient atmospheric pressure. This opens horizons for new plasma technologies, in particular in the emerging field of plasma medicine. These non-equilibrium plasmas are very efficient sources for energy transport through reactive neutral particles (radicals and metastables), charged particles (ions and electrons), UV radiation, and electro-magnetic fields. The effect of a cold radio frequency-driven atmospheric pressure plasma jet on plasmid DNA has been investigated. The formation of double strand breaks correlates well with the atomic oxygen density. Taken with other measurements, this indicates that neutral components in the jet are effective in inducing double strand breaks. Plasma manipulation techniques for controlled energy delivery are highly desirable. Numerical simulations are employed for detailed investigations of the electron dynamics, which determines the generation of reactive species. New concepts based on nonlinear power dissipation promise superior strategies to control energy transport for tailored technological exploitations.

Emission spectroscopy of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet operated with air at low frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuliani, L.; Gallego, J. L.; Minotti, F.; Kelly, H.; Grondona, D.

2015-03-01

Low-temperature, high-pressure plasma jets have an extensive use in plasma biology and plasma medicine, such as pathogen deactivation, wound disinfection, stopping of bleeding without damage of healthy tissue, acceleration of wound healing, control of bio-film proliferation, etc. In this work, a spectroscopic characterization of a typical plasma jet, operated in air at atmospheric pressure, is reported. Within the spectrum of wavelengths from 200 to 450 nm all remarkable emissions of N2 were monitored. Spectra of the N2 2nd positive system (C3Πu-B3Πg) emitted in air are the most convenient for plasma diagnostics, since they enable to determine electronic Te, rotational Tr and vibrational Tv temperatures by fitting the experimental spectra with the simulated ones. We used SPECAIR software for spectral simulation and obtained the best fit with all these temperatures about 3500K. The conclusion that all temperatures are equal, and its relatively high value, is consistent with the results of a previous work, where it was found that the experimentally determined electrical characteristic was consistent with the model of a thermal arc discharge, together with a highly collisional cathode sheet.

Physics of neutral gas jet interaction with magnetized plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhanhui; Xu, Xueqiao; Diamond, Patrick; Xu, Min; Duan, Xuru; Yu, Deliang; Zhou, Yulin; Shi, Yongfu; Nie, Lin; Ke, Rui; Zhong, Wulv; Shi, Zhongbing; Sun, Aiping; Li, Jiquan; Yao, Lianghua

2017-10-01

It is critical to understand the physics and transport dynamics during the plasma fuelling process. Plasma and neutral interactions involve the transfer of charge, momentum, and energy in ion-neutral and electron-neutral collisions. Thus, a seven field fluid model of neutral gas jet injection (NGJI) is obtained, which couples plasma density, heat, and momentum transport equations together with neutrals density and momentum transport equations of both molecules and atoms. Transport dynamics of plasma and neutrals are simulated for a complete range of discharge times, including steady state before NGJI, transport during NGJI, and relaxation after NGJI. With the trans-neut module of BOUT + + code, the simulations of mean profile variations and fueling depths during fueling have been benchmarked well with other codes and also validated with HL-2A experiment results. Both fast component (FC) and slow component (SC) of NGJI are simulated and validated with the HL-2A experimental measurements. The plasma blocking effect on the FC penetration is also simulated and validated well with the experiment. This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 11575055.

Optical emission spectroscopic diagnostics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium-oxygen plasma jet for biomedical applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thiyagarajan, Magesh; Sarani, Abdollah; Nicula, Cosmina

2013-06-01

In this work, we have applied optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics to investigate the characteristics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet. The discharge characteristics in the active and afterglow region of the plasma jet, that are critical for biomedical applications, have been investigated. The voltage-current characteristics of the plasma discharge were analyzed and the average plasma power was measured to be around 18 W. The effect of addition of small fractions of oxygen at 0.1%-0.5% on the plasma jet characteristics was studied. The addition of oxygen resulted in a decrease in plasma plume length due to the electronegativity property of oxygen. Atomic and molecular lines of selected reactive plasma species that are considered to be useful to induce biochemical reactions such as OH transitions A2Σ+(ν=0,1)→X2Π(Δν =0) at 308 nm and A2Σ+(ν=0,1)→X2Π(Δν =1) at 287 nm, O I transitions 3p5P→3s5S0 at 777.41 nm, and 3p3P→3s3S0 at 844.6 nm, N2(C-B) second positive system with electronic transition C3Πu→B3Πg in the range of 300-450 nm and N2+(B-X) first negative system with electronic transition B2Σu+→X2Σg+(Δν =0) at 391.4 nm have been studied. The atomic emission lines of helium were identified, including the He I transitions 3p3P0→2s3S at 388.8 nm, 3p1P0→ 2s1S at 501.6 nm, 3d3D→2p3P0 at 587.6 nm, 3d1D→2p1P0 at 667.8 nm, 3s3S1→2p3P0 at 706.5 nm, 3s1S0→2p1P0 at 728.1 nm, and Hα transition 2p-3d at 656.3 nm. Using a spectral fitting method, the OH radicals at 306-312 nm, the rotational and vibrational temperatures equivalent to gas temperatures of the discharge was measured and the effective non-equilibrium nature of the plasma jet was demonstrated. Our results show that, in the entire active plasma region, the gas temperature remains at 310 ± 25 K and 340 ± 25 K and it increases to 320 ± 25 K and 360 ± 25 K in the afterglow region of the plasma jet for pure helium and helium/oxygen (0.1%) mixture

Optical emission spectroscopic diagnostics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium-oxygen plasma jet for biomedical applications

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

Thiyagarajan, Magesh; Sarani, Abdollah; Nicula, Cosmina

In this work, we have applied optical emission spectroscopy diagnostics to investigate the characteristics of a non-thermal atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet. The discharge characteristics in the active and afterglow region of the plasma jet, that are critical for biomedical applications, have been investigated. The voltage-current characteristics of the plasma discharge were analyzed and the average plasma power was measured to be around 18 W. The effect of addition of small fractions of oxygen at 0.1%-0.5% on the plasma jet characteristics was studied. The addition of oxygen resulted in a decrease in plasma plume length due to the electronegativity propertymore » of oxygen. Atomic and molecular lines of selected reactive plasma species that are considered to be useful to induce biochemical reactions such as OH transitions A{sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}({nu}=0,1){yields}X{sup 2}{Pi}({Delta}{nu}=0) at 308 nm and A{sup 2}{Sigma}{sup +}({nu}=0,1){yields}X{sup 2}{Pi}({Delta}{nu}=1) at 287 nm, O I transitions 3p{sup 5}P{yields}3s{sup 5}S{sup 0} at 777.41 nm, and 3p{sup 3}P{yields}3s{sup 3}S{sup 0} at 844.6 nm, N{sub 2}(C-B) second positive system with electronic transition C{sup 3}{Pi}{sub u}{sup {yields}}B{sup 3}{Pi}{sub g}'' in the range of 300-450 nm and N{sub 2}{sup +}(B-X) first negative system with electronic transition B{sup 2}{Sigma}{sub u}{sup +}{yields}X{sup 2}{Sigma}{sub g}{sup +}({Delta}{nu}=0) at 391.4 nm have been studied. The atomic emission lines of helium were identified, including the He I transitions 3p{sup 3}P{sup 0}{yields}2s{sup 3}S at 388.8 nm, 3p{sup 1}P{sup 0}{yields} 2s{sup 1}S at 501.6 nm, 3d{sup 3}D{yields}2p{sup 3}P{sup 0} at 587.6 nm, 3d{sup 1}D{yields}2p{sup 1}P{sup 0} at 667.8 nm, 3s{sup 3}S{sup 1}{yields}2p{sup 3}P{sup 0} at 706.5 nm, 3s{sup 1}S{sup 0}{yields}2p{sup 1}P{sup 0} at 728.1 nm, and H{sub {alpha}} transition 2p-3d at 656.3 nm. Using a spectral fitting method, the OH radicals at 306-312 nm, the rotational and vibrational

