Nature of convection-stabilized dc arcs in dual-flow nozzle geometry. I - The cold flow field and dc arc characteristics. II - Optical diagnostics and theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Serbetci, Ilter; Nagamatsu, H. T.

1990-02-01

Steady-state low-current air arcs in a dual-flow nozzle system are studied experimentally. The cold flow field with no arc is investigated using a 12.7-mm diameter dual-flow nozzle in a steady-flow facility. Mach number and mass flux distributions are determined for various nozzle-pressure ratios and nozzle-gap spacing. It is found that the shock waves in the converging-diverging nozzles result in a decrease in overal resistance by about 15 percent. Also, Schlieren and differential interferometry techniques are used to visualize the density gradients within the arc plasma and thermal mantle. Both optical techniques reveal a laminar arc structure for a reservoir pressure of 1 atm at various current levels. Experimentally determined axial static pressure and cold-flow mass flux rate distributions and a channel-flow model with constant arc temperatre are used to solve the energy integral for the arc radius as a function of axial distance. The arc electric field strength, voltage, resistance, and power are determined with Ohm's law and the total heat transfer is related to arc power.

Gas metal arc weldability of 1.5 GPa grade martensitic steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Insung; Yun, Hyeonsang; Kim, Dongcheol; Kang, Munjin; Kim, Young-Min

2018-01-01

The gas metal arc weldability of 1.5 GPa grade martensitic (MART) steel was evaluated using both inverter direct current (DC) and DC pulse power type welders, under conditions of different welding currents, welding speeds, and shielding gasses. By investigating the bead appearance, tensile strength, and arc stability, it was determined that DC pulse power is better than inverter DC power for arc welding of 1.3 mm thick 1.5 GPa grade MART steel. Further, from the results of the weldability for various shielding gases, it was determined that mixed shielding gas is more effective for welding 1.5 GPa grade MART steel than is pure inert gas (Ar) or active (CO2) gas. In the case of pure shielding gas, no sound bead was formed under any conditions. However, when the mixed shielding gas was used, sound and fine beads were obtained.

Switch contact device for interrupting high current, high voltage, AC and DC circuits

DOEpatents

Via, Lester C.; Witherspoon, F. Douglas; Ryan, John M.

2005-01-04

A high voltage switch contact structure capable of interrupting high voltage, high current AC and DC circuits. The contact structure confines the arc created when contacts open to the thin area between two insulating surfaces in intimate contact. This forces the arc into the shape of a thin sheet which loses heat energy far more rapidly than an arc column having a circular cross-section. These high heat losses require a dramatic increase in the voltage required to maintain the arc, thus extinguishing it when the required voltage exceeds the available voltage. The arc extinguishing process with this invention is not dependent on the occurrence of a current zero crossing and, consequently, is capable of rapidly interrupting both AC and DC circuits. The contact structure achieves its high performance without the use of sulfur hexafluoride.

Accuracy of trace element determinations in alternate fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenbauer-Seng, L. A.

1980-01-01

NASA-Lewis Research Center's work on accurate measurement of trace level of metals in various fuels is presented. The differences between laboratories and between analytical techniques especially for concentrations below 10 ppm, are discussed, detailing the Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) and DC Arc Emission Spectrometry (dc arc) techniques used by NASA-Lewis. Also presented is the design of an Interlaboratory Study which is considering the following factors: laboratory, analytical technique, fuel type, concentration and ashing additive.

Effect of vacuum arc cathode spot distribution on breaking capacity of the arc-extinguishing chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Can; Yuan, Zhao; He, Junjia

2017-10-01

A DC circuit breaker performs a key function in breaking an intermediate-frequency (IF) current since breaking a pure IF current is equivalent to breaking a very small DC with a reverse IF current. In this study, it is found that cathode spots show a ring-shaped distribution at 2000 Hz. An arc with an uneven distribution of cathode spots has been simulated. The simulation results show that the distribution of cathode spots significantly affect the microparameter distribution of arc plasma. The current distribution on the anode side differs from that on the cathode side under the total radial electric field. Specifically, the anode current distribution is both uneven and concentrated. The applied axial magnetic field, which cannot reduce the concentrated anode current distribution effectively, might increase the concentration of the anode current. Finally, the uneven distribution of cathode spots reduces the breaking capacity of the arc-extinguishing chamber.

Effect of immediate or delayed light activation on curing kinetics and shrinkage stress of dual-cure resin cements.

PubMed

Faria-e-Silva, Andre; Boaro, Leticia; Braga, Roberto; Piva, Evandro; Arias, Vanessa; Martins, Luis

2011-01-01

This study evaluated the effect of light activation (absence, immediate, or delayed) on conversion kinetics and polymerization stress of three commercial dual-cured resin cements (Enforce, RelyX ARC, and Panavia F). Degree of conversion (DC) was monitored for 30 minutes using real-time near–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The cement was mixed, placed on the spectrometer sample holder, and light activated either immediately or after five minutes (delayed light activation). When no light activation was performed, the materials were protected from light exposure (control). DC was evaluated at five and 30 minutes postmixture. Maximum rates of polymerization (Rp(max)) were obtained from the first derivative of the DC vs time curve. Polymerization stress was monitored for 30 minutes in 1-mm-thick specimens inserted between two cylinders attached to a universal testing machine. Data were submitted to analysis of variance/Tukey tests (α=0.05). Immediate light activation promoted the highest DC at five minutes. At 30 minutes, only RelyX ARC did not present a significant difference in DC between activation modes. Enforce and Panavia F presented higher Rp(max) for immediate and delayed light-activation, respectively. RelyX ARC showed similar Rp(max) for all activation modes. The absence of light activation resulted in the lowest stress followed by delayed light activation, while immediate light activation led to the highest values. RelyX ARC showed higher stress than Enforce, while the stress of Panavia F was similar to that of the others. Delayed light activation reduced the polymerization stress of the resin cements tested without jeopardizing DC.

Arcing on dc power systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moores, Greg; Heller, R. P.; Sutanto, Surja; Dugal-Whitehead, Norma R.

1992-01-01

Unexpected and undesirable arcing on dc power systems can produce hazardous situations aboard space flights. The potential for fire and shock might exist in a situation where there is a broken conductor, a loose power connection, or a break in the insulation of the power cable. Such arcing has been found to be reproducible in a laboratory environment. Arcing tests show that the phenomena can last for several seconds and yet be undetectable by present protection schemes used in classical power relaying and remote power controller applications. This paper characterizes the arcing phenomena and suggests future research that is needed.

Investigations Of A Pulsed Cathodic Vacuum Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oates, T. W. H.; Pigott, J.; Denniss, P.; Mckenzie, D. R.; Bilek, M. M. M.

2003-06-01

Cathodic vacuum arcs are well established as a method for producing thin films for coatings and as a source of metal ions. Research into DC vacuum arcs has been going on for over ten years in the School of Physics at the University of Sydney. Recently a project was undertaken in the school to design and build a pulsed CVA for use in the investigation of plasma sheaths and plasma immersion ion implantation. Pulsed cathodic vacuum arcs generally have a higher current and plasma density and also provide a more stable and reproducible plasma density than their DC counterparts. Additionally it has been shown that if a high repetition frequency can be established the deposition rate of pulsed arcs is equal to or greater than that of DC arcs with a concomitant reduction in the rate of macro-particle formation. We present here results of our investigations into the building of a center-triggered pulsed cathodic vacuum arc. The design of the power supply and trigger mechanism and the geometry of the anode and cathode are examined. Observations of type I and II arc spots using a CCD camera, and cathode spot velocity dependence on arc current will be presented. The role of retrograde motion in a high current pulsed arc is discussed.

Study of DC Circuit Breaker of H2-N2 Mixture Gas for High Voltage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shiba, Yuji; Morishita, Yukinaga; Kaneko, Shuhei; Okabe, Shigemitsu; Mizoguchi, Hitoshi; Yanabu, Satoru

Global warming caused by CO2 etc. is a field where the concern is very high. Especially, automobile emissions are problem for it. Therefore, the hybrid car is widely development and used recently. Hybrid car used electric power and gasoline. So, the car reduces CO2. Hybrid car has engine and motor. To rotate the motor, hybrid car has battery. This battery is large capacity. Therefore, the relay should interrupt high DC current for the switch of the motor and the engine. So, hybrid car used hydrogen gas filling relay We studied interruption test for the research of a basic characteristic of hydrogen gas. DC current has not current zero point. So, it is necessary to make the current zero by high arc voltage and forcible current zero point. The loss coefficient and arc voltage of hydrogen is high. Therefore, we studied interruption test for used high arc voltage. We studied interruption test and dielectric breakdown test of air, pure Hydrogen, and Hydrogen- nitrogen mixture gas. As a result, we realized H2-N2(80%-20%) is the best gas.

Arc dynamics of a pulsed DC nitrogen rotating gliding arc discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Fengsen; Zhang, Hao; Li, Xiaodong; Wu, Angjian; Yan, Jianhua; Ni, Mingjiang; Tu, Xin

2018-03-01

In this study, a novel pulsed direct current (DC) rotating gliding arc (RGA) plasma reactor co-driven by an external magnetic field and a tangential gas flow has been developed. The dynamic characteristics of the rotating gliding arc have been investigated by means of numerical simulation and experiment. The simulation results show that a highly turbulent vortex flow can be generated at the bottom of the RGA reactor to accelerate the arc rotation after arc ignition, whereas the magnitude of gas velocity declined significantly along the axial direction of the RGA reactor. The calculated arc rotation frequency (14.4 Hz) is reasonably close to the experimental result (18.5 Hz) at a gas flow rate of 10 l min-1. In the presence of an external magnet, the arc rotation frequency is around five times higher than that of the RGA reactor without using a magnet, which suggests that the external magnetic field plays a dominant role in the maintenance of the arc rotation in the upper zone of the RGA reactor. In addition, when the magnet is placed outside the reactor reversely to form a reverse external magnetic field, the arc can be stabilized at a fixed position in the inner wall of the outer electrode at a critical gas flow rate of 16 l min-1.

Decomposition of naphthalene by dc gliding arc gas discharge.

PubMed

Yu, Liang; Li, Xiaodong; Tu, Xin; Wang, Yu; Lu, Shengyong; Yan, Jianhua

2010-01-14

Gliding arc discharge has been proved to be effective in treatment of gas and liquid contaminants. In this study, physical characteristics of dc gliding arc discharge and its application to naphthalene destruction are investigated with different external resistances and carrier gases. The decomposition rate increases with increasing of oxygen concentration and decreases with external resistance. This value can be achieved up to 92.3% at the external resistance of 50 kOmega in the oxygen discharge, while the highest destruction energy efficiency reaches 3.6 g (kW h)(-1) with the external resistance of 93 kOmega. Possible reaction pathways and degradation mechanisms in the plasma with different gases are proposed by qualitative analysis of postdestructed products. In the air and oxygen gliding arc discharges, the naphthalene degradation is mainly governed by reactions with oxygen-derived radicals.

Novel non-equilibrium modelling of a DC electric arc in argon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baeva, M.; Benilov, M. S.; Almeida, N. A.; Uhrlandt, D.

2016-06-01

A novel non-equilibrium model has been developed to describe the interplay of heat and mass transfer and electric and magnetic fields in a DC electric arc. A complete diffusion treatment of particle fluxes, a generalized form of Ohm’s law, and numerical matching of the arc plasma with the space-charge sheaths adjacent to the electrodes are applied to analyze in detail the plasma parameters and the phenomena occurring in the plasma column and the near-electrode regions of a DC arc generated in atmospheric pressure argon for current levels from 20 A up to 200 A. Results comprising electric field and potential, current density, heating of the electrodes, and effects of thermal and chemical non-equilibrium are presented and discussed. The current-voltage characteristic obtained is in fair agreement with known experimental data. It indicates a minimum for arc current of about 80 A. For all current levels, a field reversal in front of the anode accompanied by a voltage drop of (0.7-2.6) V is observed. Another field reversal is observed near the cathode for arc currents below 80 A.

Discharge Characteristics of DC Arc Water Plasma for Environmental Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Tianming; Sooseok, Choi; Takayuki, Watanabe

2012-12-01

A water plasma was generated by DC arc discharge with a hafnium embedded rod-type cathode and a nozzle-type anode. The discharge characteristics were examined by changing the operation parameter of the arc current. The dynamic behavior of the arc discharge led to significant fluctuations in the arc voltage and its frequency. Analyses of the high speed image and the arc voltage waveform showed that the arc discharge was in the restrike mode and its frequency varied within several tens of kilohertz according to the operating conditions. The larger thermal plasma volume was generated by the higher flow from the forming steam with a higher restrike frequency in the higher arc current conditions. In addition, the characteristics of the water plasma jet were investigated by means of optical emission spectroscopy to identify the abundant radicals required in an efficient waste treatment process.

The modelling of an SF6 arc in a supersonic nozzle: II. Current zero behaviour of the nozzle arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Q.; Liu, J.; Yan, J. D.; Fang, M. T. C.

2016-08-01

The present work (part II) forms the second part of an investigation into the behaviour of SF6 nozzle arc. It is concerned with the aerodynamic and electrical behaviour of a transient nozzle arc under a current ramp specified by a rate of current decay (di/dt) before current zero and a voltage ramp (dV/dt) after current zero. The five flow models used in part I [1] for cold gas flow and DC nozzle arcs have been applied to study the transient arc at three stagnation pressures (P 0) and two values of di/dt for the current ramp, representing a wide range of arcing conditions. An analysis of the physical mechanisms encompassed in each flow model is given with an emphasis on the adequacy of a particular model in describing the rapidly varying arc around current zero. The critical rate of rise of recovery voltage (RRRV) is found computationally and compared with test results of Benenson et al [2]. For transient nozzle arcs, the RRRV is proportional to the square of P 0, rather than to the square root of P 0 for DC nozzle arcs. The physical mechanisms responsible for the strong dependence of RRRV on P 0 have been investigated. The relative merits of the flow models employed are discussed.

ARC length control for plasma welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iceland, William F. (Inventor)

1988-01-01

A control system to be used with a plasma arc welding apparatus is disclosed. The plasma arc welding apparatus includes a plasma arc power supply, a contactor, and an electrode assembly for moving the electrode relative to a work piece. The electrode assembly is raised or lowered by a drive motor. The present apparatus includes a plasma arc adapter connected across the power supply to measure the voltage across the plasma arc. The plasma arc adapter forms a dc output signal input to a differential amplifier. A second input is defined by an adjustable resistor connected to a dc voltage supply to permit operator control. The differential amplifier forms an output difference signal provided to an adder circuit. The adder circuit then connects with a power amplifier which forms the driving signal for the motor. In addition, the motor connects to a tachometor which forms a feedback signal delivered to the adder to provide damping, therby avoiding servo loop overshoot.

New Raman-peak at 1850 cm(-1) observed in multiwalled carbon nanotubes produced by hydrogen arc discharge.

PubMed

Chen, B; Kadowaki, Y; Inoue, S; Ohkohchi, M; Zhao, X; Ando, Y

2010-06-01

The new peak (near 1850 cm(-1)) assigned to carbon linear chain included in the centre of very thin innermost multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) has been verified by Raman spectroscopy. These MWNTs were produced by dc arc discharge of pure graphite rods in pure hydrogen gas and existed in the cathode deposit. In this paper, we clarified that the new Raman-peaks could also be observed in the cathode deposit including MWNTs produced by hydrogen dc arc discharge using graphite electrode with added Y or La. By changing the quantity of addition (Y or La), dc arc current and pressure of ambient hydrogen gas, the optimum condition to get maximum intensity of the new Raman-peaks was obtained. For the case of 1 wt% La, dc 50 A, H2 pressure of 50 Torr was found to be optimum, and the intensity of new Raman-peak was even higher than the G-band peak. For the case of 1 wt% Y, dc 50 A, H2 pressure of 50 Torr was optimum, but the intensity of new Raman-peak was weaker than the G-band peak. Transmission electron microscopy observation revealed that the crystallinity of MWNTs produced with pure graphite rod was better than those produced with added Y or La.

An in situ evaluation of the polymerization shrinkage, degree of conversion, and bond strength of resin cements used for luting fiber posts.

PubMed

Pulido, Camilo Andrés; de Oliveira Franco, Ana Paula Gebert; Gomes, Giovana Mongruel; Bittencourt, Bruna Fortes; Kalinowski, Hypolito José; Gomes, João Carlos; Gomes, Osnara Maria Mongruel

2016-10-01

The behavior and magnitude of the deformations that occur during polymerization and the behavior of the luting agents of glass fiber posts inside the root canal require quantification. The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the in situ polymerization shrinkage, degree of conversion, and bond strength inside the root canal of resin cements used to lute fiber posts. Thirty maxillary canines were prepared to lute fiber posts. The teeth were randomly divided into 2 groups (n=15) according to the cementation system used, which included ARC, the conventional dual-polymerized resin cement RelyX ARC, and the U200 system, a self-adhesive resin cement, RelyX U200. Two fiber optic sensors with recorded Bragg gratings (FBG) were attached to each post before inserting the resin cement inside the root canal to measure the polymerization shrinkage (PS) of the cements in the cervical and apical root regions (με). Specimens were sectioned (into cervical and apical regions) to evaluate bond strength (BS) with a push-out test and degree of conversion (DC) with micro-Raman spectroscopy. Data were statistically analyzed with 2-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference post hoc test (α=.05). The ARC and U200 system showed similar PS values (-276.4 ±129.2 με and -252.1 ±119.2 με, respectively). DC values from ARC were higher (87.5 ±2.7%) than those of U200 (55.9 ±9.7%). The cervical region showed higher DC values (74.8 ±15.2%) and PS values (-381.6 ±53.0 με) than those of the apical region (68.5 ±20.1% and -146.9 ±43.5 με, respectively) for both of the resin cements. BS was only statistically different between the cervical and apical regions for ARC (P<.05). The ARC system showed the highest PS and DC values compared with U200; and for both of the resin cements, the PS and DC values were higher at the cervical region than at the apical region of the canal root. BS was higher in the cervical region only for ARC. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

An innovative high-power constant-current pulsed-arc power-supply for a high-density pulsed-arc-plasma ion-source using a LaB6-filament.

PubMed

Ueno, A; Oguri, H; Ikegami, K; Namekawa, Y; Ohkoshi, K; Tokuchi, A

2010-02-01

An innovative high-power constant-current (CC) pulsed-arc (PA) power-supply (PS) indispensable for a high-density PA plasma ion-source using a lanthanum hexaboride (LaB(6)) filament was devised by combining a constant-voltage (CV) PA-PS, which is composed of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switch, a CV direct-current (dc) PS and a 270 mF capacitor with a CC-PA-PS, which is composed of an IGBT-switch, a CC-dc-PS and a 400 microH inductor, through the inductor. The hybrid-CC-PA-PS succeeded in producing a flat arc-pulse with a peak power of 56 kW (400 A x 140 V) and a duty factor of more than 1.5% (600 micros x 25 Hz) for Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) H(-) ion-source stably. It also succeeded in shortening the 99% rising-time of the arc-pulse-current to about 20 micros and tilting up or down the arc-pulse-current arbitrarily and almost linearly by changing the setting voltage of its CV-dc-PS.

Arc/Arg3.1 governs inflammatory dendritic cell migration from the skin and thereby controls T cell activation.

PubMed

Ufer, Friederike; Vargas, Pablo; Engler, Jan Broder; Tintelnot, Joseph; Schattling, Benjamin; Winkler, Hana; Bauer, Simone; Kursawe, Nina; Willing, Anne; Keminer, Oliver; Ohana, Ora; Salinas-Riester, Gabriela; Pless, Ole; Kuhl, Dietmar; Friese, Manuel A

2016-09-23

Skin-migratory dendritic cells (migDCs) are pivotal antigen-presenting cells that continuously transport antigens to draining lymph nodes and regulate immune responses. However, identification of migDCs is complicated by the lack of distinguishing markers, and it remains unclear which molecules determine their migratory capacity during inflammation. We show that, in the skin, the neuronal plasticity molecule activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein/activity-regulated gene 3.1 (Arc/Arg3.1) was strictly confined to migDCs. Mechanistically, Arc/Arg3.1 was required for accelerated DC migration during inflammation because it regulated actin dynamics through nonmuscle myosin II. Accordingly, Arc/Arg3.1-dependent DC migration was critical for mounting T cell responses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Thus, Arc/Arg3.1 was restricted to migDCs in the skin and drove fast DC migration by exclusively coordinating cytoskeletal changes in response to inflammatory challenges. These findings commend Arc/Arg3.1 as a universal switch in migDCs that may be exploited to selectively modify immune responses. Copyright © 2016, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Destruction of acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene and pyrene by a dc gliding arc plasma reactor.

PubMed

Yu, Liang; Tu, Xin; Li, Xiaodong; Wang, Yu; Chi, Yong; Yan, Jianhua

2010-08-15

In this study, four kinds of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) i.e. acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene and pyrene are used as targets for investigation of PAHs treatment process assisted by dc gliding arc discharge. The effects of carrier gas and external resistance on the PAHs decomposition process are discussed. The results indicate that the destruction rate can be achieved to the highest with the carrier gas of oxygen and the external resistance of 50 kOmega independent of type of PAHs. Furthermore, experimental results suggest that destruction energy efficiency of gliding arc plasma would be improved by treating higher concentration pollutants. Based on the analysis of experimental results, possible destruction mechanisms in different gas discharge are discussed. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study on a negative hydrogen ion source with hot cathode arc discharge.

PubMed

Lin, S H; Fang, X; Zhang, H J; Qian, C; Ma, B H; Wang, H; Li, X X; Zhang, X Z; Sun, L T; Zhang, Z M; Yuan, P; Zhao, H W

2014-02-01

A negative hydrogen (H(-)) ion source with hot cathode arc discharge was designed and fabricated as a primary injector for a 10 MeV PET cyclotron at IMP. 1 mA dc H(-) beam with ɛ N, RMS = 0.08 π mm mrad was extracted at 25 kV. Halbach hexapole was adopted to confine the plasma. The state of arc discharge, the parameters including filament current, arc current, gas pressure, plasma electrode bias, and the ratio of I(e(-))/I(H(-)) were experimentally studied. The discussion on the result, and opinions to improve the source were given.

Antimicrobial properties of uncapped silver nanoparticles synthesized by DC arc thermal plasma technique.

PubMed

Shinde, Manish; Patil, Rajendra; Karmakar, Soumen; Bhoraskar, Sudha; Rane, Sunit; Gade, Wasudev; Amalnerkar, Dinesh

2012-02-01

We, herein, report the antimicrobial properties of uncapped silver nanoparticles for a Gram positive model organism, Bacillus subtilis. Uncapped silver nanoparticles have been prepared using less-explored DC arc thermal plasma technique by considering its large scale generation capability. It is observed that the resultant nanoparticles show size as well as optical property dependent antimicrobial effect.

E-beam high voltage switching power supply

DOEpatents

Shimer, D.W.; Lange, A.C.

1996-10-15

A high-power power supply produces a controllable, constant high voltage output under varying and arcing loads. The power supply includes a voltage regulator, an inductor, an inverter for producing a high frequency square wave current of alternating polarity, an improved inverter voltage clamping circuit, a step up transformer, an output rectifier for producing a dc voltage at the output of each module, and a current sensor for sensing output current. The power supply also provides dynamic response to varying loads by controlling the voltage regulator duty cycle and circuitry is provided for sensing incipient arc currents at the output of the power supply to simultaneously decouple the power supply circuitry from the arcing load. The power supply includes a plurality of discrete switching type dc--dc converter modules. 5 figs.

E-beam high voltage switching power supply

DOEpatents

Shimer, Daniel W.; Lange, Arnold C.

1996-01-01

A high-power power supply produces a controllable, constant high voltage put under varying and arcing loads. The power supply includes a voltage regulator, an inductor, an inverter for producing a high frequency square wave current of alternating polarity, an improved inverter voltage clamping circuit, a step up transformer, an output rectifier for producing a dc voltage at the output of each module, and a current sensor for sensing output current. The power supply also provides dynamic response to varying loads by controlling the voltage regulator duty cycle and circuitry is provided for sensing incipient arc currents at the output of the power supply to simultaneously decouple the power supply circuitry from the arcing load. The power supply includes a plurality of discrete switching type dc--dc converter modules.

Glow-to-arc transition events in H2-Ar direct current pulsed plasma: automated measurement of current and voltage.

PubMed

Mendes, Luciano A; Mafra, Márcio; Rodrigues, Jhonatam C

2012-01-01

The glow-to-arc transition phenomena (arcing) observed in plasma reactors used in materials processing was studied through the arcs characteristic current and voltage waveforms. In order to capture these arcs signals, a LABVIEW™ based automated instrumentation system (ARCVIEW) was developed, including the integration of an oscilloscope equipped with proper current and voltage probes. The system also allows capturing the process parameters at the arc occurrence moments, which were used to map the arcs events conditions. Experiments in H(2)-Ar DC pulsed plasma returned signals data from 215 arcs events, which were analyzed through software routines. According to the results, an anti-arcing system should react in the time order of few microseconds to prevent most of the damage caused by the undesired arcing phenomena.

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

Wang, T.; Yang, Z.; Dong, P.

The cold-cathode Penning ion gauge (PIG) type ion source has been used for generation of negative hydrogen (H{sup -}) ions as the internal ion source of a compact cyclotron. A novel method called electrical shielding box dc beam measurement is described in this paper, and the beam intensity was measured under dc extraction inside an electrical shielding box. The results of the trajectory simulation and dc H{sup -} beam extraction measurement were presented. The effect of gas flow rate, magnetic field strength, arc current, and extraction voltage were also discussed. In conclusion, the dc H{sup -} beam current of aboutmore » 4 mA from the PIG ion source with the puller voltage of 40 kV and arc current of 1.31 A was extrapolated from the measurement at low extraction dc voltages.« less

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.

Temporal and spatial variations of Gutenberg-Richter parameter and fractal dimension in Western Anatolia, Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bayrak, Erdem; Yılmaz, Şeyda; Bayrak, Yusuf

2017-05-01

The temporal and spatial variations of Gutenberg-Richter parameter (b-value) and fractal dimension (DC) during the period 1900-2010 in Western Anatolia was investigated. The study area is divided into 15 different source zones based on their tectonic and seismotectonic regimes. We calculated the temporal variation of b and DC values in each region using Zmap. The temporal variation of these parameters for the prediction of major earthquakes was calculated. The spatial distribution of these parameters is related to the stress levels of the faults. We observed that b and DC values change before the major earthquakes in the 15 seismic regions. To evaluate the spatial distribution of b and DC values, 0.50° × 0.50° grid interval were used. The b-values smaller than 0.70 are related to the Aegean Arc and Eskisehir Fault. The highest values are related to Sultandağı and Sandıklı Faults. Fractal correlation dimension varies from 1.65 to 2.60, which shows that the study area has a higher DC value. The lowest DC values are related to the joining area between Aegean and Cyprus arcs, Burdur-Fethiye fault zone. Some have concluded that b-values drop instantly before large shocks. Others suggested that temporally stable low b value zones identify future large earthquake locations. The results reveal that large earthquakes occur when b decreases and DC increases, suggesting that variation of b and DC can be used as an earthquake precursor. Mapping of b and DC values provide information about the state of stress in the region, i.e. lower b and higher DC values associated with epicentral areas of large earthquakes.

Visualization and mechanisms of splashing erosion of electrodes in a DC air arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yi; Cui, Yufei; Rong, Mingzhe; Murphy, Anthony B.; Yang, Fei; Sun, Hao; Niu, Chunping; Fan, Shaodi

2017-11-01

The splashing erosion of electrodes in a DC atmospheric-pressure air arc has been investigated by visualization of the electrode surface and the sputtered droplets, and tracking of the droplet trajectories, using image processing techniques. A particle tracking velocimetry algorithm has been introduced to measure the sputtering velocity distribution. Erosion of both tungsten-copper and tungsten-ceria electrodes is studied; in both cases electrode erosion is found to be dominated by droplet splashing rather than metal evaporation. Erosion is directly influenced by both melting and the formation of plasma jets, and can be reduced by the tuning of the plasma jet and electrode material. The results provide an understanding of the mechanisms that lead to the long lifetime of tungsten-copper electrodes, and may provide a path for the design of the electrode system subjected to electric arc to minimize erosion.

Electrical shielding box measurement of the negative hydrogen beam from Penning ion gauge ion source.

PubMed

Wang, T; Yang, Z; Dong, P; long, J D; He, X Z; Wang, X; Zhang, K Z; Zhang, L W

2012-06-01

The cold-cathode Penning ion gauge (PIG) type ion source has been used for generation of negative hydrogen (H(-)) ions as the internal ion source of a compact cyclotron. A novel method called electrical shielding box dc beam measurement is described in this paper, and the beam intensity was measured under dc extraction inside an electrical shielding box. The results of the trajectory simulation and dc H(-) beam extraction measurement were presented. The effect of gas flow rate, magnetic field strength, arc current, and extraction voltage were also discussed. In conclusion, the dc H(-) beam current of about 4 mA from the PIG ion source with the puller voltage of 40 kV and arc current of 1.31 A was extrapolated from the measurement at low extraction dc voltages.

Evaluation of pyrolysis and arc tracking on candidate wire insulation designs for space applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stueber, Thomas J.; Hammoud, Ahmad; Stavnes, Mark W.; Hrovat, Kenneth

1994-05-01

Polyimide wire insulation has been found to be vulnerable to pyrolization and arc tracking due to momentary short circuit arcing events. This report compares arc tracking susceptibility of candidate insulation configurations for space wiring applications. The insulation types studied in this report were gauge 20 (0.81 mm dia.) hybrid wiring constructions using polyimide, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), cross-linked ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (XL-ETFE) and/or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) insulations. These constructions were manufactured according to military wiring standards for aerospace applications. Arc track testing was conducted under DC bias and vacuum (10(exp -6) torr). The tests were conducted to compare the various insulation constructions in terms of their resistance to arc tracking restrike. The results of the tests are presented.

Study on a negative hydrogen ion source with hot cathode arc discharge

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

Lin, S. H., E-mail: linshh@impcas.ac.cn; Fang, X.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100039

2014-02-15

A negative hydrogen (H{sup −}) ion source with hot cathode arc discharge was designed and fabricated as a primary injector for a 10 MeV PET cyclotron at IMP. 1 mA dc H{sup −} beam with ε {sub N,} {sub RMS} = 0.08 π mm mrad was extracted at 25 kV. Halbach hexapole was adopted to confine the plasma. The state of arc discharge, the parameters including filament current, arc current, gas pressure, plasma electrode bias, and the ratio of I{sub e{sup −}}/I{sub H{sup −}} were experimentally studied. The discussion on the result, and opinions to improve the source were given.

A long-term validation of the modernised DC-ARC-OES solid-sample method.

PubMed

Flórián, K; Hassler, J; Förster, O

2001-12-01

The validation procedure based on ISO 17025 standard has been used to study and illustrate both the longterm stability of the calibration process of the DC-ARC solid sample spectrometric method and the main validation criteria of the method. In the calculation of the validation characteristics depending on the linearity(calibration), also the fulfilment of predetermining criteria such as normality and homoscedasticity was checked. In order to decide whether there are any trends in the time-variation of the analytical signal or not, also the Neumann test of trend was applied and evaluated. Finally, a comparison with similar validation data of the ETV-ICP-OES method was carried out.

DC graphite arc furnace, a simple system to reduce mixed waste volume

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

Wittle, J.K.; Hamilton, R.A.; Trescot, J.

