Nearly constant ratio between the proton inertial scale and the spectrum break length scale in the plasma beta range from 0.2 to 1.4 in the solar wind turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, X.; Tu, C. Y.; He, J.; Wang, L.

2017-12-01

The spectrum break at the ion scale of the solar wind magnetic fluctuations are considered to give important clue on the turbulence dissipation mechanism. Among several possible mechanisms, the most notable ones are the two mechanisms that related respectively with proton thermal gyro-radius and proton inertial length. However, no definite conclusion has been given for which one is more reasonable because the two parameters have similar values in the normal plasma beta range. Here we do a statistical study for the first time to see if the two mechanism predictions have different dependence on the solar wind velocity and on the plasma beta in the normal plasma beta range in the solar wind at 1 AU. From magnetic measurements by Wind, Ulysses and Messenger, we select 60 data sets with duration longer than 8 hours. We found that the ratio between the proton inertial scale and the spectrum break scale do not change considerably with both varying the solar wind speed from 300km/s to 800km/s and varying the plasma beta from 0.2 to 1.4. The average value of the ratio times 2pi is 0.46 ± 0.08. However, the ratio between the proton gyro-radius and the break scale changes clearly. This new result shows that the proton inertial scale could be a single factor that determines the break length scale and hence gives a strong evidence to support the dissipation mechanism related to it in the normal plasma beta range. The value of the constant ratio may relate with the dissipation mechanism, but it needs further theoretical study to give detailed explanation.

The stimulated Brillouin scattering during the interaction of picosecond laser pulses with moderate- scale-length plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaeris, Andres Claudio

The Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) instability is studied in moderately short scale-length plasmas. The backscattered and specularly reflected light resulting from the interaction of a pair of high power picosecond duration laser pulses with solid Silicon, Gold and Parylene-N (CH) strip targets was spectrally resolved. The first, weaker laser pulse forms a short scale-length plasma while the second delayed one interacts with the isothermally expanded, underdense region of the plasma. The pulses are generated by the Table Top Terawatt (TTT) laser operating at 1054 nm (infrared) with intensities up to 5.10 16 W/cm2. Single laser pulses only show Lambertian scattering on the target critical surface. Pairs of pulses with high intensity in the second pulse show an additional backscattered, highly blueshifted feature, associated with SBS. Increasing this second pulse intensity even more leads to the appearance of a third feature, even more blueshifted than the second, resulting from the Brillouin sidescattering of the laser pulse reflected on the critical surface. The SBS threshold intensities and enhanced reflectivities for P-polarized light are determined for different plasma density scale-lengths. These measurements agree with the convective thresholds predicted by the SBS theory of Liu, Rosenbluth, and White using plasma profiles simulated by the LILAC code. The spectral position of the Brillouin back- and sidescattered features are determined. The SBS and Doppler shifts are much too small to explain the observed blueshifts. The refractive index shift is of the right magnitude, although more detailed verification is required in the future.

LPI Thresholds in Longer Scale Length Plasmas Driven by the Nike Laser*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weaver, J.; Oh, J.; Phillips, L.; Afeyan, B.; Seely, J.; Kehne, D.; Brown, C.; Obenschain, S.; Serlin, V.; Schmitt, A. J.; Feldman, U.; Holland, G.; Lehmberg, R. H.; McLean, E.; Manka, C.

2010-11-01

The Krypton-Fluoride (KrF) laser is an attractive driver for inertial confinement fusion due to its short wavelength (248nm), large bandwidth (1-3 THz), and beam smoothing by induced spatial incoherence. Experiments with the Nike KrF laser have demonstrated intensity thresholds for laser plasma instabilities (LPI) higher than reported for other high power lasers operating at longer wavelengths (>=351 nm). The previous Nike experiments used short pulses (350 ps FWHM) and small spots (<260 μm FWHM) that created short density scale length plasmas (Ln˜50-70 μm) from planar CH targets and demonstrated the onset of two-plasmon decay (2φp) at laser intensities ˜2x10^15 W/cm^2. This talk will present an overview of the current campaign that uses longer pulses (0.5-4.0 ns) to achieve greater density scale lengths (Ln˜100-200 μm). X-rays, emission near ^1/2φo and ^3/2φo harmonics, and reflected laser light have been monitored for onset of 2φp. The longer density scale lengths will allow better comparison to results from other laser facilities. *Work supported by DoE/NNSA and ONR.

Two-dimensional studies of relativistic electron beam plasma instabilities in an inhomogeneous plasma

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

Shukla, Chandrasekhar; Das, Amita, E-mail: amita@ipr.res.in; Patel, Kartik

Relativistic electron beam propagation in plasma is fraught with several micro instabilities like two stream, filamentation, etc., in plasma. This results in severe limitation of the electron transport through a plasma medium. Recently, however, there has been an experimental demonstration of improved transport of Mega Ampere of electron currents (generated by the interaction of intense laser with solid target) in a carbon nanotube structured solid target [G. Chatterjee et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 235005 (2012)]. This then suggests that the inhomogeneous plasma (created by the ionization of carbon nanotube structured target) helps in containing the growth of the beammore » plasma instabilities. This manuscript addresses this issue with the help of a detailed analytical study and 2-D Particle-In-Cell simulations. The study conclusively demonstrates that the growth rate of the dominant instability in the 2-D geometry decreases when the plasma density is chosen to be inhomogeneous, provided the scale length 1/k{sub s} of the inhomogeneous plasma is less than the typical plasma skin depth (c/ω{sub 0}) scale. At such small scale lengths channelization of currents is also observed in simulation.« less

Subcritical collisionless shock waves. [in earth space plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mellott, M. M.

1985-01-01

The development history of theoretical accounts of low Mach number collisionless shock waves is related to recent observational advancements, with attention to weaker shocks in which shock steepening is limited by dispersion and/or anomalous resistivity and whose character is primarily determined by the dispersive properties of the ambient plasma. Attention has focused on nearly perpendicular shocks where dispersive scale lengths become small and the associated cross-field currents become strong enough to generate significant plasma wave turbulence. A number of oblique, low Mach number bow shocks have been studied on the basis of data from the ISEE dual spacecraft pair, allowing an accurate determination of shock scale lengths.

Ion acceleration in electrostatic collisionless shock: on the optimal density profile for quasi-monoenergetic beams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boella, E.; Fiúza, F.; Stockem Novo, A.; Fonseca, R.; Silva, L. O.

2018-03-01

A numerical study on ion acceleration in electrostatic shock waves is presented, with the aim of determining the best plasma configuration to achieve quasi-monoenergetic ion beams in laser-driven systems. It was recently shown that tailored near-critical density plasmas characterized by a long-scale decreasing rear density profile lead to beams with low energy spread (Fiúza et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 109 215001). In this work, a detailed parameter scan investigating different plasma scale lengths is carried out. As result, the optimal plasma spatial scale length that allows for minimizing the energy spread while ensuring a significant reflection of ions by the shock is identified. Furthermore, a new configuration where the required profile has been obtained by coupling micro layers of different densities is proposed. Results show that this new engineered approach is a valid alternative, guaranteeing a low energy spread with a higher level of controllability.

Scaling high-order harmonic generation from laser-solid interactions to ultrahigh intensity.

PubMed

Dollar, F; Cummings, P; Chvykov, V; Willingale, L; Vargas, M; Yanovsky, V; Zulick, C; Maksimchuk, A; Thomas, A G R; Krushelnick, K

2013-04-26

Coherent x-ray beams with a subfemtosecond (<10(-15)  s) pulse duration will enable measurements of fundamental atomic processes in a completely new regime. High-order harmonic generation (HOHG) using short pulse (<100  fs) infrared lasers focused to intensities surpassing 10(18)  W cm(-2) onto a solid density plasma is a promising means of generating such short pulses. Critical to the relativistic oscillating mirror mechanism is the steepness of the plasma density gradient at the reflection point, characterized by a scale length, which can strongly influence the harmonic generation mechanism. It is shown that for intensities in excess of 10(21)  W cm(-2) an optimum density ramp scale length exists that balances an increase in efficiency with a growth of parametric plasma wave instabilities. We show that for these higher intensities the optimal scale length is c/ω0, for which a variety of HOHG properties are optimized, including total conversion efficiency, HOHG divergence, and their power law scaling. Particle-in-cell simulations show striking evidence of the HOHG loss mechanism through parametric instabilities and relativistic self-phase modulation, which affect the produced spectra and conversion efficiency.

Nonlinear plasma wave models in 3D fluid simulations of laser-plasma interaction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chapman, Thomas; Berger, Richard; Arrighi, Bill; Langer, Steve; Banks, Jeffrey; Brunner, Stephan

2017-10-01

Simulations of laser-plasma interaction (LPI) in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) conditions require multi-mm spatial scales due to the typical laser beam size and durations of order 100 ps in order for numerical laser reflectivities to converge. To be computationally achievable, these scales necessitate a fluid-like treatment of light and plasma waves with a spatial grid size on the order of the light wave length. Plasma waves experience many nonlinear phenomena not naturally described by a fluid treatment, such as frequency shifts induced by trapping, a nonlinear (typically suppressed) Landau damping, and mode couplings leading to instabilities that can cause the plasma wave to decay rapidly. These processes affect the onset and saturation of stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering, and are of direct interest to the modeling and prediction of deleterious LPI in ICF. It is not currently computationally feasible to simulate these Debye length-scale phenomena in 3D across experimental scales. Analytically-derived and/or numerically benchmarked models of processes occurring at scales finer than the fluid simulation grid offer a path forward. We demonstrate the impact of a range of kinetic processes on plasma reflectivity via models included in the LPI simulation code pF3D. This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Isotope Mass Scaling of Turbulence and Transport

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKee, George; Yan, Zheng; Gohil, Punit; Luce, Tim; Rhodes, Terry

2017-10-01

The dependence of turbulence characteristics and transport scaling on the fuel ion mass has been investigated in a set of hydrogen (A = 1) and deuterium (A = 2) plasmas on DIII-D. Normalized energy confinement time (B *τE) is two times lower in hydrogen (H) plasmas compare to similar deuterium (D) plasmas. Dimensionless parameters other than ion mass (A) , including ρ*, q95, Te /Ti , βN, ν*, and Mach number were maintained nearly fixed. Matched profiles of electron density, electron and ion temperature, and toroidal rotation were well matched. The normalized turbulence amplitude (ñ / n) is approximately twice as large in H as in D, which may partially explain the increased transport and reduced energy confinement time. Radial correlation lengths of low-wavenumber density turbulence in hydrogen are similar to or slightly larger than correlation lengths in the deuterium plasmas and generally scale with the ion gyroradius, which were maintained nearly fixed in this dimensionless scan. Predicting energy confinement in D-T burning plasmas requires an understanding of the large and beneficial isotope scaling of transport. Supported by USDOE under DE-FG02-08ER54999 and DE-FC02-04ER54698.

Ion acceleration in electrostatic collisionless shock: on the optimal density profile for quasi-monoenergetic beams

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

Boella, E.; Fiúza, F.; Novo, A. Stockem

Here, a numerical study on ion acceleration in electrostatic shock waves is presented, with the aim of determining the best plasma configuration to achieve quasi-monoenergetic ion beams in laser-driven systems. It was recently shown that tailored near-critical density plasmas characterized by a long-scale decreasing rear density profile lead to beams with low energy spread (Fiúza et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 109 215001). In this work, a detailed parameter scan investigating different plasma scale lengths is carried out. As result, the optimal plasma spatial scale length that allows for minimizing the energy spread while ensuring a significant reflection of ionsmore » by the shock is identified. Furthermore, a new configuration where the required profile has been obtained by coupling micro layers of different densities is proposed. Lastly, results show that this new engineered approach is a valid alternative, guaranteeing a low energy spread with a higher level of controllability.« less

Ion acceleration in electrostatic collisionless shock: on the optimal density profile for quasi-monoenergetic beams

DOE PAGES

Boella, E.; Fiúza, F.; Novo, A. Stockem; ...

2018-02-01

Here, a numerical study on ion acceleration in electrostatic shock waves is presented, with the aim of determining the best plasma configuration to achieve quasi-monoenergetic ion beams in laser-driven systems. It was recently shown that tailored near-critical density plasmas characterized by a long-scale decreasing rear density profile lead to beams with low energy spread (Fiúza et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 109 215001). In this work, a detailed parameter scan investigating different plasma scale lengths is carried out. As result, the optimal plasma spatial scale length that allows for minimizing the energy spread while ensuring a significant reflection of ionsmore » by the shock is identified. Furthermore, a new configuration where the required profile has been obtained by coupling micro layers of different densities is proposed. Lastly, results show that this new engineered approach is a valid alternative, guaranteeing a low energy spread with a higher level of controllability.« less

Spatial structure of plasma density perturbations, induced in the ionosphere modified by powerful HF radio waves: Review of experimental results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frolov, Vladimir

2015-06-01

In the review, the results of experimental studies of spatial structure of small-, middle-, and large scale plasma density perturbations induced in the ionosphere by its pumping by powerful HF O-mode (ordinary) radio waves, are analyzed. It is shown that the region with induced plasma density perturbations occupied all ionosphere body from its E-region up to the topside ionosphere in the height and it has the horizontal length of about of 300-500 km. Peculiarities of generation of artificial ionosphere irregularities of different scale-lengths in the magnetic zenith region are stated. Experimental results obtained under conditions of ionosphere periodical pumping when the generation of travel ionosphere disturbances is revealed are also discussed.

Channel optimization of high-intensity laser beams in millimeter-scale plasmas.

PubMed

Ceurvorst, L; Savin, A; Ratan, N; Kasim, M F; Sadler, J; Norreys, P A; Habara, H; Tanaka, K A; Zhang, S; Wei, M S; Ivancic, S; Froula, D H; Theobald, W

2018-04-01

Channeling experiments were performed at the OMEGA EP facility using relativistic intensity (>10^{18}W/cm^{2}) kilojoule laser pulses through large density scale length (∼390-570 μm) laser-produced plasmas, demonstrating the effects of the pulse's focal location and intensity as well as the plasma's temperature on the resulting channel formation. The results show deeper channeling when focused into hot plasmas and at lower densities, as expected. However, contrary to previous large-scale particle-in-cell studies, the results also indicate deeper penetration by short (10 ps), intense pulses compared to their longer-duration equivalents. This new observation has many implications for future laser-plasma research in the relativistic regime.

Channel optimization of high-intensity laser beams in millimeter-scale plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ceurvorst, L.; Savin, A.; Ratan, N.; Kasim, M. F.; Sadler, J.; Norreys, P. A.; Habara, H.; Tanaka, K. A.; Zhang, S.; Wei, M. S.; Ivancic, S.; Froula, D. H.; Theobald, W.

2018-04-01

Channeling experiments were performed at the OMEGA EP facility using relativistic intensity (>1018W/cm 2 ) kilojoule laser pulses through large density scale length (˜390 -570 μ m ) laser-produced plasmas, demonstrating the effects of the pulse's focal location and intensity as well as the plasma's temperature on the resulting channel formation. The results show deeper channeling when focused into hot plasmas and at lower densities, as expected. However, contrary to previous large-scale particle-in-cell studies, the results also indicate deeper penetration by short (10 ps), intense pulses compared to their longer-duration equivalents. This new observation has many implications for future laser-plasma research in the relativistic regime.

Multi-chord fiber-coupled interferometer with a long coherence length laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Merritt, Elizabeth C.; Lynn, Alan G.; Gilmore, Mark A.; Hsu, Scott C.

2012-03-01

This paper describes a 561 nm laser heterodyne interferometer that provides time-resolved measurements of line-integrated plasma electron density within the range of 1015-1018 cm-2. Such plasmas are produced by railguns on the plasma liner experiment, which aims to produce μs-, cm-, and Mbar-scale plasmas through the merging of 30 plasma jets in a spherically convergent geometry. A long coherence length, 320 mW laser allows for a strong, sub-fringe phase-shift signal without the need for closely matched probe and reference path lengths. Thus, only one reference path is required for all eight probe paths, and an individual probe chord can be altered without altering the reference or other probe path lengths. Fiber-optic decoupling of the probe chord optics on the vacuum chamber from the rest of the system allows the probe paths to be easily altered to focus on different spatial regions of the plasma. We demonstrate that sub-fringe resolution capability allows the interferometer to operate down to line-integrated densities of the order of 5 × 1015 cm-2.

A System Scale Theory for Fast Magnetic Reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knoll, D.; Chacon, L.; Lapenta, G.

2005-12-01

Magnetic reconnection is at the root of explosive phenomena such as solar flares, coronal mass ejections, plasmoid ejection from earth's magnetotail and major disruptions in magnetic fusion energy experiments. Plasmas in all the above mentioned cases are known to have negligible electric resistivity. This small resistivity can not explain the reconnection time scales observed in nature, when using the resistive MHD model. Recently much progress has been made considering the Hall MHD model. Hall physics has been shown to facility fast reconnection when the magnetic field shear scale length is in the order of the ion inertial length. However, in many systems of interest the initial scale lengths of the problem can not justify the use of Hall MHD. Thus a successful system scale theory must involve a current sheet thinning mechanism which brings the relevant scales down to the Hall scales. In this presentation we give examples of how naturally occurring hydrodynamic flows can provide such current sheet thinning [1,2,3] and where these occur in solar [4] and magnetosphere application [5]. We also discuss the primary obstacle for such flow to drive current sheet thinning, the build up of magnetic pressure, and how Hall MHD may overcome this obstacle. [1] Knoll and Brackbill, Phys. Plasmas, vol. 9, 2002 [2] Knoll and Chacon, PRL, vol. 88, 2002 [3] Knoll and Chacon, Phys. Plasmas, 2005 (submitted) [4] Lapenta and Knoll, ApJ, vol. 624, 2005 [5] Brackbill and Knoll, PRL, vol. 86, 2001

Angular filter refractometry analysis using simulated annealing [An improved method for characterizing plasma density profiles using angular filter refractometry

DOE PAGES

Angland, P.; Haberberger, D.; Ivancic, S. T.; ...

2017-10-30

Here, a new method of analysis for angular filter refractometry images was developed to characterize laser-produced, long-scale-length plasmas using an annealing algorithm to iterative converge upon a solution. Angular filter refractometry (AFR) is a novel technique used to characterize the density pro files of laser-produced, long-scale-length plasmas. A synthetic AFR image is constructed by a user-defined density profile described by eight parameters, and the algorithm systematically alters the parameters until the comparison is optimized. The optimization and statistical uncertainty calculation is based on a minimization of themore » $$\\chi$$2 test statistic. The algorithm was successfully applied to experimental data of plasma expanding from a flat, laser-irradiated target, resulting in average uncertainty in the density profile of 5-10% in the region of interest.« less

Angular filter refractometry analysis using simulated annealing [An improved method for characterizing plasma density profiles using angular filter refractometry

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

Angland, P.; Haberberger, D.; Ivancic, S. T.

Here, a new method of analysis for angular filter refractometry images was developed to characterize laser-produced, long-scale-length plasmas using an annealing algorithm to iterative converge upon a solution. Angular filter refractometry (AFR) is a novel technique used to characterize the density pro files of laser-produced, long-scale-length plasmas. A synthetic AFR image is constructed by a user-defined density profile described by eight parameters, and the algorithm systematically alters the parameters until the comparison is optimized. The optimization and statistical uncertainty calculation is based on a minimization of themore » $$\\chi$$2 test statistic. The algorithm was successfully applied to experimental data of plasma expanding from a flat, laser-irradiated target, resulting in average uncertainty in the density profile of 5-10% in the region of interest.« less

Geometric scalings for the electrostatically driven helical plasma state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akçay, Cihan; Finn, John M.; Nebel, Richard A.; Barnes, Daniel C.

2017-12-01

A new plasma state has been investigated [Akcay et al., Phys. Plasmas 24, 052503 (2017)], with a uniform applied axial magnetic field in a periodic cylinder of length L = 2 π R , driven by helical electrodes. The drive is single helicity, depending on m θ + k z = m θ - n ζ , where ζ = z / R and k = - n / R . For strong ( m , n ) = ( 1 , 1 ) drive, the state was found to have a strong axial mean current density, with a mean-field safety factor q 0 ( r ) just above the pitch of the electrodes m / n = 1 in the interior. This state has possible applications to DC electrical transformers and tailoring of the current profile in tokamaks. We study two geometric issues of interest for these applications: (i) scaling of properties with the plasma length or aspect ratio and (ii) behavior for different helicities, specifically ( m , n ) = ( 1 , n ) for n > 1 and ( m , n ) = ( 2 , 1 ) .

Sheaths: A Comparison of Magnetospheric, ICME, and Heliospheric Sheaths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sibeck, D. G.; Richardson, J. D.; Liu, W.

2007-01-01

When a supersonic flow encounters an obstacles, shocks form to divert the flow around the obstacle. The region between the shock and the obstacle is the sheath, where the supersonic flow is compressed, heated, decelerated, and deflected. Supersonic flows, obstacles, and thus sheaths are observed on many scales throughout the Universe. We compare three examples seen in the heliosphere, illustrating the interaction of the solar wind with obstacles of three very different scales lengths. Magnetosheaths form behind planetary bow shocks on scales ranging from tens to 100 planetary radii. ICME sheath form behind shocks driven by solar disturbances on scale lengths of a few to tens of AU. The heliosheath forms behind the termination shock due to the obstacle presented by the interstellar medium on scale lengths of tens to a hundred AU. Despite this range in scales some common features have been observed. Magnetic holes, possibly due to mirror mode waves, have been observed in all three of these sheaths. Plasma depletion layers are observed in planetary and ICME sheaths. Other features observed in some sheaths are wave activity (ion cyclotron, plasma), energetic particles, transmission of Alfven waves/shocks, tangential discontinuities turbulence behind quasi-parallel shocks, standing slow mode waves, and reconnection on the obstacle boundary. We compare these sheath regions, discussing similarities and differences and how these may relate to the scale lengths of these regions.

Magnetosheath plasma turbulence and its spatiotemporal evolution as observed by the cluster spacecraft.

PubMed

Yordanova, E; Vaivads, A; André, M; Buchert, S C; Vörös, Z

2008-05-23

We study the plasma turbulence, at scales larger than the ion inertial length scale, downstream of a quasiparallel bow shock using Cluster multispacecraft measurements. We show that turbulence is intermittent and well described by the extended structure function model, which takes into account the spatial inhomogeneity of the cascade rate. For the first time we use multispacecraft observations to characterize the evolution of magnetosheath turbulence, particularly its intermittency, as a function of the distance from the bow shock. The intermittency significantly changes over the distance of the order of 100 ion inertial lengths, being increasingly stronger and anisotropic away from the bow shock.

Reduced 3d modeling on injection schemes for laser wakefield acceleration at plasma scale lengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Helm, Anton; Vieira, Jorge; Silva, Luis; Fonseca, Ricardo

2017-10-01

Current modelling techniques for laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) are based on particle-in-cell (PIC) codes which are computationally demanding. In PIC simulations the laser wavelength λ0, in μm-range, has to be resolved over the acceleration lengths in meter-range. A promising approach is the ponderomotive guiding center solver (PGC) by only considering the laser envelope for laser pulse propagation. Therefore only the plasma skin depth λp has to be resolved, leading to speedups of (λp /λ0) 2. This allows to perform a wide-range of parameter studies and use it for λ0 <<λp studies. We present the 3d version of a PGC solver in the massively parallel, fully relativistic PIC code OSIRIS. Further, a discussion and characterization of the validity of the PGC solver for injection schemes on the plasma scale lengths, such as down-ramp injection, magnetic injection and ionization injection, through parametric studies, full PIC simulations and theoretical scaling, is presented. This work was partially supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, through Grant No. PTDC/FIS-PLA/2940/2014 and PD/BD/105882/2014.

Controlled Electron Injection into Plasma Accelerators and SpaceCharge Estimates

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

Fubiani, Gwenael G.J.

2005-09-01

Plasma based accelerators are capable of producing electron sources which are ultra-compact (a few microns) and high energies (up to hundreds of MeVs) in much shorter distances than conventional accelerators. This is due to the large longitudinal electric field that can be excited without the limitation of breakdown as in RF structures.The characteristic scale length of the accelerating field is the plasma wavelength and for typical densities ranging from 10 18 - 10 19 cm -3, the accelerating fields and scale length can hence be on the order of 10-100GV/m and 10-40 μm, respectively. The production of quasimonoenergetic beams wasmore » recently obtained in a regime relying on self-trapping of background plasma electrons, using a single laser pulse for wakefield generation. In this dissertation, we study the controlled injection via the beating of two lasers (the pump laser pulse creating the plasma wave and a second beam being propagated in opposite direction) which induce a localized injection of background plasma electrons. The aim of this dissertation is to describe in detail the physics of optical injection using two lasers, the characteristics of the electron beams produced (the micrometer scale plasma wavelength can result in femtosecond and even attosecond bunches) as well as a concise estimate of the effects of space charge on the dynamics of an ultra-dense electron bunch with a large energy spread.« less

Impact of Pre-Plasma on Electron Generation and Transport in Laser Plasma Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peebles, Jonathan Lee

Relativistic laser plasma interactions in conjunction with an underdense pre-plasma have been shown to generate a two temperature component electron spectrum. The lower temperature component described by "ponderomotive scaling'" is relatively well known and understood and is useful for applications such as the fast ignition inertial confinement fusion scheme. The higher energy electrons generated due to pre-plasma are denoted as "super-ponderomotive" electrons and facilitate interesting and useful applications. These include but are not limited to table top particle acceleration and generating high energy protons, x-rays and neutrons from secondary interactions. This dissertation describes experimental and particle-in-cell computational studies of the electron spectra produced from interactions between short pulse high intensity lasers and controlled pre-plasma conditions. Experiments were conducted at 3 laser labs: Texas Petawatt (University of Texas at Austin), Titan (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) and OMEGA-EP (University of Rochester). These lasers have different capabilities, and multiple experiments were carried out in order to fully understand super-ponderomotive electron generation and transport in the high intensity laser regime (I > 1018 W/cm2). In these experiments, an additional secondary long pulse beam was used to generate different scale lengths of "injected" pre-plasma while the pulse length and intensity of the short pulse beam were varied. The temperature and quantity of super-ponderomotive electrons were monitored with magnetic spectrometers and inferred via bremsstrahlung spectrometers while trajectory was estimated via Cu-Kalpha imaging. The experimental and simulation data show that super-ponderomotive electrons require pulse lengths of at least 450 fs to be accelerated and that higher intensity interactions generate large magnetic fields which cause severe deflection of the super-ponderomotive electrons. Laser incidence angle is shown to be extremely important in determining hot electron trajectory. Longer pulse length data taken on OMEGA-EP and Titan showed that super-ponderomotive electrons could be created without the need for an initial pre-plasma due to the underdense plasma created during the high intensity interaction alone.

The scaling of oblique plasma double layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borovsky, J. E.

1983-01-01

Strong oblique plasma double layers are investigated using three methods, i.e., electrostatic particle-in-cell simulations, numerical solutions to the Poisson-Vlasov equations, and analytical approximations to the Poisson-Vlasov equations. The solutions to the Poisson-Vlasov equations and numerical simulations show that strong oblique double layers scale in terms of Debye lengths. For very large potential jumps, theory and numerical solutions indicate that all effects of the magnetic field vanish and the oblique double layers follow the same scaling relation as the field-aligned double layers.

Electrostatic stability of electron-positron plasmas in dipole geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishchenko, Alexey; Plunk, Gabriel G.; Helander, Per

2018-04-01

The electrostatic stability of electron-positron plasmas is investigated in the point-dipole and Z-pinch limits of dipole geometry. The kinetic dispersion relation for sub-bounce-frequency instabilities is derived and solved. For the zero-Debye-length case, the stability diagram is found to exhibit singular behaviour. However, when the Debye length is non-zero, a fluid mode appears, which resolves the observed singularity, and also demonstrates that both the temperature and density gradients can drive instability. It is concluded that a finite Debye length is necessary to determine the stability boundaries in parameter space. Landau damping is investigated at scales sufficiently smaller than the Debye length, where instability is absent.

An accurate and efficient laser-envelope solver for the modeling of laser-plasma accelerators

DOE PAGES

Benedetti, C.; Schroeder, C. B.; Geddes, C. G. R.; ...

2017-10-17

Detailed and reliable numerical modeling of laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs), where a short and intense laser pulse interacts with an underdense plasma over distances of up to a meter, is a formidably challenging task. This is due to the great disparity among the length scales involved in the modeling, ranging from the micron scale of the laser wavelength to the meter scale of the total laser-plasma interaction length. The use of the time-averaged ponderomotive force approximation, where the laser pulse is described by means of its envelope, enables efficient modeling of LPAs by removing the need to model the details ofmore » electron motion at the laser wavelength scale. Furthermore, it allows simulations in cylindrical geometry which captures relevant 3D physics at 2D computational cost. A key element of any code based on the time-averaged ponderomotive force approximation is the laser envelope solver. In this paper we present the accurate and efficient envelope solver used in the code INF & RNO (INtegrated Fluid & paRticle simulatioN cOde). The features of the INF & RNO laser solver enable an accurate description of the laser pulse evolution deep into depletion even at a reasonably low resolution, resulting in significant computational speed-ups.« less

An accurate and efficient laser-envelope solver for the modeling of laser-plasma accelerators

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

Benedetti, C.; Schroeder, C. B.; Geddes, C. G. R.

Detailed and reliable numerical modeling of laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs), where a short and intense laser pulse interacts with an underdense plasma over distances of up to a meter, is a formidably challenging task. This is due to the great disparity among the length scales involved in the modeling, ranging from the micron scale of the laser wavelength to the meter scale of the total laser-plasma interaction length. The use of the time-averaged ponderomotive force approximation, where the laser pulse is described by means of its envelope, enables efficient modeling of LPAs by removing the need to model the details ofmore » electron motion at the laser wavelength scale. Furthermore, it allows simulations in cylindrical geometry which captures relevant 3D physics at 2D computational cost. A key element of any code based on the time-averaged ponderomotive force approximation is the laser envelope solver. In this paper we present the accurate and efficient envelope solver used in the code INF & RNO (INtegrated Fluid & paRticle simulatioN cOde). The features of the INF & RNO laser solver enable an accurate description of the laser pulse evolution deep into depletion even at a reasonably low resolution, resulting in significant computational speed-ups.« less

An accurate and efficient laser-envelope solver for the modeling of laser-plasma accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benedetti, C.; Schroeder, C. B.; Geddes, C. G. R.; Esarey, E.; Leemans, W. P.

2018-01-01

Detailed and reliable numerical modeling of laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs), where a short and intense laser pulse interacts with an underdense plasma over distances of up to a meter, is a formidably challenging task. This is due to the great disparity among the length scales involved in the modeling, ranging from the micron scale of the laser wavelength to the meter scale of the total laser-plasma interaction length. The use of the time-averaged ponderomotive force approximation, where the laser pulse is described by means of its envelope, enables efficient modeling of LPAs by removing the need to model the details of electron motion at the laser wavelength scale. Furthermore, it allows simulations in cylindrical geometry which captures relevant 3D physics at 2D computational cost. A key element of any code based on the time-averaged ponderomotive force approximation is the laser envelope solver. In this paper we present the accurate and efficient envelope solver used in the code INF&RNO (INtegrated Fluid & paRticle simulatioN cOde). The features of the INF&RNO laser solver enable an accurate description of the laser pulse evolution deep into depletion even at a reasonably low resolution, resulting in significant computational speed-ups.

Channel optimization of high-intensity laser beams in millimeter-scale plasmas

DOE PAGES

Ceurvorst, L.; Savin, A.; Ratan, N.; ...

2018-04-20

Channeling experiments were performed at the OMEGA EP facility using relativistic intensity (> 10 18 W/cm 2) kilojoule laser pulses through large density scale length (~ 390-570 μm) laser-produced plasmas, demonstrating the effects of the pulse’s focal location and intensity as well as the plasma’s temperature on the resulting channel formation. The results show deeper channeling when focused into hot plasmas and at lower densities as expected. However, contrary to previous large scale particle-in-cell studies, the results also indicate deeper penetration by short (10 ps), intense pulses compared to their longer duration equivalents. To conclude, this new observation has manymore » implications for future laser-plasma research in the relativistic regime.« less

Channel optimization of high-intensity laser beams in millimeter-scale plasmas

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

Ceurvorst, L.; Savin, A.; Ratan, N.

Channeling experiments were performed at the OMEGA EP facility using relativistic intensity (> 10 18 W/cm 2) kilojoule laser pulses through large density scale length (~ 390-570 μm) laser-produced plasmas, demonstrating the effects of the pulse’s focal location and intensity as well as the plasma’s temperature on the resulting channel formation. The results show deeper channeling when focused into hot plasmas and at lower densities as expected. However, contrary to previous large scale particle-in-cell studies, the results also indicate deeper penetration by short (10 ps), intense pulses compared to their longer duration equivalents. To conclude, this new observation has manymore » implications for future laser-plasma research in the relativistic regime.« less

Demonstration of passive plasma lensing of a laser wakefield accelerated electron bunch

DOE PAGES

Kuschel, S.; Hollatz, D.; Heinemann, T.; ...

2016-07-20

We report on the first demonstration of passive all-optical plasma lensing using a two-stage setup. An intense femtosecond laser accelerates electrons in a laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) to 100 MeV over millimeter length scales. By adding a second gas target behind the initial LWFA stage we introduce a robust and independently tunable plasma lens. We observe a density dependent reduction of the LWFA electron beam divergence from an initial value of 2.3 mrad, down to 1.4 mrad (rms), when the plasma lens is in operation. Such a plasma lens provides a simple and compact approach for divergence reduction well matchedmore » to the mm-scale length of the LWFA accelerator. The focusing forces are provided solely by the plasma and driven by the bunch itself only, making this a highly useful and conceptually new approach to electron beam focusing. Possible applications of this lens are not limited to laser plasma accelerators. Since no active driver is needed the passive plasma lens is also suited for high repetition rate focusing of electron bunches. As a result, its understanding is also required for modeling the evolution of the driving particle bunch in particle driven wake field acceleration.« less

Development of manufacturing methods for the production of superconductive devices. Final technical documentary report, 28 Jun 1965--27 Jun 1969. [Plasma arc process

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

Haid, D.A.; Fietz, W.A.

1969-06-01

The effort to scale-up the plasma-arc process to produce large solenoids and saddle coils is described. Large coils (up to 16-/sup 3///sub 4/ in. and 41-in. length) of three different configurations, helical, ''pancake'' and ''saddle,'' were fabricated using the plasma arc process.

Compact Plasma Accelerator for Micropropulsion Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, John E.

2001-01-01

There is a need for a low power, light-weight (compact), high specific impulse electric propulsion device to satisfy mission requirements for microsatellite (1 to 20 kg) class missions. Satisfying these requirements entails addressing the general problem of generating a sufficiently dense plasma within a relatively small volume and then accelerating it. In the work presented here, the feasibility of utilizing a magnetic cusp to generate a dense plasma over small length scales of order 1 mm is investigated. This approach could potentially mitigate scaling issues associated with conventional ion thruster plasma containment schemes. Plume and discharge characteristics were documented using a Faraday probe and a retarding potential analyzer.

Low energy electron-impact ionization of hydrogen atom for coplanar equal-energy-sharing kinematics in Debye plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jun; Zhang, Song Bin; Ye, Bang Jiao; Wang, Jian Guo; Janev, R. K.

2016-12-01

Low energy electron-impact ionization of hydrogen atom in Debye plasmas has been investigated by employing the exterior complex scaling method. The interactions between the charged particles in the plasma have been represented by Debye-Hückel potentials. Triple differential cross sections (TDCS) in the coplanar equal-energy-sharing geometry at an incident energy of 15.6 eV for different screening lengths are reported. As the screening strength increases, TDCS change significantly. The evolutions of dominant typical peak structures of the TDCS are studied in detail for different screening lengths and for different coplanar equal-energy-sharing geometries.

Rayleigh-Taylor instability in an equal mass plasma

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

Adak, Ashish, E-mail: ashish-adak@yahoo.com; Ghosh, Samiran, E-mail: sran-g@yahoo.com; Chakrabarti, Nikhil, E-mail: nikhil.chakrabarti@saha.ac.in

The Rayleigh-Taylor (RT) instability in an inhomogeneous pair-ion plasma has been analyzed. Considering two fluid model for two species of ions (positive and negative), we obtain the possibility of the existence of RT instability. The growth rate of the RT instability as usual depends on gravity and density gradient scale length. The results are discussed in context of pair-ion plasma experiments.

Channeling of multikilojoule high-intensity laser beams in an inhomogeneous plasma

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

Ivancic, S.; Haberberger, D.; Habara, H.

Channeling experiments were performed that demonstrate the transport of high-intensity (>10¹⁸ W/cm²), multikilojoule laser light through a millimeter-sized, inhomogeneous (~300-μm density scale length) laser produced plasma up to overcritical density, which is an important step forward for the fast-ignition concept. The background plasma density and the density depression inside the channel were characterized with a novel optical probe system. The channel progression velocity was measured, which agrees well with theoretical predictions based on large scale particle-in-cell simulations, confirming scaling laws for the required channeling laser energy and laser pulse duration, which are important parameters for future integrated fast-ignition channeling experiments.

Scattering of magnetized electrons at the boundary of low temperature plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krüger, Dennis; Trieschmann, Jan; Brinkmann, Ralf Peter

2018-02-01

Magnetized technological plasmas with magnetic fields of 10-200 mT, plasma densities of 1017-1019 m-3, gas pressures of less than 1 Pa, and electron energies from a few to (at most) a few hundred electron volts are characterized by electron Larmor radii r L, that are small compared to all other length scales of the system, including the spatial scale L of the magnetic field and the collisional mean free path λ. In this regime, the classical drift approximation applies. In the boundary sheath of these discharges, however, that approximation breaks down: The sheath penetration depth of electrons (a few to some ten Debye length λ D; depending on the kinetic energy; typically much smaller than the sheath thickness of tens/hundreds of λ D) is even smaller than r L. For a model description of the electron dynamics, an appropriate boundary condition for the plasma/sheath interface is required. To develop such, the interaction of magnetized electrons with the boundary sheath is investigated using a 3D kinetic single electron model that sets the larger scales L and λ to infinity, i.e. neglects magnetic field gradients, the electric field in the bulk, and collisions. A detailed comparison of the interaction for a Bohm sheath (which assumes a finite Debye length) and a hard wall model (representing the limit {λ }{{D}}\\to 0; also called the specular reflection model) is conducted. Both models are found to be in remarkable agreement with respect to the sheath-induced drift. It is concluded that the assumption of specular reflection can be used as a valid boundary condition for more realistic kinetic models of magnetized technological plasmas.

Relativistic laser channeling in plasmas for fast ignition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, A. L.; Pukhov, A.; Kodama, R.; Yabuuchi, T.; Adumi, K.; Endo, K.; Freeman, R. R.; Habara, H.; Kitagawa, Y.; Kondo, K.; Kumar, G. R.; Matsuoka, T.; Mima, K.; Nagatomo, H.; Norimatsu, T.; Shorokhov, O.; Snavely, R.; Yang, X. Q.; Zheng, J.; Tanaka, K. A.

2007-12-01

We report an experimental observation suggesting plasma channel formation by focusing a relativistic laser pulse into a long-scale-length preformed plasma. The channel direction coincides with the laser axis. Laser light transmittance measurement indicates laser channeling into the high-density plasma with relativistic self-focusing. A three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation reproduces the plasma channel and reveals that the collimated hot-electron beam is generated along the laser axis in the laser channeling. These findings hold the promising possibility of fast heating a dense fuel plasma with a relativistic laser pulse.

Arbitrary amplitude nucleus-acoustic solitons in multi-ion quantum plasmas with relativistically degenerate electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sultana, S.; Schlickeiser, R.

2018-02-01

A three component degenerate relativistic quantum plasma (consisting of relativistically degenerate electrons, nondegenerate inertial light nuclei, and stationary heavy nuclei) is considered to model the linear wave and also the electrostatic solitary waves in the light nuclei-scale length. A well-known normal mode analysis is employed to investigate the linear wave properties. A mechanical-motion analog (Sagdeev-type) pseudo-potential approach, which reveals the existence of large amplitude solitary excitations, is adopted to study the nonlinear wave properties. Only the positive potential solitary excitations are found to exist in the plasma medium under consideration. The basic properties of the arbitrary amplitude electrostatic acoustic modes in the light nuclei-scale length and their existence domain in terms of soliton speed (Mach number) are examined. The modifications of solitary wave characteristics and their existence domain with the variation of different key plasma configuration parameters (e.g., electrons degeneracy parameter, inertial light nuclei number density, and degenerate electron number density) are also analyzed. Our results, which may be helpful to explain the basic features of the nonlinear wave propagation in multi-component degenerate quantum plasmas, in connection with astrophysical compact objects (e.g., white dwarfs) are briefly discussed.

Non-local Lateral electron heat transport from one or more hot spots.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matte, Jean-Pierre; Alouani-Bibi, Fathallah

2000-10-01

Fokker-Planck simulations of collisional absorption and transport in long scale length, preformed, underdense plasmas heated by intense and narrow laser hot spots, as in certain recent LANL experiments [1], are presented. The temperature profiles compared with those obtained from flux limited or delocalized heat flow models. For the former, the temperature peaks can be matched only if a very low flux limiter is used, and even then, the scale length of the temperature profile is always overestimated. The electron distribution function will be characterized, and compared to the "DLM" shape, exp(-(v/u)^m), [2] and the best fit for m will be compared to older formulas for uniform plasmas [2]. Hydrodynamic effects are also addressed with simulations which include ion motion; both with and without the ponderomotive force. The enhancement of sound velocity due to the "DLM" shape [3] inside the hot spot will be quantified. [1] J.A. Cobble et al., Phys. Plasmas, 7, 323 (2000) [2] J.P. Matte et al., Plasma Phys. and Contr. Fusion, 30, 1665, (1988) [3] B. B. Afeyan et al., PRL 81, 2322 (1998).

Mitigation of hot electrons from laser-plasma instabilities in high-Z, highly ionized plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fein, J. R.; Holloway, J. P.; Trantham, M. R.; Keiter, P. A.; Edgell, D. H.; Froula, D. H.; Haberberger, D.; Frank, Y.; Fraenkel, M.; Raicher, E.; Shvarts, D.; Drake, R. P.

2017-03-01

Hard x-ray measurements are used to infer production of hot electrons in laser-irradiated planar foils of materials ranging from low- to high-Z. The fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons, fhot , was reduced by a factor of 103 going from low-Z CH to high-Z Au, and hot electron temperatures were reduced from 40 to ˜20 keV. The reduction in fhot correlates with steepening electron density gradient length-scales inferred from plasma refraction measurements. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations predicted electron density profiles in reasonable agreement with those from measurements. Both multi-beam two-plasmon decay (TPD) and multi-beam stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) were predicted to be above threshold with linear threshold parameters that decreased with increasing Z due to steepening length-scales, as well as enhanced laser absorption and increased electron plasma wave collisional and Landau damping. The results add to the evidence that SRS may play a comparable or a greater role relative to TPD in generating hot electrons in multi-beam experiments.

Multi-color γ-rays from comb-like electron beams driven by incoherent stacks of laser pulses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalmykov, S. Y.; Davoine, X.; Ghebregziabher, I.; Shadwick, B. A.

2017-03-01

Trains of fs-length, GeV-scale electron bunches with controlled energy spacing and a 5-D brightness up to 1017 A/m2 may be produced in a mm-scale uniform plasma. The main element of the scheme is an incoherent stack of 10-TW-scale laser pulses of different colors, with mismatched focal spots, with the highest-frequency pulse advanced in time. While driving an electron density bubble, this stack remains almost proof against nonlinear red-shift and self-compression. As a consequence, the unwanted continuous injection of background electrons is minimized. Weak focusing of the trailing (lower-frequency) component of the stack enforces expansions and contractions of the bubble, inducing controlled periodic injection. The resulting train of electron bunches maintains exceptional quality while being accelerated beyond the energy limits predicted by accepted scalings. Inverse Thomson scattering from this comb-like beam generates a sequence of quasi-monochromatic, fs-length γ-ray beams, an asset for nuclear forensics and pump-probe experiments in dense plasmas.

Mitigation of hot electrons from laser-plasma instabilities in high-Z, highly ionized plasmas

DOE PAGES

Fein, J. R.; Holloway, J. P.; Trantham, M. R.; ...

2017-03-20

Intense lasers interacting with under-dense plasma can drive laser-plasma instabilities (LPIs) that generate largeamplitude electron plasma waves (EPWs). Suprathermal or “hot” electrons produced in the EPWs are detrimental to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), by reducing capsule implosion efficiency through preheat, and also present an unwanted source of background on x-ray diagnostics. Mitigation of hot electrons was demonstrated in the past by altering plasma conditions near the quarter-critical density, n c/4, with the interpretation of reduced growth of the twoplasmon decay (TPD) instability. Here, we present measurements of hot electrons generated in laser-irradiated planar foils of material ranging from low- tomore » high-Z, where the fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons, fhot was reduced by a factor of 10 3 going from CH to Au. This correlates with steepening density gradient length-scales that were also measured. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations produced electron density profiles in reasonable agreement with our measurements. According to the simulations, both multi-beam TPD and stimulated Raman scattering were predicted to be above threshold with linear threshold parameters that decreased with increasing Z due to steepening length-scales, as well as enhanced laser absorption and increased EPW collisional and Landau damping.« less

Mitigation of hot electrons from laser-plasma instabilities in high-Z, highly ionized plasmas

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

Fein, J. R.; Holloway, J. P.; Trantham, M. R.

Intense lasers interacting with under-dense plasma can drive laser-plasma instabilities (LPIs) that generate largeamplitude electron plasma waves (EPWs). Suprathermal or “hot” electrons produced in the EPWs are detrimental to inertial confinement fusion (ICF), by reducing capsule implosion efficiency through preheat, and also present an unwanted source of background on x-ray diagnostics. Mitigation of hot electrons was demonstrated in the past by altering plasma conditions near the quarter-critical density, n c/4, with the interpretation of reduced growth of the twoplasmon decay (TPD) instability. Here, we present measurements of hot electrons generated in laser-irradiated planar foils of material ranging from low- tomore » high-Z, where the fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons, fhot was reduced by a factor of 10 3 going from CH to Au. This correlates with steepening density gradient length-scales that were also measured. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations produced electron density profiles in reasonable agreement with our measurements. According to the simulations, both multi-beam TPD and stimulated Raman scattering were predicted to be above threshold with linear threshold parameters that decreased with increasing Z due to steepening length-scales, as well as enhanced laser absorption and increased EPW collisional and Landau damping.« less

Direct Laser Writing of Low-Density Interdigitated Foams for Plasma Drive Shaping [Direct Laser Writing of Low Density Nanostitched Foams for Plasma Drive Shaping

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

Oakdale, James S.; Smith, Raymond F.; Forien, Jean -Baptiste

Monolithic porous bulk materials have many promising applications ranging from energy storage and catalysis to high energy density physics. High resolution additive manufacturing techniques, such as direct laser writing via two photon polymerization (DLW-TPP), now enable the fabrication of highly porous microlattices with deterministic morphology control. In this work, DLW-TPP is used to print millimeter-sized foam reservoirs (down to 0.06 g cm –3) with tailored density-gradient profiles, where density is varied by over an order of magnitude (for instance from 0.6 to 0.06 g cm –3) along a length of <100 µm. Taking full advantage of this technology, however, ismore » a multiscale materials design problem that requires detailed understanding of how the different length scales, from the molecular level to the macroscopic dimensions, affect each other. The design of these 3D-printed foams is based on the brickwork arrangement of 100 × 100 × 16 µm 3 log-pile blocks constructed from sub-micrometer scale features. A block-to-block interdigitated stitching strategy is introduced for obtaining high density uniformity at all length scales. Lastly, these materials are used to shape plasma-piston drives during ramp-compression of targets under high energy density conditions created at the OMEGA Laser Facility.« less

Planar Laser-Plasma Interaction Experiments at Direct-Drive Ignition-Relevant Scale Lengths at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberg, M. J.; Solodov, A. A.; Seka, W.; Myatt, J. F.; Regan, S. P.; Hohenberger, M.; Epstein, R.; Froula, D. H.; Radha, P. B.; Michel, P. A.; Moody, J. D.; Masse, L.; Goyon, C.; Turnbull, D. P.; Barrios, M. A.; Bates, J. W.; Schmitt, A. J.

2016-10-01

The first experiments at the National Ignition Facility to probe laser-plasma interactions and the hot electron production at scale lengths relevant to direct-drive ignition are reported. The irradiation on one side of planar CH foils generated a plasma at the quarter-critical surface with predicted density scale lengths of Ln 600 μm, measured electron temperatures of Te 3.5 to 4.0 keV, and overlapped laser intensities of I 6 to 15 ×1014W/cm2. Optical emission from stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and at ω/2 are correlated with the time-dependent hard x-ray signal. The fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons increased from 0.5 % to 2.3 % as the laser intensity increased from 6 to 15 ×1014W/cm2, while the hot electron temperature was nearly constant around 40 to 50 keV. Only a sharp red-shifted feature is observed around ω/2, and both refracted and sidescattered SRS are detected, suggesting that multibeam SRS contributes to, and may even dominate, hot-electron production. These results imply a diminished presence of two-plasmon decay relative to SRS at these conditions, which has implications for hot-electron preheat mitigation strategies for direct-drive ignition. This work is supported by the DOE NNSA under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Direct Laser Writing of Low-Density Interdigitated Foams for Plasma Drive Shaping [Direct Laser Writing of Low Density Nanostitched Foams for Plasma Drive Shaping

DOE PAGES

Oakdale, James S.; Smith, Raymond F.; Forien, Jean -Baptiste; ...

2017-09-27

Monolithic porous bulk materials have many promising applications ranging from energy storage and catalysis to high energy density physics. High resolution additive manufacturing techniques, such as direct laser writing via two photon polymerization (DLW-TPP), now enable the fabrication of highly porous microlattices with deterministic morphology control. In this work, DLW-TPP is used to print millimeter-sized foam reservoirs (down to 0.06 g cm –3) with tailored density-gradient profiles, where density is varied by over an order of magnitude (for instance from 0.6 to 0.06 g cm –3) along a length of <100 µm. Taking full advantage of this technology, however, ismore » a multiscale materials design problem that requires detailed understanding of how the different length scales, from the molecular level to the macroscopic dimensions, affect each other. The design of these 3D-printed foams is based on the brickwork arrangement of 100 × 100 × 16 µm 3 log-pile blocks constructed from sub-micrometer scale features. A block-to-block interdigitated stitching strategy is introduced for obtaining high density uniformity at all length scales. Lastly, these materials are used to shape plasma-piston drives during ramp-compression of targets under high energy density conditions created at the OMEGA Laser Facility.« less

Development of a 1-m plasma source for heavy ion beam charge neutralization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Efthimion, Philip C.; Gilson, Erik P.; Grisham, Larry; Davidson, Ronald C.; Yu, Simon; Waldron, William; Grant Logan, B.

2005-05-01

Highly ionized plasmas are being employed as a medium for charge neutralizing heavy ion beams in order to focus to a small spot size. Calculations suggest that plasma at a density of 1-100 times the ion beam density and at a length ˜0.1-1 m would be suitable for achieving a high level of charge neutralization. A radio frequency (RF) source was constructed at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in support of the joint Neutralized Transport Experiment (NTX) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to study ion beam neutralization. Pulsing the source enabled operation at pressures ˜10 -6 Torr with plasma densities of 10 11 cm -3. Near 100% ionization was achieved. The plasma was 10 cm in length, but future experiments require a source 1 m long. The RF source does not easily scale to the length. Consequently, large-volume plasma sources based upon ferroelectric ceramics are being considered. These sources have the advantage of being able to increase the length of the plasma and operate at low neutral pressures. The source will utilize the ferroelectric ceramic BaTiO 3 to form metal plasma. A 1 m long section of the drift tube inner surface of NTX will be covered with ceramic. A high voltage (˜1-5 kV) is applied between the drift tube and the front surface of the ceramic by placing a wire grid on the front surface. Plasma densities of 10 12 cm -3 and neutral pressures ˜10 -6 Torr are expected. A test stand to produce 20 cm long plasma is being constructed and will be tested before a 1 m long source is developed.

Impact of the plasma geometry on divertor power exhaust: experimental evidence from TCV and simulations with SolEdge2D and TOKAM3X

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallo, A.; Fedorczak, N.; Elmore, S.; Maurizio, R.; Reimerdes, H.; Theiler, C.; Tsui, C. K.; Boedo, J. A.; Faitsch, M.; Bufferand, H.; Ciraolo, G.; Galassi, D.; Ghendrih, P.; Valentinuzzi, M.; Tamain, P.; the EUROfusion MST1 Team; the TCV Team

2018-01-01

A deep understanding of plasma transport at the edge of magnetically confined fusion plasmas is needed for the handling and control of heat loads on the machine first wall. Experimental observations collected on a number of tokamaks over the last three decades taught us that heat flux profiles at the divertor targets of X-point configurations can be parametrized by using two scale lengths for the scrape-off layer (SOL) transport, separately characterizing the main SOL ({λ }q) and the divertor SOL (S q ). In this work we challenge the current interpretation of these two scale lengths as well as their dependence on plasma parameters by studying the effect of divertor geometry modifications on heat exhaust in the Tokamak à Configuration Variable. In particular, a significant broadening of the heat flux profiles at the outer divertor target is diagnosed while increasing the length of the outer divertor leg in lower single null, Ohmic, L-mode discharges. Efforts to reproduce this experimental finding with both diffusive (SolEdge2D-EIRENE) and turbulent (TOKAM3X) modelling tools confirm the validity of a diffusive approach for simulating heat flux profiles in more traditional, short leg, configurations while highlighting the need of a turbulent description for modified, long leg, ones in which strongly asymmetric divertor perpendicular transport develops.

Interchange Instability and Transport in Matter-Antimatter Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kendl, Alexander; Danler, Gregor; Wiesenberger, Matthias; Held, Markus

2017-06-01

Symmetric electron-positron plasmas in inhomogeneous magnetic fields are intrinsically subject to interchange instability and transport. Scaling relations for the propagation velocity of density perturbations relevant to transport in isothermal magnetically confined electron-positron plasmas are deduced, including damping effects when Debye lengths are large compared to Larmor radii. The relations are verified by nonlinear full-F gyrofluid computations. Results are analyzed with respect to planned magnetically confined electron-positron plasma experiments. The model is generalized to other matter-antimatter plasmas. Magnetized electron-positron-proton-antiproton plasmas are susceptible to interchange-driven local matter-antimatter separation, which can impede sustained laboratory magnetic confinement.

Interchange Instability and Transport in Matter-Antimatter Plasmas.

PubMed

Kendl, Alexander; Danler, Gregor; Wiesenberger, Matthias; Held, Markus

2017-06-09

Symmetric electron-positron plasmas in inhomogeneous magnetic fields are intrinsically subject to interchange instability and transport. Scaling relations for the propagation velocity of density perturbations relevant to transport in isothermal magnetically confined electron-positron plasmas are deduced, including damping effects when Debye lengths are large compared to Larmor radii. The relations are verified by nonlinear full-F gyrofluid computations. Results are analyzed with respect to planned magnetically confined electron-positron plasma experiments. The model is generalized to other matter-antimatter plasmas. Magnetized electron-positron-proton-antiproton plasmas are susceptible to interchange-driven local matter-antimatter separation, which can impede sustained laboratory magnetic confinement.

Magnetic field line random walk in two-dimensional dynamical turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, J. F.; Qin, G.; Ma, Q. M.; Song, T.; Yuan, S. B.

2017-08-01

The field line random walk (FLRW) of magnetic turbulence is one of the important topics in plasma physics and astrophysics. In this article, by using the field line tracing method, the mean square displacement (MSD) of FLRW is calculated on all possible length scales for pure two-dimensional turbulence with the damping dynamical model. We demonstrate that in order to describe FLRW with the damping dynamical model, a new dimensionless quantity R is needed to be introduced. On different length scales, dimensionless MSD shows different relationships with the dimensionless quantity R. Although the temporal effect affects the MSD of FLRW and even changes regimes of FLRW, it does not affect the relationship between the dimensionless MSD and dimensionless quantity R on all possible length scales.

Advanced Design Concepts for Dense Plasma Focus Devices at LLNL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Povilus, Alexander; Podpaly, Yuri; Cooper, Christopher; Shaw, Brian; Chapman, Steve; Mitrani, James; Anderson, Michael; Pearson, Aric; Anaya, Enrique; Koh, Ed; Falabella, Steve; Link, Tony; Schmidt, Andrea

2017-10-01

The dense plasma focus (DPF) is a z-pinch device where a plasma sheath is accelerated down a coaxial railgun and ends in a radial implosion, pinch phase. During the pinch phase, the plasma generates intense, transient electric fields through physical mechanisms, similar to beam instabilities, that can accelerate ions in the plasma sheath to MeV-scale energies on millimeter length scales. Using kinetic modeling techniques developed at LLNL, we have gained insight into the formation of these accelerating fields and are using these observations to optimize the behavior of the generated ion beam for producing neutrons via beam-target interactions for kilojoule to megajoule-scale devices. Using a set of DPF's, both in operation and in development at LLNL, we have explored critical aspects of these devices, including plasma sheath formation behavior, power delivery to the plasma, and instability seeding during the implosion in order to improve the absolute yield and stability of the device. Prepared by LLNL under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. Computing support for this work came from the LLNL Institutional Computing Grand Challenge program.

Full-Scale Numerical Modeling of Turbulent Processes in the Earth's Ionosphere

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

Eliasson, B.; Stenflo, L.; Department of Physics, Linkoeping University, SE-581 83 Linkoeping

2008-10-15

We present a full-scale simulation study of ionospheric turbulence by means of a generalized Zakharov model based on the separation of variables into high-frequency and slow time scales. The model includes realistic length scales of the ionospheric profile and of the electromagnetic and electrostatic fields, and uses ionospheric plasma parameters relevant for high-latitude radio facilities such as Eiscat and HAARP. A nested grid numerical method has been developed to resolve the different length-scales, while avoiding severe restrictions on the time step. The simulation demonstrates the parametric decay of the ordinary mode into Langmuir and ion-acoustic waves, followed by a Langmuirmore » wave collapse and short-scale caviton formation, as observed in ionospheric heating experiments.« less

Measurement of turbulence decorrelation during transport barrier evolution in a high-temperature fusion plasma.

PubMed

Nazikian, R; Shinohara, K; Kramer, G J; Valeo, E; Hill, K; Hahm, T S; Rewoldt, G; Ide, S; Koide, Y; Oyama, Y; Shirai, H; Tang, W

2005-04-08

A low power polychromatic beam of microwaves is used to diagnose the behavior of turbulent fluctuations in the core of the JT-60U tokamak during the evolution of the internal transport barrier. A continuous reduction in the size of turbulent structures is observed concomitant with the reduction of the density scale length during the evolution of the internal transport barrier. The density correlation length decreases to the order of the ion gyroradius, in contrast with the much longer scale lengths observed earlier in the discharge, while the density fluctuation level remain similar to the level before transport barrier formation.

Development of high-density helicon plasma sources and their applications

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

Shinohara, Shunjiro; Hada, Tohru; Motomura, Taisei

2009-05-15

We report on the development of unique, high-density helicon plasma sources and describe their applications. Characterization of one of the largest helicon plasma sources yet constructed is made. Scalings of the particle production efficiency are derived from various plasma production devices in open literature and our own data from long and short cylinder devices, i.e., high and low values of the aspect ratio A (the ratio of the axial length to the diameter), considering the power balance in the framework of a simple diffusion model. A high plasma production efficiency is demonstrated, and we clarify the structures of the excitedmore » waves in the low A region down to 0.075 (the large device diameter of 73.8 cm with the axial length as short as 5.5 cm). We describe the application to plasma propulsion using a new concept that employs no electrodes. A very small diameter (2.5 cm) helicon plasma with 10{sup 13} cm{sup -3} density is produced, and the preliminary results of electromagnetic plasma acceleration are briefly described.« less

Bi-stage time evolution of nano-morphology on inductively coupled plasma etched fused silica surface caused by surface morphological transformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Xiaolong; Zhang, Lijuan; Bai, Yang; Liu, Ying; Liu, Zhengkun; Qiu, Keqiang; Liao, Wei; Zhang, Chuanchao; Yang, Ke; Chen, Jing; Jiang, Yilan; Yuan, Xiaodong

2017-07-01

In this work, we experimentally investigate the surface nano-roughness during the inductively coupled plasma etching of fused silica, and discover a novel bi-stage time evolution of surface nano-morphology. At the beginning, the rms roughness, correlation length and nano-mound dimensions increase linearly and rapidly with etching time. At the second stage, the roughening process slows down dramatically. The switch of evolution stage synchronizes with the morphological change from dual-scale roughness comprising long wavelength underlying surface and superimposed nano-mounds to one scale of nano-mounds. A theoretical model based on surface morphological change is proposed. The key idea is that at the beginning, etched surface is dual-scale, and both larger deposition rate of etch inhibitors and better plasma etching resistance at the surface peaks than surface valleys contribute to the roughness development. After surface morphology transforming into one-scale, the difference of plasma resistance between surface peaks and valleys vanishes, thus the roughening process slows down.

Active Plasma Lensing for Relativistic Laser-Plasma-Accelerated Electron Beams

DOE PAGES

van Tilborg, J.; Steinke, S.; Geddes, C. G. R.; ...

2015-10-28

The compact, tunable, radially symmetric focusing of electrons is critical to laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) applications. Experiments are presented demonstrating the use of a discharge-capillary active plasma lens to focus 100-MeV-level LPA beams. The lens can provide tunable field gradients in excess of 3000 T/m, enabling cm-scale focal lengths for GeV-level beam energies and allowing LPA-based electron beams and light sources to maintain their compact footprint. For a range of lens strengths, excellent agreement with simulation was obtained.

A preliminary study of extended magnetic field structures in the ionosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, James D.; Lane, Barton G.; Post, Richard S.

1987-01-01

Several plasma phenomena which are to be expected around a magnet in LEO were identified and analyzed qualitatively. The ASTROMAG cusp magnet will create an extended field whose strength drops to the ambient level over a scale length of approx. 15 m; the combined field has a complex topology with ring nulls and open and closed field lines. The entire configuration is moving through the partially ionized F-layer of the ionosphere at a speed slow compared to the local Alfven speed but fast compared to the ion sound speed. The ambient plasma crosses the extended field structure in a time short compared to the ion Larmor period yet long relative to the electron Larmor period. Thus, electrons behave as a magnetized fluid while ions move ballistically until reflected from higher fields near the cusp. Since the Debye length is short compared to the field scale length, an electrostatic shock-like structure forms to equilibrate the flows and achieve quasi-neutrality. The ambient plasma will be excluded from a cavity near the magnet. The size and nature of the strong interaction region in which the magnet significantly perturbs the ambient flow were determined by studying ion orbits numerically. Lecture viewgraphs summarizing these results are presented.

Anticorrelated Emission of High Harmonics and Fast Electron Beams From Plasma Mirrors.

PubMed

Bocoum, Maïmouna; Thévenet, Maxence; Böhle, Frederik; Beaurepaire, Benoît; Vernier, Aline; Jullien, Aurélie; Faure, Jérôme; Lopez-Martens, Rodrigo

2016-05-06

We report for the first time on the anticorrelated emission of high-order harmonics and energetic electron beams from a solid-density plasma with a sharp vacuum interface-plasma mirror-driven by an intense ultrashort laser pulse. We highlight the key role played by the nanoscale structure of the plasma surface during the interaction by measuring the spatial and spectral properties of harmonics and electron beams emitted by a plasma mirror. We show that the nanoscale behavior of the plasma mirror can be controlled by tuning the scale length of the electron density gradient, which is measured in situ using spatial-domain interferometry.

Cold Ion Demagnetization near the X-line of Magnetic Reconnection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Toledo-Redondo, Serio; Andre, Mats; Khotyaintsev, Yuri V.; Vaivads, Andris; Walsh, Andrew; Li, Wenya; Graham, Daniel B.; Lavraud, Benoit; Masson, Arnaud; Aunai, Nicolas;

Cold ion demagnetization near the X-line of magnetic reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toledo-Redondo, Sergio; André, Mats; Khotyaintsev, Yuri V.; Vaivads, Andris; Walsh, Andrew; Li, Wenya; Graham, Daniel B.; Lavraud, Benoit; Masson, Arnaud; Aunai, Nicolas; Divin, Andrey; Dargent, Jeremy; Fuselier, Stephen; Gershman, Daniel J.; Dorelli, John; Giles, Barbara; Avanov, Levon; Pollock, Craig; Saito, Yoshifumi; Moore, Thomas E.; Coffey, Victoria; Chandler, Michael O.; Lindqvist, Per-Arne; Torbert, Roy; Russell, Christopher T.

2016-07-01

Although the effects of magnetic reconnection in magnetospheres can be observed at planetary scales, reconnection is initiated at electron scales in a plasma. Surrounding the electron diffusion region, there is an Ion-Decoupling Region (IDR) of the size of the ion length scales (inertial length and gyroradius). Reconnection at the Earth's magnetopause often includes cold magnetospheric (few tens of eV), hot magnetospheric (10 keV), and magnetosheath (1 keV) ions, with different gyroradius length scales. We report observations of a subregion inside the IDR of the size of the cold ion population gyroradius (˜15 km) where the cold ions are demagnetized and accelerated parallel to the Hall electric field. Outside the subregion, cold ions follow the E × B motion together with electrons, while hot ions are demagnetized. We observe a sharp cold ion density gradient separating the two regions, which we identify as the cold and hot IDRs.

Kinetic simulations of gas breakdown in the dense plasma focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bennett, N.; Blasco, M.; Breeding, K.; DiPuccio, V.; Gall, B.; Garcia, M.; Gardner, S.; Gatling, J.; Hagen, E. C.; Luttman, A.; Meehan, B. T.; Molnar, S.; O'Brien, R.; Ormond, E.; Robbins, L.; Savage, M.; Sipe, N.; Welch, D. R.

2017-06-01

The first fully kinetic, collisional, and electromagnetic simulations of the breakdown phase of a MA-scale dense plasma focus are described and shown to agree with measured electrical characteristics, including breakdown time. In the model, avalanche ionization is driven by cathode electron emission, and this results in incomplete gas breakdown along the insulator. This reinforces the importance of the conditioning process that creates a metallic layer on the insulator surface. The simulations, nonetheless, help explain the relationship between the gas pressure, the insulator length, and the coaxial gap width. Previously, researchers noted three breakdown patterns related to pressure. Simulation and analytical results show that at low pressures, long ionization path lengths lead to volumetric breakdown, while high pressures lead to breakdown across the relatively small coaxial electrode gap. In an intermediate pressure regime, ionization path lengths are comparable to the insulator length which promotes ideal breakdown along the insulator surface.

A Numerical Characterization of the Gravito-Electrostatic Sheath Equilibrium Structure in Solar Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karmakar, Pralay Kumar

This article describes the equilibrium structure of the solar interior plasma (SIP) and solar wind plasma (SWP) in detail under the framework of the gravito-electrostatic sheath (GES) model. This model gives a precise definition of the solar surface boundary (SSB), surface origin mechanism of the subsonic SWP, and its supersonic acceleration. Equilibrium parameters like plasma potential, self-gravity, population density, flow, their gradients, and all the relevant inhomogeneity scale lengths are numerically calculated and analyzed as an initial value problem. Physical significance of the structure condition for the SSB is discussed. The plasma oscillation and Jeans time scales are also plotted and compared. In addition, different coupling parameters, and electric current profiles are also numerically studied. The current profiles exhibit an important behavior of directional reversibility, i.e., an electrodynamical transition from negative to positive value. It occurs beyond a few Jeans lengths away from the SSB. The virtual spherical surface lying at the current reversal point, where the net current becomes zero, has the property of a floating surface behavior of the real physical wall. Our investigation indicates that the SWP behaves as an ion current-carrying plasma system. The basic mechanism behind the GES formation and its distinctions from conventional plasma sheath are discussed. The electromagnetic properties of the Sun derived from our model with the most accurate available inputs are compared with those of others. These results are useful as an input element to study the properties of the linear and nonlinear dynamics of various solar plasma waves, oscillations and instabilities.

Formation of Electrostatic Potential Drops in the Auroral Zone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schriver, D.; Ashour-Abdalla, M.; Richard, R. L.

2001-01-01

In order to examine the self-consistent formation of large-scale quasi-static parallel electric fields in the auroral zone on a micro/meso scale, a particle in cell simulation has been developed. The code resolves electron Debye length scales so that electron micro-processes are included and a variable grid scheme is used such that the overall length scale of the simulation is of the order of an Earth radii along the magnetic field. The simulation is electrostatic and includes the magnetic mirror force, as well as two types of plasmas, a cold dense ionospheric plasma and a warm tenuous magnetospheric plasma. In order to study the formation of parallel electric fields in the auroral zone, different magnetospheric ion and electron inflow boundary conditions are used to drive the system. It has been found that for conditions in the primary (upward) current region an upward directed quasi-static electric field can form across the system due to magnetic mirroring of the magnetospheric ions and electrons at different altitudes. For conditions in the return (downward) current region it is shown that a quasi-static parallel electric field in the opposite sense of that in the primary current region is formed, i.e., the parallel electric field is directed earthward. The conditions for how these different electric fields can be formed are discussed using satellite observations and numerical simulations.

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.

Ultrarelativistic electromagnetic pulses in plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ashour-Abdalla, M.; Leboeuf, J. N.; Tajima, T.; Dawson, J. M.; Kennel, C. F.

1981-01-01

The physical processes of a linearly polarized electromagnetic pulse of highly relativistic amplitude in an underdense plasma accelerating particles to very high energies are studied through computer simulation. An electron-positron plasma is considered first. The maximum momenta achieved scale as the square of the wave amplitude. This acceleration stops when the bulk of the wave energy is converted to particle energy. The pulse leaves behind as a wake a vacuum region whose length scales as the amplitude of the wave. The results can be explained in terms of a snow plow or piston-like action of the radiation on the plasma. When a mass ratio other than unity is chosen and electrostatic effects begin to play a role, first the ion energy increases faster than the electron energy and then the electron energy catches up later, eventually reaching the same value.

Multitude of core-localized shear Alfvén waves in a high-temperature fusion plasma.