AN INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ARC PLASMA JETS

DTIC Science & Technology

The instrument was calibrated by moving aluminum or graphite rods through the transducer. By using thin-wall, stainless steel tubing, the influence ... function for the transducer was also obtained. Tests were run on two different arc plasma jet facilities. Values of s, u ranged from 0.02 to 9 megamhos per second. (Author)

Comparison of pulsating DC and DC power air-water plasma jet: A method to decrease plume temperature and increase ROS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2016-12-01

Most air-water plasma jets are rich in hydroxyl radicals (•OH), but the plasma has higher temperatures, compared to that of pure gas, especially when using air as working gas. In this paper, pulsating direct current (PDC) power was used to excite the air-water plasma jet to reduce plume temperature. In addition to the temperature, other differences between PDC and DC plasma jets are not yet clear. Thus, comparative studies of those plasmas are performed to evaluate characteristics, such as breakdown voltage, temperature, and reactive oxygen species. The results show that the plume temperature of PDC plasma is roughly 5-10 °C lower than that of DC plasma in the same conditions. The •OH content of PDC is lower than that of DC plasma, whereas the O content of PDC plasma is higher. The addition of water leads in an increase in the plume temperature and in the production of •OH with two types of power supplies. The production of O inversely shows a declining tendency with higher water ratio. The most important finding is that the PDC plasma with 100% water ratio achieves lower temperature and more abundant production of •OH and O, compared with DC plasma with 0% water ratio.

Development of an Organosilicon-Based Superhydrophobic/Icephobic Surface Using an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet =

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asadollahi, Siavash

During the past few decades, plasma-based surface treatment methods have gained a lot of interest in various applications such as thin film deposition, surface etching, surface activation and/or cleaning, etc. Generally, in plasma-based surface treatment methods, high-energy plasma-generated species are utilized to modify the surface structure or the chemical composition of a substrate. Unique physical and chemical characteristics of the plasma along with the high controllability of the process makes plasma treatment approaches very attractive in several industries. Plasma-based treatment methods are currently being used or investigated for a number of practical applications, such as adhesion promotion in auto industry, wound management and cancer treatment in biomedical industry, and coating development in aerospace industry. In this study, a two-step procedure is proposed for the development of superhydrophobic/icephobic coatings based on atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment of aluminum substrates using air and nitrogen plasma. The effects of plasma parameters on various surface properties are studied in order to identify the optimum conditions for maximum coating efficiency against icing and wetting. In the first step, the interactions between air or nitrogen plasma and the aluminum surface are studied. It is shown that by reducing jet-to-substrate distance, air plasma treatment, unlike nitrogen plasma treatment, is capable of creating micro-porous micro-roughened structures on the surface, some of which bear a significant resemblance to the features observed in laser ablation of metals with short and ultra-short laser pulses. The formation of such structures in plasma treatment is attributed to a transportation of energy from the jet to the surface over a very short period of time, in the range of picoseconds to microseconds. This energy transfer is shown to occur through a streamer discharge from the rotating arc source in the jet body to a close proximity of

Development of non-thermal plasma jet and its potential application for color degradation of organic pollutant in wastewater treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pirdo Kasih, Tota; Kharisma, Angel; Perdana, Muhammad Kevin; Murphiyanto, Richard Dimas Julian

2017-12-01

This paper presents the development of non-thermal plasma-based AOPs for color degradation in wastewater treatment. The plasma itself was generated by an in-house high voltage power supply (HVPS). Instead of gas-phase plasma system, we applied plasma jet system underwater during wastewater treatment without additional any chemicals (chemical-free processing). The method is thought to maximize the energy transfer and increase the efficient interaction between plasma and solution during the process. Our plasma jet system could proceed either by using helium (He), argon (Ar) and air as the medium in an open air atmosphere. Exploring the developed plasma to be applied in organic wastewater treatment, we demonstrated that the plasma jet could be generated underwater and yields in color degradation of methylene blue (MB) wastewater model. When using Ar gas as a medium, the color degradation of MB could be achieved within 90 minutes. Whereas, by using Ar with an admixing of oxygen (O2) gas, the similar result could be accomplished within 60 minutes. Additional O2 gas in the latter might produce more hydroxyl radicals and oxygen-based species which speed up the oxidative reaction with organic pollutants, and hence accelerate the process of color degradation.

Destruction of chemical warfare surrogates using a portable atmospheric pressure plasma jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Škoro, Nikola; Puač, Nevena; Živković, Suzana; Krstić-Milošević, Dijana; Cvelbar, Uroš; Malović, Gordana; Petrović, Zoran Lj.

2018-01-01

Today's reality is connected with mitigation of threats from the new chemical and biological warfare agents. A novel investigation of cold plasmas in contact with liquids presented in this paper demonstrated that the chemically reactive environment produced by atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is potentially capable of rapid destruction of chemical warfare agents in a broad spectrum. The decontamination of three different chemical warfare agent surrogates dissolved in liquid is investigated by using an easily transportable APPJ. The jet is powered by a kHz signal source connected to a low-voltage DC source and with He as working gas. The detailed investigation of electrical properties is performed for various plasmas at different distances from the sample. The measurements of plasma properties in situ are supported by the optical spectrometry measurements, whereas the high performance liquid chromatography measurements before and after the treatment of aqueous solutions of Malathion, Fenitrothion and Dimethyl Methylphosphonate. These solutions are used to evaluate destruction and its efficiency for specific neural agent simulants. The particular removal rates are found to be from 56% up to 96% during 10 min treatment. The data obtained provide basis to evaluate APPJ's efficiency at different operating conditions. The presented results are promising and could be improved with different operating conditions and optimization of the decontamination process.

Effects of the electrical parameters and gas flow rate on the generation of reactive species in liquids exposed to atmospheric pressure plasma jets

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

Baek, Eun Jeong; Joh, Hea Min; Kim, Sun Ja

2016-07-15

In this work, an atmospheric pressure plasma jet was fabricated and studied for plasma–liquid interactions. The plasma jet consists of a quartz-covered pin electrode and outer quartz tube with a tapered nozzle. Using the current–voltage (I-V) and optical emission characteristics of the plasma jet, the plasma density and the speed of the plume were investigated. The optical emission spectra clearly indicated the excited NO, O, OH, N{sub 2}, and N{sub 2}{sup +} in the plasma plumes. Then the plasma jets were applied to the deionized water. We investigated the effects of the operating parameters such as applied voltage, pulse frequency,more » and gas flow rate on the generation of reactive species in the gas and liquid phases. The densities of reactive species including OH radicals were obtained at the plasma–liquid surface and inside the plasma-treated liquids using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy and chemical probe method. The nitrite concentration was detected by Griess assay. The data are very suggestive that there is a strong correlation among the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) in the plasmas and liquids.« less

Optimization of the neutron yield in fusion plasmas produced by Coulomb explosions of deuterium clusters irradiated by a petawatt laser.

PubMed

Bang, W; Dyer, G; Quevedo, H J; Bernstein, A C; Gaul, E; Donovan, M; Ditmire, T

2013-02-01

The kinetic energy of hot (multi-keV) ions from the laser-driven Coulomb explosion of deuterium clusters and the resulting fusion yield in plasmas formed from these exploding clusters has been investigated under a variety of conditions using the Texas Petawatt laser. An optimum laser intensity was found for producing neutrons in these cluster fusion plasmas with corresponding average ion energies of 14 keV. The substantial volume (1-10 mm(3)) of the laser-cluster interaction produced by the petawatt peak power laser pulse led to a fusion yield of 1.6×10(7) neutrons in a single shot with a 120 J, 170 fs laser pulse. Possible effects of prepulses are discussed.