1995-12-31

The volume of low-level radioactive waste can be reduced by the high temperature in a DC Graphite Arc Furnace. This volume reduction can take place with the additional benefit of having the solid residue being stabilized by the vitrified product produced in the process. A DC Graphite Arc Furnace is a simple system in which electricity is used to generate heat to vitrify the material and thermally decompose any organic matter in the waste stream. Examples of this type of waste are protective clothing, resins, and grit blast materials produced in the nuclear industry. The various Department of Energy (DOE)more » complexes produce similar low-level waste streams. Electro-Pyrolysis, Inc. and Svedala/Kennedy Van Saun are engineering and building small 50-kg batch and up to 3,000 kg/hr continuous feed DC furnaces for the remediation, pollution prevention, and decontamination and decommissioning segments of the treatment community. This process has been demonstrated under DOE sponsorship at several facilities and has been shown to produce stable waste forms from surrogate waste materials.« less

An experimental study on the thermal characteristics and heating effect of arc-fault from Cu core in residential electrical wiring fires

PubMed Central

Du, Jian-Hua; Zeng, Yi; Pan, Leng; Zhang, Ren-Cheng

2017-01-01

The characteristics of a series direct current (DC) arc-fault including both electrical and thermal parameters were investigated based on an arc-fault simulator to provide references for multi-parameter electrical fire detection method. Tests on arc fault behavior with three different initial circuit voltages, resistances and arc gaps were conducted, respectively. The influences of circuit conditions on arc dynamic image, voltage, current or power were interpreted. Also, the temperature rises of electrode surface and ambient air were studied. The results showed that, first, significant variations of arc structure and light emitting were observed under different conditions. A thin outer burning layer of vapor generated from electrodes with orange light was found due to the extremely high arc temperature. Second, with the increasing electrode gap in discharging, the arc power was shown to have a non monotonic relationship with arc length for constant initial circuit voltage and resistance. Finally, the temperature rises of electrode surface caused by heat transfer from arc were found to be not sensitive with increasing arc length due to special heat transfer mechanism. In addition, temperature of ambient air showed a large gradient in radial direction of arc. PMID:28797055

An experimental study on the thermal characteristics and heating effect of arc-fault from Cu core in residential electrical wiring fires.

PubMed

Du, Jian-Hua; Tu, Ran; Zeng, Yi; Pan, Leng; Zhang, Ren-Cheng

2017-01-01

The characteristics of a series direct current (DC) arc-fault including both electrical and thermal parameters were investigated based on an arc-fault simulator to provide references for multi-parameter electrical fire detection method. Tests on arc fault behavior with three different initial circuit voltages, resistances and arc gaps were conducted, respectively. The influences of circuit conditions on arc dynamic image, voltage, current or power were interpreted. Also, the temperature rises of electrode surface and ambient air were studied. The results showed that, first, significant variations of arc structure and light emitting were observed under different conditions. A thin outer burning layer of vapor generated from electrodes with orange light was found due to the extremely high arc temperature. Second, with the increasing electrode gap in discharging, the arc power was shown to have a non monotonic relationship with arc length for constant initial circuit voltage and resistance. Finally, the temperature rises of electrode surface caused by heat transfer from arc were found to be not sensitive with increasing arc length due to special heat transfer mechanism. In addition, temperature of ambient air showed a large gradient in radial direction of arc.

Non-equilibrium nitrogen DC-arc plasma treatment of TiO2 nanopowder.

PubMed

Suzuki, Yoshikazu; Gonzalez-Aguilar, José; Traisnel, Noel; Berger, Marie-Hélène; Repoux, Monique; Fulcheri, Laurent

2009-01-01

Non-equilibrium nitrogen DC-arc plasma treatment of a commercial TiO2 anatase nanopowder was examined to obtain nitrogen-doped TiO2. By using a non-thermal discharge at low current (150 mA) and high voltage (1200 V) using pure N2 gas, light yellowish-gray TiO2 powder was successfully obtained within a short period of 5-10 min. XPS and TEM-EELS studies confirmed the existence of doped nitrogen. Due to the relatively mild conditions (plasma power of 180 W), metastable anatase structure and fine crystallite size of TiO2 (ca. 10 nm) were maintained after the plasma treatment. The in-flight powder treatment system used in this study is promising for various type of powder treatment.

Carbon nanotube: the inside story.

PubMed

Ando, Yoshinori

2010-06-01

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were serendipitously discovered as a byproduct of fullerenes by direct current (DC) arc discharge; and today this is the most-wanted material in the nanotechnology research. In this brief review, I begin with the history of the discovery of CNTs and focus on CNTs produced by arc discharge in hydrogen atmosphere, which is little explored outside my laboratory. DC arc discharge evaporation of pure graphite rod in pure hydrogen gas results in multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) of high crystallinity in the cathode deposit. As-grown MWCNTs have very narrow inner diameter. Raman spectra of these MWCNTs show high-intensity G-band, unusual high-frequency radial breathing mode at 570 cm(-1), and a new characteristic peak near 1850 cm(-1). Exciting carbon nanowires (CNWs), consisting of a linear carbon chain in the center of MWCNTs are also produced. Arc evaporation of graphite rod containing metal catalysts results in single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in the whole chamber like macroscopic webs. Two kinds of arc method have been developed to produce SWCNTs: Arc plasma jet (APJ) and Ferrum-Hydrogen (FH) arc methods. Some new purification methods for as-produced SWCNTs are reviewed. Finally, double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) are also described.

29 CFR 1926.406 - Specific purpose equipment and installations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...—disconnecting means—(1) Motor-generator, AC transformer, and DC rectifier arc welders. A disconnecting means shall be provided in the supply circuit for each motor-generator arc welder, and for each AC transformer...

29 CFR 1926.406 - Specific purpose equipment and installations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...—disconnecting means—(1) Motor-generator, AC transformer, and DC rectifier arc welders. A disconnecting means shall be provided in the supply circuit for each motor-generator arc welder, and for each AC transformer...

Computational Modeling of Arc-Slag Interaction in DC Furnaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reynolds, Quinn G.

2017-02-01

The plasma arc is central to the operation of the direct-current arc furnace, a unit operation commonly used in high-temperature processing of both primary ores and recycled metals. The arc is a high-velocity, high-temperature jet of ionized gas created and sustained by interactions among the thermal, momentum, and electromagnetic fields resulting from the passage of electric current. In addition to being the primary source of thermal energy, the arc jet also couples mechanically with the bath of molten process material within the furnace, causing substantial splashing and stirring in the region in which it impinges. The arc's interaction with the molten bath inside the furnace is studied through use of a multiphase, multiphysics computational magnetohydrodynamic model developed in the OpenFOAM® framework. Results from the computational solver are compared with empirical correlations that account for arc-slag interaction effects.

Optical Emission Spectroscopy of a 150kW DC Arc Torch: A Comparison of Transferred vs. Non-Transferred Modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Counts, D. A.; Giuliani, J. L.; Peterson, S. H.; Han, Q. Y.; Sartwell, B. D.

1997-04-01

DC arc torches are proposed or in use for solid waste remediation at several sites. However, there is no consensus on the optimal mode of operation: transferred or non-transferred arc. As part of a project to investigate plasma treatment of shipboard waste, we have been investigating both modes at atmospheric pressure. This paper reports on the use of visible optical emission spectroscopy to determine the electron temperature, T_e, in the arc discharge for both the transferred and non transferred mode. In each case three industrial gases are compared, nitrogen, air and oxygen, at different flow rates and currents. Te is determined from the Balmer line ratio, wherein 5% hydrogen gas is added to the working gas in the torch flow. Variation of the emission with torch height and across the arc radius will be discussed. Recently, free arcs have shown evidence of non-LTE behavior in the arc mantle. Comparison of arc emission spectra as a function of radius for the transferred vs. non-transferred modes will be reported. Calorimetry results for the chamber walls, exhaust, and waste crucible will be correlated with the spectral results. This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research.

Welding Experiments of Aluminum Alloy by Space GHTA Welding in the ISS Orbital Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suita, Yoshikazu; Takai, Daisuke; Sugiyama, Satoshi; Terajima, Noboru; Tsukuda, Yoshiyuki; Fujisawa, Shoichiro; Imagawa, Kichiro

As a feasible welding method in space, the authors have previously proposed the space GHTA (Gas Hollow Tungsten Arc) welding process. The space GHTA welding with high frequency power source for the arc starting may cause the electro-magnetic noise problems of computer equipments placed on the ISS. Therefore, in this paper the welding experiments of aluminum alloy by the space GHTA welding with DC high voltage power source for the arc starting was carried out in the ISS orbital pressure 10-5Pa. It is made clear that there is the shifting phenomenon in which the spark discharge changes to the glow or arc discharge at starting phenomenon of the space GHTA welding in high vacuum condition, and the features of those starting phenomenon are demonstrated. And the space GHTA welding with DC high voltage power source can be used for welding in the ISS orbital pressure.

Effect of high energy electrons on H⁻ production and destruction in a high current DC negative ion source for cyclotron.

PubMed

Onai, M; Etoh, H; Aoki, Y; Shibata, T; Mattei, S; Fujita, S; Hatayama, A; Lettry, J

2016-02-01

Recently, a filament driven multi-cusp negative ion source has been developed for proton cyclotrons in medical applications. In this study, numerical modeling of the filament arc-discharge source plasma has been done with kinetic modeling of electrons in the ion source plasmas by the multi-cusp arc-discharge code and zero dimensional rate equations for hydrogen molecules and negative ions. In this paper, main focus is placed on the effects of the arc-discharge power on the electron energy distribution function and the resultant H(-) production. The modelling results reasonably explains the dependence of the H(-) extraction current on the arc-discharge power in the experiments.

Cathode surface effects and H.F.-behaviour of vacuum arcs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, Yan Hong

To gain a better understanding of the essential processes occurring during a vacuum arc interruption for the further development of the vacuum arc circuit breaker, cathode spot behavior, current interruption, dielectrical recovery and overvoltage generation are investigated. An experimental study on cathode spot behavior of the DC vacuum arc in relation to cathode surface roughness and a qualitative physical model to interpret the results are reported. An experimental investigation on the High Frequency (HF) current interruption, multiple recognitions and voltage escalation phenomena is reported. A calculation program to predict the level of overvoltages generated by the operation of a vacuum breaker in a realistic single phase circuit is developed. Detailed results are summarized.

E-beam high voltage switching power supply

DOEpatents

Shimer, Daniel W.; Lange, Arnold C.

1997-01-01

A high power, solid state power supply is described for producing a controllable, constant high voltage output under varying and arcing loads suitable for powering an electron beam gun or other ion source. The present power supply is most useful for outputs in a range of about 100-400 kW or more. The power supply is comprised of a plurality of discrete switching type dc-dc converter modules, each comprising a voltage regulator, an inductor, an inverter for producing a high frequency square wave current of alternating polarity, an improved inverter voltage clamping circuit, a step up transformer, and an output rectifier for producing a dc voltage at the output of each module. The inputs to the converter modules are fed from a common dc rectifier/filter and are linked together in parallel through decoupling networks to suppress high frequency input interactions. The outputs of the converter modules are linked together in series and connected to the input of the transmission line to the load through a decoupling and line matching network. The dc-dc converter modules are phase activated such that for n modules, each module is activated equally 360.degree./n out of phase with respect to a successive module. The phased activation of the converter modules, combined with the square current waveforms out of the step up transformers, allows the power supply to operate with greatly reduced output capacitance values which minimizes the stored energy available for discharge into an electron beam gun or the like during arcing. The present power supply also provides dynamic response to varying loads by controlling the voltage regulator duty cycle using simulated voltage feedback signals and voltage feedback loops. Circuitry is also provided for sensing incipient arc currents reflected at the output of the power supply and for simultaneously decoupling the power supply circuitry from the arcing load.

E-beam high voltage switching power supply

DOEpatents

Shimer, D.W.; Lange, A.C.

1997-03-11

A high power, solid state power supply is described for producing a controllable, constant high voltage output under varying and arcing loads suitable for powering an electron beam gun or other ion source. The present power supply is most useful for outputs in a range of about 100-400 kW or more. The power supply is comprised of a plurality of discrete switching type dc-dc converter modules, each comprising a voltage regulator, an inductor, an inverter for producing a high frequency square wave current of alternating polarity, an improved inverter voltage clamping circuit, a step up transformer, and an output rectifier for producing a dc voltage at the output of each module. The inputs to the converter modules are fed from a common dc rectifier/filter and are linked together in parallel through decoupling networks to suppress high frequency input interactions. The outputs of the converter modules are linked together in series and connected to the input of the transmission line to the load through a decoupling and line matching network. The dc-dc converter modules are phase activated such that for n modules, each module is activated equally 360{degree}/n out of phase with respect to a successive module. The phased activation of the converter modules, combined with the square current waveforms out of the step up transformers, allows the power supply to operate with greatly reduced output capacitance values which minimizes the stored energy available for discharge into an electron beam gun or the like during arcing. The present power supply also provides dynamic response to varying loads by controlling the voltage regulator duty cycle using simulated voltage feedback signals and voltage feedback loops. Circuitry is also provided for sensing incipient arc currents reflected at the output of the power supply and for simultaneously decoupling the power supply circuitry from the arcing load. 7 figs.

Generator and Setup for Emulating Exposures of Biological Samples to Lightning Strokes.

PubMed

Rebersek, Matej; Marjanovic, Igor; Begus, Samo; Pillet, Flavien; Rols, Marie-Pierre; Miklavcic, Damijan; Kotnik, Tadej

2015-10-01

We aimed to develop a system for controlled exposure of biological samples to conditions they experience when lightning strikes their habitats. We based the generator on a capacitor charged via a bridge rectifier and a dc-dc converter, and discharged via a relay, delivering arcs similar to natural lightning strokes in electric current waveform and similarly accompanied by acoustic shock waves. We coupled the generator to our exposure chamber described previously, measured electrical and acoustic properties of arc discharges delivered, and assessed their ability to inactivate bacterial spores. Submicrosecond discharges descended vertically from the conical emitting electrode across the air gap, entering the sample centrally and dissipating radially toward the ring-shaped receiving electrode. In contrast, longer discharges tended to short-circuit the electrodes. Recording at 341 000 FPS with Vision Research Phantom v2010 camera revealed that initial arc descent was still vertical, but became accompanied by arcs leaning increasingly sideways; after 8-12 μs, as the first of these arcs formed direct contact with the receiving electrode, it evolved into a channel of plasmified air and short-circuited the electrodes. We eliminated this artefact by incorporating an insulating cylinder concentrically between the electrodes, precluding short-circuiting between them. While bacterial spores are highly resistant to electric pulses delivered through direct contact, we showed that with arc discharges accompanied by an acoustic shock wave, spore inactivation is readily obtained. The presented system allows scientific investigation of effects of arc discharges on biological samples. This system will allow realistic experimental studies of lightning-triggered horizontal gene transfer and assessment of its role in evolution.

Clinical survival of indirect, anterior 3-unit surface-retained fibre-reinforced composite fixed dental prosthesis: Up to 7.5-years follow-up.

PubMed

Kumbuloglu, Ovul; Özcan, Mutlu

2015-06-01

This prospective clinical study evaluated the performance of indirect, anterior, surface-retained, fibre-reinforced-composite restorations (ISFRCR). Between June-2003 and January-2011, a total of 134 patients (83 females, 51 males, 16-68 years old) received 175 ISFRCRs (local ethical registration number: 14/9/4). All restorations were made indirectly on a plaster model using unidirectional E-glass fibres (everStick C&B, StickTech) in combination with a laboratory resin composite (Dialogue, Schütz Dental) and cemented according to the instructions of 4 resin cements [(RelyX ARC, 3M-ESPE, n=61), Bifix DC, VOCO, n=45), Variolink II (Ivoclar Vivadent, n=32) and Multilink (Ivoclar Vivadent, n=37)]. After baseline recordings, patients were followed at 6 months and thereafter annually up to 7.5 years. The evaluation protocol involved technical (chipping, debonding or fracture of tooth/restoration) and biological failures (caries). Mean observation period was 58 months. Altogether, 13 failures were observed [survival rate: 97.7%] (Kaplan-Meier). One catastrophic fracture [(cement: RelyX ARC), eight partial debonding (cement: Bifix DC (5), Multilink (1), RelyX ARC (1), Variolink II (1)] and four delaminations of veneering composite [(cement: Bifix DC (2), RelyX ARC (1), Multilink (1)] were observed. Except one replacement, all defective restorations were repaired or recemented. Annual failure rate of ISFRCRs was 1.73%. The survival rates with the four resin cements did not show significant differences (RelyX ARC: 98.3%; Bifix DC: 93.5%; Variolink 2: 100%; Multilink: 100%) (p=0.114). Secondary caries did not occur in any of the teeth. The 3-unit anterior indirect surface-retained resin-bonded FRC FDPs showed similar clinical survival rate when cemented with the resin cements tested. Experienced failures in general were due to debonding of the restoration or delamination of the veneering composite. 3-unit surface retained resin-bonded FRC FDPs could be considered minimal invasive and cost-effective alternatives to conventional tooth- or implant-borne FDPs. Failures were mainly repairable in the form of chipping or debonding depending on the resin cement type. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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

PubMed

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

2002-08-01

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

Conversion of continuous-direct-current TIG welder to pulse-arc operation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lien, D. R.

1969-01-01

Electronics package converts a continuous-dc tungsten-inert gas welder for pulse-arc operation. Package allows presetting of the pulse rate, duty cycle, and current value, and enables welding of various alloys and thicknesses of materials.

Dual and self-curing potential of self-adhesive resin cements as thin films.

PubMed

Moraes, R R; Boscato, N; Jardim, P S; Schneider, L F J

2011-01-01

In this study, the dual- and self-curing potential of self-adhesive resin cements (SARCs) as thin, clinically-relevant cement films was investigated. The SARCs tested were: BisCem (BSC; Bisco), Maxcem Elite (MXE; Kerr), RelyX Unicem clicker (UNI; 3M ESPE), seT capsule (SET; SDI), and SmartCem 2 (SC2; Dentsply Caulk). The conventional cement RelyX ARC (3M ESPE) was tested as a reference. The degree of conversion (DC) as a function of time was evaluated by real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with an attenuated total reflectance (ATR) device. The cements were either photoactivated for 40 seconds (dual-cure mode) or not photoactivated (self-cure mode). The cement film thickness was 50 ± 10 μm. The DC (%) was evaluated 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after placing the cement on the ATR cell. Data for DC as a function of time were analyzed by two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). DC values at 30 minutes for the self- and dual-cure modes were submitted to one-way ANOVA. Post hoc comparisons were performed using the Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.05). The rate and the extent of conversion were lower for the SARCs compared with the conventional cement. Means ± standard deviations (SD) for the dual-cure mode at 30 minutes were: 75 ± 5 (ARC)a, 73 ± 8 (SET)a, 61 ± 4 (MXE)b, 51 ± 9 (BSC)c, 51 ± 4 (UNI)c, and 48 ± 3 (SC2)c, while in the self-cure mode means and SD were 62 ± 6 (ARC)a, 54 ± 3 (MXE)b, 40 ± 6 (SC2)c, 35 ± 2 (UNI)c, 35 ± 3 (SET)c, and 11 ± 3 (BSC)d. The DC for the dual-cure mode was generally higher than the self-cure, irrespective of the time. Discrepancies in DC between the dual- and self-cure modes from 11% to 79% were observed. In conclusion, SARCs may present slower rate of polymerization and lower final DC than conventional resin cements, in either the dual- or self-cure mode.

Effect of Feed Forms on the Results of Melting of Fly Ash by a DC Plasma Arc Furnace

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Mingzhou; Meng, Yuedong; Shi, Jiabiao; Ni, Guohua; Jiang, Yiman; Yu, Xinyao; ZHAO, Peng

2009-10-01

Fly ash from a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) without preprocessing (original fly ash, OFA) was melted by a direct current (DC) plasma arc furnace to investigate how the feed forms governed the results. Dioxins in flue gas from stack and bag-filter ash (BFA) were detected. The distribution of heavy metals of Pb, Cd, As, and Cr along the flue gas process system was analyzed. Through a comparison of the results for dioxins and heavy metals in this study and previous work, carrying-over of fly ash particles with the flue gas stream can be deduced. Based on the magnetic induction equation and Navier-Stokes equations, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model for the plasma arc was developed to describe the particle-carrying effect. The results indicate that, a. when melted, the feed forms of MSWI fly ash affect the results significantly; b. it is not preferable to melt MSWI fly ash directly, and efforts should be made to limit the mass transfer of OFA from the plasma furnace.

D.C. - ARC plasma generator for nonequilibrium plasmachemical processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kvaltin, J.

1990-06-01

The analysis of conditions for generation of nonequilibrium plasma to plasmachemical processes is made and the design of d.c.-arc plasma generator on the base of integral criterion is suggested. The measurement of potentials on the plasma column of that generator is presented.

Estimation of the temporary service life of DC arc plasmatron cathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kulygin, V. M.; Pereslavtsev, A. V.; Tresvyatskii, S. S.

2017-09-01

The service life of the cathode of a DC arc plasmatron continuously working with tubular electrodes that operate in the air has been considered using the semi-phenomenological approach. The thermal emission, that ensures the necessary flow of electrons, and the evaporation of the cathode material, which determines its erosion, have been taken as the basic physical phenomena that constitute the workflow. The relationships that enable the estimation of the cathode's operating time have been obtained using the known regularities of these phenomena and experimental data available in the literature. The resulting evaluations coincide satisfactorily with the endurance test results.

Commutation circuit for an HVDC circuit breaker

DOEpatents

Premerlani, William J.

1981-01-01

A commutation circuit for a high voltage DC circuit breaker incorporates a resistor capacitor combination and a charging circuit connected to the main breaker, such that a commutating capacitor is discharged in opposition to the load current to force the current in an arc after breaker opening to zero to facilitate arc interruption. In a particular embodiment, a normally open commutating circuit is connected across the contacts of a main DC circuit breaker to absorb the inductive system energy trapped by breaker opening and to limit recovery voltages to a level tolerable by the commutating circuit components.

Commutation circuit for an HVDC circuit breaker

DOEpatents

Premerlani, W.J.

1981-11-10

A commutation circuit for a high voltage DC circuit breaker incorporates a resistor capacitor combination and a charging circuit connected to the main breaker, such that a commutating capacitor is discharged in opposition to the load current to force the current in an arc after breaker opening to zero to facilitate arc interruption. In a particular embodiment, a normally open commutating circuit is connected across the contacts of a main DC circuit breaker to absorb the inductive system energy trapped by breaker opening and to limit recovery voltages to a level tolerable by the commutating circuit components. 13 figs.

Hybrid Laser-Arc Welding Tanks Steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turichin, G.; Tsibulskiy, I.; Kuznetsov, M.; Akhmetov, A.; Klimova-Korsmik, O.

2016-04-01

The results investigate hybrid laser-arc welding of high strength steels using design responsible metallic construction and the highest strength body of vehicles. Welds from modern high strength steels grade Hardox 400, Hardox 450, Armox 600T and AB were created. High power fiber laser LS-15 with output 15 kW and arc rectifier VDU - 1500 DC were used in the experiment. Results of the metallographic research and mechanical tests are presented.

Effect of high energy electrons on H{sup −} production and destruction in a high current DC negative ion source for cyclotron

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

Onai, M., E-mail: onai@ppl.appi.keio.ac.jp; Fujita, S.; Hatayama, A.

2016-02-15

Recently, a filament driven multi-cusp negative ion source has been developed for proton cyclotrons in medical applications. In this study, numerical modeling of the filament arc-discharge source plasma has been done with kinetic modeling of electrons in the ion source plasmas by the multi-cusp arc-discharge code and zero dimensional rate equations for hydrogen molecules and negative ions. In this paper, main focus is placed on the effects of the arc-discharge power on the electron energy distribution function and the resultant H{sup −} production. The modelling results reasonably explains the dependence of the H{sup −} extraction current on the arc-discharge powermore » in the experiments.« less

Arc Voltage Between Deion Grid Affected by Division of Arc in Magnetic Driven Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Inuzuka, Yutaro; Yamato, Takashi; Yamamoto, Shinji; Iwao, Toru

2016-10-01

Magnetic driven arc has been applied to DC breaker and fault current limiters. However, it has not been researched, especially stagnation and re-strike of the arc. In this paper, the arc voltage between deion grid affected by division of arc in magnetic driven arc and arc behavior are measured by using the oscilloscope and HSVC (High Speed Video Camera). As a result, arc voltage increased because of division of the arc. The arc mean moving speed increases with increasing the external magnetic field. However, when the arc was not stalemate, the arc moving speed does not change so much. The arc re-strike time increases and stalemate time decreases with increasing the external magnetic field. Therefore, the anode spot moving speed increases 8 times because arc re-strike occurs easily with the external magnetic field. Thus, the erosion of electrodes decreases and the arc movement becomes the smooth. When the arc is divided, the arc voltage increased because of the electrode fall voltage. Therefore, the arc voltage increases with increasing the number of deion grid.

Macroparticle generation in DC arc discharge from a WC cathode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhirkov, Igor; Polcik, Peter; Kolozsvári, Szilard; Rosen, Johanna

2017-03-01

We have studied macroparticle generation from a tungsten carbide cathode used in a dc vacuum arc discharge. Despite a relatively high decomposition/melting point (˜3100 K), there is an intensive generation of visible particles with sizes in the range 20-35 μm. Visual observations during the discharge and scanning electron microscopy of the cathode surface and of collected macroparticles indicate a new mechanism for particle formation and acceleration. Based on the W-C phase diagram, there is an intensive sublimation of carbon from the melt resulting from the cathode spot. The sublimation supports the formation of a sphere, which is accelerated upon an explosion initiated by Joule heating at the critical contact area between the sphere and the cathode body. The explosive nature of the particle acceleration is confirmed by surface features resembling the remains of a splash on the droplet surface.

The effect of calcination on multi-walled carbon nanotubes produced by dc-arc discharge.

PubMed

Pillai, Sreejarani K; Augustyn, Willem G; Rossouw, Margaretha H; McCrindle, Robert I

2008-07-01

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes were synthesized by dc-arc discharge in helium atmosphere and the effect of calcination at different temperatures ranging from 300-600 degrees C was studied in detail. The degree of degradation to the structural integrity of the multi-walled carbon nanotubes during the thermal process was studied by Raman spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy and High resolution transmission electron microscopy. The thermal behaviour of the as prepared and calcined samples was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis. Calcination in air at 400 degrees C for 2 hours was found to be an efficient and simple method to eliminate carbonaceous impurities from the nanotube bundles with minimal damage to the tube walls and length. The impurities were oxidized at a faster rate when compared to the nanotubes and gave good yield of about 50%. The nanotubes were observed to be damaged at temperature higher than 450 degrees C. The results show that this method is less destructive when compared liquid phase oxidation with 5 M HNO3.

76 FR 18747 - Teton Power Funding, LLC; Topsham Hydro Partners Limited Partnership; Topsham Hydroelectric...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-05

.... Topsham Hydro Partners Limited Partnership: Christine M. Miller, Brown Bear GP, LLC, c/o ArcLight Capital.... Miller, Brown Bear Power, LLC, c/o ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC, 200 Clarendon Street, 55th Floor.... Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426...

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HIGH INTENSITY ARC DISCHARGE

DOEpatents

Luce, J.S.

1960-01-01

A device is described for producing an energetic d-c carbon arc discharge between widely spaced electrodes with arc currents in excess of 100 amperes in a magnetic field of about 3000 gauss and witnin an evacuated enclo sure at a pressure of about 10/sup -5/ mm Hg. No defining electrodes are used in the device, thus essentially eliminating the problems of shorting which heretofore limited the amount of current that could be produced in an arc discharge. The energetic carbon arc discharge is sustained by the potential across the electrodes and by carbon ions and electrons released from the electrodes during arc operation. A large part of the potential drop of the arc occurs along the arc and many energetic electrons reach the anode because the arc pressure is relatively low, and few collisions occur. The carbon discharge is also an efficient ion pump.

Driven motion and instability of an atmospheric pressure arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karasik, Max

Atmospheric pressure arcs are used extensively in applications such as welding and metallurgy. However, comparatively little is known of the physics of such arcs in external magnetic fields and the mechanisms of the instabilities present. In order to address questions of equilibrium and stability of such arcs, an experimental are furnace is constructed and operated in air with graphite cathode and steel anode at currents 100--250 A. The arc is diagnosed with a gated intensified camera and a collimated photodiode array, as well as fast voltage and current probes. Experiments are carried out on the response of the are to applied transverse DC and AC (up to ≈1 kHz) magnetic fields. The arc is found to deflect parabolically for DC field and assumes a growing sinusoidal structure for AC field. A simple analytic two-parameter fluid model of the are dynamics is derived, in which the inertia of the magnetically pumped cathode jet balances the applied J⃗xB⃗ force. Time variation of the applied field allows evaluation of the parameters individually. A fit of the model to the experimental data gives a value for the average jet speed an order of magnitude below Maecker's estimate of the maximum jet speed. A spontaneous instability of the same arc is investigated experimentally and modeled analytically. The presence of the instability is found to depend critically on cathode dimensions. For cylindrical cathodes, instability occurs only for a narrow range of cathode diameters. Cathode spot motion is proposed as the mechanism of the instability. A simple fluid model combining the effect of the cathode spot motion and the inertia of the cathode jet successfully describes the arc shape during low amplitude instability. The amplitude of cathode spot motion required by the model is in agreement with measurements. The average jet velocity required is approximately equal to that inferred from the transverse magnetic field experiments. Reasons for spot motion and for cathode geometry dependence are discussed. An exploratory study of the instability of the arc in applied axial magnetic field is also described. Applicability of the results of the thesis to an industrial steelmaking furnace is considered.

[Spectroscopic diagnostics of DC argon plasma at atmospheric pressure].

PubMed

Tu, Xin; Lu, Sheng-yong; Yan, Jian-hua; Ma, Zeng-yi; Pan, Xin-chao; Cen, Ke-fa; Cheron, Bruno

2006-10-01

The optical emission spectra of DC argon plasma at atmospheric pressure were measured inside and outside the arc chamber. The electron temperature was determined from the Boltzmann plot, and the electron density was derived from Stark broadening of Ar I lines. The criteria for the existence of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE)in the plasma was discussed. The results indicate that the DC argon plasma at atmospheric pressure under our experimental conditions is in LTE.

Optical emission from a small scale model electric arc furnace in 250-600 nm region.

PubMed

Mäkinen, A; Niskanen, J; Tikkala, H; Aksela, H

2013-04-01

Optical emission spectroscopy has been for long proposed for monitoring and studying industrial steel making processes. Whereas the radiative decay of thermal excitations is always taking place in high temperatures needed in steel production, one of the most promising environment for such studies are electric arc furnaces, creating plasma in excited electronic states that relax with intense characteristic emission in the optical regime. Unfortunately, large industrial scale electric arc furnaces also present a challenging environment for optical emission studies and application of the method is not straightforward. To study the usability of optical emission spectroscopy in real electric arc furnaces, we have developed a laboratory scale DC electric arc furnace presented in this paper. With the setup, optical emission spectra of Fe, Cr, Cr2O3, Ni, SiO2, Al2O3, CaO, and MgO were recorded in the wavelength range 250-600 nm and the results were analyzed with the help of reference data. The work demonstrates that using characteristic optical emission, obtaining in situ chemical information from oscillating plasma of electric arc furnaces is indeed possible. In spite of complications, the method could possibly be applied to industrial scale steel making process in order to improve its efficiency.

Morphology of zirconia particles exposed to D.C. arc plasma jet

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zaplatynsky, Isidor

1987-01-01

Zirconia particles were sprayed into water with an arc plasma gun in order to determine the effect of various gun operating parameters on their morphology. The collected particles were examined by XRD and SEM techniques. A correlation was established between the content of spherical (molten) particles and the operating parameters by visual inspection and regression analysis. It was determined that the composition of the arc gas and the power input were the predominant parameters that affected the melting of zirconia particles.

76 FR 76299 - Higher Volume Port Area-State of Washington

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-07

... add Pacific Ocean waters, under U.S. jurisdiction and within a 50-mile arc measured from Cape Flattery..., DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also... would be achieved by moving the seaward boundary of the HVPA, currently a 50-mile arc centered on the...

In situ synthesis of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes by modified arc discharging method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Tingkai; Ji, Xianglin; Jin, Wenbo; Yang, Wenbo; Zhao, Xing; Dang, Alei; Li, Hao; Li, Tiehu

2017-02-01

Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNTs) were in situ synthesized by a temperature-controlled arc discharging furnace with DC electric field using Co-Ni alloy powder as catalyst in helium gas. The microstructures of s-SWCNTs were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, and Raman spectrometry apparatus. The experimental results indicated that the best voltage value in DC electric field is 54 V, and the environmental temperature of the reaction chamber is 600 °C. The mean diameter of s-SWCNTs was estimated about 1.3 nm. The chiral vector ( n, m) of s-SWCNTs was calculated to be (10, 10) type according to the electron diffraction patterns.