PubMed

Nazikian, R; Berk, H L; Budny, R V; Burrell, K H; Doyle, E J; Fonck, R J; Gorelenkov, N N; Holcomb, C; Kramer, G J; Jayakumar, R J; La Haye, R J; McKee, G R; Makowski, M A; Peebles, W A; Rhodes, T L; Solomon, W M; Strait, E J; Vanzeeland, M A; Zeng, L

2006-03-17

Evidence is presented for a multitude of discrete frequency Alfvén waves in the core of magnetically confined high-temperature fusion plasmas. Multiple diagnostic instruments confirm wave excitation over a wide spatial range from the device size at the longest wavelengths down to the thermal ion Larmor radius. At the shortest scales, the poloidal wavelengths are comparable to the scale length of electrostatic drift wave turbulence. Theoretical analysis confirms a dominant interaction of the modes with particles in the thermal ion distribution traveling well below the Alfvén velocity.

A new multi-line cusp magnetic field plasma device (MPD) with variable magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, A. D.; Sharma, M.; Ramasubramanian, N.; Ganesh, R.; Chattopadhyay, P. K.

2018-04-01

A new multi-line cusp magnetic field plasma device consisting of electromagnets with core material has been constructed with a capability to experimentally control the relative volume fractions of magnetized to unmagnetized plasma volume as well as accurate control on the gradient length scales of mean density and temperature profiles. Argon plasma has been produced using a hot tungsten cathode over a wide range of pressures 5 × 10-5 -1 × 10-3 mbar, achieving plasma densities ranging from 109 to 1011 cm-3 and the electron temperature in the range 1-8 eV. The radial profiles of plasma parameters measured along the non-cusp region (in between two consecutive magnets) show a finite region with uniform and quiescent plasma, where the magnetic field is very low such that the ions are unmagnetized. Beyond that region, both plasma species are magnetized and the profiles show gradients both in temperature and density. The electrostatic fluctuation measured using a Langmuir probe radially along the non-cusp region shows less than 1% (δIisat/Iisat < 1%). The plasma thus produced will be used to study new and hitherto unexplored physics parameter space relevant to both laboratory multi-scale plasmas and astrophysical plasmas.

Origins and Scaling of Hot-Electron Preheat in Ignition-Scale Direct-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments

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

Rosenberg, M. J.; Solodov, A. A.; Myatt, J. F.

Planar laser-plasma interaction (LPI) experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have allowed access for the rst time to regimes of electron density scale length (~500 to 700 μm), electron temperature (~3 to 5 keV), and laser intensity (6 to 16 x 10 14 W/cm 2) that are relevant to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion ignition. Unlike in shorter-scale-length plasmas on OMEGA, scattered-light data on the NIF show that the near-quarter-critical LPI physics is dominated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) rather than by two-plasmon decay (TPD). This difference in regime is explained based on absolute SRS and TPD threshold considerations. SRSmore » sidescatter tangential to density contours and other SRS mechanisms are observed. The fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons is ~0.7% to 2.9%, consistent with observed levels of SRS. The intensity threshold for hot-electron production is assessed, and the use of a Si ablator slightly increases this threshold from ~4 x 10 14 to ~6 x 10 14 W/cm 2. These results have significant implications for mitigation of LPI hot-electron preheat in direct-drive ignition designs.« less

Origins and Scaling of Hot-Electron Preheat in Ignition-Scale Direct-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments

DOE PAGES

Rosenberg, M. J.; Solodov, A. A.; Myatt, J. F.; ...

2018-01-29

Planar laser-plasma interaction (LPI) experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have allowed access for the rst time to regimes of electron density scale length (~500 to 700 μm), electron temperature (~3 to 5 keV), and laser intensity (6 to 16 x 10 14 W/cm 2) that are relevant to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion ignition. Unlike in shorter-scale-length plasmas on OMEGA, scattered-light data on the NIF show that the near-quarter-critical LPI physics is dominated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) rather than by two-plasmon decay (TPD). This difference in regime is explained based on absolute SRS and TPD threshold considerations. SRSmore » sidescatter tangential to density contours and other SRS mechanisms are observed. The fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons is ~0.7% to 2.9%, consistent with observed levels of SRS. The intensity threshold for hot-electron production is assessed, and the use of a Si ablator slightly increases this threshold from ~4 x 10 14 to ~6 x 10 14 W/cm 2. These results have significant implications for mitigation of LPI hot-electron preheat in direct-drive ignition designs.« less

Origins and Scaling of Hot-Electron Preheat in Ignition-Scale Direct-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberg, M. J.; Solodov, A. A.; Myatt, J. F.; Seka, W.; Michel, P.; Hohenberger, M.; Short, R. W.; Epstein, R.; Regan, S. P.; Campbell, E. M.; Chapman, T.; Goyon, C.; Ralph, J. E.; Barrios, M. A.; Moody, J. D.; Bates, J. W.

2018-01-01

Planar laser-plasma interaction (LPI) experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have allowed access for the first time to regimes of electron density scale length (˜500 to 700 μ m ), electron temperature (˜3 to 5 keV), and laser intensity (6 to 16 ×1014 W /cm2 ) that are relevant to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion ignition. Unlike in shorter-scale-length plasmas on OMEGA, scattered-light data on the NIF show that the near-quarter-critical LPI physics is dominated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) rather than by two-plasmon decay (TPD). This difference in regime is explained based on absolute SRS and TPD threshold considerations. SRS sidescatter tangential to density contours and other SRS mechanisms are observed. The fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons is ˜0.7 % to 2.9%, consistent with observed levels of SRS. The intensity threshold for hot-electron production is assessed, and the use of a Si ablator slightly increases this threshold from ˜4×10 14 to ˜6 ×1014 W /cm2 . These results have significant implications for mitigation of LPI hot-electron preheat in direct-drive ignition designs.

Electron Profile Stiffness and Critical Gradient Length Studies in the Alcator C-Mod Tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houshmandyar, Saeid; Hatch, David R.; Liao, Kenneth T.; Zhao, Bingzhe; Phillips, Perry E.; Rowan, William L.; Cao, Norman; Ernst, Darin R.; Rice, John E.

2017-10-01

Electron temperature profile stiffness was investigated at Alcator C-Mod L-mode discharges. Electrons were heated by ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) through minority heating. The intent of the heating mechanism was to vary the heat flux and simultaneously, gradually change the local gradient. The electron temperature gradient scale length (LTe- 1 = | ∇Te |/Te) was accurately measured through a novel technique, using the high-resolution radiometer ECE diagnostic. The TRANSP power balance analysis (Q/QGB) and the measured scale length (a/LTe) result in critical scale length measurements at all major radius locations. These measurements suggest that the profiles are already at the critical values. Furthermore, the dependence of the stiffness on plasma rotation and magnetic shear will be discussed. In order to understand the underlying mechanism of turbulence for these discharges, simulations using the gyrokinetic code, GENE, were carried out. For linear runs at electron scales, it was found that the largest growth rates are very sensitive to a/LTe variation, which suggests the presence of ETG modes, while the sensitivity studies in the ion scales indicate ITG/TEM modes. Supported by USDoE awards DE-FG03-96ER54373 and DE-FC02-99ER54512.

MMS Observations of Ion-Scale Magnetic Island in the Magnetosheath Turbulent Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huang, S. Y.; Sahraoui, F.; Retino, A.; Contel, O. Le; Yuan, Z. G.; Chasapis, A.; Aunai, N.; Breuillard, H.; Deng, X. H.; Zhou, M.;

Observations at venus encounter by the plasma science experiment on mariner 10.

PubMed

Bridge, H S; Lazarus, A J; Scudder, J D; Ogilvie, K W; Hartle, R E; Asbridge, J R; Bame, S J; Feldman, W C; Siscoe, G L

1974-03-29

Preliminary results from the rearward-looking electrostatic analyzer of the plasma science experiment during the Mariner 10 encounter with Venus are described. They show that the solar-wind interaction with the planet probably involves a bow shock rather than an extended exosphere, but that this is not a thin boundary at the point where it was crossed by Mariner 10. An observed reduction in the flux of electrons with energies greater than 100 electron volts is interpreted as evidence for somne direct interaction with the exosphere. Unusual intermittent features observed downstream of the planet indicate the presence of a comet-like tail hundreds of scale lengths in length.

Observations at Venus encounter by the plasma science experiment on Mariner 10

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bridge, H. S.; Lazarus, A. J.; Scudder, J. D.; Ogilvie, K. W.; Hartle, R. E.; Asbridge, J. R.; Bame, S. J.; Feldman, W. C.; Siscoe, G. L.

1974-01-01

Preliminary results from the rearward-looking electrostatic analyzer of the plasma science experiment during the Mariner 10 encounter with Venus are described. They show that the solar-wind interaction with the planet probably involves a bow shock rather than an extended exosphere, but that this is not a thin boundary at the point where it was crossed by Mariner 10. An observed reduction in the flux of electrons with energies greater than 100 electron volts is interpreted as evidence for some direct interaction with the exosphere. Unusual intermittent features observed downstream of the planet indicate the presence of a comet-like tail hundreds of scale lengths in length.

Ion kinetic scale in the solar wind observed.

PubMed

Śafránková, Jana; Němeček, Zdeněk; Přech, Lubomír; Zastenker, Georgy N

2013-01-11

This Letter shows the first results from the solar wind monitor onboard the Spektr-R spacecraft which measures plasma moments with a time resolution of 31 ms. This high-time resolution allows us to make direct observations of solar wind turbulence below ion kinetic length scales. We present examples of the frequency spectra of the density, velocity, and thermal velocity. Our study reveals that although these parameters exhibit the same behavior at the magnetohydrodynamic scale, their spectra are remarkably different at the kinetic scale.

Validation of the kinetic-turbulent-neoclassical theory for edge intrinsic rotation in DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashourvan, Arash; Grierson, B. A.; Battaglia, D. J.; Haskey, S. R.; Stoltzfus-Dueck, T.

2018-05-01

In a recent kinetic model of edge main-ion (deuterium) toroidal velocity, intrinsic rotation results from neoclassical orbits in an inhomogeneous turbulent field [T. Stoltzfus-Dueck, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 065002 (2012)]. This model predicts a value for the toroidal velocity that is co-current for a typical inboard X-point plasma at the core-edge boundary (ρ ˜ 0.9). Using this model, the velocity prediction is tested on the DIII-D tokamak for a database of L-mode and H-mode plasmas with nominally low neutral beam torque, including both signs of plasma current. Values for the flux-surface-averaged main-ion rotation velocity in the database are obtained from the impurity carbon rotation by analytically calculating the main-ion—impurity neoclassical offset. The deuterium rotation obtained in this manner has been validated by direct main-ion measurements for a limited number of cases. Key theoretical parameters of ion temperature and turbulent scale length are varied across a wide range in an experimental database of discharges. Using a characteristic electron temperature scale length as a proxy for a turbulent scale length, the predicted main-ion rotation velocity has a general agreement with the experimental measurements for neutral beam injection (NBI) powers in the range PNBI < 4 MW. At higher NBI power, the experimental rotation is observed to saturate and even degrade compared to theory. TRANSP-NUBEAM simulations performed for the database show that for discharges with nominally balanced—but high powered—NBI, the net injected torque through the edge can exceed 1 Nm in the counter-current direction. The theory model has been extended to compute the rotation degradation from this counter-current NBI torque by solving a reduced momentum evolution equation for the edge and found the revised velocity prediction to be in agreement with experiment. Using the theory modeled—and now tested—velocity to predict the bulk plasma rotation opens up a path to more confidently projecting the confinement and stability in ITER.

Chiral battery, scaling laws and magnetic fields

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

Anand, Sampurn; Bhatt, Jitesh R.; Pandey, Arun Kumar, E-mail: sampurn@prl.res.in, E-mail: jeet@prl.res.in, E-mail: arunp@prl.res.in

2017-07-01

We study the generation and evolution of magnetic field in the presence of chiral imbalance and gravitational anomaly which gives an additional contribution to the vortical current. The contribution due to gravitational anomaly is proportional to T {sup 2} which can generate seed magnetic field irrespective of plasma being chirally charged or neutral. We estimate the order of magnitude of the magnetic field to be 10{sup 30} G at T ∼ 10{sup 9} GeV, with a typical length scale of the order of 10{sup −18} cm, which is much smaller than the Hubble radius at that temperature (10{sup −8} cm).more » Moreover, such a system possess scaling symmetry. We show that the T {sup 2} term in the vorticity current along with scaling symmetry leads to more power transfer from lower to higher length scale as compared to only chiral anomaly without scaling symmetry.« less

Probes, Moons, and Kinetic Plasma Wakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hutchinson, I. H.; Malaspina, D.; Zhou, C.

2017-10-01

Nonmagnetic objects as varied as probes in tokamaks or moons in space give rise to flowing plasma wakes in which strong distortions of the ion and electron velocity distributions cause electrostatic instabilities. Non-linear phenomena such as electron holes are then produced. Historic probe theory largely ignores the resulting unstable character of the wake, but since we can now simulate computationally the non-linear wake phenomena, a timely challenge is to reassess the influence of these instabilities both on probe measurements and on the wakes themselves. Because the electron instability wavelengths are very short (typically a few Debye-lengths), controlled laboratory experiments face serious challenges in diagnosing them. That is one reason why they have long been neglected as an influence in probe interpretation. Space-craft plasma observations, by contrast, easily obtain sub-Debye-length resolution, but have difficulty with larger-scale reconstruction of the plasma spatial variation. In addition to surveying our developing understanding of wakes in magnetized plasmas, ongoing analysis of Artemis data concerning electron holes observed in the solar-wind lunar wake will be featured. Work partially supported by NASA Grant NNX16AG82G.

Kinetic simulations of gas breakdown in the dense plasma focus

DOE PAGES

Bennett, N.; Blasco, M.; Breeding, K.; ...

2017-06-09

We describe the first fully-kinetic, collisional, and electromagnetic simulations of the breakdown phase of a MA-scale dense plasma focus and are shown to agree with measured electrical characteristics, including breakdown time. In the model, avalanche ionization is driven by cathode electron emission and this results in incomplete gas breakdown along the insulator. This reinforces the importance of the conditioning process that creates a metallic layer on the insulator surface. The simulations, nonetheless, help explain the relationship between the gas pressure, the insulator length, and the coaxial gap width. In the past, researchers noted three breakdown patterns related to pressure. Simulationmore » and analytic results show that at low pressures, long ionization path lengths lead to volumetric breakdown, while high pressures lead to breakdown across the relatively small coaxial electrode gap. In an intermediate pressure regime, ionization path lengths are comparable to the insulator length which promotes ideal breakdown along the insulator surface.« less

Design and Analysis of a Formation Flying System for the Cross-Scale Mission Concept

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cornara, Stefania; Bastante, Juan C.; Jubineau, Franck

2007-01-01

The ESA-funded "Cross-Scale Technology Reference Study has been carried out with the primary aim to identify and analyse a mission concept for the investigation of fundamental space plasma processes that involve dynamical non-linear coupling across multiple length scales. To fulfill this scientific mission goal, a constellation of spacecraft is required, flying in loose formations around the Earth and sampling three characteristic plasma scale distances simultaneously, with at least two satellites per scale: electron kinetic (10 km), ion kinetic (100-2000 km), magnetospheric fluid (3000-15000 km). The key Cross-Scale mission drivers identified are the number of S/C, the space segment configuration, the reference orbit design, the transfer and deployment strategy, the inter-satellite localization and synchronization process and the mission operations. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of the mission design and analysis for the Cross-Scale concept and outlines a technically feasible mission architecture for a multi-dimensional investigation of space plasma phenomena. The main effort has been devoted to apply a thorough mission-level trade-off approach and to accomplish an exhaustive analysis, so as to allow the characterization of a wide range of mission requirements and design solutions.

Three-temperature plasma shock solutions with gray radiation diffusion

DOE PAGES

Johnson, Bryan M.; Klein, Richard I.

2016-04-19

Here we discuss the effects of radiation on the structure of shocks in a fully ionized plasma are investigated by solving the steady-state fluid equations for ions, electrons, and radiation. The electrons and ions are assumed to have the same bulk velocity but separate temperatures, and the radiation is modeled with the gray diffusion approximation. Both electron and ion conduction are included, as well as ion viscosity. When the material is optically thin, three-temperature behavior occurs. When the diffusive flux of radiation is important but radiation pressure is not, two-temperature behavior occurs, with the electrons strongly coupled to the radiation.more » Since the radiation heats the electrons on length scales that are much longer than the electron–ion Coulomb coupling length scale, these solutions resemble radiative shock solutions rather than plasma shock solutions that neglect radiation. When radiation pressure is important, all three components are strongly coupled. Results with constant values for the transport and coupling coefficients are compared to a full numerical simulation with a good match between the two, demonstrating that steady shock solutions constitute a straightforward and comprehensive verification test methodology for multi-physics numerical algorithms.« less

Three-temperature plasma shock solutions with gray radiation diffusion

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

Johnson, Bryan M.; Klein, Richard I.

Here we discuss the effects of radiation on the structure of shocks in a fully ionized plasma are investigated by solving the steady-state fluid equations for ions, electrons, and radiation. The electrons and ions are assumed to have the same bulk velocity but separate temperatures, and the radiation is modeled with the gray diffusion approximation. Both electron and ion conduction are included, as well as ion viscosity. When the material is optically thin, three-temperature behavior occurs. When the diffusive flux of radiation is important but radiation pressure is not, two-temperature behavior occurs, with the electrons strongly coupled to the radiation.more » Since the radiation heats the electrons on length scales that are much longer than the electron–ion Coulomb coupling length scale, these solutions resemble radiative shock solutions rather than plasma shock solutions that neglect radiation. When radiation pressure is important, all three components are strongly coupled. Results with constant values for the transport and coupling coefficients are compared to a full numerical simulation with a good match between the two, demonstrating that steady shock solutions constitute a straightforward and comprehensive verification test methodology for multi-physics numerical algorithms.« less

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.

RF Models for Plasma-Surface Interactions in VSim

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Smithe, D. N.; Pankin, A. Y.; Roark, C. M.; Zhou, C. D.; Stoltz, P. H.; Kruger, S. E.

2014-10-01

An overview of ongoing enhancements to the Plasma Discharge (PD) module of Tech-X's VSim software tool is presented. A sub-grid kinetic sheath model, developed for the accurate computation of sheath potentials near metal and dielectric-coated walls, enables the physical effects of DC and RF sheath physics to be included in macroscopic-scale plasma simulations that need not explicitly resolve sheath scale lengths. Sheath potential evolution, together with particle behavior near the sheath, can thus be simulated in complex geometries. Generalizations of the model to include sputtering, secondary electron emission, and effects from multiple ion species and background magnetic fields are summarized; related numerical results are also presented. In addition, improved tools for plasma chemistry and IEDF/EEDF visualization and modeling are discussed, as well as our initial efforts toward the development of hybrid fluid/kinetic transition capabilities within VSim. Ultimately, we aim to establish VSimPD as a robust, efficient computational tool for modeling industrial plasma processes. Supported by US DoE SBIR-I/II Award DE-SC0009501.

The energy confinement response of DIII-D plasmas to Resonant Magnetic Perturbations

DOE PAGES

Cui, L.; Nazikian, Raffi; Grierson, B. A.; ...

2017-07-11

Here, Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMPs) are a leading method for edge localized modes (ELMs) Control in fusion plasmas. However they can also cause a rapid degradation in energy confinement. In this paper we show that the energy confinement in low collisionality (v* e < 0.3) DIII-D ITER Similar Shape (ISS) plasmas often recovers after several energy confinement times for RMP amplitudes up to the threshold for ELM suppression. Immediately following the application of the RMP, the plasma stored energy decreases in proportion to the decrease in the line-averaged density during density "pump-out". Later in the discharge confinement recovery is observedmore » in the thermal ion channel and is correlated with the increase in the ion temperature at the top of the H-mode pedestal. A correlation between the inverse scale length of the ion temperature (α/L Ti) and the E x B shearing rate at the top of the pedestal is seen during the confinement recovery phase. Transport analysis reveals that the confinement improvement in the ion channel results from the self-similarity in the ion temperature profiles in the plasma core combined with the observed increase in α/L Ti in the plasma edge following density pump-out. In contrast the electron temperature scale length (α/L Ti) remains essentially unchanged in response to the application of the RMP. At significantly higher RMP levels the edge EXB shearing rate and α/L Ti does not increase and the confinement does not recover following density pump-out.« less

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

Cui, L.; Nazikian, Raffi; Grierson, B. A.

Here, Resonant Magnetic Perturbations (RMPs) are a leading method for edge localized modes (ELMs) Control in fusion plasmas. However they can also cause a rapid degradation in energy confinement. In this paper we show that the energy confinement in low collisionality (v* e < 0.3) DIII-D ITER Similar Shape (ISS) plasmas often recovers after several energy confinement times for RMP amplitudes up to the threshold for ELM suppression. Immediately following the application of the RMP, the plasma stored energy decreases in proportion to the decrease in the line-averaged density during density "pump-out". Later in the discharge confinement recovery is observedmore » in the thermal ion channel and is correlated with the increase in the ion temperature at the top of the H-mode pedestal. A correlation between the inverse scale length of the ion temperature (α/L Ti) and the E x B shearing rate at the top of the pedestal is seen during the confinement recovery phase. Transport analysis reveals that the confinement improvement in the ion channel results from the self-similarity in the ion temperature profiles in the plasma core combined with the observed increase in α/L Ti in the plasma edge following density pump-out. In contrast the electron temperature scale length (α/L Ti) remains essentially unchanged in response to the application of the RMP. At significantly higher RMP levels the edge EXB shearing rate and α/L Ti does not increase and the confinement does not recover following density pump-out.« less

Comment on ``Turbulent equipartition theory of toroidal momentum pinch'' [Phys. Plasmas 15, 055902 (2008)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peeters, A. G.; Angioni, C.; Strintzi, D.

2009-03-01

The comment addresses questions raised on the derivation of the momentum pinch velocity due to the Coriolis drift effect [A. G. Peeters et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 265003 (2007)]. These concern the definition of the gradient, and the scaling with the density gradient length. It will be shown that the turbulent equipartition mechanism is included within the derivation using the Coriolis drift, with the density gradient scaling being the consequence of drift terms not considered in [T. S. Hahm et al., Phys. Plasmas 15, 055902 (2008)]. Finally the accuracy of the analytic models is assessed through a comparison with the full gyrokinetic solution.

Plasma transport in an Eulerian AMR code

DOE PAGES

Vold, E. L.; Rauenzahn, R. M.; Aldrich, C. H.; ...

2017-04-04

A plasma transport model has been implemented in an Eulerian AMR radiation-hydrodynamics code, xRage, which includes plasma viscosity in the momentum tensor, viscous dissipation in the energy equations, and binary species mixing with consistent species mass and energy fluxes driven by concentration gradients, ion and electron baro-diffusion terms and temperature gradient forces. The physics basis, computational issues, numeric options, and results from several test problems are discussed. The transport coefficients are found to be relatively insensitive to the kinetic correction factors when the concentrations are expressed with the molar fractions and the ion mass differences are large. The contributions tomore » flow dynamics from plasma viscosity and mass diffusion were found to increase significantly as scale lengths decrease in an inertial confinement fusion relevant Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mix layer. The mixing scale lengths in the test case are on the order of 100 μm and smaller for viscous effects to appear and 10 μm or less for significant ion species diffusion, evident over durations on the order of nanoseconds. The temperature gradient driven mass flux is seen to deplete a high Z tracer ion at the ion shock front. The plasma transport model provides the generation of the atomic mix per unit of interfacial area between two species with no free parameters. The evolution of the total atomic mix then depends also on an accurate resolution or estimate of the interfacial area between the species mixing by plasma transport. High resolution simulations or a more Lagrangian-like treatment of species interfaces may be required to distinguish plasma transport and numerical diffusion in an Eulerian computation of complex and dynamically evolving mix regions.« less

Plasma transport in an Eulerian AMR code

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vold, E. L.; Rauenzahn, R. M.; Aldrich, C. H.; Molvig, K.; Simakov, A. N.; Haines, B. M.

2017-04-01

A plasma transport model has been implemented in an Eulerian AMR radiation-hydrodynamics code, xRage, which includes plasma viscosity in the momentum tensor, viscous dissipation in the energy equations, and binary species mixing with consistent species mass and energy fluxes driven by concentration gradients, ion and electron baro-diffusion terms and temperature gradient forces. The physics basis, computational issues, numeric options, and results from several test problems are discussed. The transport coefficients are found to be relatively insensitive to the kinetic correction factors when the concentrations are expressed with the molar fractions and the ion mass differences are large. The contributions to flow dynamics from plasma viscosity and mass diffusion were found to increase significantly as scale lengths decrease in an inertial confinement fusion relevant Kelvin-Helmholtz instability mix layer. The mixing scale lengths in the test case are on the order of 100 μm and smaller for viscous effects to appear and 10 μm or less for significant ion species diffusion, evident over durations on the order of nanoseconds. The temperature gradient driven mass flux is seen to deplete a high Z tracer ion at the ion shock front. The plasma transport model provides the generation of the atomic mix per unit of interfacial area between two species with no free parameters. The evolution of the total atomic mix then depends also on an accurate resolution or estimate of the interfacial area between the species mixing by plasma transport. High resolution simulations or a more Lagrangian-like treatment of species interfaces may be required to distinguish plasma transport and numerical diffusion in an Eulerian computation of complex and dynamically evolving mix regions.

Effect of double layers on magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lysak, Robert L.; Hudson, Mary K.

1987-01-01

The Earth's auroral zone contains dynamic processes occurring on scales from the length of an auroral zone field line which characterizes Alfven wave propagation to the scale of microscopic processes which occur over a few Debye lengths. These processes interact in a time-dependent fashion since the current carried by the Alfven waves can excite microscopic turbulence which can in turn provide dissipation of the Alfven wave energy. This review will first describe the dynamic aspects of auroral current structures with emphasis on consequences for models of microscopic turbulence. A number of models of microscopic turbulence will be introduced into a large-scale model of Alfven wave propagation to determine the effect of various models on the overall structure of auroral currents. In particular, the effects of a double layer electric field which scales with the plasma temperature and Debye length is compared with the effect of anomalous resistivity due to electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence in which the electric field scales with the magnetic field strength. It is found that the double layer model is less diffusive than in the resistive model leading to the possibility of narrow, intense current structures.

Echinocyte shapes: bending, stretching, and shear determine spicule shape and spacing.

PubMed Central

Mukhopadhyay, Ranjan; Lim H W, Gerald; Wortis, Michael

2002-01-01

We study the shapes of human red blood cells using continuum mechanics. In particular, we model the crenated, echinocytic shapes and show how they may arise from a competition between the bending energy of the plasma membrane and the stretching/shear elastic energies of the membrane skeleton. In contrast to earlier work, we calculate spicule shapes exactly by solving the equations of continuum mechanics subject to appropriate boundary conditions. A simple scaling analysis of this competition reveals an elastic length Lambda(el), which sets the length scale for the spicules and is, thus, related to the number of spicules experimentally observed on the fully developed echinocyte. PMID:11916836

A new multi-line cusp magnetic field plasma device (MPD) with variable magnetic field.

PubMed

Patel, A D; Sharma, M; Ramasubramanian, N; Ganesh, R; Chattopadhyay, P K

2018-04-01

A new multi-line cusp magnetic field plasma device consisting of electromagnets with core material has been constructed with a capability to experimentally control the relative volume fractions of magnetized to unmagnetized plasma volume as well as accurate control on the gradient length scales of mean density and temperature profiles. Argon plasma has been produced using a hot tungsten cathode over a wide range of pressures 5 × 10 -5 -1 × 10 -3 mbar, achieving plasma densities ranging from 10 9 to 10 11 cm -3 and the electron temperature in the range 1-8 eV. The radial profiles of plasma parameters measured along the non-cusp region (in between two consecutive magnets) show a finite region with uniform and quiescent plasma, where the magnetic field is very low such that the ions are unmagnetized. Beyond that region, both plasma species are magnetized and the profiles show gradients both in temperature and density. The electrostatic fluctuation measured using a Langmuir probe radially along the non-cusp region shows less than 1% (δI isat /I isat < 1%). The plasma thus produced will be used to study new and hitherto unexplored physics parameter space relevant to both laboratory multi-scale plasmas and astrophysical plasmas.

Mixing of the Interstellar and Solar Plasmas at the Heliospheric Interface

DOE PAGES

Pogorelov, N. V.; Borovikov, S. N.

2015-10-12

From the ideal MHD perspective, the heliopause is a tangential discontinuity that separates the solar wind plasma from the local interstellar medium plasma. There are physical processes, however, that make the heliopause permeable. They can be subdivided into kinetic and MHD categories. Kinetic processes occur on small length and time scales, and cannot be resolved with MHD equations. On the other hand, MHD instabilities of the heliopause have much larger scales and can be easily observed by spacecraft. The heliopause may also be a subject of magnetic reconnection. In this paper, we discuss mechanisms of plasma mixing at the heliopausemore » in the context of Voyager 1 observations. Numerical results are obtained with a Multi-Scale Fluid-Kinetic Simulation Suite (MS-FLUKSS), which is a package of numerical codes capable of performing adaptive mesh refinement simulations of complex plasma flows in the presence of discontinuities and charge exchange between ions and neutral atoms. The flow of the ionized component is described with the ideal MHD equations, while the transport of atoms is governed either by the Boltzmann equation or multiple Euler gas dynamics equations. The code can also treat nonthermal ions and turbulence produced by them.« less

Exploring reconnection, current sheets, and dissipation in a laboratory MHD turbulence experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffner, D. A.

2015-12-01

The Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX) can serve as a testbed for studying MHD turbulence in a controllable laboratory setting, and in particular, explore the phenomena of reconnection, current sheets and dissipation in MHD turbulence. Plasma with turbulently fluctuating magnetic and velocity fields can be generated using a plasma gun source and launched into a flux-conserving cylindrical tunnel. No background magnetic field is applied so internal fields are allowed to evolve dynamically. Point measurements of magnetic and velocity fluctuations yield broadband power-law spectra with a steepening breakpoint indicative of the onset of a dissipation scale. The frequency range at which this steepening occurs can be correlated to the ion inertial scale of the plasma, a length which is characteristic of the size of current sheets in MHD plasmas and suggests a connection to dissipation. Observation of non-Gaussian intermittent jumps in magnetic field magnitude and angle along with measurements of ion temperature bursts suggests the presence of current sheets embedded within the turbulent plasma, and possibly even active reconnection sites. Additionally, structure function analysis coupled with appeals to fractal scaling models support the hypothesis that current sheets are associated with dissipation in this system.

Self-similar space-time evolution of an initial density discontinuity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rekaa, V. L.; Pécseli, H. L.; Trulsen, J. K.

2013-07-01

The space-time evolution of an initial step-like plasma density variation is studied. We give particular attention to formulate the problem in a way that opens for the possibility of realizing the conditions experimentally. After a short transient time interval of the order of the electron plasma period, the solution is self-similar as illustrated by a video where the space-time evolution is reduced to be a function of the ratio x/t. Solutions of this form are usually found for problems without characteristic length and time scales, in our case the quasi-neutral limit. By introducing ion collisions with neutrals into the numerical analysis, we introduce a length scale, the collisional mean free path. We study the breakdown of the self-similarity of the solution as the mean free path is made shorter than the system length. Analytical results are presented for charge exchange collisions, demonstrating a short time collisionless evolution with an ensuing long time diffusive relaxation of the initial perturbation. For large times, we find a diffusion equation as the limiting analytical form for a charge-exchange collisional plasma, with a diffusion coefficient defined as the square of the ion sound speed divided by the (constant) ion collision frequency. The ion-neutral collision frequency acts as a parameter that allows a collisionless result to be obtained in one limit, while the solution of a diffusion equation is recovered in the opposite limit of large collision frequencies.

Intense isolated attosecond pulse generation from relativistic laser plasmas using few-cycle laser pulses

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

Ma, Guangjin, E-mail: guangjin.ma@mpq.mpg.de; Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching; Dallari, William

2015-03-15

We have performed a systematic study through particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the generation of attosecond pulse from relativistic laser plasmas when laser pulse duration approaches the few-cycle regime. A significant enhancement of attosecond pulse energy has been found to depend on laser pulse duration, carrier envelope phase, and plasma scale length. Based on the results obtained in this work, the potential of attaining isolated attosecond pulses with ∼100 μJ energy for photons >16 eV using state-of-the-art laser technology appears to be within reach.

Parametric amplification of a superconducting plasma wave

DOE PAGES

Rajasekaran, S.; Casandruc, E.; Laplace, Y.; ...

2016-07-11

Many applications in photonics require all-optical manipulation of plasma waves, which can concentrate electromagnetic energy on sub-wavelength length scales. This is difficult in metallic plasmas because of their small optical nonlinearities. Some layered superconductors support Josephson plasma waves, involving oscillatory tunnelling of the superfluid between capacitively coupled planes. Josephson plasma waves are also highly nonlinear, and exhibit striking phenomena such as cooperative emission of coherent terahertz radiation, superconductor–metal oscillations and soliton formation. In this paper, we show that terahertz Josephson plasma waves can be parametrically amplified through the cubic tunnelling nonlinearity in a cuprate superconductor. Finally, parametric amplification is sensitivemore » to the relative phase between pump and seed waves, and may be optimized to achieve squeezing of the order-parameter phase fluctuations or terahertz single-photon devices.« less

Origins and Scaling of Hot-Electron Preheat in Ignition-Scale Direct-Drive Inertial Confinement Fusion Experiments.

PubMed

Rosenberg, M J; Solodov, A A; Myatt, J F; Seka, W; Michel, P; Hohenberger, M; Short, R W; Epstein, R; Regan, S P; Campbell, E M; Chapman, T; Goyon, C; Ralph, J E; Barrios, M A; Moody, J D; Bates, J W

2018-02-02

Planar laser-plasma interaction (LPI) experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) have allowed access for the first time to regimes of electron density scale length (∼500 to 700  μm), electron temperature (∼3 to 5 keV), and laser intensity (6 to 16×10^{14}  W/cm^{2}) that are relevant to direct-drive inertial confinement fusion ignition. Unlike in shorter-scale-length plasmas on OMEGA, scattered-light data on the NIF show that the near-quarter-critical LPI physics is dominated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) rather than by two-plasmon decay (TPD). This difference in regime is explained based on absolute SRS and TPD threshold considerations. SRS sidescatter tangential to density contours and other SRS mechanisms are observed. The fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons is ∼0.7% to 2.9%, consistent with observed levels of SRS. The intensity threshold for hot-electron production is assessed, and the use of a Si ablator slightly increases this threshold from ∼4×10^{14} to ∼6×10^{14}  W/cm^{2}. These results have significant implications for mitigation of LPI hot-electron preheat in direct-drive ignition designs.

Long path-length experimental studies of longitudinal phenomena in intense beams

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

Beaudoin, B. L.; Haber, I.; Kishek, R. A.

2016-05-15

Intense charged particle beams are nonneutral plasmas as they can support a host of plasma waves and instabilities. The longitudinal physics, for a long beam, can often be reasonably described by a 1-D cold-fluid model with a geometry factor to account for the transverse effects. The plasma physics of such beams has been extensively studied theoretically and computationally for decades, but until recently, the only experimental measurements were carried out on relatively short linacs. This work reviews experimental studies over the past five years on the University of Maryland Electron Ring, investigating longitudinal phenomena over time scales of thousands ofmore » plasma periods, illustrating good agreement with simulations.« less

Intermediate scale plasma density irregularities in the polar ionosphere inferred from radio occultation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shume, E. B.; Komjathy, A.; Langley, R. B.; Verkhoglyadova, O. P.; Butala, M.; Mannucci, A. J.

2014-12-01

In this research, we report intermediate scale plasma density irregularities in the high-latitude ionosphere inferred from high-resolution radio occultation (RO) measurements in the CASSIOPE (CAScade Smallsat and IOnospheric Polar Explorer) - GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites radio link. The high inclination of the CASSIOPE satellite and high rate of signal receptionby the occultation antenna of the GPS Attitude, Positioning and Profiling (GAP) instrument on the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe platform on CASSIOPE enable a high temporal and spatial resolution investigation of the dynamics of the polar ionosphere, magnetosphere-ionospherecoupling, solar wind effects, etc. with unprecedented details compared to that possible in the past. We have carried out high spatial resolution analysis in altitude and geomagnetic latitude of scintillation-producing plasma density irregularities in the polar ionosphere. Intermediate scale, scintillation-producing plasma density irregularities, which corresponds to 2 to 40 km spatial scales were inferred by applying multi-scale spectral analysis on the RO phase delay measurements. Using our multi-scale spectral analysis approach and Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) observations, we infer that the irregularity scales and phase scintillations have distinct features in the auroral oval and polar cap regions. In specific terms, we found that large length scales and and more intense phase scintillations are prevalent in the auroral oval compared to the polar cap region. Hence, the irregularity scales and phase scintillation characteristics are a function of the solar wind and the magnetospheric forcing. Multi-scale analysis may become a powerful diagnostic tool for characterizing how the ionosphere is dynamically driven by these factors.

Modeling RF-induced Plasma-Surface Interactions with VSim

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Smithe, David N.; Pankin, Alexei Y.; Roark, Christine M.; Stoltz, Peter H.; Zhou, Sean C.-D.; Kruger, Scott E.

2014-10-01

An overview of ongoing enhancements to the Plasma Discharge (PD) module of Tech-X's VSim software tool is presented. A sub-grid kinetic sheath model, developed for the accurate computation of sheath potentials near metal and dielectric-coated walls, enables the physical effects of DC and RF sheath dynamics to be included in macroscopic-scale plasma simulations that need not explicitly resolve sheath scale lengths. Sheath potential evolution, together with particle behavior near the sheath (e.g. sputtering), can thus be simulated in complex, experimentally relevant geometries. Simulations of RF sheath-enhanced impurity production near surfaces of the C-Mod field-aligned ICRF antenna are presented to illustrate the model; impurity mitigation techniques are also explored. Model extensions to capture the physics of secondary electron emission and of multispecies plasmas are summarized, together with a discussion of improved tools for plasma chemistry and IEDF/EEDF visualization and modeling. The latter tools are also highly relevant for commercial plasma processing applications. Ultimately, we aim to establish VSimPD as a robust, efficient computational tool for modeling fusion and industrial plasma processes. Supported by U.S. DoE SBIR Phase I/II Award DE-SC0009501.

Study of discrete-particle effects in a one-dimensional plasma simulation with the Krook type collision model

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

Lai, Po-Yen; Chen, Liu; Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, Zhejiang University, 310027 Hangzhou

2015-09-15

The thermal relaxation time of a one-dimensional plasma has been demonstrated to scale with N{sub D}{sup 2} due to discrete particle effects by collisionless particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, where N{sub D} is the particle number in a Debye length. The N{sub D}{sup 2} scaling is consistent with the theoretical analysis based on the Balescu-Lenard-Landau kinetic equation. However, it was found that the thermal relaxation time is anomalously shortened to scale with N{sub D} while externally introducing the Krook type collision model in the one-dimensional electrostatic PIC simulation. In order to understand the discrete particle effects enhanced by the Krook type collisionmore » model, the superposition principle of dressed test particles was applied to derive the modified Balescu-Lenard-Landau kinetic equation. The theoretical results are shown to be in good agreement with the simulation results when the collisional effects dominate the plasma system.« less

Electron inertia and quasi-neutrality in the Weibel instability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camporeale, Enrico; Tronci, Cesare

2017-06-01

While electron kinetic effects are well known to be of fundamental importance in several situations, the electron mean-flow inertia is often neglected when length scales below the electron skin depth become irrelevant. This has led to the formulation of different reduced models, where electron inertia terms are discarded while retaining some or all kinetic effects. Upon considering general full-orbit particle trajectories, this paper compares the dispersion relations emerging from such models in the case of the Weibel instability. As a result, the question of how length scales below the electron skin depth can be neglected in a kinetic treatment emerges as an unsolved problem, since all current theories suffer from drawbacks of different nature. Alternatively, we discuss fully kinetic theories that remove all these drawbacks by restricting to frequencies well below the plasma frequency of both ions and electrons. By giving up on the length scale restrictions appearing in previous works, these models are obtained by assuming quasi-neutrality in the full Vlasov-Maxwell system.

Effect of Trapped Ions on Shielding and Floating Potential of a Dust Grain in a Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lampe, Martin; Ganguli, Gurudas; Joyce, Glenn; Gavrishchaka, Valeriy

2001-10-01

The problem of electrostatic shielding around a small spherical collector immersed in plasma, and the related problem of electron and ion flow to the collector, date to the origins of plasma physics. Beginning with Mott-Smith and Langmuir (1926), calculations have typically neglected collisions, on the grounds that the mean free path is long compared to shielding length scales, i.e. the Debye length. However, investigators beginning with Bernstein and Rabinowitz (1959) have known that negative-energy trapped ions, created by occasional collisions, might be important. We present an analytic calculation of the density of trapped and untrapped ions, self-consistent with the potential. Under typical conditions for dust grains immersed in a discharge plasma, trapped ions dominate the shielding cloud in steady state, even in the limit of very long mean free path. As a result the shielded potential is different from the results of orbital motion limited theory. Collisions also greatly increase the ion current to the collector, thereby decreasing the floating potential and the grain charge by a factor as large as two to three.

Collisional damping of helicon waves in a high density hydrogen linear plasma device

DOE PAGES

Caneses, Juan F.; Blackwell, Boyd D.

2016-09-28

In this paper, we investigate the propagation and damping of helicon waves along the length (~50 cm) of a helicon-produced 20 kW hydrogen plasma ( ~1-2 1019 m-3, ~1-6 eV, H2 8 mTorr) operated in a magnetic mirror configuration (antenna region: 50-200 G and mirror region: 800 G). Experimental results show the presence of traveling helicon waves (~10 G and ~ 10-15 cm) propagating away from the antenna region which become collisionally absorbed within 40 to 50 cm. We describe the use of the WKB method to calculate wave damping and provide an expression to assess its validity based onmore » experimental measurements. By comparing theory and experiment, we show that for the conditions associated with this paper classical collisions are sufficient to explain the observed wave damping along the length of the plasma column. Based on these results, we provide an expression for the scaling of helicon wave damping relevant to high density discharges and discuss the location of surfaces for plasma-material interaction studies in our device (MAGPIE).« less

Multiscale Processes in Magnetic Reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Surjalal Sharma, A.; Jain, Neeraj

The characteristic scales of the plasma processes in magnetic reconnection range from the elec-tron skin-depth to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) scale, and cross-scale coupling among them play a key role. Modeling these processes requires different physical models, viz. kinetic, electron-magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD), Hall-MHD, and MHD. The shortest scale processes are at the electron scale and these are modeled using an EMHD code, which provides many features of the multiscale behavior. In simulations using initial conditions consisting of pertur-bations with many scale sizes the reconnection takes place at many sites and the plasma flows from these interact with each other. This leads to thin current sheets with length less than 10 electron skin depths. The plasma flows also generate current sheets with multiple peaks, as observed by Cluster. The quadrupole structure of the magnetic field during reconnection starts on the electron scale and the interaction of inflow to the secondary sites and outflow from the dominant site generates a nested structure. In the outflow regions, the interaction of the electron outflows generated at the neighboring sites lead to the development of electron vortices. A signature of the nested structure of the Hall field is seen in Cluster observations, and more details of these features are expected from MMS.

Constructing Current Singularity in a 3D Line-tied Plasma

DOE PAGES

Zhou, Yao; Huang, Yi-Min; Qin, Hong; ...

2017-12-27

We revisit Parker's conjecture of current singularity formation in 3D line-tied plasmas using a recently developed numerical method, variational integration for ideal magnetohydrodynamics in Lagrangian labeling. With the frozen-in equation built-in, the method is free of artificial reconnection, and hence it is arguably an optimal tool for studying current singularity formation. Using this method, the formation of current singularity has previously been confirmed in the Hahm–Kulsrud–Taylor problem in 2D. In this paper, we extend this problem to 3D line-tied geometry. The linear solution, which is singular in 2D, is found to be smooth for arbitrary system length. However, with finitemore » amplitude, the linear solution can become pathological when the system is sufficiently long. The nonlinear solutions turn out to be smooth for short systems. Nonetheless, the scaling of peak current density versus system length suggests that the nonlinear solution may become singular at finite length. Finally, with the results in hand, we can neither confirm nor rule out this possibility conclusively, since we cannot obtain solutions with system length near the extrapolated critical value.« less

Multi-scale study of the isotope effect in ISTTOK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, B.; Silva, C.; Figueiredo, H.; Pedrosa, M. A.; van Milligen, B. Ph.; Pereira, T.; Losada, U.; Hidalgo, C.

2016-05-01

The isotope effect, namely the isotope dependence of plasma confinement, is still one of the principal scientific conundrums facing the magnetic fusion community. We have investigated the impact of isotope mass on multi-scale mechanisms, including the characterization of radial correlation lengths (\\boldsymbol{L}{r} ) and long-range correlations (LRC) of plasma fluctuations using multi-array Langmuir probe system, in hydrogen (H) and deuterium (D) plasmas in the ISTTOK tokamak. We found that when changing plasma composition from the H dominated to D dominated, the LRC amplitude increased markedly (10-30%) and the \\boldsymbol{L}{r} increased slightly (~10%). The particle confinement also improved by about 50%. The changes of LRC and \\boldsymbol{L}{r} are congruent with previous findings in the TEXTOR tokamak (Xu et al 2013 Phys. Rev. Lett. 110 265005). In addition, using biorthogonal decomposition, both geodesic acoustic modes and very low frequency (<5 kHz) coherent modes were found to be contributing to LRC.

Multi-scale transport in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating and projection to ITER

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

Grierson, B. A.; Staebler, G. M.; Solomon, W. M.

Multi-scale fluctuations measured by turbulence diagnostics spanning long and short wavelength spatial scales impact energy confinement and the scale-lengths of plasma kinetic profiles in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating. Contrasting discharge phases with ECH + neutral beam injection (NBI) and NBI only at similar rotation reveal higher energy confinement and lower fluctuations when only NBI heating is used. Modeling of the core transport with TGYRO using the TGLF turbulent transport model and NEO neoclassical transport reproduces the experimental profile changes upon application of direct electron heating and indicates that multi-scale transport mechanisms are responsible for changesmore » in the temperature and density profiles. Intermediate and high-k fluctuations appear responsible for the enhanced electron thermal flux, and intermediate-k electron modes produce an inward particle pinch that increases the inverse density scale length. Projection to ITER is performed with TGLF and indicates a density profile that has a finite scale length due to intermediate-k electron modes at low collisionality and increases the fusion gain. Finally, for a range of E×B shear, the dominant mechanism that increases fusion performance is suppression of outward low-k particle flux and increased density peaking.« less

Multi-scale transport in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating and projection to ITER

DOE PAGES

Grierson, B. A.; Staebler, G. M.; Solomon, W. M.; ...

2018-02-01

Multi-scale fluctuations measured by turbulence diagnostics spanning long and short wavelength spatial scales impact energy confinement and the scale-lengths of plasma kinetic profiles in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating. Contrasting discharge phases with ECH + neutral beam injection (NBI) and NBI only at similar rotation reveal higher energy confinement and lower fluctuations when only NBI heating is used. Modeling of the core transport with TGYRO using the TGLF turbulent transport model and NEO neoclassical transport reproduces the experimental profile changes upon application of direct electron heating and indicates that multi-scale transport mechanisms are responsible for changesmore » in the temperature and density profiles. Intermediate and high-k fluctuations appear responsible for the enhanced electron thermal flux, and intermediate-k electron modes produce an inward particle pinch that increases the inverse density scale length. Projection to ITER is performed with TGLF and indicates a density profile that has a finite scale length due to intermediate-k electron modes at low collisionality and increases the fusion gain. Finally, for a range of E×B shear, the dominant mechanism that increases fusion performance is suppression of outward low-k particle flux and increased density peaking.« less

Multi-scale transport in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating and projection to ITER

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grierson, B. A.; Staebler, G. M.; Solomon, W. M.; McKee, G. R.; Holland, C.; Austin, M.; Marinoni, A.; Schmitz, L.; Pinsker, R. I.; DIII-D Team

2018-02-01

Multi-scale fluctuations measured by turbulence diagnostics spanning long and short wavelength spatial scales impact energy confinement and the scale-lengths of plasma kinetic profiles in the DIII-D ITER baseline scenario with direct electron heating. Contrasting discharge phases with ECH + neutral beam injection (NBI) and NBI only at similar rotation reveal higher energy confinement and lower fluctuations when only NBI heating is used. Modeling of the core transport with TGYRO using the TGLF turbulent transport model and NEO neoclassical transport reproduces the experimental profile changes upon application of direct electron heating and indicates that multi-scale transport mechanisms are responsible for changes in the temperature and density profiles. Intermediate and high-k fluctuations appear responsible for the enhanced electron thermal flux, and intermediate-k electron modes produce an inward particle pinch that increases the inverse density scale length. Projection to ITER is performed with TGLF and indicates a density profile that has a finite scale length due to intermediate-k electron modes at low collisionality and increases the fusion gain. For a range of E × B shear, the dominant mechanism that increases fusion performance is suppression of outward low-k particle flux and increased density peaking.

Dependence of SOL widths on plasma current and density in NSTX H-mode plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, J.-W.; Maingi, R.; Boedo, J. A.; Soukhanovskii, V.; NSTX Team

2009-06-01

The dependence of various SOL widths on the line-averaged density ( n) and plasma current ( Ip) for the quiescent H-mode plasmas with Type-V ELMs in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) was investigated. It is found that the heat flux SOL width ( λq), measured by the IR camera, is virtually insensitive to n and has a strong negative dependence on Ip. This insensitivity of λq to n¯e is consistent with the scaling law from JET H-mode plasmas that shows a very weak dependence on the upstream density. The electron temperature, ion saturation current density, electron density, and electron pressure decay lengths ( λTe, λjsat, λne, and λpe, respectively) measured by the probe showed that λTe and λjsat have strong negative dependence on Ip, whereas λne and λpe revealed only a little or no dependence. The dependence of λTe on Ip is consistent with the scaling law in the literature, while λne and λpe dependence shows a different trend.

Dressing effects on the occurrence scattering time retardation and advance in a dusty plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Myoung-Jae; Jung, Young-Dae; Hanyang Plasma Team

2017-10-01

The dressing effects on the occurrence scattering time for the dust-dust interaction are investigated in a complex plasma. The first-order eikonal analysis is applied to obtain the scattering amplitude and the occurrence scattering time for the dust-dust interaction. The result shows that dressing effect enhances the retardation phenomena of the occurrence scattering time in the forward scattering domain. It is shown that the oscillatory behavior of the scaled occurrence scattering time is getting more significant with an increase of the Debye length. It is also found that the retardation domain of the occurrence scattering time increases with a decrease of the Debye length. The variation of the occurrence scattering time retardation and advance due to the dressing effect is also discussed.

Computing the complex : Dusty plasmas in the presence of magnetic fields and UV radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Land, V.

2007-12-01

About 90% of the visible universe is plasma. Interstellar clouds, stellar cores and atmospheres, the Solar wind, the Earth's ionosphere, polar lights, and lightning are all plasma; ionized gases, consisting of electrons, ions, and neutrals. Not only many industries, like the microchip and solar cell industry, but also future fusion power stations, rely heavily on the use of plasma. More and more, home appliances include plasma technologies, like compact fluorescent light sources, and plasma screens. Dust particles, which can disrupt plasma processes, enter these plasmas, through chemical reactions in the plasma, or through interactions between plasma and walls. For instance, during microchip fabrication, dust particles can destroy the tiny, nanometre-sized structures on the surface of these chips. On the other hand, dust particles orbiting Young Stellar Objects coagulate and form the seeds of planets. In order to understand fundamental processes, such as planet formation, or to optimize industrial plasma processes, a thorough description of dusty plasma is necessary. Dust particles immersed in plasma collect ions and electrons from the plasma and charge up electrically. Therefore, the presence of dust changes plasma, while at the same time many forces start acting on the dust. Therefore, the dust and plasma become coupled, making dusty plasma a very complex medium to describe, in which many length and time scales play a role, from the Debye length to the length of the electrodes, and from the inverse plasma frequencies to the dust transport times. Using a self-consistent fluid model, we simulate these multi-scale dusty plasmas in radio frequency discharges under micro-gravity. We show that moderate non-linear scattering of ions by the dust particles is the most important aspect in the calculation of the ion drag force. This force is also responsible for the formation of a dust-free 'void' in dusty plasma under micro-gravity, caused by ions moving from the centre of the void towards the outside of the discharge. The void thus requires electron-impact ionizations inside the void. The electrons gain the energy for these ionizations inside the dust cloud surrounding the void, however. We show that a growing electron temperature gradient is responsible for the transport of electron energy from the surrounding dust cloud into the void. An axial magnetic field in the discharge magnetizes the electrons. This changes the ambipolar flux of ions through the bulk of the discharge. The ion drag force changes, resulting in a differently shaped void and faster void formation. Experiments in a direct current discharge, show a response of both dust and plasma in the E?B direction, when a magnetic field is applied. The dust response consists of two phases: an initial fast phase, and a later, slow phase. Using a Particle-In-Cell plus Monte Carlo model, we show that the dust charge can be reduced by adding a flux of ultraviolet radiation. A source of ultraviolet light can thus serve as a tool to manipulate dusty plasmas, but might also be important for the coagulation of dust particles around young stars and planet formation in general.

Modeling of thermalization phenomena in coaxial plasma accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subramaniam, Vivek; Panneerchelvam, Premkumar; Raja, Laxminarayan L.

2018-05-01

Coaxial plasma accelerators are electromagnetic acceleration devices that employ a self-induced Lorentz force to produce collimated plasma jets with velocities ~50 km s‑1. The accelerator operation is characterized by the formation of an ionization/thermalization zone near gas inlet of the device that continually processes the incoming neutral gas into a highly ionized thermal plasma. In this paper, we present a 1D non-equilibrium plasma model to resolve the plasma formation and the electron-heavy species thermalization phenomena that take place in the thermalization zone. The non-equilibrium model is based on a self-consistent multi-species continuum description of the plasma with finite-rate chemistry. The thermalization zone is modelled by tracking a 1D gas-bit as it convects down the device with an initial gas pressure of 1 atm. The thermalization process occurs in two stages. The first is a plasma production stage, associated with a rapid increase in the charged species number densities facilitated by cathode surface electron emission and volumetric production processes. The production stage results in the formation of a two-temperature plasma with electron energies of ~2.5 eV in a low temperature background gas of ~300 K. The second, a temperature equilibration stage, is characterized by the energy transfer between the electrons and heavy species. The characteristic length scale for thermalization is found to be comparable to axial length of the accelerator thus putting into question the equilibrium magnetohydrodynamics assumption used in modeling coaxial accelerators.

Intermittency, coherent structures and dissipation in plasma turbulence

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

Wan, M.; Matthaeus, W. H.; Parashar, T. N.

Collisionless dissipation in turbulent plasmas such as the solar wind and the solar corona has been an intensively studied subject recently, with new insights often emerging from numerical simulation. Here we report results from high resolution, fully kinetic simulations of plasma turbulence in both two (2D) and three (3D) dimensions, studying the relationship between intermittency and dissipation. The simulations show development of turbulent coherent structures, characterized by sheet-like current density structures spanning a range of scales. An approximate dissipation measure is employed, based on work done by the electromagnetic field in the local electron fluid frame. This surrogate dissipation measuremore » is highly concentrated in small subvolumes in both 2D and 3D simulations. Fully kinetic simulations are also compared with magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations in terms of coherent structures and dissipation. The interesting result emerges that the conditional averages of dissipation measure scale very similarly with normalized current density J in 2D and 3D particle-in-cell and in MHD. To the extent that the surrogate dissipation measure is accurate, this result implies that on average dissipation scales as ∼J{sup 2} in turbulent kinetic plasma. Multifractal intermittency is seen in the inertial range in both 2D and 3D, but at scales ∼ion inertial length, the scaling is closer to monofractal.« less

Shock-Wave Acceleration of Protons on OMEGA EP

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haberberger, D.; Froula, D. H.; Pak, A.; Link, A.; Patel, P.; Fiuza, F.; Tochitsky, S.; Joshi, C.

2015-11-01

Recent experimental results using shock-wave acceleration (SWA) driven by a CO2 laser in a H2 gas-jet plasma have shown the possibility of producing proton beams with energy spreads <10% and with energies of up to 20 MeV using a modest peak laser power of 4 TW. Here we propose the investigation of the scaling of the SWA mechanism to higher laser powers using the 1- μm OMEGA EP Laser System at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The required tailored plasma profile is created by expanding a CH target using the thermal x-ray emission from a UV ablated material. The desired characteristics optimal for SWA are met: (a) peak plasma density is overcritical for the 1- μm main pulse and (b) the plasma profile exponentially decays over a long scale length on the rear side. Results will be shown using a 4 ω probe to experimentally characterize the plasma density profile. Scaling from simulations of the SWA mechanism shows that ion energies in the range of 100 MeV/amu are achievable with a focused a0 of 5 from the OMEGA EP Laser System. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Development of high intensity X-ray sources at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

May, M. J.; Colvin, J. D.; Kemp, G. E.; Barrios, M. A.; Widmann, K.; Benjamin, R.; Thorn, D.; Poole, P.; Blue, B.

2018-05-01

Laser heated plasmas have provided recently some of the most powerful and energetic nanosecond length laboratory sources of x-ray photons (Ephoton = 1-30 keV). The highest x-ray to laser conversion is currently accessible by using underdense (ne ˜ 0.25 nc) plasmas since optimal laser coupling is obtained in millimeter scale targets. The targets can have conversion efficiencies of up to 10%. Several types of targets can be used to produce underdense plasmas: metal lined cylindrical cavities, gas pipes, and most recently nano-wire foams. Both the experimental and simulation details of these high intensity x-ray sources are discussed.

Developing the RAL front end test stand source to deliver a 60 mA, 50 Hz, 2 ms H- beam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faircloth, Dan; Lawrie, Scott; Letchford, Alan; Gabor, Christoph; Perkins, Mike; Whitehead, Mark; Wood, Trevor; Tarvainen, Olli; Komppula, Jani; Kalvas, Taneli; Dudnikov, Vadim; Pereira, Hugo; Izaola, Zunbeltz; Simkin, John

2013-02-01

All the Front End Test Stand (FETS) beam requirements have been achieved, but not simultaneously [1]. At 50 Hz repetition rates beam current droop becomes unacceptable for pulse lengths longer than 1 ms. This is fundamental limitation of the present source design. Previous researchers [2] have demonstrated that using a physically larger Penning surface plasma source should overcome these limitations. The scaled source development strategy is outlined in this paper. A study of time-varying plasma behavior has been performed using a V-UV spectrometer. Initial experiments to test scaled plasma volumes are outlined. A dedicated plasma and extraction test stand (VESPA-Vessel for Extraction and Source Plasma Analysis) is being developed to allow new source and extraction designs to be appraised. The experimental work is backed up by modeling and simulations. A detailed ANSYS thermal model has been developed. IBSimu is being used to design extraction and beam transport. A novel 3D plasma modeling code using beamlets is being developed by Cobham Vector Fields using SCALA OPERA, early source modeling results are very promising. Hardware on FETS is also being developed in preparation to run the scaled source. A new 2 ms, 50 Hz, 25 kV pulsed extraction voltage power supply has been constructed and a new discharge power supply is being designed. The design of the post acceleration electrode assembly has been improved.

Laser propagation measurements in long-scale-length underdense plasmas relevant to magnetized liner inertial fusion.

PubMed

Harvey-Thompson, A J; Sefkow, A B; Wei, M S; Nagayama, T; Campbell, E M; Blue, B E; Heeter, R F; Koning, J M; Peterson, K J; Schmitt, A

2016-11-01

We report experimental results and simulations showing efficient laser energy coupling into plasmas at conditions relevant to the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) concept. In MagLIF, to limit convergence and increase the hydrodynamic stability of the implosion, the fuel must be efficiently preheated. To determine the efficiency and physics of preheating by a laser, an Ar plasma with n_{e}/n_{crit}∼0.04 is irradiated by a multi-ns, multi-kJ, 0.35-μm, phase-plate-smoothed laser at spot-averaged intensities ranging from 1.0×10^{14} to 2.5×10^{14}W/cm^{2} and pulse widths from 2 to 10 ns. Time-resolved x-ray images of the laser-heated plasma are compared to two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that show agreement with the propagating emission front, a comparison that constrains laser energy deposition to the plasma. The experiments show that long-pulse, modest-intensity (I=1.5×10^{14}W/cm^{2}) beams can efficiently couple energy (∼82% of the incident energy) to MagLIF-relevant long-length (9.5 mm) underdense plasmas. The demonstrated heating efficiency is significantly higher than is thought to have been achieved in early integrated MagLIF experiments [A. B. Sefkow et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 072711 (2014)10.1063/1.4890298].

Laser propagation measurements in long-scale-length underdense plasmas relevant to magnetized liner inertial fusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harvey-Thompson, A. J.; Sefkow, A. B.; Wei, M. S.; Nagayama, T.; Campbell, E. M.; Blue, B. E.; Heeter, R. F.; Koning, J. M.; Peterson, K. J.; Schmitt, A.

2016-11-01

We report experimental results and simulations showing efficient laser energy coupling into plasmas at conditions relevant to the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) concept. In MagLIF, to limit convergence and increase the hydrodynamic stability of the implosion, the fuel must be efficiently preheated. To determine the efficiency and physics of preheating by a laser, an Ar plasma with ne/nc r i t˜0.04 is irradiated by a multi-ns, multi-kJ, 0.35-μm, phase-plate-smoothed laser at spot-averaged intensities ranging from 1.0 ×1014 to 2.5 ×1014W /c m2 and pulse widths from 2 to 10 ns. Time-resolved x-ray images of the laser-heated plasma are compared to two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that show agreement with the propagating emission front, a comparison that constrains laser energy deposition to the plasma. The experiments show that long-pulse, modest-intensity (I =1.5 ×1014W /c m2 ) beams can efficiently couple energy (˜82 % of the incident energy) to MagLIF-relevant long-length (9.5 mm) underdense plasmas. The demonstrated heating efficiency is significantly higher than is thought to have been achieved in early integrated MagLIF experiments [A. B. Sefkow et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 072711 (2014), 10.1063/1.4890298].

Laser propagation measurements in long-scale-length underdense plasmas relevant to magnetized liner inertial fusion

DOE PAGES

Harvey-Thompson, A. J.; Sefkow, A. B.; Wei, M. S.; ...

2016-11-02

Here, we report experimental results and simulations showing efficient laser energy coupling into plasmas at conditions relevant to the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) concept. In MagLIF, to limit convergence and increase the hydrodynamic stability of the implosion, the fuel must be efficiently preheated. To determine the efficiency and physics of preheating by a laser, an Ar plasma with n e / n c r i t ~ 0.04 is irradiated by a multi-ns, multi-kJ, 0.35-μm, phase-plate-smoothed laser at spot-averaged intensities ranging from 1.0 × 10 14 to 2.5 × 10 14 W / c m 2 andmore » pulse widths from 2 to 10 ns. Time-resolved x-ray images of the laser-heated plasma are compared to two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that show agreement with the propagating emission front, a comparison that constrains laser energy deposition to the plasma. The experiments show that long-pulse, modest-intensity ( I = 1.5 × 10 14 W / c m 2 ) beams can efficiently couple energy ( ~ 82 % of the incident energy) to MagLIF-relevant long-length (9.5 mm) underdense plasmas. The heating efficiency we demonstrate is significantly higher than it was thought to have been achieved in early integrated MagLIF experiments [A. B. Sefkow et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 072711 (2014)].« less

Laser propagation measurements in long-scale-length underdense plasmas relevant to magnetized liner inertial fusion

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

Harvey-Thompson, A. J.; Sefkow, A. B.; Wei, M. S.

Here, we report experimental results and simulations showing efficient laser energy coupling into plasmas at conditions relevant to the magnetized liner inertial fusion (MagLIF) concept. In MagLIF, to limit convergence and increase the hydrodynamic stability of the implosion, the fuel must be efficiently preheated. To determine the efficiency and physics of preheating by a laser, an Ar plasma with n e / n c r i t ~ 0.04 is irradiated by a multi-ns, multi-kJ, 0.35-μm, phase-plate-smoothed laser at spot-averaged intensities ranging from 1.0 × 10 14 to 2.5 × 10 14 W / c m 2 andmore » pulse widths from 2 to 10 ns. Time-resolved x-ray images of the laser-heated plasma are compared to two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulations that show agreement with the propagating emission front, a comparison that constrains laser energy deposition to the plasma. The experiments show that long-pulse, modest-intensity ( I = 1.5 × 10 14 W / c m 2 ) beams can efficiently couple energy ( ~ 82 % of the incident energy) to MagLIF-relevant long-length (9.5 mm) underdense plasmas. The heating efficiency we demonstrate is significantly higher than it was thought to have been achieved in early integrated MagLIF experiments [A. B. Sefkow et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 072711 (2014)].« less

Inertial fusion program and national laser users facility program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1995-01-01

This is the 1994 annual report for the University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The report is presented as a series of research type reports. The titles emphasize the breadth of work carried out. They are: stability analysis of unsteady ablation fronts; characterization of laser-produced plasma density profiles using grid image refractometry; transport and sound waves in plasmas with light and heavy ions; three-halves-harmonic radiation from long-scale-length plasmas revisited; OMEGA upgrade status report; target imaging and backlighting diagnosis; effect of electron collisions on ion-acoustic waves and heat flow; particle-in-cell code simulations of the interaction of gaussian ultrashort laser pulses with targets of varying initial scale lengths; characterization of thick cryogenic fuel layers: compensation for the lens effect using convergent beam interferometry; compact, multijoule-output, Nd:Glass, large-aperture ring amplifier; atomic force microscopy observation of water-induced morphological changes in Y2O3 monolayer coatings; observation of longitudinal acceleration of electrons born in a high-intensity laser focus; spatial intensity nonuniformities of an OMEGA beam due to nonlinear beam propagation; calculated X-ray backlighting images of mixed imploded targets; evaluation of cosmic rays for use in the monitoring of the MEDUSA scintillator-photomultiplier diagnostic array; highly efficient second-harmonic generation of ultra-intense Nd:Glass laser pulses multiple cutoff wave numbers of the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability; ultrafast, all-silicon light modulator; angular dependence of the stimulated Brillouin scattering in homogeneous plasma; and femtosecond excited-state dynamics of a conjugated ladder polymer.

Low-energy electron elastic scattering and impact ionization with hydrogenlike helium in Debye plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jun; Zhang, Song Bin; Ye, Bang Jiao; Wang, Jian Guo; Janev, R. K.

2017-09-01

Low-energy electron elastic scattering and impact ionization with hydrogenlike helium in Debye plasmas have been investigated by employing the exterior complex scaling method. The interactions between charged particles in the plasmas have been represented by Debye-Hückel potentials. The 1 s -1 s elastic collision strengths below the n =2 excitation threshold of He+ dominated by resonance structures are calculated for different screening lengths. As the screening strength increases, the resonance peaks studied [2(1,0) 2 +1Se,3Po,1De , and 2(0,1) 2 +1Po] exhibit blueshifts and then redshifts with a further increase of the screening strength, which results in dramatic changes of the collision strengths. It is found that these dynamic variation features of the resonances are related to the changes of energy levels of He+ in the screened potential and geometric configurations of resonances. Triple-differential-ionization cross sections in coplanar geometries at 6-Ry incident electron energy are also reported, significant changes are observed with varying screening length.

Emergence of a turbulent cascade in a quantum gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Navon, Nir; Gaunt, Alexander L.; Smith, Robert P.; Hadzibabic, Zoran

2016-11-01

A central concept in the modern understanding of turbulence is the existence of cascades of excitations from large to small length scales, or vice versa. This concept was introduced in 1941 by Kolmogorov and Obukhov, and such cascades have since been observed in various systems, including interplanetary plasmas, supernovae, ocean waves and financial markets. Despite much progress, a quantitative understanding of turbulence remains a challenge, owing to the interplay between many length scales that makes theoretical simulations of realistic experimental conditions difficult. Here we observe the emergence of a turbulent cascade in a weakly interacting homogeneous Bose gas—a quantum fluid that can be theoretically described on all relevant length scales. We prepare a Bose-Einstein condensate in an optical box, drive it out of equilibrium with an oscillating force that pumps energy into the system at the largest length scale, study its nonlinear response to the periodic drive, and observe a gradual development of a cascade characterized by an isotropic power-law distribution in momentum space. We numerically model our experiments using the Gross-Pitaevskii equation and find excellent agreement with the measurements. Our experiments establish the uniform Bose gas as a promising new medium for investigating many aspects of turbulence, including the interplay between vortex and wave turbulence, and the relative importance of quantum and classical effects.

Analysis of edge stability for models of heat flux width

DOE PAGES

Makowski, Michael A.; Lasnier, Charles J.; Leonard, Anthony W.; ...

2017-05-12

Detailed measurements of the n e, and T e, and T i profiles in the vicinity of the separatrix of ELMing H-mode discharges have been used to examine plasma stability at the extreme edge of the plasma and assess stability dependent models of the heat flux width. The results are strongly contrary to the critical gradient model, which posits that a ballooning instability determines a gradient scale length related to the heat flux width. The results of this analysis are not sensitive to the choice of location to evaluate stability. Significantly, it is also found that the results are completelymore » consistent with the heuristic drift model for the heat flux width. Here the edge pressure gradient scales with plasma density and is proportional to the pressure gradient inferred from the equilibrium in accordance with the predictions of that theory.« less

Observation and analysis of abrupt changes in the interplanetary plasma velocity and magnetic field.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martin, R. N.; Belcher, J. W.; Lazarus, A. J.

1973-01-01

This paper presents a limited study of the physical nature of abrupt changes in the interplanetary plasma velocity and magnetic field based on 19 day's data from the Pioneer 6 spacecraft. The period was chosen to include a high-velocity solar wind stream and low-velocity wind. Abrupt events were accepted for study if the sum of the energy density in the magnetic field and velocity changes was above a specified minimum. A statistical analysis of the events in the high-velocity solar wind stream shows that Alfvenic changes predominate. This conclusion is independent of whether steady state requirements are imposed on conditions before and after the event. Alfvenic changes do not dominate in the lower-speed wind. This study extends the plasma field evidence for outwardly propagating Alfvenic changes to time scales as small as 1 min (scale lengths on the order of 20,000 km).

Sputtering, Plasma Chemistry, and RF Sheath Effects in Low-Temperature and Fusion Plasma Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Kruger, Scott E.; McGugan, James M.; Pankin, Alexei Y.; Roark, Christine M.; Smithe, David N.; Stoltz, Peter H.