Efficient generation of fast neutrons by magnetized deuterons in an optimized deuterium gas-puff z-pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klir, D.; Shishlov, A. V.; Kokshenev, V. A.; Kubes, P.; Labetsky, A. Yu; Rezac, K.; Cherdizov, R. K.; Cikhardt, J.; Cikhardtova, B.; Dudkin, G. N.; Fursov, F. I.; Garapatsky, A. A.; Kovalchuk, B. M.; Kravarik, J.; Kurmaev, N. E.; Orcikova, H.; Padalko, V. N.; Ratakhin, N. A.; Sila, O.; Turek, K.; Varlachev, V. A.

2015-04-01

Z-pinch experiments with deuterium gas puffs have been carried out on the GIT-12 generator at 3 MA currents. Recently, a novel configuration of a deuterium gas-puff z-pinch was used to accelerate deuterons and to generate fast neutrons. In order to form a homogeneous, uniformly conducting layer at a large initial radius, an inner deuterium gas puff was surrounded by an outer hollow cylindrical plasma shell. The plasma shell consisting of hydrogen and carbon ions was formed at the diameter of 350 mm by 48 plasma guns. A linear mass of the plasma shell was about 5 µg cm-1 whereas a total linear mass of deuterium gas in single or double shell gas puffs was about 100 µg cm-1. The implosion lasted 700 ns and seemed to be stable up to a 5 mm radius. During stagnation, m = 0 instabilities became more pronounced. When a disruption of necks occurred, the plasma impedance reached 0.4 Ω and high energy (>2 MeV) bremsstrahlung radiation together with high energy deuterons were produced. Maximum neutron energies of 33 MeV were observed by axial time-of-flight detectors. The observed neutron spectra could be explained by a suprathermal distribution of deuterons with a high energy tail f≤ft({{E}\\text{d}}\\right)\\propto E\\text{d}-(1.8+/- 0.2) . Neutron yields reached 3.6 × 1012 at a 2.7 MA current. A high neutron production efficiency of 6 × 107 neutrons per one joule of plasma energy resulted from the generation of high energy deuterons and from their magnetization inside plasmas.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma jet system for silicon etching without fluorocarbon gas feed

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohtsu, Yasunori; Nagamatsu, Kenta

2018-01-01

We developed an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ) system with a tungsten rod electrode coated with C2F4 particles of approximately 0.3 µm diameter for the surface treatment of a silicon wafer. The APPJ was generated by dielectric barrier discharge with a driving frequency of 22 kHz using a He gas flow. The characteristics of the APPJ were examined under various experimental conditions. The plasma jet length increased proportionally to the electric field. It was found that the treatment area of the silicon wafer was approximately 1 mm in diameter. By atomic force microscopy analysis, minute irregularities with a maximum length of about 600 nm and part of a ring-shaped trench were observed. A Si etching rate of approximately 400 nm/min was attained at a low power of 6 W and a He flow rate of 1 L/min without introducing molecular gas including F atoms.

Core transport properties in JT-60U and JET identity plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Litaudon, X.; Sakamoto, Y.; de Vries, P. C.; Salmi, A.; Tala, T.; Angioni, C.; Benkadda, S.; Beurskens, M. N. A.; Bourdelle, C.; Brix, M.; Crombé, K.; Fujita, T.; Futatani, S.; Garbet, X.; Giroud, C.; Hawkes, N. C.; Hayashi, N.; Hoang, G. T.; Hogeweij, G. M. D.; Matsunaga, G.; Nakano, T.; Oyama, N.; Parail, V.; Shinohara, K.; Suzuki, T.; Takechi, M.; Takenaga, H.; Takizuka, T.; Urano, H.; Voitsekhovitch, I.; Yoshida, M.; ITPA Transport Group; JT-60 Team; EFDA contributors, JET

2011-07-01

The paper compares the transport properties of a set of dimensionless identity experiments performed between JET and JT-60U in the advanced tokamak regime with internal transport barrier, ITB. These International Tokamak Physics Activity, ITPA, joint experiments were carried out with the same plasma shape, toroidal magnetic field ripple and dimensionless profiles as close as possible during the ITB triggering phase in terms of safety factor, normalized Larmor radius, normalized collision frequency, thermal beta, ratio of ion to electron temperatures. Similarities in the ITB triggering mechanisms and sustainment were observed when a good match was achieved of the most relevant normalized profiles except the toroidal Mach number. Similar thermal ion transport levels in the two devices have been measured in either monotonic or non-monotonic q-profiles. In contrast, differences between JET and JT-60U were observed on the electron thermal and particle confinement in reversed magnetic shear configurations. It was found that the larger shear reversal in the very centre (inside normalized radius of 0.2) of JT-60U plasmas allowed the sustainment of stronger electron density ITBs compared with JET. As a consequence of peaked density profile, the core bootstrap current density is more than five times higher in JT-60U compared with JET. Thanks to the bootstrap effect and the slightly broader neutral beam deposition, reversed magnetic shear configurations are self-sustained in JT-60U scenarios. Analyses of similarities and differences between the two devices address key questions on the validity of the usual assumptions made in ITER steady scenario modelling, e.g. a flat density profile in the core with thermal transport barrier? Such assumptions have consequences on the prediction of fusion performance, bootstrap current and on the sustainment of the scenario.

Optical characteristics of a RF DBD plasma jet in various {Ar}/ {O}_{2}Ar/O2 mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Falahat, A.; Ganjovi, A.; Taraz, M.; Ravari, M. N. Rostami; Shahedi, A.

2018-02-01

In this paper, using the optical emission spectroscopy (OES) technique, the optical characteristics of a radiofrequency (RF) plasma jet are examined. The Ar/O2 mixture is taken as the operational gas and, the Ar percentage in the Ar/O2 mixture is varied from 70% to 95%. Using the optical emission spectrum analysis of the RF plasma jet, the excitation temperature is determined based on the Boltzmann plot method. The electron density in the plasma medium of the RF plasma jet is obtained by the Stark broadening of the hydrogen Balmer H_{β }. It is mostly seen that, the radiation intensity of Ar 4p→ 4s transitions at higher argon contributions in Ar/O2 mixture is higher. It is found that, at higher Ar percentages, the emission intensities from atomic oxygen (O) are higher and, the line intensities from the argon atoms and ions including O atoms linearly increase. It is observed that the quenching of Ar^{*} with O2 results in higher O species with respect to O2 molecules. In addition, at higher percentages of Ar in the Ar/O2 mixture, while the excitation temperature is decreased, the electron density is increased.

Control of unsteadiness of a shock wave/turbulent boundary layer interaction by using a pulsed-plasma-jet actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Narayanaswamy, Venkateswaran; Raja, Laxminarayan L.; Clemens, Noel T.

2012-07-01

A pulsed-plasma jet actuator is used to control the unsteady motion of the separation shock of a shock wave/boundary layer interaction formed by a compression ramp in a Mach 3 flow. The actuator is based on a plasma-generated synthetic jet and is configured as an array of three jets that can be injected normal to the cross-flow, pitched, or pitched and skewed. The typical peak jet exit velocity of the actuators is about 300 m/s and the pulsing frequencies are a few kilohertz. A study of the interaction between the pulsed-plasma jets and the shock/boundary layer interaction was performed in a time-resolved manner using 10 kHz schlieren imaging. When the actuator, pulsed at StL ≈ 0.04 (f = 2 kHz), was injected into the upstream boundary layer, the separation shock responded to the plasma jet by executing a rapid upstream motion followed by a gradual downstream recovery motion. Schlieren movies of the interaction showed that the separation shock unsteadiness was locked to the pulsing frequency of the actuator, with amplitude of about one boundary layer thickness. Wall-pressure measurements made under the intermittent region showed about a 30% decrease in the overall magnitude of the pressure fluctuations in the low-frequency band associated with unsteady large-scale motion of the separated flow. Furthermore, by increasing the pulsing frequency to 3.3 kHz, the amplitude of the separation shock oscillation was reduced to less than half the boundary layer thickness. Investigation into the effect of the actuator location on the shock wave/boundary layer interaction (SWBLI) showed qualitatively and quantitatively that the actuator placed upstream of the separation shock caused significant modification to the SWBLI unsteadiness, whereas injection from inside the separation bubble did not cause a noticeable effect.