Uncapped silver nanoparticles synthesized by DC arc thermal plasma technique for conductor paste formulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinde, Manish; Pawar, Amol; Karmakar, Soumen; Seth, Tanay; Raut, Varsha; Rane, Sunit; Bhoraskar, Sudha; Amalnerkar, Dinesh

2009-11-01

Uncapped silver nanoparticles were synthesized by DC arc thermal plasma technique. The synthesized nanoparticles were structurally cubic and showed wide particle size variation (between 20-150 nm). Thick film paste formulated from such uncapped silver nanoparticles was screen-printed on alumina substrates and the resultant `green' films were fired at different firing temperatures. The films fired at 600 °C revealed better microstructure properties and also yielded the lowest value of sheet resistance in comparison to those corresponding to conventional peak firing temperature of 850 °C. Our findings directly support the role of silver nanoparticles in substantially depressing the operative peak firing temperature involved in traditional conductor thick films technology.

Gaseous and particulate emissions from a DC arc melter.

PubMed

Overcamp, Thomas J; Speer, Matthew P; Griner, Stewart J; Cash, Douglas M

2003-01-01

Tests treating soils contaminated with metal compounds and radionuclide surrogates were conducted in a DC arc melter. The soil melted, and glassy or ceramic waste forms with a separate metal phase were produced. Tests were run in the melter plenum with either air or N2 purge gases. In addition to nitrogen, the primary emissions of gases were CO2, CO, oxygen, methane, and oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)). Although the gas flow through the melter was low, the particulate concentrations ranged from 32 to 145 g/m3. Cerium, a nonradioactive surrogate for plutonium and uranium, was not enriched in the particulate matter (PM). The PM was enriched in cesium and highly enriched in lead.

RF Noise Generation in High-Pressure Short-Arc DC Xenon Lamps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minayeva, Olga; Doughty, Douglas

2007-10-01

Continuous direct current xenon arcs will generate RF noise under certain circumstance, which can lead to excessive electro- magnetic interference in systems that use these arcs as light sources. Phenomenological observations are presented for xenon arcs having arc gaps ˜1 mm, cold fill pressures of ˜2.5 MPa, and currents up to 30 amps. Using a loop antenna in the vicinity of an operating lamp, it is observed that as the current to the arc is lowered there is a reproducible threshold at which the RF noise generation begins. This threshold is accompanied by a small abrupt drop in voltage (˜0.2 volts). The RF emission appears in pulses ˜150 nsec wide separated by ˜300 nec - the pulse interval decreases with decreasing current. The properties of the RF emission as a function of arc parameters (such as pressure, arc gap, electrode design) will be discussed and a semi-quantitative model presented.

76 FR 33274 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-08

... Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Area Sources: Electric Arc... preferred method), or by e-mail to [email protected] , or by mail to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC..., 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and...

Evaluation of degree of conversion and the effect of thermal aging on the color stability of resin cements and flowable composite.

PubMed

Prieto, Lúcia Trazzi; Pimenta de Araújo, Cíntia Tereza; Araujo Pierote, Josué Junior; Salles de Oliveira, Dayane Carvalho Ramos; Coppini, Erick Kamiya; Sartini Paulillo, Luís Alexandre Maffei

2018-01-01

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the color stability and degree of conversion (DC) of dual-cure and light-cure cements and flowable composites after thermal aging. A total of 50 human incisors were prepared and divided into six groups ( n = 10). Veneers were fabricated using IPS Empress Direct composite resin were bonded with three types of luting agents: Light-cured, conventional dual, and flowable composite according to the manufacturer's instructions. The groups were as follows: Filtek Z350XT Flow/Single Bond 2, RelyX ARC/Single Bond 2, RelyX Veneer/Single Bond 2, Tetric N-Flow/Tetric N-Bond, and Variolink II/Tetric N-Bond. Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage L*, a* and b* color coordinates were measured 24 h after cementation procedure with a color spectrophotometer and reevaluated after 10,000 thermal cycles. To evaluate the DC 50 specimens ( n = 10) of each resin material were obtained and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to evaluate the absorption spectra. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). No statistically significant differences in ΔE* occurred after aging. The greatest change in lightness occurred in the Variolink II resin cement. Changes in red-green hue were very small for the same cement and largest in the Tetric N-Flow flowable resin composite, while the greatest change in blue-yellow hue was a yellowing of the RelyX ARC luting cement. RelyX ARC exhibited the highest DC, and there were no statistically significant differences in DC among the other cements. Resin-based luting agent might affect the final of ceramic veneer restorations. The thermal aging affected the final color of the evaluated materials, and these were regarded as clinically unacceptable (ΔE >3.3).

Remote electrical arc suppression by laser filamentation.

PubMed

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

2015-11-02

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

A model for prediction of fume formation rate in gas metal arc welding (GMAW), globular and spray modes, DC electrode positive.

PubMed

Dennis, J H; Hewitt, P J; Redding, C A; Workman, A D

2001-03-01

Prediction of fume formation rate during metal arc welding and the composition of the fume are of interest to occupational hygienists concerned with risk assessment and to manufacturers of welding consumables. A model for GMAW (DC electrode positive) is described based on the welder determined process parameters (current, wire feed rate and wire composition), on the surface area of molten metal in the arc and on the partial vapour pressures of the component metals of the alloy wire. The model is applicable to globular and spray welding transfer modes but not to dip mode. Metal evaporation from a droplet is evaluated for short time increments and total evaporation obtained by summation over the life of the droplet. The contribution of fume derived from the weld pool and spatter (particles of metal ejected from the arc) is discussed, as are limitations of the model. Calculated droplet temperatures are similar to values determined by other workers. A degree of relationship between predicted and measured fume formation rates is demonstrated but the model does not at this stage provide a reliable predictive tool.

Investigation of DC hybrid circuit breaker based on high-speed switch and arc generator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Yifei; Rong, Mingzhe; Wu, Yi; Yang, Fei; Li, Mei; Zhong, Jianying; Han, Guohui; Niu, Chunping; Hu, Yang

2015-02-01

A new design of DC hybrid circuit breaker based on high-speed switch (HSS) and arc generator (AG), which can drastically profit from low heat loss in normal state and fast current breaking under fault state, is presented and analyzed in this paper. AG is designed according to the magnetic pinch effect of liquid metal. By utilizing the arc voltage generated across AG, the fault current is rapidly commutated from HSS into parallel connected branch. As a consequence, the arcless open of HSS is achieved. The post-arc conducting resume time (Δ tc) of AG and the commutation original voltage (Uc), two key factors in the commutation process, are investigated experimentally. Particularly, influences of the liquid metal channel diameter (Φ) of AG, fault current rate of rise (di/dt) and Uc on Δ tc are focused on. Furthermore, a suitable Uc is determined during the current commutation process, aiming at the reliable arcless open of HSS and short breaking time. Finally, the fault current breaking test is carried out for the current peak value of 11.8 kA, and the validity of the design is confirmed by the experimental results.

Investigation of DC hybrid circuit breaker based on high-speed switch and arc generator.

PubMed

Wu, Yifei; Rong, Mingzhe; Wu, Yi; Yang, Fei; Li, Mei; Zhong, Jianying; Han, Guohui; Niu, Chunping; Hu, Yang

2015-02-01

A new design of DC hybrid circuit breaker based on high-speed switch (HSS) and arc generator (AG), which can drastically profit from low heat loss in normal state and fast current breaking under fault state, is presented and analyzed in this paper. AG is designed according to the magnetic pinch effect of liquid metal. By utilizing the arc voltage generated across AG, the fault current is rapidly commutated from HSS into parallel connected branch. As a consequence, the arcless open of HSS is achieved. The post-arc conducting resume time (Δ tc) of AG and the commutation original voltage (Uc), two key factors in the commutation process, are investigated experimentally. Particularly, influences of the liquid metal channel diameter (Φ) of AG, fault current rate of rise (di/dt) and Uc on Δ tc are focused on. Furthermore, a suitable Uc is determined during the current commutation process, aiming at the reliable arcless open of HSS and short breaking time. Finally, the fault current breaking test is carried out for the current peak value of 11.8 kA, and the validity of the design is confirmed by the experimental results.

Effect of high power CO2 and Yb:YAG laser radiation on the characteristics of TIG arc in atmospherical pressure argon and helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Shikai; Xiao, Rongshi

2015-04-01

The effects of laser radiation on the characteristics of the DC tungsten inert gas (TIG) arc were investigated by applying a high power slab CO2 laser and a Yb:YAG disc laser. Experiment results reveal that the arc voltage-current curve shifts downwards, the arc column expands, and the arc temperature rises while the high power CO2 laser beam vertically interacts with the TIG arc in argon. With the increase of the laser power, the voltage-current curve of the arc shifts downwards more significantly, and the closer the laser beam impingement on the arc to the cathode, the more the decrease in arc voltage. Moreover, the arc column expansion and the arc temperature rise occur mainly in the region between the laser beam incident position and the anode. However, the arc characteristics hardly change in the cases of the CO2 laser-helium arc and YAG laser-arc interactions. The reason is that the inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption coefficients are greatly different due to the different electron densities of the argon and helium arcs and the different wave lengths of CO2 and YAG lasers.

Marginal Integrity of Glass Ionomer and All Ceramic Restorations

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-06-01

submitted to the Faculty of the Comprehensive Dentistry Graduate Program Naval Postgraduate Dental School Uniformed Services University of the...Department ~~’JJ\\fvAJ\\,nM~ . ctfulinaro, Joseph, D.D.S, M.S. CAPT, DC, USN Program Director, Comprehensive Dentistry Depa11ment S:tX~ Kooistra...Scott, D.D.S CAPT, DC, USN Operati~~:ellti !~~ Departm:L-- Huber, ayson, D.D.S., M.S. LCDR, DC, USN Comprehensive Dentistry Department Arena, arc

[Measurement of rotational and vibrational temperatures in arc plasma based on the first negative system of N2+ (B(2) sigma --> X(2) sigma)].

PubMed

Tu, Xin; Yan, Jian-hua; Ma, Zeng-yi; Li, Xiao-dong; Pan, Xin-chao; Cen, Ke-fa; Cheron, Bruno

2006-12-01

The molecular emission spectra lines of the first negative system N2+ (B(2) sigma--> X(2) sigma ) are frequently observed in the plasma source containing nitrogen. (0-0) and (1--1) N2+ first negative system molecular bands around 391. 4 nm can be used to the measure the rotational and vibrational temperatures in a DC argon-nitrogen plasma at atmospheric pressure. The proposed method based on the comparison between this experimental emission spectrum and the computer simulated one is presented. The effect of the apparatus function, vibrational temperature and rotational temperatures on the line structure of numerical simulated spectrum is discussed. The results show that the electron temperature, rotational temperature, vibrational temperature and kinetic temperature of plasma arc are almost the same, which can be interpreted as that DC argon-nitrogen arc plasma at atmospheric pressure is in LTE under their experimental conditions.

Quantum efficiency and dark current evaluation of a backside illuminated CMOS image sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vereecke, Bart; Cavaco, Celso; De Munck, Koen; Haspeslagh, Luc; Minoglou, Kyriaki; Moore, George; Sabuncuoglu, Deniz; Tack, Klaas; Wu, Bob; Osman, Haris

2015-04-01

We report on the development and characterization of monolithic backside illuminated (BSI) imagers at imec. Different surface passivation, anti-reflective coatings (ARCs), and anneal conditions were implemented and their effect on dark current (DC) and quantum efficiency (QE) are analyzed. Two different single layer ARC materials were developed for visible light and near UV applications, respectively. QE above 75% over the entire visible spectrum range from 400 to 700 nm is measured. In the spectral range from 260 to 400 nm wavelength, QE values above 50% over the entire range are achieved. A new technique, high pressure hydrogen anneal at 20 atm, was applied on photodiodes and improvement in DC of 30% for the BSI imager with HfO2 as ARC as well as for the front side imager was observed. The entire BSI process was developed 200 mm wafers and evaluated on test diode structures. The knowhow is then transferred to real imager sensors arrays.

Evolution of space open electric arc burning in the external axial magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urusova, I. R.; Urusova, T. E.

2018-06-01

The calculation was made for open DC electric arc burning in an external uniform axial magnetic field. It was performed within the framework of a nonstationary three-dimensional mathematical model in approximation of partial local thermodynamic equilibrium of plasma. A "schematic" analog of electron temperature fluctuations was proposed for numerical realization of the open electric arc column of a helical shape. According to calculations, it was established that the column of the open electric arc takes a helical space shape. Plasma rotates around a longitudinal axis of the arc, at that the directions of plasma rotation near the cathode and the anode are opposite. In the arc cross-sections, the velocity of plasma rotation is unequal and the deviation value of the same part of the arc from the central axis varies in time. A helical shape of the open arc is not stable and varies in time. Apparently, the open arc cannot remain stable and invariable in the time helical shape in the external axial magnetic field.

Pulsed welding plasma source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Knyaz'kov, A.; Pustovykh, O.; Verevkin, A.; Terekhin, V.; Shachek, A.; Tyasto, A.

2016-04-01

It is shown that in order to form the current pulse of a near rectangular shape, which provides conversion of the welding arc into a dynamic mode, it is rational to connect a forming element made on the basis of an artificial forming line in series to the welding DC circuit. The paper presents a diagram of a pulsed device for welding with a non-consumable electrode in argon which was developed using the forming element. The conversion of the arc into the dynamic mode is illustrated by the current and voltage oscillograms of the arc gap and the dynamic characteristic of the arc within the interval of one pulse generation time in the arc gap. The background current travels in the interpulse interval.

Design and Development of High Voltage Direct Current (DC) Sources for the Solar Array Module Plasma Interaction Experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bibyk, Irene K.; Wald, Lawrence W.

1995-01-01

Two programmable, high voltage DC power supplies were developed as part of the flight electronics for the Solar Array Module Plasma Interaction Experiment (SAMPIE). SAMPIE's primary objectives were to study and characterize the high voltage arcing and parasitic current losses of various solar cells and metal samples within the space plasma of low earth orbit (LEO). High voltage arcing can cause large discontinuous changes in spacecraft potential which lead to damage of the power system materials and significant Electromagnetic Interference (EMI). Parasitic currents cause a change in floating potential which lead to reduced power efficiency. These primary SAMPIE objectives were accomplished by applying artificial biases across test samples over a voltage range from -600 VDC to +300 VDC. This paper chronicles the design, final development, and test of the two programmable high voltage sources for SAMPIE. The technical challenges to the design for these power supplies included vacuum, space plasma effects, thermal protection, Shuttle vibrations and accelerations.

Silica nanoparticles produced by DC arc plasma from a solid raw materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosmachev, P. V.; Vlasov, V. A.; Skripnikova, N. K.

2017-05-01

Plasma synthesis of SiO2 nanoparticles in experimental atmospheric pressure plasma reactor on the basis of DC arc plasma generator was presented in this paper. Solid high-silica raw materials such as diatomite from Kamyshlovskoye deposit in Russia, quartzite from Chupinskoye deposit in Russia and milled window glass were used. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized based on their morphology, chemical composition and size distribution. Scanning electron microscopy, laser diffractometry, nitrogen absorption (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to characterize the synthesized products. The obtained silica nanoparticles are agglomerated, have spherical shape and primary diameters between 10-300 nm. All samples of synthesized nanopowders were compared with commercial nanopowders.

Numerical Prediction of the Influence of Process Parameters on Large Area Diamond Deposition by DC Arcjet with ARC Roots Rotating and Operating at Gas Recycling Mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, F. X.; Huang, T. B.; Tang, W. Z.; Song, J. H.; Tong, Y. M.

A computer model have been set up for simulation of the flow and temperature field, and the radial distribution of atomic hydrogen and active carbonaceous species over a large area substrate surface for a new type dc arc plasma torch with rotating arc roots and operating at gas recycling mode A gas recycling radio of 90% was assumed. In numerical calculation of plasma chemistry, the Thermal-Calc program and a powerful thermodynamic database were employed. Numerical calculations to the computer model were performed using boundary conditions close to the experimental setup for large area diamond films deposition. The results showed that the flow and temperature field over substrate surface of Φ60-100mm were smooth and uniform. Calculations were also made with plasma of the same geometry but no arc roots rotation. It was clearly demonstrated that the design of rotating arc roots was advantageous for high quality uniform deposition of large area diamond films. Theoretical predictions on growth rate and film quality as well as their radial uniformity, and the influence of process parameters on large area diamond deposition were discussed in detail based on the spatial distribution of atomic hydrogen and the carbonaceous species in the plasma over the substrate surface obtained from thermodynamic calculations of plasma chemistry, and were compared with experimental observations.

Grain refinement control in TIG arc welding

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Iceland, W. F.; Whiffen, E. L. (Inventor)

1975-01-01

A method for controlling grain size and weld puddle agitation in a tungsten electrode inert gas welding system to produce fine, even grain size and distribution is disclosed. In the method the frequency of dc welding voltage pulses supplied to the welding electrode is varied over a preselected frequency range and the arc gas voltage is monitored. At some frequency in the preselected range the arc gas voltage will pass through a maximum. By maintaining the operating frequency of the system at this value, maximum weld puddle agitation and fine grain structure are produced.

Fundamental investigation of ARC interruption in gas flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benenson, D. M.; Frind, G.; Kinsinger, R. E.; Nagamatsu, H. T.; Noeske, H. O.; Sheer, R. E., Jr.

1980-07-01

Thermal recovery in gas blast interrupters is discussed. The thermal recovery process was investigated with physical and aerodynamic methods, typically using reduced size nozzles and short sinusoidal current pulses. Aerodynamic characterization of the cold flow fields in several different nozzle types included measurements of the pressure and flow fields, both steady-state and turbulent components, with special attention given to wakes and shock structures. Special schlieren techniques on DC arcs and high speed photography on arcs in orifice nozzles show that shock heating broadens the arc independent of turbulence effects and produces a poorly recovering downstream arc section. Measured recovery speeds in both orifice and convergent-divergent nozzles agree with predictions of several arc theories assuming turbulent power losses. However, data on post-zero currents and power loss show values much smaller than theoretical predictions. Hydrogen, deuterium, and methane were measured.

ARC-1969-AC74-1058-29

NASA Image and Video Library

1974-03-13

United Airlines DC-8 (N8099U) Two Segment Evaluation. In-Flight Thrust Reversing, Steep Approach Research. The thrust reversing concept was applied to the DC-8 Commercial transport to achieve the rapid descent capability required for FAA certificaiton. Note: Used in publication in Flight Research at Ames; 57 Years of Development and Validation of Aeronautical Technology NASA SP-1998-3300 fig 96

Changes in degree of conversion and microhardness of dental resin cements.

PubMed

Yan, Yong Li; Kim, Young Kyung; Kim, Kyo-Han; Kwon, Tae-Yub

2010-01-01

There are few studies available on the post-light activation or post-mix polymerization of dental resin cements as a function of time. This in vitro study evaluated the successive changes in the degree of conversion (DC) and microhardness during polymerization of six commercial resin cements (light-cured [Choice 2, RelyX Veneer], chemical-cured [Multilink, C&B Cement] and dual-cured [Calibra, RelyX ARC]) within the first 24 hours and up to seven days. Resin specimens were prepared for Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and microhardness testing to determine the DC and Vickers hardness (VH), respectively. The light-cured materials or mixed pastes of the dual-cured materials were irradiated with a light-curing unit (Elipar TriLight) through a precured composite overlay for 40 seconds. The FTIR spectra and microhardness readings were taken at specified times: 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes; 24 hours and after two days and seven days. According to the FTIR study, most of the curing reaction of Choice 2 and RelyX Veneer occurred within 10 and 30 minutes, respectively. Multilink, C&B Cement and Calibra exhibited gradual increases in the DC up to 24 hours, with no further statistically significant increase (p > 0.05). RelyX ARC attained a DC value within five minutes, similar to that at seven days (p > 0.05). Choice 2 and RelyXARC showed gradual increases in the VH, up to 15 minutes, with no further significant change over the remaining observation time (p > 0.05). For RelyX Veneer, Multilink, C&B Cement and Calibra, there were no significant increases in the VH value after 24 hours (p > 0.05). The light-cured materials produced significantly higher DC values than the chemical-cured materials (p < 0.05). The DC values of the two dual-cured resin cements were significantly different from each other (p < 0.001). The results suggest that the significant polymerization reaction was finished within 24 hours post-mix or post-light activation for all resin cements tested.

Synthesis of carbon nanotubes by arc discharge in open air.

PubMed

Paladugu, Mohan Chand; Maneesh, K; Nair, P Kesavan; Haridoss, Prathap

2005-05-01

In this work Carbon nanotubes have been synthesized by arc discharge in open air. A TIG welding ac/dc inverter was used as the power source for arc discharge. During each run of the arc discharge based synthesis, the anode was a low purity (approximately 85% C by weight) graphite rod. The effect of varying the atmosphere on the yield of soot of the carbon nanotube containing carbon soot has been studied. Various soots were produced, purified by oxidation and characterized to confirm formation of carbon nanotubes and their relative quality, using transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and XRD. It was found that the yield of soot formed on the cathode is higher when synthesis is carried out in open air than when carried out in a flowing argon atmosphere. When synthesized in open air, using a 7.2-mm-diameter graphite rod as anode, the yield of soot was around 50% by weight of the graphite consumed. Current and voltage for arcing were at identical starting values in all the experiments. This modified method does not require a controlled atmosphere as in the case of a conventional arc discharge method of synthesis and hence the cost of production may be reduced.

Laser-induced incandescence (LII) diagnostic for in situ monitoring of nanoparticle synthesis in a high-pressure arc discharge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yatom, Shurik; Vekselman, Vladislav; Mitrani, James; Stratton, Brentley; Raitses, Yevgeny; LaboratoryPlasma Nanosynthesis Team

2016-10-01

A DC arc discharge is commonly used for synthesis of carbon nanoparticles, including buckyballs, carbon nanotubes, and graphene flakes. In this work we show the first results of nanoparticles monitored during the arc discharge. The graphite electrode is vaporized by high current (60 A) in a buffer Helium gas leading to nanoparticle synthesis in a low temperature plasma. The arc was shown to oscillate, which can possibly influence the nano-synthesis. To visualize the nanoparticles in-situ we employ the LII technique. The nanoparticles with radii >50 nm, emerging from the arc area are heated with a short laser pulse and incandesce. The resulting radiation is captured with an ICCD camera, showing the location of the generated nanoparticles. The images of incandescence are studied together with temporally synchronized fast-framing imaging of C2 emission, to connect the dynamics of arc instabilities, C2 molecules concentration and nanoparticles. The time-resolved incandescence signal is analyzed with combination of ex-situ measurements of the synthesized nanoparticles and LII modeling, to provide the size distribution of produced nanoparticles. This work was supported by US Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division.

Applying a laser-induced incandescence (LII) diagnostic to monitor nanoparticle synthesis in an atmospheric plasma, in situ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yatom, Shurik; Mitrani, James; Yeh, Yao-Wen; Shneider, Mikhail; Stratton, Brentley; Raitses, Yevgeny

2016-09-01

A DC arc discharge with a consumed graphite anode is commonly used for synthesis of carbon nanoparticles, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene flakes. The graphite electrode is physically vaporized by high currents (20-60 A) in a buffer gas at 100-600 torr, leading to nanoparticle synthesis in a low temperature (>1 eV), plasma. Utilizing arc plasma synthesis technique has resulted in the synthesis of higher quality nanomaterials. However, the formation of nanoparticles in arc discharge plasmas is poorly understood. A particularly interesting question is where in the arc the nanoparticles nucleate and grow. In our current work we show the results of studying the formation of carbon nanotubes in an arc discharge, in situ, using laser-induced incandescence (LII). The results of LII are discussed in combination with ex situ measurements of the synthesized nanoparticles and modeling, to provide an insight into the physics behind nanoparticle synthesis in plasma. This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division.

Effect of Si on DC arc plasma generation from Al-Cr and Al-Cr-Si cathodes used in oxygen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhirkov, I.; Landälv, L.; Göthelid, E.; Ahlgren, M.; Eklund, P.; Rosen, J.

2017-02-01

Al2O3 alloyed with Cr is an important material for the tooling industry. It can be synthesized from an arc discharge using Al-Cr cathodes in an oxygen atmosphere. Due to formation of Al-rich oxide islands on the cathode surface, the arc process stability is highly sensitive to oxygen pressure. For improved stability, the use of Al0.70Cr0.25Si0.05 cathodes has previously been suggested, where Si may reduce island formation. Here, we have investigated the effect of Si by comparing plasma generation and thin film deposition from Al0.7Cr0.3 and Al0.7Cr0.25Si0.05 cathodes. Plasma ion composition, ion energies, ion charge states, neutral species, droplet formation, and film composition have been characterized at different O2 flow rates for arc currents of 60 and 90 A. Si and related compounds are detected in plasma ions and in plasma neutrals. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis show that the cathode composition and the film composition are the same, with Si present in droplets as well. The effect of Si on the process stability, ion energies, and ion charge states is found to be negligible compared to that of the arc current. The latter is identified as the most relevant parameter for tuning the properties of the reactive discharge. The present work increases the fundamental understanding of plasma generation in a reactive atmosphere, and provides input for the choice of cathode composition and process parameters in reactive DC arc synthesis.

Pulsed metallic-plasma generators.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gilmour, A. S., Jr.; Lockwood, D. L.

1972-01-01

A pulsed metallic-plasma generator is described which utilizes a vacuum arc as the plasma source. The arc is initiated on the surface of a consumable cathode which can be any electrically conductive material. Ignition is accomplished by using a current pulse to vaporize a portion of a conductive film on the surface of an insulator separating the cathode from the ignition electrode. The film is regenerated during the ensuing arc. Over 100 million ignition cycles have been accomplished by using four 0.125-in. diameter zinc cathodes operating in parallel and high-density aluminum-oxide insulators. Among the applications being investigated for the generator are metal deposition, vacuum pumping, electric propulsion, and high-power dc arc interruption.

Optical characterization of single-crystal diamond grown by DC arc plasma jet CVD

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hei, Li-fu; Zhao, Yun; Wei, Jun-jun; Liu, Jin-long; Li, Cheng-ming; Lü, Fan-xiu

2017-12-01

Optical centers of single-crystal diamond grown by DC arc plasma jet chemical vapor deposition (CVD) were examined using a low-temperature photoluminescence (PL) technique. The results show that most of the nitrogen-vacancy (NV) complexes are present as NV- centers, although some H2 and H3 centers and B-aggregates are also present in the single-crystal diamond because of nitrogen aggregation resulting from high N2 incorporation and the high mobility of vacancies under growth temperatures of 950-1000°C. Furthermore, emissions of radiation-induced defects were also detected at 389, 467.5, 550, and 588.6 nm in the PL spectra. The reason for the formation of these radiation-induced defects is not clear. Although a Ni-based alloy was used during the diamond growth, Ni-related emissions were not detected in the PL spectra. In addition, the silicon-vacancy (Si-V)-related emission line at 737 nm, which has been observed in the spectra of many previously reported microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) synthetic diamonds, was absent in the PL spectra of the single-crystal diamond prepared in this work. The high density of NV- centers, along with the absence of Ni-related defects and Si-V centers, makes the single-crystal diamond grown by DC arc plasma jet CVD a promising material for applications in quantum computing.

Study on effect of plasma surface treatments for diamond deposition by DC arc plasmatron.

PubMed

Kang, In-Je; Joa, Sang-Beom; Lee, Heon-Ju

2013-11-01

To improve the thermal conductivity and wear resistance of ceramic materials in the field of renewable energy technologies, diamond coating by plasma processing has been carried out in recent years. This study's goal is to improve diamond deposition on Al2O3 ceramic substrates by plasma surface treatments. Before diamond deposition was carried out in a vacuum, plasma surface treatments using Ar gas were conducted to improve conditions for deposition. We also conducted plasma processing for diamond deposition on Al2O3 ceramic substrates using a DC arc Plasmatron. The Al2O3 ceramic substrates with diamond film (5 x 15 mm2), were investigated by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy), AFM (Atomic Force Microscopy) and XRD (X-ray Diffractometer). Then, the C-H stretching of synthetic diamond films by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) was studied. We identified nanocrystalline diamond films on the Al2O3 ceramic substrates. The results showed us that the deposition rate of diamond films was 2.3 microm/h after plasma surface treatments. Comparing the above result with untreated ceramic substrates, the deposition rate improved with the surface roughness of the deposited diamond films.

Bottom-Up Syntheses and Characterization of One Dimensional Nanomaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeh, Yao-Wen

Nanomaterials, materials having at least one dimension below 100 nm, have been creating exciting opportunities for fundamental quantum confinement studies and applications in electronic devices and energy technologies. One obvious and important aspect of nanomaterials is their production. Although nanostructures can be obtained by top-down reductive e-beam lithography and focused ion beam processes, further development of these processes is needed before these techniques can become practical routes to large scale production. On the other hand, bottom-up syntheses, with advantages in material diversity, throughput, and the potential for large volume production, may provide an alternative strategy for creating nanostructures. In this work, we explore syntheses of one dimensional nanostructures based on hydrothermal and arc discharge methods. The first project presented in this thesis involves syntheses of technologically important nanomaterials and their potential application in energy harvesting. In particular, it was demonstrated that single crystal ferroelectric lead magnesium niobate lead titanate (PMN-PT) nanowires can be synthesized by a hydrothermal route. The chemical composition of the synthesized nanowires is near the rhombohedral-monoclinic boundary of PMN-PT, which leads to a high piezoelectric coefficient of 381 pm/V. Finally, the potential use of PMN-PT nanowires in energy harvesting applications was also demonstrated. The second part of this thesis involves the synthesis of carbon and boron nitride nanotubes by dc arc discharges. In particular, we investigated how local plasma related properties affected the synthesis of carbon nanostructures. Finally, we investigated the anodic nature of the arc and how a dc arc discharge can be applied to synthesize boron nitride nanotubes.

Efficiency Study of Implicit and Explicit Time Integration Operators for Finite Element Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-07-01

cffiAciency, wherein Beta =0 provides anl exp~licit algorithm, wvhile Beta &0 provides anl implicit algorithm. Both algorithmns arc used in the same...Hlueneme CA: CO, Code C44A Port j IHuenemne, CA NAVSEC Cod,. 6034 (Library), Washington DC NAVSI*CGRUAC’I’ PWO, ’rorri Sta, OkinawaI NAVSIIIPRBFTAC Library

Inverter-based GTA welding machines improve fabrication

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

Sammons, M.

2000-05-01

While known as precision process, many fabricators using the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process fight several common problems that hinder quality, slow production, frustrate the operator and otherwise prevent the process from achieving its full potential. These include a limited ability to tailor the weld bead profile, poor control of the arc direction and arc wandering, poor arc starting, unstable or inconsistent arcs in the AC mode, high-frequency interference with electronics and tungsten contamination. Fortunately, new GTA welding technology--made possible by advances with inverter-based power sources and micro-processor controls--can eliminate common productivity gremlins. Further, new AC/DC inverter-based GTA powermore » sources provide advanced arc shaping capabilities. As a result, many fabricators adopting this new technology have experienced phenomenal production increases, taken on new types of projects and reduced costs. Most importantly, the operators enjoy welding more.« less

75 FR 69639 - Procurement List; Proposed Addition

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-11-15

... Graeber Street, March ARB, CA. NPA: ARC Riverside, Riverside, CA Contracting Activity: DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, BUREAU OF CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, WASHINGTON, DC. Barry S. Lineback, Director, Business...

Calculation of gas release from DC and AC arc furnaces in a foundry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krutyanskii, M. M.; Nekhamin, S. M.; Rebikov, E. M.

2016-12-01

A procedure for the calculation of gas release from arc furnaces is presented. The procedure is based on the stoichiometric ratios of the oxidation of carbon in liquid iron during the oxidation heat period and the oxidation of iron from a steel charge by oxygen in the period of solid charge melting during the gas exchange of the furnace cavity with the external atmosphere.

Arc-Free High-Power dc Switch

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miller, W. N.; Gray, O. E.

1982-01-01

Hybrid switch allows high-power direct current to be turned on and off without arcing or erosion. Switch consists of bank of transistors in parallel with mechanical contacts. Transistor bank makes and breaks switched circuit; contacts carry current only during steady-state "on" condition. Designed for Space Shuttle orbiter, hybrid switch can be used also in high-power control circuits in aircraft, electric autos, industrial furnaces, and solar-cell arrays.

Modeling of Fume Formation from Shielded Metal Arc Welding Process

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivapirakasam, S. P.; Mohan, Sreejith; Santhosh Kumar, M. C.; Surianarayanan, M.