2016-09-01

A new sheath boundary condition has been implemented in VSim, a plasma modeling code which makes use of both PIC/MCC and fluid FDTD representations. It enables physics effects associated with DC and RF sheath formation - local sheath potential evolution, heat/particle fluxes, and sputtering effects on complex plasma-facing components - to be included in macroscopic-scale plasma simulations that need not resolve sheath scale lengths. We model these effects in typical ICRF antenna operation scenarios on the Alcator C-Mod fusion device, and present comparisons of our simulation results with experimental data together with detailed 3D animations of antenna operation. Complex low-temperature plasma chemistry modeling in VSim is facilitated by MUNCHKIN, a standalone python/C++/SQL code that identifies possible reaction paths for a given set of input species, solves 1D rate equations for the ensuing system's chemical evolution, and generates VSim input blocks with appropriate cross-sections/reaction rates. These features, as well as principal path analysis (to reduce the number of simulated chemical reactions while retaining accuracy) and reaction rate calculations from user-specified distribution functions, will also be demonstrated. Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's SBIR program, Award DE-SC0009501.

Behavior of MHD Instabilities of the Large Helical Device near the Effective Plasma Boundary in the Magnetic Stochastic Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohdachi, S.; Suzuki, Y.; Sakakibara, S.; Watanabe, K. Y.; Ida, K.; Goto, M.; Du, X. D.; Narushima, Y.; Takemura, Y.; Yamada, H.

In the high beta experiments of the Large Helical Device (LHD), the plasma tends to expand from the last closed flux surface (LCFS) determined by the vacuum magnetic field. The pressure/temperature gradient in the external region is finite. The scale length of the pressure profile does not change so much even when the mean free path of electrons exceeds the connection length of the magnetic field line to the wall. There appear MHD instabilities with amplitude of 10-4 of the toroidal magnetic field. From the mode number of the activities (m/n = 2/3, 1/2, 2/4), the location of the corresponding rational surface is outside the vacuum LCFS. The location of the mode is consistent with the fluctuation measurement, e.g., soft X-ray detector arrays. The MHD mode localized in the magnetic stochastic region is affected by the magnetic field structure estimated by the connection length to the wall using 3D equilibrium calculation.

Plasma flow around and charge distribution of a dust cluster in a rf discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schleede, J.; Lewerentz, L.; Bronold, F. X.; Schneider, R.; Fehske, H.

2018-04-01

We employ a particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision/particle-particle particle-mesh simulation to study the plasma flow around and the charge distribution of a three-dimensional dust cluster in the sheath of a low-pressure rf argon discharge. The geometry of the cluster and its position in the sheath are fixed to the experimental values, prohibiting a mechanical response of the cluster. Electrically, however, the cluster and the plasma environment, mimicking also the experimental situation, are coupled self-consistently. We find a broad distribution of the charges collected by the grains. The ion flux shows on the scale of the Debye length strong focusing and shadowing inside and outside the cluster due to the attraction of the ions to the negatively charged grains, whereas the electron flux is characterized on this scale only by a weak spatial modulation of its magnitude depending on the rf phase. On the scale of the individual dust potentials, however, the electron flux deviates in the vicinity of the cluster strongly from the laminar flow associated with the plasma sheath. It develops convection patterns to compensate for the depletion of electrons inside the dust cluster.

Intermittent laser-plasma interactions and hot electron generation in shock ignition

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

Yan, R.; Li, J.; Ren, C.

We study laser-plasma interactions and hot electron generation in the ignition phase of shock ignition through 1D and 2D particle-in-cell simulations in the regime of long density scale length and moderately high laser intensity. These long-term simulations show an intermittent bursting pattern of laser-plasma instabilities, resulting from a coupling of the modes near the quarter-critical-surface and those in the lower density region via plasma waves and laser pump depletion. The majority of the hot electrons are found to be from stimulated Raman scattering and of moderate energies. However, high energy electrons of preheating threat can still be generated from themore » two-plasmon-decay instability.« less

Electron temperature critical gradient and transport stiffness in DIII-D

DOE PAGES

Smith, Sterling P.; Petty, Clinton C.; White, Anne E.; ...

2015-07-06

The electron energy flux has been probed as a function of electron temperature gradient on the DIII-D tokamak, in a continuing effort to validate turbulent transport models. In the scan of gradient, a critical electron temperature gradient has been found in the electron heat fluxes and stiffness at various radii in L-mode plasmas. The TGLF reduced turbulent transport model [G.M. Staebler et al, Phys. Plasmas 14, 055909 (2007)] and full gyrokinetic GYRO model [J. Candy and R.E. Waltz, J. Comput. Phys. 186, 545 (2003)] recover the general trend of increasing electron energy flux with increasing electron temperature gradient scale length,more » but they do not predict the absolute level of transport at all radii and gradients. Comparing the experimental observations of incremental (heat pulse) diffusivity and stiffness to the models’ reveals that TGLF reproduces the trends in increasing diffusivity and stiffness with increasing electron temperature gradient scale length with a critical gradient behavior. Furthermore, the critical gradient of TGLF is found to have a dependence on q 95, contrary to the independence of the experimental critical gradient from q 95.« less

Coupling of RF antennas to large volume helicon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Lei; Hu, Xinyue; Gao, Lei; Chen, Wei; Wu, Xianming; Sun, Xinfeng; Hu, Ning; Huang, Chongxiang

2018-04-01

Large volume helicon plasma sources are of particular interest for large scale semiconductor processing, high power plasma propulsion and recently plasma-material interaction under fusion conditions. This work is devoted to studying the coupling of four typical RF antennas to helicon plasma with infinite length and diameter of 0.5 m, and exploring its frequency dependence in the range of 13.56-70 MHz for coupling optimization. It is found that loop antenna is more efficient than half helix, Boswell and Nagoya III antennas for power absorption; radially parabolic density profile overwhelms Gaussian density profile in terms of antenna coupling for low-density plasma, but the superiority reverses for high-density plasma. Increasing the driving frequency results in power absorption more near plasma edge, but the overall power absorption increases with frequency. Perpendicular stream plots of wave magnetic field, wave electric field and perturbed current are also presented. This work can serve as an important reference for the experimental design of large volume helicon plasma source with high RF power.

Intermediate-scale plasma irregularities in the polar ionosphere inferred from GPS radio occultation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shume, E. B.; Komjathy, A.; Langley, R. B.; Verkhoglyadova, O.; Butala, M. D.; Mannucci, A. J.

2015-02-01

We report intermediate-scale plasma irregularities in the polar ionosphere inferred from high-resolution radio occultation (RO) measurements using GPS (Global Positioning System) to CASSIOPE (CAScade Smallsat and IOnospheric Polar Explorer) satellite radio links. The high inclination of CASSIOPE and the high rate of signal reception by the GPS Attitude, Positioning, and Profiling RO receiver on CASSIOPE enable a high-resolution investigation of the dynamics of the polar ionosphere with unprecedented detail. Intermediate-scale, scintillation-producing irregularities, which correspond to 1 to 40 km scales, were inferred by applying multiscale spectral analysis on the RO phase measurements. Using our multiscale spectral analysis approach and satellite data (Polar Operational Environmental Satellites and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program), we discovered that the irregularity scales and phase scintillations have distinct features in the auroral oval and polar cap. We found that large length scales and more intense phase scintillations are prevalent in the auroral oval compared to the polar cap implying that the irregularity scales and phase scintillation characteristics are a function of the solar wind and magnetospheric forcings.

Semiconductor gas sensor based on tin oxide nanorods prepared by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition with postplasma treatment

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

Huang Hui; Tan, O.K.; Lee, Y.C.

2005-10-17

SnO{sub 2} thin films were deposited by radio-frequency inductively coupled plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Postplasma treatments were used to modify the microstructure of the as-deposited SnO{sub 2} thin films. Uniform nanorods with dimension of null-set 7x100 nm were observed in the plasma-treated films. After plasma treatments, the optimal operating temperature of the plasma-treated SnO{sub 2} thin films decreased by 80 deg. C, while the gas sensitivity increased eightfold. The enhanced gas sensing properties of the plasma-treated SnO{sub 2} thin film were believed to result from the large surface-to-volume ratio of the nanorods' tiny grain size in the scale comparable tomore » the space-charge length and its unique microstructure of SnO{sub 2} nanorods rooted in SnO{sub 2} thin films.« less

To Demonstrate an Integrated Solution for Plasma-Material Interfaces Compatible with an Optimized Core Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldston, Robert; Brooks, Jeffrey; Hubbard, Amanda; Leonard, Anthony; Lipschultz, Bruce; Maingi, Rajesh; Ulrickson, Michael; Whyte, Dennis

2009-11-01

The plasma facing components in a Demo reactor will face much more extreme boundary plasma conditions and operating requirements than any present or planned experiment. These include 1) Power density a factor of four or more greater than in ITER, 2) Continuous operation resulting in annual energy and particle throughput 100-200 times larger than ITER, 3) Elevated surface operating temperature for efficient electricity production, 4) Tritium fuel cycle control for safety and breeding requirements, and 5) Steady state plasma confinement and control. Consistent with ReNeW Thrust 12, design options are being explored for a new moderate-scale facility to assess core-edge interaction issues and solutions. Key desired features include high power density, sufficient pulse length and duty cycle, elevated wall temperature, steady-state control of an optimized core plasma, and flexibility in changing boundary components as well as access for comprehensive measurements.

Rarefaction waves, solitons, and holes in a pure electron plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moody, J. D.; Driscoll, C. F.

1995-12-01

The propagation of holes, solitons, and rarefaction waves along the axis of a magnetized pure electron plasma column is described. The time dependence of the radially averaged density perturbation produced by the nonlinear waves is measured at several locations along the plasma column for a wide range of plasma parameters. The rarefaction waves are studied by measuring the free expansion of the plasma into a vacuum. A new hydrodynamic theory is described that quantitatively predicts the free expansion measurements. The rarefaction is initially characterized by a self-similar plasma flow, resulting in a perturbed density and velocity without a characteristic length scale. The electron solitons show a small increase in propagation speed with increasing amplitude and exhibit electron bursts. The holes show a decrease in propagation speed with increasing amplitude. Collisions between holes and solitons show that these objects pass through each other undisturbed, except for a small offset.

Roughness transitions of diamond(100) induced by hydrogen-plasma treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koslowski, B.; Strobel, S.; Wenig, M. J.; Ziemann, P.

To investigate the influence of hydrogen-plasma treatment on diamond(100) surfaces, heavily boron (B)-doped HPHT diamond crystals were mechanically and chemo-mechanically polished, and exposed to a microwave-assisted hydrogen plasma on a time scale of several minutes. The resulting surface morphology was analyzed on macroscopic scales by stylus profilometry (PFM) and on microscopic scales by STM and AFM. The polished samples have a roughness of typically 100 pmrms (PFM), with no obvious anisotropic structures at the surface. After exposure of the B-doped diamond(100) to the H-plasma, the roughness increases dramatically, and pronounced anisotropic structures appear, these being closely aligned with the crystallographic axis' and planes. An exposure for 3 minutes to the plasma leads to an increase of the roughness to 2-4 nmrms (STM), and a `brick-wall' pattern appears, formed by weak cusps running along <110>. Very frequently, the cusps are replaced by `negative' pyramids that are bordered by {11X} facets. After an exposure of an additional 5 minutes, the surface roughness of the B-doped samples increases further to 20-40 nmrms (STM), and frequently exhibits a regular pattern with structures at a characteristic length scale of about 100 nm. Those structures are aligned approximately with <110> and they are faceted with faces of approximately {XX1}. These results will be discussed in terms of strain relaxation, similar to the surface roughening observed on SiGe/Si and anisotropic etching.

Nonlinear Stability and Saturation of Ballooning Modes in Tokamaks*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ham, C. J.; Cowley, S. C.; Brochard, G.; Wilson, H. R.

2016-06-01

The theory of tokamak stability to nonlinear "ballooning" displacements of elliptical magnetic flux tubes is presented. Above a critical pressure profile the energy stored in the plasma may be lowered by finite (but not infinitesimal) displacements of such tubes (metastability). Above a higher pressure profile, the linear stability boundary, such tubes are linearly and nonlinearly unstable. The predicted saturated flux tube displacement can be of the order of the pressure gradient scale length. Plasma transport from these displaced flux tubes may explain the rapid loss of confinement in some experiments.

High frequency drift instabilities in a dusty plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rosenberg, M.; Krall, N. A.

1994-01-01

High frequency drift instabilities with omega(sub ce) much greater than omega which is greater than omega(sub ci) are investigated in a dusty magnetized plasma in which locally there is an electron density gradient which is opposite in sign to a dust density gradient. Two different equilibria are considered, characterized by rho(sub d) greater than L(sub d) and less than L(sub d), where rho(sub d) is the dust gyroradius and L(sub nd) is the dust density scale length. Possible application to Saturn's F-ring is discussed.

Slot-Antenna/Permanent-Magnet Device for Generating Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, John E.

2007-01-01

A device that includes a rectangular-waveguide/slot-antenna structure and permanent magnets has been devised as a means of generating a substantially uniform plasma over a relatively large area, using relatively low input power and a low gas flow rate. The device utilizes electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) excited by microwave power to efficiently generate plasma in a manner that is completely electrodeless in the sense that, in principle, there is no electrical contact between the plasma and the antenna. Plasmas generated by devices like this one are suitable for use as sources of ions and/or electrons for diverse material-processing applications (e.g., etching or deposition) and for ion thrusters. The absence of plasma/electrode contact essentially prevents plasma-induced erosion of the antenna, thereby also helping to minimize contamination of the plasma and of objects exposed to the plasma. Consequently, the operational lifetime of the rectangular-waveguide/ slot-antenna structure is long and the lifetime of the plasma source is limited by the lifetime of the associated charged-particle-extraction grid (if used) or the lifetime of the microwave power source. The device includes a series of matched radiating slot pairs that are distributed along the length of a plasma-source discharge chamber (see figure). This arrangement enables the production of plasma in a distributed fashion, thereby giving rise to a uniform plasma profile. A uniform plasma profile is necessary for uniformity in any electron- or ion-extraction electrostatic optics. The slotted configuration of the waveguide/ antenna structure makes the device scalable to larger areas and higher powers. All that is needed for scaling up is the attachment of additional matched radiating slots along the length of the discharge chamber. If it is desired to make the power per slot remain constant in scaling up, then the input microwave power must be increased accordingly. Unlike in prior ECR microwave plasma-generating devices, there is no need for an insulating window on the antenna. Such windows are sources of contamination and gradually become ineffective as they become coated with erosion products over time. These characteristics relegate prior ECR microwave plasma-generating devices to non-ion beam, non-deposition plasma applications. In contrast, the lack of need for an insulating window in the present device makes it possible to use the device in both ion-beam (including deposition) and electron-beam applications. The device is designed so that ECR takes place above each slot and the gradient of the magnetic field at each slot is enough to prevent backflow of plasma.

Charging and shielding of a non-spherical dust grain in a plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, L.; Delzanno, G.

2013-12-01

The interaction of objects with a plasma is a classic problem of plasma physics. Originally, it was investigated in the framework of probe theory but more recently its interest has grown in connection with space and complex or dusty plasmas. It is customary to assume that the dust grains are spherical, and theories such as the Orbital Motion Limited (OML) theory are usually applied to calculate the dust charge. However, in nature dust grains have a variety of sizes and shapes. It is therefore natural to ask about the influence of the dust shape on the charging and shielding process. In order to answer this question, we study the charging and shielding of a non-spherical dust grain immersed in a Maxwellian plasma at rest. We consider prolate ellipsoids, varying parametrically the aspect ratio while keeping the surface area constant. The study is conducted with CPIC [1], a newly developed Particle-In-Cell code in curvilinear geometry that conforms to objects of arbitrary shape. For a plasma with temperature ratio equal to unity and for a dust grain with characteristic size of the order of the Debye length, it is shown that the floating potential has a very weak dependence on the geometry, while the charge on the grain increases by a factor of three when the aspect ratio changes from one (a sphere) to hundred (a needle-like ellipsoid). These results are consistent with the higher capacitance of ellipsoidal dust grains, but also indicate that the screening length depends on the geometry. Scaling studies of the dependence of the charging time and screening length on the aspect ratio and plasma conditions are presented, including theoretical considerations to support the numerical results. [1] G.L. Delzanno, et al, ';CPIC: a curvilinear Particle-In-Cell code for plasma-material interaction studies', under review.

Processing and Synthesis of Pre-Biotic Chemicals in Hypervelocity Impacts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brickerhoff, W. B.; Managadze, G. G.; Chumikov, A. E.; Managadze, N. G.

2005-01-01

Hypervelocity impacts (HVIs) may have played a significant role in establishing the initial organic inventory for pre-biotic chemistry on the Earth and other planetary bodies. In addition to the delivery of organic compounds intact to planetary surfaces, generally at velocities below approx.20 km/s, HVIs also enable synthesis of new molecules. The cooling post-impact plasma plumes of HVIs in the interstellar medium (ISM), the protosolar nebula (PSN), and the early solar system comprise pervasive conditions for organic synthesis. Such plasma synthesis (PS) can operate over many length scales (from nm-scale dust to planets) and energy scales (from molecular rearrangement to atomization and recondensation). HVI experiments with the flexibility to probe the highest velocities and distinguish synthetic routes are a high priority to understand the relevance of PS to exobiology. We describe here recent studies of PS at small spatial scales and extremely high velocities with pulsed laser ablation (PLA). PLA can simulate the extreme plasma conditions generated in impacts of dust particles at speeds of up to 100 km/s or more. When applied to carbonaceous solids, new and pre-biotically relevant molecular species are formed with high efficiency [1,2].

Frequency Upconversion and Parametric Surface Instabilities in Microwave Plasma Interactions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rappaport, Harold Lee

In this thesis the interaction of radiation with plasmas whose density profiles are nearly step functions of space and/or time are studied. The wavelengths of radiation discussed are large compared with plasma density gradient scale lengths. The frequency spectra are evaluated and the energy balance investigated for the transmitted and reflected transient electromagnetic waves that are generated when a monochromatic source drives a finite width plasma in which a temporal step increase in density occurs. Transmission resonances associated with the abrupt boundaries manifest themselves as previously unreported multiple frequency peaks in the transmitted electromagnetic spectrum. A tunneling effect is described in which a burst of energy is transmitted from the plasma immediately following a temporal density transition. Stability of an abruptly bounded plasma, one for which the incident radiation wavelength is large compared with the plasma density gradient scale length, is investigated for both s and p polarized radiation types. For s-polarized radiation a new formalism is introduced in which pump induced perturbations are expressed as an explicit superposition of linear and non-linear plasma half-space modes. Results for a particular regime and a summary of relevant literature is presented. We conclude that when s-polarized radiation acts alone on an abrupt diffusely bounded underdense plasma stimulated excitation of electron surface modes is suppressed. For p-polarized radiation the recently proposed Lagrangian Frame Two-Plasmon Decay mode (LFTPD) ^dag is investigated in the regime in which the instability is not resonantly coupled to surface waves propagating along the boundary region. In this case, spatially dependent growth rate profiles and spatially dependent transit layer magnetic fields are reported. The regime is of interest because we have found that when the perturbation wavenumber parallel to the boundary is less than the pump frequency divided by twice the speed of light, energy radiates from the boundary region and these emissions can serve as an experimental signature for this mode. The theory of surface wave linear mode conversion is reviewed with special attention paid to power flow and energy conservation in this system. ftn^ dagYu. M. Aliev and G. Brodin, Phys. Rev. A 42, 2374 (1990).

Dependence of Lunar Surface Charging on Solar Wind Plasma Conditions and Solar Irradiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stubbs, T. J.; Farrell, W. M.; Halekas, J. S.; Burchill, J. K.; Collier, M. R.; Zimmerman, M. I.; Vondrak, R. R.; Delory, G. T.; Pfaff, R. F.

2014-01-01

The surface of the Moon is electrically charged by exposure to solar radiation on its dayside, as well as by the continuous flux of charged particles from the various plasma environments that surround it. An electric potential develops between the lunar surface and ambient plasma, which manifests itself in a near-surface plasma sheath with a scale height of order the Debye length. This study investigates surface charging on the lunar dayside and near-terminator regions in the solar wind, for which the dominant current sources are usually from the pohotoemission of electrons, J(sub p), and the collection of plasma electrons J(sub e) and ions J(sub i). These currents are dependent on the following six parameters: plasma concentration n(sub 0), electron temperature T(sub e), ion temperature T(sub i), bulk flow velocity V, photoemission current at normal incidence J(sub P0), and photo electron temperature T(sub p). Using a numerical model, derived from a set of eleven basic assumptions, the influence of these six parameters on surface charging - characterized by the equilibrium surface potential, Debye length, and surface electric field - is investigated as a function of solar zenith angle. Overall, T(sub e) is the most important parameter, especially near the terminator, while J(sub P0) and T(sub p) dominate over most of the dayside.

Effect of Trapped Ions on Shielding of a Charged Spherical Object in a Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lampe, Martin; Ganguli, Gurudas; Joyce, Glenn; Gavrishchaka, Valeriy

2001-04-01

The problem of electrostatic shielding around a small spherical collector immersed in plasma, and the related problem of electron and ion flow to the collector, date to the origins of plasma physics. Beginning with Langmuir[1], all calculations have neglected collisions, on the grounds that the mean free path is long compared to shielding length scales, i.e. the Debye length. However, investigators beginning with Bernstein and Rabinowitz[2] have known that negative-energy trapped ions, created by occasional collisions, might be important. We present an analytic calculation of the density of trapped and untrapped ions, self-consistent with a calculation of the potential. We show that under typical conditions for dust grains immersed in a discharge plasma, trapped ions dominate the shielding cloud in steady state, even in the limit of very long mean free path. As a result the shielded potential is quite different from the Debye form or the results of orbital motion limited theory. Collisions also modify the ion current to the grain, but to a lesser extent. [1]H. Mott-Smith and I. Langmuir, Phys. Rev. 28, 27 (1926). [2]I. Bernstein and I. Rabinowitz, Phys. Fluids 2,112(1959).

High plasma folate is negatively associated with leukocyte telomere length in Framingham Offspring cohort.

PubMed

Paul, Ligi; Jacques, Paul F; Aviv, Abraham; Vasan, Ramachandran S; D'Agostino, Ralph B; Levy, Daniel; Selhub, Jacob

2015-03-01

Shortening of telomeres, the protective structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes, is associated with age-related pathologies. Telomere length is influenced by DNA integrity and DNA and histone methylation. Folate plays a role in providing precursors for nucleotides and methyl groups for methylation reactions and has the potential to influence telomere length. We determined the association between leukocyte telomere length and long-term plasma folate status (mean of 4 years) in Framingham Offspring Study (n = 1,044, females = 52.1 %, mean age 59 years) using data from samples collected before and after folic acid fortification. Leukocyte telomere length was determined by Southern analysis and fasting plasma folate concentration using microbiological assay. There was no significant positive association between long-term plasma folate and leukocyte telomere length among the Framingham Offspring Study participants perhaps due to their adequate folate status. While the leukocyte telomere length in the second quintile of plasma folate was longer than that in the first quintile, the difference was not statistically significant. The leukocyte telomere length of the individuals in the fifth quintile of plasma folate was shorter than that of those in the second quintile by 180 bp (P < 0.01). There was a linear decrease in leukocyte telomere length with higher plasma folate concentrations in the upper four quintiles of plasma folate (P for trend = 0.001). Multivitamin use was associated with shorter telomeres in this cohort (P = 0.015). High plasma folate status possibly resulting from high folic acid intake may interfere with the role of folate in maintaining telomere integrity.

Statistical properties of edge plasma turbulence in the Large Helical Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dewhurst, J. M.; Hnat, B.; Ohno, N.; Dendy, R. O.; Masuzaki, S.; Morisaki, T.; Komori, A.

2008-09-01

Ion saturation current (Isat) measurements made by three tips of a Langmuir probe array in the Large Helical Device are analysed for two plasma discharges. Absolute moment analysis is used to quantify properties on different temporal scales of the measured signals, which are bursty and intermittent. Strong coherent modes in some datasets are found to distort this analysis and are consequently removed from the time series by applying bandstop filters. Absolute moment analysis of the filtered data reveals two regions of power-law scaling, with the temporal scale τ ≈ 40 µs separating the two regimes. A comparison is made with similar results from the Mega-Amp Spherical Tokamak. The probability density function is studied and a monotonic relationship between connection length and skewness is found. Conditional averaging is used to characterize the average temporal shape of the largest intermittent bursts.

Leukocyte telomere length is inversely associated with post-load but not with fasting plasma glucose levels.

PubMed

Khalangot, Mykola; Krasnienkov, Dmytro; Vaiserman, Alexander; Avilov, Ivan; Kovtun, Volodymir; Okhrimenko, Nadia; Koliada, Alexander; Kravchenko, Victor

2017-04-01

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is characterized by shorter leukocyte telomere length, but the relationship between leukocyte telomere length and type 2 diabetes mellitus development is rather questioned. Fasting and post-load glycaemia associated with different types of insulin resistance and their relation with leukocyte telomere length remains unknown. We compared leukocyte telomere length and fasting or post-load glucose levels in persons who do not receive glucose lowering treatment. For 82 randomly selected rural residents of Ukraine, aged 45+, not previously diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the WHO oral glucose tolerance test and anthropometric measurements were performed. Leukocyte telomere length was measured by standardized method of quantitative monochrome multiplex polymerase chain reaction in real time. Spearman's or Pearson's rank correlation was used for correlation analysis between fasting plasma glucose or 2-h post-load plasma glucose levels and leukocyte telomere length. Logistical regression models were used to evaluate risks of finding short or long telomeres associated with fasting plasma glucose or 2-h post-load plasma glucose levels. No association of fasting plasma glucose and leukocyte telomere length was revealed, whereas 2-h post-load plasma glucose levels demonstrated a negative correlation ( P < 0.01) with leukocyte telomere length. Waist circumference and systolic blood pressure were negatively related ( P = 0.03) with leukocyte telomere length in men. Oral glucose tolerance test result-based glycemic categories did not show differences between mean leukocyte telomere length in categories of normal fasting plasma glucose and 2-h post-load plasma glucose (NGT, n = 33); diabetes mellitus (DM), n = 18 and impaired fasting glucose/tolerance (IFG/IGT, n = 31) levels. A correlation relationship between leukocyte telomere length and 2-h post-load plasma glucose level in NGT; IFG/IGT and DM groups ( P = 0.027; 0.029 and 0.049, respectively) was revealed; the association between leukocyte telomere length and fasting plasma glucose was confirmed in DM group only ( P = 0.009). Increase of 2-h post-load plasma glucose (but not fasting plasma glucose) level improves the chances of revealing short telomeres: OR 1.52 (95% CI 1.04-2.22), P = 0.03. After the adjustment for age, gender, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, and fasting plasma glucose, these phenomena remain significant. We conclude that 2-h post-load plasma glucose but not fasting plasma glucose is inversely associated with leukocyte telomere length. Impact statement • Contradictory epidemiologic data have been obtained about the link between the leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and diabetes. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is likely to be pathophysiologically heterogeneous, but comparison of the association of LTL separately with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h post-load plasma glucose (2hPG) levels has not been done before. Thus, the study of LTL changes associated with different types of hyperglycaemia, that largely determine the heterogenity of T2D is important. • In a population-based study of rural Ukrainians, we were the first to demonstrate that the increase of 2hPG (but not FPG) level increases the chances of revealing short telomeres. • The obtained data can help to clarify the relationship between the LTL shortening and different conditions of the insulin resistance (mainly liver resistance in high FPG and mostly muscle and adipose tissue resistance in high 2hPG).

Short-scale turbulent fluctuations driven by the electron-temperature gradient in the national spherical torus experiment.

PubMed

Mazzucato, E; Smith, D R; Bell, R E; Kaye, S M; Hosea, J C; LeBlanc, B P; Wilson, J R; Ryan, P M; Domier, C W; Luhmann, N C; Yuh, H; Lee, W; Park, H

2008-08-15

Measurements with coherent scattering of electromagnetic waves in plasmas of the National Spherical Torus Experiment indicate the existence of turbulent fluctuations in the range of wave numbers k perpendicular rho(e)=0.1-0.4, corresponding to a turbulence scale length nearly equal to the collisionless skin depth. Experimental observations and agreement with numerical results from a linear gyrokinetic stability code support the conjecture that the observed turbulence is driven by the electron-temperature gradient.

Low to high confinement transition theory of finite-beta drift-wave driven shear flow and its comparison with data from DIII-D

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guzdar, P. N.; Kleva, R. G.; Groebner, R. J.; Gohil, P.

2004-03-01

Shear flow stabilization of edge turbulence in tokamaks has been the accepted paradigm for the improvement in confinement observed in high (H) confinement mode plasmas. Results on the generation of zonal flow and fields in finite β plasmas are presented. This theory yields a criterion for bifurcation from low to high (L-H) confinement mode, proportional to Te/√Ln , where Te is the electron temperature and Ln is the density scale-length at the steepest part of the density gradient. When this parameter exceeds a critical value (mostly determined by the strength of the toroidal magnetic field), the transition occurs. The predicted threshold based on this parameter shows good agreement with edge measurements on discharges undergoing L-H transitions in DIII-D [J. L. Luxon, R. Anderson, F. Batty et al., in Proceedings of the 11th Conference on Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Research, 1986 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1987), Vol. I, p. 159]. The observed differences in the transitions with the reversal of the toroidal magnetic field are reconciled in terms of this critical parameter due to the differences in the density gradient scale-lengths in the edge. The theory also provides a possible explanation for lowered threshold power, pellet injection H modes in DIII-D, thereby providing a unified picture of the varied observations on the L-H transition.

Dependence of SOL widths on plasma parameters in NSTX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Joon-Wook; Maingi, Rajesh; Boedo, Jose; Soukhanovskii, Vlad; Leblanc, Ben; Kaita, Robert

2008-11-01

The dependence of various upstream Scrape-Off Layer (SOL) widths on the line-averaged density (n e), plasma current (Ip), and power into the SOL (PSOL) for H-mode plasmas was investigated, using the mid-plane fast reciprocating probe and Thomson scattering diagnostics, in the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). The heat flux width (λq) at the divertor plate, measured by the IR camera, was also measured and compared with the upstream SOL widths. The edge density profile remains fixed during the H-mode, such that the separatrix density is constant even though n e is ramping. Thus λq, λTe, and λne are insensitive to n e. λTe and λjsat have strong negative dependence on Ip, whereas there was only a very weak change in λne when Ip was varied. These empirical results have been compared with scaling laws in the literature. The λTe dependence on Ip is consistent with an H-mode λTe scaling law, while the insensitivity of λne to n e is not consistent with the λne scaling law. Dependence of decay lengths on plasma parameters in a wide range of plasma conditions will be presented. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, contract numbers DE-FG02-03ER54731, DE-AC02-76CH03073, DE-AC05-00OR22725, and DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Transport in a field aligned magnetized plasma/neutral gas boundary: the end of the plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, Christopher Michael

The objective of this dissertation is to characterize the physics of a boundary layer between a magnetized plasma and a neutral gas along the direction of a confining magnetic field. A series of experiments are performed at the Enormous Toroidal Plasma Device (ETPD) at UCLA to study this field aligned Neutral Boundary Layer (NBL) at the end of the plasma. A Lanthanum Hexaboride (LaB6) cathode and semi-transparent anode creates a magnetized, current-free helium plasma which terminates on a neutral helium gas without touching any walls. Probes are inserted into the plasma to measure the basic plasma parameters and study the transport in the NBL. The experiment is performed in the weakly ionized limit where the plasma density (ne) is much less than the neutral density (nn) such that ne/nn < 5%. The NBL is characterized by a field-aligned electric field which begins at the point where the plasma pressure equilibrates with the neutral gas pressure. Beyond the pressure equilibration point the electrons and ions lose their momentum by collisions with the neutral gas and come to rest. An electric field is established self consistently to maintain a current-free termination through equilibration of the different species' stopping rates in the neutral gas. The electric field resembles a collisional quasineutral sheath with a length 10 times the electron-ion collision length, 100 times the neutral collision length, and 10,000 times the Debye length. Collisions with the neutral gas dominate the losses in the system. The measured plasma density loss rates are above the classical cross-field current-free ambipolar rate, but below the anomalous Bohm diffusion rate. The electron temperature is below the ionization threshold of the gas, 2.2 eV in helium. The ions are in thermal equilibrium with the neutral gas. A generalized theory of plasma termination in a Neutral Boundary Layer is applied to this case using a two-fluid, current-free, weakly ionized transport model. The electron and ion momentum equations along the field are combined in a generalized Ohm's law which predicts the axial electric field required to maintain a current-free termination. The pressure balance criteria for termination and the predicted electric field are confirmed over a scaling of plasma parameters. The experiment and the model are relevant for studying NBLs in other systems, such as the atmospheric termination of the aurora or detached gaseous divertors. A steady state modified ambipolar system is measured in the ETPD NBL. The drift speeds associated with these currents are a small fraction of the plasma flow speeds and the problem is treated as a perturbation to the termination model. The current-free condition on the model is relaxed to explain the presence of the divergence free current.

Ion-scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence at high and low beta

PubMed Central

Chen, C H K; Leung, L; Boldyrev, S; Maruca, B A; Bale, S D

2014-01-01

The power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations in the solar wind at 1 AU displays a break between two power laws in the range of spacecraft-frame frequencies 0.1 to 1 Hz. These frequencies correspond to spatial scales in the plasma frame near the proton gyroradius ρi and proton inertial length di. At 1 AU it is difficult to determine which of these is associated with the break, since and the perpendicular ion plasma beta is typically β⊥i∼1. To address this, several exceptional intervals with β⊥i≪1 and β⊥i≫1 were investigated, during which these scales were well separated. It was found that for β⊥i≪1 the break occurs at di and for β⊥i≫1 at ρi, i.e., the larger of the two scales. Possible explanations for these results are discussed, including Alfvén wave dispersion, damping, and current sheets. PMID:26074642

Ion-scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence at high and low beta

DOE PAGES

Chen, C. H. K.; Leung, L.; Boldyrev, S.; ...

2014-11-25

Here, the power spectrum of magnetic fluctuations in the solar wind at 1 AU displays a break between two power laws in the range of spacecraft-frame frequencies 0.1 to 1 Hz. These frequencies correspond to spatial scales in the plasma frame near the proton gyroradius ρi and proton inertial length di. At 1 AU it is difficult to determine which of these is associated with the break, since d i=ρ i/ √ β ⊥i and the perpendicular ion plasma beta is typically β ⊥i~1. To address this, several exceptional intervals with β ⊥i<<1 and β ⊥i>>1 were investigated, during whichmore » these scales were well separated. It was found that for β⊥i<<1 the break occurs at di and for β ⊥i>>1 at ρi, i.e., the larger of the two scales. Possible explanations for these results are discussed, including Alfvén wave dispersion, damping, and current sheets.« less

LLE 1994 annual report, October 1993--September 1994

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

NONE

1995-01-01

This is the 1994 annual report for the University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The report is presented as a series of research type reports. The titles emphasize the breadth of work carried out. They are: stability analysis of unsteady ablation fronts; characterization of laser-produced plasma density profiles using grid image refractometry; transport and sound waves in plasmas with light and heavy ions; three-halves-harmonic radiation from long-scale-length plasmas revisited; OMEGA upgrade status report; target imaging and backlighting diagnosis; effect of electron collisions on ion-acoustic waves and heat flow; particle-in-cell code simulations of the interaction of gaussian ultrashort laser pulsesmore » with targets of varying initial scale lengths; characterization of thick cryogenic fuel layers: compensation for the lens effect using convergent beam interferometry; compact, multijoule-output, Nd:Glass, large-aperture ring amplifier; atomic force microscopy observation of water-induced morphological changes in Y{sub 2}O{sub 3} monolayer coatings; observation of longitudinal acceleration of electrons born in a high-intensity laser focus; spatial intensity nonuniformities of an OMEGA beam due to nonlinear beam propagation; calculated X-ray backlighting images of mixed imploded targets; evaluation of cosmic rays for use in the monitoring of the MEDUSA scintillator-photomultiplier diagnostic array; highly efficient second-harmonic generation of ultra-intense Nd:Glass laser pulses multiple cutoff wave numbers of the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability; ultrafast, all-silicon light modulator; angular dependence of the stimulated Brillouin scattering in homogeneous plasma; femtosecond excited-state dynamics of a conjugated ladder polymer.« less

Relativistically Induced Transparency Acceleration (RITA) - laser-plasma accelerated quasi-monoenergetic GeV ion-beams with existing lasers?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sahai, Aakash A.

2013-10-01

Laser-plasma ion accelerators have the potential to produce beams with unprecedented characteristics of ultra-short bunch lengths (100s of fs) and high bunch-charge (1010 particles) over acceleration length of about 100 microns. However, creating and controlling mono-energetic bunches while accelerating to high-energies has been a challenge. If high-energy mono-energetic beams can be demonstrated with minimal post-processing, laser (ω0)-plasma (ωpe) ion accelerators may be used in a wide-range of applications such as cancer hadron-therapy, medical isotope production, neutron generation, radiography and high-energy density science. Here we demonstrate using analysis and simulations that using relativistic intensity laser-pulses and heavy-ion (Mi ×me) targets doped with a proton (or light-ion) species (mp ×me) of trace density (at least an order of magnitude below the cold critical density) we can scale up the energy of quasi-mono-energetically accelerated proton (or light-ion) beams while controlling their energy, charge and energy spectrum. This is achieved by controlling the laser propagation into an overdense (ω0 <ωpeγ = 1) increasing plasma density gradient by incrementally inducing relativistic electron quiver and thereby rendering them transparent to the laser while the heavy-ions are immobile. Ions do not directly interact with ultra-short laser that is much shorter in duration than their characteristic time-scale (τp <<√{mp} /ω0 <<√{Mi} /ω0). For a rising laser intensity envelope, increasing relativistic quiver controls laser propagation beyond the cold critical density. For increasing plasma density (ωpe2 (x)), laser penetrates into higher density and is shielded, stopped and reflected where ωpe2 (x) / γ (x , t) =ω02 . In addition to the laser quivering the electrons, it also ponderomotively drives (Fp 1/γ∇za2) them forward longitudinally, creating a constriction of snowplowed e-s. The resulting longitudinal e--displacement from laser's push is controlled by the electrostatic space-charge pull by the immobile background ions. In the rest-frame of the laser, the electrostatic-potential that the ions create to balance the ponderomotive force on e-s, scales as the effective vector potential, aplasma . This potential hill, due to snowplowed e-s, co-propagating with the rising laser can reflect protons and light-ions (Relativistically Induced Transparency Acceleration, RITA). Desired proton or light-ion energies can be achieved by controlling the velocity of the snowplow, which is shown to scale inversely with the rise-time of the laser (higher energies for shorter pulses) and directly with the scale-length of the plasma density gradient. Similar acceleration can be produced by controlling the increase of the laser frequency (Chirp Induced Transparency Acceleration, ChITA). Work supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF- PHY-0936278. Also, NSF-PHY-0936266 and NSF-PHY-0903039; the US Department of Energy under DEFC02-07ER41500, DE- FG02-92ER40727 and DE-FG52-09NA29552.

Fast Fiber-Coupled Imaging Devices

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

Brockington, Samuel; Case, Andrew; Witherspoon, Franklin Douglas

HyperV Technologies Corp. has successfully designed, built and experimentally demonstrated a full scale 1024 pixel 100 MegaFrames/s fiber coupled camera with 12 or 14 bits, and record lengths of 32K frames, exceeding our original performance objectives. This high-pixel-count, fiber optically-coupled, imaging diagnostic can be used for investigating fast, bright plasma events. In Phase 1 of this effort, a 100 pixel fiber-coupled fast streak camera for imaging plasma jet profiles was constructed and successfully demonstrated. The resulting response from outside plasma physics researchers emphasized development of increased pixel performance as a higher priority over increasing pixel count. In this Phase 2more » effort, HyperV therefore focused on increasing the sample rate and bit-depth of the photodiode pixel designed in Phase 1, while still maintaining a long record length and holding the cost per channel to levels which allowed up to 1024 pixels to be constructed. Cost per channel was 53.31 dollars, very close to our original target of $50 per channel. The system consists of an imaging "camera head" coupled to a photodiode bank with an array of optical fibers. The output of these fast photodiodes is then digitized at 100 Megaframes per second and stored in record lengths of 32,768 samples with bit depths of 12 to 14 bits per pixel. Longer record lengths are possible with additional memory. A prototype imaging system with up to 1024 pixels was designed and constructed and used to successfully take movies of very fast moving plasma jets as a demonstration of the camera performance capabilities. Some faulty electrical components on the 64 circuit boards resulted in only 1008 functional channels out of 1024 on this first generation prototype system. We experimentally observed backlit high speed fan blades in initial camera testing and then followed that with full movies and streak images of free flowing high speed plasma jets (at 30-50 km/s). Jet structure and jet collisions onto metal pillars in the path of the plasma jets were recorded in a single shot. This new fast imaging system is an attractive alternative to conventional fast framing cameras for applications and experiments where imaging events using existing techniques are inefficient or impossible. The development of HyperV's new diagnostic was split into two tracks: a next generation camera track, in which HyperV built, tested, and demonstrated a prototype 1024 channel camera at its own facility, and a second plasma community beta test track, where selected plasma physics programs received small systems of a few test pixels to evaluate the expected performance of a full scale camera on their experiments. These evaluations were performed as part of an unfunded collaboration with researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of California at Davis. Results from the prototype 1024-pixel camera are discussed, as well as results from the collaborations with test pixel system deployment sites.« less

Fast Ion and Thermal Plasma Transport in Turbulent Waves in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Shu

2011-10-01

The transport of fast ions and thermal plasmas in electrostatic microturbulence is studied. Strong density and potential fluctuations (δn / n ~ δϕ / kTe ~ 0 . 5 , f ~5-50 kHz) are observed in the LAPD in density gradient regions produced by obstacles with slab or cylindrical geometry. Wave characteristics and the associated plasma transport are modified by driving sheared E ×B drift through biasing the obstacle, and by modification of the axial magnetic fields (Bz) and the plasma species. Cross-field plasma transport is suppressed with small bias and large Bz, and is enhanced with large bias and small Bz. Suppressed cross-field thermal transport coincides with a 180° phase shift between the density and potential fluctuations in the radial direction, while the enhanced thermal transport is associated with modes having low mode number (m = 1) and long radial correlation length. Large gyroradius lithium ions (ρfast /ρs ~ 10) orbit through the turbulent region. Scans with a collimated analyzer and with Langmuir probes give detailed profiles of the fast ion spatial-temporal distribution and of the fluctuating fields. Fast-ion transport decreases rapidly with increasing fast-ion gyroradius. Background waves with different scale lengths also alter the fast ion transport: Beam diffusion is smaller in waves with smaller structures (higher mode number); also, coherent waves with long correlation length cause less beam diffusion than turbulent waves. Experimental results agree well with gyro-averaging theory. When the fast ion interacts with the wave for most of a wave period, a transition from super-diffusive to sub-diffusive transport is observed, as predicted by diffusion theory. A Monte Carlo trajectory-following code simulates the interaction of the fast ions with the measured turbulent fields. Good agreement between observation and modeling is observed. Work funded by DOE and NSF and performed at the Basic Plasma Science Facility.

Unified concept of effective one component plasma for hot dense plasmas

DOE PAGES

Clerouin, Jean; Arnault, Philippe; Ticknor, Christopher; ...

2016-03-17

Orbital-free molecular dynamics simulations are used to benchmark two popular models for hot dense plasmas: the one component plasma (OCP) and the Yukawa model. A unified concept emerges where an effective OCP (EOCP) is constructed from the short-range structure of the plasma. An unambiguous ionization and the screening length can be defined and used for a Yukawa system, which reproduces the long-range structure with finite compressibility. Similarly, the dispersion relation of longitudinal waves is consistent with the screened model at vanishing wave number but merges with the OCP at high wave number. Additionally, the EOCP reproduces the overall relaxation timemore » scales of the correlation functions associated with ionic motion. Lastly, in the hot dense regime, this unified concept of EOCP can be fruitfully applied to deduce properties such as the equation of state, ionic transport coefficients, and the ion feature in x-ray Thomson scattering experiments.« less

Plasma-screening effects on the electron-impact excitation of hydrogenic ions in dense plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jung, Young-Dae

1993-01-01

Plasma-screening effects are investigated on electron-impact excitation of hydrogenic ions in dense plasmas. Scaled cross sections Z(exp 4) sigma for 1s yields 2s and 1s yields 2p are obtained for a Debye-Hueckel model of the screened Coulomb interaction. Ground and excited bound wave functions are modified in the screened Coulomb potential (Debye-Hueckel model) using the Ritz variation method. The resulting atomic wave functions and their eigenenergies agree well with the numerical and high-order perturbation theory calculations for the interesting domain of the Debye length not less than 10. The Born approximation is used to describe the continuum states of the projectile electron. Plasma screening effects on the atomic electrons cannot be neglected in the high-density cases. Including these effects, the cross sections are appreciably increased for 1s yields 2s transitions and decreased for 1s yields 2p transitions.

Plasma density limits for hole boring by intense laser pulses.

PubMed

Iwata, Natsumi; Kojima, Sadaoki; Sentoku, Yasuhiko; Hata, Masayasu; Mima, Kunioki

2018-02-12

High-power lasers in the relativistic intensity regime with multi-picosecond pulse durations are available in many laboratories around the world. Laser pulses at these intensities reach giga-bar level radiation pressures, which can push the plasma critical surface where laser light is reflected. This process is referred to as the laser hole boring (HB), which is critical for plasma heating, hence essential for laser-based applications. Here we derive the limit density for HB, which is the maximum plasma density the laser can reach, as a function of laser intensity. The time scale for when the laser pulse reaches the limit density is also derived. These theories are confirmed by a series of particle-in-cell simulations. After reaching the limit density, the plasma starts to blowout back toward the laser, and is accompanied by copious superthermal electrons; therefore, the electron energy can be determined by varying the laser pulse length.

Measurement of Debye length in laser-produced plasma.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ehler, W.

1973-01-01

The Debye length of an expanded plasma created by placing an evacuated chamber with an entrance slit in the path of a freely expanding laser produced plasma was measured, using the slab geometry. An independent measurement of electron density together with the observed value for the Debye length also provided a means for evaluating the plasma electron temperature. This temperature has applications in ascertaining plasma conductivity and magnetic field necessary for confinement of the laser produced plasma. Also, the temperature obtained would be useful in analyzing electron-ion recombination rates in the expanded plasma and the dynamics of the cooling process of the plasma expansion.

Large-scale synthesis of arrays of high-aspect-ratio rigid vertically aligned carbon nanofibres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melechko, A. V.; McKnight, T. E.; Hensley, D. K.; Guillorn, M. A.; Borisevich, A. Y.; Merkulov, V. I.; Lowndes, D. H.; Simpson, M. L.

2003-09-01

We report on techniques for catalytic synthesis of rigid, high-aspect-ratio, vertically aligned carbon nanofibres by dc plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition that are tailored for applications that require arrays of individual fibres that feature long fibre lengths (up to 20 µm) such as scanning probe microscopy, penetrant cell and tissue probing arrays and mechanical insertion approaches for gene delivery to cell cultures. We demonstrate that the definition of catalyst nanoparticles is the critical step that enables growth of individual, long-length fibres and discuss methods for catalyst particle preparation that allow the growth of individual isolated nanofibres from catalyst dots with diameters as large as 500 nm. This development enables photolithographic definition of catalyst and therefore the inexpensive, large-scale production of such arrays.

Adiabatic Expansion of Electron Gas in a Magnetic Nozzle.

PubMed

Takahashi, Kazunori; Charles, Christine; Boswell, Rod; Ando, Akira

2018-01-26

A specially constructed experiment shows the near perfect adiabatic expansion of an ideal electron gas resulting in a polytropic index greater than 1.4, approaching the adiabatic value of 5/3, when removing electric fields from the system, while the polytropic index close to unity is observed when the electrons are trapped by the electric fields. The measurements were made on collisionless electrons in an argon plasma expanding in a magnetic nozzle. The collision lengths of all electron collision processes are greater than the scale length of the expansion, meaning the system cannot be in thermodynamic equilibrium, yet thermodynamic concepts can be used, with caution, in explaining the results. In particular, a Lorentz force, created by inhomogeneities in the radial plasma density, does work on the expanding magnetic field, reducing the internal energy of the electron gas that behaves as an adiabatically expanding ideal gas.

Adiabatic Expansion of Electron Gas in a Magnetic Nozzle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Kazunori; Charles, Christine; Boswell, Rod; Ando, Akira

2018-01-01

A specially constructed experiment shows the near perfect adiabatic expansion of an ideal electron gas resulting in a polytropic index greater than 1.4, approaching the adiabatic value of 5 /3 , when removing electric fields from the system, while the polytropic index close to unity is observed when the electrons are trapped by the electric fields. The measurements were made on collisionless electrons in an argon plasma expanding in a magnetic nozzle. The collision lengths of all electron collision processes are greater than the scale length of the expansion, meaning the system cannot be in thermodynamic equilibrium, yet thermodynamic concepts can be used, with caution, in explaining the results. In particular, a Lorentz force, created by inhomogeneities in the radial plasma density, does work on the expanding magnetic field, reducing the internal energy of the electron gas that behaves as an adiabatically expanding ideal gas.

Recent Advances in Velocity Shear Driven Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganguli, G.

1996-11-01

Macroscopic flows are commonly encountered in a wide variety of plasmas and it is becoming increasingly apparent that the presence of shear in such flows can have a pronounced effect on the nonlinear evolution. For instance, in tokamak devices, sheared poloidal flows are thought to play a crucial role in the L--H transition. In laser-produced plasmas, strongly sheared plasma jets are believed to lead to the onset of intense lower-hybrid waves. In the natural plasma environment of the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere, observations indicate a correlation between inhomogeneous flows, plasma wave activity, and particle energization. Different physical processes in which shear-driven phenomenon may dominate span a wide range of spatiotemporal scales. Cross-scale coupling between them can play a vital role in determining the ultimate state of a plasma system which, for space plasmas, is an important factor responsible for the definition of ``space weather.'' Hence, the origin of sheared flows and the plasma response to them is a topic of considerable interest. Ongoing studies indicate that the influence of velocity shear can be generally classified into two broad categories, dissipative and reactive. In the dissipative category, low levels of shear can affect wave-particle interactions through resonance detuning which can substantially modify the normal modes and dispersive properties of a homogeneous plasma. A transverse velocity shear reduces the growth rates of the modes with frequencies lower than the ion-cyclotron frequency while it enhances those modes with frequencies around the ion-cyclotron frequency or larger. Sufficiently strong shear can induce a new class of oscillations via a reactive mechanism by creating neighboring regions with wave energy density of opposite sign. In general, depending on the magnitude and scale length, velocity shear can give rise to plasma oscillations in a very broad frequency and wavelength range. These properties and their applications to space and laboratory plasmas will be discussed.

Fluid simulation of tokamak ion temperature gradient turbulence with zonal flow closure model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamagishi, Osamu; Sugama, Hideo

2016-03-01

Nonlinear fluid simulation of turbulence driven by ion temperature gradient modes in the tokamak fluxtube configuration is performed by combining two different closure models. One model is a gyrofluid model by Beer and Hammett [Phys. Plasmas 3, 4046 (1996)], and the other is a closure model to reproduce the kinetic zonal flow response [Sugama et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 022502 (2007)]. By including the zonal flow closure, generation of zonal flows, significant reduction in energy transport, reproduction of the gyrokinetic transport level, and nonlinear upshift on the critical value of gradient scale length are observed.

Fluid simulation of tokamak ion temperature gradient turbulence with zonal flow closure model

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

Yamagishi, Osamu, E-mail: yamagisi@nifs.ac.jp; Sugama, Hideo

Nonlinear fluid simulation of turbulence driven by ion temperature gradient modes in the tokamak fluxtube configuration is performed by combining two different closure models. One model is a gyrofluid model by Beer and Hammett [Phys. Plasmas 3, 4046 (1996)], and the other is a closure model to reproduce the kinetic zonal flow response [Sugama et al., Phys. Plasmas 14, 022502 (2007)]. By including the zonal flow closure, generation of zonal flows, significant reduction in energy transport, reproduction of the gyrokinetic transport level, and nonlinear upshift on the critical value of gradient scale length are observed.

A simulation study of radial expansion of an electron beam injected into an ionospheric plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Koga, J.; Lin, C. S.

1994-01-01

Injections of nonrelativistic electron beams from a finite equipotential conductor into an ionospheric plasma have been simulated using a two-dimensional electrostatic particle code. The purpose of the study is to survey the simulation parameters for understanding the dependence of beam radius on physical variables. The conductor is charged to a high potential when the background plasma density is less than the beam density. Beam electrons attracted by the charged conductor are decelerated to zero velocity near the stagnation point, which is at a few Debye lengths from the conductor. The simulations suggest that the beam electrons at the stagnation point receive a large transverse kick and the beam expands radially thereafter. The buildup of beam electrons at the stagnation point produces a large electrostatic force responsible for the transverse kick. However, for the weak charging cases where the background plasma density is larger than the beam density, the radial expansion mechanism is different; the beam plasma instability is found to be responsible for the radial expansion. The simulations show that the electron beam radius for high spacecraft charging cases is of the order of the beam gyroradius, defined as the beam velocity divided by the gyrofrequency. In the weak charging cases, the beam radius is only a fraction of the beam gyroradius. The parameter survey indicates that the beam radius increases with beam density and decreases with magnetic field and beam velocity. The beam radius normalized by the beam gyroradius is found to scale according to the ratio of the beam electron Debye length to the ambient electron Debye length. The parameter dependence deduced would be useful for interpreting the beam radius and beam density of electron beam injection experiments conducted from rockets and the space shuttle.

X-ray emission reduction and photon dose lowering by energy loss of fast electrons induced by return current during the interaction of a short-pulse high-intensity laser on a metal solid target

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Compant La Fontaine, A.

2018-04-01

During the interaction of a short-pulse high-intensity laser with the preplasma produced by the pulse's pedestal in front of a high-Z metal solid target, high-energy electrons are produced, which in turn create an X-ray source by interacting with the atoms of the converter target. The current brought by the hot electrons is almost completely neutralized by a return current j → driven by the background electrons of the conductive target, and the force exerted on the hot electrons by the electric field E → which induces Ohmic heating j → .E → , produced by the background electrons, reduces the energy of the hot electrons and thus lowers the X-ray emission and photon dose. This effect is analyzed here by means of a simple 1-D temperature model which contains the most significant terms of the relativistic Fokker-Planck equation with electron multiple scattering, and the energy equations of ions, hot, and cold electrons are then solved numerically. This Ohmic heating energy loss fraction τOh is introduced as a corrective term in an improved photon dose model. For instance, for a ps laser pulse with 10 μm spot size, the dose obtained with a tantalum target is reduced by less than about 10% to 40% by the Ohmic heating, depending upon the plasma scale length, target thickness, laser parameters, and in particular its spot size. The laser and plasma parameters may be optimized to limit the effect of Ohmic heating, for instance at a small plasma scale length or small laser spot size. Conversely, others regimes not suitable for dose production are identified. For instance, the resistive heating is enhanced in a foam target or at a long plasma scale length and high laser spot size and intensity, as the mean emission angle θ0 of the incident hot electron bunch given by the ponderomotive force is small; thus, the dose produced by a laser interacting in a gas jet may be inhibited under these circumstances. The resistive heating may also be maximized in order to reduce the X-ray emission to lower the radiation level for instance in a safety radiological goal.

Numerical investigation of plasma edge transport and limiter heat fluxes in Wendelstein 7-X startup plasmas with EMC3-EIRENE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Effenberg, F.; Feng, Y.; Schmitz, O.; Frerichs, H.; Bozhenkov, S. A.; Hölbe, H.; König, R.; Krychowiak, M.; Pedersen, T. Sunn; Reiter, D.; Stephey, L.; W7-X Team

2017-03-01

The results of a first systematic assessment of plasma edge transport processes for the limiter startup configuration at Wendelstein 7-X are presented. This includes an investigation of transport from intrinsic and externally injected impurities and their impact on the power balance and limiter heat fluxes. The fully 3D coupled plasma fluid and kinetic neutral transport Monte Carlo code EMC3-EIRENE is used. The analysis of the magnetic topology shows that the poloidally and toroidally localized limiters cause a 3D helical scrape-off layer (SOL) consisting of magnetic flux tubes of three different connection lengths L C. The transport in the helical SOL is governed by L C as topological scale length for the parallel plasma loss channel to the limiters. A clear modulation of the plasma pressure with L C is seen. The helical flux tube topology results in counter streaming sonic plasma flows. The heterogeneous SOL plasma structure yields an uneven limiter heat load distribution with localized peaking. Assuming spatially constant anomalous transport coefficients, increasing plasma density yields a reduction of the maximum peak heat loads from 12 MWm-2 to 7.5 MWm-2 and a broadening of the deposited heat fluxes. The impact of impurities on the limiter heat loads is studied by assuming intrinsic carbon impurities eroded from the limiter surfaces with a gross chemical sputtering yield of 2 % . The resulting radiative losses account for less than 10% of the input power in the power balance with marginal impact on the limiter heat loads. It is shown that a significant mitigation of peak heat loads, 40-50%, can be achieved with controlled impurity seeding with nitrogen and neon, which is a method of particular interest for the later island divertor phase.

Small-scale structure of the midlatitude storm enhanced density plume during the 17 March 2015 St. Patrick's Day storm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heine, Thomas R. P.; Moldwin, Mark B.; Zou, Shasha

2017-03-01

Kilometer-scale density irregularities in the ionosphere can cause ionospheric scintillation—a phenomenon that degrades space-based navigation and communication signals. During strong geomagnetic storms, the midlatitude ionosphere is primed to produce these ˜1-10 km small-scale irregularities along the steep gradients between midlatitude storm enhanced density (SED) plumes and the adjacent low-density trough. The length scales of irregularities on the order of 1-10 km are determined from a combination of spatial, temporal, and frequency analyses using single-station ground-based Global Positioning System total electron content (TEC) combined with radar plasma velocity measurements. Kilometer-scale irregularities are detected along the boundaries of the SED plume and depleted density trough during the 17 March 2015 geomagnetic storm, but not equatorward of the plume or within the plume itself. Analysis using the fast Fourier transform of high-pass filtered slant TEC suggests that the kilometer-scale irregularities formed near the poleward gradients of SED plumes can have similar intensity and length scales to those typically found in the aurora but are shown to be distinct phenomena in spacecraft electron precipitation measurements.

Angular filter refractometry analysis using simulated annealing.

PubMed

Angland, P; Haberberger, D; Ivancic, S T; Froula, D H

2017-10-01

Angular filter refractometry (AFR) is a novel technique used to characterize the density profiles of laser-produced, long-scale-length plasmas [Haberberger et al., Phys. Plasmas 21, 056304 (2014)]. A new method of analysis for AFR images was developed using an annealing algorithm to iteratively converge upon a solution. A synthetic AFR image is constructed by a user-defined density profile described by eight parameters, and the algorithm systematically alters the parameters until the comparison is optimized. The optimization and statistical uncertainty calculation is based on the minimization of the χ 2 test statistic. The algorithm was successfully applied to experimental data of plasma expanding from a flat, laser-irradiated target, resulting in an average uncertainty in the density profile of 5%-20% in the region of interest.

Instabilities and transport in Hall plasmas with ExB drift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smolyakov, Andrei

2016-10-01

Low temperature plasma with moderate magnetic field, where the ions are not or just weakly magnetized, i.e. the ion Larmor radius being larger or comparable to the characteristic length scale of interest (e.g. the size ofthe system), have distinctly different properties from strongly magnetized plasmas such as that for fusion applications. Such parameters regimes are generally defined here as Hall plasmas. The natural scale separation between the ion and electron Larmor radii in Hall plasma, further exploited by the application of the external electric field, offers unique applications in various plasma devices for material processing and electric propulsion. Plasmas in such devices are in strongly non-equilibrium state making it prone to a number of instabilities. This talk presents physics description of the dominant unstable modes in ExB Hall plasmas resulting in highly turbulent state with nonlinear coherent structures and anomalous electron current. Since ions are un-magnetized, fundamental instabilities operating in low temperature Hall plasmas are very different from much studied gradients (density, temperature and magnetic field) driven drift-wave turbulence in strongly magnetized plasmas for fusion applications. As a result the nonlinear saturation mechanisms, role of the ExB shear flows are also markedly different in such plasmas. We review the basic instabilities in these plasmas which are related to the ion-sound, low-hybrid and anti-drift modes, discuss nonlinear saturation and anomalous transport mechanisms. The advanced nonlinear fluid model for such plasmas and results of nonlinear simulations of turbulence and anomalous transport performed within a modified BOUT++ framework will be presented. Research supported by NSERC Canada and US AFOSR FA9550-15-1-0226.

Multiple-Scale Physics During Magnetic Reconnection

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

Jara-Almonte, Jonathan

Magnetic reconnection is a key fundamental process in magnetized plasmas wherein the global magnetic topology is modified and stored energy is transferred from fields to particles. Reconnection is an inherently local process, and mechanisms to couple global-scale dynamics are not well understood. This dissertation explores two different mechanisms for cross-scale coupling during magnetic reconnection. As one example, we theoretically examine reconnection in a collisionless plasma using particle-in-cell simulations and demonstrate that large scale reconnection physics can couple to and drive microscopic instabilities, even in two-dimensional systems if significant scale separation exists between the Debye length and the electron skin depth.more » The physics underlying these instabilities is explained using simple theoretical models, and their potential connection to existing discrepancies between laboratory experiments and numerical simulations is explored. In three-dimensional systems, these instabilities are shown to generate anomalous resistivity that balances a substantial fraction of the electric field. In contrast, we also use experiments to investigate cross-scale couplings during reconnection in a collisional plasma. A leading candidate for coupling global and local scales is the hierarchical breakdown of elongated, reconnecting current sheets into numerous smaller current sheets -– the plasmoid instability. In the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX), recent hardware improvements have extended the accessible parameter space allowing for the study of long-lived, elongated current sheets. Moreover, by using Argon, reproducible and collisional plasmas are produced, which allow for a detailed statistical study of collisional reconnection. As a result, we have conclusively measured the onset of sub-ion-scale plasmoids during resistive, anti-parallel reconnection for the first time. The current sheet thickness is intermediate between ion and electron kinetic scales such that the plasma is in the Hall-MHD regime. Surprisingly, plasmoids are observed at Lundquist numbers < 100 well below theoretical predictions (> 10,000). The number of plasmoids scales with both Lundquist number and current sheet aspect ratio. The Hall quadrupolar fields are shown to suppress plasmoids. Finally, plasmoids are shown to couple local and global physics by enhancing the reconnection rate. These results are compared with prior studies of tearing and plasmoid instability, and implications for astrophysical plasmas, laboratory experiments, and theoretical studies of reconnection are discussed.« less

Experimental observation of self excited co-rotating multiple vortices in a dusty plasma with inhomogeneous plasma background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhary, Mangilal; Mukherjee, S.; Bandyopadhyay, P.

2017-03-01

We report an experimental observation of multiple co-rotating vortices in an extended dust column in the background of an inhomogeneous diffused plasma. An inductively coupled rf discharge is initiated in the background of argon gas in the source region. This plasma was later found to diffuse into the main experimental chamber. A secondary DC glow discharge plasma is produced to introduce dust particles into the plasma volume. These micron-sized poly-disperse dust particles get charged in the background of the DC plasma and are transported by the ambipolar electric field of the diffused plasma. These transported particles are found to be confined in an electrostatic potential well, where the resultant electric field due to the diffused plasma (ambipolar E-field) and glass wall charging (sheath E-field) holds the micron-sized particles against the gravity. Multiple co-rotating (anti-clockwise) dust vortices are observed in the dust cloud for a particular discharge condition. The transition from multiple vortices to a single dust vortex is observed when input rf power is lowered. The occurrence of these vortices is explained on the basis of the charge gradient of dust particles, which is orthogonal to the ion drag force. The charge gradient is a consequence of the plasma inhomogeneity along the dust cloud length. The detailed nature and the reason for multiple vortices are still under investigation through further experiments; however, preliminary qualitative understanding is discussed based on the characteristic scale length of the dust vortex. There is a characteristic size of the vortex in the dusty plasma; therefore, multiple vortices could possibly be formed in an extended dusty plasma with inhomogeneous plasma background. The experimental results on the vortex motion of particles are compared with a theoretical model and are found to be in close agreement.

Laboratory studies of the coronal heating problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savin, Daniel Wolf; Bose, Sayak; Hahn, Michael; Vincena, Steve; Gekelman, Walter; Carter, Troy; Tripathi, Shreekrishna

2018-06-01

The solar corona, the outer atmosphere of the Sun at 106 K, is ~ 200 times hotter than the underlying visible surface. Incompressible Alfvén waves excited by convective motions at the surface of the Sun are posited to transport energy to the corona. Strong gradients in Alfvén speed at low heights in the corona are believed to be responsible for wave-driven heating of the plasma. These gradients may cause reflection of the incident waves, enabling the generation of turbulence due to nonlinear interaction between the counter propagating waves and subsequent dissipation of the wave energy at smaller length scales. We are studying propagation of Alfvén waves in the laboratory using scaled plasma parameters to approximate the solar corona. The experiments are conducted using the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at the University of California, Los Angeles. We have explored the effectiveness of the longitudinal gradients in the Alfvén speed at reducing the energy of the Alfvén waves propagating through it in the linear regime. Our results show that the energy of the transmitted Alfvén waves decreases as the inhomogeneity parameter λA/LA increases. Here, λA is the wavelength of the Alfvén wave and LA is the Alfvén speed scale length. The inhomogeneity parameter is changed in two ways. In the first set of the experiments, it is changed by varying λA, while holding LA constant. In the second set, λA/LA is changed by varying LA, while holding λA constant. The decrease in transmittance of the wave energy with increase in λA/LA, for both the above cases, are found to be agreement with each other.

Magnetic moment of solar plasma and the Kelvin force: -The driving force of plasma up-flow -

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shibasaki, Kiyoto

2017-04-01

Thermal plasma in the solar atmosphere is magnetized (diamagnetic). The magnetic moment does not disappear by collisions because complete gyration is not a necessary condition to have magnetic moment. Magnetized fluid is subjected to Kelvin force in non-uniform magnetic field. Generally, magnetic field strength decreases upwards in the solar atmosphere, hence the Kelvin force is directed upwards along the field. This force is not included in the fluid treatment of MHD. By adding the Kelvin force to the MHD equation of motion, we can expect temperature dependent plasma flows along the field which are reported by many observations. The temperature dependence of the flow speed is explained by temperature dependence of magnetic moment. From the observed parameters, we can infer physical parameters in the solar atmosphere such as scale length of the magnetic field strength and the friction force acting on the flowing plasma. In case of closed magnetic field lines, loop-top concentration of hot plasma is expected which is frequently observed.

High-order Two-Fluid Plasma Solver for Direct Numerical Simulations of Magnetic Flows with Realistic Transport Phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Zhaorui; Livescu, Daniel

2017-11-01

The two-fluid plasma equations with full transport terms, including temperature and magnetic field dependent ion and electron viscous stresses and heat fluxes, frictional drag force, and ohmic heating term have been solved by using the sixth-order non-dissipative compact scheme for plasma flows in several different regimes. In order to be able to fully resolve all the dynamically relevant time and length scales while maintaining computational feasibility, the assumptions of infinite speed of light and negligible electron inertia have been made. The accuracy and robustness of this two-fluid plasma solver in handling plasma flows have been tested against a series of canonical problems, such as Alfven-Whistler dispersion relation, electromagnetic plasma shock, magnetic reconnection, etc. For all test cases, grid convergence tests have been conducted to achieve fully resolved results. The roles of heat flux, viscosity, resistivity, Hall and Biermann battery effects, are investigated for the canonical flows studied.

Measurements of electron density and temperature profiles in plasma produced by Nike KrF laser for laser plasma instability research

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J. L.; Karasik, M.; Chan, L. Y.

2015-08-01

A grid image refractometer (GIR) has been implemented at the Nike krypton fluoride laser facility of the Naval Research Laboratory. This instrument simultaneously measures propagation angles and transmissions of UV probe rays (λ = 263 nm, Δt = 10 ps) refracted through plasma. We report results of the first Nike-GIR measurement on a CH plasma produced by the Nike laser pulse (˜1 ns FWHM) with the intensity of 1.1 × 1015 W/cm2. The measured angles and transmissions were processed to construct spatial profiles of electron density (ne) and temperature (Te) in the underdense coronal region of the plasma. Using an inversion algorithm developed for the strongly refracted rays, the deployed GIR system probed electron densities up to 4 × 1021 cm-3 with the density scale length of 120 μm along the plasma symmetry axis. The resulting ne and Te profiles are verified to be self-consistent with the measured quantities of the refracted probe light.

Plasma Accelerators Race to 10 GeV and Beyond

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katsouleas, Tom

2005-10-01

This paper reviews the concepts, recent progress and current challenges for realizing the tremendous electric fields in relativistic plasma waves for applications ranging from tabletop particle accelerators to high-energy physics. Experiments in the 90's on laser-driven plasma wakefield accelerators at several laboratories around the world demonstrated the potential for plasma wakefields to accelerate intense bunches of self-trapped particles at rates as high as 100 GeV/m in mm-scale gas jets. These early experiments offered impressive gradients but large energy spread (100%) and short interaction lengths. Major breakthroughs have recently occurred on both fronts. Three groups (LBL-US, LOA-France and RAL-UK) have now entered a new regime of laser wakefield acceleration resulting in 100 MeV mono-energetic beams with up to nanoCoulombs of charge and very small angular spread. Simulations suggest that current lasers are just entering this new regime, and the scaling to higher energies appears attractive. In parallel with the progress in laser-driven wakefields, particle-beam driven wakefield accelerators are making large strides. A series of experiments using the 30 GeV beam of the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) has demonstrated high-gradient acceleration of electrons and positrons in meter-scale plasmas. The UCLA/USC/SLAC collaboration has accelerated electrons beyond 1 GeV and is aiming at 10 GeV in 30 cm as the next step toward a ``plasma afterburner,'' a concept for doubling the energy of a high-energy collider in a few tens of meters of plasma. In addition to wakefield acceleration, these and other experiments have demonstrated the rich physics bounty to be reaped from relativistic beam-plasma interactions. This includes plasma lenses capable of focusing particle beams to the highest density ever produced, collective radiation mechanisms capable of generating high-brightness x-ray beams, collective refraction of particles at a plasma interface, and acceleration of intense proton beams from laser-irradiated foils.