Irradiation effect on deuterium behaviour in low-dose HFIR neutron-irradiated tungsten

DOE PAGES

Shimada, Masashi; Cao, G.; Otsuka, T.; ...

2014-12-01

Tungsten samples were irradiated by neutrons in the High Flux Isotope Reactor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory at reactor coolant temperatures of 50-70°C to low displacement damage of 0.025 and 0.3 dpa under the framework of the US-Japan TITAN program (2007-2013). After cooling down, the HFIR neutron-irradiated tungsten samples were exposed to deuterium plasmas in the Tritium Plasma Experiment, Idaho National Laboratory at 100, 200 and 500 °C twice at the ion fluence of 5×10²⁵ m⁻² to reach a total ion fluence of 1×10²⁶ m⁻² in order to investigate the near surface deuterium retention and saturation via nuclear reaction analysis. Finalmore » thermal desorption spectroscopy was performed to elucidate irradiation effect on total deuterium retention. Nuclear reaction analysis results showed that the maximum near surface (<5 µm depth) deuterium concentration increased from 0.5 at % D/W in 0.025 dpa samples to 0.8 at. % D/W in 0.3 dpa samples. The large discrepancy between the total retention via thermal desorption spectroscopy and the near surface retention via nuclear reaction analysis indicated the deuterium was migrated and trapped in bulk (at least 50 µm depth for 0.025 dpa and 35 µm depth for 0.025 dpa) at 500 °C case even in the relatively low ion fluence of 10²⁶ m⁻².« less

Tantalum Etching with an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teslow, Hilary; Herrmann, Hans; Rosocha, Louis

2002-10-01

The APPJ is a non-thermal, atmospheric-pressure, glow discharge. A feedgas, composed of an inert carrier gas (e.g., He) and small concentrations of additives (e.g., O2, or CF4), flows between closely spaced electrodes powered at 13.56 MHz rf in a coaxial or parallel plate arrangement. The plasma has Te ˜ 2 eV and ne ˜ 10^11 cm-3. Electrons are not in thermal equilibrium with ions and neutrals: the electrons are ``hot", while the overall gas temperature is quite ``cold", typically 50-300 C. In the plasma, the gas is excited, dissociated or ionized by energetic electron impact. As the gas exits the discharge volume, ions and electrons are rapidly lost by recombination, leaving metastables (e.g. O2*, He*) and radicals (e.g. O, F, OF, O2F, CFO). These reactive species are then directed onto a surface to be processed. The APPJ has been developed for decontaminating nuclear, chemical, and biological agents. Atomic fluorine, and possibly other reactive species, can be used to convert actinides (e.g., U and Pu), into volatile fluorides (e.g., UF6, PuF6) that can be trapped, resulting in significant volume reduction of radioactive waste. In this talk, we will present results on using Ta as a surrogate for Pu in He/O2/CF4 etching plasmas. Results of experimental measurements of Ta etch rates for various gas mixtures and plasma jet standoff distance will be compared with plasma chemistry modeling of the concentrations of several active species produced in the plasma.

Study and optimization of lower hybrid wave coupling in advanced scenario plasmas in JET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pericoli Ridolfini, V.; Ekedahl, A.; Erents, S. K.; Mailloux, J.; Podda, S.; Sarazin, Y.; Tuccillo, A. A.; Workprogramme contributors, EFDA-JET

2004-02-01

Active current drive with lower hybrid (LH) waves in the advanced scenario plasmas at JET-EFDA was successful after a systematic study of the coupling problems that derive from the H-mode features of the edge plasma, namely very low density and ELM activity. The LH coupling has been improved compared to the past, by making the edge plasma in front of the LH launcher denser and more uniform. Injecting deuterated methane (CD4) from a nearby gas pipe increases the density in front of the LH launcher at least by a factor of 1.5, above the cut-off value for the LH frequency. A better matching of the plasma shape to that of the LH antenna makes the plasma ahead of the LH launcher more regular along the poloidal angle. These two techniques together have permitted a balanced supply of the three LH grills, with an average reflection below 4%, as in the previous L-mode operation. CD4 does not affect the performances nor does it contaminate the main plasma up to the maximum flow rate so far used, \\Phi_{CD_4}>10^{22}el\\,s^{-1} and now it is routinely applied in JET (up to 4 MW have been injected for longer than 8 s) with very encouraging results for LHCD. Even though CD4 is not suitable for ITER for tritium retention, the possibility of controlling locally and safely the scrape-off plasma density has been demonstrated.