2017-04-01

In this study, a semi-empirical model of fume formation rate (FFR) from a shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) process has been developed. The model was developed for a DC electrode positive (DCEP) operation and involves the calculations of droplet temperature, surface area of the droplet, and partial vapor pressures of the constituents of the droplet to predict the FFR. The model was further extended for predicting FFR from nano-coated electrodes. The model estimates the FFR for Fe and Mn assuming constant proportion of other elements in the electrode. Fe FFR was overestimated, while Mn FFR was underestimated. The contribution of spatters and other mechanism in the arc responsible for fume formation were neglected. A good positive correlation was obtained between the predicted and experimental FFR values which highlighted the usefulness of the model.

Development of a 20 mA negative hydrogen ion source for cyclotrons

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Etoh, H.; Onai, M.; Arakawa, Y.; Aoki, Y.; Mitsubori, H.; Sakuraba, J.; Kato, T.; Mitsumoto, T.; Yajima, S.; Hatayama, A.; Okumura, Y.

2017-08-01

A cesiated DC negative ion source has been developed for proton cyclotrons in medical applications. A continuous H- beam of 23 mA was stably extracted at an arc power of 3 kW. The beam current gradually decreases with a constant arc power and without additional Cs injection and the decay rate was about 0.03 mA (0.14%) per hour. A feed-back control system that automatically adjusts the arc power to stabilize the beam current is able to keep the beam current constant at ±0.04 mA (±0.2%).

Method for gas-metal arc deposition

DOEpatents

Buhrmaster, C.L.; Clark, D.E.; Smartt, H.B.

1990-11-13

Method and apparatus for gas-metal arc deposition of metal, metal alloys, and metal matrix composites are disclosed. The apparatus contains an arc chamber for confining a D.C. electrical arc discharge, the arc chamber containing an outlet orifice in fluid communication with a deposition chamber having a deposition opening in alignment with the orifice for depositing metal droplets on a coatable substrate. Metal wire is passed continuously into the arc chamber in alignment with the orifice. Electric arcing between the metal wire anode and the orifice cathode produces droplets of molten metal from the wire which pass through the orifice and into the deposition chamber for coating a substrate exposed at the deposition opening. When producing metal matrix composites, a suspension of particulates in an inert gas enters the deposition chamber via a plurality of feed openings below and around the orifice so that reinforcing particulates join the metal droplets to produce a uniform mixture which then coats the exposed substrate with a uniform metal matrix composite. 1 fig.

Method for gas-metal arc deposition

DOEpatents

Buhrmaster, Carol L.; Clark, Denis E.; Smartt, Herschel B.

1990-01-01

Method and apparatus for gas-metal arc deposition of metal, metal alloys, and metal matrix composites. The apparatus contains an arc chamber for confining a D.C. electrical arc discharge, the arc chamber containing an outlet orifice in fluid communication with a deposition chamber having a deposition opening in alignment wiht the orifice for depositing metal droplets on a coatable substrate. Metal wire is passed continuously into the arc chamber in alignment with the orifice. Electric arcing between the metal wire anode and the orifice cathode produces droplets of molten metal from the wire which pass through the orifice and into the deposition chamber for coating a substrate exposed at the deposition opening. When producing metal matrix composites, a suspension of particulates in an inert gas enters the deposition chamber via a plurality of feed openings below and around the orifice so that reinforcing particulates join the metal droplets to produce a uniform mixture which then coats the exposed substrate with a uniform metal matrix composite.

Apparatus for gas-metal arc deposition

DOEpatents

Buhrmaster, Carol L.; Clark, Denis E.; Smartt, Herschel B.

1991-01-01

Apparatus for gas-metal arc deposition of metal, metal alloys, and metal matrix composites. The apparatus contains an arc chamber for confining a D.C. electrical arc discharge, the arc chamber containing an outlet orifice in fluid communication with a deposition chamber having a deposition opening in alignment with the orifice for depositing metal droplets on a coatable substrate. Metal wire is passed continuously into the arc chamber in alignment with the orifice. Electric arcing between the metal wire anode and the orifice cathode produces droplets of molten metal from the wire which pass through the orifice and into the deposition chamber for coating a substrate exposed at the deposition opening. When producing metal matrix composites, a suspenion of particulates in an inert gas enters the deposition chamber via a plurality of feed openings below and around the orifice so that reinforcing particulates join the metal droplets to produce a uniform mixture which then coats the exposed substrate with a uniform metal matrix composite.

75 FR 76961 - Procurement List; Proposed Additions and Deletions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-10

..., DC. Service Type/Location: Custodial Service. Mauna Loa Observatory: Hilo Office, 1437 Kilauea Ave., 102, Hilo, HI. NPA: The ARC of Hilo, Hilo, HI. Contracting Activity: Department of Commerce...

Fabrication and dispersion evaluation of single-wall carbon nanotubes produced by FH-arc discharge method.

PubMed

Chen, B; Zhao, X; Inoue, S; Ando, Y

2010-06-01

In this work, we produced SWNTs by a hydrogen DC arc discharge with evaporation of carbon anode containing 1 at% Fe catalyst in H2-Ar mixture gas. This was named as FH-arc discharge method. The as-grown SWNTs synthesized by FH-arc discharge method have high crystallinity. An oxidation purification process of as-grown SWNTs with H2O2 has been developed to remove the coexisting Fe catalyst nanoparticles. As a result, SWNTs with purity higher than 90 at% have been achieved. To exhibit remarkable characteristics, CNTs should be separated from the bundles and kept in homogeneous and stable suspensions. For this purpose, the SWNTs prepared by FH-arc discharge method also have been treated by Nanomizer process with some surfactants. SPM images showed that the SWNTs bundles had become thinner and shorter.

Enhanced lifetime for thin-dielectric microdischarge-arrays operating in DC

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dussart, Remi; Felix, Valentin; Overzet, Lawrence; Aubry, Olivier; Stolz, Arnaud; Lefaucheux, Philippe; Gremi-Univ Orleans-Cnrs Collaboration; University Of Texas At Dallas Collaboration

2016-09-01

Micro-hollow cathode discharge arrays using silicon as the cathode have a very limited lifetime because the silicon bubbles and initiates micro-arcing. To avoid this destructive behavior, the same configuration was kept but, another material was selected for the cathode. Using micro and nanotechnologies ordinarily used in microelectronic and MEMS device fabrication, we made arrays of cathode boundary layer (CBL)-type microreactors consisting of nickel electrodes separated by a 6 µm thick SiO2 layer. Microdischarges were ignited in arrays of 100 µm diameter holes at different pressures (200750 Torr) in different gases. Electrical and optical measurements were made to characterize the arrays. Unlike the microdischarges produced using silicon cathodes, the Ni cathode discharges remain very stable with essentially no micro-arcing. DC currents between 50 and 900 µA flowed through each microreactor with a discharge voltage of typically 200 V. Stable V-I characteristics showing both the normal and abnormal regimes were observed and are consistent with the spread of the plasma over the cathode area. Due to their stability and lifetime, new applications of these DC, CBL-type microreactors can now be envisaged.

Portable spark-gap arc generator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ignaczak, L. R.

1978-01-01

Self-contained spark generator that simulates electrical noise caused by discharge of static charge is useful tool when checking sensitive component and equipment. In test set-up, device introduces repeatable noise pulses as behavior of components is monitored. Generator uses only standard commercial parts and weighs only 4 pounds; portable dc power supply is used. Two configurations of generator have been developed: one is free-running arc source, and one delivers spark in response to triggering pulse.

Preparation and investigation of diamond-like carbon stripper foils by filtered cathodic vacuum arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Qiwen; Du, Yinghui; Zhang, Rong; Xu, Guoji

2013-04-01

Thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) stripper foils ˜5 μg/cm2 in thickness were produced and evaluated as heavy-ion strippers for the Beijing HI-13 Tandem Accelerator. The DLC layers ˜4 μg/cm2 in thickness were produced by the filtered cathodic vacuum arc technology onto glass slides coated with betaine-saccharose as releasing agent, which were previously covered with evaporated carbon layers ˜1 μg/cm2 in thickness by the controlled ac arc-discharge method. Irradiation lifetimes of the DLC stripper foils were tested using the heavy-ion beams at the terminal of the Beijing HI-13 Tandem Accelerator, and compared with those of the standard carbon stripper foils made by the combined dc and ac arc-discharge method. The measurements indicate that the DLC stripper foils outlast the standard combined dc and ac arc-discharge carbon stripper foils by a factor of at least 13 and 4for the 197Au- (˜9 MeV, ˜1 μA) and 63Cu- (˜9 MeV, ˜1 μA) ion beams, respectively. The structure and properties of the DLC foils deposited onto silicon substrates by the filtered cathodic vacuum arc technology were also evaluated and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The scanning electron microscopy images show that the DLC foils contain hardly droplets through the double 90° filters. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum indicates that sp3 bonds of the DLC foils exceed 70%. The integral intensity ratio of the D peak to the G peak (ID/IG) measured by the Raman spectroscopy is0.78.

Conversion degrees of resin composites using different light sources.

PubMed

Ozturk, Bora; Cobanoglu, Nevin; Cetin, Ali Rıza; Gunduz, Beniz

2013-01-01

The objective of this study was to compare the conversion degree of six different composite materials (Filtek Z 250, Filtek P60, Spectrum TPH, Pertac II, Clearfil AP-X, and Clearfil Photo Posterior) using three different light sources (blue light-emitting diode [LED], plasma arc curing [PAC], and conventional halogen lamp [QTH]). Composites were placed in a 2 mm thick and 5 mm diameter Teflon molds and light cured from the top using three methods: LED for 40 s, PAC for 10 s, and QTH for 40 s. A Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) (n=5). The results were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance and Tukey HSD test. DC was significantly influenced by two variables, light source and composite (P<.05). QTH revealed significantly higher DC values than LED (P<.05). However, there were no significant differences between DC values of QTH and PAC or between DC values of LED and PAC (P>.05). The highest DC was observed in the Z 250 composite specimens following photopolymerization with QTH (70%). The lowest DC was observed in Clearfil Photo Posterior composite specimens following photo-polymerization with LED (43%). The DC was found to be changing according to both light sources and composite materials used. Conventional light halogen (QTH) from light sources and Filtek Z 250 and Filtek P 60 among composite materials showed the most DC performance.

Multiphase High-Frequency Isolated DC-DC Converter for Industrial Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maurya, Rakesh; Srivastava, S. P.; Agarwal, Pramod

2014-01-01

Industrial applications such as welding, plasma cutting, and surface hardening require a large DC current at low voltage. In such applications, the rating of power supply varies from few kilowatts to hundreds of kilowatts. The power supply employs in such applications particularly in arc welding process is expected to operate from open-circuit (no-load) to short-circuit (when the electrode sticks to the workpiece for a short span of time) quickly. In this paper, high-frequency isolated multiphase DC-DC converter is proposed which is well suited for aforementioned applications. Based on mathematical analysis, a simulation study with 5 kW, 5 V/1,000 A proposed model is carried out using Simulink block set and Sim Power System tool box and its performances are evaluated under symmetrical control methods. To verify the simulation results, scaled prototype model of rating 1.5 V/100 A is developed and tested with aforementioned control method under different operating conditions. In comparison with conventional welding power supply employed in many industries, the performance of proposed converter is improved significantly in terms of size and weight, efficiency and dynamic response.

Multielement trace determination in SiC powders: assessment of interlaboratory comparisons aimed at the validation and standardization of analytical procedures with direct solid sampling based on ETV ICP OES and DC arc OES.

PubMed

Matschat, Ralf; Hassler, Jürgen; Traub, Heike; Dette, Angelika

2005-12-01

The members of the committee NMP 264 "Chemical analysis of non-oxidic raw and basic materials" of the German Standards Institute (DIN) have organized two interlaboratory comparisons for multielement determination of trace elements in silicon carbide (SiC) powders via direct solid sampling methods. One of the interlaboratory comparisons was based on the application of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry with electrothermal vaporization (ETV ICP OES), and the other on the application of optical emission spectrometry with direct current arc (DC arc OES). The interlaboratory comparisons were organized and performed in the framework of the development of two standards related to "the determination of mass fractions of metallic impurities in powders and grain sizes of ceramic raw and basic materials" by both methods. SiC powders were used as typical examples of this category of material. The aim of the interlaboratory comparisons was to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of both analytical methods to be standardized. This was an important contribution to the practical applicability of both draft standards. Eight laboratories participated in the interlaboratory comparison with ETV ICP OES and nine in the interlaboratory comparison with DC arc OES. Ten analytes were investigated by ETV ICP OES and eleven by DC arc OES. Six different SiC powders were used for the calibration. The mass fractions of their relevant trace elements were determined after wet chemical digestion. All participants followed the analytical requirements described in the draft standards. In the calculation process, three of the calibration materials were used successively as analytical samples. This was managed in the following manner: the material that had just been used as the analytical sample was excluded from the calibration, so the five other materials were used to establish the calibration plot. The results from the interlaboratory comparisons were summarized and used to determine the repeatability and the reproducibility (expressed as standard deviations) of both methods. The calculation was carried out according to the related standard. The results are specified and discussed in this paper, as are the optimized analytical conditions determined and used by the authors of this paper. For both methods, the repeatability relative standard deviations were <25%, usually ~10%, and the reproducibility relative standard deviations were <35%, usually ~15%. These results were regarded as satifactory for both methods intended for rapid analysis of materials for which decomposition is difficult and time-consuming. Also described are some results from an interlaboratory comparison used to certify one of the materials that had been previously used for validation in both interlaboratory comparisons. Thirty laboratories (from eight countries) participated in this interlaboratory comparison for certification. As examples, accepted results are shown from laboratories that used ETV ICP OES or DC arc OES and had performed calibrations by using solutions or oxides, respectively. The certified mass fractions of the certified reference materials were also compared with the mass fractions determined in the interlaboratory comparisons performed within the framework of method standardization. Good agreement was found for most of the analytes.

High current DC negative ion source for cyclotron.

PubMed

Etoh, H; Onai, M; Aoki, Y; Mitsubori, H; Arakawa, Y; Sakuraba, J; Kato, T; Mitsumoto, T; Hiasa, T; Yajima, S; Shibata, T; Hatayama, A; Okumura, Y

2016-02-01

A filament driven multi-cusp negative ion source has been developed for proton cyclotrons in medical applications. In Cs-free operation, continuous H(-) beam of 10 mA and D(-) beam of 3.3 mA were obtained stably at an arc-discharge power of 3 kW and 2.4 kW, respectively. In Cs-seeded operation, H(-) beam current reached 22 mA at a lower arc power of 2.6 kW with less co-extracted electron current. The optimum gas flow rate, which gives the highest H(-) current, was 15 sccm in the Cs-free operation, while it decreased to 4 sccm in the Cs-seeded operation. The relationship between H(-) production and the design/operating parameters has been also investigated by a numerical study with KEIO-MARC code, which gives a reasonable explanation to the experimental results of the H(-) current dependence on the arc power.

Influence of the Gap Width on the Geometry of the Welded Joint in Hybrid Laser-Arc Welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turichin, G.; Tsibulskiy, I.; Kuznetsov, M.; Akhmetov, A.; Mildebrath, M.; Hassel, T.

The aim of this research was the experimental investigation of the influence of the gap width and speed of the welding wire on the changes of the geometry in the welded joint in the hybrid laser-arc welding of shipbuilding steel RS E36. The research was divided into three parts. First, in order to understand the influence of the gap width on the welded joint geometry, experimental research was done using continuous wave fiber laser IPG YLS-15000 with arc rectifier VDU-1500DC. The second part involved study of the geometry of the welded joint and hardness test results. Three macrosections from each welded joint were obtained. Influence of the gap width and welding wire speed on the welded joint geometry was researched in the three lines: in the right side of the plates, middle welded joint and in the root welded joint.

dc-plasma-sprayed electronic-tube device

DOEpatents

Meek, T.T.

1982-01-29

An electronic tube and associated circuitry which is produced by dc plasma arc spraying techniques is described. The process is carried out in a single step automated process whereby both active and passive devices are produced at very low cost. The circuitry is extremely reliable and is capable of functioning in both high radiation and high temperature environments. The size of the electronic tubes produced are more than an order of magnitude smaller than conventional electronic tubes.

Excited atoms in the free-burning Ar arc: treatment of the resonance radiation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golubovskii, Yu; Kalanov, D.; Gortschakow, S.; Baeva, M.; Uhrlandt, D.

2016-11-01

The collisional-radiative model with an emphasis on the accurate treatment of the resonance radiation transport is developed and applied to the free-burning Ar arc plasma. This model allows for analysis of the influence of resonance radiation on the spatial density profiles of the atoms in different excited states. The comparison of the radial density profiles obtained using an effective transition probability approximation with the results of the accurate solution demonstrates the distinct impact of transport on the profiles and absolute densities of the excited atoms, especially in the arc fringes. The departures from the Saha-Boltzmann equilibrium distributions, caused by different radiative transitions, are analyzed. For the case of the DC arc, the local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) state holds close to the arc axis, while strong deviations from the equilibrium state on the periphery occur. In the intermediate radial positions the conditions of partial LTE are fulfilled.

Numerical simulation of a helical shape electric arc in the external axial magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urusov, R. M.; Urusova, I. R.

2016-10-01

Within the frameworks of non-stationary three-dimensional mathematical model, in approximation of a partial local thermodynamic equilibrium, a numerical calculation was made of characteristics of DC electric arc burning in a cylindrical channel in the uniform external axial magnetic field. The method of numerical simulation of the arc of helical shape in a uniform external axial magnetic field was proposed. This method consists in that that in the computational algorithm, a "scheme" analog of fluctuations for electrons temperature is supplemented. The "scheme" analogue of fluctuations increases a weak numerical asymmetry of electrons temperature distribution, which occurs randomly in the course of computing. This asymmetry can be "picked up" by the external magnetic field that continues to increase up to a certain value, which is sufficient for the formation of helical structure of the arc column. In the absence of fluctuations in the computational algorithm, the arc column in the external axial magnetic field maintains cylindrical axial symmetry, and a helical form of the arc is not observed.

76 FR 18197 - Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-01

... Management System Office, 1160 Defense Pentagon, OSD Mailroom 3C843, Washington, DC 20301-1160. Instructions... management of recruiters until they graduate from the Army Recruiting Course (ARC). [FR Doc. 2011-7693 Filed...

Solar Photovoltaic DC Systems: Basics and Safety: Preprint

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

McNutt, Peter F; Sekulic, William R; Dreifuerst, Gary

Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems are common and growing with 42.4 GW installed capacity in U.S. (almost 15 GW added in 2016). This paper will help electrical workers, and emergency responders understand the basic operating principles and hazards of PV DC arrays. We briefly discuss the following aspects of solar photovoltaic (PV) DC systems: the effects of solar radiation and temperature on output power; PV module testing standards; common system configurations; a simple PV array sizing example; NEC guidelines and other safety features; DC array commissioning, periodic maintenance and testing; arc-flash hazard potential; how electrical workers and emergency responders can andmore » do work safely around PV arrays; do moonlight and artificial lighting pose a real danger; typical safe operating procedures; and other potential DC-system hazards to be aware of. We also present some statistics on PV DC array electrical incidents and injuries. Safe PV array operation is possible with a good understanding of PV DC arrays basics and having good safe operating procedures in place.« less

Structure of an energetic narrow discrete arc

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcfadden, J. P.; Carlson, C. W.; Boehm, M. H.

1990-01-01

Particle distributions, waves, dc electric fields, and magnetic fields were measured by two sounding rockets at altitudes of 950 and 430 km through an energetic (greater than 5 keV) narrow (about 10 km) stable discrete arc. Although the payloads' magnetic footprints were separated by only 50 km, differences in the arc's structure were observed including the spatial width, peak energy, and characteristic spectra. The energetic electron precipitation included both slowly varying isotropic fluxes that formed an inverted-V energy-time signature and rapidly varying field-aligned fluxes at or below the isotropic spectral peak. The isotropic precipitation had a flux discontinuity inside the arc indicating the arc was present on a boundary between two different magnetospheric plasmas. Dispersive and nondispersive bursts of field-aligned electrons were measured throughout the arc, appearing over broad energy ranges or as monoenergetic beams. Dispersive bursts gave variable source distances less than 8000 km. Plateauing of some of the most intense bursts suggests that waves stabilized these electrons. During the lower altitude arc crossing, the field-aligned component formed a separate inverted-V energy-time signature whose peak energy was half the isotropic peak energy.

Fabrication of TiO2/Carbon Photocatalyst using Submerged DC Arc Discharged in Ethanol/Acetic Acid Medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saraswati, T. E.; Nandika, A. O.; Andhika, I. F.; Patiha; Purnawan, C.; Wahyuningsih, S.; Rahardjo, S. B.

2017-05-01

This study aimed to fabricate a modified photocatalyst of TiO2/C to enhance its performance. The fabrication was achieved using the submerged direct current (DC) arc-discharge method employing two graphite electrodes, one of which was filled with a mixture of carbon powder, TiO2, and binder, in ethanol with acetic acid added in various concentrations. The arc-discharge method was conducted by flowing a current of 10-20 A (~20 V). X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed significant placements of the main peak characteristics of TiO2, C graphite, and titanium carbide. The surface analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that fabricated TiO2/C nanoparticles had stretching vibrations of Ti-O, C-H, C═O, C-O, O-H and C═C in the regions of 450-550 cm-1, 2900-2880 cm-1, 1690-1760 cm-1, 1050-1300 cm-1, 3400-3700 cm-1 and ~1600 cm-1, respectively. In addition, the study investigated the photocatalysts of unmodified and modified TiO2/C for photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye solution under mercury lamp irradiation. The effectiveness of the degradation was defined by the decrease in 60-minute absorbance under a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Modified TiO2/C proved to be significantly more efficient in reducing dye concentrations, reaching ~70%. It indicated that the oxygen-containing functional groups have been successfully attached to the surface of the nanoparticles and played a role in enhancing photocatalytic activity.

Stable synthesis of few-layered boron nitride nanotubes by anodic arc discharge.

PubMed

Yeh, Yao-Wen; Raitses, Yevgeny; Koel, Bruce E; Yao, Nan

2017-06-08

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were successfully synthesized by a dc arc discharge using a boron-rich anode as synthesis feedstock in a nitrogen gas environment at near atmospheric pressure. The synthesis was achieved independent of the cathode material suggesting that under such conditions the arc operates in so-called anodic mode with the anode material being consumed by evaporation due to the arc heating. To sustain the arc current by thermionic electron emission, the cathode has to be at sufficiently high temperature, which for a typical arc current density of ~100 A/cm 2 , is above the boron melting point (2350 K). With both electrodes made from the same boron-rich alloy, we found that the arc operation unstable due to frequent sticking between two molten electrodes and formation of molten droplets. Stable and reliable arc operation and arc synthesis were achieved with the boron-rich anode and the cathode made from a refractory metal which has a melting temperature above the melting point of boron. Ex-situ characterization of synthesized BNNTs with electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed that independent of the cathode material, the tubes are primarily single and double walled. The results also show evidence of root-growth of BNNTs produced in the arc discharge.

Stable synthesis of few-layered boron nitride nanotubes by anodic arc discharge

DOE PAGES

Yeh, Yao-Wen; Raitses, Yevgeny; Koel, Bruce E.; ...

2017-06-08

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were successfully synthesized by a dc arc discharge using a boron-rich anode as synthesis feedstock in a nitrogen gas environment at near atmospheric pressure. The synthesis was achieved independent of the cathode material suggesting that under such conditions the arc operates in so-called anodic mode with the anode material being consumed by evaporation due to the arc heating. In order to sustain the arc current by thermionic electron emission, the cathode has to be at sufficiently high temperature, which for a typical arc current density of similar to 100 A/cm 2, is above the boron meltingmore » point (2350 K). With both electrodes made from the same boron-rich alloy, we found that the arc operation unstable due to frequent sticking between two molten electrodes and formation of molten droplets. We achieved a stable and reliable arc operation and arc synthesis with the boronrich anode and the cathode made from a refractory metal which has a melting temperature above the melting point of boron. Ex-situ characterization of synthesized BNNTs with electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed that independent of the cathode material, the tubes are primarily single and double walled. Our results also show evidence of root-growth of BNNTs produced in the arc discharge.« less

Stable synthesis of few-layered boron nitride nanotubes by anodic arc discharge

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

Yeh, Yao-Wen; Raitses, Yevgeny; Koel, Bruce E.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) were successfully synthesized by a dc arc discharge using a boron-rich anode as synthesis feedstock in a nitrogen gas environment at near atmospheric pressure. The synthesis was achieved independent of the cathode material suggesting that under such conditions the arc operates in so-called anodic mode with the anode material being consumed by evaporation due to the arc heating. In order to sustain the arc current by thermionic electron emission, the cathode has to be at sufficiently high temperature, which for a typical arc current density of similar to 100 A/cm 2, is above the boron meltingmore » point (2350 K). With both electrodes made from the same boron-rich alloy, we found that the arc operation unstable due to frequent sticking between two molten electrodes and formation of molten droplets. We achieved a stable and reliable arc operation and arc synthesis with the boronrich anode and the cathode made from a refractory metal which has a melting temperature above the melting point of boron. Ex-situ characterization of synthesized BNNTs with electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed that independent of the cathode material, the tubes are primarily single and double walled. Our results also show evidence of root-growth of BNNTs produced in the arc discharge.« less

Plasma methods for metals recovery from metal-containing waste.

PubMed

Changming, Du; Chao, Shang; Gong, Xiangjie; Ting, Wang; Xiange, Wei

2018-04-27

Metal-containing waste, a kind of new wastes, has a great potential for recycling and is also difficult to deal with. Many countries pay more and more attention to develop the metal recovery process and equipment of this kind of waste as raw material, so as to solve the environmental pollution and comprehensively utilize the discarded metal resources. Plasma processing is an efficient and environmentally friendly way for metal-containing waste. This review mainly discuss various metal-containing waste types, such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), red mud, galvanic sludge, Zircon, aluminium dross and incinerated ash, and the corresponding plasma methods, which include DC extended transferred arc plasma reactor, DC non-transferred arc plasma torch, RF thermal plasma reactor and argon and argon-hydrogen plasma jets. In addition, the plasma arc melting technology has a better purification effect on the extraction of useful metals from metal-containing wastes, a great capacity of volume reduction of waste materials, and a low leaching toxicity of solid slag, which can also be used to deal with all kinds of metal waste materials, having a wide range of applications. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Insulation Coordination and Failure Mitigation Concerns for Roust Dc Electrical Power Systems (Preprint)

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-01

vulnerable to failure is air. This could be a discharge through an air medium or along an air/surface interface. Achieving robustness in dc power...sputtering” arcs) are discharges that are most commonly located in series with the intended load; the electrical impedance of the load limits the...particularly those used at voltages > 1000 V, is detection and measurement of partial- discharge (PD) activity. The presence of PD in a component typically

Historical Zinc Smelting in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C., with Estimates of Atmospheric Zinc Emissions and Other Materials

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bleiwas, Donald I.; DiFrancesco, Carl

2010-01-01

The metallurgical industry can be broadly divided into metal production from feedstock consisting of primary and secondary sources. Primary production refers to the extraction of metal derived from ores and concentrates. Secondary production refers to the recovery of metal from materials such as alloys, electric arc furnace dust, ingots, and scrap. The foci of this study are the histories of selected pyrometallurgical plants that treated mostly primary zinc feedstock and the atmospheric emissions, primarily zinc, generated by those plants during the course of producing zinc and zinc oxide in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

78 FR 9943 - Investigations Regarding Eligibility To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-12

...., Washington, DC 20210. Elliott S. Kushner, Certifying Officer, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance. Appendix...). 82360 Innovative Arc Tubes Bridgeport, CT....... 01/23/13 12/31/12 Corp (State/One- Stop). 82361 GE...

Synthesis and electrochemical properties of silicon nanosheets by DC arc discharge for lithium-ion batteries.

PubMed

Yu, Xiuhong; Xue, Fanghong; Huang, Hao; Liu, Chunjing; Yu, Jieyi; Sun, Yuejun; Dong, Xinglong; Cao, Guozhong; Jung, Youngguan

2014-06-21

Two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin silicon nanosheets (Si NSs) were synthesized by DC arc discharge method and investigated as anode material for Li-ion batteries. The 2D ultrathin characteristics of Si NSs is confirmed by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The average size of Si NSs is about 20 nm, with thickness less than 2.5 nm. The characteristic Raman peak of Si NSs is found to have an appreciable (20 nm) shift to low frequency, presumably due to the size effect. The synergistic effects of Ar(+) and H(+) lead to 2D growth of Si NSs under high temperature and energy. Electrochemical analyses reveal that Si NSs anode possesses stable cycling performance and fast diffusion of Li-ions with insertion/extraction processes. Such Si NSs might be a promising candidate for anode of Li-ion batteries.

Orienting Arc Lamps for Longest Life

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kiss, J.

1985-01-01

Temperature distribution strongly affects performance. Tests on floodlights for Space Shuttle payload bay show useful life of metal halide dc arc lamp prolonged by mounting "anode down" and wiring for maximum heat conduction away from electrodes. Anode-down configuration, anode and cathode temperatures stabilize at 333 degrees and 313 degrees C, respectively, after 1 hour of operation. Temperatures both below limit for quartz-to-metal seals, and lamps able to withstand a 2,000-hour life test with satisfactory light output at end.

Double-chamber electrode for spectrochemical determination of chlorine and other halogens

USGS Publications Warehouse

de Paiva, Azevedo; Specht, A.W.; Harner, R.S.

1954-01-01

A double-chamber, graphite electrode, suitable for d.c. arc determination of halogens by means of the alkaline earth halide bands, is described. An upper chamber holds the alkaline earth compound and an interconnected, lower chamber holds the halogen compound. This arrangement assures that there will be an abundance of alkaline earths in the arc by the time the halogen is volatilized from the lower chamber, and thereby promotes maximum emission of the alkaline earth halide bands. ?? 1954.

75 FR 47210 - Certifications and Exemptions Under the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-05

... Ave., SE., Suite 3000, Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5066, telephone number: 202-685-5040... and after masthead lights; and, Rule 21(a) pertaining to the forward masthead light arc of visibility...

DC water plasma at atmospheric pressure for the treatment of aqueous phenol.

PubMed

Yuan, Min-Hao; Narengerile; Watanabe, Takayuki; Chang, Ching-Yuan

2010-06-15

This study investigated the decomposition of aqueous phenol by direct current (DC) water plasma. The operation of DC water plasma was carried out in the absence of inert gases or air injected and cooling-controlled and pressure-controlled devices. The results indicated that 1 mol.% (52.8 g L(-1)) phenol was drastically decomposed by DC water plasma touch with energy efficiencies of 1.9 x 10(-8)-2.2 x 10(-8) mol J(-1). Also, the value of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced from 100 000 mg L(-1) down to 320 mg L(-1) over a short retention time. The maximum decomposition rate of the COD was 258 mg COD min(-1) for the arc power of 0.91 kW. In the effluent analysis, H(2) (63-68%), CO (3.6-6.3%), CO(2) (25.3-28.1%) were major products in the exhaust gas and CH(4), C(2)H(2), HCOOH and C(6)H(6) in trace level. Further, HCOOH and HCHO were observed in the liquid effluents. Within the current paper, the results indicated that the DC water plasma torch is capable of an alternative green technology for phenol wastewater containing high COD.

The negative hydrogen Penning ion gauge ion source for KIRAMS-13 cyclotron

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

An, D. H.; Jung, I. S.; Kang, J.

2008-02-15

The cold-cathode-type Penning ion gauge (PIG) ion source for the internal ion source of KIRAMS-13 cyclotron has been used for generation of negative hydrogen ions. The dc H-beam current of 650 {mu}A from the PIG ion source with the Dee voltage of 40 kV and arc current of 1.0 A is extrapolated from the measured dc extraction beam currents at the low extraction dc voltages. The output optimization of PIG ion source in the cyclotron has been carried out by using various chimneys with different sizes of the expansion gap between the plasma boundary and the chimney wall. This papermore » presents the results of the dc H-extraction measurement and the expansion gap experiment.« less

[Temperature measurement of DC argon plasma jet].

PubMed

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

2008-01-01

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

Plasma Heating and Flow in an Auroral Arc

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Moore, T. E.; Chandler, M. O.; Pollock, C. J.; Reasoner, D. L.; Arnoldy, R. L.; Austin, B.; Kintner, P. M.; Bonnell, J.