Plasma and cyclotron frequency effects on output power of the plasma wave-pumped free-electron lasers

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

Zolghadr, S. H.; Jafari, S., E-mail: sjafari@guilan.ac.ir; Raghavi, A.

2016-05-15

Significant progress has been made employing plasmas in the free-electron lasers (FELs) interaction region. In this regard, we study the output power and saturation length of the plasma whistler wave-pumped FEL in a magnetized plasma channel. The small wavelength of the whistler wave (in sub-μm range) in plasma allows obtaining higher radiation frequency than conventional wiggler FELs. This configuration has a higher tunability by adjusting the plasma density relative to the conventional ones. A set of coupled nonlinear differential equations is employed which governs on the self-consistent evolution of an electromagnetic wave. The electron bunching process of the whistler-pumped FELmore » has been investigated numerically. The result reveals that for a long wiggler length, the bunching factor can appreciably change as the electron beam propagates through the wiggler. The effects of plasma frequency (or plasma density) and cyclotron frequency on the output power and saturation length have been studied. Simulation results indicate that with increasing the plasma frequency, the power increases and the saturation length decreases. In addition, when density of background plasma is higher than the electron beam density (i.e., for a dense plasma channel), the plasma effects are more pronounced and the FEL-power is significantly high. It is also found that with increasing the strength of the external magnetic field frequency, the power decreases and the saturation length increases, noticeably.« less

Particle simulations of mode conversion between slow mode and fast mode in lower hybrid range of frequencies

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

Jia, Guozhang; Xiang, Nong; Huang, Yueheng

2016-01-15

The propagation and mode conversion of lower hybrid waves in an inhomogeneous plasma are investigated by using the nonlinear δf algorithm in a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation code based on the gyrokinetic electron and fully kinetic ion (GeFi) scheme [Lin et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 47, 657 (2005)]. The characteristics of the simulated waves, such as wavelength, frequency, phase, and group velocities, agree well with the linear theoretical analysis. It is shown that a significant reflection component emerges in the conversion process between the slow mode and the fast mode when the scale length of the density variation is comparablemore » to the local wavelength. The dependences of the reflection coefficient on the scale length of the density variation are compared with the results based on the linear full wave model for cold plasmas. It is indicated that the mode conversion for the waves with a frequency of 2.45 GHz (ω ∼ 3ω{sub LH}, where ω{sub LH} represents the lower hybrid resonance) and within Tokamak relevant amplitudes can be well described in the linear scheme. As the frequency decreases, the modification due to the nonlinear term becomes important. For the low-frequency waves (ω ∼ 1.3ω{sub LH}), the generations of the high harmonic modes and sidebands through nonlinear mode-mode coupling provide new power channels and thus could reduce the reflection significantly.« less

Charge dependence of the plasma travel length in atmospheric-pressure plasma

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

Yambe, Kiyoyuki; Konda, Kohmei; Masuda, Seiya

Plasma plume is generated using a quartz tube, helium gas, and foil electrode by applying AC high voltage under the atmosphere. The plasma plume is released into the atmosphere from inside of the quartz tube and is seen as the continuous movement of the plasma bullet. The travel length of plasma bullet is defined from plasma energy and force due to electric field. The drift velocity of plasma bullet has the upper limit under atmospheric-pressure because the drift velocity is determined from the balance between electric field and resistive force due to collisions between plasma and air. The plasma plumemore » charge depends on the drift velocity. Consequently, in the laminar flow of helium gas flow state, the travel length of the plasma plume logarithmically depends on the plasma plume charge which changes with both the electric field and the resistive force.« less

Ion-temperature-gradient sensitivity of the hydrodynamic instability caused by shear in the magnetic-field-aligned plasma flow

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

Mikhailenko, V. V., E-mail: vladimir@pusan.ac.kr; Mikhailenko, V. S.; Faculty of Transportation Systems, Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University, 61002 Kharkiv

2014-07-15

The cross-magnetic-field (i.e., perpendicular) profile of ion temperature and the perpendicular profile of the magnetic-field-aligned (parallel) plasma flow are sometimes inhomogeneous for space and laboratory plasma. Instability caused either by a gradient in the ion-temperature profile or by shear in the parallel flow has been discussed extensively in the literature. In this paper, (1) hydrodynamic plasma stability is investigated, (2) real and imaginary frequency are quantified over a range of the shear parameter, the normalized wavenumber, and the ratio of density-gradient and ion-temperature-gradient scale lengths, and (3) the role of inverse Landau damping is illustrated for the case of combinedmore » ion-temperature gradient and parallel-flow shear. We find that increasing the ion-temperature gradient reduces the instability threshold for the hydrodynamic parallel-flow shear instability, also known as the parallel Kelvin-Helmholtz instability or the D'Angelo instability. We also find that a kinetic instability arises from the coupled, reinforcing action of both free-energy sources. For the case of comparable electron and ion temperature, we illustrate analytically the transition of the D'Angelo instability to the kinetic instability as (a) the shear parameter, (b) the normalized wavenumber, and (c) the ratio of density-gradient and ion-temperature-gradient scale lengths are varied and we attribute the changes in stability to changes in the amount of inverse ion Landau damping. We show that near a normalized wavenumber k{sub ⊥}ρ{sub i} of order unity (i) the real and imaginary values of frequency become comparable and (ii) the imaginary frequency, i.e., the growth rate, peaks.« less

Electron critical gradient scale length measurements of ICRF heated L-mode plasmas at Alcator C-Mod tokamak

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Houshmandyar, S.; Hatch, D. R.; Horton, C. W.; Liao, K. T.; Phillips, P. E.; Rowan, W. L.; Zhao, B.; Cao, N. M.; Ernst, D. R.; Greenwald, M.; Howard, N. T.; Hubbard, A. E.; Hughes, J. W.; Rice, J. E.

2018-04-01

A profile for the critical gradient scale length (Lc) has been measured in L-mode discharges at the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, where electrons were heated by an ion cyclotron range of frequency through minority heating with the intention of simultaneously varying the heat flux and changing the local gradient. The electron temperature gradient scale length (LTe-1 = |∇Te|/Te) profile was measured via the BT-jog technique [Houshmandyar et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 87, 11E101 (2016)] and it was compared with electron heat flux from power balance (TRANSP) analysis. The Te profiles were found to be very stiff and already above the critical values, however, the stiffness was found to be reduced near the q = 3/2 surface. The measured Lc profile is in agreement with electron temperature gradient (ETG) models which predict the dependence of Lc-1 on local Zeff, Te/Ti, and the ratio of the magnetic shear to the safety factor. The results from linear Gene gyrokinetic simulations suggest ETG to be the dominant mode of turbulence in the electron scale (k⊥ρs > 1), and ion temperature gradient/trapped electron mode modes in the ion scale (k⊥ρs < 1). The measured Lc profile is in agreement with the profile of ETG critical gradients deduced from Gene simulations.

Transformable DNA Nanocarriers for Plasma Membrane Targeted Delivery of Cytokine

PubMed Central

Sun, Wujin; Ji, Wenyan; Hu, Quanyin; Yu, Jicheng; Wang, Chao; Qian, Chenggen; Hochu, Gabrielle; Gu, Zhen

2016-01-01

Direct delivery of cytokines using nanocarriers holds great promise for cancer therapy. However, the nanometric scale of the vehicles made them susceptible to size-dependent endocytosis, reducing the plasma membrane-associated apoptosis signalling. Herein, we report a tumor microenvironment-responsive and transformable nanocarrier for cell membrane targeted delivery of cytokine. This formulation is comprised of a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) degradable liposome as a shell, and complementary DNA nanostructures (designated as nanoclews) decorated with cytokines as the cores. Utilizing the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) as a model cytokine, we demonstrate that the TRAIL loaded DNA nanoclews are capable of transforming into nanofibers after PLA2 activation. The nanofibers with micro-scaled lengths efficiently present the loaded TRAIL to death receptors on the cancer cell membrane and amplified the apoptotic signalling with reduced TRAIL internalization. PMID:27131597

Development and Application of Plasma Actuators for Active Control of High-Speed and High Reynolds Number Flows

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sammy, Mo

2010-01-01

Active flow control is often used to manipulate flow instabilities to achieve a desired goal (e.g. prevent separation, enhance mixing, reduce noise, etc.). Instability frequencies normally scale with flow velocity scale and inversely with flow length scale (U/l). In a laboratory setting for such flow experiments, U is high, but l is low, resulting in high instability frequency. In addition, high momentum and high background noise & turbulence in the flow necessitate high amplitude actuation. Developing a high amplitude and high frequency actuator is a major challenge. Ironically, these requirements ease up in application (but other issues arise).

Long-time states of inverse cascades in the presence of a maximum length scale

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hossain, M.; Matthaeus, W. H.; Montgomery, D.

1983-01-01

It is shown numerically, both for the two-dimensional Navier-Stokes (guiding-center plasma) equations and for two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamics, that the long-time asymptotic state in a forced inverse-cascade situation is one in which the spectrum is completely dominated by its own fundamental. The growth continues until the fundamental is dissipatively limited by its own dissipation rate.

Multiscale Magnetic Underdense Regions on the Solar Surface: Granular and Mesogranular Scales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berrilli, F.; Scardigli, S.; Giordano, S.

2013-02-01

The Sun is a non-equilibrium, dissipative system subject to an energy flow that originates in its core. Convective overshooting motions create temperature and velocity structures that show a temporal and spatial multiscale evolution. As a result, photospheric structures are generally considered to be a direct manifestation of convective plasma motions. The plasma flows in the photosphere govern the motion of single magnetic elements. These elements are arranged in typical patterns, which are observed as a variety of multiscale magnetic patterns. High-resolution magnetograms of the quiet solar surface revealed the presence of multiscale magnetic underdense regions in the solar photosphere, commonly called voids, which may be considered to be a signature of the underlying convective structure. The analysis of such patterns paves the way for the investigation of all turbulent convective scales, from granular to global. In order to address the question of magnetic structures driven by turbulent convection at granular and mesogranular scales, we used a voids-detection method. The computed distribution of void length scales shows an exponential behavior at scales between 2 and 10 Mm and the absence of features at mesogranular scales. The absence of preferred scales of organization in the 2 - 10 Mm range supports the multiscale nature of flows on the solar surface and the absence of a mesogranular convective scale.

Laser-Plasma Interaction Experiments at Direct-Drive Ignition-Relevant Plasma Conditions at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solodov, A. A.; Rosenberg, M. J.; Myatt, J. F.; Shaw, J. G.; Seka, W.; Epstein, R.; Short, R. W.; Follett, R. K.; Regan, S. P.; Froula, D. H.; Radha, P. B.; Michel, P.; Chapman, T.; Hohenberger, M.

2017-10-01

Laser-plasma interaction (LPI) instabilities, such as stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) and two-plasmon decay, can be detrimental for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion because of target preheat by the high-energy electrons they generate. The radiation-hydrodynamic code DRACO was used to design planar-target experiments at the National Ignition Facility that generated plasma and interaction conditions relevant to ignition direct-drive designs (IL 1015W/cm2 , Te > 3 keV, density gradient scale lengths of Ln 600 μm). Laser-energy conversion efficiency to hot electrons of 0.5% to 2.5% with temperature of 45 to 60 keV was inferred from the experiment when the laser intensity at the quarter-critical surface increased from 6 to 15 ×1014W/cm2 . LPI was dominated by SRS, as indicated by the measured scattered-light spectra. Simulations of SRS using the LPI code LPSE have been performed and compared with predictions of theoretical models. Implications for ignition-scale direct-drive experiments will be discussed. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Modeling Laser-Plasma Interactions at Direct-Drive Ignition-Relevant Plasma Conditions at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solodov, A. A.; Rosenberg, M. J.; Myatt, J. F.; Epstein, R.; Seka, W.; Hohenberger, M.; Short, R. W.; Shaw, J. G.; Regan, S. P.; Froula, D. H.; Radha, P. B.; Bates, J. W.; Schmitt, A. J.; Michel, P.; Moody, J. D.; Ralph, J. E.; Turnbull, D. P.; Barrios, M. A.

2016-10-01

Laser-plasma interaction instabilities, such as two-plasmon decay (TPD) and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), can be detrimental for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion because of target preheat by generated high-energy electrons. The radiation-hydrodynamics code DRACO has been used to design planar-target experiments that generate plasma and interaction conditions relevant to direct-drive-ignition designs (IL 1015 W / cm 2 , Te > 3 KeV density gradient scale lengths of Ln 600 μm) . The hot-electron temperature of 40to50keV and the fraction of laser energy converted to hot electrons of 0.5to were inferred based on comparing the simulated and experimentally observed x-ray emission when the laser intensity at the quarter-critical surface increased from 6 to 15 ×1014 W / cm 2 . The measured SRS energy was sufficient to explain the observed total energy in hot electrons. Implications for ignition-scale direct-drive experiments and hot-electron preheat mitigation using mid- Z ablators will be discussed. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Scaling of confinement and profiles in the EXTRAP T2 reversed-field pinch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Welander, A.

1999-01-01

In the EXTRAP T2 reversed-field pinch the diagnostic techniques for the measurement of electron density and temperature include; Thomson scattering which gives values at three radial positions in the core (r/a = 0, 0.28, 0.56), Langmuir probes which give values at the edge (r/a > 0.9) and interferometry which gives a line-averaged density. The empirical scaling of electron density and temperature including profile information with global plasma parameters has been studied. The density profile is subject to large variations, with an average parabolic shape when the density is low and flatter shapes when the density is increased. The change in the profile shape can be attributed to a shift in the penetration length of neutrals from the vicinity of the wall. The temperature scales roughly as I/n1/2 where I is the plasma current and n is the density. The temperature profile is always quite flat with lower variations and there is a tendency for a flatter profile at higher temperatures.

Three dimensional instabilities of an electron scale current sheet in collisionless magnetic reconnection

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

Jain, Neeraj; Büchner, Jörg; Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Justus-Von-Liebig-Weg-3, Göttingen

In collisionless magnetic reconnection, electron current sheets (ECS) with thickness of the order of an electron inertial length form embedded inside ion current sheets with thickness of the order of an ion inertial length. These ECS's are susceptible to a variety of instabilities which have the potential to affect the reconnection rate and/or the structure of reconnection. We carry out a three dimensional linear eigen mode stability analysis of electron shear flow driven instabilities of an electron scale current sheet using an electron-magnetohydrodynamic plasma model. The linear growth rate of the fastest unstable mode was found to drop with themore » thickness of the ECS. We show how the nature of the instability depends on the thickness of the ECS. As long as the half-thickness of the ECS is close to the electron inertial length, the fastest instability is that of a translational symmetric two-dimensional (no variations along flow direction) tearing mode. For an ECS half thickness sufficiently larger or smaller than the electron inertial length, the fastest mode is not a tearing mode any more and may have finite variations along the flow direction. Therefore, the generation of plasmoids in a nonlinear evolution of ECS is likely only when the half-thickness is close to an electron inertial length.« less

Observations of nonlinear and nonuniform kink dynamics in a laboratory flux rope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sears, J.; Intrator, T.; Feng, Y.; Swan, H.; Gao, K.; Chapdelaine, L.

2013-12-01

A plasma column with axial magnetic field and current has helically twisted field lines. When current density in the column exceeds the kink instability threshold this magnetic configuration becomes unstable. Flux ropes in the solar wind and some solar prominences exhibit this topology, with their dynamics strongly and nonlinearly coupled to the ratio of axial current to magnetic field. The current-driven kink mode is ubiquitous in laboratory plasmas and well suited to laboratory study. In the Reconnection Scaling Experiment (RSX), nonlinear stability properties beyond the simple perturbative kink model are observed and readily diagnosed. We use a plasma gun to generate a single plasma column 0.50 m in length, in which we then drive an axial plasma current at the limit of marginal kink stability. With plasma current maintained at this threshold, we observe a deformation to a new dynamic equilibrium with finite gyration amplitude, where the currents and magnetic fields that support the force balance have surprising axial structure. Three dimensional measurements of magnetic field, plasma density, plasma potential, and ion flow velocity in the deformed plasma column show variation in the axial direction of the instability parameter and in the terms of the momentum equation. Likewise the pitch of the kink is measured to be nonuniform over the column length. In addition there is a return current antiparallel to the driven plasma current at distances up to 0.30 m from the gun that also modifies the force balance. These axial inhomogeneities, which are not considered in the model of an ideal kink, may be the terms that allow the deformed equilibrium of the RSX plasma to exist. Supported by DOE Office of Fusion Energy Sciences under LANS contract DE-AC52-06NA25369, NASA Geospace NNHIOA044I, Basic. This work performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344.

Simulation of plasma double-layer structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borovsky, J. E.; Joyce, G.

1982-01-01

Electrostatic plasma double layers are numerically simulated by means of a magnetized 2 1/2 dimensional particle in cell method. The investigation of planar double layers indicates that these one dimensional potential structures are susceptible to periodic disruption by instabilities in the low potential plasmas. Only a slight increase in the double layer thickness with an increase in its obliqueness to the magnetic field is observed. Weak magnetization results in the double layer electric field alignment of accelerated particles and strong magnetization results in their magnetic field alignment. The numerical simulations of spatially periodic two dimensional double layers also exhibit cyclical instability. A morphological invariance in two dimensional double layers with respect to the degree of magnetization implies that the potential structures scale with Debye lengths rather than with gyroradii. Electron beam excited electrostatic electron cyclotron waves and (ion beam driven) solitary waves are present in the plasmas adjacent to the double layers.

Studies on Equatorial Shock Formation During Plasmaspheric Refilling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Singh, Nagendra

1995-01-01

During the grant period from August 1, 1994 to October 31, 1995 we have continued to investigate the effects of plasma wave instabilities on the early stage plasmaspheric refilling. Since ion beams are the primary feature of the interhemispheric plasma flows during the early stage refilling, ion-beam driven instabilities and associated waves are of primary interest. The major findings of this research are briefly summarized here. After a systematic examination of the relevant plasma instabilities, we realized that when the interhemispheric plasma flows begin to interpenetrate at the equator, the most relevant plasma instability is the electrostatic ion cyclotron wave instability. Only at later stages the ion-acoustic instability may be affecting the plasma flow. An interesting property of the electrostatic ion cyclotron wave is that it heats ions perpendicular to the magnetic field. When the ions in the field-aligned flows are transversely heated, they are trapped in the magnetic flux tube, thus affecting the refilling process. The eic wave instability is a microprocess with scale length of the order of ion Larmor radius and the corresponding time scale is the ion cyclotron period. We have attempted to tackle the problem for the plasmaspheric refilling by incorporating the effects of eic wave instability on the mesoscale plasma flow when the properties of the latter exceeds the critical conditions for the former. We have compared the results on refilling from the model with and without the eic instability effects.

Whistler mode refraction in highly nonuniform magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urrutia, J. M.; Stenzel, R.

2016-12-01

In a large laboratory plasma the propagation of whistler modes is measured in highly nonuniform magnetic fields created by a current-carrying wires. Ray tracing is not applicable since the wavelength and gradient scale length are comparable. The waves are excited with a loop antenna near the wire. The antenna launches an m=1 helicon mode in a uniform plasma. The total magnetic field consists of a weak uniform background field and a nearly circular field of a straight wire across the background field. A circular loop produces 3D null points and a 2D null line. The whistler wave propagation will be shown. It is relevant to whistler mode propagation in space plasmas near magnetic null-points, small flux ropes, lunar crustal magnetic fields and active wave injection experiments.

Influence of the gas-flow Reynolds number on a plasma column in a glass tube

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

Jin, Dong Jun; Uhm, Han S.; Cho, Guangsup

2013-08-15

Atmospheric-plasma generation inside a glass tube is influenced by gas stream behavior as described by the Reynolds number (Rn). In experiments with He, Ne, and Ar, the plasma column length increases with an increase in the gas flow rate under laminar flow characterized by Rn < 2000. The length of the plasma column decreases as the flow rate increases in the transition region of 2000 < Rn < 4000. For a turbulent flow beyond Rn > 4000, the length of the plasma column is short in front of the electrode, eventually leading to a shutdown.

Controlling Arc Length in Plasma Welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iceland, W. F.

1986-01-01

Circuit maintains arc length on irregularly shaped workpieces. Length of plasma arc continuously adjusted by control circuit to maintain commanded value. After pilot arc is established, contactor closed and transfers arc to workpiece. Control circuit then half-wave rectifies ac arc voltage to produce dc control signal proportional to arc length. Circuit added to plasma arc welding machines with few wiring changes. Welds made with circuit cleaner and require less rework than welds made without it. Beads smooth and free of inclusions.

Investigating the ion-scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence from low to high plasma beta with high-resolution hybrid simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Franci, Luca; Landi, Simone; Matteini, Lorenzo; Verdini, Andrea; Hellinger, Petr

2016-04-01

We investigate the properties of the ion-scale spectral break of solar wind turbulence by means of two-dimensional, large-scale, high-resolution hybrid particle-in-cell simulations. We impose an initial ambient magnetic field perpendicular to the simulation box, and we add a spectrum of in-plane large- scale magnetic and kinetic fluctuations, with energy equipartition and vanishing correlation. We perform a set of ten simulations with different values of the ion plasma beta, β_i. In all cases, we observe the power spectrum of the total magnetic fluctuations following a power law with a spectral index of -5/3 in the inertial range, with a smooth break around ion scales and a steeper power law in the sub-ion range. This spectral break always occurs at spatial scales of the order of the proton gyroradius, ρ_i, and the proton inertial length, di = ρi / √{β_i}. When the plasma beta is of the order of 1, the two scales are very close to each other and determining which is directly related to the steepening of the spectra it's not straightforward at all. In order to overcome this limitation, we extended the range of values of βi over three orders of magnitude, from 0.01 to 10, so that the two ion scales were well separated. This let us observe that the break always seems to occur at the larger of the two scales, i.e., at di for βi 1. The effect of βi on the spectra of the parallel and perpendicular magnetic components separately and of the density fluctuations is also investigated. We compare all our numerical results with solar wind observations and suggest possible explanations for our findings.

Relativistic laser-plasma interactions in the quantum regime.

PubMed

Eliasson, Bengt; Shukla, P K

2011-04-01

We consider nonlinear interactions between a relativistically strong laser beam and a plasma in the quantum regime. The collective behavior of electrons is modeled by a Klein-Gordon equation, which is nonlinearly coupled with the electromagnetic wave through the Maxwell and Poisson equations. This allows us to study nonlinear interactions between arbitrarily large-amplitude electromagnetic waves and a quantum plasma. We have used our system of nonlinear equations to study theoretically the parametric instabilities involving stimulated Raman scattering and modulational instabilities. A model for quasi-steady-state propagating electromagnetic wave packets is also derived, and which shows possibility of localized solitary structures in a quantum plasma. Numerical simulations demonstrate collapse and acceleration of electrons in the nonlinear stage of the modulational instability, as well as possibility of the wake-field acceleration of electrons to relativistic speeds by short laser pulses at nanometer length scales. Our study is relevant for understanding the localization of intense electromagnetic pulses in a quantum plasma with extremely high electron densities and relatively low temperature.

Modeling of a bimetallic eccentric cylindrical plasma waveguide based on a transmission line for TEM-mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golharani, Saeedeh; Jazi, Bahram; Jahanbakht, Sajad; Moeini-Nashalji, Azam

2018-07-01

In this paper, a plasma waveguide made of two eccentric cylindrical metallic walls have been studied according to the theory of transmission lines. The inductance per unit length L, the capacitance per unit length C, the resistance per unit length R and the shunt conductance per unit length G are obtained. The graphs of variations of the mentioned parameters vs. geometrical dimensions of waveguide are investigated. This investigations have been done for two different types of plasma waveguide. At first stage, plasma region will be considered in cold and collisional approximation and in second stage, a drift plasma in cold collisionless approximation will be considered. Also, graphs of phase velocity variation vs. the main parameters of the waveguide are presented.

Measurements and Simulations of Surface Dielectric Barrier Discharges Used as Plasma Actuators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoskinson, Alan R.

2012-01-01

This report is a Ph.D. dissertation performed under NRA cooperative agreement and submitted as part of the final report. Asymmetric surface dielectric barrier discharges (DBDs) have shown promise for use as aerodynamic actuators for active flow control. In this project we studied DBD actuators experimentally and numerically. Our DBDs used a symmetric triangular high voltage waveform to generate plasma in atmospheric pressure air. Time-averaged measurements indicated that the induced force of a single barrier actuator design (one electrode insulated from the plasma) can be increased exponentially above the results of previous studies by decreasing both the length and thickness of the electrode exposed to the plasma. This increased force may allow these devices to control flow separation in a wider range of flow environments. Experiments using an intensified digital camera to examine the plasma on time scales of a few nanoseconds showed that, in addition to the previously-observed filamentary and jet-like plasma structures, discharges with very thin exposed electrodes exhibited a weak but constant plasma immediately adjacent to those electrodes. In double-barrier actuators (both electrodes insulated), decreasing the diameter of the narrower electrode lead to increasing forces, and recorded images showed the simultaneous existence of both filamentary and jet-like plasma structures. The development and application of a time-dependent, two-dimensional computational fluid plasma model has aided in understanding the detailed physics of surface DBDs at all-time scales. For simulated single-barrier discharges, the model qualitatively reproduced the filamentary and jet-like micro-discharge structures. The model was somewhat successful in reproducing the observed characteristics of double-barrier actuators. For both actuator geometries, the model indicated that the majority of the forces induced on the neutral gas occur in between micro-discharges as the plasmas decay.

Intense laser pulse propagation in ionizing gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bian, Zhigang

2003-10-01

There have been considerable technological advances in the development of high intensity, short pulse lasers. However, high intensity laser pulses are subject to various laser-plasma instabilities. In this thesis, a theory is developed to study the scattering instability that occurs when a laser pulse propagates through and ionizes a gas. The instability is due to the intensity dependence of the ionization rate, which leads to a transversely structured free electron density. The instability is convective in the frame of laser pulse, but can have a relatively short growth length scaling as Lg˜k0/k2p where k0 is the laser wave number, k2p=w2p/c 2 and op is the plasma frequency. The most unstable perturbations correspond to a scattering angle for which the transverse wave number is around the plasma wave number, k p. The scattered light is frequency upshifted. The comparison between simple analytic theory and numerical simulation shows good agreement. Instabilities can drastically change the shape of the laser pulse and reduce the propagation distance of the laser pulse. Therefore, we change the propagation conditions and reduce the laser-plasma interaction possibilities in applications which require an interaction length well in excess of the Rayleigh length of the laser beam. One of the methods is to use a capillary to propagate the laser pulse. We studied the propagation of short pulses in a glass capillary. The propagation is simulated using the code WAKE, which has been modified to treat the case in which the simulation boundary is the wall of a capillary. Parameters that were examined include transmission efficiency of the waveguides as a function of gas pressure, laser intensity, and waveguide length, which is up to 40 Rayleigh lengths. The transmission efficiency decreases with waveguide length due to energy loss through the side-walls of the capillary. The loss increases with gas pressure due to ionization of the gas and scattering of the radiation. The intensity on the inner wall of the capillary is monitored to assure realistic simulations, consistent with optical breakdown of the waveguide material. Generally speaking the intensity on the wall increases with gas pressure due to the scattering of the lowest order capillary mode. Finally, the high order harmonic generation (HHG) in a capillary is investigated. The phase matching condition is studied to increase the conversion efficiency for high order harmonics generation. The phase matching occurs as a balance of the dispersion of the neutral gas, plasma and the waveguide.

Role of anode length in a mather-type plasma focus

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

Beg, F.N.; Zakaullah, M.; Nisar, M.

In this paper, neutron emission from a 3 KJ Mather-type plasma focus is studied. Specifically, the behavior of system with the change in anode length is investigated. Anode lengths of high and low fluence anisotropy as well as for high neutron yield are identified. Experiment also suggest the possibility of ion beam generation leading to neutron production via beam-plasma interaction.

Preliminary study of the CRRES magnetospheric barium releases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Huba, J. D.; Bernhardt, P. A.; Lyon, J. G.

1992-01-01

Preliminary theoretical and computational analyses of the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) magnetospheric barium releases are presented. The focus of the studies is on the evolution of the diamagnetic cavity which is formed by the barium ions as they expand outward, and on the structuring of the density and magnetic field during the expansion phase of the releases. Two sets of simulation studies are discussed. The first set is based upon a 2D ideal MHD code and provides estimates of the time and length scales associated with the formation and collapse of the diamagnetic cavity. The second set uses a nonideal MHD code; specifically, the Hall term is included. This additional term is critical to the dynamics of sub-Alfvenic plasma expansions, such as the CRRES barium releases, because it leads to instability of the expanding plasma. Detailed simulations of the G4 and G10 releases were performed. In both cases the expanding plasma rapidly structured: the G4 release structured at time t less than about 3 s and developed scale sizes of about 1-2 km, while the G10 release structured at time t less than about 22 s and developed scale sizes of about 10-15 km. It is also found that the diamagnetic cavity size is reduced from those obtained from the ideal MHD results because of the structure. On the other hand, the structuring allows the formation of plasma blobs which appear to free stream across the magnetic field; thus, the barium plasma can propagate to larger distances traverse to the magnetic field than the case where no structuring occurs. Finally, a new normal mode of the system was discovered which may be excited at the leading edge of the expanding barium plasma.

Coarse-grained incompressible magnetohydrodynamics: Analyzing the turbulent cascades

DOE PAGES

Aluie, Hussein

2017-02-21

Here, we formulate a coarse-graining approach to the dynamics of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluids at a continuum of length-scales. In this methodology, effective equations are derived for the observable velocity and magnetic fields spatially-averaged at an arbitrary scale of resolution. The microscopic equations for the bare velocity and magnetic fields are renormalized by coarse-graining to yield macroscopic effective equations that contain both a subscale stress and a subscale electromotive force (EMF) generated by nonlinear interaction of eliminated fields and plasma motions. At large coarse-graining length-scales, the direct dissipation of invariants by microscopic mechanisms (such as molecular viscosity and Spitzer resistivity) ismore » shown to be negligible. The balance at large scales is dominated instead by the subscale nonlinear terms, which can transfer invariants across scales, and are interpreted in terms of work concepts for energy and in terms of topological flux-linkage for the two helicities. An important application of this approach is to MHD turbulence, where the coarse-graining length ℓ lies in the inertial cascade range. We show that in the case of sufficiently rough velocity and/or magnetic fields, the nonlinear inter-scale transfer need not vanish and can persist to arbitrarily small scales. Although closed expressions are not available for subscale stress and subscale EMF, we derive rigorous upper bounds on the effective dissipation they produce in terms of scaling exponents of the velocity and magnetic fields. These bounds provide exact constraints on phenomenological theories of MHD turbulence in order to allow the nonlinear cascade of energy and cross-helicity. On the other hand, we show that the forward cascade of magnetic helicity to asymptotically small scales is impossible unless 3rd-order moments of either velocity or magnetic field become infinite.« less

Modelling short pulse, high intensity laser plasma interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, R. G.

2006-06-01

Modelling the interaction of ultra-intense laser pulses with solid targets is made difficult through the large range of length and time scales involved in the transport of relativistic electrons. An implicit hybrid PIC-fluid model using the commercial code LSP (LSP is marketed by MRC (Albuquerque), New Mexico, USA) reveals a variety of complex phenomena which seem to be borne out in experiments and some existing theories.

The Link Between Shocks, Turbulence, and Magnetic Reconnection in Collisionless Plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karimabadi, H.; Roytershteyn, V.; Vu, H. X.; Omelchenko, Y. A.; Scudder, J.; Daughton, W.; Dimmock, A.; Nykyri, K.; Wan, M.; Sibeck, D.;

Plasma interface of the EC waves to the LHD peripheral region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubo, S.; Igami, H.; Tsujimura, T. I.; Shimozuma, T.; Takahashi, H.; Yoshimura, Y.; Nishiura, M.; Makino, R.; Mutoh, T.

2015-12-01

In order to realize an efficient ECRH and also to reduce stray radiation due to non-absorbed power during ECRH, it is necessary to excite a wave that is absorbed well near the electron cyclotron resonance. In the normal fusion magnetic field confinement machine and in the electron cyclotron frequency range, WKB approximation is valid almost all the way from antenna to the absorption region due to the large scale-length of the plasma density λn and the magnetic shear τs as compared with the local wavelength λ0. In these situation, it is well known that the O/X mode propagates as O/X mode if τs ≫ λ0. Even in these situation, if τs and λn are comparable and |1/λO-1/λX|τs ≪ 1, there still remains the question from where "X" - or "O" - mode become "X" - or "O" mode at the peripheral region. In order to simulate this situation, one dimensional full wave calculation code which solve electromagnetic wave equation under arbitrary magnetic field configuration and arbitrary density profile for a given polarization state are developed and incorporated in the upgraded ray tracing code LHDGauss. It is tried to find the density and shear scale lengths region where the mode mixing effect is not negligible.

Particle-in-cell studies of fast-ion slowing-down rates in cool tenuous magnetized plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Evans, Eugene S.; Cohen, Samuel A.; Welch, Dale R.

2018-04-01

We report on 3D-3V particle-in-cell simulations of fast-ion energy-loss rates in a cold, weakly-magnetized, weakly-coupled plasma where the electron gyroradius, ρe, is comparable to or less than the Debye length, λDe, and the fast-ion velocity exceeds the electron thermal velocity, a regime in which the electron response may be impeded. These simulations use explicit algorithms, spatially resolve ρe and λDe, and temporally resolve the electron cyclotron and plasma frequencies. For mono-energetic dilute fast ions with isotropic velocity distributions, these scaling studies of the slowing-down time, τs, versus fast-ion charge are in agreement with unmagnetized slowing-down theory; with an applied magnetic field, no consistent anisotropy between τs in the cross-field and field-parallel directions could be resolved. Scaling the fast-ion charge is confirmed as a viable way to reduce the required computational time for each simulation. The implications of these slowing down processes are described for one magnetic-confinement fusion concept, the small, advanced-fuel, field-reversed configuration device.

Edge-core interaction of ITG turbulence in Tokamaks: Is the Tail Wagging the Dog?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ku, S.; Chang, C. S.; Dif-Pradalier, G.; Diamond, P. H.

2010-11-01

A full-f XGC1 gyrokinetic simulation of ITG turbulence, together with the neoclassical dynamics without scale separation, has been performed for the whole-volume plasma in realistic diverted DIII-D geometry. The simulation revealed that the global structure of the turbulence and transport in tokamak plasmas results from a synergy between edge-driven inward propagation of turbulence intensity and the core-driven outward heat transport. The global ion confinement and the ion temperature gradient then self-organize quickly at turbulence propagation time scale. This synergy results in inward-outward pulse scattering leading to spontaneous production of strong internal shear layers in which the turbulent transport is almost suppressed over several radial correlation lengths. Co-existence of the edge turbulence source and the strong internal shear layer leads to radially increasing turbulence intensity and ion thermal transport profiles.

Global Particle-in-Cell Simulations of Mercury's Magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schriver, D.; Travnicek, P. M.; Lapenta, G.; Amaya, J.; Gonzalez, D.; Richard, R. L.; Berchem, J.; Hellinger, P.

2017-12-01

Spacecraft observations of Mercury's magnetosphere have shown that kinetic ion and electron particle effects play a major role in the transport, acceleration, and loss of plasma within the magnetospheric system. Kinetic processes include reconnection, the breakdown of particle adiabaticity and wave-particle interactions. Because of the vast range in spatial scales involved in magnetospheric dynamics, from local electron Debye length scales ( meters) to solar wind/planetary magnetic scale lengths (tens to hundreds of planetary radii), fully self-consistent kinetic simulations of a global planetary magnetosphere remain challenging. Most global simulations of Earth's and other planet's magnetosphere are carried out using MHD, enhanced MHD (e.g., Hall MHD), hybrid, or a combination of MHD and particle in cell (PIC) simulations. Here, 3D kinetic self-consistent hybrid (ion particle, electron fluid) and full PIC (ion and electron particle) simulations of the solar wind interaction with Mercury's magnetosphere are carried out. Using the implicit PIC and hybrid simulations, Mercury's relatively small, but highly kinetic magnetosphere will be examined to determine how the self-consistent inclusion of electrons affects magnetic reconnection, particle transport and acceleration of plasma at Mercury. Also the spatial and energy profiles of precipitating magnetospheric ions and electrons onto Mercury's surface, which can strongly affect the regolith in terms of space weathering and particle outflow, will be examined with the PIC and hybrid codes. MESSENGER spacecraft observations are used both to initiate and validate the global kinetic simulations to achieve a deeper understanding of the role kinetic physics play in magnetospheric dynamics.

Coalescence of Magnetic Islands in the low resistivity Hall MHD Regime.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knoll, D. A.; Chacon, L.; Simakov, A. N.

2006-10-01

We revisit the well-known problem of the coalescence of magnetic islands in the context of Hall MHD. Unlike previous work, we focus on regimes of small resistivity (S ˜10^6) and where the ion skin depth diL (system size). These conditions are of relevance, for instance, in the solar corona and the earth's magnetotail. We aim to address under which conditions such systems can exhibit fast reconnection. First, we revisit the resistive MHD problem to further understand the well-known sloshing result. Next, the interaction between the ion inertial length, di, and the dynamically evolving current sheet scale length, (δJ), is established. Initially, diδJ. If η is such that (δJ) dynamically thins down to di prior to the well-known sloshing phenomena, then sloshing is avoided. This results in peak reconnection rates which are η-independent and scale as √di. However, if di is small enough that resistivity prevents (δJ) from thinning down to this scale prior to sloshing, then reconnection (and sloshing) proceeds as in the resistive MHD model. Finally, we discuss our development of a semi-analytical model to describe the well-known sloshing result in the resistive MHD model, and our plans to extend it to Hall MHD. D. A. Knoll, L. Chac'on, Phys. Plasmas, 13 (3), p.032307 (2006). D. A. Knoll, L. Chac'on, Phys. Rev. Lett., 96, 135001 (2006). A. Simakov, L. Chac'on, D. A. Knoll, Phys. Plasmas, accepted (2006).

Terahertz generation by beating two Langmuir waves in a warm and collisional plasma

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

Zhang, Xiao-Bo; Qiao, Xin; Cheng, Li-Hong

2015-09-15

Terahertz (THz) radiation generated by beating of two Langmuir waves in a warm and collisional plasma is discussed theoretically. The critical angle between the two Langmuir waves and the critical wave-length (wave vector) of Langmuir waves for generating THz radiation are obtained analytically. Furthermore, the maximum radiation energy is obtained. We find that the critical angle, the critical wave-length, and the generated radiation energy strongly depend on plasma temperature and wave-length of the Langmuir waves. That is, the THz radiation generated by beating of two Langmuir waves in a warm and collisional plasma can be controlled by adjusting the plasmamore » temperature and the Langmuir wave-length.« less

Contribution of photocurrent mechanism and influence of plasma length in THz generation by two-color laser induced plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alirezaee, Hajar; Sharifian, Mehdi

2018-04-01

The contribution of the photocurrent mechanism has been investigated in terahertz (THz) generation in laser-induced gas plasma. This study was done through comparing the THz amplitude for two phase differences (" separators="| φ = 0 , π / 2 ) between the fundamental pulse and its second harmonic. Our particle-in-cell simulation result showed that this mechanism played the most important role in the two-color regime with a low-frequency range. We also investigated the effect of the plasma channel length on generated THz amplitude, and it was found that THz amplitude would depend significantly on the plasma channel length.

An Overview of NSTX Research Facility and Recent Experimental Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ono, Masayuki

2006-10-01

The 2006 NSTX experimental campaign yielded significant new experimental results in many areas. Improved plasma control achieved the highest elongation of 2.9 and plasma shape factor q95Ip/aBT = 42 MA/m.T. Active feedback correction of error fields sustained the plasma rotation and increased the pulse length of high beta discharges. Active feedback stabilization of the resistive wall mode in high-beta, low-rotation plasmas was demonstrated for ˜100 resistive wall times. Operation at higher toroidal field showed favorable plasma confinement and HHFW heating efficiency trends with the field. A broader current profile, measured by the 12-channel MSE diagnostic in high beta discharges revealed an outward anomalous diffusivity of energetic ions due to the n=1 MHD modes. A tangential microwave scattering diagnostic measured localized electron gyro-scale fluctuations in L-mode, H-mode and reversed-shear plasmas. Evaporation of lithium onto plasma facing surfaces yielded lower density, higher temperature and improved confinement. A strong dependence of the divertor heat load and ELM behavior on the plasma triangularity was observed. Coaxial helicity injection produced a start-up current of 160 kA on closed flux surfaces.

Study of near SOL decay lengths in ASDEX Upgrade under attached and detached divertor conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, H. J.; Wolfrum, E.; Kurzan, B.; Eich, T.; Lackner, K.; Scarabosio, A.; Paradela Pérez, I.; Kardaun, O.; Faitsch, M.; Potzel, S.; Stroth, U.; the ASDEX Upgrade Team

2017-10-01

A database with attached, partially detached and completely detached divertors has been constructed in ASDEX Upgrade discharges in both H-mode and L-mode plasmas with Thomson Scattering data suitable for the analysis of the upstream SOL electron profiles. By comparing upstream temperature decay width, {λ }{Te,u}, with the scaling of the SOL power decay width, {λ }{q\\parallel e}, based on the downstream IR measurements, it is found that a simple relation based on classical electron conduction can relate {λ }{Te,u} and {λ }{q\\parallel e} well. The combined dataset can be described by both a single scaling and a separate scaling for H-modes and L-modes. For the single scaling, a strong inverse dependence of, {λ }{Te,u} on the separatrix temperature, {T}e,u, is found, suggesting the classical parallel Spitzer-Harm conductivity as dominant mechanism controlling the SOL width in both L-mode and H-mode over a large set of plasma parameters. This dependence on {T}e,u explains why, for the same global plasma parameters, {λ }{q\\parallel e} in L-mode is approximately twice that in H-mode and under detached conditions, the SOL upstream electron profile broadens when the density reaches a critical value. Comparing the derived scaling from experimental data with power balance, gives the cross-field thermal diffusivity as {χ }\\perp \\propto {T}e{1/2}/{n}e, consistent with earlier studies on Compass-D, JET and Alcator C-Mod. However, the possibility of the separate scalings for different regimes cannot be excluded, which gives results similar to those previously reported for the H-mode, but here the wider SOL width for L-mode plasmas is explained simply by the larger premultiplying coefficient. The relative merits of the two scalings in representing the data and their theoretical implications are discussed.

Planar Two-Plasmon-Decay Experiments at Polar-Direct-Drive Ignition-Relevant Scale Lengths at the National Ignition Facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rosenberg, M. J.; Solodov, A. A.; Seka, W.; Myatt, J. F.; Regan, S. P.; Hohenberger, M.; Epstein, R.; Collins, T. J. B.; Turnbull, D. P.; Ralph, J. E.; Barrios, M. A.; Moody, J. D.

2015-11-01

Results from the first experiments at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) to probe two-plasmon -decay (TPD) hot-electron production at scale lengths relevant to polar-direct-drive (PDD) ignition are reported. The irradiation on one side of a planar CH foil generated a plasma at the quarter-critical surface with a predicted density gradient scale length of Ln ~ 600 μm , a measured electron temperature of Te ~ 3 . 5 to 4.0 keV, an overlapped laser intensity of I ~ 6 ×1014 W/cm2, and a predicted TPD threshold parameter of η ~ 4 . The hard x-ray spectrum and the Kα emission from a buried Mo layer were measured to infer the hot-electron temperature and the fraction of total laser energy converted to TPD hot electrons. Optical emission at ω/2 correlated with the time-dependent hard x-ray signal confirms that TPD is responsible for the hot-electron generation. The effect of laser beam angle of incidence on TPD hot-electron generation was assessed, and the data show that the beam angle of incidence did not have a strong effect. These results will be used to benchmark simulations of TPD hot-electron production at conditions relevant to PDD ignition-scale implosions. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Dispersion and waves in bounded plasmas with subwavelength inhomogeneities: Genesis of MEFIB

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

Bhattacharjee, Sudeep

Bounded plasma exhibit many interesting behavior that are not found in plasmas of 'infinite' extent such as space and astrophysical plasmas. Our studies have revealed that the dispersion properties of waves in a bounded magnetoplasma deviates considerably from the predictions of the Clemmow-Mullaly-Allis (CMA) model, giving rise to new regimes of wave propagation and absorption. The anisotropy of the medium dictated by the length scales of plasma nonuniformity and magnetostatic field inhomogeneity lead to rotation of the polarization axis an effect similar to the Cotton-Mouton effect in a magneto-optic medium but with distinct differences due to wave induced resonances. Thismore » article highlights some of these interesting effects observed experimentally and corroborated with Monte Carlo simulations. One of the principal outcomes of this research is the genesis of a novel multielement focused ion beam (MEFIB) system that utilizes compact bounded plasmas in a minimum – B field to provide intense focused ion beams of a variety of elements for new research in nanoscience and technology.« less

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.

On the balance of stresses in the plasma sheet.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rich, F. J.; Wolf, R. A.; Vasyliunas, V. M.

1972-01-01

The stress resulting from magnetic tension on the neutral sheet must, in a steady state, be balanced by any one or a combination of (1) a pressure gradient in the direction along the axis of the tail, (2) a similar gradient of plasma flow kinetic energy, and (3) the tension resulting from a pressure anisotropy within the plasma sheet. Stress balance in the first two cases requires that the ratios h/LX and BZ/BX be of the same order of magnitude, where h is the half-thickness of the neutral sheet, LX is the length scale for variations along the axis of the tail, and BZ and BX are the magnetic field components in the plasma sheet just outside the neutral sheet. The second case requires, in addition, that the plasma flow speed within the neutral sheet be of the order of or larger than the Alfven speed outside the neutral sheet. Stress balance in the third case requires that just outside the neutral sheet the plasma pressure obey the marginal firehose stability condition.

Measurements of electron density and temperature profiles in plasma produced by Nike KrF laser for laser plasma instability research.

PubMed

Oh, Jaechul; Weaver, J L; Karasik, M; Chan, L Y

2015-08-01

A grid image refractometer (GIR) has been implemented at the Nike krypton fluoride laser facility of the Naval Research Laboratory. This instrument simultaneously measures propagation angles and transmissions of UV probe rays (λ = 263 nm, Δt = 10 ps) refracted through plasma. We report results of the first Nike-GIR measurement on a CH plasma produced by the Nike laser pulse (∼1 ns FWHM) with the intensity of 1.1 × 10(15) W/cm(2). The measured angles and transmissions were processed to construct spatial profiles of electron density (ne) and temperature (Te) in the underdense coronal region of the plasma. Using an inversion algorithm developed for the strongly refracted rays, the deployed GIR system probed electron densities up to 4 × 10(21) cm(-3) with the density scale length of 120 μm along the plasma symmetry axis. The resulting n(e) and T(e) profiles are verified to be self-consistent with the measured quantities of the refracted probe light.

Stable generation of GeV-class electron beams from self-guided laser-plasma channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hafz, Nasr A. M.; Jeong, Tae Moon; Choi, Il Woo; Lee, Seong Ku; Pae, Ki Hong; Kulagin, Victor V.; Sung, Jae Hee; Yu, Tae Jun; Hong, Kyung-Han; Hosokai, Tomonao; Cary, John R.; Ko, Do-Kyeong; Lee, Jongmin

2008-09-01

Table-top laser-driven plasma accelerators are gaining attention for their potential use in miniaturizing future high-energy accelerators. By irradiating gas jet targets with ultrashort intense laser pulses, the generation of quasimonoenergetic electron beams was recently observed. Currently, the stability of beam generation and the ability to scale to higher electron beam energies are critical issues for practical laser acceleration. Here, we demonstrate the first generation of stable GeV-class electron beams from stable few-millimetre-long plasma channels in a self-guided wakefield acceleration process. As primary evidence of the laser wakefield acceleration in a bubble regime, we observed a boost of both the electron beam energy and quality by reducing the plasma density and increasing the plasma length in a 1-cm-long gas jet. Subsequent three-dimensional simulations show the possibility of achieving even higher electron beam energies by minimizing plasma bubble elongation, and we anticipate dramatic increases in beam energy and quality in the near future. This will pave the way towards ultracompact, all-optical electron beam accelerators and their applications in science, technology and medicine.

Effect of double layers on magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lysak, Robert L.; Hudson, Mary K.

1987-01-01

The dynamic aspects of auroral current structures are reviewed with emphasis on consequences for models of microscopic turbulence (MT). A number of models of MT are introduced into a large-scale model of Alfven wave propagation to determine the effect of various models on the overall structure of auroral currents. The effect of a double layer (DL) electric field which scales with the plasma temperature and the Debye length is compared with the effect of anomalous resistivity due to electrostatic ion cyclotron turbulence in which the electric field scales with the magnetic field strength. It is shown that the DL model is less diffusive than the resistive model, indicating the possibility of narrow intense current structures.

Efficient pre-ionization by direct X-B mode conversion in VEST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jo, JongGab; Lee, H. Y.; Kim, S. C.; Kim, S. H.; An, Y. H.; Hwang, Y. S.

2017-01-01

Pre-ionization experiments with pure toroidal field have been carried out in VEST (Versatile Experiment Spherical Torus) to investigate the feasibility of direct XB mode conversion from perpendicular LFS (Low Field Side) injection for efficient pre-ionization. Pre-ionization plasmas are studied by measuring the electron density and temperature profiles with respect to microwave power and toroidal field strength, and 2D full wave cold plasma simulation using the COMSOL Multiphysics is performed for the comparison. It is experimentally figured out that exceeding the threshold microwave power (>3 kW), the parametric decay and localized collisional heating is observed near the UHR (Upper Hybrid Resonance), and the efficient XB mode conversion can be achieved in both short density scale length (Ln) and magnetic scale length (LB) region positioned at outboard and inboard sides, respectively. From the 2D full wave simulations, the reflection and tunneling of X-wave near the R-cutoff layer according to the measured electron density profiles are analyzed with electric field polarization and power flow. Threshold electric field and wave power density for parametric decay are evaluated at least more than 4.8 × 104 V/m and 100 W/cm2, respectively. This study shows that efficient pre-ionization schemes using direct XB mode conversion can be realized by considering the key factors such as Ln, LB, and transmitted wave power at the UHR. Application to Ohmic start-up experiment is carried out to confirm the effect of the pre-ionization schemes on tokamak plasma start-up in VEST.

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

Fisher, Dustin M., E-mail: dustin.m.fisher.gr@dartmouth.edu; Rogers, Barrett N., E-mail: barrett.rogers@dartmouth.edu; Rossi, Giovanni D.

The Large Plasma Device (LAPD) is modeled using the 3D Global Braginskii Solver code. Comparisons to experimental measurements are made in the low-bias regime in which there is an intrinsic E × B rotation of the plasma. In the simulations, this rotation is caused primarily by sheath effects and may be a likely mechanism for the intrinsic rotation seen in LAPD. Simulations show strong qualitative agreement with the data, particularly the radial dependence of the density fluctuations, cross-correlation lengths, radial flux dependence outside of the cathode edge, and camera imagery. Kelvin Helmholtz (KH) turbulence at relatively large scales is the dominant drivermore » of cross-field transport in these simulations with smaller-scale drift waves and sheath modes playing a secondary role. Plasma holes and blobs arising from KH vortices in the simulations are consistent with the scale sizes and overall appearance of those in LAPD camera images. The addition of ion-neutral collisions in the simulations at previously theorized values reduces the radial particle flux by about a factor of two, from values that are somewhat larger than the experimentally measured flux to values that are somewhat lower than the measurements. This reduction is due to a modest stabilizing contribution of the collisions on the KH-modes driving the turbulent transport.« less

PIC Simulations of Hypersonic Plasma Instabilities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niehoff, D.; Ashour-Abdalla, M.; Niemann, C.; Decyk, V.; Schriver, D.; Clark, E.

2013-12-01

The plasma sheaths formed around hypersonic aircraft (Mach number, M > 10) are relatively unexplored and of interest today to both further the development of new technologies and solve long-standing engineering problems. Both laboratory experiments and analytical/numerical modeling are required to advance the understanding of these systems; it is advantageous to perform these tasks in tandem. There has already been some work done to study these plasmas by experiments that create a rapidly expanding plasma through ablation of a target with a laser. In combination with a preformed magnetic field, this configuration leads to a magnetic "bubble" formed behind the front as particles travel at about Mach 30 away from the target. Furthermore, the experiment was able to show the generation of fast electrons which could be due to instabilities on electron scales. To explore this, future experiments will have more accurate diagnostics capable of observing time- and length-scales below typical ion scales, but simulations are a useful tool to explore these plasma conditions theoretically. Particle in Cell (PIC) simulations are necessary when phenomena are expected to be observed at these scales, and also have the advantage of being fully kinetic with no fluid approximations. However, if the scales of the problem are not significantly below the ion scales, then the initialization of the PIC simulation must be very carefully engineered to avoid unnecessary computation and to select the minimum window where structures of interest can be studied. One method of doing this is to seed the simulation with either experiment or ion-scale simulation results. Previous experiments suggest that a useful configuration for studying hypersonic plasma configurations is a ring of particles rapidly expanding transverse to an external magnetic field, which has been simulated on the ion scale with an ion-hybrid code. This suggests that the PIC simulation should have an equivalent configuration; however, modeling a plasma expanding radially in every direction is computationally expensive. In order to reduce the computational expense, we use a radial density profile from the hybrid simulation results to seed a self-consistent PIC simulation in one direction (x), while creating a current in the direction (y) transverse to both the drift velocity and the magnetic field (z) to create the magnetic bubble observed in experiment. The simulation will be run in two spatial dimensions but retain three velocity dimensions, and the results will be used to explore the growth of micro-instabilities present in hypersonic plasmas in the high-density region as it moves through the simulation box. This will still require a significantly large box in order to compare with experiment, as the experiments are being performed over distances of 104 λDe and durations of 105 ωpe-1.

Flowing Plasma Interaction with an Electric Sail Tether Element

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schneider, Todd; Vaughn, Jason; Wright, Kenneth; Andersen, Allen; Stone, Nobie

2017-01-01

Electric sails are a relatively new concept for providing high speed propellant-less propulsion. Employing multiple tethers biased to high positive voltage levels (kV), electric sails are designed to gain momentum from the solar wind by repelling solar wind protons. To maximize the area of the sail that interacts with the solar wind, electric sails rely on the formation of a large plasma sheath around each small diameter tether. Motivated by interest in advancing the development of electric sails, a set of laboratory tests has been conducted to study the interaction of a drifting plasma with a sheath formed around a small diameter tether element biased at positive voltages. The laboratory test setup was created with Debye length scaling in mind to offer a path to extrapolate (via modeling) to full scale electric sail missions. Using an instrument known as a Differential Ion Flux Probe (DIFP) the interaction between a positively biased tether element and a drifting plasma has been measured for several scenarios. Clear evidence of the tether element sheath deflecting ions has been obtained. Maps of the flow angle downstream from the tether element have been made and they show the influence of the plasma sheath. Finally, electron current collection measurements have been made for a wide range of plasma conditions and tether element bias voltages. The electron collection data will have an impact on electric sail power requirements, as high voltage power supplies and electron guns will have to be sized to accommodate the electron currents collected by each tether.

Effective Coulomb force modeling for spacecraft in Earth orbit plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seubert, Carl R.; Stiles, Laura A.; Schaub, Hanspeter

2014-07-01

Coulomb formation flight is a concept that utilizes electrostatic forces to control the separations of close proximity spacecraft. The Coulomb force between charged bodies is a product of their size, separation, potential and interaction with the local plasma environment. A fast and accurate analytic method of capturing the interaction of a charged body in a plasma is shown. The Debye-Hückel analytic model of the electrostatic field about a charged sphere in a plasma is expanded to analytically compute the forces. This model is fitted to numerical simulations with representative geosynchronous and low Earth orbit (GEO and LEO) plasma environments using an effective Debye length. This effective Debye length, which more accurately captures the charge partial shielding, can be up to 7 times larger at GEO, and as great as 100 times larger at LEO. The force between a sphere and point charge is accurately captured with the effective Debye length, as opposed to the electron Debye length solutions that have errors exceeding 50%. One notable finding is that the effective Debye lengths in LEO plasmas about a charged body are increased from centimeters to meters. This is a promising outcome, as the reduced shielding at increased potentials provides sufficient force levels for operating the electrostatically inflated membrane structures concept at these dense plasma altitudes.

A Model for Dissipation of Solar Wind Magnetic Turbulence by Kinetic Alfvén Waves at Electron Scales: Comparison with Observations

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

Schreiner, Anne; Saur, Joachim, E-mail: schreiner@geo.uni-koeln.de

In hydrodynamic turbulence, it is well established that the length of the dissipation scale depends on the energy cascade rate, i.e., the larger the energy input rate per unit mass, the more the turbulent fluctuations need to be driven to increasingly smaller scales to dissipate the larger energy flux. Observations of magnetic spectral energy densities indicate that this intuitive picture is not valid in solar wind turbulence. Dissipation seems to set in at the same length scale for different solar wind conditions independently of the energy flux. To investigate this difference in more detail, we present an analytic dissipation modelmore » for solar wind turbulence at electron scales, which we compare with observed spectral densities. Our model combines the energy transport from large to small scales and collisionless damping, which removes energy from the magnetic fluctuations in the kinetic regime. We assume wave–particle interactions of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) to be the main damping process. Wave frequencies and damping rates of KAWs are obtained from the hot plasma dispersion relation. Our model assumes a critically balanced turbulence, where larger energy cascade rates excite larger parallel wavenumbers for a certain perpendicular wavenumber. If the dissipation is additionally wave driven such that the dissipation rate is proportional to the parallel wavenumber—as with KAWs—then an increase of the energy cascade rate is counterbalanced by an increased dissipation rate for the same perpendicular wavenumber, leading to a dissipation length independent of the energy cascade rate.« less

A Model for Dissipation of Solar Wind Magnetic Turbulence by Kinetic Alfvén Waves at Electron Scales: Comparison with Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schreiner, Anne; Saur, Joachim

2017-02-01

In hydrodynamic turbulence, it is well established that the length of the dissipation scale depends on the energy cascade rate, I.e., the larger the energy input rate per unit mass, the more the turbulent fluctuations need to be driven to increasingly smaller scales to dissipate the larger energy flux. Observations of magnetic spectral energy densities indicate that this intuitive picture is not valid in solar wind turbulence. Dissipation seems to set in at the same length scale for different solar wind conditions independently of the energy flux. To investigate this difference in more detail, we present an analytic dissipation model for solar wind turbulence at electron scales, which we compare with observed spectral densities. Our model combines the energy transport from large to small scales and collisionless damping, which removes energy from the magnetic fluctuations in the kinetic regime. We assume wave-particle interactions of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) to be the main damping process. Wave frequencies and damping rates of KAWs are obtained from the hot plasma dispersion relation. Our model assumes a critically balanced turbulence, where larger energy cascade rates excite larger parallel wavenumbers for a certain perpendicular wavenumber. If the dissipation is additionally wave driven such that the dissipation rate is proportional to the parallel wavenumber—as with KAWs—then an increase of the energy cascade rate is counterbalanced by an increased dissipation rate for the same perpendicular wavenumber, leading to a dissipation length independent of the energy cascade rate.

Plasma interaction with emmissive surface with Debye-scale grooves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schweigert, Irina; Burton, Thomas S.; Thompson, Gregory B.; Langendorf, Samuel; Walker, Mitchell L. R.; Keidar, Michael

2018-04-01

The sheath development over emissive grooved surface in dc discharge plasma controlled by an electron beam is studied in the experiment and in 2D kinetic simulations. Grooved hexagonal boron nitride surfaces with different aspect ratios, designed to mimic the erosion channels, were exposed to an argon plasma. The characteristic size of the grooves (1 mm and 5 mm) is about of the Debye length. The secondary electrons emission from the grooved surfaces is provided by the bombardment with energetic electrons originated from the heated powered cathode. The transition between a developed and a collapsed sheaths near emissive surface takes place with an increase of the beam electron energy. For grooved emissive surfaces, the sheath transition happens at essentially higher voltage compared to the planar one. This phenomenon is analyzed in the terms of the electron energy distribution function.

Giant Plasma Membrane Vesicles: An Experimental Tool for Probing the Effects of Drugs and Other Conditions on Membrane Domain Stability.

PubMed

Gerstle, Zoe; Desai, Rohan; Veatch, Sarah L

2018-01-01

Giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs) are isolated directly from living cells and provide an alternative to vesicles constructed of synthetic or purified lipids as an experimental model system for use in a wide range of assays. GPMVs capture much of the compositional protein and lipid complexity of intact cell plasma membranes, are filled with cytoplasm, and are free from contamination with membranes from internal organelles. GPMVs often exhibit a miscibility transition below the growth temperature of their parent cells. GPMVs labeled with a fluorescent protein or lipid analog appear uniform on the micron-scale when imaged above the miscibility transition temperature, and separate into coexisting liquid domains with differing membrane compositions and physical properties below this temperature. The presence of this miscibility transition in isolated GPMVs suggests that a similar phase-like heterogeneity occurs in intact plasma membranes under growth conditions, albeit on smaller length scales. In this context, GPMVs provide a simple and controlled experimental system to explore how drugs and other environmental conditions alter the composition and stability of phase-like domains in intact cell membranes. This chapter describes methods to generate and isolate GPMVs from adherent mammalian cells and to interrogate their miscibility transition temperatures using fluorescence microscopy. © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Kinetic description of cyclotron-range oscillations of a non-neutral plasma column

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neu, S. C.; Morales, G. J.

1998-04-01

The kinetic analysis introduced by Prasad, Morales, and Fried [Prasad et al., Phys. Fluids 30, 3093 (1987)] is used to derive damping conditions and a differential equation for azimuthally propagating waves in a non-neutral plasma column in the limits rl/L≪1 and krl≪1 (where rl is the Larmor radius, k is the wave number, and L is the density scale length). The predictions of the kinetic analysis are verified using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation of Bernstein modes in a thermal rigid-rotor equilibrium. Differences between modes in a strongly magnetized limit and near the Brillouin limit are studied in the simulation.

A new class of exact solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation of a charged particle interacting with an electromagnetic plane wave in a medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varró, Sándor

2014-01-01

Exact solutions are presented of the Klein-Gordon equation of a charged particle moving in a transverse monochromatic plasmon wave of arbitrary high amplitude, which propagates in an underdense plasma. These solutions are expressed in terms of Ince polynomials, forming a doubly infinite set, parametrized by discrete momentum components of the charged particle’s de Broglie wave along the polarization vector and along the propagation direction of the plasmon radiation. The envelope of the exact wavefunctions describes a high-contrast periodic structure of the particle density on the plasma length scale, which may have relevance in novel particle acceleration mechanisms.

Hydrodynamic simulations of long-scale-length plasmas for two-plasmon-decay planar-target experiments on the NIF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solodov, A. A.; Rosenberg, M. J.; Myatt, J. F.; Epstein, R.; Regan, S. P.; Seka, W.; Shaw, J.; Hohenberger, M.; Bates, J. W.; Moody, J. D.; Ralph, J. E.; Turnbull, D. P.; Barrios, M. A.

2016-05-01

The two-plasmon-decay (TPD) instability can be detrimental for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion because it generates high-energy electrons that can preheat the target, thereby reducing target performance. Hydrodynamic simulations to design a new experimental platform to investigate TPD and other laser-plasma instabilities relevant to direct-drive-ignition implosions at the National Ignition Facility are presented. The proposed experiments utilize planar plastic targets with an embedded Mo layer to characterize generation of hot electrons through Mo Kα fluorescence and hard x-ray emission. Different laser-irradiation geometries approximate conditions near both the equator and the pole of a polar-direct-drive implosion.

Experimental Study of RF Sheaths due to Shear Alfvén Waves in the LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Michael; Gekelman, Walter; van Compernolle, Bart; Pribyl, Patrick; Carter, Troy

2014-10-01

Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) is an important tool in current fusion heating experiments and will be an essential part of heating power in ITER. Radio frequency (RF) sheaths in the near-field (at the antenna) and in the far-field (e.g. the divertor region) form during ICRH and may cause deleterious effects, such as destruction of wall materials and plasma impurity generation. In this study a shear Alfvén wave is launched from an antenna in the LAPD bulk plasma (ne ~ 1012 cm-3, Te ~ 5 eV, B0 = 1.8 kG, diameter = 60 cm, length = 18 m) and forms an RF sheath on a limiter plate. Plasma potential rectification is observed with an emissive probe in the bulk plasma only on field lines connected to the limiter. The largest enhancement occurs inside the current channel of the Alfvén wave. Plasma potential measurements at various axial distances from the limiter show the rectification decreases with distance. 2-D maps of plasma potential as well as E = - ∇Φ will be presented. The scaling of sheath potential with wave power and plasma parameters will also be shown.

Numerical investigation of the electric field distribution and the power deposition in the resonant cavity of a microwave electrothermal thruster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yildiz, Mehmet Serhan; Celik, Murat

2017-04-01

Microwave electrothermal thruster (MET), an in-space propulsion concept, uses an electromagnetic resonant cavity as a heating chamber. In a MET system, electromagnetic energy is converted to thermal energy via a free floating plasma inside a resonant cavity. To optimize the power deposition inside the cavity, the factors that affect the electric field distribution and the resonance conditions must be accounted for. For MET thrusters, the length of the cavity, the dielectric plate that separates the plasma zone from the antenna, the antenna length and the formation of a free floating plasma have direct effects on the electromagnetic wave transmission and thus the power deposition. MET systems can be tuned by adjusting the lengths of the cavity or the antenna. This study presents the results of a 2-D axis symmetric model for the investigation of the effects of cavity length, antenna length, separation plate thickness, as well as the presence of free floating plasma on the power absorption. Specifically, electric field distribution inside the resonant cavity is calculated for a prototype MET system developed at the Bogazici University Space Technologies Laboratory. Simulations are conducted for a cavity fed with a constant power input of 1 kW at 2.45 GHz using COMSOL Multiphysics commercial software. Calculations are performed for maximum plasma electron densities ranging from 1019 to 1021 #/m3. It is determined that the optimum antenna length changes with changing plasma density. The calculations show that over 95% of the delivered power can be deposited to the plasma when the system is tuned by adjusting the cavity length.

A plasma generator utilizing the high intensity ASTROMAG magnets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sullivan, James D.; Post, R. S.; Lane, B. G.; Tarrh, J. M.

1986-01-01

The magnet configuration for the proposed particle astrophysics magnet facility (ASTROMAG) on the space station includes a cusp magnetic field with an intensity of a few tesla. With these large magnets (or others) located in the outer ionosphere, many quite interesting and unique plasma physics experiments become possible. First there are studies utilizing the magnet alone to examine the supersonic, sub-Alfvenic interaction with the ambient medium; the scale length for the magnet perturbation is approx. 20 m. The magnetic field geometry when combined with the Earth's and their relative motion will give rise to a host of plasma phenomena: ring nulls, x-points, ion-acoustic and lower-hybrid shocks, electron heating (possible shuttle glow without a surface) launching of Alfvenwaves, etc. Second, active experiments are possible for a controlled study of fundamental plasma phenomena. A controlled variable species plasma can be made by using an RF ion source; use of two soft iron rings placed about the line cusp would give an adequate resonance zone (ECH or ICH) and a confining volume suitable for gas efficiency. The emanating plasma can be used to study free expansion of plasma along and across field lines (polar wind), plasma flows around the space platform, turbulent mixing in the wake region, long wavelength spectrum of convecting modes, plasma-dust interactions, etc.

Electron Scale Turbulence and Transport in an NSTX H-mode Plasma Using a Synthetic Diagnostic for High-k Scattering Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz Ruiz, Juan; Guttenfelder, Walter; Loureiro, Nuno; Ren, Yang; White, Anne; MIT/PPPL Collaboration

2017-10-01

Turbulent fluctuations on the electron gyro-radius length scale are thought to cause anomalous transport of electron energy in spherical tokamaks such as NSTX and MAST in some parametric regimes. In NSTX, electron-scale turbulence is studied through a combination of experimental measurements from a high-k scattering system and gyrokinetic simulations. Until now most comparisons between experiment and simulation of electron scale turbulence have been qualitative, with recent work expanding to more quantitative comparisons via synthetic diagnostic development. In this new work, we propose two alternate, complementary ways to perform a synthetic diagnostic using the gyrokinetic code GYRO. The first approach builds on previous work and is based on the traditional selection of wavenumbers using a wavenumber filter, for which a new wavenumber mapping was implemented for general axisymmetric geometry. A second alternate approach selects wavenumbers in real-space to compute the power spectra. These approaches are complementary, and recent results from both synthetic diagnostic approaches applied to NSTX plasmas will be presented. Work supported by U.S. DOE contracts DE-AC02-09CH11466 and DE-AC02-05CH11231.

Advanced Accelerators: Particle, Photon and Plasma Wave Interactions

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

Williams, Ronald L.

2017-06-29

The overall objective of this project was to study the acceleration of electrons to very high energies over very short distances based on trapping slowly moving electrons in the fast moving potential wells of large amplitude plasma waves, which have relativistic phase velocities. These relativistic plasma waves, or wakefields, are the basis of table-top accelerators that have been shown to accelerate electrons to the same high energies as kilometer-length linear particle colliders operating using traditional decades-old acceleration techniques. The accelerating electrostatic fields of the relativistic plasma wave accelerators can be as large as GigaVolts/meter, and our goal was to studymore » techniques for remotely measuring these large fields by injecting low energy probe electron beams across the plasma wave and measuring the beam’s deflection. Our method of study was via computer simulations, and these results suggested that the deflection of the probe electron beam was directly proportional to the amplitude of the plasma wave. This is the basis of a proposed diagnostic technique, and numerous studies were performed to determine the effects of changing the electron beam, plasma wave and laser beam parameters. Further simulation studies included copropagating laser beams with the relativistic plasma waves. New interesting results came out of these studies including the prediction that very small scale electron beam bunching occurs, and an anomalous line focusing of the electron beam occurs under certain conditions. These studies were summarized in the dissertation of a graduate student who obtained the Ph.D. in physics. This past research program has motivated ideas for further research to corroborate these results using particle-in-cell simulation tools which will help design a test-of-concept experiment in our laboratory and a scaled up version for testing at a major wakefield accelerator facility.« less

ROY—A multiscale magnetospheric mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savin, S.; Zelenyi, L.; Amata, E.; Budaev, V.; Buechner, J.; Blecki, J.; Balikhin, M.; Klimov, S.; Korepanov, V. E.; Kozak, L.; Kudryashov, V.; Kunitsyn, V.; Lezhen, L.; Milovanov, A. V.; Nemecek, Z.; Nesterov, I.; Novikov, D.; Panov, E.; Rauch, J. L.; Rothkaehl, H.; Romanov, S.; Safrankova, J.; Skalsky, A.; Veselov, M.