Efficient generation of energetic ions in multi-ion plasmas by radio-frequency heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazakov, Ye. O.; Ongena, J.; Wright, J. C.; Wukitch, S. J.; Lerche, E.; Mantsinen, M. J.; van Eester, D.; Craciunescu, T.; Kiptily, V. G.; Lin, Y.; Nocente, M.; Nabais, F.; Nave, M. F. F.; Baranov, Y.; Bielecki, J.; Bilato, R.; Bobkov, V.; Crombé, K.; Czarnecka, A.; Faustin, J. M.; Felton, R.; Fitzgerald, M.; Gallart, D.; Giacomelli, L.; Golfinopoulos, T.; Hubbard, A. E.; Jacquet, Ph.; Johnson, T.; Lennholm, M.; Loarer, T.; Porkolab, M.; Sharapov, S. E.; Valcarcel, D.; van Schoor, M.; Weisen, H.; Marmar, E. S.; Baek, S. G.; Barnard, H.; Bonoli, P.; Brunner, D.; Candy, J.; Canik, J.; Churchill, R. M.; Cziegler, I.; Dekow, G.; Delgado-Aparicio, L.; Diallo, A.; Edlund, E.; Ennever, P.; Faust, I.; Fiore, C.; Gao, Chi; Golfinopoulos, T.; Greenwald, M.; Hartwig, Z. S.; Holland, C.; Hubbard, A. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Hutchinson, I. H.; Irby, J.; Labombard, B.; Lin, Yijun; Lipschultz, B.; Loarte, A.; Mumgaard, R.; Parker, R. R.; Porkolab, M.; Reinke, M. L.; Rice, J. E.; Scott, S.; Shiraiwa, S.; Snyder, P.; Sorbom, B.; Terry, D.; Terry, J. L.; Theiler, C.; Vieira, R.; Walk, J. R.; Wallace, G. M.; White, A.; Whyte, D.; Wolfe, S. M.; Wright, G. M.; Wright, J.; Wukitch, S. J.; Xu, P.; Abduallev, S.; Abhangi, M.; Abreu, P.; Afzal, M.; Aggarwal, K. M.; Ahlgren, T.; Ahn, J. H.; Aho-Mantila, L.; Aiba, N.; Airila, M.; Albanese, R.; Aldred, V.; Alegre, D.; Alessi, E.; Aleynikov, P.; Alfier, A.; Alkseev, A.; Allinson, M.; Alper, B.; Alves, E.; Ambrosino, G.; Ambrosino, R.; Amicucci, L.; Amosov, V.; Sundén, E. Andersson; Angelone, M.; Anghel, M.; Angioni, C.; Appel, L.; Appelbee, C.; Arena, P.; Ariola, M.; Arnichand, H.; Arshad, S.; Ash, A.; Ashikawa, N.; Aslanyan, V.; Asunta, O.; Auriemma, F.; Austin, Y.; Avotina, L.; Axton, M. D.; Ayres, C.; Bacharis, M.; Baciero, A.; Baião, D.; Bailey, S.; Baker, A.; Balboa, I.; Balden, M.; Balshaw, N.; Bament, R.; Banks, J. W.; Baranov, Y. F.; Barnard, M. A.; Barnes, D.; Barnes, M.; Barnsley, R.; Wiechec, A. Baron; Orte, L. Barrera; Baruzzo, M.; Basiuk, V.; Bassan, M.; Bastow, R.; Batista, A.; Batistoni, P.; Baughan, R.; Bauvir, B.; Baylor, L.; Bazylev, B.; Beal, J.; Beaumont, P. S.; Beckers, M.; Beckett, B.; Becoulet, A.; Bekris, N.; Beldishevski, M.; Bell, K.; Belli, F.; Bellinger, M.; Belonohy, É.; Ayed, N. Ben; Benterman, N. A.; Bergsåker, H.; Bernardo, J.; Bernert, M.; Berry, M.; Bertalot, L.; Besliu, C.; Beurskens, M.; Bieg, B.; Bielecki, J.; Biewer, T.; Bigi, M.; Bílková, P.; Binda, F.; Bisoffi, A.; Bizarro, J. P. S.; Björkas, C.; Blackburn, J.; Blackman, K.; Blackman, T. R.; Blanchard, P.; Blatchford, P.; Bobkov, V.; Boboc, A.; Bodnár, G.; Bogar, O.; Bolshakova, I.; Bolzonella, T.; Bonanomi, N.; Bonelli, F.; Boom, J.; Booth, J.; Borba, D.; Borodin, D.; Borodkina, I.; Botrugno, A.; Bottereau, C.; Boulting, P.; Bourdelle, C.; Bowden, M.; Bower, C.; Bowman, C.; Boyce, T.; Boyd, C.; Boyer, H. J.; Bradshaw, J. M. A.; Braic, V.; Bravanec, R.; Breizman, B.; Bremond, S.; Brennan, P. D.; Breton, S.; Brett, A.; Brezinsek, S.; Bright, M. D. J.; Brix, M.; Broeckx, W.; Brombin, M.; Brosławski, A.; Brown, D. P. D.; Brown, M.; Bruno, E.; Bucalossi, J.; Buch, J.; Buchanan, J.; Buckley, M. A.; Budny, R.; Bufferand, H.; Bulman, M.; Bulmer, N.; Bunting, P.; Buratti, P.; Burckhart, A.; Buscarino, A.; Busse, A.; Butler, N. K.; Bykov, I.; Byrne, J.; Cahyna, P.; Calabrò, G.; Calvo, I.; Camenen, Y.; Camp, P.; Campling, D. C.; Cane, J.; Cannas, B.; Capel, A. J.; Card, P. J.; Cardinali, A.; Carman, P.; Carr, M.; Carralero, D.; Carraro, L.; Carvalho, B. B.; Carvalho, I.; Carvalho, P.; Casson, F. J.; Castaldo, C.; Catarino, N.; Caumont, J.; Causa, F.; Cavazzana, R.; Cave-Ayland, K.; Cavinato, M.; Cecconello, M.; Ceccuzzi, S.; Cecil, E.; Cenedese, A.; Cesario, R.; Challis, C. D.; Chandler, M.; Chandra, D.; Chang, C. S.; Chankin, A.; Chapman, I. T.; Chapman, S. C.; Chernyshova, M.; Chitarin, G.; Ciraolo, G.; Ciric, D.; Citrin, J.; Clairet, F.; Clark, E.; Clark, M.; Clarkson, R.; Clatworthy, D.; Clements, C.; Cleverly, M.; Coad, J. P.; Coates, P. A.; Cobalt, A.; Coccorese, V.; Cocilovo, V.; Coda, S.; Coelho, R.; Coenen, J. W.; Coffey, I.; Colas, L.; Collins, S.; Conka, D.; Conroy, S.; Conway, N.; Coombs, D.; Cooper, D.; Cooper, S. R.; Corradino, C.; Corre, Y.; Corrigan, G.; Cortes, S.; Coster, D.; Couchman, A. S.; Cox, M. P.; Craciunescu, T.; Cramp, S.; Craven, R.; Crisanti, F.; Croci, G.; Croft, D.; Crombé, K.; Crowe, R.; Cruz, N.; Cseh, G.; Cufar, A.; Cullen, A.; Curuia, M.; Czarnecka, A.; Dabirikhah, H.; Dalgliesh, P.; Dalley, S.; Dankowski, J.; Darrow, D.; Davies, O.; Davis, W.; Day, C.; Day, I. E.; de Bock, M.; de Castro, A.; de La Cal, E.; de La Luna, E.; Masi, G. De; de Pablos, J. L.; de Temmerman, G.; de Tommasi, G.; de Vries, P.; Deakin, K.; Deane, J.; Agostini, F. Degli; Dejarnac, R.; Delabie, E.; den Harder, N.; Dendy, R. O.; Denis, J.; Denner, P.; Devaux, S.; Devynck, P.; Maio, F. Di; Siena, A. Di; Troia, C. Di; Dinca, P.; D'Inca, R.; Ding, B.; Dittmar, T.; Doerk, H.; Doerner, R. P.; Donné, T.; Dorling, S. E.; Dormido-Canto, S.; Doswon, S.; Douai, D.; Doyle, P. T.; Drenik, A.; Drewelow, P.; Drews, P.; Duckworth, Ph.; Dumont, R.; Dumortier, P.; Dunai, D.; Dunne, M.; Ďuran, I.; Durodié, F.; Dutta, P.; Duval, B. P.; Dux, R.; Dylst, K.; Dzysiuk, N.; Edappala, P. V.; Edmond, J.; Edwards, A. M.; Edwards, J.; Eich, Th.; Ekedahl, A.; El-Jorf, R.; Elsmore, C. G.; Enachescu, M.; Ericsson, G.; Eriksson, F.; Eriksson, J.; Eriksson, L. G.; Esposito, B.; Esquembri, S.; Esser, H. G.; Esteve, D.; Evans, B.; Evans, G. E.; Evison, G.; Ewart, G. D.; Fagan, D.; Faitsch, M.; Falie, D.; Fanni, A.; Fasoli, A.; Faustin, J. M.; Fawlk, N.; Fazendeiro, L.; Fedorczak, N.; Felton, R. C.; Fenton, K.; Fernades, A.; Fernandes, H.; Ferreira, J.; Fessey, J. A.; Février, O.; Ficker, O.; Field, A.; Fietz, S.; Figueiredo, A.; Figueiredo, J.; Fil, A.; Finburg, P.; Firdaouss, M.; Fischer, U.; Fittill, L.; Fitzgerald, M.; Flammini, D.; Flanagan, J.; Fleming, C.; Flinders, K.; Fonnesu, N.; Fontdecaba, J. M.; Formisano, A.; Forsythe, L.; Fortuna, L.; Fortuna-Zalesna, E.; Fortune, M.; Foster, S.; Franke, T.; Franklin, T.; Frasca, M.; Frassinetti, L.; Freisinger, M.; Fresa, R.; Frigione, D.; Fuchs, V.; Fuller, D.; Futatani, S.; Fyvie, J.; Gál, K.; Galassi, D.; Gałązka, K.; Galdon-Quiroga, J.; Gallagher, J.; Gallart, D.; Galvão, R.; Gao, X.; Gao, Y.; Garcia, J.; Garcia-Carrasco, A.; García-Muñoz, M.; Gardarein, J.