1996-01-01

We report direct observations of the three-dimensional velocity distribution of selected topside ionospheric ion species in an auroral context between 500 and 550 km altitude. We find heating transverse to the local magnetic field in the core plasma, with significant heating of 0(+), He(+), and H(+), as well as tail heating events that occur independently of the core heating. The 0(+) velocity distribution departs from bi-Maxwellian, at one point exhibiting an apparent ring-like shape. However, these observations are shown to be aliased within the auroral arc by temporal variations that arc not well-resolved by the core plasma instrument. The dc electric field measurements reveal superthermal plasma drifts that are consistent with passage of the payload through a series of vortex structures or a larger scale circularly polarized hydromagnetic wave structure within the auroral arc. The dc electric field also shows that impulsive solitary structures, with a frequency spectrum in the ion cyclotron frequency range, occur in close correlation with the tail heating events. The drift and core heating observations lend support to the idea that core ion heating is driven at low altitudes by rapid convective motions imposed by the magnetosphere. Plasma wave emissions at ion frequencies and parallel heating of the low-energy electron plasma are observed in conjunction with this auroral form; however, the conditions are much more complex than those typically invoked in previous theoretical treatments of superthermal frictional heating. The observed ion heating within the arc clearly exceeds that expected from frictional heating for the light ion species H(+) and He(+), and the core distributions also contain hot transverse tails, indicating an anomalous transverse heat source.

A flexible curvilinear electromagnetic filter for direct current cathodic arc source.

PubMed

Dai, Hua; Shen, Yao; Li, Liuhe; Li, Xiaoling; Cai, Xun; Chu, Paul K

2007-09-01

Widespread applications of direct current (dc) cathodic arc deposition are hampered by macroparticle (MP) contamination, although a cathodic arc offers many unique merits such as high ionization rate, high deposition rate, etc. In this work, a flexible curvilinear electromagnetic filter is described to eliminate MPs from a dc cathodic arc source. The filter which has a relatively large size with a minor radius of about 85 mm is suitable for large cathodes. The filter is open and so the MPs do not rebound inside the filter. The flexible design allows the ions to be transported from the cathode to the sample surface optimally. Our measurements with a saturated ion current probe show that the efficiency of this flexible filter reaches about 2.0% (aluminum cathode) when the filter current is about 250 A. The MP density measured from TiN films deposited using this filter is two to three orders of magnitude less than that from films deposited with a 90 degrees duct magnetic filter and three to four orders of magnitude smaller than those deposited without a filter. Furthermore, our experiments reveal that the potential of the filter coil and the magnetic field on the surface of the cathode are two important factors affecting the efficacy of the filter. Different biasing potentials can enhance the efficiency to up to 12-fold, and a magnetic field at about 4.0 mT can improve it by a factor of 2 compared to 5.4 mT.

Development, Integration and Testing of Automated Triggering Circuit for Hybrid DC Circuit Breaker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanabar, Deven; Roy, Swati; Dodiya, Chiragkumar; Pradhan, Subrata

2017-04-01

A novel concept of Hybrid DC circuit breaker having combination of mechanical switch and static switch provides arc-less current commutation into the dump resistor during quench in superconducting magnet operation. The triggering of mechanical and static switches in Hybrid DC breaker can be automatized which can effectively reduce the overall current commutation time of hybrid DC circuit breaker and make the operation independent of opening time of mechanical switch. With this view, a dedicated control circuit (auto-triggering circuit) has been developed which can decide the timing and pulse duration for mechanical switch as well as static switch from the operating parameters. This circuit has been tested with dummy parameters and thereafter integrated with the actual test set up of hybrid DC circuit breaker. This paper deals with the conceptual design of the auto-triggering circuit, its control logic and operation. The test results of Hybrid DC circuit breaker using this circuit have also been discussed.

Diode-rectified multiphase AC arc for the improvement of electrode erosion characteristics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Manabu; Hashizume, Taro; Saga, Koki; Matsuura, Tsugio; Watanabe, Takayuki

2017-11-01

An innovative multiphase AC arc (MPA) system was developed on the basis of a diode-rectification technique to improve electrode erosion characteristics. Conventionally, electrode erosion in AC arc is severer than that in DC arc. This originated from the fact that the required properties for the cathode and anode are different, although an AC electrode works as the cathode and the anode periodically. To solve this problem, a separation of AC electrodes into pairs of thoriated tungsten cathode and copper anode by diode-rectification was attempted. A diode-rectified multiphase AC arc (DRMPA) system was then successfully established, resulting in a drastic improvement of the erosion characteristics. The electrode erosion rate in the DRMPA was less than one-third of that in the conventional MPA without the diode rectification. In order to clarify its erosion mechanism, electrode phenomena during discharge were visualized by a high-speed camera system with appropriate band-pass filters. Fluctuation characteristics of the electrode temperature in the DRMPA were revealed.

Study of a DC gas discharge with a copper cathode in a water flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tazmeev, G. Kh.; Timerkaev, B. A.; Tazmeev, Kh. K.

2017-07-01

A dc gas discharge between copper electrodes in the current range of 5-20 A was studied experimentally. The discharge gap length was varied within 45-70 mm. The cathode was a 10-mm-diameter rod placed in the water flowing out from a dielectric tube. Three discharge configurations differing in the position of the cathode upper end with respect to the water surface were considered: (i) above water; (ii) flush with the water surface, and (iii) under water. The electric and optical characteristics of the discharge in the second configuration were studied in more detail. It is established that the discharge properties are similar to those of an electric arc. Considerable cathode erosion was observed in the third configuration. It is revealed that fine-dispersed copper grains form in the course of erosion.

Convection and electrodynamic signatures in the vicinity of a Sun-aligned arc: Results from the Polar Acceleration Regions and Convection Study (Polar ARCS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weiss, L. A.; Weber, E. J.; Reiff, P. H.; Sharber, J. R.; Winningham, J. D.; Primdahl, F.; Mikkelsen, I. S.; Seifring, C.; Wescott, Eugene M.

1994-01-01

An experimental campaign designed to study high-latitude auroral arcs was conducted in Sondre Stromfjord, Greenland, on February 26, 1987. The Polar Acceleration Regions and Convection Study (Polar ARCS) consisted of a coordinated set of ground-based, airborne, and sounding rocket measurements of a weak, sun-aligned arc system within the duskside polar cap. A rocket-borne barium release experiment, two DMSP satellite overflights, all-sky photography, and incoherent scatter radar measurements provided information on the large-scale plasma convection over the polar cap region while a second rocket instrumented with a DC magnetometer, Langmuir and electric field probes, and an electron spectrometer provided measurements of small-scale electrodynamics. The large-scale data indicate that small, sun-aligned precipitation events formed within a region of antisunward convection between the duskside auroral oval and a large sun-aligned arc further poleward. This convection signature, used to assess the relationship of the sun-aligned arc to the large-scale magnetospheric configuration, is found to be consistent with either a model in which the arc formed on open field lines on the dusk side of a bifurcated polar cap or on closed field lines threading an expanded low-latitude boundary layer, but not a model in which the polar cap arc field lines map to an expanded plasma sheet. The antisunward convection signature may also be explained by a model in which the polar cap arc formed on long field lines recently reconnected through a highly skewed plasma sheet. The small-scale measurements indicate the rocket passed through three narrow (less than 20 km) regions of low-energy (less than 100 eV) electron precipitation in which the electric and magnetic field perturbations were well correlated. These precipitation events are shown to be associated with regions of downward Poynting flux and small-scale upward and downward field-aligned currents of 1-2 micro-A/sq m. The paired field-aligned currents are associated with velocity shears (higher and lower speed streams) embedded in the region of antisunward flow.

High current DC negative ion source for cyclotron

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

Etoh, H., E-mail: Hrh-Etoh@shi.co.jp; Aoki, Y.; Mitsubori, H.

2016-02-15

A filament driven multi-cusp negative ion source has been developed for proton cyclotrons in medical applications. In Cs-free operation, continuous H{sup −} beam of 10 mA and D{sup −} beam of 3.3 mA were obtained stably at an arc-discharge power of 3 kW and 2.4 kW, respectively. In Cs-seeded operation, H{sup −} beam current reached 22 mA at a lower arc power of 2.6 kW with less co-extracted electron current. The optimum gas flow rate, which gives the highest H{sup −} current, was 15 sccm in the Cs-free operation, while it decreased to 4 sccm in the Cs-seeded operation. Themore » relationship between H{sup −} production and the design/operating parameters has been also investigated by a numerical study with KEIO-MARC code, which gives a reasonable explanation to the experimental results of the H{sup −} current dependence on the arc power.« less

Arcing time analysis of liquid nitrogen with respect to electrode materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junaid, Muhammad; Yang, Kun; Ge, Hanming; Wang, Jianhua

2018-03-01

Unlike sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), liquid nitrogen (LN2) is cost effective, environment friendly and cryogenic dielectric. It has astounding insulating properties with the potential to decrease power loss in switchgear applications due to its remarkably low temperatures. The basic research is however a necessity to observe the performance of LN2 subjected to high luminance arcs. So far, there are no findings that refer to the arcing time inside the LN2 environment. The objective of this work was to investigate the arcing times in LN2 and compare the results with open air conditions using different electrode materials. Experiments were conducted on different DC voltages and their arcing times were measured. Three different kinds of electrode materials, namely: pure copper (Cu), stainless used steel (SUS) and aluminium alloy (Al 6061) were tested under 1 atmospheric pressure. The results revealed that LN2 extinguishes arc in almost half the amount of time required by the open air insulation. With Al 6061 has the shortest arcing time, whilst Cu, the second best choice and SUS places last in the evaluation. It was encapsulated from the findings that LN2 is a better choice than air insulation in terms of arc quenching and a better alternative to SF6 when environment is the priority.

A critical analysis of the degree of conversion of resin-based luting cements.

PubMed

Noronha Filho, Jaime Dutra; Brandão, Natasha Lamego; Poskus, Laiza Tatiana; Guimarães, José Guilherme Antunes; Silva, Eduardo Moreira da

2010-01-01

This study analyzed the degree of conversion (DC%) of four resin-based cements (All Ceram, Enforce, Rely X ARC and Variolink II) activated by two modes (chemical and dual), and evaluated the decrease of DC% in the dual mode promoted by the interposition of a 2.0-mm-thick IPS Empress 2 disc. In the chemical activation, the resin-based cements were prepared by mixing equal amounts of base and catalyst pastes. In the dual activation, after mixing, the cements were light-activated at 650 mW/cm² for 40 s. In a third group, the cements were light-activated through a 2.0-mm-thick IPS Empress 2 disc. The DC% was evaluated in a FT-IR spectrometer equipped with an attenuated total reflectance crystal (ATR). The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. For all resin-based cements, the DC% was significantly higher with dual activation, followed by dual activation through IPS Empress 2, and chemical activation (p<0.05). Irrespective of the activation mode, Rely X presented the highest DC% (p<0.05). Chemically activated Variolink and All Ceram showed the worst results (p<0.05). The DC% decreased significantly when activation was performed through a 2.0-mm-thick IPS Empress 2 disc (p<0.05). The results of the present study suggest that resin-based cements could present low DC% when the materials are dually activated through 2.0 mm of reinforced ceramic materials with translucency equal to or less than that of IPS-Empress 2.

A critical analysis of the degree of conversion of resin-based luting cements

PubMed Central

NORONHA FILHO, Jaime Dutra; BRANDÃO, Natasha Lamego; POSKUS, Laiza Tatiana; GUIMARÃES, José Guilherme Antunes; da SILVA, Eduardo Moreira

2010-01-01

Objective This study analyzed the degree of conversion (DC%) of four resin-based cements (All Ceram, Enforce, Rely X ARC and Variolink II) activated by two modes (chemical and dual), and evaluated the decrease of DC% in the dual mode promoted by the interposition of a 2.0-mm-thick IPS Empress 2 disc. Material and Methods In the chemical activation, the resin-based cements were prepared by mixing equal amounts of base and catalyst pastes. In the dual activation, after mixing, the cements were light-activated at 650 mW/cm2 for 40 s. In a third group, the cements were lightactivated through a 2.0-mm-thick IPS Empress 2 disc. The DC% was evaluated in a FT-IR spectrometer equipped with an attenuated total reflectance crystal (ATR). The data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. Results For all resin-based cements, the DC% was significantly higher with dual activation, followed by dual activation through IPS Empress 2, and chemical activation (p<0.05). Irrespective of the activation mode, Rely X presented the highest DC% (p<0.05). Chemically activated Variolink and All Ceram showed the worst results (p<0.05). The DC% decreased significantly when activation was performed through a 2.0-mm-thick IPS Empress 2 disc (p<0.05). Conclusions The results of the present study suggest that resin-based cements could present low DC% when the materials are dually activated through 2.0 mm of reinforced ceramic materials with translucency equal to or less than that of IPS-Empress 2. PMID:21085798

Titanium nitride plasma-chemical synthesis with titanium tetrachloride raw material in the DC plasma-arc reactor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirpichev, D. E.; Sinaiskiy, M. A.; Samokhin, A. V.; Alexeev, N. V.

2017-04-01

The possibility of plasmochemical synthesis of titanium nitride is demonstrated in the paper. Results of the thermodynamic analysis of TiCl4 - H2 - N2 system are presented; key parameters of TiN synthesis process are calculated. The influence of parameters of plasma-chemical titanium nitride synthesis process in the reactor with an arc plasmatron on characteristics on the produced powders is experimentally investigated. Structure, chemical composition and morphology dependencies on plasma jet enthalpy, stoichiometric excess of hydrogen and nitrogen in a plasma jet are determined.

Electrical characteristics of a free-burning direct-current argon arc operating between 90 and 563 kilowatts with two types of cathodes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curtis, H. B.; Decker, A. J.

1975-01-01

The electrical characteristics of a high-power, long-lived, free-burning dc argon arc are presented. Empirical formulas relating voltage to current, electrode separation, and operating pressure are given for two types of cathodes: a typical point tip cathode and a cathode with a 1.27-cm-(0.5-in.-) diameter crater in the tip. Power was varied from 90 to 563 kW. A discussion of the cathode with the crater tip is given.

Characteristics of Atmospheric Pressure Rotating Gliding Arc Plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hao; Zhu, Fengsen; Tu, Xin; Bo, Zheng; Cen, Kefa; Li, Xiaodong

2016-05-01

In this work, a novel direct current (DC) atmospheric pressure rotating gliding arc (RGA) plasma reactor has been developed for plasma-assisted chemical reactions. The influence of the gas composition and the gas flow rate on the arc dynamic behaviour and the formation of reactive species in the N2 and air gliding arc plasmas has been investigated by means of electrical signals, high speed photography, and optical emission spectroscopic diagnostics. Compared to conventional gliding arc reactors with knife-shaped electrodes which generally require a high flow rate (e.g., 10-20 L/min) to maintain a long arc length and reasonable plasma discharge zone, in this RGA system, a lower gas flow rate (e.g., 2 L/min) can also generate a larger effective plasma reaction zone with a longer arc length for chemical reactions. Two different motion patterns can be clearly observed in the N2 and air RGA plasmas. The time-resolved arc voltage signals show that three different arc dynamic modes, the arc restrike mode, takeover mode, and combined modes, can be clearly identified in the RGA plasmas. The occurrence of different motion and arc dynamic modes is strongly dependent on the composition of the working gas and gas flow rate. supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51576174), the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (No. 20120101110099) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 2015FZA4011)

Vacuum arc plasma thrusters with inductive energy storage driver

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schein, Jochen (Inventor); Gerhan, Andrew N. (Inventor); Woo, Robyn L. (Inventor); Au, Michael Y. (Inventor); Krishnan, Mahadevan (Inventor)

2004-01-01

An apparatus for producing a vacuum arc plasma source device using a low mass, compact inductive energy storage circuit powered by a low voltage DC supply acts as a vacuum arc plasma thruster. An inductor is charged through a switch, subsequently the switch is opened and a voltage spike of Ldi/dt is produced initiating plasma across a resistive path separating anode and cathode. The plasma is subsequently maintained by energy stored in the inductor. Plasma is produced from cathode material, which allows for any electrically conductive material to be used. A planar structure, a tubular structure, and a coaxial structure allow for consumption of cathode material feed and thereby long lifetime of the thruster for long durations of time.

Analytical interpretation of arc instabilities in a DC plasma spray torch: the role of pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rat, V.; Coudert, J. F.

2016-06-01

Arc instabilities in a plasma spray torch are investigated experimentally and theoretically thanks to a linear simplified analytical model. The different parameters that determine the useful properties of the plasma jet at the torch exit, such as specific enthalpy and speed, but also pressure inside the torch and time variations of the flow rate are studied. The work is particularly focused on the link between the recorded arc voltage and the pressure in the cathode cavity. A frequency analysis of the recorded voltage and pressure allows the separation of different contributions following their spectral characteristics and highlights a resonance effect due to Helmholtz oscillations; these oscillations are responsible for the large amplitude fluctuations of all the parameters investigated. The influence of heat transfer, friction forces and residence time of the plasma in the nozzle are taken into account, thanks to different characteristics’ times. The volume of the cathode cavity in which the cold gas is stored before entering the arc region appears to be of prime importance for the dynamics of instabilities, particularly for the non-intuitive effect that induces flow-rate fluctuations in spite of the fact that the torch is fed at a constant flow rate.

Electromagnetic characteristic of twin-wire indirect arc welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shi, Chuanwei; Zou, Yong; Zou, Zengda; Wu, Dongting

2015-01-01

Traditional welding methods are limited in low heat input to workpiece and high welding wire melting rate. Twin-wire indirect arc(TWIA) welding is a new welding method characterized by high melting rate and low heat input. This method uses two wires: one connected to the negative electrode and another to the positive electrode of a direct-current(DC) power source. The workpiece is an independent, non-connected unit. A three dimensional finite element model of TWIA is devised. Electric and magnetic fields are calculated and their influence upon TWIA behavior and the welding process is discussed. The results show that with a 100 A welding current, the maximum temperature reached is 17 758 K, arc voltage is 14.646 V while maximum current density was 61 A/mm2 with a maximum Lorene force of 84.5 μN. The above mentioned arc parameters near the cathode and anode regions are far higher than those in the arc column region. The Lorene force is the key reason for plasma velocity direction deviated and charged particles flowed in the channel formed by the cathode, anode and upper part of arc column regions. This led to most of the energy being supplied to the polar and upper part of arc column regions. The interaction between electric and magnetic fields is a major determinant in shaping TWIA as well as heat input on the workpiece. This is a first study of electromagnetic characteristics and their influences in the TWIA welding process, and it is significant in both a theoretical and practical sense.

Optical and structural properties of colloidal zirconia nanoparticles prepared by arc discharge in liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peymani forooshani, Reza; Poursalehi, Reza; Yourdkhani, Amin

2018-01-01

Zirconia is one of the important ceramic materials with unique properties such as high melting point, high ionic conductivity, high mechanical properties and low thermal conductivity. Therefore, zirconia is one of the useful materials in refractories, thermal barriers, cutting tools, oxygen sensors electrolytes, catalysis, catalyst supports and solid oxide fuel cells. Recently, direct current (DC) arc discharge is extensively employed to synthesis of metal oxide nanostructures in liquid environments. The aim of this work is the synthesis of colloidal zirconia nanoparticles by DC arc discharge method in water as a medium. Arc discharge was ignited between two pure zirconium electrodes in water. Optical and structural properties of prepared colloidal nanoparticles were investigated. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and UV-visible spectroscopy, were employed for characterization of particle size, morphology, crystal structure and optical properties, respectively. SEM images demonstrate that the nanoparticles are spherical in shape with an average size lower than 38 nm. The XRD patterns of the nanoparticles were consistent with tetragonal and monoclinic zirconia crystal structures. The optical transmission spectra of the colloidal solution show optical characteristic of zirconia nanoparticles as a wide band gap semiconductor with no absorption peak in visible wavelength with the considerable amount of oxygen deficiency. Oxidation of colloidal nanoparticles in water could be explained via reaction with either dissociated oxygen from water in hot plasma region or with dissolved oxygen in water. The results provide a simple and flexible method for preparation of zirconia nanoparticles with a capability of mass production without environmental footprints.

Optical and structural properties of carbon dots/TiO2 nanostructures prepared via DC arc discharge in liquid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biazar, Nooshin; Poursalehi, Reza; Delavari, Hamid

2018-01-01

Synthesis and development of visible active catalysts is an important issue in photocatalytic applications of nanomaterials. TiO2 nanostructures coupled with carbon dots demonstrate a considerable photocatalytic activity in visible wavelengths. Extending optical absorption of a wide band gap semiconductor such as TiO2 with carbon dots is the origin of the visible activity of carbon dots modified semiconductor nanostructures. In addition, carbon dots exhibit high photostability, appropriate electron transport and chemical stability without considerable toxicity or environmental footprints. In this study, optical and structural properties of carbon dots/TiO2 nanostructures prepared via (direct current) DC arc discharge in liquid were investigated. Crystal structure, morphology and optical properties of the samples were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-visible spectroscopy respectively. SEM images show formation of spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 27 nm. In comparison with pristine TiO2, optical transmission spectrum of carbon dots/TiO2 nanostructures demonstrates an absorption edge at longer wavelengths as well a high optical absorption in visible wavelengths which is significant for visible activity of nanostructures as a photocatalyst. Finally, these results can provide a flexible and versatile pathway for synthesis of carbon dots/oxide semiconductor nanostructures with an appropriate activity under visible light.

Inertization of heavy metals present in galvanic sludge by DC thermal plasma.

PubMed

Leal Vieira Cubas, Anelise; de Medeiros Machado, Marília; de Medeiros Machado, Marina; Gross, Frederico; Magnago, Rachel Faverzani; Moecke, Elisa Helena Siegel; Gonçalvez de Souza, Ivan

2014-01-01

Galvanic sludge results from the treatment of effluents generated by the industrial metal surface treatment of industrial material, which consists in the deposition of a metal on a surface or a metal surface attack, for example, electrodeposition of conductors (metals) and non conductive, phosphate, anodizing, oxidation and/or printed circuit. The treatment proposed here is exposure of the galvanic sludge to the high temperatures provided by thermal plasma, a process which aims to vitrify the galvanic sludge and render metals (iron, zinc, and chromium) inert. Two different plasma reactors were assembled: with a DC transferred arc plasma torch and with a DC nontransferred arc plasma torch. In this way it was possible to verify which reactor was more efficient in the inertization of the metals and also to investigate whether the addition of quartzite sand to the sludge influences the vitrification of the material. Quantification of water content and density of the galvanic raw sludge were performed, as well as analyzes of total organic carbon (TOC) and identify the elements that make up the raw sludge through spectroscopy X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The chemical composition and the form of the pyrolyzed and vitrified sludge were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS) analysis, which it is a analysis that shows the chemical of the sample surface. The inertization of the sludge was verified in leaching tests, where the leachate was analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The results of water content and density were 64.35% and 2.994 g.cm(-3), respectively. The TOC analysis determined 1.73% of C in the sample of galvanic raw sludge, and XRF analysis determined the most stable elements in the sample, and showed the highest peaks (higher stability) were Fe, Zn, and Cr. The efficiency of the sludge inertization was 100% for chromium, 99% for zinc, and 100% for iron. The results also showed that the most efficient reactor was that with the DC transferred arc plasma torch and quartzite sand positively influenced by the vitrification during the pyrolysis of the galvanic sludge.

Analysis of Optical Emission Spectroscopy from a Long Transferred Arc for Waste Remediation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuliani, J. L.; Rogerson, J. E.; Clark, R. W.; Kepple, P.; Shamamian, V.; Sartwell, B.; Counts, D.

1997-10-01

The Naval Research Laboratory is investigating the application of plasma arc technology for the on-board remediation of waste material generated by sea faring ships. Part of the research component is to determine the plasma characteristics and radiation production in and near the arc under various operating conditions. In this work we present an analysis of the temperature profile in a 100 kW, 20cm long DC transferred arc for currents between 300 and 360Amps and air flow rates from 60 to 90slpm at atmospheric pressure. The working gas was seeded with hydrogen as a diagnostic. Assuming the temperature peaks at the center of the arc and LTE, the emission ratio H_α/H_β should increase radially outward, contrary to the observations. A collisional radiative equilibrium model for H and N was was developed to calculate synthetic spectra. Comparison with the data using various temperature profiles indicates that photo-pumping from the hot core leads to non-LTE populations and an inversion in the emission ratio, similar to the observed data.

ARC-1989-AC89-0114-544

NASA Image and Video Library

1989-02-28

Arctic Ozone Expedition Stavanger Norway: Arlin Carter, NASA Langley Research Center, is shown here with colleague during flight collecting data on the laser ozone mapping experiment. This experiment uses laser beams to determine the extent of column ozone above the DC-8 flying laboratory on which the laser experiment flys.

Integrated arc suppression unit for defect reduction in PVD applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Jason; Narasimhan, Murali K.; Pavate, Vikram; Loo, David; Rosenblum, Steve; Trubell, Larry; Scholl, Richard; Seamons, Scott; Hagerty, Chris; Ramaswami, Sesh

1997-09-01

Arcing between the target and plasma during PVD deposition causes substantial damage to the target and splats and other contamination on the deposited films. Arc-related damages and defects are frequently encountered in microelectronics manufacturing and contributes largely to reduced wafer yields. Arcing is caused largely by the charge buildup at the contaminated sites on the target surface that contains either nonconducting inclusions or nodules. Arc suppression is a key issue for defect reduction, yield improvement and for reliable high quality metallization. An Integrated Arc Suppression Unit (IASU) has been designed for Endura HP PVDTM sputtering sources. The integrated design reduces cable length from unit to source and reduces electrical energy stored in the cable. Active arc handling mode, proactive arc prevention mode, and passive by-pass arc counting mode are incorporated into the same unit. The active mode is designed to quickly respond to chamber conditions, like a large chamber voltage drop, that signals a arc. The self run mode is designed to proactively prevent arc formation by pulsing and reversing target voltage at 50 kHz. The design of the IASU, also called mini small package arc repression circuit--low energy unit (mini Sparc-le), has been optimized for various DC magnetron sources, plasma stability, chamber impedance, power matching, CE MARK test, and power dissipation. Process characterization with Ti, TiN and Al sputtering indicates that the unit has little adverse impact on film properties. Mini Sparc-le unit has been shown here to significantly reduce splats occurrence in Al sputtering. Marathon test of the unit with Ti/TiN test demonstrated the unit's reliability and its ability to reduce sensitivity of defects to target characteristics.

RF plasma probe diagnostics: a method for eliminating measurement errors for Langmuir probes with bare protective shields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riaby, V. A.; Masherov, P. E.; Savinov, V. P.; Yakunin, V. G.

2018-02-01

The new DC arc T-plasmatron of long service life [1] is studied. The well known method of the electric field strength measurements in a stabilized arc channel [2] was applied in a modified form as a consequence of the specific form of the presumably diffuse anode spot attached to a gas vortex on the external surface of the anode unit. The electrical field strength was determined assuming that the potential drop across the diffuse anode spot in the new plasmatron was small. This gave the mean argon plasma conductivity: σ≤118 Ohm-1cm-1 for arc currents I ≤ 180 A which agreed with the independent experiment [2] affirming the correctness of the above assumption. Analysis of the known experimental and theoretic data on atmospheric argon plasma conductivity resulted in the selection of R.S.Devoto’s theoretic dependence σ(T) [3] as the most reliable one for T=8000…20000 K at P = 1 atm that allowed the evaluation of the mean argon plasma temperature at the exit of the plasmatron: T ≤ 19500 K.

Size dependence effect of carbon-based anode material on intercalation characteristics of Li-ion battery

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anwar, Miftahul; Jupri, Dwi Rahmat; Saraswati, Teguh Endah

2017-01-01

This work aims to study the effect of the different size of Li-ion battery anode during charging state. Carbon-Based nanomaterial using arc-discharge in a liquid which is much simpler and cheaper compared to other techniques, i.e., CVD, laser vaporization, etc. The experiment was performed using intermediate DC power supply (1300 W) to produce an arc, and commercial graphite pencils (with 5 mm diameter) as negative and positive electrodes. Deionized water mixed with ethanol was used as a heat absorber. The result shows that arc discharge in deionized water could effectively produce carbon nanomaterial (i.e., nano-onions). In addition, finite element method-based simulation of the different intercalating process of Li-ion to the different shape of the anode, i.e., bulk semi-porous and porous anode materials for battery application is also presented. The results show that intercalation of Li ions depends on the anode structure due to the different potential density at anode region. This finding will provide support for design of Li-ion battery based on carbon nanomaterial

Accuracy of trace element determinations in alternate fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenbauer-Seng, L. A.

1980-01-01

A review of the techniques used at Lewis Research Center (LeRC) in trace metals analysis is presented, including the results of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and DC Arc Emission Spectrometry of blank levels and recovery experiments for several metals. The design of an Interlaboratory Study conducted by LeRC is presented. Several factors were investigated, including: laboratory, analytical technique, fuel type, concentration, and ashing additive. Conclusions drawn from the statistical analysis will help direct research efforts toward those areas most responsible for the poor interlaboratory analytical results.

700 Honor ARC Pioneers and Founders at Gathering in Washington.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appalachia, 1985

1985-01-01

The Appalachian Regional Commission celebrated its 20th anniversary by honoring commission pioneers and founders at a Washington, DC, gathering. A new program aimed at lowering the region's school dropout rate was announced at the banquet. State plans and investment programs and a finish-up program accomplishments were approved at a business…

Copper-tantalum alloy

DOEpatents

Schmidt, Frederick A.; Verhoeven, John D.; Gibson, Edwin D.

1986-07-15

A tantalum-copper alloy can be made by preparing a consumable electrode consisting of an elongated copper billet containing at least two spaced apart tantalum rods extending longitudinally the length of the billet. The electrode is placed in a dc arc furnace and melted under conditions which co-melt the copper and tantalum to form the alloy.

Determination of As in tree-rings of poplar (Populus alba L.) by U-shaped DC arc.

PubMed

Marković, D M; Novović, I; Vilotić, D; Ignjatović, Lj

2009-04-01

An argon-stabilized U-shaped DC arc with a system for aerosol introduction was used for determination of As in poplar (Populus alba L.) tree-rings. After optimization of the operating parameters and selection of the most appropriate signal integration time (30 s), the limit of detection for As was reduced to 15.0 ng/mL. This detection limit obtained with the optimal integration time was compared with those for other methods: inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), direct coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES), microwave induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MIP-AES) and improved thermospray flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (TS-FF-AAS). Arsenic is toxic trace element which can adversely affect plant, animal and human health. As an indicator of environment pollution we collected poplar tree-rings from two locations. The first area was close to the "Nikola Tesla" (TENT-A) power plant, Obrenovac, while the other was in the urban area of Novi Sad. In all cases elevated average concentrations of As were registered in poplar tree-rings from the Obrenovac location.

Numerical study of turbulence-influence mechanism on arc characteristics in an air direct current circuit breaker

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Mingliang; Yang, Fei; Rong, Mingzhe; Wu, Yi; Qi, Yang; Cui, Yufei; Liu, Zirui; Guo, Anxiang

2016-04-01

This paper focuses on the numerical investigation of arc characteristics in an air direct current circuit breaker (air DCCB). Using magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) theory, 3D laminar model and turbulence model are constructed and calculated. The standard k-epsilon model is utilized to consider the turbulence effect in the arc chamber of the DCCB. Several important phenomena are found: the arc column in the turbulence-model case is more extensive, moves much more slowly than the counterpart in the laminar-model case, and shows stagnation at the entrance of the chamber, unlike in the laminar-model case. Moreover, the arc voltage in the turbulence-model case is much lower than in the laminar-model case. However, the results in the turbulence-model case show a much better agreement with the results of the breaking experiments under DC condition than in the laminar-model case, which is contradictory to the previous conclusions from the arc researches of both the low-voltage circuit breaker and the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) nozzle. First, in the previous air-arc research of the low-voltage circuit breaker, it is assumed that the air plasma inside the chamber is in the state of laminar, and the laminar-model application gives quite satisfactory results compared with the experiments, while in this paper, the laminar-model application works badly. Second, the turbulence-model application in the arc research of the SF6-nozzle performs much better and gives higher arc voltage than the laminar-model application does, whereas in this paper, the turbulence-model application predicts lower arc voltage than the laminar-model application does. Based on the analysis of simulation results in detail, the mechanism of the above phenomena is revealed. The transport coefficients are strongly changed by turbulence, which will enhance the arc diffusion and make the arc volume much larger. Consequently, the arc appearance and the distribution of Lorentz force in the turbulence-model case substantially differ from the arc appearance and the distribution of Lorentz force in the laminar-model case. Thus, the moving process of the arc in the turbulence-model case is slowed down and slower than in the laminar-model case. Moreover, the more extensive arc column in the turbulence-model case reduces the total arc resistance, which results in a lower arc voltage, more consistent with the experimental results than the arc voltage in the laminar-model case. Therefore, the air plasma inside this air DCCB is believed to be in the turbulence state, and the turbulence model is more suitable than the laminar model for the arc simulation of this kind of air DCCB.