2011-05-01

The scientific rationale of the ROY multi-satellite mission addresses multiscale investigations of plasma processes in the key magnetospheric regions with strong plasma gradients, turbulence and magnetic field annihilation in the range from electron inertial length to MHD scales. The main scientific aims of ROY mission include explorations of: turbulence on a non-uniform background as a keystone for transport processes; structures and jets in plasma flows associated with anomalously large concentration of kinetic energy; their impact on the energy balance and boundary formation; transport barriers: plasma separation and mixing, Alfvenic collapse of magnetic field lines and turbulent dissipation of kinetic energy; self-organized versus forced reconnection of magnetic field lines; collisionless shocks, plasma discontinuities and associated particle acceleration processes. In the case of autonomous operation, 4 mobile spacecrafts of about 200 kg mass with 60 kg payload equipped with electro-reactive plasma engines will provide 3D measurements at the scales of 100-10000 km and simultaneous 1D measurements at the scales 10-1000 km. The latter smaller scales will be scanned with the use of radio-tomography (phase-shift density measurements within the cone composed of 1 emitting and 3 receiving spacecrafts). We also discuss different opportunities for extra measurement points inside the ROY mission for simultaneous measurements at up to 3 scales for the common international fleet. Combined influence of intermittent turbulence and reconnection on the geomagnetic tail and on the nonlinear dynamics of boundary layers will be explored in situ with fast techniques including particle devices under development, providing plasma moments down to 30 ms resolution. We propose different options for joint measurements in conjunction with the SCOPE and other missions: simultaneous sampling of low- and high-latitudes magnetopause, bow shock and geomagnetic tail at the same local time; tracing of magnetosheath streamlines from the bow shock to near-Earth geomagnetic tail; passing "through" the SCOPE on the inbound orbit leg; common measurements (with SCOPE and other equatorial spacecraft) at distances of ˜ few thousand km for durations of ˜several hours per orbit. The orbit options and scientific payload of possible common interest are discussed in this work, including FREGAT cargo opportunities for extra payload launching and the "Swarm" campaigns with ejection of nano- and pico-satellites.

Experimental determination of plasma detachment from the diverging magnetic nozzle of the VASIMR VX-200 Electric Thruster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, Christopher; Squire, Jared; Longmier, Benjamin; Ballenger, Maxwell; Cassady, Leonard; Carter, Mark; Ilin, Andrew; Cloutier, Paul; Bering, Edgar; Giambusso, Matthew; Ad Astra Rocket Company Team; Rice University Collaboration; University of Houston Collaboration

2011-10-01

Theories of magnetized plasma detachment in an expanding magnetic field have been lacking detailed experimental evidence. Recent experiments using a 200 kW class electric rocket (VX-200), run at 100 kW using argon and a peak magnetic field of 2 T, produced ion energies greater than 100 eV with a flux of 2x1022 ions/s in a 150 m3 vacuum facility. Ion-neutral charge exchange effects were reduced and the resultant data show evidence of plasma detachment in a diverging magnetic field on a scale length of 2 m. The detachment is confirmed using multiple plasma diagnostics and magnetic nozzle topologies. Spatial maps of the data are compared to simulations from a particle detachment model, ParTraj, as well as MHD detachment theory. ParTraj, when compared to experiment, is shown to be more consistent in describing the data. Unless the MHD models are modified to incorporation two-fluid effects, single fluid MHD theory is inconsistent with the observations.

Axisymmetric plasma equilibria in a Kerr metric

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elsässer, Klaus

2001-10-01

Plasma equilibria near a rotating black hole are considered within the multifluid description. An isothermal two-component plasma with electrons and positrons or ions is determined by four structure functions and the boundary conditions. These structure functions are the Bernoulli function and the toroidal canonical momentum per mass for each species. The quasi-neutrality assumption (no charge density, no toroidal current) allows to solve Maxwell's equations analytically for any axisymmetric stationary metric, and to reduce the fluid equations to one single scalar equation for the stream function \\chi of the positrons or ions, respectively. The basic smallness parameter is the ratio of the skin depth of electrons to the scale length of the metric and fluid quantities, and, in the case of an electron-ion plasma, the mass ratio m_e/m_i. The \\chi-equation can be solved by standard methods, and simple solutions for a Kerr geometry are available; they show characteristic flow patterns, depending on the structure functions and the boundary conditions.

Efficient acceleration of neutral atoms in laser produced plasma

DOE PAGES

Dalui, M.; Trivikram, T. M.; Colgan, James Patrick; ...

2017-06-20

Recent advances in high-intensity laser-produced plasmas have demonstrated their potential as compact charge particle accelerators. Unlike conventional accelerators, transient quasi-static charge separation acceleration fields in laser produced plasmas are highly localized and orders of magnitude larger. Manipulating these ion accelerators, to convert the fast ions to neutral atoms with little change in momentum, transform these to a bright source of MeV atoms. The emittance of the neutral atom beam would be similar to that expected for an ion beam. Since intense laser-produced plasmas have been demonstrated to produce high-brightness-low-emittance beams, it is possible to envisage generation of high-flux, low-emittance, highmore » energy neutral atom beams in length scales of less than a millimeter. Here, we show a scheme where more than 80% of the fast ions are reduced to energetic neutral atoms and demonstrate the feasibility of a high energy neutral atom accelerator that could significantly impact applications in neutral atom lithography and diagnostics.« less

Studies of an extractor geometry magnetically insulated ion diode with an exploding metal film anode plasma

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

Rondeau, G.D.

1989-01-01

Magnetically insulated diodes (MIDs) are of interest as ion sources for inertial confinement fusion. The authors examined several issues that are of concern with MIDs, including ion turn-on delay and anode plasma production, and diode impedance history and particle current scaling with the applied magnetic field and gas spacing. The LION pulsed power generator (1.5 MV, 4 {Omega}, 40 ns pulse length) was used to power an extractor geometry magnetically insulated (radical magnetic field) ion beam diode. The diode was studied with three anode configurations. In the first, with epoxy-filled-groove (epoxy) anodes, scaling of the ion and electron currents withmore » the gap and the magnetic field was examined. He found that the observed ion current is consistent with a diode model that has been successful with barrel geometry MIDs. The electron leakage current scaled proportionally to 1/Bd{sup 2}, where d is the anode-cathode gap spacing and B is the magnetic field strength. Studies of ion beam propagation in vacuum showed that space charge non-neutrality near the magnetic field coils caused the beam to expand initially. Later in the ion pulse (20 to 30 ns), the beam expansion became much less severe. The second anode configuration utilized an electron collector protruding above an epoxy anode surface. With the collector, he observed less bremsstrahlung across the active anode region. The last anode configuration studied was the exploding metal film active anode plasma source (EMFAAPS). Current from the accelerator was directed by an electron collector or a plasma opening switch through a thin aluminum film, which exploded to form the anode plasma.« less

The Dynamics of Very High Alfvén Mach Number Shocks in Space Plasmas

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

Sundberg, Torbjörn; Burgess, David; Scholer, Manfred

2017-02-10

Astrophysical shocks, such as planetary bow shocks or supernova remnant shocks, are often in the high or very-high Mach number regime, and the structure of such shocks is crucial for understanding particle acceleration and plasma heating, as well inherently interesting. Recent magnetic field observations at Saturn’s bow shock, for Alfvén Mach numbers greater than about 25, have provided evidence for periodic non-stationarity, although the details of the ion- and electron-scale processes remain unclear due to limited plasma data. High-resolution, multi-spacecraft data are available for the terrestrial bow shock, but here the very high Mach number regime is only attained onmore » extremely rare occasions. Here we present magnetic field and particle data from three such quasi-perpendicular shock crossings observed by the four-spacecraft Cluster mission. Although both ion reflection and the shock profile are modulated at the upstream ion gyroperiod timescale, the dominant wave growth in the foot takes place at sub-proton length scales and is consistent with being driven by the ion Weibel instability. The observed large-scale behavior depends strongly on cross-scale coupling between ion and electron processes, with ion reflection never fully suppressed, and this suggests a model of the shock dynamics that is in conflict with previous models of non-stationarity. Thus, the observations offer insight into the conditions prevalent in many inaccessible astrophysical environments, and provide important constraints for acceleration processes at such shocks.« less

The Dynamics of Very High Alfvén Mach Number Shocks in Space Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sundberg, Torbjörn; Burgess, David; Scholer, Manfred; Masters, Adam; Sulaiman, Ali H.

2017-02-01

Astrophysical shocks, such as planetary bow shocks or supernova remnant shocks, are often in the high or very-high Mach number regime, and the structure of such shocks is crucial for understanding particle acceleration and plasma heating, as well inherently interesting. Recent magnetic field observations at Saturn’s bow shock, for Alfvén Mach numbers greater than about 25, have provided evidence for periodic non-stationarity, although the details of the ion- and electron-scale processes remain unclear due to limited plasma data. High-resolution, multi-spacecraft data are available for the terrestrial bow shock, but here the very high Mach number regime is only attained on extremely rare occasions. Here we present magnetic field and particle data from three such quasi-perpendicular shock crossings observed by the four-spacecraft Cluster mission. Although both ion reflection and the shock profile are modulated at the upstream ion gyroperiod timescale, the dominant wave growth in the foot takes place at sub-proton length scales and is consistent with being driven by the ion Weibel instability. The observed large-scale behavior depends strongly on cross-scale coupling between ion and electron processes, with ion reflection never fully suppressed, and this suggests a model of the shock dynamics that is in conflict with previous models of non-stationarity. Thus, the observations offer insight into the conditions prevalent in many inaccessible astrophysical environments, and provide important constraints for acceleration processes at such shocks.

High-quality electron beams from beam-driven plasma accelerators by wakefield-induced ionization injection.

PubMed

Martinez de la Ossa, A; Grebenyuk, J; Mehrling, T; Schaper, L; Osterhoff, J

2013-12-13

We propose a new and simple strategy for controlled ionization-induced trapping of electrons in a beam-driven plasma accelerator. The presented method directly exploits electric wakefields to ionize electrons from a dopant gas and capture them into a well-defined volume of the accelerating and focusing wake phase, leading to high-quality witness bunches. This injection principle is explained by example of three-dimensional particle-in-cell calculations using the code OSIRIS. In these simulations a high-current-density electron-beam driver excites plasma waves in the blowout regime inside a fully ionized hydrogen plasma of density 5×10(17)cm-3. Within an embedded 100  μm long plasma column contaminated with neutral helium gas, the wakefields trigger ionization, trapping of a defined fraction of the released electrons, and subsequent acceleration. The hereby generated electron beam features a 1.5 kA peak current, 1.5  μm transverse normalized emittance, an uncorrelated energy spread of 0.3% on a GeV-energy scale, and few femtosecond bunch length.

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.

Application of Plasma Technology in the Life Sciences

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Short, Robert

2002-10-01

This paper explores the versatility of plasma polymerization in the fabrication of surfaces for use in the Life Sciences and Tissue Engineering, highlighting three successful applications of plasma polymerized surfaces. 1. Plasma polymerized acrylic acid surfaces have been used as substrates for the culture and delivery of keratinocytes (skin cells) to chronic wounds. In proof of concept studies weekly delivery of keratinocytes have promoted healing in previously non-healing wounds. These include diabetic foot ulcers and wounds where skin grafts would normally be considered, but were contra-indicated. 2. Surface chemical patterning on the micrometer scale- length, by use of pre-fabricated masks, has been used to control the spatial binding of proteins and cells. This technology makes possible a significant reduction in size of biological assays, reducing the amount of material (e.g. antibody) or cells required. 3. Surface chemical potential gradients, from a few tens of micrometers to a few centrimeters, have been fabricated by "plasma writing", a technique currently being developed in Sheffield. These gradients are being developed to separate mixtures of biomolecules or cells.

Plasma influence on the dispersion properties of finite-length, corrugated waveguides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shkvarunets, A.; Kobayashi, S.; Weaver, J.; Carmel, Y.; Rodgers, J.; Antonsen, T. M., Jr.; Granatstein, V. L.; Destler, W. W.; Ogura, K.; Minami, K.

1996-03-01

We present an experimental study of the electromagnetic properties of transverse magnetic modes in a corrugated-wall cavity filled with a radially inhomogeneous plasma. The shifts of the resonant frequencies of a finite-length, corrugated cavity were measured as a function of the background plasma density and the dispersion diagram was reconstructed up to a peak plasma density of 1012 cm-3. Good agreement with a calculated dispersion diagram is obtained for plasma densities below 5×1011 cm-3.

The Development of Drift Wave Turbulence in Magnetic Reconnection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMurtrie, L.; Drake, J. F.; Swisdak, M. M.

2013-12-01

An important feature in collisionless magnetic reconnection is the development of sharp discontinuities along the separatrices bounding the Alfvenic outflow. The typical scale length of these features is ρs (the Larmor radius based on the sound speed) for guide field reconnection. Temperature gradients in the inflowing plasma (as might be found in the magnetopause) can lead to instabilities at these separatrices, specifically drift wave turbulence. We present standalone 2D and 3D PIC simulations of drift wave turbulence to investigate scaling properties and growth rates. Further investigations of the relative importance of drift wave turbulence in the development of reconnection will also be considered.

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

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coda, Stefano

1997-10-01

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

Broadband near-field infrared spectroscopy with a high temperature plasma light source.

PubMed

Lahneman, D J; Huffman, T J; Xu, Peng; Wang, S L; Grogan, T; Qazilbash, M M

2017-08-21

Scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (S-SNOM) has enormous potential as a spectroscopy tool in the infrared spectral range where it can probe phonon resonances and carrier dynamics at the nanometer lengths scales. However, its applicability is limited by the lack of practical and affordable table-top light sources emitting intense broadband infrared radiation in the 100 cm -1 to 2,500 cm -1 spectral range. This paper introduces a high temperature plasma light source that is both ultra-broadband and has much more radiant power in the infrared spectral range than conventional, table-top thermal light sources such as the globar. We implement this plasma lamp in our near-field optical spectroscopy set up and demonstrate its capability as a broadband infrared nano-spectroscopy light source by obtaining near-field infrared amplitude and phase spectra of the phonon resonances of SiO 2 and SrTiO 3 .

Crystallization process of a three-dimensional complex plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinmüller, Benjamin; Dietz, Christopher; Kretschmer, Michael; Thoma, Markus H.

2018-05-01

Characteristic timescales and length scales for phase transitions of real materials are in ranges where a direct visualization is unfeasible. Therefore, model systems can be useful. Here, the crystallization process of a three-dimensional complex plasma under gravity conditions is considered where the system ranges up to a large extent into the bulk plasma. Time-resolved measurements exhibit the process down to a single-particle level. Primary clusters, consisting of particles in the solid state, grow vertically and, secondarily, horizontally. The box-counting method shows a fractal dimension of df≈2.72 for the clusters. This value gives a hint that the formation process is a combination of local epitaxial and diffusion-limited growth. The particle density and the interparticle distance to the nearest neighbor remain constant within the clusters during crystallization. All results are in good agreement with former observations of a single-particle layer.

Subtype-independent near full-length HIV-1 genome sequencing and assembly to be used in large molecular epidemiological studies and clinical management.

PubMed

Grossmann, Sebastian; Nowak, Piotr; Neogi, Ujjwal

2015-01-01

HIV-1 near full-length genome (HIV-NFLG) sequencing from plasma is an attractive multidimensional tool to apply in large-scale population-based molecular epidemiological studies. It also enables genotypic resistance testing (GRT) for all drug target sites allowing effective intervention strategies for control and prevention in high-risk population groups. Thus, the main objective of this study was to develop a simplified subtype-independent, cost- and labour-efficient HIV-NFLG protocol that can be used in clinical management as well as in molecular epidemiological studies. Plasma samples (n=30) were obtained from HIV-1B (n=10), HIV-1C (n=10), CRF01_AE (n=5) and CRF01_AG (n=5) infected individuals with minimum viral load >1120 copies/ml. The amplification was performed with two large amplicons of 5.5 kb and 3.7 kb, sequenced with 17 primers to obtain HIV-NFLG. GRT was validated against ViroSeq™ HIV-1 Genotyping System. After excluding four plasma samples with low-quality RNA, a total of 26 samples were attempted. Among them, NFLG was obtained from 24 (92%) samples with the lowest viral load being 3000 copies/ml. High (>99%) concordance was observed between HIV-NFLG and ViroSeq™ when determining the drug resistance mutations (DRMs). The N384I connection mutation was additionally detected by NFLG in two samples. Our high efficiency subtype-independent HIV-NFLG is a simple and promising approach to be used in large-scale molecular epidemiological studies. It will facilitate the understanding of the HIV-1 pandemic population dynamics and outline effective intervention strategies. Furthermore, it can potentially be applicable in clinical management of drug resistance by evaluating DRMs against all available antiretrovirals in a single assay.

Particle-in-cell studies of fast-ion slowing-down rates in cool tenuous magnetized plasma

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

Evans, Eugene S.; Cohen, Samuel A.; Welch, Dale R.

We report on 3D-3V particle-in-cell simulations of fast-ion energy-loss rates in a cold, weakly-magnetized, weakly-coupled plasma where the electron gyroradius, ρe, is comparable to or less than the Debye length, λ De, and the fast-ion velocity exceeds the electron thermal velocity, a regime in which the electron response may be impeded. These simulations use explicit algorithms, spatially resolve ρ e and λ De, and temporally resolve the electron cyclotron and plasma frequencies. For mono-energetic dilute fast ions with isotropic velocity distributions, these scaling studies of the slowing-down time, τ s, versus fast-ion charge are in agreement with unmagnetized slowing-down theory;more » with an applied magnetic field, no consistent anisotropy between τs in the cross-field and field-parallel directions could be resolved. Scaling the fast-ion charge is confirmed as a viable way to reduce the required computational time for each simulation. In conclusion, the implications of these slowing down processes are described for one magnetic-confinement fusion concept, the small, advanced-fuel, field-reversed configuration device.« less

Particle-in-cell studies of fast-ion slowing-down rates in cool tenuous magnetized plasma

DOE PAGES

Evans, Eugene S.; Cohen, Samuel A.; Welch, Dale R.

2018-04-05

We report on 3D-3V particle-in-cell simulations of fast-ion energy-loss rates in a cold, weakly-magnetized, weakly-coupled plasma where the electron gyroradius, ρe, is comparable to or less than the Debye length, λ De, and the fast-ion velocity exceeds the electron thermal velocity, a regime in which the electron response may be impeded. These simulations use explicit algorithms, spatially resolve ρ e and λ De, and temporally resolve the electron cyclotron and plasma frequencies. For mono-energetic dilute fast ions with isotropic velocity distributions, these scaling studies of the slowing-down time, τ s, versus fast-ion charge are in agreement with unmagnetized slowing-down theory;more » with an applied magnetic field, no consistent anisotropy between τs in the cross-field and field-parallel directions could be resolved. Scaling the fast-ion charge is confirmed as a viable way to reduce the required computational time for each simulation. In conclusion, the implications of these slowing down processes are described for one magnetic-confinement fusion concept, the small, advanced-fuel, field-reversed configuration device.« less

Optimization of confocal laser induced fluorescence for long focal length applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jemiolo, Andrew J.; Henriquez, Miguel F.; Thompson, Derek S.; Scime, Earl E.

2017-10-01

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) is a non-perturbative diagnostic for measuring ion and neutral particle velocities and temperatures in a plasma. The conventional method for single-photon LIF requires intersecting optical paths for light injection and collection. The multiple vacuum windows needed for such measurements are unavailable in many plasma experiments. Confocal LIF eliminates the need for perpendicular intersecting optical paths by using concentric injection and collection paths through a single window. One of the main challenges with using confocal LIF is achieving high resolution measurements at the longer focal lengths needed for many plasma experiments. We present confocal LIF measurements in HELIX, a helicon plasma experiment at West Virginia University, demonstrating spatial resolution dependence on focal length and spatial filtering. By combining aberration mitigating optics with spatial filtering, our results show high resolution measurements at focal lengths of 0.5 m, long enough to access the interiors of many laboratory plasma experiments. This work was supported by U.S. National Science Foundation Grant No. PHY-1360278.

Interaction of Solar Wind and Magnetic Anomalies - Modelling from Moon to Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alho, Markku; Kallio, Esa; Wedlund, Cyril Simon; Wurz, Peter

2015-04-01

The crustal magnetic anomalies on both the Moon and Mars strongly affect the local plasma environment. On the Moon, the impinging solar wind is decelerated or deflected when interacting with the magnetic field anomaly, visible in the lunar surface as energetic neutral atom (ENA) emissions or as reflected protons, and may play a part in the space weathering of the lunar soil. At Mars, the crustal magnetic fields have been shown to be associated with, e.g., enhanced electron scale heights and modified convection of ionospheric plasma, resulting in the plasma environment being dominated by crustal magnetic fields up to altitudes of 400km. Our previous modelling work suggested that Hall currents are a dominant feature in a Moon-like magnetic anomaly interaction at scales at or below the proton inertial length. In this work we study the solar wind interaction with magnetic anomalies and compare the plasma environments of a Moon-like anomaly with a Mars-like anomaly by introducing an ionosphere and an exosphere to probe the transition from an atmosphere-less anomaly interaction to an ionospheric one. We utilize a 3D hybrid plasma model, in which ions are modelled as particles while electrons form a charge-neutralizing massless fluid. The hybrid model gives a full description of ion kinetics and associated plasma phenomena at the simulation region ranging from instabilities to possible reconnection. The model can thus be used to interpret both in-situ particle and field observations and remotely-sensed ENA emissions. A self-consistent ionosphere package for the model is additionally in development.

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

HERRON, ISOM H

Executive summary Two important general problems of interest in plasma physics that may be addressed successfully by Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) are: (1) Find magnetic field configurations capable of confining a plasma in equilibrium. (2) Study the stability properties of each such an equilibrium. It is often found that the length scale of many instabilities and waves that are able to grow or propagate in a system, are comparable with plasma size, such as in magnetically confined thermonuclear plasmas or in astrophysical accretion disks. Thus MHD is able to provide a good description of such large-scale disturbances. The Magnetorotational instability (MRI) ismore » one particular instance of a potential instability. The project involved theoretical work on fundamental aspects of plasma physics. Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) began to perform a series of liquid metal Couette flow experiments between rotating cylinders. Their purpose was to produce MRI, which they had predicted theoretically 2002, but was only observed in the laboratory since this project began. The personnel on the project consisted of three persons: (1) The PI, who was partially supported on the budget during each of four summers 2005-2008. (2) Two graduate research assistants, who worked consecutively on the project throughout the years 2005-2009. As a result, the first student, Fritzner Soliman, obtained an M.S. degree in 2006; the second student, Pablo Suarez obtained the Ph.D. degree in 2009. The work was in collaboration with scientists in Princeton, periodic trips were made by the PI as part of the project. There were 4 peer-reviewed publications and one book produced.« less

The PLX- α Project: Progress and Plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, S.; Witherspoon, F. D.; Cassibry, J.; Gilmore, M.; Samulyak, R.; Stoltz, P.; PLX-α Team

2016-10-01

The Plasma Liner Experiment-ALPHA (PLX- α) project aims to demonstrate the viability of spherically imploding plasma liners as a standoff driver for plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). In the past year, progress has been made in designing and testing new contoured-gap coaxial guns, 3D model development and simulations (via Eulerian and Lagrangian hydrocodes) of PLX- α-relevant plasma-liner formation/implosion via up to 60 plasma jets ( 100 kJ of liner kinetic energy), 1D semi-analytic and numerical modeling of reactor-scale PJMIF (10s of MJ of liner kinetic energy), and preparation/upgrade of the PLX facility/diagnostics. The design goal for the coaxial guns is to form plasma jets of up to initial n 2 ×1016 cm-3, mass 5 mg, Vjet 50 km/s, rjet = 4 cm, and length 10 cm. The modeling research is assessing ram-pressure amplification and Mach-number degradation during liner convergence, evolution of liner non-uniformity amplitude and mode number, and exploration of PJMIF configurations with promising 1D and 2D fusion gains. Conical multi-jet-merging and full-4 π experiments will commence in Fall, 2016 and late 2017, respectively. Supported by the ARPA-E ALPHA Program.

Method and device to synthesize boron nitride nanotubes and related nanoparticles

DOEpatents

Zettl, Alexander K.

2016-07-19

Methods and apparatus for producing chemical nanostructures having multiple elements, such as boron and nitride, e.g. boron nitride nanotubes, are disclosed. The method comprises creating a plasma jet, or plume, such as by an arc discharge. The plasma plume is elongated and has a temperature gradient along its length. It extends along its length into a port connector area having ports for introduction of feed materials. The feed materials include the multiple elements, which are introduced separately as fluids or powders at multiple ports along the length of the plasma plume, said ports entering the plasma plume at different temperatures. The method further comprises modifying a temperature at a distal portion of or immediately downstream of said plasma plume; and collecting said chemical nanostructures after said modifying.

Plasma-field Coupling at Small Length Scales in Solar Wind Near 1 AU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Livadiotis, G.; Desai, M. I.

2016-10-01

In collisionless plasmas such as the solar wind, the coupling between plasma constituents and the embedded magnetic field occurs on various temporal and spatial scales, and is primarily responsible for the transfer of energy between waves and particles. Recently, it was shown that the transfer of energy between solar wind plasma particles and waves is governed by a new and unique relationship: the ratio between the magnetosonic energy and the plasma frequency is constant, E ms/ω pl ˜ ℏ*. This paper examines the variability and substantial departure of this ratio from ℏ* observed at ˜1 au, which is caused by a dispersion of fast magnetosonic (FMS) waves. In contrast to the efficiently transferred energy in the fast solar wind, the lower efficiency of the slow solar wind can be caused by this dispersion, whose relation and characteristics are derived and studied. In summary, we show that (I) the ratio E ms/ω pl transitions continuously from the slow to the fast solar wind, tending toward the constant ℏ* (II) the transition is more efficient for larger thermal, Alfvén, or FMS speeds; (III) the fast solar wind is almost dispersionless, characterized by quasi-constant values of the FMS speed, while the slow wind is subject to dispersion that is less effective for larger wind or magnetosonic speeds; and (IV) the constant ℏ* is estimated with the best known precision, ℏ* ≈ (1.160 ± 0.083) × 10-22 Js.

Effect of solenoidal magnetic field on drifting laser plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Kazumasa; Okamura, Masahiro; Sekine, Megumi; Cushing, Eric; Jandovitz, Peter

2013-04-01

An ion source for accelerators requires to provide a stable waveform with a certain pulse length appropriate to the application. The pulse length of laser ion source is easy to control because it is expected to be proportional to plasma drifting distance. However, current density decay is proportional to the cube of the drifting distance, so large current loss will occur under unconfined drift. We investigated the stability and current decay of a Nd:YAG laser generated copper plasma confined by a solenoidal field using a Faraday cup to measure the current waveform. It was found that the plasma was unstable at certain magnetic field strengths, so a baffle was introduced to limit the plasma diameter at injection and improve the stability. Magnetic field, solenoid length, and plasma diameter were varied in order to find the conditions that minimize current decay and maximize stability.

Propagation of a plasma streamer in catalyst pores

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Quan-Zhi; Bogaerts, Annemie

2018-03-01

Although plasma catalysis is gaining increasing interest for various environmental applications, the underlying mechanisms are still far from understood. For instance, it is not yet clear whether and how plasma streamers can propagate in catalyst pores, and what is the minimum pore size to make this happen. As this is crucial information to ensure good plasma-catalyst interaction, we study here the mechanism of plasma streamer propagation in a catalyst pore, by means of a two-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision model, for various pore diameters in the nm-range to μm-range. The so-called Debye length is an important criterion for plasma penetration into catalyst pores, i.e. a plasma streamer can penetrate into pores when their diameter is larger than the Debye length. The Debye length is typically in the order of a few 100 nm up to 1 μm at the conditions under study, depending on electron density and temperature in the plasma streamer. For pores in the range of ∼50 nm, plasma can thus only penetrate to some extent and at very short times, i.e. at the beginning of a micro-discharge, before the actual plasma streamer reaches the catalyst surface and a sheath is formed in front of the surface. We can make plasma streamers penetrate into smaller pores (down to ca. 500 nm at the conditions under study) by increasing the applied voltage, which yields a higher plasma density, and thus reduces the Debye length. Our simulations also reveal that the plasma streamers induce surface charging of the catalyst pore sidewalls, causing discharge enhancement inside the pore, depending on pore diameter and depth.

Dissipation and heating in solar wind turbulence: from the macro to the micro and back again

PubMed Central

Kiyani, Khurom H.; Osman, Kareem T.; Chapman, Sandra C.

2015-01-01

The past decade has seen a flurry of research activity focused on discerning the physics of kinetic scale turbulence in high-speed astrophysical plasma flows. By ‘kinetic’ we mean spatial scales on the order of or, in particular, smaller than the ion inertial length or the ion gyro-radius—the spatial scales at which the ion and electron bulk velocities decouple and considerable change can be seen in the ion distribution functions. The motivation behind most of these studies is to find the ultimate fate of the energy cascade of plasma turbulence, and thereby the channels by which the energy in the system is dissipated. This brief Introduction motivates the case for a themed issue on this topic and introduces the topic of turbulent dissipation and heating in the solar wind. The theme issue covers the full breadth of studies: from theory and models, massive simulations of these models and observational studies from the highly rich and vast amount of data collected from scores of heliospheric space missions since the dawn of the space age. A synopsis of the theme issue is provided, where a brief description of all the contributions is discussed and how they fit together to provide an over-arching picture on the highly topical subject of dissipation and heating in turbulent collisionless plasmas in general and in the solar wind in particular. PMID:25848077

Transition from single to multiple double layers. [of plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chan, C.; Hershkowitz, N.

1982-01-01

Laboratory results are presented to define parameters which allow the boundary conditions to control the characteristics of double layers of plasma. It is shown that multiple double layers arise when the ratio of Debye length to system length decreases, a result which is in line with boundary layer theory. The significance of inclusion of the system length is noted to render BGK treatments of double layers, wherein the length is neglected, invalid.

Dynamics of electron injection and acceleration driven by laser wakefield in tailored density profiles

DOE PAGES

Lee, Patrick; Maynard, G.; Audet, T. L.; ...

2016-11-16

The dynamics of electron acceleration driven by laser wakefield is studied in detail using the particle-in-cell code WARP with the objective to generate high-quality electron bunches with narrow energy spread and small emittance, relevant for the electron injector of a multistage accelerator. Simulation results, using experimentally achievable parameters, show that electron bunches with an energy spread of ~11% can be obtained by using an ionization-induced injection mechanism in a mm-scale length plasma. By controlling the focusing of a moderate laser power and tailoring the longitudinal plasma density profile, the electron injection beginning and end positions can be adjusted, while themore » electron energy can be finely tuned in the last acceleration section.« less

Unique Capabilities of the Situational Awareness Sensor Suite for the ISS (SASSI) Mission Concept to Study the Equatorial Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Habash Krause, L.; Gilchrist, B. E.; Minow, J. I.; Gallagher, D. L.; Hoegy, W. R.; Coffey, V. N.; Willis, E. M.

2014-12-01

We present an overview of a mission concept named Situational Awareness Sensor Suite for the ISS (SASSI) with a special focus here on low-latitude ionospheric plasma turbulence measurements relevant to equatorial spread-F. SASSI is a suite of sensors that improves Space Situational Awareness for the ISS local space environment, as well as unique ionospheric measurements and support active plasma experiments on the ISS. As such, the mission concept has both operational and basic research objectives. We will describe two compelling measurement techniques enabled by SASSI's unique mission architecture. That is, SASSI provides new abilities to 1) measure space plasma potentials in low Earth orbit over ~100 m relative to a common potential, and 2) to investigate multi-scale ionospheric plasma turbulence morphology simultaneously of both ~ 1 cm and ~ 10 m scale lengths. The first measurement technique will aid in the distinction of vertical drifts within equatorial plasma bubbles from the vertical motions of the bulk of the layer due to zonal electric fields. The second will aid in understanding ionospheric plasma turbulence cascading in scale sizes that affect over the horizon radar. During many years of ISS operation, we have conducted effective (but not perfect) human and robotic extravehicular activities within the space plasma environment surrounding the ISS structure. However, because of the complexity of the interaction between the ISS and the space environment, there remain important sources of unpredictable environmental situations that affect operations. Examples of affected systems include EVA safety, solar panel efficiency, and scientific instrument integrity. Models and heuristically-derived best practices are well-suited for routine operations, but when it comes to unusual or anomalous events or situations, there is no substitute for real-time monitoring. SASSI is being designed to deploy and operate a suite of low-cost, medium/high-TRL plasma sensors on the ISS Express Logistics Carrier for long-term observations and the Space Station Remote Manipulator System for short-term focused campaigns. The presentation will include a description of the instrument complement and an overview of the operations concept.

3D two-fluid simulations of turbulence in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fisher, Dustin M.

The Large Plasma Device (LAPD) is modeled using a modified version of the 3D Global Braginskii Solver code (GBS) for a nominal Helium plasma. The unbiased low-flow regime is explored in simulations where there is an intrinsic E x B rotation of the plasma. In the simulations this rotation is caused primarily by sheath effects with the Reynolds stress and J x B torque due to a cross-field Pederson conductivity having little effect. Explicit biasing simulations are also explored for the first time where the intrinsic rotation of the plasma is modified through boundary conditions that mimic the biasable limiter used in LAPD. Comparisons to experimental measurements in the unbiased case show strong qualitative agreement with the data, particularly the radial dependence of the density fluctuations, cross-correlation lengths, radial flux dependence outside of the cathode edge, and camera imagery. Kelvin Helmholtz (KH) turbulence at relatively large scales is the dominant driver of cross-field transport in these simulations with smaller-scale drift waves and sheath modes playing a secondary role. Plasma holes and blobs arising from KH vortices are consistent with the scale sizes and overall appearance of those in LAPD camera images. The addition of ion-neutral collisions in the unbiased simulations at previously theorized values reduces the radial particle flux due to a modest stabilizing contribution of the collisions on the KH-modes driving the turbulent transport. In the biased runs the ion-neutral collisions have a much smaller effect due to the modification of the potential from sheath terms. In biasing the plasma to increase the intrinsic rotation, simulations show the emergence of a nonlinearly saturated coherent mode of order m = 6. In addition, the plasma inside of the cathode edge becomes quiescent due to the strong influence of the wall bias in setting up the equilibrium plasma potential. Biasing in the direction opposite to the intrinsic flow reduces the effective shear and leads to a stronger presence of drift modes that are seen to saturate when the KH drive has been suppressed. Both biasing cases show a moderate density confinement similarly seen in the experiment.

The flow of a dust particle by highly collisional drifting plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grach, Veronika; Semenov, Vladimir; Trakhtengerts, Victor

We present the study of the flow of a dust particle by a weakly ionized highly collisional drifting plasma. The charging of a conductive sphere and wake formation downstream and upstream of it is analyzed in the case of a strong external field l0 = E0 /(4πen0 ) λD a (E0 is the magnitude of the external field, n0 is plasma density, λD is Debye length and a is a radius of the sphere). Under such conditions, the effects of the space charge field and ionization-recombination processes play crucial role. The sphere charge and the spatial distributions of plasma ions and electrons are calculated nu-merically; analytical expressions are obtained for some limiting cases. We obtain that the size of the wake is determined by the external field and the recombination rate. At low recombination rates (α/(4πµ+,- ) 1, where α is the recombination coefficient, µ+,- are mobilities of positive and negative plasma particles) the longitudinal scale of wake is about 20l0 , at high recombina-tion rates the longitudinal scale is about l0 . The transverse scale of the wake is determined by the ratio of the mobilities and can reach several dust particle radii. It was also shown that the absolute value of the dust particle charge decreases with increasing recombination rate. The total electric charge (the sphere charge plus the plasma space charge) is shown to be zero in accordance with predictions of the theory of static currents in a conducting medium. On the basis of the obtained spatial distributions of charged plasma particles, the electrostatic potential around the sphere is calculated numerically. The interaction potential between two systems "particle+wake" is analyzed for arbitrary locations of such systems. We obtain that the potential can be attractive at moderate and large distances, if the particles are not aligned in the direction perpendicular to the external electric field. The results can be important in understanding intergrain interactions in weakly ionized highly collisional anisotropic dusty plasmas.

Patterning at the 10 nanometer length scale using a strongly segregating block copolymer thin film and vapor phase infiltration of inorganic precursors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choi, Jonathan W.; Li, Zhaodong; Black, Charles T.; Sweat, Daniel P.; Wang, Xudong; Gopalan, Padma

2016-06-01

In this work, we demonstrate the use of self-assembled thin films of the cylinder-forming block copolymer poly(4-tert-butylstyrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) to pattern high density features at the 10 nm length scale. This material's large interaction parameter facilitates pattern formation in single-digit nanometer dimensions. This block copolymer's accessible order-disorder transition temperature allows thermal annealing to drive the assembly of ordered 2-vinylpyridine cylinders that can be selectively complexed with the organometallic precursor trimethylaluminum. This unique chemistry converts organic 2-vinylpyridine cylinders into alumina nanowires with diameters ranging from 8 to 11 nm, depending on the copolymer molecular weight. Graphoepitaxy of this block copolymer aligns and registers sub-12 nm diameter nanowires to larger-scale rectangular, curved, and circular features patterned by optical lithography. The alumina nanowires function as a robust hard mask to withstand the conditions required for patterning the underlying silicon by plasma etching. We conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges that arise with using block copolymers for patterning at sub-10 nm feature sizes.In this work, we demonstrate the use of self-assembled thin films of the cylinder-forming block copolymer poly(4-tert-butylstyrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) to pattern high density features at the 10 nm length scale. This material's large interaction parameter facilitates pattern formation in single-digit nanometer dimensions. This block copolymer's accessible order-disorder transition temperature allows thermal annealing to drive the assembly of ordered 2-vinylpyridine cylinders that can be selectively complexed with the organometallic precursor trimethylaluminum. This unique chemistry converts organic 2-vinylpyridine cylinders into alumina nanowires with diameters ranging from 8 to 11 nm, depending on the copolymer molecular weight. Graphoepitaxy of this block copolymer aligns and registers sub-12 nm diameter nanowires to larger-scale rectangular, curved, and circular features patterned by optical lithography. The alumina nanowires function as a robust hard mask to withstand the conditions required for patterning the underlying silicon by plasma etching. We conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges that arise with using block copolymers for patterning at sub-10 nm feature sizes. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr01409g

Kinetic dissipation and anisotropic heating in a turbulent collisionless plasma

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

Parashar, T. N.; Shay, M. A.; Cassak, P. A.

The kinetic evolution of the Orszag-Tang vortex is studied using collisionless hybrid simulations. In magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) this configuration leads rapidly to broadband turbulence. At large length scales, the evolution of the hybrid simulations is very similar to MHD, with magnetic power spectra displaying scaling similar to a Kolmogorov scaling of -5/3. At small scales, differences from MHD arise, as energy dissipates into heat almost exclusively through the magnetic field. The magnetic energy spectrum of the hybrid simulation shows a break where linear theory predicts that the Hall term in Ohm's law becomes significant, leading to dispersive kinetic Alfven waves. Amore » key result is that protons are heated preferentially in the plane perpendicular to the mean magnetic field, creating a proton temperature anisotropy of the type observed in the corona and solar wind.« less

Scale-free crystallization of two-dimensional complex plasmas: Domain analysis using Minkowski tensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Böbel, A.; Knapek, C. A.; Räth, C.

2018-05-01

Experiments of the recrystallization processes in two-dimensional complex plasmas are analyzed to rigorously test a recently developed scale-free phase transition theory. The "fractal-domain-structure" (FDS) theory is based on the kinetic theory of Frenkel. It assumes the formation of homogeneous domains, separated by defect lines, during crystallization and a fractal relationship between domain area and boundary length. For the defect number fraction and system energy a scale-free power-law relation is predicted. The long-range scaling behavior of the bond-order correlation function shows clearly that the complex plasma phase transitions are not of the Kosterlitz, Thouless, Halperin, Nelson, and Young type. Previous preliminary results obtained by counting the number of dislocations and applying a bond-order metric for structural analysis are reproduced. These findings are supplemented by extending the use of the bond-order metric to measure the defect number fraction and furthermore applying state-of-the-art analysis methods, allowing a systematic testing of the FDS theory with unprecedented scrutiny: A morphological analysis of lattice structure is performed via Minkowski tensor methods. Minkowski tensors form a complete family of additive, motion covariant and continuous morphological measures that are sensitive to nonlinear properties. The FDS theory is rigorously confirmed and predictions of the theory are reproduced extremely well. The predicted scale-free power-law relation between defect fraction number and system energy is verified for one more order of magnitude at high energies compared to the inherently discontinuous bond-order metric. It is found that the fractal relation between crystalline domain area and circumference is independent of the experiment, the particular Minkowski tensor method, and the particular choice of parameters. Thus, the fractal relationship seems to be inherent to two-dimensional phase transitions in complex plasmas. Minkowski tensor analysis turns out to be a powerful tool for investigations of crystallization processes. It is capable of revealing nonlinear local topological properties, however, still provides easily interpretable results founded on a solid mathematical framework.

High-efficiency acceleration in the laser wakefield by a linearly increasing plasma density

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

Dong, Kegong; Wu, Yuchi; Zhu, Bin

The acceleration length and the peak energy of the electron beam are limited by the dephasing effect in the laser wakefield acceleration with uniform plasma density. Based on 2D-3V particle in cell simulations, the effects of a linearly increasing plasma density on the electron acceleration are investigated broadly. Comparing with the uniform plasma density, because of the prolongation of the acceleration length and the gradually increasing accelerating field due to the increasing plasma density, the electron beam energy is twice higher in moderate nonlinear wakefield regime. Because of the lower plasma density, the linearly increasing plasma density can also avoidmore » the dark current caused by additional injection. At the optimal acceleration length, the electron energy can be increased from 350 MeV (uniform) to 760 MeV (linearly increasing) with the energy spread of 1.8%, the beam duration is 5 fs and the beam waist is 1.25 μm. This linearly increasing plasma density distribution can be achieved by a capillary with special gas-filled structure, and is much more suitable for experiment.« less

Field aligned flows driven by neutral puffing at MAST

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Waters, I.; Frerichs, H.; Silburn, S.; Feng, Y.; Harrison, J.; Kirk, A.; Schmitz, O.

2018-06-01

Neutral deuterium gas puffing at the high field side of the mega ampere spherical tokamak (MAST) is shown to drive carbon impurity flows that are aligned with the trajectory of the magnetic field lines in the plasma scrape-off-layer. These impurity flows were directly imaged with emissions from C2+ ions at MAST by coherence imaging spectroscopy and were qualitatively reproduced in deuterium plasmas by modeling with the EMC3-EIRENE plasma edge fluid and kinetic neutral transport code. A reduced one-dimensional momentum and particle balance shows that a localized increase in the static plasma pressure in front of the neutral gas puff yields an acceleration of the plasma due to local ionization. Perpendicular particle transport yields a decay from which a parallel length scale can be determined. Parameter scans in EMC3-EIRENE were carried out to determine the sensitivity of the deuterium plasma flow phenomena to local fueling and diffusion parameters and it is found that these flows robustly form across a wide variety of plasma conditions. Finally, efforts to couple this behavior in the background plasma directly to the impurity flows observed experimentally in MAST using a trace impurity model are discussed. These results provide insight into the fueling and exhaust features at this pivotal point of the radial and parallel particle flux balance, which is a major part of the plasma fueling and exhaust characteristics in a magnetically confined fusion device.

The fine structure of Langmuir waves observed upstream of the bow shock at Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hospodarsky, G. B.; Gurnett, D. A.; Kurth, W. S.; Kivelson, M. G.; Strangeway, R. J.; Bolton, S. J.

1994-01-01

Highly structured Langmuir waves, also known as electron plasma oscillations, have been observed in the foreshock of Venus using the plasma wave experiment on the Galileo spacecraft during the gravity assist flyby on February 10, 1990. The Galileo wideband sampling system provides digital electric field waveform measurements at sampling rates up to 201,600 samples per second, much higher than any previous instrument of this type. The main Langmuir wave emission band occurs near the local electron plasma frequency, which was approximately 43 kHz. The Langmuir waves are observed to shift above and below the plasma frequency, sometimes by as much as 20 kHz. The shifts in frequency are closely correlated with the downstream distance from the tangent field line, implying that the shifts are controlled by the electron beam velocity. Considerable fine structure is also evident, with time scales as short as 0.15 milliseconds, corresponding to spatial scales of a few tens of Debye lengths. The frequency spectrum often consists of beat-type waveforms, with beat frequencies ranging from 0.2 to 7 kHz, and in a few cases, isolated wavepackets. The peak electric field strengths are approximately 1 mV/m. These field strengths are too small for strongly nonlinear processes to be important. The beat-type waveforms are suggestive of a parametric decay process.

Coupling extended magnetohydrodynamic fluid codes with radiofrequency ray tracing codes for fusion modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Held, Eric D.

2015-09-01

Neoclassical tearing modes are macroscopic (L ∼ 1 m) instabilities in magnetic fusion experiments; if unchecked, these modes degrade plasma performance and may catastrophically destroy plasma confinement by inducing a disruption. Fortunately, the use of properly tuned and directed radiofrequency waves (λ ∼ 1 mm) can eliminate these modes. Numerical modeling of this difficult multiscale problem requires the integration of separate mathematical models for each length and time scale (Jenkins and Kruger, 2012 [21]); the extended MHD model captures macroscopic plasma evolution while the RF model tracks the flow and deposition of injected RF power through the evolving plasma profiles. The scale separation enables use of the eikonal (ray-tracing) approximation to model the RF wave propagation. In this work we demonstrate a technique, based on methods of computational geometry, for mapping the ensuing RF data (associated with discrete ray trajectories) onto the finite-element/pseudospectral grid that is used to model the extended MHD physics. In the new representation, the RF data can then be used to construct source terms in the equations of the extended MHD model, enabling quantitative modeling of RF-induced tearing mode stabilization. Though our specific implementation uses the NIMROD extended MHD (Sovinec et al., 2004 [22]) and GENRAY RF (Smirnov et al., 1994 [23]) codes, the approach presented can be applied more generally to any code coupling requiring the mapping of ray tracing data onto Eulerian grids.

Physics and Chemistry of MW Laser-induced Discharge in Gas Flows and Plasma Jets

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

with the large scaled flow pulsations . In 3.3 the results of numerical modeling of a thin low-density heated channel of limited length – shock layer...in Fig. 3.2.13. The red points correspond to the values of time moments for Fig. 3.2.11, 12. Mechanism of heated area boundary pulsations ...Mechanism of heated area boundary pulsations is analogical to described above mechanism of the bow shock position pulsations and is connected with

Ultrafast and nanoscale diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Peng; Lau, Y. Y.

2016-10-01

Charge carrier transport across interfaces of dissimilar materials (including vacuum) is the essence of all electronic devices. Ultrafast charge transport across a nanometre length scale is of fundamental importance in the miniaturization of vacuum and plasma electronics. With the combination of recent advances in electronics, photonics and nanotechnology, these miniature devices may integrate with solid-state platforms, achieving superior performance. This paper reviews recent modelling efforts on quantum tunnelling, ultrafast electron emission and transport, and electrical contact resistance. Unsolved problems and challenges in these areas are addressed.

Effects of Different Heavy-Resistance Exercise Protocols on Plasma Beta-Endorphin Concentrations

DTIC Science & Technology

1993-01-01

of O-EP and cortisol. forms of high-intensity exercise, which is performed well above the level that produces V02 .. but uses multi- anaerobic ; opioid...utilizing the Borg CR- ing the rest period length (i.e., from I to 3 min; or in- 10 scale designed to accommodate primarily anaerobic creasing the resistance...O-EP in response to though short-term anaerobic exercise to exhaustion has high-intensity exercise remain unknown, it has been sug- been shown to

Rapidly solidified titanium alloys by melt overflow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaspar, Thomas A.; Bruce, Thomas J., Jr.; Hackman, Lloyd E.; Brasmer, Susan E.; Dantzig, Jonathan A.; Baeslack, William A., III

1989-01-01

A pilot plant scale furnace was designed and constructed for casting titanium alloy strips. The furnace combines plasma arc skull melting techniques with melt overflow rapid solidification technology. A mathematical model of the melting and casting process was developed. The furnace cast strip of a suitable length and width for use with honeycomb structures. Titanium alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-14Al-21 Nb were successfully cast into strips. The strips were evaluated by optical metallography, microhardness measurements, chemical analysis, and cold rolling.

Volumetric Heating of Ultra-High Energy Density Relativistic Plasmas by Ultrafast Laser Irradiation of Aligned Nanowire Arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bargsten, Clayton; Hollinger, Reed; Shlyaptsev, Vyacheslav; Pukhov, Alexander; Keiss, David; Townsend, Amanda; Wang, Yong; Wang, Shoujun; Prieto, Amy; Rocca, Jorge

2014-10-01

We have demonstrated the volumetric heating of near-solid density plasmas to keV temperatures by ultra-high contrast femtosecond laser irradiation of arrays of vertically aligned nanowires with an average density up to 30% solid density. X-ray spectra show that irradiation of Ni and Au nanowire arrays with laser pulses of relativistic intensities ionizes plasma volumes several micrometers in depth to the He-like and Co-like (Au 52 +) stages respectively. The penetration depth of the heat into the nanowire array was measured monitoring He-like Co lines from irradiated arrays in which the nanowires are composed of a Co segment buried under a selected length of Ni. The measurement shows the ionization reaches He-like Co for depth of up to 5 μm within the target. This volumetric plasma heating approach creates a new laboratory plasma regime in which extreme plasma parameters can be accessed with table-top lasers. Scaling to higher laser intensities promises to create plasmas with temperatures and pressures approaching those in the center of the sun. Work supported by the U.S Department of Energy, Fusion Energy Sciences and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency grant HDTRA-1-10-1-0079. A.P was supported by of DFG-funded project TR18.

Experimental characterization of broadband electrostatic noise due to plasma compression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubois, Ami M.; Thomas, Edward, Jr.; Amatucci, William E.; Ganguli, Gurudas

2015-11-01

For a wide variety of laboratory and space plasma environments, theory states that plasmas are unstable to transverse shear flows over a very broad frequency range, where the shear scale length (LE) compared to the ion gyro-radius (ρi) determines the character of the shear-driven instability that may prevail. During active periods in the Earth's magnetosphere, such sheared flows are intensified and broadband electrostatic noise (BEN) is often observed by satellites traversing natural boundary layers. An interpenetrating magnetized plasma configuration is used to create a transverse velocity shear profile similar to that found at natural space plasma boundary layers. The continuous variation and the associated transition of the instability regimes driven by the shear flow mechanism are demonstrated in a single laboratory experiment. For the first time, broadband wave emission, which is correlated to increasing/decreasing stress (i.e., ρi/LE) on a plasma boundary layer, is found under controlled and repeatable conditions. This result provides evidence that the compression/relaxation of a plasma boundary layer leads to a BEN signature and holds out the promise for understanding the cause and effect of the in situ observation of BEN by satellites. This project was supported with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and NRL Base Funds.

Application of Atmospheric-Pressure Microwave Line Plasma for Low Temperature Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Haruka; Nakano, Suguru; Itoh, Hitoshi; Sekine, Makoto; Hori, Masaru; Toyoda, Hirotaka

2015-09-01

Atmospheric pressure (AP) plasmas have been given much attention because of its high cost benefit and a variety of possibilities for industrial applications. In various kinds of plasma production technique, pulsed-microwave discharge plasma using slot antenna is attractive due to its ability of high-density and stable plasma production. In this plasma source, however, size of the plasma has been limited up to a few cm in length due to standing wave inside a waveguide. To solve this, we have proposed a newly-developed AP microwave plasma source that utilizes not standing wave but travelling wave. By using this plasma source, spatially-uniform AP line plasma with 40 cm in length was realized by pure helium discharge in 60 cm slot and with nitrogen gas additive of 1%. Furthermore, gas temperature as low as 400 K was realized in this device. In this study, as an example of low temperature processes, hydrophilic treatment of PET films was performed. Processing speed increased with pulse frequency and a water contact angle of ~20° was easily obtained within 5 s with no thermal damage to the substrate. To evaluate treatment-uniformity of long line length, PET films were treated by 90 cm slot-antenna plasma and uniform treatment performance was confirmed.

Using Gastrocnemius sEMG and Plasma α-Synuclein for the Prediction of Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease Patients

PubMed Central

Yang, Qiong; Zhang, Lin-Yuan; Chen, Sheng-Di; Liu, Jun

2014-01-01

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a complicated gait disturbance in Parkinson's disease (PD) and a relevant subclinical predictor algorithm is lacking. The main purpose of this study is to explore the potential value of surface electromyograph (sEMG) and plasma α-synuclein levels as predictors of the FOG seen in PD. 21 PD patients and 15 normal controls were recruited. Motor function was evaluated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Freezing of gait questionnaire (FOG-Q). Simultaneously, gait analysis was also performed using VICON capture system in PD patients and sEMG data was recorded as well. Total plasma α-synuclein was quantitatively assessed by Luminex assay in all participants. Recruited PD patients were classified into two groups: PD patients with FOG (PD+FOG) and without FOG (PD-FOG), based on clinical manifestation, the results of the FOG-Q and VICON capture system. PD+FOG patients displayed higher FOG-Q scores, decreased walking speed, smaller step length, smaller stride length and prolonged double support time compared to the PD-FOG in the gait trial. sEMG data indicated that gastrocnemius activity in PD+FOG patients was significantly reduced compared to PD-FOG patients. In addition, plasma α-synuclein levels were significantly decreased in the PD+FOG group compared to control group; however, no significant difference was found between the PD+FOG and PD-FOG groups. Our study revealed that gastrocnemius sEMG could be used to evaluate freezing gait in PD patients, while plasma α-synuclein might discriminate freezing of gait in PD patients from normal control, though no difference was found between the PD+FOG and PD-FOG groups. PMID:24586710

A parametric study of the microwave plasma-assisted combustion of premixed ethylene/air mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuh, Che A.; Wu, Wei; Wang, Chuji

2017-11-01

A parametric study of microwave argon plasma assisted combustion (PAC) of premixed ethylene/air mixtures was carried out using visual imaging, optical emission spectroscopy and cavity ringdown spectroscopy as diagnostic tools. The parameters investigated included the plasma feed gas flow rate, the plasma power, the fuel equivalence ratio and the total flow rate of the fuel/air mixture. The combustion enhancement effects were characterized by the minimum ignition power, the flame length and the fuel efficiency of the combustor. It was found that: (1) increasing the plasma feed gas flow rate resulted in a decrease in the flame length, an increase in the minimum ignition power for near stoichiometric fuel equivalence ratios and a corresponding decrease in the minimum ignition power for ultra-lean and rich fuel equivalence ratios; (2) at a constant plasma power, increasing the total flow rate of the ethylene/air mixture from 1.0 slm to 1.5 slm resulted in an increase in the flame length and a reduction in the fuel efficiency; (3) increasing the plasma power resulted in a slight increase in flame length as well as improved fuel efficiency with fewer C2(d) and CH(A) radicals present downstream of the flame; (4) increasing the fuel equivalence ratio caused an increase in flame length but at a reduced fuel efficiency when plasma power was kept constant; and (5) the ground state OH(X) number density was on the order of 1015 molecules/cm3 and was observed to drop downstream along the propagation axis of the flame at all parameters investigated. Results suggest that each of the parameters independently influences the PAC processes.

Coherent Structures and Spectral Energy Transfer in Turbulent Plasma: A Space-Filter Approach.

PubMed

Camporeale, E; Sorriso-Valvo, L; Califano, F; Retinò, A

2018-03-23

Plasma turbulence at scales of the order of the ion inertial length is mediated by several mechanisms, including linear wave damping, magnetic reconnection, the formation and dissipation of thin current sheets, and stochastic heating. It is now understood that the presence of localized coherent structures enhances the dissipation channels and the kinetic features of the plasma. However, no formal way of quantifying the relationship between scale-to-scale energy transfer and the presence of spatial structures has been presented so far. In the Letter we quantify such a relationship analyzing the results of a two-dimensional high-resolution Hall magnetohydrodynamic simulation. In particular, we employ the technique of space filtering to derive a spectral energy flux term which defines, in any point of the computational domain, the signed flux of spectral energy across a given wave number. The characterization of coherent structures is performed by means of a traditional two-dimensional wavelet transformation. By studying the correlation between the spectral energy flux and the wavelet amplitude, we demonstrate the strong relationship between scale-to-scale transfer and coherent structures. Furthermore, by conditioning one quantity with respect to the other, we are able for the first time to quantify the inhomogeneity of the turbulence cascade induced by topological structures in the magnetic field. Taking into account the low space-filling factor of coherent structures (i.e., they cover a small portion of space), it emerges that 80% of the spectral energy transfer (both in the direct and inverse cascade directions) is localized in about 50% of space, and 50% of the energy transfer is localized in only 25% of space.

Coherent Structures and Spectral Energy Transfer in Turbulent Plasma: A Space-Filter Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camporeale, E.; Sorriso-Valvo, L.; Califano, F.; Retinò, A.

2018-03-01

Plasma turbulence at scales of the order of the ion inertial length is mediated by several mechanisms, including linear wave damping, magnetic reconnection, the formation and dissipation of thin current sheets, and stochastic heating. It is now understood that the presence of localized coherent structures enhances the dissipation channels and the kinetic features of the plasma. However, no formal way of quantifying the relationship between scale-to-scale energy transfer and the presence of spatial structures has been presented so far. In the Letter we quantify such a relationship analyzing the results of a two-dimensional high-resolution Hall magnetohydrodynamic simulation. In particular, we employ the technique of space filtering to derive a spectral energy flux term which defines, in any point of the computational domain, the signed flux of spectral energy across a given wave number. The characterization of coherent structures is performed by means of a traditional two-dimensional wavelet transformation. By studying the correlation between the spectral energy flux and the wavelet amplitude, we demonstrate the strong relationship between scale-to-scale transfer and coherent structures. Furthermore, by conditioning one quantity with respect to the other, we are able for the first time to quantify the inhomogeneity of the turbulence cascade induced by topological structures in the magnetic field. Taking into account the low space-filling factor of coherent structures (i.e., they cover a small portion of space), it emerges that 80% of the spectral energy transfer (both in the direct and inverse cascade directions) is localized in about 50% of space, and 50% of the energy transfer is localized in only 25% of space.

Does the Hall Effect Solve the Flux Pileup Saturation Problem?

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dorelli, John C.

2010-01-01

It is well known that magnetic flux pileup can significantly speed up the rate of magnetic reconnection in high Lundquist number resistive MHD,allowing reconnection to proceed at a rate which is insensitive to the plasma resistivity over a wide range of Lundquist number. Hence, pileup is a possible solution to the Sweet-Parker time scale problem. Unfortunately, pileup tends to saturate above a critical value of the Lundquist number, S_c, where the value ofS_c depends on initial and boundary conditions, with Sweet-Parker scaling returning above S_c. It has been argued (see Dorelli and Bim [2003] and Dorelli [2003]) that the Hall effect can allow flux pileup to saturate (when the scale of the current sheet approaches ion inertial scale, di) before the reconnection rate begins to stall. However, the resulting saturated reconnection rate, while insensitive to the plasma resistivity, was found to depend strongly on the di. In this presentation, we revisit the problem of magnetic island coalescence (which is a well known example of flux pileup reconnection), addressing the dependence of the maximum coalescence rate on the ratio of di in the "large island" limit in which the following inequality is always satisfied: l_eta di lambda, where I_eta is the resistive diffusion length and lambda is the island wavelength.

Karpman-Washimi magnetization with electron-exchange effects in quantum plasmas

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

Hong, Woo-Pyo; Jamil, M.; Rasheed, A.

2015-07-15

The influence of quantum electron-exchange on the Karpman-Washimi ponderomotive magnetization is investigated in quantum plasmas. The ponderomotive magnetization and the total radiation power due to the non-stationary Karpman-Washimi interaction related to the time-varying field intensity are obtained as functions of the de Broglie wave length, Debye length, and electron-exchange parameter. The result shows that the electron-exchange effect enhances the cyclotron frequency due to the ponderomotive interactions in quantum plasmas. It is also shown that the electron-exchange effect on the Karpman-Washimi magnetization increases with increasing wave number. In addition, the Karpman-Washimi magnetization and the total radiation power increase with an increasemore » in the ratio of the Debye length to the de Broglie wave length. In streaming quantum plasmas, it is shown that the electron-exchange effect enhances the ponderomotive magnetization below the resonant wave number and, however, suppresses the ponderomotive magnetization above the resonant wave number. The variation of the Karpman-Washimi magnetization and the radiation power due to the variation of the electron-exchange effect and plasma parameters is also discussed.« less

Spectrometer employing optical fiber time delays for frequency resolution

DOEpatents

Schuss, Jack J.; Johnson, Larry C.

1979-01-01

This invention provides different length glass fibers for providing a broad range of optical time delays for short incident chromatic light pulses for the selective spatial and frequency analysis of the light with a single light detector. To this end, the frequencies of the incident light are orientated and matched with the different length fibers by dispersing the separate frequencies in space according to the respective fiber locations and lengths at the input terminal of the glass fibers. This makes the different length fibers useful in the field of plasma physics. To this end the short light pulses can be scattered by a plasma and then passed through the fibers for analyzing and diagnosing the plasma while it varies rapidly with time.

Kinetic feature of dipolarization fronts produced by interchange instability in the magnetotail

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyu, Haoyu

2017-04-01

A two-dimensional extended MHD simulation is performed to study the kinetic feature of depolarization fronts (DF) in the scale of the ion inertial length / ion Larmor radius. The interchange instability, arising due to the force imbalance between the tailward gradient of thermal pressure and Earthward magnetic curvature force, self-consistently produces the DF in the near-Earth region. Numerical investigations indicate that the DF is a tangential discontinuity, which means that the normal plasma velocity across the DF should be zero in the reference system that is static with the DF structure. The electric system, including electric field and current, is determined by Hall effect arising in the scale of ion inertial length. Hall effect not only mainly contributes on the electric field normal to the tangent plane of the DF, increases the current along the tangent plane of the DF, but also makes the DF structure asymmetric. The drifting motion of the large-scale DF structure is determined by the FLR effect arising in the scale of ion Larmor radius. The ion magnetization velocity induced by the FLR effect is towards to duskward at the subsolar point of the DF, but the y component of velocity in the region after the DF, which dominantly results in the drifting motion of the whole mushroom structure towards the dawn.

The cosmic web and microwave background fossilize the first turbulent combustion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibson, Carl H.; Keeler, R. Norris

2016-10-01

Collisional fluid mechanics theory predicts a turbulent hot big bang at Planck conditions from large, negative, turbulence stresses below the Fortov-Kerr limit (< -10113 Pa). Big bang turbulence fossilized when quarks formed, extracting the mass energy of the universe by extreme negative viscous stresses of inflation, expanding to length scales larger than the horizon scale ct. Viscous-gravitational structure formation by fragmentation was triggered at big bang fossil vorticity turbulence vortex lines during the plasma epoch, as observed by the Planck space telescope. A cosmic web of protogalaxies, protogalaxyclusters, and protogalaxysuperclusters that formed in turbulent boundary layers of the spinning voids are hereby identified as expanding turbulence fossils that falsify CDMHC cosmology.

Two-Dimensional Simulations of Electron Shock Ignition at the Megajoule Scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shang, W.; Betti, R.

2016-10-01

Shock ignition uses a late strong shock to ignite the hot spot of an inertial confinement fusion capsule. In the standard shock-ignition scheme, an ignitor shock is launched by the ablation pressure from a spike in laser intensity. Recent experiments on OMEGA have shown that focused beams with intensity up to 6 ×1015 W /cm2 can produce copious amounts of hot electrons. The hot electrons are produced by laser-plasma instabilities (LPI's) and can carry up to 15 % of the instantaneous laser power. Megajoule-scale targets will likely produce even more hot electrons because of the large plasma scale length. We show that it is possible to design ignition targets with low implosion velocities that can be shock ignited using LPI-generated hot electrons to obtain high energy gains. These designs are robust to low-mode asymmetries and they ignite even for highly distorted implosions. Electron shock ignition requires tens of kilojoules of hot electrons, which can only be produced on a large laser facility like the National Ignition Facility. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0001944.

Very Small Interstellar Spacecraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peck, Mason A.

2007-02-01

This paper considers lower limits of length scale in spacecraft: interstellar vehicles consisting of little more material than found in a typical integrated-circuit chip. Some fundamental scaling principles are introduced to show how the dynamics of the very small can be used to realize interstellar travel with minimal advancements in technology. Our recent study for the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts provides an example: the use of the Lorentz force that acts on electrically charged spacecraft traveling through planetary and stellar magnetospheres. Schaffer and Burns, among others, have used Cassini and Voyager imagery to show that this interaction is responsible for some of the resonances in the orbital dynamics of dust in Jupiter's and Saturn's rings. The Lorentz force turns out to vary in inverse proportion to the square of this characteristic length scale, making it a more effective means of propelling tiny spacecraft than solar sailing. Performance estimates, some insight into plasma interactions, and some hardware concepts are offered. The mission architectures considered here involve the use of these propellantless propulsion techniques for acceleration within our solar system and deceleration near the destination. Performance estimates, some insight into plasma interactions, and some hardware concepts are offered. The mission architectures considered here involve the use of these propellantless propulsion techniques for acceleration within our solar system and deceleration near the destination. We might envision a large number of such satellites with intermittent, bursty communications set up as a one-dimensional network to relay signals across great distances using only the power likely from such small spacecraft. Conveying imagery in this fashion may require a long time because of limited power, but the prospect of imaging another star system close-up ought to be worth the wait.

Lithium-based surfaces controlling fusion plasma behavior at the plasma-material interfacea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Allain, Jean Paul; Taylor, Chase N.

2012-05-01

The plasma-material interface and its impact on the performance of magnetically confined thermonuclear fusion plasmas are considered to be one of the key scientific gaps in the realization of nuclear fusion power. At this interface, high particle and heat flux from the fusion plasma can limit the material's lifetime and reliability and therefore hinder operation of the fusion device. Lithium-based surfaces are now being used in major magnetic confinement fusion devices and have observed profound effects on plasma performance including enhanced confinement, suppression and control of edge localized modes (ELM), lower hydrogen recycling and impurity suppression. The critical spatial scale length of deuterium and helium particle interactions in lithium ranges between 5-100 nm depending on the incident particle energies at the edge and magnetic configuration. Lithium-based surfaces also range from liquid state to solid lithium coatings on a variety of substrates (e.g., graphite, stainless steel, refractory metal W/Mo/etc., or porous metal structures). Temperature-dependent effects from lithium-based surfaces as plasma facing components (PFC) include magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) instability issues related to liquid lithium, surface impurity, and deuterium retention issues, and anomalous physical sputtering increase at temperatures above lithium's melting point. The paper discusses the viability of lithium-based surfaces in future burning-plasma environments such as those found in ITER and DEMO-like fusion reactor devices.

Transport in a field-aligned magnetized plasma and neutral gas boundary: the end of the plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cooper, Christopher; Gekelman, Walter

2012-10-01

A series of experiments at the Enormous Toroidal Plasma Device (ETPD) at UCLA study the Neutral Boundary Layer (NBL) between a magnetized plasma and a neutral gas in the direction of the confining field. A lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) cathode and semi-transparent anode create a current-free, weakly ionized (ne/nn<5%), helium plasma (B˜250 G, Rplasma=10cm, ne<10^12cm^3, Te<3eV, and Ti˜Tn) that terminates on helium gas without touching any walls. Probes inserted into the plasma measure the basic plasma parameters in the NBL. The NBL begins where the plasma and neutral gas pressures equilibrate and the electrons and ions come to rest through collisions with the neutral gas. A field-aligned electric field (δφ/kTe˜1) is established self-consistently to maintain a current-free termination and dominates transport in the NBL, similar to a sheath but with a length L˜10λei˜10^2λen˜10^5λD. A two-fluid weakly-ionized transport model describes the system. A generalized Ohm's Law correctly predicts the electric field observed. The pressure balance criteria and magnitude of the termination electric field are confirmed over a scaling of parameters. The model can also be used to describe the atmospheric termination of aurora or fully detached gaseous divertors.

Effects of weakly coupled and dense quantum plasmas environments on charge exchange and ionization processes in Na+ + Rb(5s) atom collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pandey, Mukesh Kumar; Lin, Yen-Chang; Ho, Yew Kam

2017-02-01

The effects of weakly coupled or classical and dense quantum plasmas environment on charge exchange and ionization processes in Na+ + Rb(5s) atom collision at keV energy range have been investigated using classical trajectory Monte Carlo (CTMC) method. The interaction of three charged particles are described by the Debye-Hückel screen potential for weakly coupled plasma, whereas exponential cosine-screened Coulomb potential have been used for dense quantum plasma environment and the effects of both conditions on the cross sections are compared. It is found that screening effects on cross sections in high Debye length condition is quite small in both plasma environments. However, enhanced screening effects on cross sections are observed in dense quantum plasmas for low Debye length condition, which becomes more effective while decreasing the Debye length. Also, we have found that our calculated results for plasma-free case are comparable with the available theoretical results. These results are analyzed in light of available theoretical data with the choice of model potentials.

Patterning at the 10 nanometer length scale using a strongly segregating block copolymer thin film and vapor phase infiltration of inorganic precursors

DOE PAGES

Choi, Jonathan W.; Li, Zhaodong; Black, Charles T.; ...

2016-05-04

Here in this work, we demonstrate the use of self-assembled thin films of the cylinder-forming block copolymer poly(4-tert-butylstyrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) to pattern high density features at the 10 nm length scale. This material's large interaction parameter facilitates pattern formation in single-digit nanometer dimensions. This block copolymer's accessible order–disorder transition temperature allows thermal annealing to drive the assembly of ordered 2-vinylpyridine cylinders that can be selectively complexed with the organometallic precursor trimethylaluminum. This unique chemistry converts organic 2-vinylpyridine cylinders into alumina nanowires with diameters ranging from 8 to 11 nm, depending on the copolymer molecular weight. Graphoepitaxy of this block copolymer aligns andmore » registers sub-12 nm diameter nanowires to larger-scale rectangular, curved, and circular features patterned by optical lithography. The alumina nanowires function as a robust hard mask to withstand the conditions required for patterning the underlying silicon by plasma etching. Lastly, we conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges that arise with using block copolymers for patterning at sub-10 nm feature sizes.« less

Patterning at the 10 nanometer length scale using a strongly segregating block copolymer thin film and vapor phase infiltration of inorganic precursors

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

Choi, Jonathan W.; Li, Zhaodong; Black, Charles T.