-L.; Garzotti, L.; Gaudio, P.; Gauthier, E.; Gear, D. F.; Gee, S. J.; Geiger, B.; Gelfusa, M.; Gerasimov, S.; Gervasini, G.; Gethins, M.; Ghani, Z.; Ghate, M.; Gherendi, M.; Giacalone, J. C.; Giacomelli, L.; Gibson, C. S.; Giegerich, T.; Gil, C.; Gil, L.; Gilligan, S.; Gin, D.; Giovannozzi, E.; Girardo, J. B.; Giroud, C.; Giruzzi, G.; Glöggler, S.; Godwin, J.; Goff, J.; Gohil, P.; Goloborod'Ko, V.; Gomes, R.; Gonçalves, B.; Goniche, M.; Goodliffe, M.; Goodyear, A.; Gorini, G.; Gosk, M.; Goulding, R.; Goussarov, A.; Gowland, R.; Graham, B.; Graham, M. E.; Graves, J. P.; Grazier, N.; Grazier, P.; Green, N. R.; Greuner, H.; Grierson, B.; Griph, F. S.; Grisolia, C.; Grist, D.; Groth, M.; Grove, R.; Grundy, C. N.; Grzonka, J.; Guard, D.; Guérard, C.; Guillemaut, C.; Guirlet, R.; Gurl, C.; Utoh, H. H.; Hackett, L. J.; Hacquin, S.; Hagar, A.; Hager, R.; Hakola, A.; Halitovs, M.; Hall, S. J.; Cook, S. P. Hallworth; Hamlyn-Harris, C.; Hammond, K.; Harrington, C.; Harrison, J.; Harting, D.; Hasenbeck, F.; Hatano, Y.; Hatch, D. R.; Haupt, T. D. V.; Hawes, J.; Hawkes, N. C.; Hawkins, J.; Hawkins, P.; Haydon, P. W.; Hayter, N.; Hazel, S.; Heesterman, P. J. L.; Heinola, K.; Hellesen, C.; Hellsten, T.; Helou, W.; Hemming, O. N.; Hender, T. C.; Henderson, M.; Henderson, S. S.; Henriques, R.; Hepple, D.; Hermon, G.; Hertout, P.; Hidalgo, C.; Highcock, E. G.; Hill, M.; Hillairet, J.; Hillesheim, J.; Hillis, D.; Hizanidis, K.; Hjalmarsson, A.; Hobirk, J.; Hodille, E.; Hogben, C. H. A.; Hogeweij, G. M. D.; Hollingsworth, A.; Hollis, S.; Homfray, D. A.; Horáček, J.; Hornung, G.; Horton, A. R.; Horton, L. D.; Horvath, L.; Hotchin, S. P.; Hough, M. R.; Howarth, P. J.; Hubbard, A.; Huber, A.; Huber, V.; Huddleston, T. M.; Hughes, M.; Huijsmans, G. T. A.; Hunter, C. L.; Huynh, P.; Hynes, A. M.; Iglesias, D.; Imazawa, N.; Imbeaux, F.; Imríšek, M.; Incelli, M.; Innocente, P.; Irishkin, M.; Ivanova-Stanik, I.; Jachmich, S.; Jacobsen, A. S.; Jacquet, P.; Jansons, J.; Jardin, A.; Järvinen, A.; Jaulmes, F.; Jednoróg, S.; Jenkins, I.; Jeong, C.; Jepu, I.; Joffrin, E.; Johnson, R.; Johnson, T.; Johnston, Jane; Joita, L.; Jones, G.; Jones, T. T. C.; Hoshino, K. K.; Kallenbach, A.; Kamiya, K.; Kaniewski, J.; Kantor, A.; Kappatou, A.; Karhunen, J.; Karkinsky, D.; Karnowska, I.; Kaufman, M.; Kaveney, G.; Kazakov, Y.; Kazantzidis, V.; Keeling, D. L.; Keenan, T.; Keep, J.; Kempenaars, M.; Kennedy, C.; Kenny, D.; Kent, J.; Kent, O. N.; Khilkevich, E.; Kim, H. T.; Kim, H. S.; Kinch, A.; King, C.; King, D.; King, R. F.; Kinna, D. J.; Kiptily, V.; Kirk, A.; Kirov, K.; Kirschner, A.; Kizane, G.; Klepper, C.; Klix, A.; Knight, P.; Knipe, S. J.; Knott, S.; Kobuchi, T.; Köchl, F.; Kocsis, G.; Kodeli, I.; Kogan, L.; Kogut, D.; Koivuranta, S.; Kominis, Y.; Köppen, M.; Kos, B.; Koskela, T.; Koslowski, H. R.; Koubiti, M.; Kovari, M.; Kowalska-Strzęciwilk, E.; Krasilnikov, A.; Krasilnikov, V.; Krawczyk, N.; Kresina, M.; Krieger, K.; Krivska, A.; Kruezi, U.; Książek, I.; Kukushkin, A.; Kundu, A.; Kurki-Suonio, T.; Kwak, S.; Kwiatkowski, R.; Kwon, O. J.; Laguardia, L.; Lahtinen, A.; Laing, A.; Lam, N.; Lambertz, H. T.; Lane, C.; Lang, P. T.; Lanthaler, S.; Lapins, J.; Lasa, A.; Last, J. R.; Łaszyńska, E.; Lawless, R.; Lawson, A.; Lawson, K. D.; Lazaros, A.; Lazzaro, E.; Leddy, J.; Lee, S.; Lefebvre, X.; Leggate, H. J.; Lehmann, J.; Lehnen, M.; Leichtle, D.; Leichuer, P.; Leipold, F.; Lengar, I.; Lennholm, M.; Lerche, E.; Lescinskis, A.; Lesnoj, S.; Letellier, E.; Leyland, M.; Leysen, W.; Li, L.; Liang, Y.; Likonen, J.; Linke, J.; Linsmeier, Ch.; Lipschultz, B.; Litaudon, X.; Liu, G.; Liu, Y.; Lo Schiavo, V. P.; Loarer, T.; Loarte, A.; Lobel, R. C.; Lomanowski, B.; Lomas, P. J.; Lönnroth, J.; López, J. M.; López-Razola, J.; Lorenzini, R.; Losada, U.; Lovell, J. J.; Loving, A. B.; Lowry, C.; Luce, T.; Lucock, R. M. A.; Lukin, A.; Luna, C.; Lungaroni, M.; Lungu, C. P.; Lungu, M.; Lunniss, A.; Lupelli, I.; Lyssoivan, A.; MacDonald, N.; Macheta, P.; Maczewa, K.; Magesh, B.; Maget, P.; Maggi, C.; Maier, H.; Mailloux, J.; Makkonen, T.; Makwana, R.; Malaquias, A.; Malizia, A.; Manas, P.; Manning, A.; Manso, M. E.; Mantica, P.; Mantsinen, M.; Manzanares, A.; Maquet, Ph.; Marandet, Y.; Marcenko, N.; Marchetto, C.; Marchuk, O.; Marinelli, M.; Marinucci, M.; Markovič, T.; Marocco, D.; Marot, L.; Marren, C. A.; Marshal, R.; Martin, A.; Martin, Y.; Martín de Aguilera, A.; Martínez, F. J.; Martín-Solís, J. R.; Martynova, Y.; Maruyama, S.; Masiello, A.; Maslov, M.; Matejcik, S.; Mattei, M.; Matthews, G. F.; Maviglia, F.; Mayer, M.; Mayoral, M. L.; May-Smith, T.; Mazon, D.; Mazzotta, C.; McAdams, R.; McCarthy, P. J.; McClements, K. G.; McCormack, O.; McCullen, P. A.; McDonald, D.; McIntosh, S.; McKean, R.; McKehon, J.; Meadows, R. C.; Meakins, A.; Medina, F.; Medland, M.; Medley, S.; Meigh, S.; Meigs, A. G.; Meisl, G.; Meitner, S.; Meneses, L.; Menmuir, S.; Mergia, K.; Merrigan, I. R.; Mertens, Ph.; Meshchaninov, S.; Messiaen, A.; Meyer, H.; Mianowski, S.; Michling, R.; Middleton-Gear, D.; Miettunen, J.; Militello, F.; Militello-Asp, E.; Miloshevsky, G.; Mink, F.; Minucci, S.; Miyoshi, Y.; Mlynář, J.; Molina, D.; Monakhov, I.; Moneti, M.; Mooney, R.; Moradi, S.; Mordijck, S.; Moreira, L.; Moreno, R.; Moro, F.; Morris, A. W.; Morris, J.; Moser, L.; Mosher, S.; Moulton, D.; Murari