Numerical study of turbulence-influence mechanism on arc characteristics in an air direct current circuit breaker

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

Wu, Mingliang; Yang, Fei, E-mail: yfei2007@mail.xjtu.edu.cn; Rong, Mingzhe

This paper focuses on the numerical investigation of arc characteristics in an air direct current circuit breaker (air DCCB). Using magneto-hydrodynamics (MHD) theory, 3D laminar model and turbulence model are constructed and calculated. The standard k-epsilon model is utilized to consider the turbulence effect in the arc chamber of the DCCB. Several important phenomena are found: the arc column in the turbulence-model case is more extensive, moves much more slowly than the counterpart in the laminar-model case, and shows stagnation at the entrance of the chamber, unlike in the laminar-model case. Moreover, the arc voltage in the turbulence-model case ismore » much lower than in the laminar-model case. However, the results in the turbulence-model case show a much better agreement with the results of the breaking experiments under DC condition than in the laminar-model case, which is contradictory to the previous conclusions from the arc researches of both the low-voltage circuit breaker and the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) nozzle. First, in the previous air-arc research of the low-voltage circuit breaker, it is assumed that the air plasma inside the chamber is in the state of laminar, and the laminar-model application gives quite satisfactory results compared with the experiments, while in this paper, the laminar-model application works badly. Second, the turbulence-model application in the arc research of the SF6-nozzle performs much better and gives higher arc voltage than the laminar-model application does, whereas in this paper, the turbulence-model application predicts lower arc voltage than the laminar-model application does. Based on the analysis of simulation results in detail, the mechanism of the above phenomena is revealed. The transport coefficients are strongly changed by turbulence, which will enhance the arc diffusion and make the arc volume much larger. Consequently, the arc appearance and the distribution of Lorentz force in the turbulence-model case substantially differ from the arc appearance and the distribution of Lorentz force in the laminar-model case. Thus, the moving process of the arc in the turbulence-model case is slowed down and slower than in the laminar-model case. Moreover, the more extensive arc column in the turbulence-model case reduces the total arc resistance, which results in a lower arc voltage, more consistent with the experimental results than the arc voltage in the laminar-model case. Therefore, the air plasma inside this air DCCB is believed to be in the turbulence state, and the turbulence model is more suitable than the laminar model for the arc simulation of this kind of air DCCB.« less

Controlled synthesis of different metal oxide nanostructures by direct current arc discharge.

PubMed

Su, Yanjie; Zhang, Jing; Zhang, Liling; Zhang, Yafei

2013-02-01

Direct current (DC) arc discharge method gives high temperature in a short time, which has been widely used to prepare carbon nanotubes. We use this simple approach to synthesize metal oxide nanostructures (MgO, SnO2) without any catalyst. Different morphologies (nanowires, nanobelts, nanocubes, and nanodisks) of metal oxide nanostructures can be controllably synthesized by changing the content of air in buffer gas. The growth mechanisms for these nanostructures are discussed in detail. Oxygen partial pressure is supposed to be one of the most important key factors. The methodology might be used to synthesize similar nanostructures of other functional oxide materials and non-oxide materials.

Synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotube from different grades of carbon black using arc discharge method

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

Arora, Neha, E-mail: n4neha31@gmail.com; Sharma, N. N.; Director, School of Automobile, Mechanical & Mechatronics, Manipal University,Jaipur,India

2016-04-13

This paper describes the synthesis of nanotube from different grades (Tread * A(non-ASTM), N134,N121,N660 and N330)of carbon black using DC arc discharge method at 40A current for 60sec. Carbon black samples of different grades were procured from industry (Aditya Birla Science and Technology Limited, India). Scanning Electron Micrographs (SEM) of the deposited carbon nanostructures suggests that MWCNTs are formed at 40A and for a minimal exposure time of 60sec.The result formed indicates the N330 grade of carbon black gets converted to MWCNTs (Multiwall Carbon nanotube) as compared to other grades.

Radiation Power as Function of Current in Wall-stabilized AC Arc of Water-cooled Vortex Type with Small Caliber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwao, Toru; Naito, Yuto; Shimizu, Yuta; Yamamoto, Shinji

2016-10-01

The problem of an emergency large-scale lighting with the high-intensity discharge (HID) lamp is the lack of radiation intensity because of inappropriate energy balance. Some researchers have researched that the radiation power depended on the arc temperature increases with increasing the current. However, the heat loss and the erosion of the electrode as well as the radiation power increases with increasing the current excessively. AC current replaces alternately the cathode and the anode. Thus, it is possible to avoid the concentration of the heat transfer to the anode. Moreover, the lamp efficiency decreases with increasing the current excessively because of ultra violet rays increment. It is necessary to control the temperature distribution with controlling the current and radius. In this paper, the radiation power as a function of the current in the wall-stabilized AC arc of water-cooled vortex type with small caliber was measured. As a result, the radiation power increased with increasing the current and appropriate wall radius. The radiation of AC arc is smaller than it of DC arc. And, the erosion of electrode decreases.

Development of strain gages for use to 1311 K (1900 F)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lemcoe, M. M.

1974-01-01

A high temperature electric resistance strain gage system was developed and evaluated to 1366 K (2000 F) for periods of at least one hour. Wire fabricated from a special high temperature strain gage alloy (BCL-3), was used to fabricate the gages. Various joining techniques (NASA butt welding, pulse arc, plasma needle arc, and dc parallel gap welding) were investigated for joining gage filaments to each other, gage filaments to lead-tab ribbons, and lead-tab ribbons to lead wires. The effectiveness of a clad-wire concept as a means of minimizing apparent strain of BCL-3 strain gages was investigated by sputtering platinum coatings of varying thicknesses on wire samples and establishing the optimum coating thickness--in terms of minimum resistivity changes with temperature. Finally, the moisture-proofing effectiveness of barrier coatings subjected to elevated temperatures was studied, and one commercial barrier coating (BLH Barrier H Waterproofing) was evaluated.

Constitutive heterologous overexpression of a TIR-NB-ARC-LRR gene encoding a putative disease resistance protein from wild Chinese Vitis pseudoreticulata in Arabidopsis and tobacco enhances resistance to phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria.

PubMed

Wen, Zhifeng; Yao, Liping; Singer, Stacy D; Muhammad, Hanif; Li, Zhi; Wang, Xiping

2017-03-01

Plants use resistance (R) proteins to detect pathogen effector proteins and activate their innate immune response against the pathogen. The majority of these proteins contain an NB-ARC (nucleotide-binding adaptor shared by APAF-1, R proteins, and CED-4) domain along with a leucine-rich repeat (LRR), and some also bear a toll interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain. In this study, we characterized a gene encoding a TIR-NB-ARC-LRR R protein (VpTNL1) (GenBank accession number KX649890) from wild Chinese grapevine Vitis pseudoreticulata accession "Baihe-35-1", which was identified previously from a transcriptomic analysis of leaves inoculated with powdery mildew (PM; Erysiphe necator (Schw.)). The VpTNL1 transcript was found to be highly induced in V. pseudoreticulata following inoculation with E. necator, as well as treatment with salicylic acid (SA). Sequence analysis demonstrated that the deduced amino acid sequence contained a TIR domain at the N-terminus, along with an NB-ARC and four LRRs domains within the C-terminus. Constitutive expression of VpTNL1 in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in either a wild-type or dwarf phenotype. Intriguingly, the phenotypically normal transgenic lines displayed enhanced resistance to Arabidopsis PM, Golovinomyces cichoracearum, as well as to the virulent bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. Similarly, constitutive expression of VpTNL1 in Nicotiana tabacum was found to confer enhanced resistance to tobacco PM, Erysiphe cichoacearum DC. Subsequent isolation of the VpTNL1 promoter and deletion analysis indicated that TC-rich repeats and TCA elements likely play an important role in its response to E. necator and SA treatment, respectively. Taken together, these results indicate that VpTNL1 contributes to PM resistance in grapevine and provide an interesting gene target for the future amelioration of grape via breeding and/or biotechnology. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of Cu nanotubes and nanothreads by electrical arc evaporation.

PubMed

Yadav, Ram Manohar; Singh, A K; Srivastava, O N

2003-06-01

We report the formation and characterization of copper nanostructures, nanotubules and nanothreads, which were obtained by electrical arc evaporation of Cu electrodes under varied conditions of He ambience. Electrical arc evaporation was done with approximately 10 V and (approximately 50-100 A) DC current. The current was used in a pulse mode. The evaporated material was condensed on a formvar-coated Cu grid mounted on a liquid N2-cooled specimen holder. Transmission electron microscopy was employed to characterize the condensed materials. These investigations revealed that the condensed materials consisted of the mentioned nanostructures. Nanotubes and nanothreads are formed for a He pressure in the chamber corresponding to approximately 140 and approximately 500 torr, respectively. Extensive electron microscopic investigations showed that the diameter of the nanotubes varied from approximately 5 nm to approximately 50 nm and their length from 2 microns to 3 microns.

3D magnetohydrodynamic modelling of a dc low-current plasma arc batch reactor at very high pressure in helium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lebouvier, A.; Iwarere, S. A.; Ramjugernath, D.; Fulcheri, L.

2013-04-01

This paper deals with a three-dimensional (3D) time-dependent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model under peculiar conditions of very high pressures (from 2 MPa up to 10 MPa) and low currents (<1 A). Studies on plasma arc working under these unusual conditions remain almost unexplored because of the technical and technological challenges to develop a reactor able to sustain a plasma at very high pressures. The combined effect of plasma reactivity and high pressure would probably open the way towards new promising applications in various fields: chemistry, lightning, materials or nanomaterial synthesis. A MHD model helps one to understand the complex and coupled phenomena surrounding the plasma which cannot be understood by simply experimentation. The model also provides data which are difficult to directly determine experimentally. The model simulates an experimental-based batch reactor working with helium. The particular reactor in question was used to investigate the Fischer-Tropsch application, fluorocarbon production and CO2 retro-conversion. However, as a first approach in terms of MHD, the model considers the case for helium as a non-reactive working gas. After a detailed presentation of the model, a reference case has been fully analysed (P = 8 MPa, I = 0.35 A) in terms of physical properties. The results show a bending of the arc and displacement of the anodic arc root towards the top of the reactor, due to the combined effects of convection, gravity and electromagnetic forces. A parametric study on the pressure (2-10 MPa) and current (0.25-0.4 A) was then investigated. The operating pressure does not show an influence on the contraction of the arc but higher pressures involve a higher natural convection in the reactor, driven by the density gradients between the cold and hot gas.

Tantalum-copper alloy and method for making

DOEpatents

Schmidt, Frederick A.; Verhoeven, John D.; Gibson, Edwin D.

1984-11-06

A tantalum-copper alloy can be made by preparing a consumable electrode consisting of an elongated copper billet containing at least two spaced apart tantalum rods extending longitudinally the length of the billet. The electrode is placed in a dc arc furnace and melted under conditions which co-melt the copper and tantalum to form the alloy.

Tantalum-copper alloy and method for making

DOEpatents

Schmidt, F.A.; Verhoeven, J.D.; Gibson, E.D.

1983-06-01

A tantalum-copper alloy can be made by preparing a consumable electrode consisting of an elongated copper billet containing at least two spaced apart tantalum rods extending longitudinally the length of the billet. The electrode is placed in a dc arc furnace and melted under conditions which co-melt the copper and tantalum to form the alloy.

ARC-2006-ACD06-0135-014

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-08-19

DC-8 NAMMA MISSION TO CAPE VERDE, AFRICA: Glenn Diskin (l) Bruce Anderson (c) & Ed Winstead (r) examine data on computer screens hooked up to two Langley Res. Ctr. experiments. The DLH (Diode Laser Hygometer) screen is on the left and one of the computer screens for the LARGE instrument package (Langley Aerosol Research Group Experiment) is on the right.

Analysis of the characteristics of DC nozzle arcs in air and guidance for the search of SF6 replacement gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, J.; Zhang, Q.; Yan, J. D.; Zhong, J.; Fang, M. T. C.

2016-11-01

It is shown that the arc model based on laminar flow cannot predict satisfactorily the voltage of an air arc burning in a supersonic nozzle. The Prandtl mixing length model (PML) and a modified k-epsilon turbulence model (MKE) are used to introduce turbulence enhanced momentum and energy transport. Arc voltages predicted by these two turbulence models are in good agreement with experiments at the stagnation pressure (P 0) of 10 bar. The predicted arc voltages by MKE for P 0  =  13 bar and 7 bar are in better agreement with experiments than those predicted by PML. MKE is therefore a preferred turbulence model for an air nozzle arc. There are two peaks in ρC P of air at 4000 K and 7000 K due, respectively, to the dissociation of oxygen and that of nitrogen. These peaks produce corresponding peaks in turbulent thermal conductivity, which results in very broad radial temperature profile and a large arc radius. Thus, turbulence indirectly enhances axial enthalpy transport, which becomes the dominant energy transport process for the overall energy balance of the arc column at high currents. When the current reduces, turbulent thermal conduction gradually becomes dominant. The temperature dependence of ρC P has a decisive influence on the radial temperature profile of a turbulent arc, thus the thermal interruption capability of a gas. Comparison between ρC P for air and SF6 shows that ρC P for SF6 has peaks below 4000 K. This renders a distinctive arc core and a small arc radius for turbulent SF6, thus superior arc quenching capability. It is suggested, for the first time, that ρC P provides guidance for the search of a replacement switching gas for SF6.

Pulsed-DC selfsputtering of copper

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiatrowski, A.; Posadowski, W. M.; Radzimski, Z. J.

2008-03-01

At standard magnetron sputtering conditions (argon pressure ~0.5 Pa) inert gas particles are often entrapped in the formed films. Inert gas contamination can be eliminated by using the self-sustained magnetron sputtering process because it is done in the absence of the inert gas atmosphere. The self-sustained sputtering (SSS) gives also a unique condition during the transport of sputtered particles to the substrate. It is especially useful for filling high aspect ratio submicron scale structures for microelectronics. So far it has been shown that the self-sputtering process can be sustained in the DC operation mode (DC-SSS) only. The main disadvantage of DC-SSS process is instability related to possible arc formation. Usage of pulsed sputtering, similarly to reactive pulsed magnetron sputtering, could eliminate this problem. In this paper results of pulsed-DC self-sustained magnetron sputtering (pulsed DC-SSS) of copper are presented for the first time. The planar magnetron equipped with a 50 mm in diameter and 6 mm thick copper target was powered by DC-power supply modulated by power switch. The maximum target power was about 11 kW (~550W/cm2). The magnetron operation was investigated as a function of pulsing frequency (20-100 kHz) and duty factor (50-90%). The discharge extinction pressure was determined for these conditions. The plasma emission spectra (400-410nm range) and deposition rates were observed for both DC and pulsed DC sustained self-sputtering processes. The presented results illustrate that stable pulsed DC-SSS process can be obtained at pulsing frequency in the range of 60-100 kHz and duty factor of 70-90%.

Effect of different light sources in combination with a light-transmitting post on the degree of conversion of resin composite at different depths of simulated root canals.

PubMed

Zorba, Yahya Orcun; Erdemir, Ali; Ahmetoglu, Fuat; Yoldas, Oguz

2011-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of conversion (DC) of composite resin at different depths of simulated immature root canals using light-transmitting plastic post (LTPP) and three different light sources. Composite resin was packed into 60 black plastic cylinders 12mm in length with 4mm internal diameters to simulate immature root canals. LTPPs were inserted into half of the simulated canals and the other half acted as controls. Both the simulated canals with LTPPs and the controls were divided into three groups of 10, and each group was cured using either a quartz-tungsten-halogen (QTH), light-emitting diode (LED), or plasma arc (PAC) curing unit. Specimens were sectioned in three horizontally 24h after curing to represent cervical, middle, and apical levels. DC for each section of composite resin was measured using a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, and data were analyzed using three-way anova and Tukey tests. At the cervical level, no significant differences were found between specimens cured using different light sources or between specimens with and without LTPPs (P>0.05). However, DC was significantly higher in specimens with LTPPs than in those without LTPPs at both the middle and apical levels (P<0.05). The mean DC of all specimens with LTPPs was significantly higher than that of specimens without LTPPs (P<0.05). PAC unit showed lower DC than QTH and LED units at both the middle and apical levels; however, the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The results of this study suggest that the use of a LTPP increased the DC of composite resin at the middle and apical levels of simulated immature root canals, but that DC was independent of type of light source. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Solid-state semiconductors are better alternatives to arc-lamps for efficient and uniform illumination in minimal access surgery.

PubMed

Lee, Alex C H; Elson, Daniel S; Neil, Mark A; Kumar, Sunil; Ling, Bingo W; Bello, Fernando; Hanna, George B

2009-03-01

Current arc-lamp illumination systems have a number of technical and ergonomic limitations. White light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are energy-efficient solid-state lighting devices which are small, durable and inexpensive. Their use as an alternative to arc-lamp light sources in minimal access surgery has not been explored. This study aims to develop an LED-based endo-illuminator and to determine its lighting characteristics for use in minimal access surgery. We developed an LED endo-illuminator using a white LED mounted at the tip of a steel rod. Offline image analysis was carried out to compare the illuminated field using the LED endo-illuminator or an arc-lamp based endoscope in terms of uniformity, shadow sharpness and overall image intensity. Direct radiometric power measurements in light intensity and stability were obtained. Visual perception of fine details at the peripheral endoscopic field was assessed by 13 subjects using the different illumination systems. Illumination from the LED endo-illuminator was more uniform compared to illumination from an arc-lamp source, especially at the closer distance of 4 cm (0.0006 versus 0.0028 arbitrary units--lower value indicates more uniform illumination). The shadows were also sharper (edge widths of 16 versus 44 pixels for the first edge and 15 versus 61 pixels for the second edge). The overall mean image intensity was higher (127 versus 100 arbitrary units) when using the autoshutter mode despite the lower direct radiometric power, about one tenth of the arc-lamp endoscopic system. The illumination was also more stable with less flickering (0.02% versus 5% of total power in non-DC components). Higher median scores on visual perception was also obtained (237 versus 157, p < 0.001). The LED endo-illuminator provides more uniform illumination with sharper shadows, less flickering and better illumination for visual perception than the arc-lamp-based system currently used.

Bifurcations in the theory of current transfer to cathodes of DC discharges and observations of transitions between different modes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bieniek, M. S.; Santos, D. F. N.; Almeida, P. G. C.; Benilov, M. S.

2018-04-01

General scenarios of transitions between different spot patterns on electrodes of DC gas discharges and their relation to bifurcations of steady-state solutions are analyzed. In the case of cathodes of arc discharges, it is shown that any transition between different modes of current transfer is related to a bifurcation of steady-state solutions. In particular, transitions between diffuse and spot modes on axially symmetric cathodes, frequently observed in the experiment, represent an indication of the presence of pitchfork or fold bifurcations of steady-state solutions. Experimental observations of transitions on cathodes of DC glow microdischarges are analyzed and those potentially related to bifurcations of steady-state solutions are identified. The relevant bifurcations are investigated numerically and the computed patterns are found to conform to those observed in the course of the corresponding transitions in the experiment.

Arcjet power supply and start circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gruber, Robert P. (Inventor)

1988-01-01

A dc power supply for spacecraft arcjet thrusters has an integral automatic starting circuit and an output averaging inductor. The output averaging inductor, in series with the load, provides instantaneous current control, and ignition pulse and an isolated signal proportional to the arc voltage. A pulse width modulated converter, close loop configured, is also incorporated to give fast response output current control.

Synthesis of SiO(x) powder using DC arc plasma.

PubMed

Jung, Chan-Ok; Park, Dong-Wha

2013-02-01

SiO(x) was prepared by DC arc plasma and applied to the anode material of lithium ion batteries. A pellet of a mixture of Si and SiO2 was used as the raw material. The ratios of the silicon and silicon dioxide (SiO2) mixtures were varied by controlling the Si-SiO2 molar ratio (Si-SiO2 = 1-4). Hydrogen gas was used as the reduction atmosphere in the chamber. The prepared SiO(x) was collected on the chamber wall. The obtained SiO(x) was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD and TEM showed that the phase composition of the prepared particles was composed of amorphous SiO(x) and crystalline Si. The prepared SiO(x) showed wire and spherical morphology. XPS indicated the bonding state and 'x' value of the prepared SiO(x), which was close to one. The result of prepared SiO(x) is discussed from thermodynamic equilibrium calculations. The electrochemical behavior of the silicon monoxide anode was investigated.

Effect of Argon/Oxygen Flow Rate Ratios on DC Magnetron Sputtered Nano Crystalline Zirconium Titanate Thin Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rani, D. Jhansi; Kumar, A. GuruSampath; Sarmash, T. Sofi; Chandra Babu Naidu, K.; Maddaiah, M.; Rao, T. Subba

2016-06-01

High transmitting, non absorbent, nano crystalline zirconium titanate (ZT) thin films suitable for anti reflection coatings (ARC) were deposited on to glass substrates by direct current (DC) magnetron reactive sputtering technique, under distinct Argon to Oxygen (Ar/O2) gas flow rate ratios of 31/1, 30/2, 29/3 and 28/4, with a net gas flow (Ar + O2) of 32sccm, at an optimum substrate temperature of 250°C. The influence of the gas mixture ratio on the film properties has been investigated by employing x-ray diffraction (XRD), ultra violet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX) and four point probe methods. The films showed a predominant peak at 30.85° with (111) orientation. The crystallite size reduced from 22.94 nm to 13.5 nm and the surface roughness increased from 11.53 nm to 50.58 nm with increase in oxygen content respectively. The films deposited at 31/1 and 30/2 showed almost similar chemical composition. Increased oxygen content results an increase in electrical resistivity from 3.59 × 103 to 2.1 × 106 Ωm. The film deposited at Ar/O2 of 28/4 exhibited higher average optical transmittance of 91%, but its refractive index is higher than that of what is required for ARC. The films deposited at 31/1 and 30/2 of Ar/O2 possess higher transmittance (low absorbance) apart from suitable refractive index. Thus, these films are preferable candidates for ARC.

Pre-heated dual-cured resin cements: analysis of the degree of conversion and ultimate tensile strength.

PubMed

França, Flávio Álvares; Oliveira, Michele de; Rodrigues, José Augusto; Arrais, César Augusto Galvão

2011-01-01

This study evaluated the degree of conversion (DC) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of dual-cured resin cements heated to 50º C prior to and during polymerization. Disc- and hourglass-shaped specimens of Rely X ARC (RX) and Variolink II (VII) were obtained using addition silicon molds. The products were manipulated at 25º C or 50º C and were subjected to 3 curing conditions: light-activation through a glass slide or through a pre-cured 2-mm thick resin composite disc, or they were allowed to self-cure (SC). All specimens were dark-stored dry for 15 days. For DC analysis, the resin cements were placed into the mold located on the center of a horizontal diamond on the attenuated total reflectance element in the optical bench of a Fourier Transformed Infrared spectrometer. Infrared spectra (n = 6) were collected between 1680 and 1500 cm-1, and DC was calculated by standard methods using changes in ratios of aliphatic-to-aromatic C=C absorption peaks from uncured and cured states. For UTS test, specimens (n = 10) were tested in tension in a universal testing machine (crosshead speed of 1 mm/min) until failure. DC and UTS data were submitted to 2-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey's test (α= 5%). Both products showed higher DC at 50º C than at 25º C in all curing conditions. No significant difference in UTS was noted between most light-activated groups at 25º C and those at 50º C. VII SC groups showed higher UTS at 50º C than at 25º C (p < 0.05). Increased temperature led to higher DC, but its effects on resin cement UTS depended on the curing condition.

Thermal plasma treatment of stormwater sediments: comparison between DC non-transferred and partially transferred arc plasma.

PubMed

Li, O L; Guo, Y; Chang, J S; Saito, N

2015-01-01

The disposal of enormous amount of stormwater sediments becomes an emerging worldwide problem. Stormwater sediments are contaminated by heavy metals, phosphorus, trace organic and hydrocarbons, and cannot be disposed without treatment. Thermal plasma decontamination technology offers a high decomposition rate in a wide range of toxic organic compound and immobilization of heavy metal. In this study, we compared the treatment results between two different modes of thermal plasma: (1) a non-transferred direct current (DC) mode and (2) a partial DC-transferred mode. The reductions of total organic carbon (TOC) were, respectively, 25% and 80% for non-transferred and partially transferred plasma, respectively. Most of the toxic organic compounds were converted majorly to CxHy. In the gaseous emission, the accumulated CxHy, CO, NO and H2S were significantly higher in partially transferred mode than in non-transferred mode. The solid analysis demonstrated that the concentrations of Ca and Fe were enriched by 500% and 40%, respectively. New chemical compositions such as KAlSi3O8, Fe3O4, NaCl and CaSO4 were formed after treatment in partially DC-transferred mode. The power inputs were 1 and 10 kW, respectively, for non-transferred DC mode and a partially DC-transferred mode. With a lower energy input, non-transferred plasma treatment can be used for decontamination of sediments with low TOC and metal concentration. Meanwhile, partially transferred thermal plasma with higher energy input is suitable for treating sediments with high TOC percentage and volatile metal concentration. The organic compounds are converted into valuable gaseous products which can be recycled as an energy source.

Deposition and characterization of titania-silica optical multilayers by asymmetric bipolar pulsed dc sputtering of oxide targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagdeo, P. R.; Shinde, D. D.; Misal, J. S.; Kamble, N. M.; Tokas, R. B.; Biswas, A.; Poswal, A. K.; Thakur, S.; Bhattacharyya, D.; Sahoo, N. K.; Sabharwal, S. C.

2010-02-01

Titania-silica (TiO2/SiO2) optical multilayer structures have been conventionally deposited by reactive sputtering of metallic targets. In order to overcome the problems of arcing, target poisoning and low deposition rates encountered there, the application of oxide targets was investigated in this work with asymmetric bipolar pulsed dc magnetron sputtering. In order to evaluate the usefulness of this deposition methodology, an electric field optimized Fabry Perot mirror for He-Cd laser (λ = 441.6 nm) spectroscopy was deposited and characterized. For comparison, this mirror was also deposited by the reactive electron beam (EB) evaporation technique. The mirrors developed by the two complementary techniques were investigated for their microstructural and optical reflection properties invoking atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry, grazing incidence reflectometry and spectrophotometry. From these measurements the layer geometry, optical constants, mass density, topography, surface and interface roughness and disorder parameters were evaluated. The microstructural properties and spectral functional characteristics of the pulsed dc sputtered multilayer mirror were found to be distinctively superior to the EB deposited mirror. The knowledge gathered during this study has been utilized to develop a 21-layer high-pass edge filter for radio photoluminescence dosimetry.

Optical and Electrical Characteristics of Silver Ion Conducting Nanocomposite Solid Polymer Electrolytes Based on Chitosan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aziz, Shujahadeen B.; Rasheed, Mariwan A.; Abidin, Zul H. Z.

2017-10-01

Optical and electrical properties of nanocomposite solid polymer electrolytes based on chitosan have been investigated. Incorporation of alumina nanoparticles into the chitosan:silver triflate (AgTf) system broadened the surface plasmon resonance peaks of the silver nanoparticles and shifted the absorption edge to lower photon energy. A clear decrease of the optical bandgap in nanocomposite samples containing alumina nanoparticles was observed. The variation of the direct-current (DC) conductivity and dielectric constant followed the same trend with alumina concentration. The DC conductivity increased by two orders of magnitude, which can be attributed to hindrance of silver ion reduction. Transmission electron microscopy was used to interpret the space-charge and blocking effects of alumina nanoparticles on the DC conductivity and dielectric constant. The ion conduction mechanism was interpreted based on the dependences of the electrical and dielectric parameters. The dependence of the DC conductivity on the dielectric constant is explained empirically. Relaxation processes associated with conductivity and viscoelasticity were distinguished based on the incomplete semicircular arcs in plots of the real and imaginary parts of the electric modulus.

Soft-Fault Detection Technologies Developed for Electrical Power Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Button, Robert M.

2004-01-01

The NASA Glenn Research Center, partner universities, and defense contractors are working to develop intelligent power management and distribution (PMAD) technologies for future spacecraft and launch vehicles. The goals are to provide higher performance (efficiency, transient response, and stability), higher fault tolerance, and higher reliability through the application of digital control and communication technologies. It is also expected that these technologies will eventually reduce the design, development, manufacturing, and integration costs for large, electrical power systems for space vehicles. The main focus of this research has been to incorporate digital control, communications, and intelligent algorithms into power electronic devices such as direct-current to direct-current (dc-dc) converters and protective switchgear. These technologies, in turn, will enable revolutionary changes in the way electrical power systems are designed, developed, configured, and integrated in aerospace vehicles and satellites. Initial successes in integrating modern, digital controllers have proven that transient response performance can be improved using advanced nonlinear control algorithms. One technology being developed includes the detection of "soft faults," those not typically covered by current systems in use today. Soft faults include arcing faults, corona discharge faults, and undetected leakage currents. Using digital control and advanced signal analysis algorithms, we have shown that it is possible to reliably detect arcing faults in high-voltage dc power distribution systems (see the preceding photograph). Another research effort has shown that low-level leakage faults and cable degradation can be detected by analyzing power system parameters over time. This additional fault detection capability will result in higher reliability for long-lived power systems such as reusable launch vehicles and space exploration missions.

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-003

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-008

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-009

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-001

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-010

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-005

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-012

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-006

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-007

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-004

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-011

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

ARC-2008-ACD08-0218-002

NASA Image and Video Library

2008-09-30

European Space Agency's 'Jules Verne' Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-1 re-entry in Earth's atmosphere over Pacific Ocean. The breakup ad fragmentation of the ESA's ATV-1 was captured in dramatic fashion by scientists aboard NASA's DC-8 airborne laboratory and a Gulfstream V aircraft as it re-entered the atmosphere early Monday morning over the South Pacific. Photo Credit: NASA Ames Research Center/ESA/Jesse Carpenter/Bill Moede

A 60 mA DC H- multi cusp ion source developed at TRIUMF

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jayamanna, K.; Ames, F.; Bylinskii, I.; Lovera, M.; Minato, B.

2018-07-01

This paper describes the latest high-current multi cusp type ion source developed at TRIUMF, which is capable of producing a negative hydrogen ion beam (H-) of 60 mA of direct current at 140V and 90A arc. The results achieved to date including emittance measurements and filament lifetime issues are presented. The low current version of this ion source is suitable for medical cyclotrons as well as accelerators and the high current version is intended for producing large neutral hydrogen beams for fusion research. The description of the source magnetic configuration, the electron filter profile and the differential pumping techniques given in the paper will allow the building of an arc discharge H- ion source with similar properties.

Optical Plasma Control During ARC Carbon Nanotube Growth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hinkov, I.; Farhat, S.; DeLaChapelle, M. Lamy; Fan, S. S.; Han, H. X.; Li, G. H.; Scott, C. D.

2001-01-01

To improve nanotube production, we developed a novel optical control technique, based on the shape of the visible plasma zone created between the anode and the cathode in the direct current (DC) arc process. For a given inert gas, we adjust the anode to cathode distance (ACD) in order to obtain strong visible vortices around the cathode. This enhance anode vaporization, which improve nanotubes formation. In light of our experimental results, we focus our discussion on the relationship between plasma parameters and nanotube growth. Plasma temperature control during arc process is achieved using argon, helium, and their mixtures as a buffer gases. The variation of the gas mixture from pure argon to pure helium changes plasma temperature. As a consequence, the microscopic characteristics of nanotubes as diameter distribution is changed moving from smaller values for argon to higher diameters for helium. We also observe a dependence of the macroscopic characteristics of the final products as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area.

Effect of additives on the volatility of elements in a DC arc during the atomic emission analysis of nickel(II) oxide

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

Zolotareva, N.I.; Kuzyakov, Yu.Ya.; Khlystova, A.D.

1986-10-20

The authors have studied the effect of traditional halogenating additives, AgCl, CdF/sub 2/, PTFE and that of an effective additive they have selected, ZnF/sub 2/, on the volatility of impurity elements, viz. tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, and zirconium from nickel (II) oxide, and determined the constants for the average relative volatility of the elements by the method of Kantor and Pungor. The results have been used to lower the limits of detection of the impurities cited in nickel(II) oxide.