Here in this work, we demonstrate the use of self-assembled thin films of the cylinder-forming block copolymer poly(4-tert-butylstyrene-block-2-vinylpyridine) to pattern high density features at the 10 nm length scale. This material's large interaction parameter facilitates pattern formation in single-digit nanometer dimensions. This block copolymer's accessible order–disorder transition temperature allows thermal annealing to drive the assembly of ordered 2-vinylpyridine cylinders that can be selectively complexed with the organometallic precursor trimethylaluminum. This unique chemistry converts organic 2-vinylpyridine cylinders into alumina nanowires with diameters ranging from 8 to 11 nm, depending on the copolymer molecular weight. Graphoepitaxy of this block copolymer aligns andmore » registers sub-12 nm diameter nanowires to larger-scale rectangular, curved, and circular features patterned by optical lithography. The alumina nanowires function as a robust hard mask to withstand the conditions required for patterning the underlying silicon by plasma etching. Lastly, we conclude with a discussion of some of the challenges that arise with using block copolymers for patterning at sub-10 nm feature sizes.« less

Fields in laser-ablated plasmas generalized to degenerate electrons and to Fermi energy in nuclei with change to quark-gluon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hora, Heinrich; Miley, George H.; Osman, Frederick; Hammerling, Peter X.

2004-09-01

The studies of laser ablation have lead to a new theory of nuclei, endothermic nuclei generation and quark-gluon plasmas. The surface of ablated plasma expanding into vacuum after high power laser irradiation of targets, contains an electric double layer having the thickness of the Debye length. This led to the discovery of surface tension of plasmas and to the internal dynamic electric fields in all inhomogeneous plasmas. The surface causes stabilization by short length surface waves smoothing the expanding plasma plume. Generalizing this to the degenerate electrons in a metal with the Fermi energy instead of the temperature, resulted in the surface tension of metals in agreement with measurements. Taking then the Fermi energy in the Debye length for nucleons results in a theory of nuclei with stable confinement of protons and neutrons just at the well known nuclear density, and in the Debye length equal to Hofstadter's decay of the nuclear surface. Increasing the nuclear density by a factor of 6 leads to the change of the Fermi energy into its relativistic branch where no surface energy is possible and the particle mass is not defined, permitting the quark-gluon plasma. Expansion of this higher density at the big band or in a supernova results in nucleation and element generation. The Boltzmann equilibrium permits the synthesis of nuclei even in the endothermic range limited to about uranium.

Hall-MHD and PIC Modeling of the Conduction-to-Opening Transition in a Plasma Opening Switch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schumer, J. W.; SwanekampDdagger, S. B.; Ottinger, P. F.; Commisso, R. J.; Weber, B. V.

1998-11-01

Utilizing the fast opening characteristics of a plasma opening switch (POS), inductive energy storage devices can generate short-duration high-power pulses (<0.1 μ s, >1 TW) with current rise-times on the order of 10 ns. Plasma redistribution and thinning during the POS conduction phase can be modeled adequately with MHD methods. By including the Hall term in Ohm's Law, MHD methods can simulate plasmas with density gradient scale lengths between c/ω_pe < Ln < c/ω_pi. However, the neglect of electron inertia (c/ω_pe) and space-charge separation (λ_De) by single-fluid theory eventually becomes invalid in small gap regions that form during POS opening. PIC methods are well-suited for low-density plasmas, but are numerically taxed by high-density POS regions. An interface converts MHD (Mach2) output into PIC (Magic) input suitable for validating various transition criteria through comparison of current and density distributions from both methods. We will discuss recent progress in interfacing Hall-MHD and PIC simulations. Work supported by Defense Special Weapons Agency. ^ NRL-NRC Research Associate. hspace0.25in ^ JAYCOR, Vienna, VA 22102.

The role of the density gradient on intermittent cross-field transport events in a simple magnetized toroidal plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Theiler, C.; Diallo, A.; Fasoli, A.; Furno, I.; Labit, B.; Podestà, M.; Poli, F. M.; Ricci, P.

2008-04-01

Intermittent cross-field particle transport events (ITEs) are studied in the basic toroidal device TORPEX [TORoidal Plasma EXperiment, A. Fasoli et al., Phys. Plasmas 13, 055902 (2006)], with focus on the role of the density gradient. ITEs are due to the intermittent radial elongation of an interchange mode. The elongating positive wave crests can break apart and form blobs. This is not necessary, however, for plasma particles to be convected a considerable distance across the magnetic field lines. Conditionally sampled data reveal two different scenarios leading to ITEs. In the first case, the interchange mode grows radially from a slab-like density profile and leads to the ITE. A novel analysis technique reveals a monotonic dependence between the vertically averaged inverse radial density scale length and the probability for a subsequent ITE. In the second case, the mode is already observed before the start of the ITE. It does not elongate radially in a first stage, but at a later time. It is shown that this elongation is preceded by a steepening of the density profile as well.

A Numerical Study of the Non-Ideal Behavior, Parameters, and Novel Applications of an Electrothermal Plasma Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winfrey, A. Leigh

Electrothermal plasma sources have numerous applications including hypervelocity launchers, fusion reactor pellet injection, and space propulsion systems. The time evolution of important plasma parameters at the source exit is important in determining the suitability of the source for different applications. In this study a capillary discharge code has been modified to incorporate non-ideal behavior by using an exact analytical model for the Coulomb logarithm in the plasma electrical conductivity formula. Actual discharge currents from electrothermal plasma experiments were used and code results for both ideal and non-ideal plasma models were compared to experimental data, specifically the ablated mass from the capillary and the electrical conductivity as measured by the discharge current and the voltage. Electrothermal plasma sources operating in the ablation-controlled arc regime use discharge currents with pulse lengths between 100 micros to 1 ms. Faster or longer or extended flat-top pulses can also be generated to satisfy various applications of ET sources. Extension of the peak current for up to an additional 1000 micros was tested. Calculations for non-ideal and ideal plasma models show that extended flattop pulses produce more ablated mass, which scales linearly with increased pulse length while other parameters remain almost constant. A new configuration of the PIPE source has been proposed in order to investigate the formation of plasmas from mixed materials. The electrothermal segmented plasma source can be used for studies related to surface coatings, surface modification, ion implantation, materials synthesis, and the physics of complex mixed plasmas. This source is a capillary discharge where the ablation liner is made from segments of different materials instead of a single sleeve. This system should allow for the modeling and characterization of the growth plasma as it provides all materials needed for fabrication through the same method. An ablation-free capillary discharge computer code has been developed to model plasma flow and acceleration of pellets for fusion fueling in magnetic fusion reactors. Two case studies with and without ablation, including different source configurations have been studied here. Velocities necessary for fusion fueling have been achieved. New additions made to the code model incorporate radial heat and energy transfer and move ETFLOW towards being a 2-D model of the plasma flow. This semi 2-D approach gives a view of the behavior of the plasma inside the capillary as it is affected by important physical parameters such as radial thermal heat conduction and their effect on wall ablation.

The island coalescence problem: Scaling of reconnection in extended fluid models including higher-order moments

DOE PAGES

Ng, Jonathan; Huang, Yi -Min; Hakim, Ammar; ...

2015-11-05

As modeling of collisionless magnetic reconnection in most space plasmas with realistic parameters is beyond the capability of today's simulations, due to the separation between global and kinetic length scales, it is important to establish scaling relations in model problems so as to extrapolate to realistic scales. Furthermore, large scale particle-in-cell simulations of island coalescence have shown that the time averaged reconnection rate decreases with system size, while fluid systems at such large scales in the Hall regime have not been studied. Here, we perform the complementary resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD), Hall MHD, and two fluid simulations using a ten-moment modelmore » with the same geometry. In contrast to the standard Harris sheet reconnection problem, Hall MHD is insufficient to capture the physics of the reconnection region. Additionally, motivated by the results of a recent set of hybrid simulations which show the importance of ion kinetics in this geometry, we evaluate the efficacy of the ten-moment model in reproducing such results.« less

Suppression of the n=2 rotational instability in field-reversed configurations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hoffman, Alan L.; Slough, J.; Harding, Dennis G.

1983-06-01

Compact toroid plasmas formed in field-reversed theta pinches are generally destroyed after 30-50 μsec by a rotating n=2 instability. In the reported experiment, instability is controlled, and the plasma destruction is avoided in the TRX-1 theta pinch through the application of octopole magnetic fields. The decay times for loss of poloidal flux and particles are unaffected by the octopole fields. These decay times are about 100 μsec based on inferences from interferometry and excluded flux measurements. The weak, rotating elliptical disturbance (controlled n=2 mode) also made possible a novel determination of the density profile near the separatrix using single-chord interferometry. The local density gradient scale length in this region is found to be about one ion gyrodiameter.

Flyway-scale variation in plasma triglyceride levels as an index of refueling rate in spring-migrating western sandpipers (Calidris mauri)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Williams, T.D.; Warnock, N.; Takekawa, John Y.; Bishop, M.A.

2007-01-01

We combined radiotelemetry, plasma metabolite analyses, and macro-invertebrate prey sampling to investigate variation in putative fattening rates (estimated as plasma triglyceride levels) at the flyway scale in Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) migrating between Punta Banda, Mexico (31°N), and Hartney Bay, Alaska (60°N), a distance of 4,240 km. Birds were caught at a wintering site (San Francisco Bay) and eight stopover sites along this Pacific Flyway. Body mass was higher in females than in males at six sites, but variation was not correlated with latitude for either sex, and the relationship of change in mass by date within sites was uninformative with regard to possible latitudinal variation in fattening rates. At San Francisco Bay, triglyceride levels were higher in the spring than in the winter. Mean plasma triglyceride varied among stopover sites, and there was a significant linear trend of increasing triglyceride levels with latitude as birds migrated north. At San Francisco Bay, length of stay was negatively related to triglyceride levels. However, plasma triglyceride levels at wintering or initial stopover sites (San Francisco and Punta Banda) did not predict individual variation in subsequent rates of travel during migration. We found no significant relationship between triglyceride levels and prey biomass at different stopover sites, which suggests that the latitudinal pattern is not explained by latitudinal changes in food availability. Rather, we suggest that differences in physiology of migratory birds at southern versus northern stopover sites or behavioral differences may allow birds to sustain higher fattening rates closer to the breeding grounds.

Finite Gyroradius Effects Observed in Pickup Oxygen Ions at Venus

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hartle, Richard E.; Intriligator, Devrie; Grebowsky, Joseph M.; Einaudi, Franco (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

On the dayside of Venus, the hot oxygen corona extending above the ionopause is the principal source of pickup oxygen ions. The ions are born here and picked up by the ionosheath plasma as it is deflected around the planet. These pickup ions have been observed by the Orbiter Plasma Analyzer (OPA) throughout the Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) mission. They were observed over a region extending from their dayside source to great distances downstream (about 10 Venus radii), in the solar wind wake, as PVO passed through apoapsis. Finite gyroradius effects in the velocity distribution of the oxygen pickup ions are expected in the source region because the gyroradius is several times larger than the scale height of the hot oxygen source. Such effects are also expected in those regions of the ionosheath where the scale lengths of the magnetic field and the ambient plasma velocity field are less than the pickup ion gyroradius. While explicitly accounting for the spatial distribution of the hot oxygen source, an analytic expression for the pickup oxygen ion velocity distribution is developed to study how it is affected by finite gyroradii. The analysis demonstrates that as the gyroradius increases by factors of three to six above the hot oxygen scale height, the peak of the pickup oxygen ion flux distribution decreases 25 to 50% below the maximum allowed speed, which is twice the speed of the ambient plasma times the sine of the angle between the magnetic field and the flow velocity. The pickup oxygen ion flux distribution observed by OPA is shown to follow this behavior in the source region. It is also shown that this result is consistent with the pickup ion distributions observed in the wake, downstream of the source, where the flux peaks are usually well below the maximum allowed speed.

Convergence of lateral dynamic measurements in the plasma membrane of live cells from single particle tracking and STED-FCS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lagerholm, B. Christoffer; Andrade, Débora M.; Clausen, Mathias P.; Eggeling, Christian

2017-02-01

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) in combination with the super-resolution imaging method STED (STED-FCS), and single-particle tracking (SPT) are able to directly probe the lateral dynamics of lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane of live cells at spatial scales much below the diffraction limit of conventional microscopy. However, a major disparity in interpretation of data from SPT and STED-FCS remains, namely the proposed existence of a very fast (unhindered) lateral diffusion coefficient, ⩾5 µm2 s-1, in the plasma membrane of live cells at very short length scales, ≈⩽ 100 nm, and time scales, ≈1-10 ms. This fast diffusion coefficient has been advocated in several high-speed SPT studies, for lipids and membrane proteins alike, but the equivalent has not been detected in STED-FCS measurements. Resolving this ambiguity is important because the assessment of membrane dynamics currently relies heavily on SPT for the determination of heterogeneous diffusion. A possible systematic error in this approach would thus have vast implications in this field. To address this, we have re-visited the analysis procedure for SPT data with an emphasis on the measurement errors and the effect that these errors have on the measurement outputs. We subsequently demonstrate that STED-FCS and SPT data, following careful consideration of the experimental errors of the SPT data, converge to a common interpretation which for the case of a diffusing phospholipid analogue in the plasma membrane of live mouse embryo fibroblasts results in an unhindered, intra-compartment, diffusion coefficient of  ≈0.7-1.0 µm2 s-1, and a compartment size of about 100-150 nm.

Convergence of lateral dynamic measurements in the plasma membrane of live cells from single particle tracking and STED-FCS

PubMed Central

Lagerholm, B Christoffer; Andrade, Débora M; Clausen, Mathias P; Eggeling, Christian

2017-01-01

Abstract Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) in combination with the super-resolution imaging method STED (STED-FCS), and single-particle tracking (SPT) are able to directly probe the lateral dynamics of lipids and proteins in the plasma membrane of live cells at spatial scales much below the diffraction limit of conventional microscopy. However, a major disparity in interpretation of data from SPT and STED-FCS remains, namely the proposed existence of a very fast (unhindered) lateral diffusion coefficient, ⩾5 µm2 s−1, in the plasma membrane of live cells at very short length scales, ≈⩽ 100 nm, and time scales, ≈1–10 ms. This fast diffusion coefficient has been advocated in several high-speed SPT studies, for lipids and membrane proteins alike, but the equivalent has not been detected in STED-FCS measurements. Resolving this ambiguity is important because the assessment of membrane dynamics currently relies heavily on SPT for the determination of heterogeneous diffusion. A possible systematic error in this approach would thus have vast implications in this field. To address this, we have re-visited the analysis procedure for SPT data with an emphasis on the measurement errors and the effect that these errors have on the measurement outputs. We subsequently demonstrate that STED-FCS and SPT data, following careful consideration of the experimental errors of the SPT data, converge to a common interpretation which for the case of a diffusing phospholipid analogue in the plasma membrane of live mouse embryo fibroblasts results in an unhindered, intra-compartment, diffusion coefficient of  ≈0.7–1.0 µm2 s−1, and a compartment size of about 100–150 nm. PMID:28458397

Time-Domain Modeling of RF Antennas and Plasma-Surface Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jenkins, Thomas G.; Smithe, David N.

2017-10-01

Recent advances in finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) modeling techniques allow plasma-surface interactions such as sheath formation and sputtering to be modeled concurrently with the physics of antenna near- and far-field behavior and ICRF power flow. Although typical sheath length scales (micrometers) are much smaller than the wavelengths of fast (tens of cm) and slow (millimeter) waves excited by the antenna, sheath behavior near plasma-facing antenna components can be represented by a sub-grid kinetic sheath boundary condition, from which RF-rectified sheath potential variation over the surface is computed as a function of current flow and local plasma parameters near the wall. These local time-varying sheath potentials can then be used, in tandem with particle-in-cell (PIC) models of the edge plasma, to study sputtering effects. Particle strike energies at the wall can be computed more accurately, consistent with their passage through the known potential of the sheath, such that correspondingly increased accuracy of sputtering yields and heat/particle fluxes to antenna surfaces is obtained. The new simulation capabilities enable time-domain modeling of plasma-surface interactions and ICRF physics in realistic experimental configurations at unprecedented spatial resolution. We will present results/animations from high-performance (10k-100k core) FDTD/PIC simulations of Alcator C-Mod antenna operation.

Experimental investigation of the effect of insulator sleeve length on the time to pinch and multipinch formation in the plasma focus facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Momenei, M.; Khodabakhshei, Z.; Panahi, N.; Mohammadi, M. A.

2017-03-01

The length of insulator sleeve is varied to investigate its effect on the pinch formation in the plasma focus facility. In this paper, the effect of insulator length on the time to pinch at various pressures and working voltages in the 1.15 kJ Mather type plasma focus is investigated. The results show that with 4.5 cm insulator length the time to pinch at all pressures is minimum. Other results also confirm that with increasing of pressure the time to pinch is increased. Moreover, with increasing working voltage the time to pinch is decreased. Pictures, captured using a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) Canon EOS 7D system, show that multipinch phenomenon is formed.

Dissipation and heating in solar wind turbulence: from the macro to the micro and back again.

PubMed

Kiyani, Khurom H; Osman, Kareem T; Chapman, Sandra C

2015-05-13

The past decade has seen a flurry of research activity focused on discerning the physics of kinetic scale turbulence in high-speed astrophysical plasma flows. By 'kinetic' we mean spatial scales on the order of or, in particular, smaller than the ion inertial length or the ion gyro-radius--the spatial scales at which the ion and electron bulk velocities decouple and considerable change can be seen in the ion distribution functions. The motivation behind most of these studies is to find the ultimate fate of the energy cascade of plasma turbulence, and thereby the channels by which the energy in the system is dissipated. This brief Introduction motivates the case for a themed issue on this topic and introduces the topic of turbulent dissipation and heating in the solar wind. The theme issue covers the full breadth of studies: from theory and models, massive simulations of these models and observational studies from the highly rich and vast amount of data collected from scores of heliospheric space missions since the dawn of the space age. A synopsis of the theme issue is provided, where a brief description of all the contributions is discussed and how they fit together to provide an over-arching picture on the highly topical subject of dissipation and heating in turbulent collisionless plasmas in general and in the solar wind in particular. © 2015 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Electron heating by intense short-pulse lasers propagating through near-critical plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debayle, A.; Mollica, F.; Vauzour, B.; Wan, Y.; Flacco, A.; Malka, V.; Davoine, X.; Gremillet, L.

2017-12-01

We investigate the electron heating induced by a relativistic-intensity laser pulse propagating through a near-critical plasma. Using particle-in-cell simulations, we show that a specific interaction regime sets in when, due to the energy depletion caused by the plasma wakefield, the laser front profile has steepened to the point of having a length scale close to the laser wavelength. Wave breaking and phase mixing have then occurred, giving rise to a relativistically hot electron population following the laser pulse. This hot electron flow is dense enough to neutralize the cold bulk electrons during their backward acceleration by the wakefield. This neutralization mechanism delays, but does not prevent the breaking of the wakefield: the resulting phase mixing converts the large kinetic energy of the backward-flowing electrons into thermal energy greatly exceeding the conventional ponderomotive scaling at laser intensities > {10}21 {{{W}}{cm}}-2 and gas densities around 10% of the critical density. We develop a semi-numerical model, based on the Akhiezer-Polovin equations, which correctly reproduces the particle-in-cell-predicted electron thermal energies over a broad parameter range. Given this good agreement, we propose a criterion for full laser absorption that includes field-induced ionization. Finally, we show that our predictions still hold in a two-dimensional geometry using a realistic gas profile.

Magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling: processes and rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lotko, W.

Magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling describes the interaction between the collisionless plasma of the magnetosphere and the ionized and neutral collisional gases of the ionosphere and thermosphere. This coupling introduces feedback and scale interactivity in the form of a time-variable mass flux, electron energy flux and Poynting flux flowing between the two regions. Although delineation of an MI coupling region is somewhat ambiguous, at mid and high latitudes it may be considered as the region of the topside ionosphere and low-altitude magnetosphere where electromagnetic energy is converted to plasma beams and heat via collisionless dissipation processes. Above this region the magnetically guided transmission of electromagnetic power from distant magnetospheric dynamos encounters only weak attenuation. The ionospheric region below it is dominated by ionization processes and collisional cross-field transport and current closure. This tutorial will use observations, models and theory to characterize three major issues in MI coupling: (1) the production of plasma beams and heat in the coupling region; (2) the acceleration of ions leading to massive outflows; and (3) the length and time scale dependence of electromagnetic energy deposition at low altitude. Our success in identifying many of the key processes is offset by a lack of quantitative understanding of the factors controlling the rates of energy deposition and of the production of particle energy and mass fluxes.

A scalable, micropore, platelet rich plasma separation device.

PubMed

Dickson, Mary Nora; Amar, Levy; Hill, Michael; Schwartz, Joseph; Leonard, Edward F

2012-12-01

We have designed a novel, low energy platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) separator capable of producing 50 mL of PRP in 30 min, intended for military and emergency applications. Blood flows over a 3 mm length of sieve at high rates of shear. A plasma-platelet filtrate passes through the sieve's pores while erythrocytes remain. The filtrate is flowed over a second 3 mm length of smaller-pored sieve that withdraws plasma. Bulk blood volume is maintained by returning platelet-free plasma to the erythrocyte pool, enabling a nearly complete multi-pass platelet extraction. The total percentage of platelets extracted is:θ(T)=1-exp (-V(f)(T)Φ(P)/V) where V is the original plasma volume, V ( f )(T) is the total filtered volume, and ϕ ( P ) is platelet passage ratio (filtrate concentration/bulk average concentration) taken to be constant. Maximum θ(T) occurs at maximum V ( f )(T)× ϕ ( P ) Test microsieves, 3 mm long × 3 mm wide, were used. ϕ ( P ) values measured at various filtrate flow rates (20-100 uL/min) and utilizing various filter pore sizes (1.2-3.5 μm), was as high as 150 %. Maximum V ( f )(T)× ϕ ( P ) was achieved utilizing the 3.5 um filters at the highest flow rate, 100 uL/min. Erythrocyte leakages were always below 2,000/uL, far below the allowable limit stipulated by the American Association of Blood Banking. These data imply that a 13.7 cm(2) filter area is sufficient to achieve the target separation of 50 mL of platelet concentrate in 30 min. The filtration cartridge would consist of multiple microporous strips of 3 mm width arranged in parallel so that each element would see the conditions used in the prototype experiments presented here. Other microfiltration schemes suggest no method of scaling to practical levels.

The C-terminal domain of TRPV4 is essential for plasma membrane localization.

PubMed

Becker, Daniel; Müller, Margarethe; Leuner, Kristina; Jendrach, Marina

2008-02-01

Many members of the TRP superfamily oligomerize in the ER before trafficking to the plasma membrane. For membrane localization of the non-selective cation channel TRPV4 specific domains in the N-terminus are required, but the role of the C-terminus in the oligomerization and trafficking process has been not determined until now. Therefore, the localization of recombinant TRPV4 in two cell models was analyzed: HaCaT keratinocytes that express TRPV4 endogenously were compared to CHO cells that are devoid of endogenous TRPV4. When deletions were introduced in the C-terminal domain three states of TRPV4 localization were defined: a truncated TRPV4 protein of 855 amino acids was exported to the plasma membrane like the full-length channel (871 aa) and was also functional. Mutants with a length of 828 to 844 amino acids remained in the ER of CHO cells, but in HaCaT cells plasma membrane localization was partially rescued by oligomerization with endogenous TRPV4. This was confirmed by coexpression of recombinant full-length TRPV4 together with these deletion mutants, which resulted in an almost complete plasma membrane localization of both proteins and significant FRET in the plasma membrane and the ER. All deletions upstream of amino acid 828 resulted in total ER retention that could not rescued by coexpression with the full-length protein. However, these deletion mutants did not impair export of full-length TRPV4, implying that no oligomerization took place. These data indicate that the C-terminus of TRPV4 is required for oligomerization, which takes place in the ER and precedes plasma membrane trafficking.

LASER PLASMA AND LASER APPLICATIONS: Plasma transparency in laser absorption waves in metal capillaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anisimov, V. N.; Kozolupenko, A. P.; Sebrant, A. Yu

1988-12-01

An experimental investigation was made of the plasma transparency to heating radiation in capillaries when absorption waves propagated in these capillaries as a result of interaction with a CO2 laser pulse of 5-μs duration. When the length of the capillary was in excess of 20 mm, total absorption of the radiation by the plasma was observed at air pressures of 1-100 kPa. When the capillary length was 12 mm, a partial recovery of the transparency took place. A comparison was made with the dynamics and recovery of the plasma transparency when breakdown of air took place near the free surface.

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

Shlapakovski, A. S.; Beilin, L.; Krasik, Ya. E.

Nanosecond-scale evolution of plasma and RF electromagnetic fields during the release of energy from a microwave pulse compressor with a plasma interference switch was investigated numerically using the code MAGIC. The plasma was simulated in the scope of the gas conductivity model in MAGIC. The compressor embodied an S-band cavity and H-plane waveguide tee with a shorted side arm filled with pressurized gas. In a simplified approach, the gas discharge was initiated by setting an external ionization rate in a layer crossing the side arm waveguide in the location of the electric field antinode. It was found that with increasingmore » ionization rate, the microwave energy absorbed by the plasma in the first few nanoseconds increases, but the absorption for the whole duration of energy release, on the contrary, decreases. In a hybrid approach modeling laser ignition of the discharge, seed electrons were set around the electric field antinode. In this case, the plasma extends along the field forming a filament and the plasma density increases up to the level at which the electric field within the plasma decreases due to the skin effect. Then, the avalanche rate decreases but the density still rises until the microwave energy release begins and the electric field becomes insufficient to support the avalanche process. The extraction of the microwave pulse limits its own power by terminating the rise of the plasma density and filament length. For efficient extraction, a sufficiently long filament of dense plasma must have sufficient time to be formed.« less

INTRODUCTION: Award of the 2004 Hannes Alfvén Prize of the European Physical Society to J W Connor, R J Hastie and J B Taylor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lister, Jo, Dr

2004-12-01

Jack Connor, Jim Hastie and Bryan Taylor The Hannes Alfvén Prize of the European Physical Society for Outstanding Contributions to Plasma Physics (2004) has been awarded to Jack Connor, Jim Hastie and Bryan Taylor `for their seminal contributions to a wide range of issues of fundamental importance to the success of magnetic confinement fusion, including: the development of gyro-kinetic theory; the prediction of the bootstrap current; dimensionless scaling laws; pressure-limiting instabilities, and micro-stability and transport theory'. Jack Connor, Jim Hastie and Bryan Taylor form one of the most successful teams of theoretical physicists in the history of magnetic confinement fusion. They have made important contributions individually, but their greatest discoveries have mostly been accomplished jointly, either in pairs or as a team involving all three. Their early work, in the 1960s, included the development of the gyro-kinetic theory for fine-scale plasma instabilities, which today forms the basis of the most advanced turbulence simulation codes in tokamak and stellarator research. The theoretical prediction of the bootstrap current, made in 1970-71 was not confirmed experimentally for over a decade but is now regarded as crucial to the success of the tokamak as a steady-state fusion power source. Their work on collisional transport also included the prediction of impurity ion accumulation, which is observed in internal transport barriers and is a key concern for long-pulse tokamak operation. The relativistic threshold for runaway electrons, identified in 1975, forms the basis of the most recent tokamak disruption mitigation schemes. In the late 1970s, the team developed the theory for ballooning instabilities, which provided an important ingredient in the `Troyon-Sykes' β-limit—an expression that is still used as a guide to the performance of tokamaks and in the design of ITER. Ballooning mode theory has also contributed to the understanding of instabilities in space plasmas such as magnetospheres and the solar corona. Finally, coming right up to date, the ballooning mode is thought to be a key ingredient in edge-localized modes (ELMs), which are a main issue for ITER, and ballooning stability is an important feature of modern stellarators. In the late 1970s and through the 1980s, the concept of dimensionless scaling laws was introduced and developed (following work by Kadomtsev), enabling scalings for transport coefficients to be derived without tackling all the details of the plasma turbulence. The same ideas are still used today to provide various constraints on confinement scaling laws, for example, on which the ITER design is largely based. The linear theory of toroidal drift waves was also developed by the team during this period, and into the 1990s. Key results on the role of shear damping in toroidal geometry, the identification of modes with extended radial correlation lengths, and the role of flow shear in reducing these correlation lengths (and hence transport) were deduced. All of these are key ideas that are often components in theoretical models for tokamak confinement and the generation of transport barriers. This laudation can only address a small number of the areas in which this formidable team of theoretical plasma physicists have made great contributions to our understanding of magnetically confined plasmas. It is appropriate and timely that their contributions are recognized as they approach the end of their careers.

Direct measurement of the plasma screening length and surface potential near the lunar terminator

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

Benson, J.

1977-05-01

Direct measurement of the lunar dayside surface potential and screening length has been made by the suprathermal ion detector experiment (Side) near the terminator. In a region 20degree--30degree from the terminator at the Apollo 14 and 15 sites the surface potential is found to be approximately 50 V negative, and the screening length to be about 1 km. This value of the screening length is more than 2 orders of magnitude greater than the solar wind 'Debye' length. The strong negative surface potential in this region may be due to enhanced temperature and density of the solar wind plasma.

Direct measurement of the plasma screening length and surface potential near the lunar terminator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Benson, J.

1977-01-01

Direct measurement of the lunar dayside surface potential and screening length has been made by the suprathermal ion detector experiment (Side) near the terminator. In a region 20-30 deg from the terminator at the Apollo 14 and 15 sites the surface potential is found to be approximately 50 V negative, and the screening length to be about 1 km. This value of the screening length is more than 2 orders of magnitude greater than the solar wind 'Debye' length. The strong negative surface potential in this region may be due to enhanced temperature and density of the solar wind plasma.

Status of Electron Bernstein Wave (EBW) Research on NSTX and CDX-U

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, G.; Efthimion, P. C.; Jones, B. M.; Wilson, J. R.; Wilgen, J. B.; Bell, G. L.; Bigelow, T. S.; Rasmussen, D. A.; Ram, A. K.; Bers, A.; Harvey, R. W.

2002-11-01

Recent studies of EBWs, via mode conversion (MC) to X-mode electromagnetic radiation on the CDX-U and NSTX spherical torus (ST) plasmas, support the use of EBWs to measure the Te profile and allow local heating and current drive in ST plasmas. An in-vessel antenna with a local adjustable limiter has successfully controlled the density scale length at the MC layer in CDX-U increasing the MC by an order of magnitude to ˜ 100%. A similar technique on NSTX has so far increased MC efficiency fivefold to ˜ 50%. Both results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions. Experiments focused on achieving >= 80% MC on NSTX are planned for the coming year. Ray tracing and Fokker-Planck modeling support the design of a ˜ 1 MW EBW heating and current drive system for NSTX that will assist plasma startup, locally heat electrons, drive non-inductive current and may suppress tearing modes or other MHD that limit high β operation.

Quasi-monoenergetic laser-plasma acceleration of electrons to 2 GeV

PubMed Central

Wang, Xiaoming; Zgadzaj, Rafal; Fazel, Neil; Li, Zhengyan; Yi, S. A.; Zhang, Xi; Henderson, Watson; Chang, Y.-Y.; Korzekwa, R.; Tsai, H.-E.; Pai, C.-H.; Quevedo, H.; Dyer, G.; Gaul, E.; Martinez, M.; Bernstein, A. C.; Borger, T.; Spinks, M.; Donovan, M.; Khudik, V.; Shvets, G.; Ditmire, T.; Downer, M. C.

2013-01-01

Laser-plasma accelerators of only a centimetre’s length have produced nearly monoenergetic electron bunches with energy as high as 1 GeV. Scaling these compact accelerators to multi-gigaelectronvolt energy would open the prospect of building X-ray free-electron lasers and linear colliders hundreds of times smaller than conventional facilities, but the 1 GeV barrier has so far proven insurmountable. Here, by applying new petawatt laser technology, we produce electron bunches with a spectrum prominently peaked at 2 GeV with only a few per cent energy spread and unprecedented sub-milliradian divergence. Petawatt pulses inject ambient plasma electrons into the laser-driven accelerator at much lower density than was previously possible, thereby overcoming the principal physical barriers to multi-gigaelectronvolt acceleration: dephasing between laser-driven wake and accelerating electrons and laser pulse erosion. Simulations indicate that with improvements in the laser-pulse focus quality, acceleration to nearly 10 GeV should be possible with the available pulse energy. PMID:23756359

Properties of ion temperature gradient and trapped electron modes in tokamak plasmas with inverted density profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Du, Huarong; Jhang, Hogun; Hahm, T. S.; Dong, J. Q.; Wang, Z. X.

2017-12-01

We perform a numerical study of linear stability of the ion temperature gradient (ITG) mode and the trapped electron mode (TEM) in tokamak plasmas with inverted density profiles. A local gyrokinetic integral equation is applied for this study. From comprehensive parametric scans, we obtain stability diagrams for ITG modes and TEMs in terms of density and temperature gradient scale lengths. The results show that, for the inverted density profile, there exists a normalized threshold temperature gradient above which the ITG mode and the TEM are either separately or simultaneously unstable. The instability threshold of the TEM for the inverted density profile is substantially different from that for normal and flat density profiles. In addition, deviations are found on the ITG threshold from an early analytic theory in sheared slab geometry with the adiabatic electron response [T. S. Hahm and W. M. Tang, Phys. Fluids B 1, 1185 (1989)]. A possible implication of this work on particle transport in pellet fueled tokamak plasmas is discussed.

Ion temperature gradient mode driven solitons and shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakir, U.; Adnan, Muhammad; Haque, Q.; Qamar, Anisa; Mirza, Arshad M.

2016-04-01

Ion temperature gradient (ITG) driven solitons and shocks are studied in a plasma having gradients in the equilibrium number density and equilibrium ion temperature. In the linear regime, it is found that the ion temperature and the ratio of the gradient scale lengths, ηi=Ln/LT , affect both the real frequency and the growth rate of the ITG driven wave instability. In the nonlinear regime, for the first time we derive a Korteweg de Vries-type equation for the ITG mode, which admits solitary wave solution. It is found that the ITG mode supports only compressive solitons. Further, it is noticed that the soliton amplitude and width are sensitive to the parameter ηi=Ln/LT . Second, in the presence of dissipation in the system, we obtain a Burger type equation, which admits the shock wave solution. This work may be useful to understand the low frequency electrostatic modes in inhomogeneous electron-ion plasma having density and ion temperature gradients. For illustration, the model has been applied to tokamak plasma.

Laser opacity in underdense preplasma of solid targets due to quantum electrodynamics effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, W.-M.; Gibbon, P.; Sheng, Z.-M.; Li, Y.-T.; Zhang, J.

2017-07-01

We investigate how next-generation laser pulses at 10 -200 PW interact with a solid target in the presence of a relativistically underdense preplasma produced by amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). Laser hole boring and relativistic transparency are strongly restrained due to the generation of electron-positron pairs and γ -ray photons via quantum electrodynamics (QED) processes. A pair plasma with a density above the initial preplasma density is formed, counteracting the electron-free channel produced by hole boring. This pair-dominated plasma can block laser transport and trigger an avalanchelike QED cascade, efficiently transferring the laser energy to the photons. This renders a 1 -μ m scale-length, underdense preplasma completely opaque to laser pulses at this power level. The QED-induced opacity therefore sets much higher contrast requirements for such a pulse in solid-target experiments than expected by classical plasma physics. Our simulations show, for example, that proton acceleration from the rear of a solid with a preplasma would be strongly impaired.

Experimental Verification of the Kruskal-Shafranov Stability Limit in Line-Tied Partial Toroidal Plasmas

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

Oz, E.; Myers, C. E.; Yamada, M.

2011-07-19

The stability properties of partial toroidal flux ropes are studied in detail in the laboratory, motivated by ubiquitous arched magnetic structures found on the solar surface. The flux ropes studied here are magnetized arc discharges formed between two electrodes in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) [Yamada et al., Phys. Plasmas, 4, 1936 (1997)]. The three dimensional evolution of these flux ropes is monitored by a fast visible light framing camera, while their magnetic structure is measured by a variety of internal magnetic probes. The flux ropes are consistently observed to undergo large-scale oscillations as a result of an external kinkmore » instability. Using detailed scans of the plasma current, the guide field strength, and the length of the flux rope, we show that the threshold for kink stability is governed by the Kruskal-Shafranov limit for a flux rope that is held fixed at both ends (i.e., qa = 1).« less

Experimental verification of the Kruskal-Shafranov stability limit in line-tied partial-toroidal plasmas

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

Oz, E.; Myers, C. E.; Yamada, M.

2011-10-15

The stability properties of partial-toroidal flux ropes are studied in detail in the laboratory, motivated by ubiquitous arched magnetic structures found on the solar surface. The flux ropes studied here are magnetized arc discharges formed between two electrodes in the Magnetic Reconnection Experiment (MRX) [Yamada et al., Phys. Plasmas 4, 1936 (1997)]. The three dimensional evolution of these flux ropes is monitored by a fast visible light framing camera, while their magnetic structure is measured by a variety of internal magnetic probes. The flux ropes are consistently observed to undergo large-scale oscillations as a result of an external kink instability.more » Using detailed scans of the plasma current, the guide field strength, and the length of the flux rope, we show that the threshold for kink stability is governed by the Kruskal-Shafranov limit for a flux rope that is held fixed at both ends (i.e., q{sub a} = 1).« less

Turbulence scaling study in an MHD wind tunnel on the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffner, D. A.; Brown, M. R.; Wan, A.

2013-12-01

The turbulence of colliding plasmas is explored in an MHD wind tunnel on the SSX in an effort to understand solar wind physics in a laboratory setting. Fully ionized hydrogen plasma is produced by two plasma guns on opposite sides of a 1m by 15cm copper cylinder creating plasma with L/ρi ~ 75-150, β ~ 0.1-0.2 and Lundquist number ~ 1000. Modification of B-field, Ti and β are made through stuffing flux variation of the plasma guns. Presented here are turbulent f-/k-spectra and correlation times and lengths of B-field fluctuations as measured by a 16 channel B-dot radial probe array at the chamber midplane using both FFT and wavelet analysis techniques. Power-law behavior is observed spanning about two decades of frequencies [100kHz-10MHz] and about one decade of wavelength [10cm-1cm]. Power-law fits to spectra show scaling in these regions to be robust to changes in stuffing flux; fits are on the order of f-4 and k-2 for all flux variations. Low frequency fluctuations [<100kHz] can vary significantly suggesting a range of energy injection at large scales. Evidence for dissipation range modification of the spectra is also observed; divergence from power-law behavior is seen in f-spectra for frequencies around f=fci while changes in k-spectra slopes appear around 1/k ~ 5ρi. Dissipation range fits are made with an exponentially modified power-law model [Terry et al, PoP 2012]. Fluctuation measurements in axial velocity are made using a Mach probe with edge flows reaching M ~ 0.4. Both B-field and velocity fluctuations persist on the same timescale in these experiments, though Mach velocity f-spectra show power-laws slightly shallower than those for B-field. Comparison of spectra from MHD and Hall MHD simulations of SSX performed within the HiFi modeling framework are made to the experimental results.

Platelet-rich plasma stimulates angiogenesis in mice which may promote hair growth.

PubMed

Cheng, Hanxiao; Zhang, Jufang; Li, Jinsheng; Jia, Ming; Wang, Yuyan; Shen, Haiyan

2017-10-11

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous concentration of human platelets in plasma. In this paper, we aimed to investigate the effect of PRP on hair growth. Platelet-rich plasma and platelet-poor plasma were prepared by sterile centrifugation and injected into shaved dorsal skin of mice (n = 10). Saline injection was used in the control group. The length of randomly plucked hairs was measured at 8, 13, 18 days after PRP injection. Histological examination was preformed to observe the histologic changes of skins. The immunohistochemistry analysis of CD31 was performed to detect the changes of hair length and formation of new vessels. At 13 and 18 days after the last injection, the hair length of mice in PRP group (4.24 ± 0.60 and 8.29 ± 0.48 mm, respectively) was significantly longer compared with the control group (3.70 ± 0.52 and 7.21 ± 0.64 mm, p < 0.05). No significant difference in the hair length was found between the PPP group and the control (p > 0.05). In addition, the number of CD31-positive vessel in the PRP group (9.90 ± 0.60) was more than that in the control group (8.60 ± 2.34, p < 0.05). Platelet-rich plasma might promote hair length growth and increase the number of hair follicles by inducing angiogenesis.

Advanced properties of extended plasmas for efficient high-order harmonic generation

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

Ganeev, R. A.; Physics Department, Voronezh State University, Voronezh 394006; Suzuki, M.

We demonstrate the advanced properties of extended plasma plumes (5 mm) for efficient harmonic generation of laser radiation compared with the short lengths of plasmas (∼0.3–0.5 mm) used in previous studies. The harmonic conversion efficiency quadratically increased with the growth of plasma length. The studies of this process along the whole extreme ultraviolet range using the long plasma jets produced on various metal surfaces, particularly including the resonance-enhanced laser frequency conversion and two-color pump, are presented. Such plasmas could be used for the quasi-phase matching experiments by proper modulation of the spatial characteristics of extended ablating area and formation of separated plasmamore » jets.« less

Threshold current for fireball generation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dijkhuis, Geert C.

1982-05-01

Fireball generation from a high-intensity circuit breaker arc is interpreted here as a quantum-mechanical phenomenon caused by severe cooling of electrode material evaporating from contact surfaces. According to the proposed mechanism, quantum effects appear in the arc plasma when the radius of one magnetic flux quantum inside solid electrode material has shrunk to one London penetration length. A formula derived for the threshold discharge current preceding fireball generation is found compatible with data reported by Silberg. This formula predicts linear scaling of the threshold current with the circuit breaker's electrode radius and concentration of conduction electrons.

Collisionless dissipation in quasi-perpendicular shocks. [in terresrial bow waves

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Forslund, D. W.; Quest, K. B.; Brackbill, J. U.; Lee, K.

1984-01-01

Microscopic dissipation processes in quasi-perpendicular shocks are studied by two-dimensional plasma simulations in which electrons and ions are treated as particles moving in self-consistent electric and magnetic fields. Cross-field currents induce substantial turbulence at the shock front reducing the reflected ion fraction, increasing the bulk ion temperature behind the shock, doubling the average magnetic ramp thickness, and enhancing the upstream field aligned electron heat flow. The short scale length magnetic fluctuations observed in the bow shock are probably associated with this turbulence.

Plasma constraints on the cosmological abundance of magnetic monopoles and the origin of cosmic magnetic fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medvedev, Mikhail V.; Loeb, Abraham

2017-06-01

Existing theoretical and observational constraints on the abundance of magnetic monopoles are limited. Here we demonstrate that an ensemble of monopoles forms a plasma whose properties are well determined and whose collective effects place new tight constraints on the cosmological abundance of monopoles. In particular, the existence of micro-Gauss magnetic fields in galaxy clusters and radio relics implies that the scales of these structures are below the Debye screening length, thus setting an upper limit on the cosmological density parameter of monopoles, ΩM lesssim 3 × 10-4, which precludes them from being the dark matter. Future detection of Gpc-scale coherent magnetic fields could improve this limit by a few orders of magnitude. In addition, we predict the existence of magnetic Langmuir waves and turbulence which may appear on the sky as ``zebra patterns'' of an alternating magnetic field with k·B ≠ 0. We also show that magnetic monopole Langmuir turbulence excited near the accretion shock of galaxy clusters may be an efficient mechanism for generating the observed intracluster magnetic fields.

Magnetic islands in the near geomagnetic tail and its implications for the mechanism of 1054 UT CDAW 6 substorm

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lin, N.; Walker, R. J.; Mcpherron, R. L.; Kivelson, M. G.

1990-01-01

During the 1054 UT CDAW 6 substorm event, two ISEE spacecraft observed dynamic changes in the magnetic field and in the flux of energetic particles in the near-earth plasma sheet. In the substorm growth phase, the magnetic field at both ISEE spacecraft became tail-like. Following expansion phase onset, two small scale magnetic islands were observed moving tailward at a velocity of about 580 km/s. The passage of these two magnetic islands was coincident with bursts of tailward streaming energetic particles. The length of the magnetic loops was estimated to have been about 2 to 3 earth radii while the height of the loops was less than 0.5 earth radii. The magnetic islands were produced by multipoint reconnection processes in the near tail plasma sheet which may have been associated with the formation of the near-earth neutral line and the subsequent formation of a large scale plasmoid. The near-earth neutral line retreated tailward later in the expansion phase, as suggested by the reversal of the streaming of energetic particles.

Particle model of a cylindrical inductively coupled ion source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ippolito, N. D.; Taccogna, F.; Minelli, P.; Cavenago, M.; Veltri, P.

2017-08-01

In spite of the wide use of RF sources, a complete understanding of the mechanisms regulating the RF-coupling of the plasma is still lacking so self-consistent simulations of the involved physics are highly desirable. For this reason we are developing a 2.5D fully kinetic Particle-In-Cell Monte-Carlo-Collision (PIC-MCC) model of a cylindrical ICP-RF source, keeping the time step of the simulation small enough to resolve the plasma frequency scale. The grid cell dimension is now about seven times larger than the average Debye length, because of the large computational demand of the code. It will be scaled down in the next phase of the development of the code. The filling gas is Xenon, in order to minimize the time lost by the MCC collision module in the first stage of development of the code. The results presented here are preliminary, with the code already showing a good robustness. The final goal will be the modeling of the NIO1 (Negative Ion Optimization phase 1) source, operating in Padua at Consorzio RFX.

[Geographic variation of seed morphological traits of Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica in Tianshan Mountains, Xinjiang of Northwest China].

PubMed

Liu, Gui-Feng; Zang, Run-Guo; Liu, Hua; Bai, Zhi-Qiang; Guo, Zhong-Jun; Ding, Yi

2012-06-01

Taking the Picea schrenkiana var. tianschanica forests at three sites with different longitudes (Zhaosu, Tianchi, and Qitai) in Tianshan Mountains as the objects, the cones were collected along an altitudinal gradient to analyze the variation of their seed morphological traits (seed scale length and width, seed scale length/width ratio, seed wing length and width, seed wing length/ width ratio, seed length and width, and seed length/width ratio). All the seed traits except seed width tended to decrease with increasing altitude. The seed traits except seed wing width, seed width, and seed length/width ratio all had significant negative correlations with altitude. Seed scale length and width and seed scale length/width ratio had significant positive correlations with longitude. Seed scale length, seed scale length/width ratio, and seed wing length/width ratio had significant negative correlations with slope degree. No significant correlations were observed between the seed traits except seed wing width and the slope aspect. Altitude was the main factor affecting the seed scale length, seed scale length/width ratio, and seed wing length/width ratio.

Wave particle interactions in Jupiter's magnetosphere: Implications for auroral and magnetospheric particle distributions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saur, Joachim; Schreiner, Anne; Barry, Mauk; Clark, George; Kollman, Peter

2017-04-01

We investigate the occurrence and the role of wave particle interaction processes, i.e., Landau and cyclotron damping, in Jupiter's magnetosphere. Therefore we calculate kinetic length and temporal scales, which we cross-compare at various regions within Jupiter's magnetosphere. Based on these scales, we investigate the roles of possible wave particle mechanisms in each region, e.g., Jupiter's plasma sheet, the auroral acceleration region and the polar ionosphere. We thereby consider that the magnetospheric regions are coupled through convective transport, Alfven and other wave modes. We particularly focus on the role of kinetic Alfven waves in contributing to Jupiter's aurora. Our results will aid the interpretation of particle distribution functions measured by the JEDI instrument onboard the JUNO spacecraft.

Observation of parametric instabilities in the quarter critical density region driven by the Nike KrF laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weaver, J. L.; Oh, J.; Phillips, L.; Afeyan, B.; Seely, J.; Kehne, D.; Brown, C. M.; Obenschain, S. P.; Serlin, V.; Schmitt, A. J.; Feldman, U.; Lehmberg, R. H.; Mclean, E.; Manka, C.

2013-02-01

The krypton-fluoride (KrF) laser is an attractive choice for inertial confinement fusion due to its combination of short wavelength (λ =248 nm), large bandwidth (up to 3 THz), and superior beam smoothing by induced spatial incoherence. These qualities improve the overall hydrodynamics of directly driven pellet implosions and should allow use of increased laser intensity due to higher thresholds for laser plasma instabilities when compared to frequency tripled Nd:glass lasers (λ =351 nm). Here, we report the first observations of the two-plasmon decay instability using a KrF laser. The experiments utilized the Nike laser facility to irradiate solid plastic planar targets over a range of pulse lengths (0.35 ns≤τ≤1.25 ns) and intensities (up to 2×1015 W/cm2). Variation of the laser pulse created different combinations of electron temperature and electron density scale length. The observed onset of instability growth was consistent with the expected scaling that KrF lasers have a higher intensity threshold for instabilities in the quarter critical density region.

Finite-Length Diocotron Modes in a Non-neutral Plasma Column

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walsh, Daniel; Dubin, Daniel

2017-10-01

Diocotron modes are 2D distortions of a non-neutral plasma column that propagate azimuthally via E × B drifts. While the infinite-length theory of diocotron modes is well-understood for arbitrary azimuthal mode number l, the finite-length mode frequency is less developed (with some exceptions), and is naturally of relevance to experiments. In this poster, we present an approach to address finite length effects, such as temperature dependence of the mode frequency. We use a bounce-averaged solution to the Vlasov Equation, in which the Vlasov Equation is solved using action-angle variables of the unperturbed Hamiltonian. We write the distribution function as a Fourier series in the bounce-angle variable ψ, keeping only the bounce-averaged term. We demonstrate a numerical solution to this equation for a realistic plasma with a finite Debye Length, compare to the existing l = 1 theory, and discuss possible extensions of the existing theory to l ≠ 1 . Supported by NSF/DOE Partnership Grants PHY1414570 and DESC0002451.

Self-consistent evolution of plasma discharge and electromagnetic fields in a microwave pulse compressor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shlapakovski, A. S.; Beilin, L.; Hadas, Y.; Schamiloglu, E.; Krasik, Ya. E.

2015-07-01

Nanosecond-scale evolution of plasma and RF electromagnetic fields during the release of energy from a microwave pulse compressor with a plasma interference switch was investigated numerically using the code MAGIC. The plasma was simulated in the scope of the gas conductivity model in MAGIC. The compressor embodied an S-band cavity and H-plane waveguide tee with a shorted side arm filled with pressurized gas. In a simplified approach, the gas discharge was initiated by setting an external ionization rate in a layer crossing the side arm waveguide in the location of the electric field antinode. It was found that with increasing ionization rate, the microwave energy absorbed by the plasma in the first few nanoseconds increases, but the absorption for the whole duration of energy release, on the contrary, decreases. In a hybrid approach modeling laser ignition of the discharge, seed electrons were set around the electric field antinode. In this case, the plasma extends along the field forming a filament and the plasma density increases up to the level at which the electric field within the plasma decreases due to the skin effect. Then, the avalanche rate decreases but the density still rises until the microwave energy release begins and the electric field becomes insufficient to support the avalanche process. The extraction of the microwave pulse limits its own power by terminating the rise of the plasma density and filament length. For efficient extraction, a sufficiently long filament of dense plasma must have sufficient time to be formed.

Understanding the scaling of electron kinetics in the transition from collisional to collisionless conditions in microscale gas discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tan, Xi; Go, David B.

2018-02-01

When gas discharge and plasma devices shrink to the microscale, the electrode distance in the device approaches the mean free path of electrons and they experience few collisions. As microscale gas discharge and plasma devices become more prevalent, the behavior of discharges at these collisionless and near-collisionless conditions need to be understood. In conditions where the characteristic length d is much greater than the mean free path λ (i.e., macroscopic conditions), electron energy distributions (EEDs) and rate coefficients scale with the reduced electric field E/p. However, when d is comparable with or much lower than λ, this E/p scaling breaks. In this work, particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo collision simulations are used to explore the behavior of the EED and subsequent reaction rate coefficients in microscale field emission-driven Townsend discharges for both an atomic (argon) and a molecular (hydrogen) gas. To understand the behavior, a pseudo-analytical model is developed for the spatially integrated EED and rate coefficients in the collisional to collisionless transition regime based on the weighted sum of a fully collisional, two-temperature Maxwellian EED and the ballistic EED. The theory helps clarify the relative contribution of ballistic electrons in these extreme conditions and can be used to more accurately predict when macroscopic E/p scaling fails at the microscale.

Rapid micropatterning of cell lines and human pluripotent stem cells on elastomeric membranes.

PubMed

Paik, Isha; Scurr, David J; Morris, Bryan; Hall, Graham; Denning, Chris; Alexander, Morgan R; Shakesheff, Kevin M; Dixon, James E

2012-10-01

Tissue function during development and in regenerative medicine completely relies on correct cell organization and patterning at micro and macro scales. We describe a rapid method for patterning mammalian cells including human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) on elastomeric membranes such that micron-scale control of cell position can be achieved over centimeter-length scales. Our method employs surface engineering of hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes by plasma polymerization of allylamine. Deposition of plasma polymerized allylamine (ppAAm) using our methods may be spatially restricted using a micro-stencil leaving faithful hydrophilic ppAAm patterns. We employed airbrushing to create aerosols which deposit extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (such as fibronectin and Matrigel™) onto the same patterned ppAAm rich regions. Cell patterns were created with a variety of well characterized cell lines (e.g., NIH-3T3, C2C12, HL1, BJ6, HESC line HUES7, and HiPSC line IPS2). Individual and multiple cell line patterning were also achieved. Patterning remains faithful for several days and cells are viable and proliferate. To demonstrate the utility of our technique we have patterned cells in a variety of configurations. The ability to rapidly pattern cells at high resolution over macro scales should aid future tissue engineering efforts for regenerative medicine applications and in creating in vitro stem cell niches. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Double-pulse THz radiation bursts from laser-plasma acceleration

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

Bosch, R. A.

2006-11-15

A model is presented for coherent THz radiation produced when an electron bunch undergoes laser-plasma acceleration and then exits axially from a plasma column. Radiation produced when the bunch is accelerated is superimposed with transition radiation from the bunch exiting the plasma. Computations give a double-pulse burst of radiation comparable to recent observations. The duration of each pulse very nearly equals the electron bunch length, while the time separation between pulses is proportional to the distance between the points where the bunch is accelerated and where it exits the plasma. The relative magnitude of the two pulses depends upon bymore » the radius of the plasma column. Thus, the radiation bursts may be useful in diagnosing the electron bunch length, the location of the bunch's acceleration, and the plasma radius.« less

Non-Potential Magnetic Fields and Magnetic Reconnection In Low Collisional Plasmas-Discovery of Solar EUV Mini-Sigmoids and Development of Novel In-Space Propulsion Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chesny, David

Magnetic reconnection is the source of many of the most powerful explosions of astrophysical plasmas in the universe. Blazars, magnetars, stellar atmospheres, and planetary magnetic fields have all been shown to be primary sites of strong reconnection events. For studying the fundamental physics behind this process, the solar atmosphere is our most accessible laboratory setting. Magnetic reconnection resulting from non-potential fields leads to plasma heating and particle acceleration, often in the form of explosive activity, contributing to coronal heating and the solar wind. Large-scale non-potential (sigmoid) fields in the solar atmosphere are poorly understood due to their crowded neighborhoods. For the first time, small-scale, non-potential loop structures have been observed in quiet Sun EUV observations. Fourteen unique mini-sigmoid events and three diffuse non-potential loops have been discovered, suggesting a multi-scaled self-similarity in the sigmoid formation process. These events are on the order of 10 arcseconds in length and do not appear in X-ray emissions, where large-scale sigmoids are well documented. We have discovered the first evidence of sigmoidal structuring in EUV bright point phenomena, which are prolific events in the solar atmosphere. Observations of these mini-sigmoids suggest that they are being formed via tether-cutting reconnection, a process observed to occur at active region scales. Thus, tether-cutting is suggested to be ubiquitous throughout the solar atmosphere. These dynamics are shown to be a function of the free magnetic energy in the quiet Sun network. Recently, the reconnection process has been reproduced in Earth-based laboratory tokamaks. Easily achievable magnetic field configurations can induce reconnection and result in ion acceleration. Here, magnetic reconnection is utilized as the plasma acceleration mechanism for a theoretical propulsion system. The theory of torsional spine reconnection is shown to result in ion velocities of > 3000 km s-1 and thrusts on the order of 3-15 N. As current in-use ion propulsion technology can only achieve ˜ 30 km s-1, the proposed design can substantially increase thrust on a spacecraft and provide for fast manned interplanetary travel.

The most intense current sheets in the high-speed solar wind near 1 AU

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podesta, John J.

2017-03-01

Electric currents in the solar wind plasma are investigated using 92 ms fluxgate magnetometer data acquired in a high-speed stream near 1 AU. The minimum resolvable scale is roughly 0.18 s in the spacecraft frame or, using Taylor's "frozen turbulence" approximation, one proton inertial length di in the plasma frame. A new way of identifying current sheets is developed that utilizes a proxy for the current density J obtained from the derivatives of the three orthogonal components of the observed magnetic field B. The most intense currents are identified as 5σ events, where σ is the standard deviation of the current density. The observed 5σ events are characterized by an average scale size of approximately 3di along the flow direction of the solar wind, a median separation of around 50di or 100di along the flow direction of the solar wind, and a peak current density on the order of 0.5 pA/cm2. The associated current-carrying structures are consistent with current sheets; however, the planar geometry of these structures cannot be confirmed using single-point, single-spacecraft measurements. If Taylor's hypothesis continues to hold for the energetically dominant fluctuations at kinetic scales 1

Compressive and rarefactive double layers in non-uniform plasma with q-nonextensive distributed electrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shan, S. Ali; Saleem, H.

2018-05-01

Electrostatic solitary waves and double layers (DLs) formed by the coupled ion acoustic (IA) and drift waves have been investigated in non-uniform plasma using q-nonextensive distribution function for the electrons and assuming ions to be cold Ti< Te. It is found that both compressive and rarefactive nonlinear structures (solitary waves and DLs) are possible in such a system. The steeper gradients are supportive for compressive solitary (and double layers) and destructive for rarefactive ones. The q-nonextensivity parameter q and the magnitudes of gradient scale lengths of density and temperature have significant effects on the amplitude of the double layers (and double layers) as well as on the speed of these structures. This theoretical model is general which has been applied here to the F-region ionosphere for illustration.

Numerically simulated two-dimensional auroral double layers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Borovsky, J. E.; Joyce, G.

1983-01-01

A magnetized 2 1/2-dimensional particle-in-cell system which is periodic in one direction and bounded by reservoirs of Maxwellian plasma in the other is used to numerically simulate electrostatic plasma double layers. For the cases of both oblique and two-dimensional double layers, the present results indicate periodic instability, Debye length rather than gyroradii scaling, and low frequency electrostatic turbulence together with electron beam-excited electrostatatic electron-cyclotron waves. Estimates are given for the thickness of auroral doule layers, as well as the separations within multiple auroral arcs. Attention is given to the temporal modulation of accelerated beams, and the possibilities for ion precipitation and ion conic production by the double layer are hypothesized. Simulations which include the atmospheric backscattering of electrons imply the action of an ionospheric sheath which accelerates ionospheric ions upward.

Ultrafast time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy of ferrioxalate photolysis with a laser plasma X-ray source and microcalorimeter array

DOE PAGES

O’Neil, Galen C.; Miaja-Avila, Luis; Joe, Young Il; ...

2017-02-17

The detailed pathways of photoactivity on ultrafast time scales are a topic of contemporary interest. Using a tabletop apparatus based on a laser plasma X-ray source and an array of cryogenic microcalorimeter X-ray detectors, we measured a transient X-ray absorption spectrum during the ferrioxalate photoreduction reaction. With these high-efficiency detectors, we observe the Fe K edge move to lower energies and the amplitude of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure reduce, consistent with a photoreduction mechanism in which electron transfer precedes disassociation. We provide quantitative limits on the Fe–O bond length change. Lastly, we review potential improvements to our measurementmore » technique, highlighting the future potential of tabletop X-ray science using microcalorimeter sensors.« less

Ultrafast time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy of ferrioxalate photolysis with a laser plasma X-ray source and microcalorimeter array

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

O’Neil, Galen C.; Miaja-Avila, Luis; Joe, Young Il

The detailed pathways of photoactivity on ultrafast time scales are a topic of contemporary interest. Using a tabletop apparatus based on a laser plasma X-ray source and an array of cryogenic microcalorimeter X-ray detectors, we measured a transient X-ray absorption spectrum during the ferrioxalate photoreduction reaction. With these high-efficiency detectors, we observe the Fe K edge move to lower energies and the amplitude of the extended X-ray absorption fine structure reduce, consistent with a photoreduction mechanism in which electron transfer precedes disassociation. We provide quantitative limits on the Fe–O bond length change. Lastly, we review potential improvements to our measurementmore » technique, highlighting the future potential of tabletop X-ray science using microcalorimeter sensors.« less

Transmission of Free Radicals through and Damage to Freestanding Single and Multilayer Dielectric Film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choudhury, Faraz Anwar

A high concentration of free radicals is present in many processing plasmas, which affects the processing conditions and the properties of materials exposed to the plasma. Measuring the types and concentrations of free radicals present in the plasma is critical in order to determine their effects on the materials being processed. Current methods for detecting free radicals in a plasma require multiple expensive and bulky instruments, complex setups and often modifications to the plasma reactor. In this work, we present a simple technique that detects reactive-oxygen radicals incident on a surface from a plasma. The measurements are made using a fluorophore dye that is commonly used in biological and cellular systems for assay labeling in liquids. Using fluorometric analysis, it was found that the fluorophore reacts with oxygen radicals incident from the plasma, which is indicated by degradation of its fluorescence. As plasma power was increased, the quenching of the fluorescence significantly increased. Both immobilized and non-immobilized fluorophore dyes were used and the results indicate that both states function effectively under vacuum conditions. Using radical-sensitive dyes and free-standing films, the transmission of oxygen radicals through silicon nitride and silicon dioxide dielectric films is measured and their absorption lengths are determined. The absorption lengths were found to be 33, 37 and 40 nm for 15, 30 and 45-minute oxygen plasma exposures respectively. FTIR and XRR measurements show that a silicon oxynitride-like layer forms on the surface of the film which has a lower density than silicon nitride. The increase in absorption length with plasma-exposure time is attributed to the formation of the surface layer. In silicon dioxide films, the absorption length of oxygen radicals was found to be 70 nm after 20 minutes of plasma exposure. After 30 minutes of plasma exposure under the same conditions, the absorption length was reduced to 66 nm. XRR and FTIR measurements both reveal that the oxygen plasma exposure leads to surface oxidation of the silicon dioxide film and the formation of a denser surface layer which restricts the transmission of the radicals through the film. It was found that the extent of modification of the film partially depends on the radical dose. The calculated enthalpies of the reactions show that they are all exothermic reactions, however, the radicals need enough energy to overcome the activation energy for the reaction to take place.

Time and length scales within a fire and implications for numerical simulation

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

TIESZEN,SHELDON R.

2000-02-02

A partial non-dimensionalization of the Navier-Stokes equations is used to obtain order of magnitude estimates of the rate-controlling transport processes in the reacting portion of a fire plume as a function of length scale. Over continuum length scales, buoyant times scales vary as the square root of the length scale; advection time scales vary as the length scale, and diffusion time scales vary as the square of the length scale. Due to the variation with length scale, each process is dominant over a given range. The relationship of buoyancy and baroclinc vorticity generation is highlighted. For numerical simulation, first principlesmore » solution for fire problems is not possible with foreseeable computational hardware in the near future. Filtered transport equations with subgrid modeling will be required as two to three decades of length scale are captured by solution of discretized conservation equations. By whatever filtering process one employs, one must have humble expectations for the accuracy obtainable by numerical simulation for practical fire problems that contain important multi-physics/multi-length-scale coupling with up to 10 orders of magnitude in length scale.« less

The effect of adaptive servo-ventilation on dyspnoea, haemodynamic parameters and plasma catecholamine concentrations in acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema.

PubMed

Nakano, Shintaro; Kasai, Takatoshi; Tanno, Jun; Sugi, Keiki; Sekine, Yasumasa; Muramatsu, Toshihiro; Senbonmatsu, Takaaki; Nishimura, Shigeyuki

2015-08-01

Adaptive servo-ventilation has a potential sympathoinhibitory effect in acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (ACPO). To evaluate the acute effects of adaptive servo-ventilation in patients with ACPO. Fifty-eight consecutive patients with ACPO were divided into those who underwent adaptive servo-ventilation and those who received oxygen therapy alone as part of their immediate care. Visual analogue scale, vital signs, blood gas data and plasma catecholamine concentrations at baseline and 1 h during emergency care, and subsequent clinical events (death within 30 days, intubation within seven days or between seven and 30 days, and length of hospital stay) were assessed. Pre-matched and post-propensity score (PS)-matched datasets were analysed. During the first hour of adaptive servo-ventilation, plasma catecholamine concentrations fell significantly (baseline versus 1 h: epinephrine p = 0.003, norepinephrine p < 0.001, dopamine p < 0.001), with falls in blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and pCO2, and rise in HCO3 and pH. In the PS-matched model, visual analogue scale (p = 0.036), systolic blood pressure (from 153.8 ± 30.7 to 133.1 ± 16.3 mmHg; p = 0.025) and plasma dopamine concentration (p = 0.034) fell significantly in the adaptive servo-ventilation group compared with the oxygen therapy alone group. The clinical outcomes between the groups were comparable. In patients with ACPO, emergency care using adaptive servo-ventilation attenuated plasma catecholamine concentrations and led to the improvement of dyspnoea, vital signs and acid-base balance, without adversely influencing clinical outcomes. Using adaptive servo-ventilation, rather than standard oxygen alone, may relieve dyspnoea and improve haemodynamic status, possibly by modulating sympathetic nerve activity. © The European Society of Cardiology 2014.

Simulation of electrostatic ion instabilities in the presence of parallel currents and transverse electric fields

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nishikawa, K.-I.; Ganguli, G.; Lee, Y. C.; Palmadesso, P. J.

1989-01-01

A spatially two-dimensional electrostatic PIC simulation code was used to study the stability of a plasma equilibrium characterized by a localized transverse dc electric field and a field-aligned drift for L is much less than Lx, where Lx is the simulation length in the x direction and L is the scale length associated with the dc electric field. It is found that the dc electric field and the field-aligned current can together play a synergistic role to enable the excitation of electrostatic waves even when the threshold values of the field aligned drift and the E x B drift are individually subcritical. The simulation results show that the growing ion waves are associated with small vortices in the linear stage, which evolve to the nonlinear stage dominated by larger vortices with lower frequencies.

Debye sheath mechanism at laser plasma interaction and generalization to nuclear forces and quark-gluon plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osman, Frederick; Ghahramani, Nader; Hora, Heinrich

2005-10-01

The studies of laser ablation have lead to a new theory of nuclei, endothermic nuclei generation, and quark-gluon plasmas. The surface of ablated plasma expanding into vacuum after high power laser irradiation of targets contains an electric double layer having the thickness of the Debye length. This led to the discovery of surface tension in plasmas, and led to the internal dynamic electric fields in all inhomogeneous plasmas. The surface tension causes stabilization by short length surface wave smoothing the expanding plasma plume and to stabilization against the Rayleigh Taylor instability. Generalizing this to the degenerate electrons in a metal with the Fermi energy instead of the temperature resulted in the first quantum theory of surface tension of metals in agreement with measurements. Taking the Fermi energy in the Debye length for nucleons results in a theory of nuclei with stable confinement of protons and neutrons just at the well-known nuclear density, and the Debye lengths equal to the Hofstadter decay of the nuclear surface. Increasing the nuclear density by a factor of 10 leads to a change of the Fermi energy into its relativistic branch where no surface energy is possible and the particle mass is not defined, permitting the quark gluon plasma. Expansion of this higher density at the big bang or in super-nova results in nucleation and element generation. The Boltzmann equilibrium permits the synthesis of nuclei even in the endothermic range, however with the limit to about uranium. A relation for the magic numbers leads to a quark structure of nuclear shells that can be understood as a duality property of nuclei with respect to nucleons and quarks

Magnetic Reconnection and Associated Transient Phenomena Within the Magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Louarn, Philippe; Andre, Nicolas; Jackman, Caitriona M.; Kasahara, Satoshi; Kronberg, Elena A.; Vogt, Marissa F.

2015-04-01

We review in situ observations made in Jupiter and Saturn's magnetosphere that illustrate the possible roles of magnetic reconnection in rapidly-rotating magnetospheres. In the Earth's solar wind-driven magnetosphere, the magnetospheric convection is classically described as a cycle of dayside opening and tail closing reconnection (the Dungey cycle). For the rapidly-rotating Jovian and Kronian magnetospheres, heavily populated by internal plasma sources, the classical concept (the Vasyliunas cycle) is that the magnetic reconnection plays a key role in the final stage of the radial plasma transport across the disk. By cutting and closing flux tubes that have been elongated by the rotational stress, the reconnection process would lead to the formation of plasmoids that propagate down the tail, contributing to the final evacuation of the internally produced plasma and allowing the return of the magnetic flux toward the planet. This process has been studied by inspecting possible `local' signatures of the reconnection, as magnetic field reversals, plasma flow anisotropies, energetic particle bursts, and more global consequences on the magnetospheric activity. The investigations made at Jupiter support the concept of an `average' X-line, extended in the dawn/dusk direction and located at 90-120 Jovian radius (RJ) on the night side. The existence of a similar average X-line has not yet been established at Saturn, perhaps by lack of statistics. Both at Jupiter and Saturn, the reconfiguration signatures are consistent with magnetospheric dipolarizations and formation of plasmoids and flux ropes. In several cases, the reconfigurations also appear to be closely associated with large scale activations of the magnetosphere, seen from the radio and auroral emissions. Nevertheless, the statistical study also suggests that the reconnection events and the associated plasmoids are not frequent enough to explain a plasma evacuation that matches the mass input rate from the satellites and the rings. Different forms of transport should thus act together to evacuate the plasma, which still needs to be established. Investigations of reconnection signatures at the magnetopause and other processes as the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability are also reviewed. A provisional conclusion would be that the dayside reconnection is unlikely a crucial process in the overall dynamics. On the small scales, the detailed analysis of one reconnection event at Jupiter shows that the local plasma signatures (field-aligned flows, energetic particle bursts…) are very similar to those observed at Earth, with likely a similar scaling with respect to characteristic kinetic lengths (Larmor radius and inertial scales).