, A.; Muraro, A.; Murphy, S.; Asakura, N. N.; Na, Y. S.; Nabais, F.; Naish, R.; Nakano, T.; Nardon, E.; Naulin, V.; Nave, M. F. F.; Nedzelski, I.; Nemtsev, G.; Nespoli, F.; Neto, A.; Neu, R.; Neverov, V. S.; Newman, M.; Nicholls, K. J.; Nicolas, T.; Nielsen, A. H.; Nielsen, P.; Nilsson, E.; Nishijima, D.; Noble, C.; Nocente, M.; Nodwell, D.; Nordlund, K.; Nordman, H.; Nouailletas, R.; Nunes, I.; Oberkofler, M.; Odupitan, T.; Ogawa, M. T.; O'Gorman, T.; Okabayashi, M.; Olney, R.; Omolayo, O.; O'Mullane, M.; Ongena, J.; Orsitto, F.; Orszagh, J.; Oswuigwe, B. I.; Otin, R.; Owen, A.; Paccagnella, R.; Pace, N.; Pacella, D.; Packer, L. W.; Page, A.; Pajuste, E.; Palazzo, S.; Pamela, S.; Panja, S.; Papp, P.; Paprok, R.; Parail, V.; Park, M.; Diaz, F. Parra; Parsons, M.; Pasqualotto, R.; Patel, A.; Pathak, S.; Paton, D.; Patten, H.; Pau, A.; Pawelec, E.; Soldan, C. Paz; Peackoc, A.; Pearson, I. J.; Pehkonen, S.-P.; Peluso, E.; Penot, C.; Pereira, A.; Pereira, R.; Puglia, P. P. Pereira; von Thun, C. Perez; Peruzzo, S.; Peschanyi, S.; Peterka, M.; Petersson, P.; Petravich, G.; Petre, A.; Petrella, N.; Petržilka, V.; Peysson, Y.; Pfefferlé, D.; Philipps, V.; Pillon, M.; Pintsuk, G.; Piovesan, P.; Dos Reis, A. Pires; Piron, L.; Pironti, A.; Pisano; Pitts, R.; Pizzo, F.; Plyusnin, V.; Pomaro, N.; Pompilian, O. G.; Pool, P. J.; Popovichev, S.; Porfiri, M. T.; Porosnicu, C.; Porton, M.; Possnert, G.; Potzel, S.; Powell, T.; Pozzi, J.; Prajapati, V.; Prakash, R.; Prestopino, G.; Price, D.; Price, M.; Price, R.; Prior, P.; Proudfoot, R.; Pucella, G.; Puglia, P.; Puiatti, M. E.; Pulley, D.; Purahoo, K.; Pütterich, Th.; Rachlew, E.; Rack, M.; Ragona, R.; Rainford, M. S. J.; Rakha, A.; Ramogida, G.; Ranjan, S.; Rapson, C. J.; Rasmussen, J. J.; Rathod, K.; Rattá, G.; Ratynskaia, S.; Ravera, G.; Rayner, C.; Rebai, M.; Reece, D.; Reed, A.; Réfy, D.; Regan, B.; Regaña, J.; Reich, M.; Reid, N.; Reimold, F.; Reinhart, M.; Reinke, M.; Reiser, D.; Rendell, D.; Reux, C.; Cortes, S. D. A. Reyes; Reynolds, S.; Riccardo, V.; Richardson, N.; Riddle, K.; Rigamonti, D.; Rimini, F. G.; Risner, J.; Riva, M.; Roach, C.; Robins, R. J.; Robinson, S. A.; Robinson, T.; Robson, D. W.; Roccella, R.; Rodionov, R.; Rodrigues, P.; Rodriguez, J.; Rohde, V.; Romanelli, F.; Romanelli, M.; Romanelli, S.; Romazanov, J.; Rowe, S.; Rubel, M.; Rubinacci, G.; Rubino, G.; Ruchko, L.; Ruiz, M.; Ruset, C.; Rzadkiewicz, J.; Saarelma, S.; Sabot, R.; Safi, E.; Sagar, P.; Saibene, G.; Saint-Laurent, F.; Salewski, M.; Salmi, A.; Salmon, R.; Salzedas, F.; Samaddar, D.; Samm, U.; Sandiford, D.; Santa, P.; Santala, M. I. K.; Santos, B.; Santucci, A.; Sartori, F.; Sartori, R.; Sauter, O.; Scannell, R.; Schlummer, T.; Schmid, K.; Schmidt, V.; Schmuck, S.; Schneider, M.; Schöpf, K.; Schwörer, D.; Scott, S. D.; Sergienko, G.; Sertoli, M.; Shabbir, A.; Sharapov, S. E.; Shaw, A.; Shaw, R.; Sheikh, H.; Shepherd, A.; Shevelev, A.; Shumack, A.; Sias, G.; Sibbald, M.; Sieglin, B.; Silburn, S.; Silva, A.; Silva, C.; Simmons, P. A.; Simpson, J.; Simpson-Hutchinson, J.; Sinha, A.; Sipilä, S. K.; Sips, A. C. C.; Sirén, P.; Sirinelli, A.; Sjöstrand, H.; Skiba, M.; Skilton, R.; Slabkowska, K.; Slade, B.; Smith, N.; Smith, P. G.; Smith, R.; Smith, T. J.; Smithies, M.; Snoj, L.; Soare, S.; Solano, E. R.; Somers, A.; Sommariva, C.; Sonato, P.; Sopplesa, A.; Sousa, J.; Sozzi, C.; Spagnolo, S.; Spelzini, T.; Spineanu, F.; Stables, G.; Stamatelatos, I.; Stamp, M. F.; Staniec, P.; Stankūnas, G.; Stan-Sion, C.; Stead, M. J.; Stefanikova, E.; Stepanov, I.; Stephen, A. V.; Stephen, M.; Stevens, A.; Stevens, B. D.; Strachan, J.; Strand, P.; Strauss, H. R.; Ström, P.; Stubbs, G.; Studholme, W.; Subba, F.; Summers, H. P.; Svensson, J.; Świderski, Ł.; Szabolics, T.; Szawlowski, M.; Szepesi, G.; Suzuki, T. T.; Tál, B.; Tala, T.; Talbot, A. R.; Talebzadeh, S.; Taliercio, C.; Tamain, P.; Tame, C.; Tang, W.; Tardocchi, M.; Taroni, L.; Taylor, D.; Taylor, K. A.; Tegnered, D.; Telesca, G.; Teplova, N.; Terranova, D.; Testa, D.; Tholerus, E.; Thomas, J.; Thomas, J. D.; Thomas, P.; Thompson, A.; Thompson, C.-A.; Thompson, V. K.; Thorne, L.; Thornton, A.; Thrysøe, A. S.; Tigwell, P. A.; Tipton, N.; Tiseanu, I.; Tojo, H.; Tokitani, M.; Tolias, P.; Tomeš, M.; Tonner, P.; Towndrow, M.; Trimble, P.; Tripsky, M.; Tsalas, M.; Tsavalas, P.; Jun, D. Tskhakaya; Turner, I.; Turner, M. M.; Turnyanskiy, M.; Tvalashvili, G.; Tyrrell, S. G. J.; Uccello, A.; Ul-Abidin, Z.; Uljanovs, J.; Ulyatt, D.; Urano, H.; Uytdenhouwen, I.; Vadgama, A. P.; Valcarcel, D.; Valentinuzzi, M.; Valisa, M.; Olivares, P. Vallejos; Valovic, M.; van de Mortel, M.; van Eester, D.; van Renterghem, W.; van Rooij, G. J.; Varje, J.; Varoutis, S.; Vartanian, S.; Vasava, K.; Vasilopoulou, T.; Vega, J.; Verdoolaege, G.; Verhoeven, R.; Verona, C.; Rinati, G. Verona; Veshchev, E.; Vianello, N.; Vicente, J.; Viezzer, E.; Villari, S.; Villone, F.; Vincenzi, P.; Vinyar, I.; Viola, B.; Vitins, A.; Vizvary, Z.; Vlad, M.; Voitsekhovitch, I.; Vondráček, P.; Vora, N.; Vu, T.; de Sa, W. W. Pires; Wakeling, B.; Waldon, C. W. F.; Walkden, N.; Walker, M.; Walker, R.; Walsh, M.; Wang, E.; Wang, N.; Warder, S.; Warren, R. J.; Waterhouse, J.; Watkins, N. W.; Watts, C.; Wauters, T.; Weckmann, A.; Weiland, J.; Weisen, H.; Weiszflog, M.; Wellstood, C.; West, A. T.; Wheatley, M. R.; Whetham, S.; Whitehead, A. M.; Whitehead, B. D.; Widdowson, A. M.; Wiesen, S.; Wilkinson, J.; Williams, J.; Williams, M.; Wilson, A. R.; Wilson, D. J.; Wilson, H. R.; Wilson, J.; Wischmeier, M.; Withenshaw, G.; Withycombe, A.; Witts, D. M.; Wood, D.; Wood, R.; Woodley, C.; Wray, S.; Wright, J.; Wright, J. C.; Wu, J.; Wukitch, S.; Wynn, A.; Xu, T.; Yadikin, D.; Yanling, W.; Yao, L.; Yavorskij, V.; Yoo, M. G.; Young, C.; Young, D.; Young, I. D.; Young, R.; Zacks, J.; Zagorski, R.; Zaitsev, F. S.; Zanino, R.; Zarins, A.; Zastrow, K. D.; Zerbini, M.; Zhang, W.; Zhou, Y.; Zilli, E.; Zoita, V.; Zoletnik, S.; Zychor, I.