Preliminary photovoltaic arc-fault prognostic tests using sacrificial fiber optic cabling.

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

Johnson, Jay Dean; Blemel, Kenneth D.; Peter, Francis

2013-02-01

Through the New Mexico Small Business Assistance Program, Sandia National Laboratories worked with Sentient Business Systems, Inc. to develop and test a novel photovoltaic (PV) arc-fault detection system. The system operates by pairing translucent polymeric fiber optic sensors with electrical circuitry so that any external abrasion to the system or internal heating causes the fiber optic connection to fail or detectably degrade. A periodic pulse of light is sent through the optical path using a transmitter-receiver pair. If the receiver does not detect the pulse, an alarm is sounded and the PV system can be de-energized. This technology has themore » unique ability to prognostically determine impending failures to the electrical system in two ways: (a) the optical connection is severed prior to physical abrasion or cutting of PV DC electrical conductors, and (b) the polymeric fiber optic cable melts via Joule heating before an arc-fault is established through corrosion. Three arc-faults were created in different configurations found in PV systems with the integrated fiber optic system to determine the feasibility of the technology. In each case, the fiber optic cable was broken and the system annunciated the fault.« less

Synthesis of nanowires and nanoparticles of cubic aluminium nitride

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balasubramanian, C.; Godbole, V. P.; Rohatgi, V. K.; Das, A. K.; Bhoraskar, S. V.

2004-03-01

Nanostructures of cubic aluminium nitride were synthesized by DC arc-plasma-induced melting of aluminium in a nitrogen-argon ambient. The material flux ejected from the molten aluminium surface was found to react with nitrogen under highly non-equilibrium conditions and subsequently condense on a water-cooled surface to yield a mixture of nanowires and nanoparticles of crystalline cubic aluminium nitride. Both x-ray diffraction and electron diffraction measurements revealed that the as-synthesized nitrides adopted the cubic phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to understand the bonding configuration. Microstructural features of the synthesized material were best studied by transmission electron microscopy. From these analyses cubic aluminium nitride was found to be the dominating phase for both nanowires and nanoparticles synthesized at low currents. The typical particle size distribution was found to range over 15-80 nm, whereas the wires varied from 30 to 100 nm in diameter and 500 to 700 nm in length, depending upon the process parameters such as arc current and the nitrogen pressure. The reaction products inside the plasma zone were also obtained theoretically by minimization of free energy and the favourable zone temperature necessary for the formation of aluminium nitride was found to be {\\sim } 6000 K. Results are discussed in view of the highly non-equilibrium conditions that prevail during the arc-plasma synthesis.

ARC-1964-A-33038-22

NASA Image and Video Library

1964-08-14

Aerial view of Gasdynamics facility in 1964 and the 20 inch helium tunnel Part of the Thermal Protection Laboratory used to research materials for heat shield applications and for aerodynamic heating and materials studies of vehicles in planetary atmospheres.  This laboratory is comprised of five separate facilities: an Aerodynamic Heating Tunnel, a Heat Transfer Tunnel, two Supersonic Turbulent Ducts, and a High-Power CO2 Gasdynamic Laser. All these facilities are driven by arc-heaters, with the exception of the large, combustion-type laser. The arc-heated facilities are powered by a 20 Megawatt DC power supply. Their effluent gas stream (test gases; Air, N2, He, CO2 and mixtures; flow rates from 0.05 to 5.0 lbs/sec) discharges into a five-stage stream-ejector-driven vacuum system. The vacuum system and power supply are common to the test faciities in building N-238. All of the facilities have high pressure water available at flow rates up to 4, 000 gals/min. The data obtained from these facilities are recorded on magnetic tape or oscillographs. All forms of data can be handled whether from thermo-couples, pressure cells, pyrometers, or radiometers, etc. in addition, closed circuit T. V. monitors and various film cameras are available. (operational since 1962)

DC Electric Arc Furnace Application for Production of Nickel-Boron Master Alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alkan, Murat; Tasyürek, Kerem Can; Bugdayci, Mehmet; Turan, Ahmet; Yücel, Onuralp

2017-09-01

In this study, nickel-boron (Ni-B) alloys were produced via a carbothermic reduction starting from boric acid (H3BO3) with high-purity nickel oxide (NiO), charcoal, and wood chips in a direct current arc furnace. In electric arc furnace experiments, different starting mixtures were used, and their effects on the chemical compositions of the final Ni-B alloys were investigated. After the reduction and melting stages, Ni-B alloys were obtained by tapping from the bottom of the furnace. The samples from the designated areas were also taken and analyzed. The chemical composition of the final alloys and selected samples were measured with wet chemical analysis. The Ni-B alloys had a composition of up to 14.82 mass% B. The phase contents of the final alloys and selected samples were measured using x-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD data helped predict possible reactions and reaction mechanisms. The material and energy balance calculations were made via the XRD Rietveld and chemical compositions. Nickel boride phases started to form 600 mm below the surface. The targeted NiB phase was detected at the tapping zone of the crucible (850-900 mm depth). The energy consumption was 1.84-4.29 kWh/kg, and the electrode consumption was 10-12 g/kg of raw material charged.

Pulsed microdischarge with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for elemental analysis on solid metal samples.

PubMed

Li, Weifeng; Yin, Zhibin; Cheng, Xiaoling; Hang, Wei; Li, Jianfeng; Huang, Benli

2015-05-05

Pulsed microdischarge employed as source for direct solid analysis was investigated in N2 environment at atmospheric pressure. Compared with direct current (DC) microdischarge, it exhibits advantages with respect to the ablation and emission of the sample. Comprehensive evidence, including voltage-current relationship, current density (j), and electron density (ne), suggests that pulsed microdischarge is in the arc regime while DC microdischarge belongs to glow. Capability in ablating metal samples demonstrates that pulsed microdischarge is a viable option for direct solid sampling because of the enhanced instantaneous energy. Using optical spectrometer, only common emission lines of N2 can be acquired in DC mode, whereas primary atomic and ionic lines of the sample are obtained in the case of pulsed mode. Calculations show a significant difference in N2 vibrational temperatures between DC and pulsed microdischarge. Combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), pulsed microdischarge exhibits much better performances in calibration linearity and limits of detection (LOD) than those of DC discharge in direct analysis of samples of different matrices. To improve transmission efficiency, a mixture of Ar and N2 was employed as discharge gas as well as carrier gas in follow-up experiments, facilitating that LODs of most elements reached ng/g.

Microscopic diagnosis of the leaf and stem of Piper solmsianum C.DC.

PubMed

Bertocco, A R P; Migacz, I P; Santos, V L P; Franco, C R C; Silva, R Z; Yunes, R A; Cechinel-Filho, V; Budel, J M

2017-08-01

Piper solmsianum C.DC., which is popularly known as pariparoba, is a shrub that measures 1-3 m in height and it inhabits areas with wet tropical soils. The objective of this study was to analyze the leaf and stem anatomy using light microscopy, scanning electron micrographs, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in order to provide information for species identification. The anatomical profile showed the following main microscopic markers: hypostomatic leaf; hypodermis layer on both sides; pearl glands; biconvex midrib shape; five collateral vascular bundles in open arc with the central bundle larger than the others; circular stem shape; collateral vascular bundles arranged in two rings; sinuous sclerenchymatic sheath in the pith; secretory idioblasts; and starch grains in the mesophyll, in the ground parenchyma of the midrib, petiole, and in the stem; and six morphotypes of calcium oxalate crystals (styloids, cuneiform, tabular crystal rosettes, cuneiform crystal rosettes, elongated square dipyramids, as well as very elongated square dipyramids). © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dye penetrant indications caused by superficial surface defects in 2014 aluminum alloy welds.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hocker, R. G.; Wilson, K. R.

1971-01-01

Demonstration that dye penetrant indications on the heat-affected zone of 2014-T6 aluminum GMA weldments are frequently caused by superficial surface conditions and are less than 0.007 in. deep. The following methods are suggested for minimization of these surface defects: stabilization of the arc, application of dc ?GTA' welding procedures, reduction of the caustic etch time, and use of fine grain materials.

Electric field induced needle-pulsed arc discharge carbon nanotube production apparatus: circuitry and mechanical design.

PubMed

Kia, Kaveh Kazemi; Bonabi, Fahimeh

2012-12-01

A simple and low cost apparatus is reported to produce multiwall carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-onions by a low power short pulsed arc discharge reactor. The electric circuitry and the mechanical design details and a micro-filtering assembly are described. The pulsed-plasma is generated and applied between two graphite electrodes. The pulse width is 0.3 μs. A strong dc electric field is established along side the electrodes. The repetitive discharges occur in less than 1 mm distance between a sharp tip graphite rod as anode, and a tubular graphite as cathode. A hydrocarbon vapor, as carbon source, is introduced through the graphite nozzle in the cathode assembly. The pressure of the chamber is controlled by a vacuum pump. A magnetic field, perpendicular to the plasma path, is provided. The results show that the synergetic use of a pulsed-current and a dc power supply enables us to synthesize carbon nanoparticles with short pulsed plasma. The simplicity and inexpensiveness of this plan is noticeable. Pulsed nature of plasma provides some extra degrees of freedom that make the production more controllable. Effects of some design parameters such as electric field, pulse frequency, and cathode shape are discussed. The products are examined using scanning probe microscopy techniques.

Electric field induced needle-pulsed arc discharge carbon nanotube production apparatus: Circuitry and mechanical design

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

Kia, Kaveh Kazemi; Bonabi, Fahimeh

A simple and low cost apparatus is reported to produce multiwall carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-onions by a low power short pulsed arc discharge reactor. The electric circuitry and the mechanical design details and a micro-filtering assembly are described. The pulsed-plasma is generated and applied between two graphite electrodes. The pulse width is 0.3 {mu}s. A strong dc electric field is established along side the electrodes. The repetitive discharges occur in less than 1 mm distance between a sharp tip graphite rod as anode, and a tubular graphite as cathode. A hydrocarbon vapor, as carbon source, is introduced through themore » graphite nozzle in the cathode assembly. The pressure of the chamber is controlled by a vacuum pump. A magnetic field, perpendicular to the plasma path, is provided. The results show that the synergetic use of a pulsed-current and a dc power supply enables us to synthesize carbon nanoparticles with short pulsed plasma. The simplicity and inexpensiveness of this plan is noticeable. Pulsed nature of plasma provides some extra degrees of freedom that make the production more controllable. Effects of some design parameters such as electric field, pulse frequency, and cathode shape are discussed. The products are examined using scanning probe microscopy techniques.« less

Determination of Fe, Hg, Mn, and Pb in three-rings of poplar (Populus alba L.) by U-shaped DC arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marković, D. M.; Novović, I.; Vilotić, D.; Ignjatović, Lj.

2007-09-01

The U-shaped DC arc with aerosol supply was applied for the determination of Fe, Hg, Mn, and Pb in poplar (Populus alba L.) tree-rings. By optimization of the operating parameters and by selection of the most appropriate signal integration time (20 s for Fe, Mn, and Pb and 30 s for Hg), the obtained limits of detection for Fe, Hg, Mn, and Pb are 5.8, 2.6, 1.6, and 2.0 ng/ml, respectively. The detection limits achieved by this method for Fe, Hg, Mn, and Pb are comparable with the detection limits obtained for these elements by such methods as inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), direct coupled plasmatomic emission spectrometry (DCP-AES), and microwave-induced plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (MIP-AES). We used the tree-rings of poplar from two different locations. The first one is in the area close to the power plant “Nikola Tesla” TENT A, Obrenovac, while the other one is in the urban area of Novi Sad. In almost all cases, samples from the location at Obrenovac registered elevated average concentrations of Fe, Hg, Mn, and Pb in the tree-rings of poplar.

Electric field induced needle-pulsed arc discharge carbon nanotube production apparatus: Circuitry and mechanical design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kia, Kaveh Kazemi; Bonabi, Fahimeh

2012-12-01

A simple and low cost apparatus is reported to produce multiwall carbon nanotubes and carbon nano-onions by a low power short pulsed arc discharge reactor. The electric circuitry and the mechanical design details and a micro-filtering assembly are described. The pulsed-plasma is generated and applied between two graphite electrodes. The pulse width is 0.3 μs. A strong dc electric field is established along side the electrodes. The repetitive discharges occur in less than 1 mm distance between a sharp tip graphite rod as anode, and a tubular graphite as cathode. A hydrocarbon vapor, as carbon source, is introduced through the graphite nozzle in the cathode assembly. The pressure of the chamber is controlled by a vacuum pump. A magnetic field, perpendicular to the plasma path, is provided. The results show that the synergetic use of a pulsed-current and a dc power supply enables us to synthesize carbon nanoparticles with short pulsed plasma. The simplicity and inexpensiveness of this plan is noticeable. Pulsed nature of plasma provides some extra degrees of freedom that make the production more controllable. Effects of some design parameters such as electric field, pulse frequency, and cathode shape are discussed. The products are examined using scanning probe microscopy techniques.

High-Hall-Mobility Al-Doped ZnO Films Having Textured Polycrystalline Structure with a Well-Defined (0001) Orientation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nomoto, Junichi; Makino, Hisao; Yamamoto, Tetsuya

2016-06-01

Five hundred-nanometer-thick ZnO-based textured polycrystalline films consisting of 490-nm-thick Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films deposited on 10-nm-thick Ga-doped ZnO (GZO) films exhibited a high Hall mobility ( μ H) of 50.1 cm2/Vs with a carrier concentration ( N) of 2.55 × 1020 cm-3. Firstly, the GZO films were prepared on glass substrates by ion plating with dc arc discharge, and the AZO films were then deposited on the GZO films by direct current magnetron sputtering (DC-MS). The GZO interface layers with a preferential c-axis orientation play a critical role in producing AZO films with texture development of a well-defined (0001) orientation, whereas 500-nm-thick AZO films deposited by only DC-MS showed a mixture of the c-plane and the other plane orientation, to exhibit a μ H of 38.7 cm2/Vs with an N of 2.22 × 1020 cm-3.

Insufficient cure under the condition of high irradiance and short irradiation time.

PubMed

Feng, Li; Carvalho, Ricardo; Suh, Byoung I

2009-03-01

To investigate if and why a plasma arc curing (PAC) light tends to undercure methacrylate-based resins or resin composites. Model dimethacrylate resins, commercial dental adhesives, and commercial resin composites were cured using a PAC light and a halogen light with the similar radiant exposures but different combinations of irradiance and irradiation time. The degree of double bond conversion (DC) was measured with FTIR spectroscopy and analyzed as a function of radiant exposure. The PAC light produced a lower DC than the halogen light for the model resin with the lowest viscosity and for three of the four adhesives. With a high irradiance, the PAC light could cure three of the four composites as thoroughly as its halogen counterpart. When the irradiance was reduced, however, three composites yielded a lower DC. Insufficient cure by PAC lights or any curing lights with very high irradiance is likely to happen when too short an irradiation time is used. It is because under higher irradiance, the lifetime of free radicals is shorter.

Application of Plasma Arcs to the to the Remediation of Shipboard Waste(Supported by ONR and NSWC.)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giuliani, John L.

1996-10-01

The Naval Research Laboratory (B. Sartwell, (Chemistry Division NRL); J. Apruzese, (Plasma Physics Division NRL); S. Peterson, D. Counts, (Geo-Centers Inc.),and Q. Han (U. Minn.)) (NRL) is investigating the application of plasma arc technology for the on-board remediation of waste material generated by sea faring ships. A 150kW DC arc torch within a 1 meter diameter chamber has been used for the pyrolysis of liquid and solid material which simulate the waste stream from a naval ship. A general discussion of the materials treated and the associated problems arising from their pyrolysis in a plasma torch will be presented. The greatest challenge for a shipboard plasma remediation, including any exhaust gas treatment, is the overall size of the system imposed by the limited confines of a ship. Connected with this issue are choices of the arc configuration: transfered vs non-transfered; and the feed stock gas: reducing vs oxidizing. The research component of NRL's program is to characterize the gaseous by-products, the remnant slag, and the plasma arc through systematic experiments, as well as to model the plasma dynamics and chemistry within the chamber. The environment within the chamber is primarily defined by several temperature measurements. Two color pyrometry is used to determine the molten slag temperature ( ~2200 degK) and a suite of thermocouples within the chamber indicate a slighter cooler gas phase temperature. Synthetic spectra were generated from radiation transport calculations and compared with optical emission spectroscopy to map the gas temperature around the plasma arc itself ( ~ 5000 degK). Spectroscopy offers the potential of a non-invasive diagnostic to eventually be used for on-line process control, a necessary feature for an operating system due to the heterogeneous waste stream. Other studies will be described including the addition of O2 through a ring to achieve combustion of hydrocarbon wastes, residual gas analysis of the exhaust for different waste material, the voltage-current characteristic at various plasma arc lengths to estimate plasma conductivity, and the surface shape of the molten slag given the pitch and roll of a ship.

A unique power supply for the PEP II klystron at SLAC

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

Cassel, R.; Nguyen, M.N.

1997-07-01

Each of the eight 1.2 MW RF klystrons for the PEP-II storage rings require a 2.5 MVA DC power supply of 83 Kv at 23 amps. The design for the supply was base on three factors, low cost, small size to fit existing substation pads, and good protection against damage to the klystron including klystron gun arcs. The supply uses a 12 pulse 12.5 KV primary thyristor star point controller with primary filter inductor to provide rapid voltage control, good voltage regulation, and fast turn off during klystron tube faults. The supply also uses a unique secondary rectifier, filter capacitormore » configuration to minimize the energy available under a klystron fault. The voltage control is from 0--90 KV with a regulation of < 0.1% and voltage ripple of < 1% P-P, (< 0.2% RMS) above 60 KV. The supply utilizes a thyristor crowbar, which under a klystron tube arc limits the energy in the klystron arc to < 5 joules. If the thyristor crowbar is disabled the energy supplied is < 40 joules into the arc. The size of the supply was reduced small enough to fit the existing PEP transformer yard pads. The cost of the power supply was < $140 per KVA.« less

Modeling of Thermal Treatment of Hazardous Solid Wastes in a DC Arc Melter.

PubMed

Wenger, Ashley; Farouk, Bakhtier; Wittle, Kenneth

1996-12-01

Ashley Wenger is a graduate student in the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) Department at Drexel University. Dr. Bakhtier Farouk is a professor in the MEM Department at Drexel University, 32nd and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Dr. J. Kenneth Wittle is the vice president of Electro-Pyrolysis, Inc., Suite 1118, 996 Old Eagle School Road, Wayne, PA 19087. Please address all correspondence to Dr. Bakhtier Farouk.

An Evaluation of Semianalytical Satellite Theory against Long Arcs of Real Data for Highly Eccentric Orbits.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-01-01

for highly eccentric orbits . The real data is in the form of North American Defense Command (NORAD) element sets and actual observa- tions. Data are...the performance of the Semianalytical Satellite Theory for high eccentricity orbits . When elements sets were used as inputs to the DC, comparisons...Operational Orbit Elements ...................... 54 2.* NSSC 9829 Element Set Edits.................. .. .......... . 55 3. Force Models Used for NSSC

Producing Low-Oxygen Samarium/Cobalt Magnet Alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Das, Dilip K.; Kumar, Kaplesh; Frost, Robert T.; Chang, C. W.

1987-01-01

Experiments aimed at producing SmCo5 alloy with low oxygen contamination described in report. Two methods of alloying by melting without contact with crucible walls tested. Lowest oxygen contamination, 70 parts per million achieved by dc arc melting on water-cooled, tantalum-clad copper hearth in purified quiescent argon atmosphere. Report includes photographs of equipment, photomicrographs of alloy samples, detailed descriptions of procedures tried, and tables of oxygen contamination and intrinsic coercivities of samples produced.

Estimation of Faults in DC Electrical Power System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gorinevsky, Dimitry; Boyd, Stephen; Poll, Scott

2009-01-01

This paper demonstrates a novel optimization-based approach to estimating fault states in a DC power system. Potential faults changing the circuit topology are included along with faulty measurements. Our approach can be considered as a relaxation of the mixed estimation problem. We develop a linear model of the circuit and pose a convex problem for estimating the faults and other hidden states. A sparse fault vector solution is computed by using 11 regularization. The solution is computed reliably and efficiently, and gives accurate diagnostics on the faults. We demonstrate a real-time implementation of the approach for an instrumented electrical power system testbed, the ADAPT testbed at NASA ARC. The estimates are computed in milliseconds on a PC. The approach performs well despite unmodeled transients and other modeling uncertainties present in the system.

AZO films with Al nano-particles to improve the light extraction efficiency of GaN-based light-emitting diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chou, Ying-Hung; Yan, Jheng-Tai; Lee, Hsin-Ying; Lee, Ching-Ting

2008-02-01

The co-sputtering Al-doped ZnO (AZO) films with Al nano-particles were used to increase the extraction efficiency of GaN-based light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Fixing the ZnO radio frequency (RF) power of 100W and changing the Al DC power from 0 to 13W, the AZO films with various Al contents can be obtained. In the experimental results, the AZO films deposited with Al DC power of 0, 4.5 and 7W do not have Al segregation. However, the segregated Al nano-particles can be found in the AZO films deposited by Al DC power of 10W and 13W. The co-sputtering 170 nm-thick AZO films with and without Al nano-particles were deposited on the transparent area of LEDs and compared the light output intensity of conventional LEDs. The light intensity of LEDs with AZO films with Al DC power 0, 4.5 and 7W increased 10% than that of conventional LEDs. This was due to the AZO film played a role of anti-reflection coating (ARC) layer. The light intensity of LEDs with AZO film deposited using Al DC power of 10W and 13W increased about 35% and 30%, respectively. It can be deduced that the output light is scattered by the Al nano-particles existed in the AZO film.

The effect of photopolymerization on the degree of conversion, polymerization kinetic, biaxial flexure strength, and modulus of self-adhesive resin cements.

PubMed

Aguiar, Thaiane R; de Oliveira, Michele; Arrais, César A G; Ambrosano, Glaucia M B; Rueggeberg, Frederick; Giannini, Marcelo

2015-02-01

Understanding the effect of the degree of conversion on the mechanical properties of auto- and dual-polymerizing self-adhesive resin cements leads to a better estimation of their performance in different clinical scenarios. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of photopolymerization on the degree of conversion (DC) and polymerization kinetic of 4 dual-polymerized resin cements, 20 minutes after mixing, and its effects on the mechanical properties (biaxial flexural strength [FS] and modulus [FM]) after short-term aging. Conventional (RelyX ARC and Clearfil Esthetic Cement) and self-adhesive resin cements (RelyX Unicem and Clearfil SA Cement) were applied to a Fourier infrared spectrometer to assess the DC (n=5) under the following 3 polymerization conditions: direct light exposure (dual-polymerizing mode), exposure through the prepolymerized disk, or autopolymerizing. The polymerization kinetic was recorded for 20 minutes. Then, disk-shaped specimens (n=11) were prepared to evaluate the effect of polymerization on the FS and FM in both extreme polymerization conditions (dual-polymerizing or autopolymerizing). Data were statistically analyzed by 2-way repeated measure ANOVA (DC) and by 2-way ANOVA (FS and FM), followed by the Tukey-Kramer post hoc test (α=.05). Autopolymerizing groups exhibited reduced DC means, whereas intermediate values were observed when resin cements were polymerized through the disk. All groups exhibited higher DC at the end of 20 minutes. The polymerization kinetic revealed a rising curve, and materials, when directly photopolymerized, reached a plateau immediately after light exposure. Regarding the flexural biaxial testing, most of the resin cements were affected by polymerization mode and differences among groups were product dependent. The resin cements achieved immediate higher DC and mechanical properties when photopolymerized. The total absence of photoactivation may still impair their mechanical properties even after short-term aging. Copyright © 2015 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Growth model for arc-deposited fullerene-like CNx nanoparticles.

PubMed

Veisz, Bernadett; Radnóczi, György

2005-06-01

Multiwall CNx nanotubes, nanoonions, and amorphous nanoballs were formed by carbon DC arc evaporation in a nitrogen atmosphere. The samples were investigated by conventional and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. We propose a fragment-by-fragment growth mechanism for the formation of the nanoparticles. Accordingly, particles and aggregates of particles form in the vacuum ambient by the collisions between atomic species and small fragments. This growth model is supported by the discontinuous inner shells and disordered surface layers composed from graphene fragments. Image simulations confirm the detectability of dangling and back-folding surface layers in the experimental images. Further, the simulated images also confirm that the growth of nanoonions starts from a single fullerene-like seed. The amorphous nanoballs form when ordering of the building blocks during growth is hindered by the cross-linking nitrogen bonds. Copyright (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

53rd Course Molecular Physics and Plasmas in Hypersonics 2

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-09

between CO2 symmetric and bending modes ( 11 ) proceeds fast due to the Fermi resonance between the frequencies of these modes and can be considered as...of local maximization of the collision frequency given by Eq. ( 11 ) allows a strong reduction of the computational cost and it is verified a...called arc-jets or DC-Plasmatron [25, 26]. PWTs using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) torch, based on Radio - Frequency (RF) discharge, are so- called

The Isinglass Auroral Sounding Rocket Campaign: data synthesis incorporating remote sensing, in situ observations, and modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lynch, K. A.; Clayton, R.; Roberts, T. M.; Hampton, D. L.; Conde, M.; Zettergren, M. D.; Burleigh, M.; Samara, M.; Michell, R.; Grubbs, G. A., II; Lessard, M.; Hysell, D. L.; Varney, R. H.; Reimer, A.

2017-12-01

The NASA auroral sounding rocket mission Isinglass was launched from Poker Flat Alaska in winter 2017. This mission consists of two separate multi-payload sounding rockets, over an array of groundbased observations, including radars and filtered cameras. The science goal is to collect two case studies, in two different auroral events, of the gradient scale sizes of auroral disturbances in the ionosphere. Data from the in situ payloads and the groundbased observations will be synthesized and fed into an ionospheric model, and the results will be studied to learn about which scale sizes of ionospheric structuring have significance for magnetosphere-ionosphere auroral coupling. The in situ instrumentation includes thermal ion sensors (at 5 points on the second flight), thermal electron sensors (at 2 points), DC magnetic fields (2 point), DC electric fields (one point, plus the 4 low-resource thermal ion RPA observations of drift on the second flight), and an auroral precipitation sensor (one point). The groundbased array includes filtered auroral imagers, the PFISR and SuperDarn radars, a coherent scatter radar, and a Fabry-Perot interferometer array. The ionospheric model to be used is a 3d electrostatic model including the effects of ionospheric chemistry. One observational and modelling goal for the mission is to move both observations and models of auroral arc systems into the third (along-arc) dimension. Modern assimilative tools combined with multipoint but low-resource observations allow a new view of the auroral ionosphere, that should allow us to learn more about the auroral zone as a coupled system. Conjugate case studies such as the Isinglass rocket flights allow for a test of the models' intepretation by comparing to in situ data. We aim to develop and improve ionospheric models to the point where they can be used to interpret remote sensing data with confidence without the checkpoint of in situ comparison.

High voltage performance of a dc photoemission electron gun with centrifugal barrel-polished electrodes

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

Hernandez-Garcia, C.; Bullard, D.; Hannon, F.

The design and fabrication of electrodes for direct current (dc) high voltage photoemission electron guns can significantly influence their performance, most notably in terms of maximum achievable bias voltage. Proper electrostatic design of the triple-point junction shield electrode minimizes the risk of electrical breakdown (arcing) along the insulator-cable plug interface, while the electrode shape is designed to maintain <10 MV/m at the desired operating voltage aiming at little or no field emission once conditioned. Typical electrode surface preparation involves diamond-paste polishing by skilled personnel, requiring several weeks of effort per electrode. In this work, we describe a centrifugal barrel-polishing techniquemore » commonly used for polishing the interior surface of superconducting radio frequency cavities but implemented here for the first time to polish electrodes for dc high voltage photoguns. The technique reduced polishing time from weeks to hours while providing surface roughness comparable to that obtained with diamond-paste polishing and with unprecedented consistency between different electrode samples. We present electrode design considerations and high voltage conditioning results to 360 kV (~11 MV/m), comparing barrel-polished electrode performance to that of diamond-paste polished electrodes. Here, tests were performed using a dc high voltage photogun with an inverted-geometry ceramic insulator design.« less

High voltage performance of a dc photoemission electron gun with centrifugal barrel-polished electrodes

DOE PAGES

Hernandez-Garcia, C.; Bullard, D.; Hannon, F.; ...

2017-09-11

The design and fabrication of electrodes for direct current (dc) high voltage photoemission electron guns can significantly influence their performance, most notably in terms of maximum achievable bias voltage. Proper electrostatic design of the triple-point junction shield electrode minimizes the risk of electrical breakdown (arcing) along the insulator-cable plug interface, while the electrode shape is designed to maintain <10 MV/m at the desired operating voltage aiming at little or no field emission once conditioned. Typical electrode surface preparation involves diamond-paste polishing by skilled personnel, requiring several weeks of effort per electrode. In this work, we describe a centrifugal barrel-polishing techniquemore » commonly used for polishing the interior surface of superconducting radio frequency cavities but implemented here for the first time to polish electrodes for dc high voltage photoguns. The technique reduced polishing time from weeks to hours while providing surface roughness comparable to that obtained with diamond-paste polishing and with unprecedented consistency between different electrode samples. We present electrode design considerations and high voltage conditioning results to 360 kV (~11 MV/m), comparing barrel-polished electrode performance to that of diamond-paste polished electrodes. Here, tests were performed using a dc high voltage photogun with an inverted-geometry ceramic insulator design.« less

High voltage performance of a dc photoemission electron gun with centrifugal barrel-polished electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernandez-Garcia, C.; Bullard, D.; Hannon, F.; Wang, Y.; Poelker, M.

2017-09-01

The design and fabrication of electrodes for direct current (dc) high voltage photoemission electron guns can significantly influence their performance, most notably in terms of maximum achievable bias voltage. Proper electrostatic design of the triple-point junction shield electrode minimizes the risk of electrical breakdown (arcing) along the insulator-cable plug interface, while the electrode shape is designed to maintain <10 MV/m at the desired operating voltage aiming at little or no field emission once conditioned. Typical electrode surface preparation involves diamond-paste polishing by skilled personnel, requiring several weeks of effort per electrode. In this work, we describe a centrifugal barrel-polishing technique commonly used for polishing the interior surface of superconducting radio frequency cavities but implemented here for the first time to polish electrodes for dc high voltage photoguns. The technique reduced polishing time from weeks to hours while providing surface roughness comparable to that obtained with diamond-paste polishing and with unprecedented consistency between different electrode samples. We present electrode design considerations and high voltage conditioning results to 360 kV (˜11 MV/m), comparing barrel-polished electrode performance to that of diamond-paste polished electrodes. Tests were performed using a dc high voltage photogun with an inverted-geometry ceramic insulator design.

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.

Effect of sputtering pressure on crystalline quality and residual stress of AlN films deposited at 823 K on nitrided sapphire substrates by pulsed DC reactive sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohtsuka, Makoto; Takeuchi, Hiroto; Fukuyama, Hiroyuki

2016-05-01

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a promising material for use in applications such as deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) and surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices. In the present study, the effect of sputtering pressure on the surface morphology, crystalline quality, and residual stress of AlN films deposited at 823 K on nitrided a-plane sapphire substrates, which have high-crystalline-quality c-plane AlN thin layers, by pulsed DC reactive sputtering was investigated. The c-axis-oriented AlN films were homoepitaxially grown on nitrided sapphire substrates at sputtering pressures of 0.4-1.5 Pa. Surface damage of the AlN sputtered films increased with increasing sputtering pressure because of arcing (abnormal electrical discharge) during sputtering. The sputtering pressure affected the crystalline quality and residual stress of AlN sputtered films because of a change in the number and energy of Ar+ ions and Al sputtered atoms. The crystalline quality of AlN films was improved by deposition with lower sputtering pressure.

Generator of the low-temperature heterogeneous plasma flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yusupov, D. I.; Gadzhiev, M. Kh; Tyuftyaev, A. S.; Chinnov, V. F.; Sargsyan, M. A.