The PLX- α Plasma Guns: Progress and Plans

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Witherspoon, F. D.; Brockington, S.; Case, A.; Cruz, E.; Luna, M.; Thio, Y. C. Francis; LANL PLX-α Team

2017-10-01

The ALPHA coaxial plasma guns are being developed to support a 60-gun scaling study of spherically imploding plasma liners as a standoff driver for plasma-jet-driven magneto-inertial fusion (PJMIF). Seven complete guns have been delivered to LANL with 6 guns currently undergoing simultaneous test firings on PLX. The guns are designed to operate over a range of parameters: 0.5-5.0 mg of Ar, Ne, N2, Kr, and Xe; 20-60 km/s; 2 × 1016 cm-3 muzzle density; and up to 7.5 kJ stored energy per gun. Each coaxial gun incorporates a fast dense gas injection and triggering system, a compact low-weight pfn with integral sparkgap switching, and a contoured coaxial gap to suppress the blow-by instability. Optimizing parameter scans performed at HyperV have achieved : 4 mg at >50 km/s and length of 10 cm. Peak axial density 30 cm from the muzzle is 2 ×1016 cm-3. We will provide an overview of the experimental results, along with plans for further improvements in reliability, maintainability, fabricability, and plasma jet performance, with the latter focused on further improvements in the fast gas valve and the ignitors. This work supported by the ARPA-E ALPHA Program under contract DE-AR0000566 and Strong Atomics, LLC.

Axisymmetric Plasma Equilibria in General Relativity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Elsässer, Klaus

Axisymmetric plasma equilibria near a rotating black hole are considered within the multifluid description. An isothermal two-component plasma with electrons and positrons or ions is determined by four structure functions and the boundary conditions. These structure functions are the Bernoulli function and the toroidal canonical momentum per mass for each species; they remain arbitrary if no gain and loss processes are considered, in close analogy to the free flux functions in ideal magnetohydrodynamics. Several simplifying assumptions allow the reduction of the basic equations to one single scalar equation for the stream function χ of positrons or ions, respectively, playing the rôle of the Grad/Shafranov equation in magnetohydrodynamics; in particular, Maxwell's equations can be solved analytically for a quasineutral plasma when both the charge density and the toroidal electric current density are negligible (in contrast to the Tokamak situation). The basic smallness parameter is the ratio of the skin depth of electrons to the scale length of the metric and fluid quantities, and, in the case of an electron-ion plasma, the mass ratio me/mi. The χ-equation can be solved by standard methods, and simple solutions for a Kerr geometry are available; they show characteristic flow patterns, depending on the structure functions and the boundary conditions.

RMS roughness-independent tuning of surface wettability by tailoring silver nanoparticles with a fluorocarbon plasma polymer.

PubMed

Choukourov, A; Kylián, O; Petr, M; Vaidulych, M; Nikitin, D; Hanuš, J; Artemenko, A; Shelemin, A; Gordeev, I; Kolská, Z; Solař, P; Khalakhan, I; Ryabov, A; Májek, J; Slavínská, D; Biederman, H

2017-02-16

A layer of 14 nm-sized Ag nanoparticles undergoes complex transformation when overcoated by thin films of a fluorocarbon plasma polymer. Two regimes of surface evolution are identified, both with invariable RMS roughness. In the early regime, the plasma polymer penetrates between and beneath the nanoparticles, raising them above the substrate and maintaining the multivalued character of the surface roughness. The growth (β) and the dynamic (1/z) exponents are close to zero and the interface bears the features of self-affinity. The presence of inter-particle voids leads to heterogeneous wetting with an apparent water contact angle θ a = 135°. The multivalued nanotopography results in two possible positions for the water droplet meniscus, yet strong water adhesion indicates that the meniscus is located at the lower part of the spherical nanofeatures. In the late regime, the inter-particle voids become filled and the interface acquires a single valued character. The plasma polymer proceeds to grow on the thus-roughened surface whereas the nanoparticles keep emerging away from the substrate. The RMS roughness remains invariable and lateral correlations propagate with 1/z = 0.27. The surface features multiaffinity which is given by different evolution of length scales associated with the nanoparticles and with the plasma polymer. The wettability turns to the homogeneous wetting state.

Spectral and Imaging Observations of a Current Sheet Region in a Small-scale Magnetic Reconnection Event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xue, Zhike; Yan, Xiaoli; Yang, Liheng; Wang, Jincheng; Feng, Song; Li, Qiaoling; Ji, Kaifan; Zhao, Li

2018-05-01

We report a possible current sheet region associated with a small-scale magnetic reconnection event by using the spectral and imaging observations of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the magnetograms obtained by the Solar Dynamics Observatory on 2016 August 08. The length and width of the current sheet region are estimated to be from 1.4 ± 0.1 Mm to 3.0 ± 0.3 Mm and from 0.34 ± 0.01 Mm to 0.64 ± 0.09 Mm, respectively. The evolutions of the length of the current sheet region are positively correlated with that of the width. These measurements are among the smallest reported. When the IRIS slit scans the current sheet region, the spectroscopic observations show that the Si IV line is broadened in the current sheet region and the plasma has a blueshifted feature at the middle and a redshifted feature at the ends of the current sheet region. The maximum measured blueshifted and redshifted Doppler velocities are ‑20.8 ± 0.9 and 34.1 ± 0.4 km s‑1, respectively. Additionally, the electron number densities of the plasma in the current sheet region are computed to be around 1011 cm‑3 based on the spectrums of the two O IV lines. The emergence, movement, and cancellation of a small sunspot with negative polarity are observed during the formation and shift of the current sheet region. We suggest that the occurrence and evolution of the magnetic reconnection are driven by the movement of the small sunspot in the photosphere.

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

Andrés, Nahuel, E-mail: nandres@iafe.uba.ar; Gómez, Daniel; Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón I, 1428 Buenos Aires

We present a full two-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) description for a completely ionized hydrogen plasma, retaining the effects of the Hall current, electron pressure, and electron inertia. According to this description, each plasma species introduces a new spatial scale: the ion inertial length λ{sub i} and the electron inertial length λ{sub e}, which are not present in the traditional MHD description. In the present paper, we seek for possible changes in the energy power spectrum in fully developed turbulent regimes, using numerical simulations of the two-fluid equations in two-and-a-half dimensions. We have been able to reproduce different scaling laws in differentmore » spectral ranges, as it has been observed in the solar wind for the magnetic energy spectrum. At the smallest wavenumbers where plain MHD is valid, we obtain an inertial range following a Kolmogorov k{sup −5∕3} law. For intermediate wavenumbers such that λ{sub i}{sup −1}≪k≪λ{sub e}{sup −1}, the spectrum is modified to a k{sup −7∕3} power-law, as has also been obtained for Hall-MHD neglecting electron inertia terms. When electron inertia is retained, a new spectral region given by k>λ{sub e}{sup −1} arises. The power spectrum for magnetic energy in this region is given by a k{sup −11∕3} power law. Finally, when the terms of electron inertia are retained, we study the self-consistent electric field. Our results are discussed and compared with those obtained in the solar wind observations and previous simulations.« less

Gas-filled capillaries for plasma-based accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Filippi, F.; Anania, M. P.; Brentegani, E.; Biagioni, A.; Cianchi, A.; Chiadroni, E.; Ferrario, M.; Pompili, R.; Romeo, S.; Zigler, A.

2017-07-01

Plasma Wakefield Accelerators are based on the excitation of large amplitude plasma waves excited by either a laser or a particle driver beam. The amplitude of the waves, as well as their spatial dimensions and the consequent accelerating gradient depend strongly on the background electron density along the path of the accelerated particles. The process needs stable and reliable plasma sources, whose density profile must be controlled and properly engineered to ensure the appropriate accelerating mechanism. Plasma confinement inside gas filled capillaries have been studied in the past since this technique allows to control the evolution of the plasma, ensuring a stable and repeatable plasma density distribution during the interaction with the drivers. Moreover, in a gas filled capillary plasma can be pre-ionized by a current discharge to avoid ionization losses. Different capillary geometries have been studied to allow the proper temporal and spatial evolution of the plasma along the acceleration length. Results of this analysis obtained by varying the length and the number of gas inlets will be presented.

Low Frequency Turbulence as the Source of High Frequency Waves in Multi-Component Space Plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Khazanov, George V.; Krivorutsky, Emmanuel N.; Uritsky, Vadim M.

2011-01-01

Space plasmas support a wide variety of waves, and wave-particle interactions as well as wavewave interactions are of crucial importance to magnetospheric and ionospheric plasma behavior. High frequency wave turbulence generation by the low frequency (LF) turbulence is restricted by two interconnected requirements: the turbulence should be strong enough and/or the coherent wave trains should have the appropriate length. These requirements are strongly relaxed in the multi-component plasmas, due to the heavy ions large drift velocity in the field of LF wave. The excitation of lower hybrid waves (LHWs), in particular, is a widely discussed mechanism of interaction between plasma species in space and is one of the unresolved questions of magnetospheric multi-ion plasmas. It is demonstrated that large-amplitude Alfven waves, in particular those associated with LF turbulence, may generate LHW s in the auroral zone and ring current region and in some cases (particularly in the inner magnetosphere) this serves as the Alfven wave saturation mechanism. We also argue that the described scenario can playa vital role in various parts of the outer magnetosphere featuring strong LF turbulence accompanied by LHW activity. Using the data from THEMIS spacecraft, we validate the conditions for such cross-scale coupling in the near-Earth "flow-braking" magnetotail region during the passage of sharp injection/dipolarization fronts, as well as in the turbulent outflow region of the midtail reconnection site.

Solar wind interaction with dusty plasmas produces instabilities and solitary structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saleem, H.; Ali, S.

2017-12-01

It is pointed out that the solar wind interaction with dusty magnetospheres of the planets can give rise to purely growing instabilities as well as nonlinear electric field structures. Linear dispersion relation of the low frequency electrostatic ion-acoustic wave (IAW) is modified in the presence of stationary dust and its frequency becomes larger than its frequency in usual electron ion plasma even if ion temperature is equal to the electron temperature. This dust-ion-acoustic wave (DIAW) either becomes a purely growing electrostatic instability or turns out to be the modified dust-ion-acoustic wave (mDIAW) depending upon the magnitude of shear flow scale length and its direction. Growth rate of shear flow-driven electrostatic instability in a plasma having negatively charged stationary dust is larger than the usual D'Angelo instability of electron-ion plasma. It is shown that shear modified dust ion acoustic wave (mDIAW) produces electrostatic solitons in the nonlinear regime. The fluid theory predicts the existence of electrostatic solitons in the dusty plasmas in those regions where the inhomogeneous solar wind flow is parallel to the planetary or cometary magnetic field lines. The amplitude and width of the solitary structure depends upon dust density and magnitude of shear in the flow. This is a general theoretical model which is applied to dusty plasma of Saturn's F-ring for illustration.

Experimental Study of Convective Cells and RF Sheaths Excited by a Fast Wave Antenna in the LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Michael; Gekelman, Walter; Pribyl, Patrick; van Compernolle, Bart; Carter, Troy; van Eester, Dirk; Crombé, Kristel

2016-10-01

Ion cyclotron resonance heating (ICRH) will be essential for ITER where it is planned to couple 20 MW to the plasma. During ICRH, radio frequency (RF) sheaths may form on the antenna or farther away, and convective cells are suspected to form adjacent to ICRH antennas, negatively affecting both machine and plasma performance. The LAPD (ne 10 12 - 13cm-3 , Te 1-10 eV, B0 0.4 to 2 kG, diameter 60 cm, length 17m) is an ideal device for performing detailed experiments to fully diagnose these phenomena. A 200 kW RF system capable of pulsing at the 1 Hz. rep. rate of the LAPD and operating from 2 to 2.5 MHz has been constructed to perform such studies. B0 can be adjusted so that this encompasses the 1st to 7th harmonic of fci in H plasmas. Emissive, Mach, Langmuir, and B-field probes measured plasma potential, bulk plasma flows, wave patterns, ne, and Te in 2D planes at various axial locations from the antenna. Plasma potential enhancements of up to 90 V along magnetic field lines connected to the antenna and induced ExB flows consistent in structure with convective cells were observed. Details of these observations along with power scaling of RF sheath voltage and convective cell flows will be presented.

Tungsten impurity transport experiments in Alcator C-Mod to address high priority research and development for ITER

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

Loarte, A.; Polevoi, A. R.; Hosokawa, M.

2015-05-15

Experiments in Alcator C-Mod tokamak plasmas in the Enhanced D-alpha H-mode regime with ITER-like mid-radius plasma density peaking and Ion Cyclotron Resonant heating, in which tungsten is introduced by the laser blow-off technique, have demonstrated that accumulation of tungsten in the central region of the plasma does not take place in these conditions. The measurements obtained are consistent with anomalous transport dominating tungsten transport except in the central region of the plasma where tungsten transport is neoclassical, as previously observed in other devices with dominant neutral beam injection heating, such as JET and ASDEX Upgrade. In contrast to such results,more » however, the measured scale lengths for plasma temperature and density in the central region of these Alcator C-Mod plasmas, with density profiles relatively flat in the core region due to the lack of core fuelling, are favourable to prevent inter and intra sawtooth tungsten accumulation in this region under dominance of neoclassical transport. Simulations of ITER H-mode plasmas, including both anomalous (modelled by the Gyro-Landau-Fluid code GLF23) and neoclassical transport for main ions and tungsten and with density profiles of similar peaking to those obtained in Alcator C-Mod show that accumulation of tungsten in the central plasma region is also unlikely to occur in stationary ITER H-mode plasmas due to the low fuelling source by the neutral beam injection (injection energy ∼ 1 MeV), which is in good agreement with findings in the Alcator C-Mod experiments.« less

Neutral Beam Source and Target Plasma for Development of a Local Electric Field Fluctuation Diagnostic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakken, M. R.; Burke, M. G.; Fonck, R. J.; Lewicki, B. T.; Rhodes, A. T.; Winz, G. R.

2016-10-01

A new diagnostic measuring local E-> (r , t) fluctuations is being developed for plasma turbulence studies in tokamaks. This is accomplished by measuring fluctuations in the separation of the π components in the Hα motional Stark spectrum. Fluctuations in this separation are expected to be Ẽ / ẼEMSE 10-3EMSE 10-3 . In addition to a high throughput, high speed spectrometer, the project requires a low divergence (Ω 0 .5°) , 80 keV, 2.5 A H0 beam and a target plasma test stand. The beam employs a washer-stack arc ion source to achieve a high species fraction at full energy. Laboratory tests of the ion source demonstrate repeatable plasmas with Te 10 eV and ne 1.6 ×1017 m-3, sufficient for the beam ion optics requirements. Te and ne scalings of the ion source plasma are presented with respect to operational parameters. A novel three-phase resonant converter power supply will provide 6 mA/cm2 of 80 keV H0 at the focal plane for pulse lengths up to 15 ms, with low ripple δV / 80 keV 0.05 % at 280 kHz. Diagnostic development and validation tests will be performed on a magnetized plasma test stand with 0.5 T field. The test chamber will utilize a washer-stack arc source to produce a target plasma comparable to edge tokamak plasmas. A bias-plate with programmable power supply will be used to impose Ẽ within the target plasma. Work supported by US DOE Grant DE-FG02-89ER53296.

A full-angle Monte-Carlo scattering technique including cumulative and single-event Rutherford scattering in plasmas [Theory of cumulative large-angle collisions in plasmas

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

Higginson, Drew P.

Here, we describe and justify a full-angle scattering (FAS) method to faithfully reproduce the accumulated differential angular Rutherford scattering probability distribution function (pdf) of particles in a plasma. The FAS method splits the scattering events into two regions. At small angles it is described by cumulative scattering events resulting, via the central limit theorem, in a Gaussian-like pdf; at larger angles it is described by single-event scatters and retains a pdf that follows the form of the Rutherford differential cross-section. The FAS method is verified using discrete Monte-Carlo scattering simulations run at small timesteps to include each individual scattering event.more » We identify the FAS regime of interest as where the ratio of temporal/spatial scale-of-interest to slowing-down time/length is from 10 -3 to 0.3–0.7; the upper limit corresponds to Coulomb logarithm of 20–2, respectively. Two test problems, high-velocity interpenetrating plasma flows and keV-temperature ion equilibration, are used to highlight systems where including FAS is important to capture relevant physics.« less

Frictional Heating of Ions In The F2-region of The Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhizhko, G. O.; Vlasov, V. G.

Auroral electron beams unstable on the Cherenkov resonance are stabilized by large- scale inhomogeneity of the plasma density during all their way from the acceleration region to the E-region of the ionosphere. The generation of plasma waves by beam is possible only in the region of small plasma density gradients, that always is the area of the F2-region maximum. Thus, collective dissipation of the electron beam energy occurs in the local region with the length about several tens of kilometers. This leads to the intensive heating of the electrons(up to temperatures about 10000 K) and will give origin to the ion upflows with velocity about 1 km/s and density about 109 cm-2 s-1. These flows can result in the ion frictional heating. At the same time ion temperatures reach the values about 5000 K. A numerical simulation of the ion frictional heating in the presence of collective elec- tron heating in the high-latitude F2-region of the ionosphere was performed. The sim- ulation has shown that the most critical parameter for the occurence of the ion fric- tional heating was the the steepness of the plasma density profile above the F2-region maximum.

A full-angle Monte-Carlo scattering technique including cumulative and single-event Rutherford scattering in plasmas [Theory of cumulative large-angle collisions in plasmas

DOE PAGES

Higginson, Drew P.

2017-08-12

Here, we describe and justify a full-angle scattering (FAS) method to faithfully reproduce the accumulated differential angular Rutherford scattering probability distribution function (pdf) of particles in a plasma. The FAS method splits the scattering events into two regions. At small angles it is described by cumulative scattering events resulting, via the central limit theorem, in a Gaussian-like pdf; at larger angles it is described by single-event scatters and retains a pdf that follows the form of the Rutherford differential cross-section. The FAS method is verified using discrete Monte-Carlo scattering simulations run at small timesteps to include each individual scattering event.more » We identify the FAS regime of interest as where the ratio of temporal/spatial scale-of-interest to slowing-down time/length is from 10 -3 to 0.3–0.7; the upper limit corresponds to Coulomb logarithm of 20–2, respectively. Two test problems, high-velocity interpenetrating plasma flows and keV-temperature ion equilibration, are used to highlight systems where including FAS is important to capture relevant physics.« less

Two Non Linear Dynamics Plasma Astrophysics Experiments At LANL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Intrator, T.; Weber, T.; Feng, Y.; Sears, J.; Smith, R. J.; Swan, H.; Hutchinson, T.; Boguski, J.; Gao, K.; Chapdelaine, L.; Dunn, J. P.

2013-12-01

Two laboratory experiments at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have been built to gain access to a wide range of fundamental plasma physics issues germane to astro, space, and fusion plasmas. The over arching theme is magnetized plasma dynamics that include currents, MHD forces and instabilities, sheared flows and shocks, along with creation and annihilation of magnetic field. The Relaxation Scaling Experiment (RSX) creates current sheets and flux ropes that exhibit fully 3D dynamics, that are observed to kink, bounce, merge and reconnect, shred, and reform in complicated ways. We show recent movies from a large detailed data set that describe the 3D magnetic structure and helicity budget of a driven and dissipative system that spontaneously self saturates a kink instability. The Magnetized Shock Experiment (MSX) uses a Field reversed configuration (FRC) that is ejected at high speed and then stagnated onto a stopping mirror field, which drives a collisionless magnetized shock. A plasmoid accelerator will also access super critical shocks at much larger Alfven Mach numbers. Unique features include access to parallel, oblique and perpendicular shocks, in regions much larger than ion gyro radius and inertial length, large magnetic and fluid Reynolds numbers, and volume for turbulence.

Electron temperature response to ECRH on FTU tokamak in transient conditions.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jacchia, A.; Bruschi, A.; Cirant, S.; Granucci, G.; Sozzi, C.; de Luca, F.; Amadeo, P.; Bracco, G.; Tudisco, O.

2001-10-01

Steady-state electron heat transport analysis of FTU high density plasmas under Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECRH) shows "stiff" electron temperature profiles [1,2,3]. Plasma response to off-axis EC heating, in fact, exibits a lower limit to electron temperature gradient length, Lc , below which electron thermal conductivity switches to higher values. Stiffness, however, is attenuated in the plasma core of saw-tooth free discharges with flat-hollow temperature profile and during current ramp-up [3,4,5], in which cases the temperature gradient length can be brought to very low values by means of on-axis ECH. Steady and current ramp-up discharges probed by steady and modulated ECH are analyzed in terms of stiffnes. Critical gradient length dependence on local features of computed current density profile is discussed. [1] Sozzi, C. et al., Paper EXP5/13, Plasma Phys. Contr. Fus. Res., Proc.18th IAEA Conf., Sorrento, 2000. [2] Jacchia, A. et al. Topical Conference on Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas, Oxnard, USA, (2001). [3] Cirant, S. et al. Topical Conference on Radio Frequency Power in Plasmas, Oxnard, USA, (2001). [4] Sozzi, C. et al., EPS, Madeira 2001. [5] Bracco, G. et al.,Plasma Phys. Contr. Fus. Res., Proc.18th IAEA Conf., Sorrento, 2000.

Coupling of laser energy into plasma channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimitrov, D. A.; Giacone, R. E.; Bruhwiler, D. L.; Busby, R.; Cary, J. R.; Geddes, C. G. R.; Esarey, E.; Leemans, W. P.

2007-04-01

Diffractive spreading of a laser pulse imposes severe limitations on the acceleration length and maximum electron energy in the laser wake field accelerator (LWFA). Optical guiding of a laser pulse via plasma channels can extend the laser-plasma interaction distance over many Rayleigh lengths. Energy efficient coupling of laser pulses into and through plasma channels is very important for optimal LWFA performance. Results from simulation parameter studies on channel guiding using the particle-in-cell (PIC) code VORPAL [C. Nieter and J. R. Cary, J. Comput. Phys. 196, 448 (2004)] are presented and discussed. The effects that density ramp length and the position of the laser pulse focus have on coupling into channels are considered. Moreover, the effect of laser energy leakage out of the channel domain and the effects of tunneling ionization of a neutral gas on the guided laser pulse are also investigated. Power spectral diagnostics were developed and used to separate pump depletion from energy leakage. The results of these simulations show that increasing the density ramp length decreases the efficiency of coupling a laser pulse to a channel and increases the energy loss when the pulse is vacuum focused at the channel entrance. Then, large spot size oscillations result in increased energy leakage. To further analyze the coupling, a differential equation is derived for the laser spot size evolution in the plasma density ramp and channel profiles are simulated. From the numerical solution of this equation, the optimal spot size and location for coupling into a plasma channel with a density ramp are determined. This result is confirmed by the PIC simulations. They show that specifying a vacuum focus location of the pulse in front of the top of the density ramp leads to an actual focus at the top of the ramp due to plasma focusing, resulting in reduced spot size oscillations. In this case, the leakage is significantly reduced and is negligibly affected by ramp length, allowing for efficient use of channels with long ramps.

Experimental confirmation of stable, small-debye-length, pure-electron-plasma equilibria in a stellarator.

PubMed

Kremer, J P; Pedersen, T Sunn; Lefrancois, R G; Marksteiner, Q

2006-09-01

The creation of the first small-Debye length, low temperature pure electron plasmas in a stellarator is reported. A confinement time of 20 ms has been measured. The long confinement time implies the existence of macroscopically stable equilibria and that the single particle orbits are well confined despite the lack of quasisymmetry in the device, the Columbia non-neutral torus. This confirms the beneficial confinement effects of strong electric fields and the resulting rapid E x B rotation of the electrons. The particle confinement time is presently limited by the presence of bulk insulating materials in the plasma, rather than any intrinsic plasma transport processes. A nearly flat temperature profile is seen in the inner part of the plasma.

Toward an integrated view of ionospheric plasma instabilities: Altitudinal transitions and strong gradient case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Makarevich, Roman A.

2016-04-01

A general dispersion relation is derived that integrates the Farley-Buneman, gradient-drift, and current-convective plasma instabilities (FBI, GDI, and CCI) within the same formalism for an arbitrary altitude, wave propagation vector, and background density gradient. The limiting cases of the FBI/GDI in the E region for nearly field-aligned irregularities, GDI/CCI in the main F region at long wavelengths, and GDI at high altitudes are successfully recovered using analytic analysis. Numerical solutions are found for more general representative cases spanning the entire ionosphere. It is demonstrated that the results are consistent with those obtained using a general FBI/GDI/CCI theory developed previously at and near E region altitudes under most conditions. The most significant differences are obtained for strong gradients (scale lengths of 100 m) at high altitudes such as those that may occur during highly structured soft particle precipitation events. It is shown that the strong gradient case is dominated by inertial effects and, for some scales, surprisingly strong additional damping due to higher-order gradient terms. The growth rate behavior is examined with a particular focus on the range of wave propagations with positive growth (instability cone) and its transitions between altitudinal regions. It is shown that these transitions are largely controlled by the plasma density gradients even when FBI is operational.

Turbulence scaling study in an MHD wind tunnel on the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaffner, D. A.; Wan, A.; Owusu-Boateng, J.; Brown, M. R.; Lukin, V. S.

2013-10-01

The turbulence of colliding spheromaks are explored in the MHD wind tunnel on the SSX. Fully ionized hydrogen plasma is produced by two plasma guns on opposite sides of a 1 m by 15 cm copper cylinder. Modification of B-field, Ti and β are made through stuffing flux variation of the plasma guns. Presented here are turbulent f-/ k-spectra and correlation times/lengths of B-field fluctuations as measured by a 16 channel B-dot radial probe array at the chamber midplane. Power-law fits to spectra show scaling that is robust to changes in stuffing flux; fits are on the order of f-3 and k - 2 . 1 for all flux variations. Dissipation range modification of the spectra is observed; changes to the f-spectra slopes occur around f =fci while changes in k-spectra slopes appear around ~ 5ρi . Dissipation range fits are made with an exponentially modified power-law model [Terry et al., PoP 2012]. Fluctuations in axial velocity are made using a Mach probe. Both B-field and velocity fluctuations persist on the same timescale in these experiments. Mach velocity f-spectra show power-laws similar to that for B-field. Comparison of spectra from MHD and Hall MHD simulations of SSX performed within the HiFi modeling framework are made to the experimental results.

Short-pulse, compressed ion beams at the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment

DOE PAGES

Seidl, P. A.; Barnard, J. J.; Davidson, R. C.; ...

2016-05-01

We have commenced experiments with intense short pulses of ion beams on the Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX-II) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, with 1-mm beam spot size within 2.5 ns full-width at half maximum. The ion kinetic energy is 1.2 MeV. To enable the short pulse duration and mm-scale focal spot radius, the beam is neutralized in a 1.5-meter-long drift compression section following the last accelerator cell. A short-focal-length solenoid focuses the beam in the presence of the volumetric plasma that is near the target. In the accelerator, the line-charge density increases due to the velocity ramp imparted onmore » the beam bunch. The scientific topics to be explored are warm dense matter, the dynamics of radiation damage in materials, and intense beam and beam-plasma physics including select topics of relevance to the development of heavy-ion drivers for inertial fusion energy. Below the transition to melting, the short beam pulses offer an opportunity to study the multi-scale dynamics of radiation-induced damage in materials with pump-probe experiments, and to stabilize novel metastable phases of materials when short-pulse heating is followed by rapid quenching. First experiments used a lithium ion source; a new plasma-based helium ion source shows much greater charge delivered to the target.« less

Numerical modeling of the SNS H{sup −} ion source

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

Veitzer, Seth A.; Beckwith, Kristian R. C.; Kundrapu, Madhusudhan

Ion source rf antennas that produce H- ions can fail when plasma heating causes ablation of the insulating coating due to small structural defects such as cracks. Reducing antenna failures that reduce the operating capabilities of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) accelerator is one of the top priorities of the SNS H- Source Program at ORNL. Numerical modeling of ion sources can provide techniques for optimizing design in order to reduce antenna failures. There are a number of difficulties in developing accurate models of rf inductive plasmas. First, a large range of spatial and temporal scales must be resolved inmore » order to accurately capture the physics of plasma motion, including the Debye length, rf frequencies on the order of tens of MHz, simulation time scales of many hundreds of rf periods, large device sizes on tens of cm, and ion motions that are thousands of times slower than electrons. This results in large simulation domains with many computational cells for solving plasma and electromagnetic equations, short time steps, and long-duration simulations. In order to reduce the computational requirements, one can develop implicit models for both fields and particle motions (e.g. divergence-preserving ADI methods), various electrostatic models, or magnetohydrodynamic models. We have performed simulations using all three of these methods and have found that fluid models have the greatest potential for giving accurate solutions while still being fast enough to perform long timescale simulations in a reasonable amount of time. We have implemented a number of fluid models with electromagnetics using the simulation tool USim and applied them to modeling the SNS H- ion source. We found that a reduced, single-fluid MHD model with an imposed magnetic field due to the rf antenna current and the confining multi-cusp field generated increased bulk plasma velocities of > 200 m/s in the region of the antenna where ablation is often observed in the SNS source. We report here on comparisons of simulated plasma parameters and code performance using more accurate physical models, such as two-temperature extended MHD models, for both a related benchmark system describing a inductively coupled plasma reactor, and for the SNS ion source. We also present results from scaling studies for mesh generation and solvers in the USim simulation code.« less

Laser-guided energetic discharges over large air gaps by electric-field enhanced plasma filaments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Théberge, Francis; Daigle, Jean-François; Kieffer, Jean-Claude; Vidal, François; Châteauneuf, Marc

2017-01-01

Recent works on plasma channels produced during the propagation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses in air demonstrated the guiding of electric discharges along the laser path. However, the short plasma lifetime limits the length of the laser-guided discharge. In this paper, the conductivity and lifetime of long plasma channels produced by ultrashort laser pulses is enhanced efficiently over many orders of magnitude by the electric field of a hybrid AC-DC high-voltage source. The AC electric pulse from a Tesla coil allowed to stimulate and maintain the highly conductive channel during few milliseconds in order to guide a subsequent 500 times more energetic discharge from a 30-kV DC source. This DC discharge was laser-guided over an air gap length of two metres, which is more than two orders of magnitude longer than the expected natural discharge length. Long plasma channel induced by laser pulses and stimulated by an external high-voltage source opens the way for wireless and efficient transportation of energetic current pulses over long air gaps and potentially for guiding lightning.

Laser-guided energetic discharges over large air gaps by electric-field enhanced plasma filaments

PubMed Central

Théberge, Francis; Daigle, Jean-François; Kieffer, Jean-Claude; Vidal, François; Châteauneuf , Marc

2017-01-01

Recent works on plasma channels produced during the propagation of ultrashort and intense laser pulses in air demonstrated the guiding of electric discharges along the laser path. However, the short plasma lifetime limits the length of the laser-guided discharge. In this paper, the conductivity and lifetime of long plasma channels produced by ultrashort laser pulses is enhanced efficiently over many orders of magnitude by the electric field of a hybrid AC-DC high-voltage source. The AC electric pulse from a Tesla coil allowed to stimulate and maintain the highly conductive channel during few milliseconds in order to guide a subsequent 500 times more energetic discharge from a 30-kV DC source. This DC discharge was laser-guided over an air gap length of two metres, which is more than two orders of magnitude longer than the expected natural discharge length. Long plasma channel induced by laser pulses and stimulated by an external high-voltage source opens the way for wireless and efficient transportation of energetic current pulses over long air gaps and potentially for guiding lightning. PMID:28053312

An Implicit Solver on A Parallel Block-Structured Adaptive Mesh Grid for FLASH

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, D.; Gopal, S.; Mohapatra, P.

2012-07-01

We introduce a fully implicit solver for FLASH based on a Jacobian-Free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) approach with an appropriate preconditioner. The main goal of developing this JFNK-type implicit solver is to provide efficient high-order numerical algorithms and methodology for simulating stiff systems of differential equations on large-scale parallel computer architectures. A large number of natural problems in nonlinear physics involve a wide range of spatial and time scales of interest. A system that encompasses such a wide magnitude of scales is described as "stiff." A stiff system can arise in many different fields of physics, including fluid dynamics/aerodynamics, laboratory/space plasma physics, low Mach number flows, reactive flows, radiation hydrodynamics, and geophysical flows. One of the big challenges in solving such a stiff system using current-day computational resources lies in resolving time and length scales varying by several orders of magnitude. We introduce FLASH's preliminary implementation of a time-accurate JFNK-based implicit solver in the framework of FLASH's unsplit hydro solver.

Kinetic Theory of Plasmas

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-09-01

RTO-EN-AVT-162 means of a Coulomb potential screened at the Debye length (Delcroix and Bers, 1984; Balescu , 1988). 4. The plasma is composed of...Theory of Plasmas 2 - 28 RTO-EN-AVT-162 References Balescu , R. (1988). Transport Processes in Plasmas. Elsevier, Amsterdam. Barth, T. (2008

Low temperature limits photoperiod control of smolting in atlantic salmon through endocrine mechanisms

USGS Publications Warehouse

McCormick, S.D.; Moriyama, S.

2000-01-01

We have examined the interaction of photoperiod and temperature in regulating the parr-smolt transformation and its endocrine control. Atlantic salmon juveniles were reared at a constant temperature of 10??C or ambient temperature (2??C from January to April followed by seasonal increase) under simulated natural day length. At 10??C, an increase in day length [16 h of light and 8 h of darkness (LD 16:8)] in February accelerated increases in gill Na+K+-ATPase activity, whereas fish at ambient temperature did not respond to increased day length. Increases in gill Na+K+-ATPase activity under both photoperiods occurred later at ambient temperature than at 10??C. Plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor, and thyroxine increased within 7 days of increased day length at 10??C and remained elevated for 5-9 wk; the same photoperiod treatment at 2??C resulted in much smaller increases of shorter duration. Plasma cortisol increased transiently 3 and 5 wk after LD 16:8 at 10??C and ambient temperature, respectively. Plasma thyroxine was consistently higher at ambient temperature than at 10??C. Plasma triiodothyronine was initially higher at 10??C than at ambient temperature, and there was no response to LD 16:8 under either temperature regimen. There was a strong correlation between gill Na+K+-ATPase activity and plasma GH; correlations were weaker with other hormones. The results provide evidence that low temperature limits the physiological response to increased day length and that GH, insulin-like growth factor I, cortisol, and thyroid hormones mediate the environmental control of the parr-smolt transformation.

Generation of double pulses at the Shanghai soft X-ray free electron laser facility

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

Wang, Zhen; Feng, Chao; Gu, Qiang

2017-01-28

In this paper, we present the promise of a new method generating double electron pulses with the picosecond-scale pulse length and the tunable interpulse spacing at several picoseconds, which has been witnessed an impressive potential of application in pump-probe techniques, two-color X-ray free electron laser (FEL), high-gradient witness bunch acceleration in a plasma, etc. Three-dimensional simulations are carried out to analyze the dynamic of the electron beam in the linear accelerator. Some comparisons have been made between the new method and the existing ways as well.

LLE Review, Volume 57. Quarterly report, October--December 1993

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

Simon, A.

During this quarter, the visible fruits of long design labors on the OMEGA Upgrade began to appear. The target mirror structure was put in place, along with the target chamber itself. The laser bay structures were also installed, and the bay is now being prepared to receive optomechanical, control, and laser assemblies. Further details are in the OMEGA Upgrade Status Report in this issue. Theory and analysis of previous experiments continued during this reporting period. Articles contained herein describe an improved theory of the ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instability; a novel proposal for characterizing plasma-density profiles by using grid image refractometry; amore » much-improved treatment of the damping of ion sound waves in a mixture of light and heavy ions; and, finally, a new interpretation of measurements of 3/2-harmonic radiation emitted from the long-scale-length plasmas created in earlier OMEGA experiments.« less

e(sup +/-) Pair Loading and the Origin of the Upstream Magnetic Field in GRB Shocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico; Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi; Hededal, Christian B.

2006-01-01

We investigate here the effects of plasma instabilities driven by rapid e(sup +/-) pair cascades, which arise in the environment of GRB sources as a result of back-scattering of a seed fraction of their original spectrum. The injection of e(sup +/-) pairs induces strong streaming motions in the ambient medium. One therefore expects the pair-enriched medium ahead of the forward shock to be strongly sheared on length scales comparable to the radiation front thickness. Using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we show that plasma instabilities driven by these streaming e(sup +/-) pairs are responsible for the excitation of near-equipartition, turbulent magnetic fields. Our results reveal the importance of the electromagnetic filamentation instability in ensuring an effective coupling between e(sup +/-) pairs and ions, and may help explain the origin of large upstream fields in GRB shocks.

e+/- Pair Loading and the Origin of the Upstream Field in GRB Shocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramirez-Ruiz, Enrico; Nishikawa, Ken-Ichi; Hededal, Christian B.

2006-01-01

We investigate here the effects of plasma instabilities driven by rapid e(sup plus or minus) pair cascades, which arise in the environment of GRB sources as a result of back-scattering of a seed fraction of their original spectrum. The injection of e(sup plus or minus) pairs induces strong streaming motions in the ambient medium. One therefore expects the pair-enriched medium ahead of the forward shock to be strongly sheared on length scales comparable to the radiation front thickness. Using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we show that plasma instabilities driven by these streaming e(sup plus or minus) pairs are responsible for the excitation of near-equipartition, turbulent magnetic fields. Our results reveal the importance of the electromagnetic filamentation instability in ensuring an effective coupling between e(sup plus or minus) pairs and ions, and may help explain the origin of large upstream fields in GRB shocks.

Space-Charge Effect on Residual Energy Under Intense Ultrashort Pulse Laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shi-gang; Wang, You-qin; Nie, Xiaebo

1996-12-01

Can the space-charge effect reduce the above-threshold-ionization (ATI) energy? This problem is analyzed by using the technique of multiple-time-scale perturbation. As the optical frequency is much larger than the plasma frequency, the space-charge effect is then reduced to the ponderomotive effect. It is found that the ponderomotive effect on residual energy is great as half plasma period is larger than pulse length, however, it cannot reduce the ATI energy over the whole density range. The relevant experiments are analyzed. Their results support our conclusions. Finally, it is pointed out that for a given pulse laser there may be a density range available for optical field ionization x-ray laser over which only the ATI heating plays role. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Science Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Physics

Simulation Study of Magnetic Fields Generated by the Electromagnetic Filamentation Instability

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nishikawa, K.-I.; Ramirez-Ruiz, E.; Hardee, P.; Hededal, C. B.; Mizuno, Y.; Fishman, G. J.

2007-01-01

We have investigated the effects of plasma instabilities driven by rapid e(sup plus or minus) pair cascades, which arise in the environment of GRB sources as a result of back-scattering of a seed fraction of the original spectrum. The injection of e(sup plus or minus) pairs induces strong streaming motions in the ambient medium. One therefore expects the pair-enriched medium ahead of the forward shock to be strongly sheared on length scales comparable to the radiation front thickness. Using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we show that plasma instabilities driven by these streaming e(sup plus or minus) pairs are responsible for the excitation of near-equipartition, turbulent magnetic fields. Our results reveal the importance of the electromagnetic filamentation instability in ensuring an effective coupling between e(sup plus or minus) pairs and ions, and may help explain the origin of large upstream fields in GRB shocks.

High contrast ion acceleration at intensities exceeding 10{sup 21} Wcm{sup −2}

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

Dollar, F.; Zulick, C.; Matsuoka, T.

2013-05-15

Ion acceleration from short pulse laser interactions at intensities of 2×10{sup 21}Wcm{sup −2} was studied experimentally under a wide variety of parameters, including laser contrast, incidence angle, and target thickness. Trends in maximum proton energy were observed, as well as evidence of improvement in the acceleration gradients by using dual plasma mirrors over traditional pulse cleaning techniques. Extremely high efficiency acceleration gradients were produced, accelerating both the contaminant layer and high charge state ions from the bulk of the target. Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations enabled the study of the influence of scale length on submicron targets, where hydrodynamic expansion affectsmore » the rear surface as well as the front. Experimental evidence of larger electric fields for sharp density plasmas is observed in simulation results as well for such targets, where target ions are accelerated without the need for contaminant removal.« less

Neoclassical orbit calculations with a full-f code for tokamak edge plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rognlien, T. D.; Cohen, R. H.; Dorr, M.; Hittinger, J.; Xu, X. Q.; Collela, P.; Martin, D.

2008-11-01

Ion distribution function modifications are considered for the case of neoclassical orbit widths comparable to plasma radial-gradient scale-lengths. Implementation of proper boundary conditions at divertor plates in the continuum TEMPEST code, including the effect of drifts in determining the direction of total flow, enables such calculations in single-null divertor geometry, with and without an electrostatic potential. The resultant poloidal asymmetries in densities, temperatures, and flows are discussed. For long-time simulations, a slow numerical instability develops, even in simplified (circular) geometry with no endloss, which aids identification of the mixed treatment of parallel and radial convection terms as the cause. The new Edge Simulation Laboratory code, expected to be operational, has algorithmic refinements that should address the instability. We will present any available results from the new code on this problem as well as geodesic acoustic mode tests.

A generalized weight-based particle-in-cell simulation scheme

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, W. W.; Jenkins, T. G.; Ethier, S.

2011-03-01

A generalized weight-based particle simulation scheme suitable for simulating magnetized plasmas, where the zeroth-order inhomogeneity is important, is presented. The scheme is an extension of the perturbative simulation schemes developed earlier for particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The new scheme is designed to simulate both the perturbed distribution ( δf) and the full distribution (full- F) within the same code. The development is based on the concept of multiscale expansion, which separates the scale lengths of the background inhomogeneity from those associated with the perturbed distributions. The potential advantage for such an arrangement is to minimize the particle noise by using δf in the linear stage of the simulation, while retaining the flexibility of a full- F capability in the fully nonlinear stage of the development when signals associated with plasma turbulence are at a much higher level than those from the intrinsic particle noise.

PASOTRON high-energy microwave source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goebel, Dan M.; Schumacher, Robert W.; Butler, Jennifer M.; Hyman, Jay, Jr.; Santoru, Joseph; Watkins, Ron M.; Harvey, Robin J.; Dolezal, Franklin A.; Eisenhart, Robert L.; Schneider, Authur J.

1992-04-01

A unique, high-energy microwave source, called PASOTRON (Plasma-Assisted Slow-wave Oscillator), has been developed. The PASOTRON utilizes a long-pulse E-gun and plasma- filled slow-wave structure (SWS) to produce high-energy pulses from a simple, lightweight device that utilizes no externally produced magnetic fields. Long pulses are obtained from a novel E-gun that employs a low-pressure glow discharge to provide a stable, high current- density electron source. The electron accelerator consists of a high-perveance, multi-aperture array. The E-beam is operated in the ion-focused regime where the plasma filling the SWS space-charge neutralizes the beam, and the self-pinch force compresses the beamlets and increases the beam current density. A scale-model PASOTRON, operating as a backward- wave oscillator in C-band with a 100-kV E-beam, has produced output powers in the 3 to 5 MW range and pulse lengths of over 100 microsecond(s) ec, corresponding to an integrated energy per pulse of up to 500 J. The E-beam to microwave-radiation power conversion efficiency is about 20%.

Self-aligning concave relativistic plasma mirror with adjustable focus

DOE PAGES

Tsai, Hai-En; Arefiev, Alexey V.; Shaw, Joseph M.; ...

2017-01-04

We report an experimental-computational study of the optical properties of plasma mirrors (PMs) at the incident laser frequency when irradiated directly at relativistic intensity (10 180<10 19W/cm 2) by near-normally incident (4°), high-contrast, 30 fs, 800 nm laser pulses. We find that such relativistic PMs are highly reflective (0.6–0.8) and focus a significant fraction of reflected light to intensity as large as ~10I0 at distance f as small as ~25 μm from the PM, provided that pre-pulses do not exceed 10 14 W/cm 2 prior to ~20 ps before arrival of the main pulse peak. Particle-in-cell simulations show that focusingmore » results from denting of the reflecting surface by light pressure combined with relativistic transparency and that reflectivity and f can be adjusted by controlling pre-plasma length L over the range 0.5 ≲L ≲ 3 μm. Pump-probe reflectivity measurements show that the PM's focusing properties evolve on a ps time scale.« less

GeV Electrons due to a Transition from Laser Wakefield Acceleration to Plasma Wakefield Acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mo, M. Z.; Masson-Laborde, P.-E.; Ali, A.; Fourmaux, S.; Lassonde, P.; Kieffer, J.-C.; Rozmus, W.; Teychenné, D.; Fedosejevs, R.

2014-10-01

The Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) experiments performed with the 200 TW laser system located at the Canadian Advanced Laser Light Source facility at INRS, Varennes (Québec) observed at relatively high plasma densities (1 × 1019cm-3) electron bunches of GeV energy gain, more than double of the predicted energy using Lu's scaling law. This energy boost phenomena can be attributed to a transition from LWFA regime to a plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) regime. In the first stage, the acceleration mechanism is dominated by the bubble created by the laser in the regime of LWFA, leading to an injection of a large number of electrons. After propagation beyond the depletion length, where the laser pulse is depleted and it can no longer sustain the bubble anymore, the dense bunch of high energy electrons propagating inside the bubble will drive its own wakefield in the PWFA regime that can trap and accelerate a secondary population of electrons up to the GeV level. 3D particle-in-cell simulations support this analysis, and confirm the scenario.

Electron acoustic nonlinear structures in planetary magnetospheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shah, K. H.; Qureshi, M. N. S.; Masood, W.; Shah, H. A.

2018-04-01

In this paper, we have studied linear and nonlinear propagation of electron acoustic waves (EAWs) comprising cold and hot populations in which the ions form the neutralizing background. The hot electrons have been assumed to follow the generalized ( r , q ) distribution which has the advantage that it mimics most of the distribution functions observed in space plasmas. Interestingly, it has been found that unlike Maxwellian and kappa distributions, the electron acoustic waves admit not only rarefactive structures but also allow the formation of compressive solitary structures for generalized ( r , q ) distribution. It has been found that the flatness parameter r , tail parameter q , and the nonlinear propagation velocity u affect the propagation characteristics of nonlinear EAWs. Using the plasmas parameters, typically found in Saturn's magnetosphere and the Earth's auroral region, where two populations of electrons and electron acoustic solitary waves (EASWs) have been observed, we have given an estimate of the scale lengths over which these nonlinear waves are expected to form and how the size of these structures would vary with the change in the shape of the distribution function and with the change of the plasma parameters.

Self-aligning concave relativistic plasma mirror with adjustable focus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Hai-En; Arefiev, Alexey V.; Shaw, Joseph M.; Stark, David J.; Wang, Xiaoming; Zgadzaj, Rafal; Downer, M. C.

2017-01-01

We report an experimental-computational study of the optical properties of plasma mirrors (PMs) at the incident laser frequency when irradiated directly at relativistic intensity ( 10 18 < I 0 < 10 19 W / cm 2 ) by near-normally incident ( 4 ° ), high-contrast, 30 fs, 800 nm laser pulses. We find that such relativistic PMs are highly reflective ( 0.6 - 0.8 ) and focus a significant fraction of reflected light to intensity as large as ˜ 10 I 0 at distance f as small as ˜ 25 μ m from the PM, provided that pre-pulses do not exceed 1014 W/cm2 prior to ˜ 20 ps before arrival of the main pulse peak. Particle-in-cell simulations show that focusing results from denting of the reflecting surface by light pressure combined with relativistic transparency and that reflectivity and f can be adjusted by controlling pre-plasma length L over the range 0.5 ≲ L ≲ 3 μ m. Pump-probe reflectivity measurements show that the PM's focusing properties evolve on a ps time scale.

A full-angle Monte-Carlo scattering technique including cumulative and single-event Rutherford scattering in plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Higginson, Drew P.

2017-11-01

We describe and justify a full-angle scattering (FAS) method to faithfully reproduce the accumulated differential angular Rutherford scattering probability distribution function (pdf) of particles in a plasma. The FAS method splits the scattering events into two regions. At small angles it is described by cumulative scattering events resulting, via the central limit theorem, in a Gaussian-like pdf; at larger angles it is described by single-event scatters and retains a pdf that follows the form of the Rutherford differential cross-section. The FAS method is verified using discrete Monte-Carlo scattering simulations run at small timesteps to include each individual scattering event. We identify the FAS regime of interest as where the ratio of temporal/spatial scale-of-interest to slowing-down time/length is from 10-3 to 0.3-0.7; the upper limit corresponds to Coulomb logarithm of 20-2, respectively. Two test problems, high-velocity interpenetrating plasma flows and keV-temperature ion equilibration, are used to highlight systems where including FAS is important to capture relevant physics.

Biological ageing and frailty markers in breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Brouwers, Barbara; Dalmasso, Bruna; Hatse, Sigrid; Laenen, Annouschka; Kenis, Cindy; Swerts, Evalien; Neven, Patrick; Smeets, Ann; Schöffski, Patrick; Wildiers, Hans

2015-05-01

Older cancer patients are a highly heterogeneous population in terms of global health and physiological reserves, and it is often difficult to determine the best treatment. Moreover, clinical tools currently used to assess global health require dedicated time and lack a standardized end score. Circulating markers of biological age and/or fitness could complement or partially substitute the existing screening tools. In this study we explored the relationship of potential ageing/frailty biomarkers with age and clinical frailty. On a population of 82 young and 162 older non-metastatic breast cancer patients, we measured mean leukocyte telomere length and plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). We also developed a new tool to summarize clinical frailty, designated Leuven Oncogeriatric Frailty Score (LOFS), by integrating GA results in a single, semi-continuous score. LOFS' median score was 8, on a scale from 0=frail to 10=fit. IL-6 levels were associated with chronological age in both groups and with clinical frailty in older breast cancer patients, whereas telomere length, IGF-1 and MCP-1 only correlated with age. Plasma IL-6 should be further explored as frailty biomarker in cancer patients.

Introduction to the theory and application of a unified Bohm criterion for arbitrary-ion-temperature collision-free plasmas with finite Debye lengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kos, L.; Jelić, N.; Kuhn, S.; Tskhakaya, D. D.

2018-04-01

At present, identifying and characterizing the common plasma-sheath edge (PSE) in the conventional fluid approach leads to intrinsic oversimplifications, while the kinetic one results in unusable over-generalizations. In addition, none of these approaches can be justified in realistic plasmas, i.e., those which are characterized by non-negligible Debye lengths and a well-defined non-negligible ion temperature. In an attempt to resolve this problem, we propose a new formulation of the Bohm criterion [D. Bohm, The Characteristics of Electrical Discharges in Magnetic Fields (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1949)], which is here expressed in terms of fluid, kinetic, and electrostatic-pressure contributions. This "unified" Bohm criterion consists of a set of two equations for calculating the ion directional energy (i.e., the mean directional velocity) and the plasma potential at the common PSE, and is valid for arbitrary ion-to-electron temperature ratios. It turns out to be exact at any point of the quasi-neutral plasma provided that the ion differential polytropic coefficient function (DPCF) of Kuhn et al. [Phys. Plasmas 13, 013503 (2006)] is employed, with the advantage that the DPCF is an easily measurable fluid quantity. Moreover, our unified Bohm criterion holds in plasmas with finite Debye lengths, for which the famous kinetic criterion formulated by Harrison and Thompson [Proc. Phys. Soc. 74, 145 (1959)] fails. Unlike the kinetic criterion in the case of negligible Debye length, the kinetic contribution to the unified Bohm criterion, arising due to the presence of negative and zero velocities in the ion velocity distribution function, can be calculated separately from the fluid term. This kinetic contribution disappears identically at the PSE, yielding strict equality of the ion directional velocity there and the ion sound speed, provided that the latter is formulated in terms of the present definition of DPCFs. The numerical values of these velocities are found for the Tonks-Langmuir collision-free, plane-parallel discharge model [Phys. Rev. 34, 876 (1929)], however, with the ion-source temperature extended here from the original (zero) value to arbitrary high ones. In addition, it turns out, that the charge-density derivative (in the potential "space") with respect to the potential exhibits two characteristic points, i.e., potentials, namely the points of inflection and maximum of that derivative (in the potential space), which stay "fixed" at their respective potentials independent of the Debye length until it is kept fairly small. Plasma quasi-neutrality appears well satisfied up to the first characteristic point/potential, so we identify that one as the plasma edge (PE). Adopting the convention that the sheath is a region characterized by considerable electrostatic pressure (energy density), we identify the second characteristic point/potential as the sheath edge (SE). Between these points, the charge density increases from zero to a finite value. Thus, the interval between the PE and SE, with the "fixed" width (in the potential "space") of about one third of the electron temperature, will be named the plasma-sheath transition (PST). Outside the PST, the electrostatic-pressure term and its derivatives turn out to be nearly identical with each other, independent of the particular values of the ion temperature and Debye length. In contrast, an increase in Debye lengths from zero to finite values causes the location of the sonic point/potential (laying inside the PST) to shift from the PE (for vanishing Debye length) towards the SE, while at the same time, the absolute value of the corresponding ion-sound velocity slightly decreases. These shifts turn out to be manageable with employing the mathematical concept of the plasma-to-sheath transition (different from, but related to our natural PST concept), resulting in approximate, but sufficiently reliable semi-analytic expressions, which are functions of the ion temperature and Debye length.

Investigating the laser heating of underdense plasmas at conditions relevant to MagLIF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harvey-Thompson, Adam

2015-11-01

The magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion (MagLIF) scheme has achieved thermonuclear fusion yields on Sandia's Z Facility by imploding a cylindrical liner filled with D2 fuel that is preheated with a multi-kJ laser and pre-magnetized with an axial field Bz = 10 T. The challenge of fuel preheating in MagLIF is to deposit several kJ's of energy into an underdense (ne/ncrit<0.1) fusion fuel over ~ 10 mm target length efficiently and without introducing contaminants that could contribute to unacceptable radiative losses during the implosion. Very little experimental work has previously been done to investigate laser heating of gas at densities, scale lengths, modest intensities (Iλ2 ~ 1014 watts- μm2 /cm2) and magnetization parameters (ωceτe ~ 10) necessary for MagLIF. In particular, magnetization of the preheated plasma suppresses electron thermal conduction, which can modify laser energy coupling. Providing an experimental dataset in this regime is essential to not only understand the dynamics of a MagLIF implosion and stagnation, but also to validate magnetized transport models and better understand the physics of laser propagation in magnetized plasmas. In this talk, we present data and analysis of several experiments conducted at OMEGA-EP and at Z to investigate laser propagation and plasma heating in underdense D2 plasmas under a range of conditions, including densities (ne = 0.05-0.1 nc) and magnetization parmaters (ωceτe ~ 0-10). The results show differences in the electron temperature of the heated plasma and the velocity of the laser burn wave with and without an applied magnetic field. We will show comparisons of these experimental results to 2D and 3D HYDRA simulations, which show that the effect of the magnetic field on the electron thermal conduction needs to be taken into account when modeling laser preheat. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the National Nuclear Security Administration under Contract No. DE-AC04-94AL85000.

Simulations on false gain in recombination-pumped soft-X-ray lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ozaki, T.; Kuroda, H.

1997-10-01

Numerical investigations are performed on false gain due to axial plasma expansion, which is expected to be important in initial proof-of-principle studies of recombination-pumped soft-X-ray lasers with extended capabilities. Modelling calculations of experiments with slab boron nitride targets reveal large false gain coefficients approaching 20 cm-1 in the case of plasmas with short active medium lengths. The false gain in the case of fiber targets is found to be of equal magnitude to that for slabs in the case of plasmas with less than 0.1 cm active medium lengths. Calculations for slab targets predict that adopting a tolerance of ǃ cm-1 for gain will severely restrict the time and the active medium length of the plasma that can be used for error-free observations, while those for fiber targets are found to be considerably relaxed. The effects of false gain in the 54.2 + Na Balmer ! laser is also investigated, again revealing the importance of this phenomena under optimum gain conditions.

Evidence for gain on the C VI 182 A transition in a radiation-cooled selenium/Formvar plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seely, J. F.; Brown, C. M.; Feldman, U.; Richardson, M.; Behring, W. E.

1985-01-01

Thin plastic foils coated with selenium have been irradiated using from 4 to 8 beams of the OMEGA laser in a line focus configuration. Spectra were recorded using a 3 meter spectrograph that viewed the plasma along the line focus. Based on a comparison of the intensities of the spectral lines from plasmas with lengths of 1.7, 3.4, 6.8, and 13.6 mm, the C VI n = 3 to 2 transition at 182 A was anomalously intense in the spectra from the longer plasmas. Calculations indicate that the carbon plasma was cooled by radiation from the highly-charged selenium plasma in a time that was smaller than the expansion time of the plasma. These plasma conditions are favorable for the occurrence of population inversions between the n = 2 and 3 levels of C VI resulting from recombination and cascading from higher levels. The measured gain coefficient for the C VI 182 A transition is 3/cm, and this corresponds to a gain-length product of 4 in the longest plasma.

Theory based scaling of edge turbulence and implications for the scrape-off layer width

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Myra, J. R.; Russell, D. A.; Zweben, S. J.

2016-11-01

Turbulence and plasma parameter data from the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) [Ono et al., Nucl. Fusion 40, 557 (2000)] is examined and interpreted based on various theoretical estimates. In particular, quantities of interest for assessing the role of turbulent transport on the midplane scrape-off layer heat flux width are assessed. Because most turbulence quantities exhibit large scatter and little scaling within a given operation mode, this paper focuses on length and time scales and dimensionless parameters between operational modes including Ohmic, low (L), and high (H) modes using a large NSTX edge turbulence database [Zweben et al., Nucl. Fusion 55, 093035 (2015)]. These are compared with theoretical estimates for drift and interchange rates, profile modification saturation levels, a resistive ballooning condition, and dimensionless parameters characterizing L and H mode conditions. It is argued that the underlying instability physics governing edge turbulence in different operational modes is, in fact, similar, and is consistent with curvature-driven drift ballooning. Saturation physics, however, is dependent on the operational mode. Five dimensionless parameters for drift-interchange turbulence are obtained and employed to assess the importance of turbulence in setting the scrape-off layer heat flux width λq and its scaling. An explicit proportionality of the width λq to the safety factor and major radius (qR) is obtained under these conditions. Quantitative estimates and reduced model numerical simulations suggest that the turbulence mechanism is not negligible in determining λq in NSTX, at least for high plasma current discharges.

Theory based scaling of edge turbulence and implications for the scrape-off layer width

DOE PAGES

Myra, J. R.; Russell, D. A.; Zweben, S. J.

2016-11-01

Turbulence and plasma parameter data from the National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) is examined and interpreted based on various theoretical estimates. In particular, quantities of interest for assessing the role of turbulent transport on the midplane scrape-off layer heat flux width are assessed. Because most turbulence quantities exhibit large scatter and little scaling within a given operation mode, this paper focuses on length and time scales and dimensionless parameters between operational modes including Ohmic, low (L), and high (H) modes using a large NSTX edge turbulence database. These are compared with theoretical estimates for drift and interchange rates, profile modificationmore » saturation levels, a resistive ballooning condition, and dimensionless parameters characterizing L and H mode conditions. It is argued that the underlying instability physics governing edge turbulence in different operational modes is, in fact, similar, and is consistent with curvature-driven drift ballooning. Saturation physics, however, is dependent on the operational mode. Five dimensionless parameters for drift-interchange turbulence are obtained and employed to assess the importance of turbulence in setting the scrape-off layer heat flux width λ q and its scaling. An explicit proportionality of the width λ q to the safety factor and major radius (qR) is obtained under these conditions. Lastly, quantitative estimates and reduced model numerical simulations suggest that the turbulence mechanism is not negligible in determining λ q in NSTX, at least for high plasma current discharges.« less

Estimation of Flow Channel Parameters for Flowing Gas Mixed with Air in Atmospheric-pressure Plasma Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yambe, Kiyoyuki; Saito, Hidetoshi

2017-12-01

When the working gas of an atmospheric-pressure non-equilibrium (cold) plasma flows into free space, the diameter of the resulting flow channel changes continuously. The shape of the channel is observed through the light emitted by the working gas of the atmospheric-pressure plasma. When the plasma jet forms a conical shape, the diameter of the cylindrical shape, which approximates the conical shape, defines the diameter of the flow channel. When the working gas flows into the atmosphere from the inside of a quartz tube, the gas mixes with air. The molar ratio of the working gas and air is estimated from the corresponding volume ratio through the relationship between the diameter of the cylindrical plasma channel and the inner diameter of the quartz tube. The Reynolds number is calculated from the kinematic viscosity of the mixed gas and the molar ratio. The gas flow rates for the upper limit of laminar flow and the lower limit of turbulent flow are determined by the corresponding Reynolds numbers estimated from the molar ratio. It is confirmed that the plasma jet length and the internal plasma length associated with strong light emission increase with the increasing gas flow rate until the rate for the upper limit of laminar flow and the lower limit of turbulent flow, respectively. Thus, we are able to explain the increasing trend in the plasma lengths with the diameter of the flow channel and the molar ratio by using the cylindrical approximation.

High Speed Photographic Analysis Of Railgun Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Macintyre, I. B.

1985-02-01

Various experiments are underway at the Materials Research Laboratories, Australian Department of Defence, to develop a theory for the behaviour and propulsion action of plasmas in rail guns. Optical recording and imaging devices, with their low vulnerability to the effects of magnetic and electric fields present in the vicinity of electromagnetic launchers, have proven useful as diagnostic tools. This paper describes photoinstrumentation systems developed to provide visual qualitative assessment of the behaviour of plasma travelling along the bore of railgun launchers. In addition, a quantitative system is incorporated providing continuous data (on a microsecond time scale) of (a) Length of plasma during flight along the launcher bore. (b) Velocity of plasma. (c) Distribution of plasma with respect to time after creation. (d) Plasma intensity profile as it travels along the launcher bore. The evolution of the techniques used is discussed. Two systems were employed. The first utilized a modified high speed streak camera to record the light emitted from the plasma, through specially prepared fibre optic cables. The fibre faces external to the bore were then imaged onto moving film. The technique involved the insertion of fibres through the launcher body to enable the plasma to be viewed at discrete positions as it travelled along the launcher bore. Camera configuration, fibre optic preparation and experimental results are outlined. The second system utilized high speed streak and framing photography in conjunction with accurate sensitometric control procedures on the recording film. The two cameras recorded the plasma travelling along the bore of a specially designed transparent launcher. The streak camera, fitted with a precise slit size, recorded a streak image of the upper brightness range of the plasma as it travelled along the launcher's bore. The framing camera recorded an overall view of the launcher and the plasma path, to the maximum possible, governed by the film's ability to reproduce the plasma's brightness range. The instrumentation configuration, calibration, and film measurement using microdensitometer scanning techniques to evaluate inbore plasma behaviour, are also presented.

Plasma Constraints on the Cosmological Abundance of Magnetic Monopoles and the Origin of Cosmic Magnetic Fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medvedev, Mikhail; Loeb, Abraham

2017-10-01

Existing theoretical and observational constraints on the abundance of magnetic monopoles are limited. Here we demonstrate that an ensemble of monopoles forms a plasma whose properties are well determined and whose collective effects place new tight constraints on the cosmological abundance of monopoles. In particular, the existence of micro-Gauss magnetic fields in galaxy clusters and radio relics implies that the scales of these structures are below the Debye screening length, thus setting an upper limit on the cosmological density parameter of monopoles, ΩM <= 3 ×10-4 , which precludes them from being the dark matter. Future detection of Gpc-scale coherent magnetic fields could improve this limit by a few orders of magnitude. In addition, we predict the existence of magnetic Langmuir waves and turbulence which may appear on the sky as ``zebra patterns'' of an alternating magnetic field with k . B ≠ 0 . We also show that magnetic monopole Langmuir turbulence excited near the accretion shock of galaxy clusters may be an efficient mechanism for generating the observed intracluster magnetic fields. The authors acknowledge DOE partial support via Grant DE-SC0016368.

Plasma constraints on the cosmological abundance of magnetic monopoles and the origin of cosmic magnetic fields

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

Medvedev, Mikhail V.; Loeb, Abraham, E-mail: mmedvedev@cfa.harvard.edu, E-mail: aloeb@cfa.harvard.edu

Existing theoretical and observational constraints on the abundance of magnetic monopoles are limited. Here we demonstrate that an ensemble of monopoles forms a plasma whose properties are well determined and whose collective effects place new tight constraints on the cosmological abundance of monopoles. In particular, the existence of micro-Gauss magnetic fields in galaxy clusters and radio relics implies that the scales of these structures are below the Debye screening length, thus setting an upper limit on the cosmological density parameter of monopoles, Ω {sub M} {sub ∼<} {sub 3} {sub ×} {sub 10}{sup −4}, which precludes them from being themore » dark matter. Future detection of Gpc-scale coherent magnetic fields could improve this limit by a few orders of magnitude. In addition, we predict the existence of magnetic Langmuir waves and turbulence which may appear on the sky as ''zebra patterns'' of an alternating magnetic field with k·B ≠ 0. We also show that magnetic monopole Langmuir turbulence excited near the accretion shock of galaxy clusters may be an efficient mechanism for generating the observed intracluster magnetic fields.« less

Multiscale gyrokinetics for rotating tokamak plasmas: fluctuations, transport and energy flows.

PubMed

Abel, I G; Plunk, G G; Wang, E; Barnes, M; Cowley, S C; Dorland, W; Schekochihin, A A

2013-11-01

This paper presents a complete theoretical framework for studying turbulence and transport in rapidly rotating tokamak plasmas. The fundamental scale separations present in plasma turbulence are codified as an asymptotic expansion in the ratio ε = ρi/α of the gyroradius to the equilibrium scale length. Proceeding order by order in this expansion, a set of coupled multiscale equations is developed. They describe an instantaneous equilibrium, the fluctuations driven by gradients in the equilibrium quantities, and the transport-timescale evolution of mean profiles of these quantities driven by the interplay between the equilibrium and the fluctuations. The equilibrium distribution functions are local Maxwellians with each flux surface rotating toroidally as a rigid body. The magnetic equilibrium is obtained from the generalized Grad-Shafranov equation for a rotating plasma, determining the magnetic flux function from the mean pressure and velocity profiles of the plasma. The slow (resistive-timescale) evolution of the magnetic field is given by an evolution equation for the safety factor q. Large-scale deviations of the distribution function from a Maxwellian are given by neoclassical theory. The fluctuations are determined by the 'high-flow' gyrokinetic equation, from which we derive the governing principle for gyrokinetic turbulence in tokamaks: the conservation and local (in space) cascade of the free energy of the fluctuations (i.e. there is no turbulence spreading). Transport equations for the evolution of the mean density, temperature and flow velocity profiles are derived. These transport equations show how the neoclassical and fluctuating corrections to the equilibrium Maxwellian act back upon the mean profiles through fluxes and heating. The energy and entropy conservation laws for the mean profiles are derived from the transport equations. Total energy, thermal, kinetic and magnetic, is conserved and there is no net turbulent heating. Entropy is produced by the action of fluxes flattening gradients, Ohmic heating and the equilibration of interspecies temperature differences. This equilibration is found to include both turbulent and collisional contributions. Finally, this framework is condensed, in the low-Mach-number limit, to a more concise set of equations suitable for numerical implementation.

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).

Interaction of magnetized electrons with a boundary sheath: investigation of a specular reflection model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krüger, Dennis; Brinkmann, Ralf Peter

2017-11-01

This publication reports analytical and numerical results concerning the interaction of gyrating electrons with a plasma boundary sheath, with focus on partially magnetized technological plasmas. It is assumed that the electron Debye length {λ }{{D}} is much smaller than the electron gyroradius {r}{{L}}, and {r}{{L}} in turn much smaller than the mean free path λ and the gradient length L of the fields. Focusing on the scale of the gyroradius, the sheath is assumed as infinitesimally thin ({λ }{{D}}\\to 0), collisions are neglected (λ \\to ∞ ), the magnetic field is taken as homogeneous, and electric fields (=potential gradients) in the bulk are neglected (L\\to ∞ ). The interaction of an electron with the electric field of the plasma boundary sheath is represented by a specular reflection {v}\\to {v}-2{v}\\cdot {{e}}z {{e}}z of the velocity {v} at the plane z = 0 of a naturally oriented Cartesian coordinate system (x,y,z). The electron trajectory is then given as sequences of helical sections, with the kinetic energy ɛ and the canonical momenta p x and p y conserved, but not the position of the axis (base point {{R}}0), the slope (pitch angle χ), and the phase (gyrophase φ). A ‘virtual interaction’ which directly maps the incoming electrons to the outgoing ones is introduced and studied in dependence of the angle γ between the field and the sheath normal {{e}}z. The corresponding scattering operator is constructed, mathematically characterized, and given as an infinite matrix. An equivalent boundary condition for a transformed kinetic model is derived.

RECONNECTION-DRIVEN DOUBLE LAYERS IN THE STRATIFIED PLASMA OF THE SOLAR TRANSITION REGION: SUPPLY OF HOT PLASMA INTO THE CORONA

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

Singh, Nagendra

A novel mechanism for the supply of hot plasma into the corona from the chromosphere is suggested here; the mechanism involves collisionless magnetic reconnection (CMR) in the transition region (TR) followed by double layer (DL) formation in the enhanced expansion of the chromospheric cold plasma mixed with CMR-heated hot electrons. It is well known that (i) the CMR produces energetic electrons and (ii) DLs naturally form in expanding dense plasmas containing a minor population of hot electrons. We apply these plasma physics facts to the dynamics of stratified plasma in the TR. In the TR where densities fall below ∼10{supmore » 16} m{sup −3}, all collisional mean-free paths, electron–ion, ion–neutral, and electron–neutral, become long enough to render plasma collisionless at kinetic scale lengths, making CMR and DL formation possible. The DLs accelerate the chromospheric cold ions to energies comparable to the energy of the hot electrons. When the upflowing energized ions neutralized by the escaping hot electrons thermalize, the resulting hot tenuous plasma supplies an energy flux ∼3 × 10{sup 5} erg cm{sup −2} s{sup −1} = 3 × 10{sup 2} J m{sup −2} s{sup −1} into the corona. The CMR–DL mechanism introduces sudden transitions in the TR as microstructures in both density and energy. The global transition in the TR could be a fractal structure containing such microscopic features. If not impossible, it is difficult to measure such microstructures, but it seems that the coronal heating begins in the nearly collisionless TR by CMR and DL formation.« less

Measurements of ion species separation in strong plasma shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rinderknecht, Hans

2017-10-01

Shocks are important dynamic phenomena in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and astrophysical plasmas. While the relationship between upstream and downstream plasmas far from the shock front is fully determined by conservation equations, the structure of shock fronts is determined by dynamic kinetic processes. Kinetic theory and simulations predict that the width of a strong (M >2) collisional plasma shock front is on the order of tens of ion mean-free-paths. The shock front structure plays an important role for overall dynamics when the shock front width approaches plasma scale lengths, as in the spherically converging shock in the DT-vapor in an ICF implosion. However, there has been no experimental data benchmarking shock front structure in the plasma phase. The structure of a shock front in a plasma with multiple ion species has been directly measured for the first time using a combination of Thomson scattering and proton radiography in experiments on the OMEGA laser. Thomson scattering of a 263.25 nm probe beam is used to diagnose electron density, electron and ion temperature, ion species concentration, and flow velocity in strong shocks (M 5) propagating through low-density (ρ 0.1 mg/cc) plasmas composed of H(98%) +Ne(2%). Within the shock front, velocity separation of the ion species is observed for the first time: the light species (H) accelerates to of order the shocked fluid velocity (450 microns/ns) before the heavy species (Ne) begins to move. This velocity-space separation implies that the separation of ion species occurs at the shock front, a predicted feature of shocks in multi-species plasmas but never observed experimentally until now. Comparison of experimental data with PIC, Vlasov-Fokker-Planck, and multi-component hydrodynamic simulations will be presented.