2017-10-01

We describe a new technique for the efficient generation of high-energy ions with electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in multi-ion plasmas. The discussed `three-ion' scenarios are especially suited for strong wave absorption by a very low number of resonant ions. To observe this effect, the plasma composition has to be properly adjusted, as prescribed by theory. We demonstrate the potential of the method on the world-largest plasma magnetic confinement device, JET (Joint European Torus, Culham, UK), and the high-magnetic-field tokamak Alcator C-Mod (Cambridge, USA). The obtained results demonstrate efficient acceleration of 3He ions to high energies in dedicated hydrogen-deuterium mixtures. Simultaneously, effective plasma heating is observed, as a result of the slowing-down of the fast 3He ions. The developed technique is not only limited to laboratory plasmas, but can also be applied to explain observations of energetic ions in space-plasma environments, in particular, 3He-rich solar flares.

Is Deuterium Nuclear Fusion Catalyzed by Antineutrinos?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shomer, Isaac

2010-02-01

The hypothesis of Fischbach and Jenkins that neutrinos emitted from the sun accelerate radioactive decay is noted. It is thought that neutrinos accelerate beta decay by reacting with neutron-rich nuclides to form a beta particle and a daughter product, with no antineutrino emitted. Conversely, it is proposed that antineutrinos can react with proton-rich nuclides to cause positron decay, with no neutrino emitted. It is also proposed that the nuclear fusion of the hydrogen bomb is triggered not only by the energy of the igniting fission bomb, but by the antineutrinos created by the rapid beta decay of the daughter products in the fission process. The contemplated mechanism for antineutrino initiated fusion is the following: 1. The antineutrinos from the fission daughter products cause positron decay of deuterium by the process outlined above. 2. In a later fusion step, these positrons subsequently react with neutrons in deuterium to create antineutrinos. Electrons are unavailable to annihilate positrons in the plasma of the hydrogen bomb. 3. These antineutrinos thereafter react with more deuterium to form positrons, thereby propagating a chain reaction. )

Light impurity transport in JET ILW L-mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonanomi, N.; Mantica, P.; Giroud, C.; Angioni, C.; Manas, P.; Menmuir, S.; Contributors, JET

2018-03-01

A series of experimental observations of light impurity profiles was carried out in JET (Joint European Torus) ITER-like wall (ILW) L-mode plasmas in order to investigate their transport mechanisms. These discharges feature the presence of 3He, Be, C, N, Ne, whose profiles measured by active Charge Exchange diagnostics are compared with quasi-linear and non-linear gyro-kinetic simulations. The peaking of 3He density follows the electron density peaking, Be and Ne are also peaked, while the density profiles of C and N are flat in the mid plasma region. Gyro-kinetic simulations predict peaked density profiles for all the light impurities studied and at all the radial positions considered, and fail predicting the flat or hollow profiles observed for C and N at mid radius in our cases.

Formation and dynamics of plasma bullets in a non-thermal plasma jet: influence of the high-voltage parameters on the plume characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jarrige, Julien; Laroussi, Mounir; Karakas, Erdinc

2010-12-01

Non-thermal plasma jets in open air are composed of ionization waves commonly known as 'plasma bullets' propagating at high velocities. We present in this paper an experimental study of plasma bullets produced in a dielectric barrier discharge linear-field reactor fed with helium and driven by microsecond high-voltage pulses. Two discharges were produced between electrodes for every pulse (at the rising and falling edge), but only one bullet was generated. Fast intensified charge coupled device camera imaging showed that bullet velocity and diameter increase with applied voltage. Spatially resolved optical emission spectroscopy measurements provided evidence of the hollow structure of the jet and its contraction. It was shown that the pulse amplitude significantly enhances electron energy and production of active species. The plasma bullet appeared to behave like a surface discharge in the tube, and like a positive streamer in air. A kinetics mechanism based on electron impact, Penning effect and charge transfer reactions is proposed to explain the propagation of the ionization front and temporal behavior of the radiative species.

Inactivation of myeloma cancer cells by helium and argon plasma jets: The effect comparison and the key reactive species

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Zeyu; Cui, Qingjie; Chen, Chen; Xu, Dehui; Liu, Dingxin; Chen, H. L.; Kong, Michael G.

2018-02-01

In plasma cancer therapy, the inactivation of cancer cells under plasma treatment is closely related to the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) induced by plasmas. Quantitative study on the plasma-induced RONS that related to cancer cells apoptosis is critical for advancing the research of plasma cancer therapy. In this paper, the effects of several reactive species on the inactivation of LP-1 myeloma cancer cells are comparatively studied with variable working gas composition, surrounding gas composition, and discharge power. The results show that helium plasma jet has a higher cell inactivation efficiency than argon plasma jet under the same discharge power. By comparing the concentration of aqueous phase reactive species and the cell inactivation efficiency under different working gases and discharge powers, it is demonstrated that the inactivation efficiency of LP-1 myeloma cancer cells is strongly correlated with the concentration of peroxynitrite (ONOOH/ONOO-).

Effect of slotted exit orifice on performance of plasma synthetic jet actuator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zong, Haohua; Kotsonis, Marios

2017-03-01