Maxwell Prize Talk: Scaling Laws for the Dynamical Plasma Phenomena

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryutov, Livermore, Ca 94550, Usa, D. D.

2017-10-01

The scaling and similarity technique is a powerful tool for developing and testing reduced models of complex phenomena, including plasma phenomena. The technique has been successfully used in identifying appropriate simplified models of transport in quasistationary plasmas. In this talk, the similarity and scaling arguments will be applied to highly dynamical systems, in which temporal evolution of the plasma leads to a significant change of plasma dimensions, shapes, densities, and other parameters with respect to initial state. The scaling and similarity techniques for dynamical plasma systems will be presented as a set of case studies of problems from various domains of the plasma physics, beginning with collisonless plasmas, through intermediate collisionalities, to highly collisional plasmas describable by the single-fluid MHD. Basic concepts of the similarity theory will be introduced along the way. Among the results discussed are: self-similarity of Langmuir turbulence driven by a hot electron cloud expanding into a cold background plasma; generation of particle beams in disrupting pinches; interference between collisionless and collisional phenomena in the shock physics; similarity for liner-imploded plasmas; MHD similarities with an emphasis on the effect of small-scale (turbulent) structures on global dynamics. Relations between astrophysical phenomena and scaled laboratory experiments will be discussed.

Through the Eye of the Needle: The Separator and its Environs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scudder, J. D.; Mozer, F. S.; Maynard, N. C.; Russell, C. T.

2001-05-01

The observed properties of the electromagnetic field and the plasma at and around a magnetic separator observed on May 29, 1996 with the ISTP GGS Polar satellite will be discussed. The electron pressure ridge will be illustrated astride the current layer, and the ion flow will be shown to impinge on the separator with MA ~= 0.1 and leave along the pressure ridge with MA ~= 1.1 33 traversals of rotational shear layers have been documented in this interval using the electron form of the Walen test. The electron fluid velocity is shown to have strong parallel Mach number enhancements along the separatrices, with peak parallel Alfven mach numbers of 4.5 that are probably limited by plasma time resolution (4.3s). These are similar in location to those in two fluid, hybrid, and particle - particle simulations of collisionless reconnection. The direct detection of the parallel electric field in the vicinity of the separator is shown in all cases to be limited by the so called Vasyliunas limit, $ E∥ <= O(1)√ {{{kTe}/{2m_ic2}}}| B|, that corresponds to the scale length of the pressure gradient being limited by the scale \\rho_s = \\beta_e^{1\\over2}{c\\over {\\omegapi}} seen to be important in the multi-species analysis of collisionless reconnection. In turn, the electron gas is shown at times not to drift at the E \\times B drift speed, but have substantial drifts perpendicular to B of a sense implied by the pressure divergences that cause the parallel electric field. Two techniques have been introduced to demonstrate the spectacular enhancement of the departures from cylindrical symmetry exhibited by the electrons as the separator null field region is traversed. Using totally separate arguments, the thermal electrons are shown to be clearly unmagnetized within the {c\\over{\\omegape}}$ scales about the separator, with the thermal gyroradius 10-30 times the scale length of B in this vicinity. At the moment level this demagnetization shows up as the loss of gyrotropy, or increase of ``agyrotropy''. In these regimes the thermal electrons can move onto different field lines and affect a loss of identity of field lines. Said differently, this agyrotropy requires the retention of the full tensorial electron pressure tensor to convey its effects in the multi-fluid treatments. Superposed epoch pictures of the spatial environment of the separator will be illustrated in different diagnostic "wavelengths" such as magnetic intensity, electron pressure, beta and gyroradius of electrons relative to scale lengths of B. In this way we provide the first in situ empirical definition of a site of collisionless magnetic reconnection and verify the demagnetization of electrons outlined by Vasyliunas 25 years ago as the likely mechanism for violation of the frozen flux theorem.

Comparison of postoperative pain and inflammation reaction in dogs undergoing preventive laparoscopic-assisted and incisional gastropexy.

PubMed

Haraguchi, Tomoya; Kimura, Shiho; Itoh, Harumichi; Nishikawa, Shimpei; Hiyama, Masato; Tani, Kenji; Iseri, Toshie; Itoh, Yoshiki; Nakaichi, Munekazu; Taura, Yasuho; Itamoto, Kazuhito

2017-09-12

This study compared the effects of postoperative pain and inflammation reaction after preventive laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy (LAG) and incisional gastropexy (IG) in 10 clinically normal Beagles. Surgical time, incision length, visual analog scale (VAS) score, University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) score, and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma cortisol (COR), and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated. The VAS and UMPS scores and COR and IL-6 levels were recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hr after surgery. CRP level was recorded at 12, 24 and 48 hr after surgery. The VAS and UMPS scores showed no significant intergroup differences. Compared to IG, LAG had significantly lower surgical time (45 ± 9.91 min vs 64 ± 5.30 min; P<0.05), incision length (46 ± 8.21 mm vs 129 ± 19.49 mm; P<0.05), CRP level (12 hr after surgery; 4.58 ± 1.58 mg/dl vs 12.4 ± 1.34 mg/dl; P<0.01), and COR level (1 hr after surgery; 10.79 ± 3.07 µg/dl vs 15.9 ± 3.77 µg/dl; P<0.05). IL-6 levels showed no significant intergroup differences at any time point. However, LAG resulted in lower IL-6 levels than did IG at all postoperative time points. Neither procedure resulted in significant surgical complications. LAG produced lower surgical stress than did IG, suggesting that LAG is a safe, minimally invasive, and highly useful technique for preventing canine gastric dilatation-volvulus. Nevertheless, since this study used experimental models, its usefulness should be evaluated in future cases.

Comparison of postoperative pain and inflammation reaction in dogs undergoing preventive laparoscopic-assisted and incisional gastropexy

PubMed Central

HARAGUCHI, Tomoya; KIMURA, Shiho; ITOH, Harumichi; NISHIKAWA, Shimpei; HIYAMA, Masato; TANI, Kenji; ISERI, Toshie; ITOH, Yoshiki; NAKAICHI, Munekazu; TAURA, Yasuho; ITAMOTO, Kazuhito

2017-01-01

This study compared the effects of postoperative pain and inflammation reaction after preventive laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy (LAG) and incisional gastropexy (IG) in 10 clinically normal Beagles. Surgical time, incision length, visual analog scale (VAS) score, University of Melbourne Pain Scale (UMPS) score, and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma cortisol (COR), and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were evaluated. The VAS and UMPS scores and COR and IL-6 levels were recorded at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hr after surgery. CRP level was recorded at 12, 24 and 48 hr after surgery. The VAS and UMPS scores showed no significant intergroup differences. Compared to IG, LAG had significantly lower surgical time (45 ± 9.91 min vs 64 ± 5.30 min; P<0.05), incision length (46 ± 8.21 mm vs 129 ± 19.49 mm; P<0.05), CRP level (12 hr after surgery; 4.58 ± 1.58 mg/dl vs 12.4 ± 1.34 mg/dl; P<0.01), and COR level (1 hr after surgery; 10.79 ± 3.07 µg/dl vs 15.9 ± 3.77 µg/dl; P<0.05). IL-6 levels showed no significant intergroup differences at any time point. However, LAG resulted in lower IL-6 levels than did IG at all postoperative time points. Neither procedure resulted in significant surgical complications. LAG produced lower surgical stress than did IG, suggesting that LAG is a safe, minimally invasive, and highly useful technique for preventing canine gastric dilatation-volvulus. Nevertheless, since this study used experimental models, its usefulness should be evaluated in future cases. PMID:28717065

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

Lee, Gyeong Won; Shim, Jaewon; Jung, Young-Dae, E-mail: ydjung@hanyang.ac.kr

The influence of renormalization plasma screening on the entanglement fidelity for the elastic electron-atom scattering is investigated in partially ionized dense hydrogen plasmas. The partial wave analysis and effective interaction potential are employed to obtain the scattering entanglement fidelity in dense hydrogen plasmas as functions of the collision energy, the Debye length, and the renormalization parameter. It is found that the renormalization plasma shielding enhances the scattering entanglement fidelity. Hence, we show that the transmission of the quantum information can be increased about 10% due to the renormalization shielding effect in dense hydrogen plasmas. It is also found that themore » renormalization shielding effect on the entanglement fidelity for the electron-atom collision increases with an increase of the collision energy. In addition, the renormalization shielding function increases with increasing collision energy and saturates to the unity with an increase of the Debye length.« less

High-Mach number, laser-driven magnetized collisionless shocks

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

Schaeffer, Derek B.; Fox, W.; Haberberger, D.

Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical systems, and the class of supercritical shocks is of particular importance due to their role in accelerating particles to high energies. While these shocks have been traditionally studied by spacecraft and remote sensing observations, laboratory experiments can provide reproducible and multi-dimensional datasets that provide complementary understanding of the underlying microphysics. We present experiments undertaken on the OMEGA and OMEGA EP laser facilities that show the formation and evolution of high-Mach number collisionless shocks created through the interaction of a laser-driven magnetic piston and magnetized ambient plasma. Through time-resolved, 2-D imaging we observemore » large density and magnetic compressions that propagate at super-Alfvenic speeds and that occur over ion kinetic length scales. Electron density and temperature of the initial ambient plasma are characterized using optical Thomson scattering. Measurements of the piston laser-plasma are modeled with 2-D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, which are used to initialize 2-D particle-in-cell simulations of the interaction between the piston and ambient plasmas. The numerical results show the formation of collisionless shocks, including the separate dynamics of the carbon and hydrogen ions that constitute the ambient plasma and their effect on the shock structure. Furthermore, the simulations also show the shock separating from the piston, which we observe in the data at late experimental times.« less

High-Mach number, laser-driven magnetized collisionless shocks

DOE PAGES

Schaeffer, Derek B.; Fox, W.; Haberberger, D.; ...

2017-12-08

Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical systems, and the class of supercritical shocks is of particular importance due to their role in accelerating particles to high energies. While these shocks have been traditionally studied by spacecraft and remote sensing observations, laboratory experiments can provide reproducible and multi-dimensional datasets that provide complementary understanding of the underlying microphysics. We present experiments undertaken on the OMEGA and OMEGA EP laser facilities that show the formation and evolution of high-Mach number collisionless shocks created through the interaction of a laser-driven magnetic piston and magnetized ambient plasma. Through time-resolved, 2-D imaging we observemore » large density and magnetic compressions that propagate at super-Alfvenic speeds and that occur over ion kinetic length scales. Electron density and temperature of the initial ambient plasma are characterized using optical Thomson scattering. Measurements of the piston laser-plasma are modeled with 2-D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, which are used to initialize 2-D particle-in-cell simulations of the interaction between the piston and ambient plasmas. The numerical results show the formation of collisionless shocks, including the separate dynamics of the carbon and hydrogen ions that constitute the ambient plasma and their effect on the shock structure. Furthermore, the simulations also show the shock separating from the piston, which we observe in the data at late experimental times.« less

High-Mach number, laser-driven magnetized collisionless shocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schaeffer, D. B.; Fox, W.; Haberberger, D.; Fiksel, G.; Bhattacharjee, A.; Barnak, D. H.; Hu, S. X.; Germaschewski, K.; Follett, R. K.

2017-12-01

Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous in space and astrophysical systems, and the class of supercritical shocks is of particular importance due to their role in accelerating particles to high energies. While these shocks have been traditionally studied by spacecraft and remote sensing observations, laboratory experiments can provide reproducible and multi-dimensional datasets that provide a complementary understanding of the underlying microphysics. We present experiments undertaken on the OMEGA and OMEGA EP laser facilities that show the formation and evolution of high-Mach number collisionless shocks created through the interaction of a laser-driven magnetic piston and a magnetized ambient plasma. Through time-resolved, 2-D imaging, we observe large density and magnetic compressions that propagate at super-Alfvénic speeds and that occur over ion kinetic length scales. The electron density and temperature of the initial ambient plasma are characterized using optical Thomson scattering. Measurements of the piston laser-plasma are modeled with 2-D radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, which are used to initialize 2-D particle-in-cell simulations of the interaction between the piston and ambient plasmas. The numerical results show the formation of collisionless shocks, including the separate dynamics of the carbon and hydrogen ions that constitute the ambient plasma and their effect on the shock structure. The simulations also show the shock separating from the piston, which we observe in the data at late experimental times.

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.

Multi Scale Modeling of Continuous Aramid Fiber Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites Used in Ballistic Protection Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-16

related to identification of the type and the extent of data generated at a finer length scale to the adjacent coarser length scale, as well as seamless ...data generated at a finer length scale to the adjacent coarser length scale, as well as seamless integration of different length scales into a unified...composite laminate consisting of 32 laminae and impacted (at a 0° obliquity angle and an incident velocity of 500 m/s) by a 0.30 caliber steel

Buffalo plasma fibronectin: a physico-chemical study.

PubMed

Ahmed, N; Chandra, R; Raj, H G

2001-12-01

Plasma fibronectin (FN) of buffalo (Babulis babulis) was purified to apparent homogeneity, using gelatin-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose affinity columns. It was found to have two subunits of molecular mass 246 kDa and 228 kDa, on SDS-gel. Its immunological cross-reactivity with anti-human plasma FN was confirmed by Western blotting. The amino acid composition was found to be similar to that of human and bovine plasma FNs. Buffalo plasma FN contained 2.23% neutral hexoses and 1.18% sialic acids. No titrable sulfhydryl group could be detected in the absence of denaturant. Reaction with DTNB indicated 3.4 sulfhydryl groups in the molecule, whereas BDC-OH titration gave a value of 3.8 -SH groups in buffalo plasma FN. Stoke's radius, intrinsic viscosity, diffusion coefficient and frictional ratio indicated that buffalo plasma FN did not have a compact globular conformation at physiological pH and ionic strength. Molecular dimensions (average length, 120 nm; molar mass to length ratio, 3950 nm(-1) and mean diameter, 2.4 nm) as revealed by rotary shadowing electron microscopy further supported the extended conformation of buffalo plasma FN. These results show that buffalo plasma FN has similar properties as that of human plasma FN.

Table-top two-color soft X-ray laser by means of Ni-like plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masoudnia, Leili; Ruiz-Lopez, Mabel; Bleiner, Davide

2016-04-01

Laser-produced Ni-like plasmas are known as active media for extreme ultraviolet lasing, with the flexibility to two-color lasing. Two-color laser generation is very complex at accelerator facilities. In this work, plasma lasing at the 3d94d1(J = 0) → 3d94p1(J = 1) (collisional-pumping process) and the 3d94f1(J = 1) → 3d94d1(J = 1) (photo-pumping process) transitions is studied experimentally and computationally. Several key characteristics of collisional- and photo-pumping laser, such as divergence, pointing stability, and intensity have been investigated. The measurements showed different pulse characteristics for the two lasing processes affected by plasma inhomogeneity in temperature and density. Analytical expressions of these characteristics for both collisional- and photo-pumping are derived. It is found that the plasma that maximizes the photo-pumping lasing is 20% hotter and 70% denser than the plasma that optimizes the collisional-pumping lasing. The gain of collisional pumping is ≈4 times higher than the gain for the photo-pumping. The gain lifetime is a factor of ≈5.2 larger for the monopole-pumping. Similarly, the gain thickness is a factor of ≈1.8 larger. It is also found that the gain build-up time for collisional- and photo-pumping is 0.7 ps and 0.9 ps, respectively, whereas the build-up length-scale is 11.5 μm and 6.3 μm, respectively.

Study of Electron-scale Dissipation near the X-line During Magnetic Reconnection in a Laboratory Plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, H.; Yoo, J.; Dorfman, S. E.; Jara-Almonte, J.; Yamada, M.; Swanson, C.; Daughton, W. S.; Roytershteyn, V.; Kuwahata, A.; Ii, T.; Inomoto, M.; Ono, Y.; von Stechow, A.; Grulke, O.; Phan, T.; Mozer, F.; Bale, S. D.

2013-12-01

Despite its disruptive influences on the large-scale structures of space and solar plasmas, the crucial topological changes and associated dissipation during magnetic reconnection take place only near an X-line within thin singular layers. In the modern collisionless models where electrons and ions are allowed to move separately, it has been predicted that ions exhaust efficiently through a thicker, ion-scale dissipative layer while mobile electrons can evacuate through a thinner, electron-scale dissipation layer, allowing for efficient release of magnetic energy. While ion dissipation layers have been frequently detected, the existence of election layers near the X-line and the associated dissipation structures and mechanisms are still an open question, and will be a main subject of the coming MMS mission. In this presentation, we will summarize our efforts in the past a few years to study electron-scale dissipation in a well-controlled and well-diagnosed reconnecting current sheet in a laboratory plasma, with close comparisons with the state-of-the-art, 2D and 3D fully kinetic simulations. Key results include: (1) positive identification of electromagnetic waves detected at the current sheet center as long wave-length, lower-hybrid drift instabilities (EM-LHDI), (2) however, there is strong evidence that this EM-LHDI cannot provide the required force to support the reconnection electric field, (3) detection of 3D flux-rope-like magnetic structures during impulsive reconnection events, and (4) electrons are heated through non-classical mechanisms near the X-line with a small but clear temperature anisotropy. These results, unfortunately, do not resolve the outstanding discrepancies on electron layer thickness between best available experiments and fully kinetic simulations. To make further progress, we are continuously pushing in the both experimental and numerical frontiers. Experimentally, we started investigations on EM-LHDI and electron heating as a function of guide field strength and symmetry of reconnection geometry, with new attempts to measure non-thermal electrons and higher frequency fluctuations. Numerically, we started investigations of kinetic simulations at realistic ratios of electron plasma frequency to cyclotron frequency, and also at realistic ratios of ion mass to electron mass. The most updated results of these new projects will be presented with discussions on the relevance to space observations.

Experimental Characterization of Plasma Detachment from Magnetic Nozzles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olsen, Christopher Scott

Magnetic nozzles, like Laval nozzles, are observed in several natural systems and have application in areas such as electric propulsion and plasma processing. Plasma flowing through these nozzles is inherently tied to the field lines and must separate for momentum redirection or particle transport to occur. Plasma detachment and associated mechanisms from a magnetic nozzle are investigated. Experimental results are presented from the plume of the VASIMRRTM VX-200 device flowing along an axisymmetric magnetic nozzle and operated at two ion energies to explore momentum dependent detachment. The argon plume expanded into a 150m3 vacuum chamber where the background pressure was low enough that charge-exchange mean-free-paths were longer than experiment scale lengths. This magnetic nozzle system is demonstrated to hydrodynamically scale up to astrophysical plasmas, particularly the solar chromosphere, implying general relevance to many systems. Plasma parameters were mapped over a large spatial range using measurements from multiple plasma diagnostics. The data show that the plume does not follow the magnetic field lines. A mapped integration of the ion flux shows the plume may be divided into three regions where 1) the plume briefly follows the magnetic flux, 2) diverges quadratically before 3) expanding with linear trajectories. Transitioning from region 1→2, the ion flux departs from the magnetic flux suggesting ion detachment. An instability forms in region 2 driving an oscillating electric field that causes ions to expand before enhancing electron cross-field transport through anomalous resistivity. Transitioning from region 2→3 the electric field dissipates, the trajectories linearize, and the plume effectively detaches. A delineation of sub-to-super Alfvenic flow aligns well with the inflection points of the linearization without a change in magnetic topology. The detachment process is best described as a two part process: First, ions detach by a breakdown of the magnetic moment when the quantity |v/fcLB| becomes of order unity. Second, the turbulent electric field enhances electron transport up to a factor of 4+/-1 above collisional diffusion; electron cross-field velocities approximate that of the ions and depart on more centralized field lines. Electrons are believed to detach by breakdown of magnetic moment further downstream in the weaker magnetic field.

Non-linear isotope and fast ions effects: routes for low turbulence in DT plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia, Jeronimo

2017-10-01

The isotope effect, i.e. the fact that heat and particle fluxes do not follow the expected Gyro-Bohm estimate for turbulent transport when the plasma mass is changed, is one of the main challenges in plasma theory. Of particular interest is the isotope exchange between the fusion of deuterium (DD) and deuterium-tritium (DT) nuclei as there are no clear indications of what kind of transport difference can be expected in burning plasmas. The GENE code is therefore used for computing DD vs DT linear and nonlinear microturbulence characteristics in the core plasma region of a previously ITER hybrid scenario at high beta obtained in the framework of simplified integrated modelling. Scans on common turbulence related quantitates as external ExB flow shear, Parallel Velocity Gradient (PVG), plasma beta, colisionality or the number of ion species have been performed. Additionally, the role of energetic particles, known to reduce Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) turbulence has been also addressed. It is obtained that the ITER operational point will be close to threshold and in these conditions turbulence is dominated by ITG modes. A purely weak non-linear isotope effect, absent in linear scans, can be found when separately adding moderate ExB flow shear or electromagnetic effects, whereas collisionality just modulates the intensity. The isotope effect, on the other hand, becomes very strong in conditions with simultaneously moderate ExB flow shear, beta and low q profile with significant reductions of ion heat transport from DD to DT. By analyzing the radial structure of the two point electrostatic potential correlation function it has been found that the inherent Gyro-Bohm scaling for plasma microturbulence, which increases the radial correlation length at short scales form DD to DT, is counteracted by the concomitant appearance of a complex nonlinear multiscale space interaction involving external ExB flow shear, zonal flow activity, magnetic geometry and electromagnetic effects. The number of ion species and the fast ion population is also found to play a role in this non-linear process whereas a symmetry breaking between D and T, with systematic reduced heat and particle transport for T, is always obtained.

Experimental study of heating scheme effect on the inner divertor power footprint widths in EAST lower single null discharges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deng, G. Z.; Xu, J. C.; Liu, X.; Liu, X. J.; Liu, J. B.; Zhang, H.; Liu, S. C.; Chen, L.; Yan, N.; Feng, W.; Liu, H.; Xia, T. Y.; Zhang, B.; Shao, L. M.; Ming, T. F.; Xu, G. S.; Guo, H. Y.; Xu, X. Q.; Gao, X.; Wang, L.

2018-04-01

A comprehensive work of the effects of plasma current and heating schemes on divertor power footprint widths is carried out in the experimental advanced superconducting tokamak (EAST). The divertor power footprint widths, i.e., the scrape-off layer heat flux decay length λ q and the heat spreading S, are crucial physical and engineering parameters for fusion reactors. Strong inverse scaling of λ q and S with plasma current have been demonstrated for both neutral beam (NB) and lower hybrid wave (LHW) heated L-mode and H-mode plasmas at the inner divertor target. For plasmas heated by the combination of the two kinds of auxiliary heating schemes (NB and LHW), the divertor power widths tend to be larger in plasmas with higher ratio of LHW power. Comparison between experimental heat flux profiles at outer mid-plane (OMP) and divertor target for NB heated and LHW heated L-mode plasmas reveals that the magnetic topology changes induced by LHW may be the main reason to the wider divertor power widths in LHW heated discharges. The effect of heating schemes on divertor peak heat flux has also been investigated, and it is found that LHW heated discharges tend to have a lower divertor peak heat flux compared with NB heated discharges under similar input power. All these findings seem to suggest that plasmas with LHW auxiliary heating scheme are better heat exhaust scenarios for fusion reactors and should be the priorities for the design of next-step fusion reactors like China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor.

Dependence of the L-Mode scrape-off layer power fall-off length on the upper triangularity in TCV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faitsch, M.; Maurizio, R.; Gallo, A.; Coda, S.; Eich, T.; Labit, B.; Merle, A.; Reimerdes, H.; Sieglin, B.; Theiler, C.; the Eurofusion MST1 Team; the TCV Team

2018-04-01

This paper reports on experimental observations on TCV with a scan in upper triangularity {δ }up}, including negative triangularity, focusing on the power fall-off length {λ }{{q}} in L-Mode. The upper triangularity is scanned from -0.28 to 0.47. Smaller {λ }{{q}}out} is measured at the outer divertor target for decreasing {δ }up} together with higher edge temperature {T}{{e},{edge}} leading to increased confinement. This effect is observed for both magnetic drift directions for discharges in deuterium and helium. In helium larger {λ }{{q}} values are observed compared to deuterium. The power fall-off length at the inner divertor target {λ }{{q}}in} has a non-monotonic behaviour with changing triangularity. The largest values are around {δ }up}=0. The ratio {λ }{{q}}in}/{λ }{{q}}out} increases for decreasing {δ }up} for positive triangularity and is approximately constant for negative triangularity. {λ }{{q}}out} is compared to available scaling laws. Partial agreement is only observed for a scaling law containing a proxy for {T}{{e},{edge}} at ASDEX Upgrade (Sieglin 2016 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 58 055015). Extending this scaling to TCV and using {T}{{e},{edge}} at {ρ }pol}=0.95 suggests that {λ }{{q}}out} is independent of machine size {λ }{{q}}{{L} - {Mode}} ({mm}) = 165\\cdot {B}pol}{({{T}})}-0.66\\cdot A{({{u}})}-0.15\\cdot {T}{{e},{edge}}{({eV})}-0.93\\cdot R{({{m}})}-0.03. Possible explanations for smaller {λ }{{q}}out} for decreasing {δ }up} is a reduction in turbulence or a direct effect of increasing {T}{{e},{edge}}.

Complex (dusty) plasmas-kinetic studies of strong coupling phenomena

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

Morfill, Gregor E.; Ivlev, Alexei V.; Thomas, Hubertus M.

2012-05-15

'Dusty plasmas' can be found almost everywhere-in the interstellar medium, in star and planet formation, in the solar system in the Earth's atmosphere, and in the laboratory. In astrophysical plasmas, the dust component accounts for only about 1% of the mass, nevertheless this component has a profound influence on the thermodynamics, the chemistry, and the dynamics. Important physical processes are charging, sputtering, cooling, light absorption, and radiation pressure, connecting electromagnetic forces to gravity. Surface chemistry is another important aspect. In the laboratory, there is great interest in industrial processes (e.g., etching, vapor deposition) and-at the fundamental level-in the physics ofmore » strong coupling phenomena. Here, the dust (or microparticles) are the dominant component of the multi-species plasma. The particles can be observed in real time and space, individually resolved at all relevant length and time scales. This provides an unprecedented means for studying self-organisation processes in many-particle systems, including the onset of cooperative phenomena. Due to the comparatively large mass of the microparticles (10{sup -12}to10{sup -9}g), precision experiments are performed on the ISS. The following topics will be discussed: Phase transitions, phase separation, electrorheology, flow phenomena including the onset of turbulence at the kinetic level.« less

Diffusion of Magnetized Binary Ionic Mixtures at Ultracold Plasma Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vidal, Keith R.; Baalrud, Scott D.

2017-10-01

Ultracold plasma experiments offer an accessible means to test transport theories for strongly coupled systems. Application of an external magnetic field might further increase their utility by inhibiting heating mechanisms of ions and electrons and increasing the temperature at which strong coupling effects are observed. We present results focused on developing and validating a transport theory to describe binary ionic mixtures across a wide range of coupling and magnetization strengths relevant to ultracold plasma experiments. The transport theory is an extension of the Effective Potential Theory (EPT), which has been shown to accurately model correlation effects at these conditions, to include magnetization. We focus on diffusion as it can be measured in ultracold plasma experiments. Using EPT within the framework of the Chapman-Enskog expansion, the parallel and perpendicular self and interdiffusion coefficients for binary ionic mixtures with varying mass ratios are calculated and are compared to molecular dynamics simulations. The theory is found to accurately extend Braginskii-like transport to stronger coupling, but to break down when the magnetization strength becomes large enough that the typical gyroradius is smaller than the interaction scale length. This material is based upon work supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Award Number FA9550-16-1-0221.

Two non linear dynamics plasma astrophysics experiments at LANL

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Intrator, T. P.; Weber, T. E.; Feng, Y.; Sears, J. A.; Swan, H.; Hutchinson, T.; Boguski, J.; Gao, K.; Chapdelaine, L.; Dunn, J.

2013-10-01

Two laboratory experiments at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have been built to gain access to a wide range of fundamental plasma physics issues germane astro, space, and fusion plasmas. The over arching theme is magnetized plasma dynamics that include currents, MHD forces and instabilities, sheared flows and shocks, creation and annihilation of magnetic field. The Reconnection Scaling Experiment (RSX) creates current sheets and flux ropes that exhibit fully 3D dynamics, that can kink, bounce, merge and reconnect, shred, and reform in complicated ways. The most recent movies from a large detailed data set describe the 3D magnetic structure and helicity budget of a driven and dissipative system that spontaneously self saturates a kink instability. The Magnetized Shock Experiment (MSX) uses a Field reversed configuration (FRC) that is ejected at high speed and then stagnated onto a stopping mirror field, which drives a collisionless magnetized shock. A plasmoid accelerator will also access super critical shocks at much larger Alfven Mach numbers. Unique features include access to parallel, oblique and perpendicular shocks, in regions much larger than ion gyro radius and inertial length, large magnetic and fluid Reynolds numbers, and volume for turbulence. Center for Magnetic Self Organization, NASA Geospace NNHIOA044I-Basic, Department of Energy DE-AC52-06NA25369.

Finite-size scaling above the upper critical dimension in Ising models with long-range interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flores-Sola, Emilio J.; Berche, Bertrand; Kenna, Ralph; Weigel, Martin

2015-01-01

The correlation length plays a pivotal role in finite-size scaling and hyperscaling at continuous phase transitions. Below the upper critical dimension, where the correlation length is proportional to the system length, both finite-size scaling and hyperscaling take conventional forms. Above the upper critical dimension these forms break down and a new scaling scenario appears. Here we investigate this scaling behaviour by simulating one-dimensional Ising ferromagnets with long-range interactions. We show that the correlation length scales as a non-trivial power of the linear system size and investigate the scaling forms. For interactions of sufficiently long range, the disparity between the correlation length and the system length can be made arbitrarily large, while maintaining the new scaling scenarios. We also investigate the behavior of the correlation function above the upper critical dimension and the modifications imposed by the new scaling scenario onto the associated Fisher relation.

Particle infectivity of HIV-1 full-length genome infectious molecular clones in a subtype C heterosexual transmission pair following high fidelity amplification and unbiased cloning

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

Deymier, Martin J., E-mail: mdeymie@emory.edu; Claiborne, Daniel T., E-mail: dclaibo@emory.edu; Ende, Zachary, E-mail: zende@emory.edu

The high genetic diversity of HIV-1 impedes high throughput, large-scale sequencing and full-length genome cloning by common restriction enzyme based methods. Applying novel methods that employ a high-fidelity polymerase for amplification and an unbiased fusion-based cloning strategy, we have generated several HIV-1 full-length genome infectious molecular clones from an epidemiologically linked transmission pair. These clones represent the transmitted/founder virus and phylogenetically diverse non-transmitted variants from the chronically infected individual's diverse quasispecies near the time of transmission. We demonstrate that, using this approach, PCR-induced mutations in full-length clones derived from their cognate single genome amplicons are rare. Furthermore, all eight non-transmittedmore » genomes tested produced functional virus with a range of infectivities, belying the previous assumption that a majority of circulating viruses in chronic HIV-1 infection are defective. Thus, these methods provide important tools to update protocols in molecular biology that can be universally applied to the study of human viral pathogens. - Highlights: • Our novel methodology demonstrates accurate amplification and cloning of full-length HIV-1 genomes. • A majority of plasma derived HIV variants from a chronically infected individual are infectious. • The transmitted/founder was more infectious than the majority of the variants from the chronically infected donor.« less

Spheromak Merging Experiments on SSX

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, M. R.; Kornack, T. W.; Sollins, P. K.; Luh, W. J.

1997-11-01

Spheromak merging experiments are underway at the Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX) at Swarthmore College. The spheromaks are formed by identical magnetized plasma guns and equilibrium is established in close fitting 0.5 m diameter copper flux conservers. Partial merging is achieved through openings in the back wall. We observe the formation of a reconnection boundary layer at the interface of the two spheromaks using a linear probe array. The characteristic scale of the flux reversal is about 1 cm (consistent with the diffusion scale δ_diff, the ion Larmor radius ρi and the ion inertial length c/ω_pi). Movies of the formation and evolution of the layer will be presented. Correlations between reconnection events and pulses of soft x-rays and energetic particles will be presented if available. Plans for 2D and 3D imaging of the layer will also be discussed.

Experimental verification of the capillary plasma triggered long spark gap under the extremely low working coefficient in air

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

Huang, D.; Yang, L. J., E-mail: yanglj@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Ma, J. B.

The paper has proposed a new triggering method for long spark gap based on capillary plasma ejection and conducted the experimental verification under the extremely low working coefficient, which represents that the ratio of the spark gap charging voltage to the breakdown voltage is particularly low. The quasi-neutral plasma is ejected from the capillary and develops through the axial direction of the spark gap. The electric field in the spark gap is thus changed and its breakdown is incurred. It is proved by the experiments that the capillary plasma ejection is effective in triggering the long spark gap under themore » extremely low working coefficient in air. The study also indicates that the breakdown probabilities, the breakdown delay, and the delay dispersion are all mainly determined by the characteristics of the ejected plasma, including the length of the plasma flow, the speed of the plasma ejection, and the ionization degree of the plasma. Moreover, the breakdown delay and the delay dispersion increase with the length of the long spark gap, and the polarity effect exists in the triggering process. Lastly, compared with the working patterns of the triggering device installed in the single electrode, the working pattern of the devices installed in both the two electrodes, though with the same breakdown process, achieves the ignition under longer gap distance. To be specific, at the gap length of 14 cm and the working coefficient of less than 2%, the spark gap is still ignited accurately.« less

Radiation characteristics of femtosecond laser-induced plasma channel Vee antenna

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

Choe, Yun-Sik; Department of Physics, University of Science, Pyongyang, North Korea; Hao, Zuoqiang

A virtual reconfigurable plasma Vee antenna consisting of a set of laser plasma filaments produced by femtosecond laser pulses in air is investigated in this paper. The calculation results show that radiation pattern becomes more complex and gain shows initially rapid rise but gradually saturate as the leg length increases, but the pattern and gain are not seriously affected by the plasma conductivity; particularly, the gain of the Vee antenna with plasma conductivity σ = 100S/m can reach about 80% of that of a copper antenna. Radiation efficiency of the antenna has shown a strong dependence on radius of the antenna leg,more » and an efficiency of 65%, considered to have a proper performance, can be obtained with the channel radius of about 10 mm. Apex angle variation can lead to significant change of the radiation pattern and influence the gain; the best apex angle corresponding to maximal gain and good directivity for the third resonance antenna leg length is found to be at 74° at 600 MHz and σ = 100 S/m. The calculation has shown that at terawatt laser power level, the plasma channel conductivity is close to that of conventional plasma antenna, and peak gain of the Vee antenna is more than 8 dB with a good directivity. In addition, the radiation pattern of special Vee antennas with apex angle 180°-dipole antennas, for first and third resonance leg lengths, is compared and underneath physics of the difference is given. The laser-induced plasma channel antenna is especially suitable for achieving good directivity and gain, which has advantage over conventional plasma antenna with gas discharge tube or metal antenna.« less

Comprehensive Study of Plasma-Wall Sheath Transport Phenomena

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-10

environment, a Langmuir probe and a Retarding Potential Analyzer (RPA). The Langmuir probe could be considered the seminal plasma diagnostic, and a large...plasma-sheath interface. Electric field is normalized by Te/LD (LD is the Debye length) and velocity is normalized by the Bohm speed. Figure 14...studying the interaction of the near-wall plasma sheath with a magnetic field , and modeled the plasma sheath of the GT thick-sheath (~10mm) plasma

Thermal plasma and fast ion transport in electrostatic turbulence in the large plasma devicea)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Shu; Heidbrink, W. W.; Boehmer, H.; McWilliams, R.; Carter, T. A.; Vincena, S.; Tripathi, S. K. P.; Van Compernolle, B.

2012-05-01

The transport of thermal plasma and fast ions in electrostatic microturbulence is studied. Strong density and potential fluctuations (δn /n˜δφ/kTe ˜ 0.5, f ˜ 5-50 kHz) are observed in the large plasma device (LAPD) [W. Gekelman, H. Pfister, Z. Lucky et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 62, 2875 (1991)] in density gradient regions produced by obstacles with slab or cylindrical geometry. Wave characteristics and the associated plasma transport are modified by driving sheared E × B drift through biasing the obstacle and by modification of the axial magnetic fields (Bz) and the plasma species. Cross-field plasma transport is suppressed with small bias and large Bz and is enhanced with large bias and small Bz. The transition in thermal plasma confinement is well explained by the cross-phase between density and potential fluctuations. Large gyroradius lithium fast ion beam (ρfast/ρs ˜ 10) orbits through the turbulent region. Scans with a collimated analyzer give detailed profiles of the fast ion spatial-temporal distribution. Fast-ion transport decreases rapidly with increasing fast-ion energy and gyroradius. Background waves with different scale lengths also alter the fast ion transport. Experimental results agree well with gyro-averaging theory. When the fast ion interacts with the wave for most of a wave period, a transition from super-diffusive to sub-diffusive transport is observed, as predicted by diffusion theory. Besides turbulent-wave-induced fast-ion transport, the static radial electric field (Er) from biasing the obstacle leads to drift of the fast-ion beam centroid. The drift and broadening of the beam due to static Er are evaluated both analytically and numerically. Simulation results indicate that the Er induced transport is predominately convective.

3φ Laser Beam Propagation in Inertial Confinement Plasmas*

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Froula, Dustin

2006-10-01

A study of the relevant laser-plasma interaction processes in a long-scale length high-temperature transparent plasma has been performed using a new target platform to emulate the plasma conditions in an indirect drive fusion target. Recent experiments in this plasma emulator have demonstrated that for ignition relevant conditions (Te>3 keV, I < 2x10^15 W-cm-2) the 3φ laser light propagates through a high-density (5x10^20 cm-3) plasma with a peak transmission of 90%. Experiments have demonstrated an understanding of filamentation in these conditions that is consistent with theory increasing our confidence in our ability to execute the beam conditioning and focal spot designs for future ignition experiments. This target has been well characterized using Thomson-scattering where the peak electron temperature is shown to be 3.5 keV. The electron temperature measurements agree with HYDRA flux-limited radiation hydrodynamics calculations. Using a recently implemented 3φ transmitted beam diagnostic, the filamentation threshold has been experimentally measured for a beam that employs a continuous phase plate (CPP). For intensities above the threshold for filamentation, the beam was shown to spray. Defocusing the high-power laser beam reduced the backscatter while filamentation was not changed as predicted. Recent experiments investigating the importance of polarization and temporal smoothing of laser beams for propagation in this target platform will be presented. Detailed hydrodynamic and laser-plasma interaction simulations capture the stimulated Brillouin, stimulated Raman, and filamentation thresholds providing significant confidence that our models used for ignition designs can correctly predict the conditions where energy loss and beam propagation through the under dense NIF hohlraum plasmas will be small. ** Collaborators: L. Divol, S. H. Glenzer, J. S. Ross, N. Meezan, S. Prisbrey, S. Dixit.

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

Sterilization of Long Tube Inner Surface Using Oxygen and Water Vapor Plasmas Produced by AC HV Discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitazaki, Satoshi; Hayashi, Nobuya

2009-10-01

Oxygen and water vapor plasmas inside a narrow long tube were produced using an AC HV glow discharge at low pressure in order to sterilize the inner surface of a tube. In order to produce plasma inside a narrow tube, an AC high voltage was adopted. The material of the tube used in this experiment was silicon rubber. The length and diameter of the tubes ranged from 300 to 1,000 mm and from 1 to 4 mm, respectively. The tube was placed in a stainless steel vacuum chamber and was evacuated to 10 Pa using a rotary pump. The material gas for plasma and radical productions was pure oxygen or water vapor, which was introduced to the chamber from a gas cylinder or water reservoir. Light emission spectral lines of oxygen and OH radicals were observed at 777 nm and 306 nm, respectively. The chemical indicator was inserted into the tube and turned to a yellowish color (from the original red) after a treatment, which indicates the generation of sufficient oxygen on OH radicals for sterilization. A tube with the length of 500 mm and diameter of 4 mm is sterilized using oxygen plasma by 10 minutes treatment. Also a tube with the length of 300 mm and diameter of 2 mm is sterilized using water vapor plasma by 5 minutes treatment.

Electron residual energy due to stochastic heating in field-ionized plasma

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

Khalilzadeh, Elnaz; The Plasma Physics and Fusion Research School, Tehran; Yazdanpanah, Jam, E-mail: jamal.yazdan@gmail.com

2015-11-15

The electron residual energy originated from the stochastic heating in under-dense field-ionized plasma is investigated here. Initially, the optical response of plasma is modeled by using two counter-propagating electromagnetic waves. In this case, the solution of motion equation of a single electron indicates that by including the ionization, the electron with higher residual energy compared with that without ionization could be obtained. In agreement with chaotic nature of the motion, it is found that the electron residual energy will be significantly changed by applying a minor change in the initial conditions. Extensive kinetic 1D-3V particle-in-cell simulations have been performed inmore » order to resolve full plasma reactions. In this way, two different regimes of plasma behavior are observed by varying the pulse length. The results indicate that the amplitude of scattered fields in a proper long pulse length is high enough to act as a second counter-propagating wave and trigger the stochastic electron motion. On the contrary, the analyses of intensity spectrum reveal the fact that the dominant scattering mechanism tends to Thomson rather than Raman scattering by increasing the pulse length. A covariant formalism is used to describe the plasma heating so that it enables us to measure electron temperature inside and outside of the pulse region.« less

RF Plasma Source for Heavy Ion Beam Charge Neutralization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Efthimion, P. C.; Gilson, E.; Grisham, L.; Davidson, R. C.

2003-10-01

Highly ionized plasmas are being employed as a medium for charge neutralizing heavy ion beams in order to focus to a small spot size. Calculations suggest that plasma at a density of 1 - 100 times the ion beam density and at a length 0.1-0.5 m would be suitable for achieving a high level of charge neutralization. An ECR source has been built at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in support of the joint Neutralized Transport Experiment (NTX) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to study ion beam neutralization with plasma. The ECR source operates at 13.6 MHz and with solenoid magnetic fields of 0-10 gauss. The goal is to operate the source at pressures 10-5 Torr at full ionization. The initial operation of the source has been at pressures of 10-4 - 10-1 Torr. Electron densities in the range of 10^8 - 10^11 cm-3 have been achieved. Recently, pulsed operation of the source has enabled operation at pressures in the 10-6 Torr range with densities of 10^11 cm-3. Near 100% ionization has been achieved. The source has been integrated with NTX and is being used in the experiments. The plasma is approximately 10 cm in length in the direction of the beam propagation. Modifications to the source will be presented that increase its length in the direction of beam propagation.

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

Interaction force in a vertical dust chain inside a glass box.

PubMed

Kong, Jie; Qiao, Ke; Matthews, Lorin S; Hyde, Truell W

2014-07-01

Small number dust particle clusters can be used as probes for plasma diagnostics. The number of dust particles as well as cluster size and shape can be easily controlled employing a glass box placed within a Gaseous Electronics Conference (GEC) rf reference chamber to provide confinement of the dust. The plasma parameters inside this box and within the larger plasma chamber have not yet been adequately defined. Adjusting the rf power alters the plasma conditions causing structural changes of the cluster. This effect can be used to probe the relationship between the rf power and other plasma parameters. This experiment employs the sloshing and breathing modes of small cluster oscillations to examine the relationship between system rf power and the particle charge and plasma screening length inside the glass box. The experimental results provided indicate that both the screening length and dust charge decrease as rf power inside the box increases. The decrease in dust charge as power increases may indicate that ion trapping plays a significant role in the sheath.

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

Characteristics of a DC-Driven Atmospheric Pressure Air Microplasma Jet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

2008-08-01

A dc-driven atmospheric pressure air plasma jet has been investigated for some applications, such as local dental treatment, the inner surface treatment of capillaries, stimuli for microorganisms, and the local cleaning of semiconductor devices. The main experimental results are as follows. The discharge in the pulsed mode occurs repetitively despite of the dc input, and the pulsed mode transfers to the continuous mode as the current exceeds a threshold. The measured emission spectrum from the arc column of the air discharge reveals that most energy of activated electrons is used for the excitation of N2 (second positive system bands) and part of the energy for the dissociation of O2. The length of the plasma torch depends on the tube length, inner gap distance, and flow rate. The maximum torch length of about 40 mm is obtained under certain conditions. The spatial distributions of plasma gas temperature are measured and confirmed by the visualization of the gas flow using Schlieren images. Furthermore, surface treatment and decolorization using the generated plasma torch are carried out, focusing on industrial applications.

Electrical property heterogeneity at transparent conductive oxide/organic semiconductor interfaces: mapping contact ohmicity using conducting-tip atomic force microscopy.

PubMed

MacDonald, Gordon A; Veneman, P Alexander; Placencia, Diogenes; Armstrong, Neal R

2012-11-27

We demonstrate mapping of electrical properties of heterojunctions of a molecular semiconductor (copper phthalocyanine, CuPc) and a transparent conducting oxide (indium-tin oxide, ITO), on 20-500 nm length scales, using a conductive-probe atomic force microscopy technique, scanning current spectroscopy (SCS). SCS maps are generated for CuPc/ITO heterojunctions as a function of ITO activation procedures and modification with variable chain length alkyl-phosphonic acids (PAs). We correlate differences in small length scale electrical properties with the performance of organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) based on CuPc/C(60) heterojunctions, built on these same ITO substrates. SCS maps the "ohmicity" of ITO/CuPc heterojunctions, creating arrays of spatially resolved current-voltage (J-V) curves. Each J-V curve is fit with modified Mott-Gurney expressions, mapping a fitted exponent (γ), where deviations from γ = 2.0 suggest nonohmic behavior. ITO/CuPc/C(60)/BCP/Al OPVs built on nonactivated ITO show mainly nonohmic SCS maps and dark J-V curves with increased series resistance (R(S)), lowered fill-factors (FF), and diminished device performance, especially near the open-circuit voltage. Nearly optimal behavior is seen for OPVs built on oxygen-plasma-treated ITO contacts, which showed SCS maps comparable to heterojunctions of CuPc on clean Au. For ITO electrodes modified with PAs there is a strong correlation between PA chain length and the degree of ohmicity and uniformity of electrical response in ITO/CuPc heterojunctions. ITO electrodes modified with 6-8 carbon alkyl-PAs show uniform and nearly ohmic SCS maps, coupled with acceptable CuPc/C(60)OPV performance. ITO modified with C14 and C18 alkyl-PAs shows dramatic decreases in FF, increases in R(S), and greatly enhanced recombination losses.

Assessment of effects of neutrals on the power threshold for L to H transitions in DIII-D

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

Owen, L.W.; Carreras, B.A.; Maingi, R.

1997-09-01

To assess the effect of edge neutrals on the low to high confinement transition threshold, a broad range of plasma discharges has been analyzed. From this analysis, the transition power divided by the density, at constant magnetic field, appears to be a function of a single parameter measuring the neutrals` effect, This parameter cannot be uniquely identified. For instance, it may be the radial decay length of the neutral profile or the charge exchange damping rate at about r/a {approx} 0.95. This results suggest that there is a missing parameter linked to the neutrals in the power threshold scaling laws.

Formation of negative hydrogen ion: polarization electron capture and nonthermal shielding.

PubMed

Ki, Dae-Han; Jung, Young-Dae

2012-09-07

The influence of the nonthermal shielding on the formation of the negative hydrogen ion (H(-)) by the polarization electron capture are investigated in partially ionized generalized Lorentzian plasmas. The Bohr-Lindhard method has been applied to obtain the negative hydrogen formation radius and cross section as functions of the collision energy, de Broglie wave length, Debye length, impact parameter, and spectral index of the plasma. The result shows that the nonthermal character of the plasma enhances the formation radius of the negative hydrogen, especially, for small Debye radii. It is found that the nonthermal effect increases the formation cross section of the negative hydrogen. It is also found that the maximum position of the formation cross section approaches to the collision center with an increase of the spectral index. In addition, it is found that the formation cross section significantly decreases with an increase of the Debye length, especially, for small spectral indices.

Length scale effects and multiscale modeling of thermally induced phase transformation kinetics in NiTi SMA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frantziskonis, George N.; Gur, Sourav

2017-06-01

Thermally induced phase transformation in NiTi shape memory alloys (SMAs) shows strong size and shape, collectively termed length scale effects, at the nano to micrometer scales, and that has important implications for the design and use of devices and structures at such scales. This paper, based on a recently developed multiscale model that utilizes molecular dynamics (MDs) simulations at small scales and MD-verified phase field (PhF) simulations at larger scales, reports results on specific length scale effects, i.e. length scale effects in martensite phase fraction (MPF) evolution, transformation temperatures (martensite and austenite start and finish) and in the thermally cyclic transformation between austenitic and martensitic phase. The multiscale study identifies saturation points for length scale effects and studies, for the first time, the length scale effect on the kinetics (i.e. developed internal strains) in the B19‧ phase during phase transformation. The major part of the work addresses small scale single crystals in specific orientations. However, the multiscale method is used in a unique and novel way to indirectly study length scale and grain size effects on evolution kinetics in polycrystalline NiTi, and to compare the simulation results to experiments. The interplay of the grain size and the length scale effect on the thermally induced MPF evolution is also shown in this present study. Finally, the multiscale coupling results are employed to improve phenomenological material models for NiTi SMA.

One-Dimensional Full Wave Simulation of Equatorial Magnetosonic Wave Propagation in an Inhomogeneous Magnetosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xu; Chen, Lunjin; Yang, Lixia; Xia, Zhiyang; Malaspina, David M.

2018-01-01

The effect of the plasmapause on equatorially radially propagating fast magnetosonic (MS) waves in the Earth's dipole magnetic field is studied by using finite difference time domain method. We run 1-D simulation for three different density profiles: (1) no plasmapause, (2) with a plasmapause, and (3) with a plasmapause accompanied with fine-scale density irregularity. We find that (1) without plasmapause the radially inward propagating MS wave can reach ionosphere and continuously propagate to lower altitude if no damping mechanism is considered. The wave properties follow the cold plasma dispersion relation locally along its trajectory. (2) For simulation with a plasmapause with a scale length of 0.006 RE compared to wavelength, only a small fraction of the MS wave power is reflected by the plasmapause. WKB approximation is generally valid for such plasmapause. (3) The multiple fine-scale density irregularities near the outer edge of plasmapause can effectively block the MS wave propagation, resulting in a terminating boundary for MS waves near the plasmapause.

Electrostatic and electromagnetic gyroharmonic emissions due to energetic electrons in magnetospheric plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curtis, S. A.; Wu, C. S.

1979-01-01

The paper derives the growth rates and growth lengths of the electrostatic emission for spatially homogeneous and inhomogeneous energetic electrons, and numerically evaluates the growth rate and growth length spectra for several parameter sets representative of magnetospheric plasmas. In addition, the growth rates are derived for the case of electromagnetic emission modeled by the ordinary mode. The numerical results of the electromagnetic and electrostatic cases are compared with observations made by satellites in the earth's magnetosphere. It is concluded that the electrostatic gyroharmonic excitation is possible without the cold composition of plasma which is often postulated in the existing literature.

The ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 plasma wave investigation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gurnett, D. A.; Scarf, F. L.; Fredricks, R. W.; Smith, E. J.

1978-01-01

The ISEE-1 and ISEE-2 plasma wave experiments are designed to provide basic information on wave-particle interactions in the earth's magnetosphere and in the solar wind. The ISEE-1 plasma wave instrument uses three electric dipole antennas with lengths of 215, 73.5 and 0.61 m for electric field measurements, and a triaxial search coil antenna for magnetic field measurements. The ISEE-2 instrument uses two electric dipole antennas with lengths of 30 and 0.61 m for electric field measurements and a single-axis search coil antenna for magnetic field measurements. The primary scientific objectives of the experiments are described, including the resolution of space-time relationships of plasma wave phenomena and VLBI studies. The instrumentation is described, with emphasis on the antennas and the electronics.

Structure and dynamics of hyaluronic acid semidilute solutions: a dielectric spectroscopy study.

PubMed

Vuletić, T; Dolanski Babić, S; Ivek, T; Grgicin, D; Tomić, S; Podgornik, R

2010-07-01

Dielectric spectroscopy is used to investigate fundamental length scales describing the structure of hyaluronic acid sodium salt (Na-HA) semidilute aqueous solutions. In salt-free regime, the length scale of the relaxation mode detected in MHz range scales with HA concentration as c(HA)(-0.5) and corresponds to the de Gennes-Pfeuty-Dobrynin correlation length of polyelectrolytes in semidilute solution. The same scaling was observed for the case of long, genomic DNA. Conversely, the length scale of the mode detected in kilohertz range also varies with HA concentration as c(HA)(-0.5) which differs from the case of DNA (c(DNA)(-0.25)). The observed behavior suggests that the relaxation in the kilohertz range reveals the de Gennes-Dobrynin renormalized Debye screening length, and not the average size of the chain, as the pertinent length scale. Similarly, with increasing added salt the electrostatic contribution to the HA persistence length is observed to scale as the Debye length, contrary to scaling pertinent to the Odijk-Skolnick-Fixman electrostatic persistence length observed in the case of DNA. We argue that the observed features of the kilohertz range relaxation are due to much weaker electrostatic interactions that lead to the absence of Manning condensation as well as a rather high flexibility of HA as compared to DNA.

Case study of small scale polytropic index in the central plasma sheet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peng, XueXia; Cao, JinBin; Liu, WenLen; Ma, YuDuan; Lu, HaiYu; Yang, JunYing; Liu, LiuYuan; Liu, Xu; Wang, Jing; Wang, TieYan; Yu, Jiang

2015-11-01

This paper studies the effective polytropic index in the central plasma sheet (CPS) by using the method of Kartalev et al. (2006), which adopts the denoising technique of Haar wavelet to identify the homogeneous MHD Bernoulli integral (MBI) and has been frequently used to study the polytropic relation in the solar wind. We chose the quiet CPS crossing by Cluster C1 during the interval 08:51:00-09:19:00 UT on 03 August 2001. In the central plasma sheet, thermal pressure energy per unit mass is the most important part in MBI, and kinetic energy of fluid motion and electromagnetic energy per unit mass are less important. In the MBI, there are many peaks, which correspond to isothermal or near isothermal processes. The interval lengths of homogenous MBI regions are generally less than 1 min. The polytropic indexes are calculated by linearly fitting the data of lnp and lnn within a 16 s window, which is shifted forward by 8 s step length. Those polytropic indexes with |R|≥ 0.8 (R is the correlation coefficient between lnp and lnn) and p-value≤0.1 in the homogeneous regions are almost all in the range of [0, 1]. The mean and median effective polytropic indexes with high R and low p-value in homogeneous regions are 0.34 and 0.32 respectively, which are much different from the polytropic index obtained by traditional method (αtrad=-0.15). This result indicates that the CPS is not uniform even during quiet time and the blanket applications of polytropic law to plasma sheet may return misleading value of polytropic index. The polytropic indexes in homogeneous regions with a high correlation coefficient basically have good regression significance and are thus credible. These results are very important to understand the energy transport in magnetotail in the MHD frame.

The most intense electric currents in turbulent high speed solar wind

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Podesta, J. J.

2017-12-01

Theory and simulations suggest that dissipation of turbulent energy in collisionless astrophysical plasmas occurs most rapidly in spatial regions where the current density is most intense. To advance understanding of plasma heating by turbulent dissipation in the solar corona and solar wind, it is of interest to characterize the properties of plasma regions where the current density takes exceptionally large values and to identify the operative dissipation processes. In the solar wind, the curl of the magnetic field cannot be measured using data from a single spacecraft, however, a suitable proxy for this quantity can be constructed from the spatial derivative of the magnetic field along the flow direction of the plasma. This new approach is used to study the properties of the most intense current carrying structures in a high speed solar wind stream near 1 AU. In this study, based on 11 Hz magnetometer data from the WIND spacecraft, the spatial resolution of the proxy technique is approximately equal to the proton inertial length. Intense current sheets or current carrying structures were identified as events where the magnitude of the current density exceeds μ+5σ, where μ and σ are the mean and standard deviation of the magnitude of the current density (or its proxy), respectively. Statistical studies show (1) the average size of these 5σ events is close to the smallest resolvable scale in the data set, the proton inertial length; (2) the linear distance between neighboring events follows a power law distribution; and (3) the average peak current density of 5σ events is around 1 pA/cm2. The analysis techniques used in these studies have been validated using simulated spacecraft data from three dimensional hybrid simulations which show that results based on the analysis of the proxy are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to results based on the analysis of the true current density.

Characterization of a spray torch and analysis of process parameters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramasamy, R.; Selvarajan, V.

1999-07-01

Anode for a non-transferred DC plasma spray torch was designed to improve electrothermal efficiency. A theoretical calculation was made for the electrothermal efficiency in a DC plasma torch operating with argon at atmospheric pressure with power level in the range of 5.2 20 kW using energy balance equations. ANOVA for the two level factorial design was done. Plasma gas flow rate, current intensity, nozzle diameter and length were found to influence the efficiency. The efficiency was found to decrease with increase in current intensity and nozzle length and to increase with increase in nozzle diameter and gas flow rate. The overall energy balance calculations showed that the heat transfer to the plasma-forming gas decreases with increase in arc current and the same was more significant at higher flow rates. Plasma jet velocity for different flow rates, input to the torch and nozzle dimensions was calculated from the gas enthalpy. It was found that the velocity increased with increase in the power input to the torch and gas flow rate and decreased with increase in nozzle length and diameter. The current voltage characteristics of the torch operating with argon gas were studied for different gas flow rates. The Nottingham coefficients were calculated using least square method.

Role of poloidal flows on the particle confinement time in a simple toroidal device : an experimental study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kumar, Umesh; Ganesh, R.; Saxena, Y. C.; Thatipamula, Shekar G.; Sathyanarayana, K.; Raju, Daniel

2017-10-01

In magnetized toroidal devices without rotational transform also known as Simple Magnetized Torus (SMT). The device BETA at the IPR is one such SMT with a major radius of 45 cm, minor radius of 15 cm and a maximum toroidal field of 0.1 Tesla. Understanding confinement in such helical configurations is an important problem both for fundamental plasma physics and for Tokamak edge physics. In a recent series of experiments it was demonstrated experimentally that the mean plasma profiles, fluctuation, flow and turbulence depend crucially on the parallel connection length, which was controlled by external vertical field. In the present work, we report our experimental findings, wherein we measure the particle confinement time for hot cathode discharge and ECRH discharge, with variation in parallel connection length. As ECRH plasma don't have mean electric field and hence the poloidal rotation of plasma is absent. However, in hot cathode discharge, there exist strong poloidal flows due to mean electric field. An experimental comparison of these along with theoretical model with variation in connection length will be presented. We also present experimental measurements of variation of plasma confinement time with mass as well as the ratio of vertical field to toroidal magnetic field.

On the scaling of avaloids and turbulence with the average density approaching the density limit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Antar, G. Y.; Counsell, G.; Ahn, J.-W.

2005-08-01

This article is dedicated to the characterization of turbulent transport in the scrape-off layer of the Mega Ampère Spherical Tokamak [A. Sykes et al., Phys. Plasmas 8, 2101 (2001)] as a function of the average density (nL). The aim is to answer a renewed interest in this subject since the bursty character of turbulence in the scrape-off layer was shown to be caused by large-scale events with high radial velocity reaching about 1/10th of the sound speed called avaloids [G. Antar et al., Phys. Rev. Lett 87, 065001 (2001)]. With increasing density, turbulence and transport increase nonlinearly at the midplane while remaining almost unchanged in the target region. Using various and complementary statistical analyses, the existence of a "critical" density, at nL/nG≃0.35 is emphasized; nG is the Greenwald density. Both above and below this density, intermittency decreases and avaloids play a decreasing role in the particle radial transport. This is interpreted as caused by the interplay between avaloids and the surrounding turbulent structures which mix them more efficiently with increasing density as the level of the background turbulence increases. The scaling of the different quantities with respect to the normalized density is obtained. It reveals that not only the level of turbulence and transport increase, but also the radial velocity and length scales. This increases the coupling between the hot plasma edge and the cold scrape-off layer that may explain the disruptive instability occurring at high densities.

On the Transport and Radiative Properties of Plasmas with Small-Scale Electromagnetic Fluctuations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keenan, Brett D.

Plasmas with sub-Larmor-scale ("small-scale") electromagnetic fluctuations are a feature of a wide variety of high-energy-density environments, and are essential to the description of many astrophysical/laboratory plasma phenomena. Radiation from particles, whether they be relativistic or non-relativistic, moving through small-scale electromagnetic turbulence has spectral characteristics distinct from both synchrotron and cyclotron radiation. The radiation, carrying information on the statistical properties of the turbulence, is also intimately related to the particle diffusive transport. We investigate, both theoretically and numerically, the transport of non-relativistic and transrelativistic particles in plasmas with high-amplitude isotropic sub-Larmor-scale magnetic turbulence---both with and without a mean field component---and its relation to the spectra of radiation simultaneously produced by these particles. Furthermore, the transport of particles through small-scale electromagnetic turbulence---under certain conditions---resembles the random transport of particles---via Coulomb collisions---in collisional plasmas. The pitch-angle diffusion coefficient, which acts as an effective "collision" frequency, may be substantial in these, otherwise, collisionless environments. We show that this effect, colloquially referred to as the plasma "quasi-collisionality", may radically alter the expected radiative transport properties of candidate plasmas. We argue that the modified magneto-optic effects in these plasmas provide an attractive, novel, diagnostic tool for the exploration and characterization of small-scale electromagnetic turbulence. Lastly, we speculate upon the manner in which quasi-collisions may affect inertial confinement fusion (ICF), and other laser-plasma experiments. Finally, we show that mildly relativistic jitter radiation, from laser-produced plasmas, may offer insight into the underlying electromagnetic turbulence. Here we investigate the prospects for, and demonstrate the feasibility of, such direct radiative diagnostics for mildly relativistic, solid-density laser plasmas produced in lab experiments. In effect, we demonstrate how the diffusive and radiative properties of plasmas with small-scale, turbulent, electromagnetic fluctuations may serve as a powerful tool for the diagnosis of laboratory, astrophysical, and space plasmas.

The ionization length in plasmas with finite temperature ion sources

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

Jelic, N.; Kos, L.; Duhovnik, J.

2009-12-15

The ionization length is an important quantity which up to now has been precisely determined only in plasmas which assume that the ions are born at rest, i.e., in discharges known as 'cold ion-source' plasmas. Presented here are the results of our calculations of the ionization lengths in plasmas with an arbitrary ion source temperature. Harrison and Thompson (H and T) [Proc. Phys. Soc. 74, 145 (1959)] found the values of this quantity for the cases of several ion strength potential profiles in the well-known Tonks-Langmuir [Phys. Rev. 34, 876 (1929)] discharge, which is characterized by 'cold' ion temperature. Thismore » scenario is also known as the 'singular' ion-source discharge. The H and T analytic result covers cases of ion sources proportional to exp(betaPHI) with PHI the normalized plasma potential and beta=0,1,2 values, which correspond to particular physical scenarios. Many years following H and T's work, Bissell and Johnson (B and J) [Phys. Fluids 30, 779 (1987)] developed a model with the so-called 'warm' ion-source temperature, i.e., 'regular' ion source, under B and J's particular assumption that the ionization strength is proportional to the local electron density. However, it appears that B and J were not interested in determining the ionization length at all. The importance of this quantity to theoretical modeling was recognized by Riemann, who recently answered all the questions of the most advanced up-to-date plasma-sheath boundary theory with cold ions [K.-U. Riemann, Phys. Plasmas 13, 063508 (2006)] but still without the stiff warm ion-source case solution, which is highly resistant to solution via any available analytic method. The present article is an extension of H and T's results obtained for a single point only with ion source temperature T{sub n}=0 to arbitrary finite ion source temperatures. The approach applied in this work is based on the method recently developed by Kos et al. [Phys. Plasmas 16, 093503 (2009)].« less

Plasma and cold sprayed aluminum carbon nanotube composites: Quantification of nanotube distribution and multi-scale mechanical properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakshi, Srinivasa Rao

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) could serve as potential reinforcement for metal matrix composites for improved mechanical properties. However dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in the matrix has been a longstanding problem, since they tend to form clusters to minimize their surface area. The aim of this study was to use plasma and cold spraying techniques to synthesize CNT reinforced aluminum composite with improved dispersion and to quantify the degree of CNT dispersion as it influences the mechanical properties. Novel method of spray drying was used to disperse CNTs in Al-12 wt.% Si prealloyed powder, which was used as feedstock for plasma and cold spraying. A new method for quantification of CNT distribution was developed. Two parameters for CNT dispersion quantification, namely Dispersion parameter (DP) and Clustering Parameter (CP) have been proposed based on the image analysis and distance between the centers of CNTs. Nanomechanical properties were correlated with the dispersion of CNTs in the microstructure. Coating microstructure evolution has been discussed in terms of splat formation, deformation and damage of CNTs and CNT/matrix interface. Effect of Si and CNT content on the reaction at CNT/matrix interface was thermodynamically and kinetically studied. A pseudo phase diagram was computed which predicts the interfacial carbide for reaction between CNT and Al-Si alloy at processing temperature. Kinetic aspects showed that Al4C3 forms with Al-12 wt.% Si alloy while SiC forms with Al-23wt.% Si alloy. Mechanical properties at nano, micro and macro-scale were evaluated using nanoindentation and nanoscratch, microindentation and bulk tensile testing respectively. Nano and micro-scale mechanical properties (elastic modulus, hardness and yield strength) displayed improvement whereas macro-scale mechanical properties were poor. The inversion of the mechanical properties at different scale length was attributed to the porosity, CNT clustering, CNT-splat adhesion and Al 4C3 formation at the CNT/matrix interface. The Dispersion parameter (DP) was more sensitive than Clustering parameter (CP) in measuring degree of CNT distribution in the matrix.

Electrostatic solitary waves generated by beam injection in LAPD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, L.; Gekelman, W. N.; Lefebvre, B.; Kintner, P. M.; Pickett, J. S.; Pribyl, P.; Vincena, S. T.

2011-12-01

Spacecraft data have revealed that electrostatic solitary waves are ubiquitous in non-equilibrium collisionless space plasmas. These solitary waves are often the main constituents of the observed electrostatic turbulence. The ubiquitous presence of these solitary waves in space motivated laboratory studies on their generation and evolution in the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA. In order to observe these structures, microprobes with scale sizes of order of the Debye length (30 microns) had to be built using Mems technology. A suprathermal electron beam was injected into the afterglow plasma, and solitary waves as well as nonlinear wave packets were measured. The solitary waves are interpreted as BGK electron holes based on their width, amplitude, and velocity characteristics. The ensuing turbulence, including the solitary waves and wave packets, exhibits a band dispersion relation with its central line consistent with the electrostatic whistler mode. One surprise brought by the laboratory experiments is that the electron holes were not generated through resonant two-stream instabilities, but likely through an instability due to parallel currents. The characteristics of the LAPD electron holes and those observed in space will be compared to motivate further theoretical, simulation, and experimental work.

NSTX Disruption Simulations of Detailed Divertor and Passive Plate Models by Vector Potential Transfer from OPERA Global Analysis Results

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

P. H. Titus, S. Avasaralla, A.Brooks, R. Hatcher

2010-09-22

The National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX) project is planning upgrades to the toroidal field, plasma current and pulse length. This involves the replacement of the center-stack, including the inner legs of the TF, OH, and inner PF coils. A second neutral beam will also be added. The increased performance of the upgrade requires qualification of the remaining components including the vessel, passive plates, and divertor for higher disruption loads. The hardware needing qualification is more complex than is typically accessible by large scale electromagnetic (EM) simulations of the plasma disruptions. The usual method is to include simplified representations of componentsmore » in the large EM models and attempt to extract forces to apply to more detailed models. This paper describes a more efficient approach of combining comprehensive modeling of the plasma and tokamak conducting structures, using the 2D OPERA code, with much more detailed treatment of individual components using ANSYS electromagnetic (EM) and mechanical analysis. This capture local eddy currents and resulting loads in complex details, and allows efficient non-linear, and dynamic structural analyses.« less

The development of magnetic field line wander in gyrokinetic plasma turbulence: dependence on amplitude of turbulence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bourouaine, Sofiane; Howes, Gregory G.

2017-06-01

The dynamics of a turbulent plasma not only manifests the transport of energy from large to small scales, but also can lead to a tangling of the magnetic field that threads through the plasma. The resulting magnetic field line wander can have a large impact on a number of other important processes, such as the propagation of energetic particles through the turbulent plasma. Here we explore the saturation of the turbulent cascade, the development of stochasticity due to turbulent tangling of the magnetic field lines and the separation of field lines through the turbulent dynamics using nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations of weakly collisional plasma turbulence, relevant to many turbulent space and astrophysical plasma environments. We determine the characteristic time 2$ for the saturation of the turbulent perpendicular magnetic energy spectrum. We find that the turbulent magnetic field becomes completely stochastic at time 2$ for strong turbulence, and at 2$ for weak turbulence. However, when the nonlinearity parameter of the turbulence, a dimensionless measure of the amplitude of the turbulence, reaches a threshold value (within the regime of weak turbulence) the magnetic field stochasticity does not fully develop, at least within the evolution time interval 22$ . Finally, we quantify the mean square displacement of magnetic field lines in the turbulent magnetic field with a functional form 2\\rangle =A(z/L\\Vert )p$ ( \\Vert $ is the correlation length parallel to the magnetic background field \\mathbf{0}$ , is the distance along \\mathbf{0}$ direction), providing functional forms of the amplitude coefficient and power-law exponent as a function of the nonlinearity parameter.