2018-01-01

A generator of low-temperature dc plasma with an expanding channel of an output electrode for gas-thermal spraying was designed and constructed. The delivery of the sprayed powder into the cathode and anode arc-binding zones or into the plasma jet below the anode binding was realized. The electrophysical characteristics of both the plasma torch and the heterogeneous plasma flow with Al2O3 powder are studied. It is shown that the current-voltage characteristic (CVC) of a plasma torch depends on the gas flow rate. If the flow rate varies from 1 to 3 g/s, the falling CVC becomes gradually increasing. The speed and temperature of the sprayed powder are determined.

Atmospheric-pressure electric discharge as an instrument of chemical activation of water solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rybkin, V. V.; Shutov, D. A.

2017-11-01

Results of experimental studies and numerical simulations of physicochemical characteristics of plasmas generated in different types of atmospheric-pressure discharges (pulsed streamer corona, gliding electric arc, dielectric barrier discharge, glow-discharge electrolysis, diaphragmatic discharge, and dc glow discharge) used to initiate various chemical processes in water solutions are analyzed. Typical reactor designs are considered. Data on the power supply characteristics, plasma electron parameters, gas temperatures, and densities of active particles in different types of discharges excited in different gases and their dependences on the external parameters of discharges are presented. The chemical composition of active particles formed in water is described. Possible mechanisms of production and loss of plasma particles are discussed.

Study of electrical properties of Sc doped BaFe12O19 ceramic using dielectric, impedance, modulus spectroscopy and AC conductivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gupta, Surbhi; Deshpande, S. K.; Sathe, V. G.; Siruguri, V.

2018-04-01

We present dielectric, complex impedance, modulus spectroscopy and AC conductivity studies of the compound BaFe10Sc2O19 as a function of temperature and frequency to understand the conduction mechanism. The variation in complex dielectric constant with frequency and temperature were analyzed on the basis of Maxwell-Wagner-Koop's theory and charge hopping between ferrous and ferric ions. The complex impedance spectroscopy study shows only grain contribution whereas complex modulus plot shows two semicircular arcs which indicate both grain and grain boundary contributions in conduction mechanism. AC conductivity has also been evaluated which follows the Jonscher's law. The activation energy calculated from temperature dependence of DC conductivity comes out to be Ea˜ 0.31eV.

Development of Localized Arc Filament RF Plasma Actuators for High-Speed and High Reynolds Number Flow Control

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

high-speed flows is problematic due to their low forcing frequency (for mechanical actuators) and low forcing amplitude (for piezo actuators...very low fraction of DC power is coupled to the actuators (5-10%), with the rest of the power dissipated in massive ballast resistors acting as heat... resistors . The use of high-power resistors also significantly increases the weight and size of the plasma generator and makes scaling to a large number of

Probabilistic Analysis of Radiation Doses for Shore-Based Individuals in Operation Tomodachi

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-05-01

Based Upon Oxygen Consumption Rates. EPA/600/R-06/129F, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. May. USEPA (U.S. Environmental...pascal (Pa) pound-force per square inch (psi) 6.894 757 × 103 pascal (Pa) Angle/ Temperature /Time hour (h) 3.6 × 103 second (s) degree of arc (o...equivalent and effective dose is the sievert (Sv). (1 Sv = 1 J kg–1). 1 DTRA-TR-12-002: Probabilistic Analysis of Radiation Doses for Shore-Based

Material impacts and heat flux characterization of an electrothermal plasma source with an applied magnetic field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebhart, T. E.; Martinez-Rodriguez, R. A.; Baylor, L. R.; Rapp, J.; Winfrey, A. L.

2017-08-01

To produce a realistic tokamak-like plasma environment in linear plasma device, a transient source is needed to deliver heat and particle fluxes similar to those seen in an edge localized mode (ELM). ELMs in future large tokamaks will deliver heat fluxes of ˜1 GW/m2 to the divertor plasma facing components at a few Hz. An electrothermal plasma source can deliver heat fluxes of this magnitude. These sources operate in an ablative arc regime which is driven by a DC capacitive discharge. An electrothermal source was configured with two pulse lengths and tested under a solenoidal magnetic field to determine the resulting impact on liner ablation, plasma parameters, and delivered heat flux. The arc travels through and ablates a boron nitride liner and strikes a tungsten plate. The tungsten target plate is analyzed for surface damage using a scanning electron microscope.

Surface martensitization of Carbon steel using Arc Plasma Sintering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wahyudi, Haris; Dimyati, Arbi; Sebayang, Darwin

2018-03-01

In this paper new technology of surface structure modification of steel by short plasma exposure in Arc Plasma Sintering (APS) device is presented. APS is an apparatus working based on plasma generated by DC pulsed current originally used for synthesizing materials via sintering and melting. Plasma exposure in APS was applied into the specimens for 1 and 3 seconds which generate temperature approximately about 1300-1500°C. The SUP9, pearlitic carbon steel samples were used. The hardness, hardening depth and microstructure of the specimens have been investigated by Vickers micro hardness test and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) supported by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDX). The results have showed that the mechanical property was significantly improved due to the formation of single martensitic structures as identified by SEM. The hardness of treated surface evaluated by Vickers hardness test showed significant improvement nearly three time from 190 VHN before to 524 VHN after treatment. Furthermore, EDX confirmed that the formation of martensite layer occurred without altering its composition. The APS also produced uniform hardened layer up to 250 μm. The experiment has demonstrated that arc plasma process was successfully improved the mechanical properties of steel in relatively very short time.

Discharge stabilization studies of CO laser gas mixtures in quasi-steady supersonic flow

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Srinivasan, G.; Smith, J. A.

1976-01-01

Experiments were conducted to study the applicability of a double discharge stabilization scheme in conditions appropriate for high energy CO lasers in supersonic flows. A Ludwieg tube impulse flow facility and a ballasted capacitor bank provided essentially steady flow and discharge conditions (d.c.) for times longer than ten electrode length-flow transit times. Steady, arc-free, volume discharges were produced in a Mach 3 test cavity using an auxiliary discharge to stabilize the main discharge in N2 and He/CO mixture. A signigicant result is the lack of observed plasma E/N changes in response to auxiliary discharge current changes. Also, where glow discharges were obtained, the energy loading achieved was very much less than the threshold level required for laser operation.

Effect of oxygen partial pressure during preparation of rutile-type FeNbTiO6 on electrical and dielectric properties, thermopower and Mössbauer spectra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Günther, A.; Hochleitner, R.; Lohringer, H.; Schmidbauer, E.; Schöttler-Himmel, A.; Volk, M.

2017-05-01

Electrical and dielectric properties were measured on rutile-type FeNbTiO6, sintered in air, CO2 or 5%H2/CO2 atmosphere between temperatures of 1423 and 1573 K. The individual samples show characteristic differences in DC and AC conductivity, dielectric constant ε(ω) (ω is angular frequency), dielectric loss and dissipation factor. Attempts were made to distinguish between bulk, grain boundary (GB) and sample-electrode (SE) processes. Samples show very high relaxor-like ε(ω) peaks at 500-600 K using Ag-paint contacts as expected from previous studies during preparation in air that is of interest for industrial application; utilizing Pt-paint and using slightly reducing sintering conditions, a clear variation was observed. These findings point to a notable influence of GB and/or SE effects on the experimental ε(ω), in addition to the intrinsic origin by polar nanoregions, as suggested earlier. Complex plane impedance plots are characterized by semicircular arcs due to bulk, GB and/or SE charge transport. The derived DC conductivity σDC shows Arrhenius behavior with activation energy of EA≈0.27-0.37 eV and σDC(300 K) ≈1×10-6-3×10-4 Ω-1cm-1 for the bulk, EA≈0.7-0.9 eV and σDC(300 K)≈5×10-10-1×10-4 Ω-1cm-1 for GB and/or SE processes, depending on the preparation conditions. The thermopower is small and negative, hence n-type conduction occurs and the charge carriers are electrons or electron polarons. 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy enabled to gain knowledge of local nonstoichiometry in the environment of Fe cations, presumably affecting electrical conduction in the bulk and GBs; after sample preparation in reducing conditions, apart from Fe3+ also the presence of Fe2+ ions was established.

Degree of conversion and bond strength of resin-cements to feldspathic ceramic using different curing modes.

PubMed

Novais, Veridiana Resende; Raposo, Luís Henrique Araújo; Miranda, Rafael Resende de; Lopes, Camila de Carvalho Almança; Simamoto, Paulo Cézar; Soares, Carlos José

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of resin cements when different curing modes are used, by evaluating the degree of conversion and bond strength to a ceramic substrate. Three resin cements were evaluated, two dual-cured (Variolink II and RelyX ARC) and one light-cured (Variolink Veneer). The dual-cured resin cements were tested by using the dual activation mode (base and catalyst) and light-activation mode (base paste only). For degree of conversion (DC) (n=5), a 1.0 mm thick feldspathic ceramic disc was placed over the resin cement specimens and the set was light activated with a QTH unit. After 24 h storage, the DC was measured with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For microshear bond strength testing, five feldspathic ceramic discs were submitted to surface treatment, and three cylindrical resin cement specimens were bonded to each ceramic surface according to the experimental groups. After 24 h, microshear bond testing was performed at 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed until the failure. Data were submitted to one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test (p<0.05). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for classifying the failure modes. Higher DC and bond strength values were shown by the resin cements cured by using the dual activation mode. The Variolink II group presented higher DC and bond strength values when using light-activation only when compared with the Variolink Veneer group. The base paste of dual-cured resin cements in light-activation mode can be used for bonding translucent ceramic restorations of up to or less than 1.0 mm thick.

Mobilization of HIV Spread by Diaphanous 2 Dependent Filopodia in Infected Dendritic Cells

PubMed Central

Aggarwal, Anupriya; Iemma, Tina L.; Shih, Ivy; Newsome, Timothy P.; McAllery, Samantha; Cunningham, Anthony L.; Turville, Stuart G.

2012-01-01

Paramount to the success of persistent viral infection is the ability of viruses to navigate hostile environments en route to future targets. In response to such obstacles, many viruses have developed the ability of establishing actin rich-membrane bridges to aid in future infections. Herein through dynamic imaging of HIV infected dendritic cells, we have observed how viral high-jacking of the actin/membrane network facilitates one of the most efficient forms of HIV spread. Within infected DC, viral egress is coupled to viral filopodia formation, with more than 90% of filopodia bearing immature HIV on their tips at extensions of 10 to 20 µm. Live imaging showed HIV filopodia routinely pivoting at their base, and projecting HIV virions at µm.sec−1 along repetitive arc trajectories. HIV filopodial dynamics lead to up to 800 DC to CD4 T cell contacts per hour, with selection of T cells culminating in multiple filopodia tethering and converging to envelope the CD4 T-cell membrane with budding HIV particles. Long viral filopodial formation was dependent on the formin diaphanous 2 (Diaph2), and not a dominant Arp2/3 filopodial pathway often associated with pathogenic actin polymerization. Manipulation of HIV Nef reduced HIV transfer 25-fold by reducing viral filopodia frequency, supporting the potency of DC HIV transfer was dependent on viral filopodia abundance. Thus our observations show HIV corrupts DC to CD4 T cell interactions by physically embedding at the leading edge contacts of long DC filopodial networks. PMID:22685410

[Study on the method for the determination of trace boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead in geochemical samples by direct current arc full spectrum direct reading atomic emission spectroscopy (DC-Arc-AES)].

PubMed

Hao, Zhi-hong; Yao, Jian-zhen; Tang, Rui-ling; Zhang, Xue-mei; Li, Wen-ge; Zhang, Qin

2015-02-01

The method for the determmation of trace boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead in geochemical samples by direct current are full spectrum direct reading atomic emission spectroscopy (DC-Arc-AES) was established. Direct current are full spectrum direct reading atomic emission spectrometer with a large area of solid-state detectors has functions of full spectrum direct reading and real-time background correction. The new electrodes and new buffer recipe were proposed in this paper, and have applied for national patent. Suitable analytical line pairs, back ground correcting points of elements and the internal standard method were selected, and Ge was used as internal standard. Multistage currents were selected in the research on current program, and each current set different holding time to ensure that each element has a good signal to noise ratio. Continuous rising current mode selected can effectively eliminate the splash of the sample. Argon as shielding gas can eliminate CN band generating and reduce spectral background, also plays a role in stabilizing the are, and argon flow 3.5 L x min(-1) was selected. Evaporation curve of each element was made, and it was concluded that the evaporation behavior of each element is consistent, and combined with the effects of different spectrographic times on the intensity and background, the spectrographic time of 35s was selected. In this paper, national standards substances were selected as a standard series, and the standard series includes different nature and different content of standard substances which meet the determination of trace boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead in geochemical samples. In the optimum experimental conditions, the detection limits for B, Mo, Ag, Sn and Pb are 1.1, 0.09, 0.01, 0.41, and 0.56 microg x g(-1) respectively, and the precisions (RSD, n=12) for B, Mo, Ag, Sn and Pb are 4.57%-7.63%, 5.14%-7.75%, 5.48%-12.30%, 3.97%-10.46%, and 4.26%-9.21% respectively. The analytical accuracy was validated by national standards and the results are in agreement with certified values. The method is simple, rapid, is an advanced analytical method for the determination of trace amounts of geochemical samples' boron, molybdenum, silver, tin and lead, and has a certain practicality.

Arcjet load characteristics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hamley, John A.

1990-01-01

Experiments were conducted to define the interface characteristics and constraints of 1 kW class arcjets run on simulated decomposition products of hydrazine and power processors. The impacts of power supply output current ripple on arcjet performance were assessed by variation of the ripple frequency from 100 Hz to 100 kHz with 10 percent peak-to-peak ripple amplitude at 1.2 kW. Ripple had no significant effects on thrust, specific impulse or efficiency. The impact of output ripple on thruster lifetime was not assessed. The static and dynamic impedances of the arcjet were quantified with two thrusters of nearly identical configuration. Superposition of an AC component on the DC arc current was used to characterize the dynamic impedance as a function of flow rate and DC current level. A mathematical model was formulated from these data. Both the static and dynamic impedance magnitude were found to be dependent on mass flow rate. The amplitude of the AC component was found to have little effect on the dynamic impedance. Reducing the DC level from 10 to 8 amps led to a large change in the magnitude of the dynamic impedance with no observable phase change. The impedance data compared favorably between the two thrusters.

Analysis of Vibration and Acoustic Noise in Permanent Magnet Motors.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwang, Sangmoon

The drive motor is a frequent source of vibration and acoustic noise in many precision spindle motors. One of the electromagnetic sources of vibration in permanent magnet motors is the torque ripple, consisting of the reluctance torque and electromagnetic torque fluctuation. This type of vibration is becoming more serious with the advent of new high-grade magnets with increased flux density. Acoustic noise of electromagnetic origin is difficult to predict and its exact mechanism is unclear. The mechanism of noise generation should be revealed to design a quieter motor which is the modern customer's demand. For motor operation at low speeds and loads, torque ripple due to the reluctance torque is often a source of vibration and control difficulty. The reluctance torque in a motor was calculated from the flux density by a finite element method and the Maxwell stress method. Effects of design parameters, such as stator slot width, permanent slot width, airgap length and magnetization direction, were investigated. Magnet pole shaping, by gradually decreasing the magnet thickness toward edges, yields a sinusoidal shape of the reluctance torque with reduced harmonics, thus reducing the vibration. This dissertation also presents two motor design techniques: stator tooth notching and rotor pole skewing with magnet pole shaping, and the effect of each method on the output torque. The analysis shows that the reluctance torque can be nearly eliminated by the suggested designs, with minimal sacrifice of the output torque. In permanent magnet DC motors, the most popular design type is the trapezoidal back electro-motive force (BEMF), for switched DC controllers. It is demonstrated that the output torque profile of one phase energized is qualitatively equivalent to the BEMF profile for motors with reduced reluctance torque. It implies that design of BEMF profile is possible by magnetic modeling of a motor, without expensive and time-consuming experiments for different designs. The effect of various design parameters on the output torque and torque ripple are discussed. Design parameters include winding patterns, magnetization direction, magnet arc length, number of segments in poles and magnet pole shaping. New designs of trapezoidal BEMF motors are proposed to reduce the electromagnetic torque ripple. Magnet stepping and magnet edge shaping with reduced arc length, significantly reduce torque ripple, with minimal sacrifice of the maximum output torque. Acoustic noise of electromagnetic origin is investigated using a magnetic frame which emulates a DC motor. The driving electromagnetic force is calculated using finite element analysis and the resulting vibration and acoustic noise is measured. Acoustic noise of purely electromagnetic origin was also tested with a DC brushless motor to confirm the results of the magnetic frame. The mechanism of noise generation in a DC motor is a quasi-static response of a stator not only at the fundamental frequency but also at higher harmonic frequencies of alternating switched DC, which is a current characteristic of a DC motor. Noise generation is significantly aggravated when some of those harmonics are close to the resonant frequencies of the stator. Therefore, acoustic noise is highly dependent upon the excitation current shape, as higher harmonics may match with resonant frequencies of the stator.

ARC-1989-AC89-0114-592

NASA Image and Video Library

1989-02-28

Airborne Arctic Stratospheric (Ozone) Expedition Stavanger Norway Jan-Feb 1989: The clouds seen from the NASA DC-8 aircraft at nearly 39,000 feet in the polar regions north of Stravanger, Norway, are representative of what are called 'Type II' polar stratospheric clouds. This type consists mostly of water molecules frozen as ice. These particular clouds are also exhibiting what is called orographic effects - the clouds have taken on a wave-like form because of motion associated with underlying topographic features of the earth's surface; in this case, some mountains in Iceland.

The shear strength of three-dimensional capillary-porous titanium coatings for intraosseous implants.

PubMed

Kalita, V I; Komlev, D I; Komlev, V S; Radyuk, A A

2016-03-01

A plasma spraying process for the deposition of three-dimensional capillary-porous titanium coatings using a wire has been developed. In this process, two additional dc arcs are discharged between plasmatron and both the wire and the substrate, resulting in additional activation of the substrate and the particles, particularly by increasing their temperature. The shear strength of the titanium coating with 46% porosity is 120.6 MPa. A new procedure for estimating the shear strength of porous coatings has been developed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Low-Speed Characteristics in Pitch of a 42 Degree Swept-Back Wing with Aspect Ratio 3.9 and Circular-Arc Airfoil Sections

DTIC Science & Technology

1947-11-13

requests shall be referred to National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC. NACA Res. Abstracts no. 57 dtd 29 Jan 1954; NASA TR...viscosity Telocity of sound MODEL A sketch of the vine and fuselage Is presented in figure 1 and a photograph of the wing is shorn in ficure 2. The...is presented in figure 3 and a photograph of the leading-edge flap installations is given in figure U- The flaps were of constant chord and extended

Some properties of low-vapor-pressure braze alloys for thermionic converters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bair, V. L.

1978-01-01

Property measurements were made for arc-melted, rod-shaped specimens. Density and dc electrical resistivity at 296 K were measured for various binary eutectic alloys. Thermal conductivity was inferred from the electrical conductivity using the Wiedemann, Franz, Lorenz relation. Linear thermal expansion from 293 K to two-thirds melting point, under a helium atmosphere, was measured for Zr, 21.7-wt percent Ru; Zr, 13-wt percent W; Zr, 22.3-wt percent Nb; Nb, 66.9-wt percent Ru; and Zr, 25.7-wt percent Ta.

Plasma-assisted synthesis and study of structural and magnetic properties of Fe/C core shell

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shinde, K. P.; Ranot, M.; Choi, C. J.; Kim, H. S.; Chung, K. C.

2017-07-01

Pure and carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles with an average diameter of 25 nm were synthesized by using the DC plasma arc discharge method. Fe core nanoparticles were encapsulated with carbon layer, which is acting as protection layer against both oxidation and chemical reaction. The morphology and the Fe/C core/shell structure of the nanoparticles were studied by using field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The x-ray diffraction study showed that the α-Fe phase exists with γ-Fe as an impurity. The studied samples have been interrelated with the variation of saturation magnetization, remanent magnetization and coercive field with the amount of carbon coating. The pure α-Fe sample shows saturation magnetization = 172 emu/g, and coercive field = 150 Oe, on the other hand few layer carbon coated α-Fe sample shows saturation magnetization =169 emu/g with higher coercive field 398 Oe.

Synthesis and characteristics of Ag/Pt bimetallic nanocomposites by arc-discharge solution plasma processing.

PubMed

Pootawang, Panuphong; Saito, Nagahiro; Takai, Osamu; Lee, Sang-Yul

2012-10-05

Arc discharge in solution, generated by applying a high voltage of unipolar pulsed dc to electrodes of Ag and Pt, was used as a method to form Ag/Pt bimetallic nanocomposites via electrode erosion by the effects of the electric arc at the cathode (Ag rod) and the sputtering at the anode (Pt rod). Ag/Pt bimetallic nanocomposites were formed as colloidal particles dispersed in solution via the reduction of hydrogen radicals generated during discharge without the addition of chemical precursor or reducing agent. At a discharge time of 30 s, the fine bimetallic nanoparticles with a mean particle size of approximately 5 nm were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). With increasing discharge time, the bimetallic nanoparticle size tended to increase by forming an agglomeration. The presence of the relatively small amount of Pt dispersed in the Ag matrix could be observed by the analytical mapping mode of energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and high-resolution TEM. This demonstrated that the synthesized particle was in the form of a nanocomposite. No contamination of other chemical substances was detected by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Hence, solution plasma could be a clean and simple process to effectively synthesize Ag/Pt bimetallic nanocomposites and it is expected to be widely applicable in the preparation of several types of nanoparticle.

Cathode degradation and erosion in high pressure arc discharges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardy, T. L.; Nakanishi, S.

1984-01-01

The various processes which control cathode erosion and degradation were identified and evaluated. A direct current arc discharge was established between electrodes in a pressure-controlled gas flow environment. The cathode holder was designed for easy testing of various cathode materials. The anode was a water cooled copper collector electrode. The arc was powered by a dc power supply with current and voltage regulated cross-over control. Nitrogen and argon were used as propellants and the materials used were two percent thoriated tungsten, barium oxide impregnated porous tungsten, pure tungsten and lanthanum hexaboride. The configurations used were cylindrical solid rods, wire bundles supported by hollow molybdenum tubes, cylindrical hollow tubes, and hollow cathodes of the type used in ion thrusters. The results of the mass loss tests in nitrogen indicated that pure tungsten eroded at a rate more than 10 times faster than the rates of the impregnated tungsten materials. It was found that oxygen impurities of less than 0.5 percent in the nitrogen increased the mass loss rate by a factor of 4 over high purity nitrogen. At power levels less than 1 kW, cathode size and current level did not significantly affect the mass loss rate. The hollow cathode was found to be operable in argon and in nitrogen only at pressures below 400 and 200 torr, respectively.

Butt Welding Joint of Aluminum Alloy by Space GHTA Welding Process in Vacuum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suita, Yoshikazu; Shinike, Shuhei; Ekuni, Tomohide; Terajima, Noboru; Tsukuda, Yoshiyuki; Imagawa, Kichiro

Aluminum alloys have been used widely in constructing various space structures including the International Space Station (ISS) and launch vehicles. For space applications, welding experiments on aluminum alloy were performed using the GHTA (Gas Hollow Tungsten Arc) welding process using a filler wire feeder in a vacuum. We investigated the melting phenomenon of the base metal and filler wire, bead formation, and the effects of wire feed speed on melting characteristics. The melting mechanism in the base metal during the bead on a plate with wire feed was similar to that for the melt run without wire feed. We clarified the effects of wire feed speed on bead sizes and configurations. Furthermore, the butt welded joint welded using the optimum wire feed speed, and the joint tensile strengths were evaluated. The tensile strength of the square butt joint welded by the pulsed DC GHTA welding with wire feed in a vacuum is nearly equal to that of the same joint welded by conventional GTA (Gas Tungsten Arc) welding in air.

Formation of Sn-M (M=Fe, Al, Ni) alloy nanoparticles by DC arc-discharge and their electrochemical properties as anodes for Li-ion batteries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Song; Huang, Hao; Wu, Aimin; Yu, Jieyi; Gao, Jian; Dong, Xinglong; Liu, Chunjing; Cao, Guozhong

2016-10-01

A direct current arc-discharge method was applied to prepare the Sn-M (M=Fe, Al, Ni) bi-alloy nanoparticles. Thermodynamic is introduced to analyze the energy circumstances for the formation of the nanoparticles during the physical condensation process. The electrochemical properties of as-prepared Sn-M alloy nanoparticles are systematically investigated as anodes of Li-ion batteries. Among them, Sn-Fe nanoparticles electrode exhibits high Coulomb efficiency (about 71.2%) in the initial charge/discharge (257.9 mA h g-1/366.6 mA h g-1) and optimal cycle stability (a specific reversible capacity of 240 mA h g-1 maintained after 20 cycles) compared with others. Large differences in the electrochemical behaviors indicate that the chemical composition and microstructure of the nanoparticles determine the lithium-ion storage properties and the long-term cyclic stability during the charge/discharge process.

A compact 45 kV curve tracer with picoampere current measurement capability.

PubMed

Sullivan, W W; Mauch, D; Bullick, A; Hettler, C; Neuber, A; Dickens, J

2013-03-01

This paper discusses a compact high voltage curve tracer for high voltage semiconductor device characterization. The system sources up to 3 mA at up to 45 kV in dc conditions. It measures from 328 V to 60 kV with 15 V resolution and from 9.4 pA to 4 mA with 100 fA minimum resolution. Control software for the system is written in Microsoft Visual C# and features real-time measurement control and IV plotting, arc-protection and detection, an electrically isolated universal serial bus interface, and easy data exporting capabilities. The system has survived numerous catastrophic high voltage device-under-test arcing failures with no loss of measurement capability or system damage. Overall sweep times are typically under 2 min, and the curve tracer system was used to characterize the blocking performance of high voltage ceramic capacitors, high voltage silicon carbide photoconductive semiconductor switches, and high voltage coaxial cable.

Effect of Helmholtz Oscillation on Auto-shroud for APS Tungsten Carbide Coating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Younggil; Choi, Sooseok; Yang, Seung Jae; Park, Chong Rae; Kim, Gon-Ho

2013-06-01

The atmospheric-pressure plasma spray (APS) of tungsten coating was performed using tungsten carbide (WC) powder by means of DC plasma torch equipped with a stepped anode nozzle as a potential method of W coating on graphite plasma-facing component of fusion reactors. This nozzle configuration allows Helmholtz oscillation mode dominating in APS arc fluctuation, and the variation of auto-shroud effect with Helmholtz oscillation characteristics can be investigated. Tungsten coating made from WC powder has lower porosity and higher tungsten purity than that made from pure tungsten powder. The porosity and chemical composition of coatings were investigated by mercury intrusion porosimetry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The purity of tungsten coating layer is increased with the increasing frequency of Helmholtz oscillation and the increasing arc current. The modulation of Helmholtz oscillation frequency and magnitude may enhance the decarburization of WC to deposit tungsten coating without W-C and W-O bond from WC powder.

Material impacts and heat flux characterization of an electrothermal plasma source with an applied magnetic field

DOE PAGES

Gebhart, T. E.; Martinez-Rodriguez, R. A.; Baylor, L. R.; ...

2017-08-11

To produce a realistic tokamak-like plasma environment in linear plasma device, a transient source is needed to deliver heat and particle fluxes similar to those seen in an edge localized mode (ELM). ELMs in future large tokamaks will deliver heat fluxes of ~1 GW/m 2 to the divertor plasma facing components at a few Hz. An electrothermal plasma source can deliver heat fluxes of this magnitude. These sources operate in an ablative arc regime which is driven by a DC capacitive discharge. An electrothermal source was configured in this paper with two pulse lengths and tested under a solenoidal magneticmore » field to determine the resulting impact on liner ablation, plasma parameters, and delivered heat flux. The arc travels through and ablates a boron nitride liner and strikes a tungsten plate. Finally, the tungsten target plate is analyzed for surface damage using a scanning electron microscope.« less

Material impacts and heat flux characterization of an electrothermal plasma source with an applied magnetic field

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

Gebhart, T. E.; Martinez-Rodriguez, R. A.; Baylor, L. R.

To produce a realistic tokamak-like plasma environment in linear plasma device, a transient source is needed to deliver heat and particle fluxes similar to those seen in an edge localized mode (ELM). ELMs in future large tokamaks will deliver heat fluxes of ~1 GW/m 2 to the divertor plasma facing components at a few Hz. An electrothermal plasma source can deliver heat fluxes of this magnitude. These sources operate in an ablative arc regime which is driven by a DC capacitive discharge. An electrothermal source was configured in this paper with two pulse lengths and tested under a solenoidal magneticmore » field to determine the resulting impact on liner ablation, plasma parameters, and delivered heat flux. The arc travels through and ablates a boron nitride liner and strikes a tungsten plate. Finally, the tungsten target plate is analyzed for surface damage using a scanning electron microscope.« less

Physics of Intense Electron Current Sources for Helicity Injection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinson, E. T.; Barr, J. L.; Bongard, M. W.; Burke, M. G.; Fonck, R. J.; Lewicki, B. T.; Perry, J. M.; Redd, A. J.; Winz, G. R.

2014-10-01

DC helicity injection (HI) for non-solenoidal ST startup requires sources of current at the tokamak edge. Since the rate of HI scales with injection voltage, understanding of the physics setting injector impedance is necessary for a predictive model of the HI rate and subsequent growth of Ip. In Pegasus, arc plasma sources are used for current injection. They operate immersed in tokamak edge plasma, and are biased at ~1-2 kV with respect to the vessel to draw current densities J ~ 1 kA/cm2 from an arc plasma cathode. Prior to tokamak formation, impedance data manifests two regimes, one at low current (< 1 kA) with I ~V 3 / 2 , and a higher current mode where I ~V 1 / 2 holds. The impedance in the I ~V 3 / 2 regime is consistent with an electrostatic double layer. Current in the I ~V 1 / 2 regime is linear in arc gas fueling rate, suggesting a space-charge limit set by nedge. In the presence of tokamak plasmas, voltage oscillations of the order 100s of volts are measured during MHD relaxation activity. These fluctuations occur at the characteristic frequencies of the n = 1 and n = 0 MHD activity observed on magnetic probes, and are suggestive of dynamic activity found in LHI simulations in NIMROD. Advanced injector design techniques have allowed higher voltage operation. These include staged shielding to prevent external arcing, and shaped cathodes, which minimize the onset and material damage due to cathode spot formation. Work supported by US DOE Grant DE-FG02-96ER54375.

Study of switching electric circuits with DC hybrid breaker, one stage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niculescu, T.; Marcu, M.; Popescu, F. G.

2016-06-01

The paper presents a method of extinguishing the electric arc that occurs between the contacts of direct current breakers. The method consists of using an LC type extinguishing group to be optimally sized. From this point of view is presented a theoretical approach to the phenomena that occurs immediately after disconnecting the load and the specific diagrams are drawn. Using these, the elements extinguishing group we can choose. At the second part of the paper there is presented an analyses of the circuit switching process by decomposing the process in particular time sequences. For every time interval there was conceived a numerical simulation model in MATLAB-SIMULINK medium which integrates the characteristic differential equation and plots the capacitor voltage variation diagram and the circuit dumping current diagram.

Effect of N{sub 2} and Ar gas on DC arc plasma generation and film composition from Ti-Al compound cathodes

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

Zhirkov, Igor, E-mail: igozh@ifm.liu.se; Rosen, Johanna; Oks, Efim

2015-06-07

DC arc plasma from Ti, Al, and Ti{sub 1−x}Al{sub x} (x = 0.16, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.70) compound cathodes has been characterized with respect to plasma chemistry (charged particles) and charge-state-resolved ion energy for Ar and N{sub 2} pressures in the range 10{sup −6} to 3 × 10{sup −2} Torr. Scanning electron microscopy was used for exploring the correlation between the cathode and film composition, which in turn was correlated with the plasma properties. In an Ar atmosphere, the plasma ion composition showed a reduction of Al of approximately 5 at. % compared to the cathode composition, while deposited films were in accordance with the cathodemore » stoichiometry. Introducing N{sub 2} above ∼5 × 10{sup −3} Torr, lead to a reduced Al content in the plasma as well as in the film, and hence a 1:1 correlation between the cathode and film composition cannot be expected in a reactive environment. This may be explained by an influence of the reactive gas on the arc mode and type of erosion of Ti and Al rich contaminations, as well as on the plasma transport. Throughout the investigated pressure range, a higher deposition rate was obtained from cathodes with higher Al content. The origin of generated gas ions was investigated through the velocity rule, stating that the most likely ion velocities of all cathode elements from a compound cathode are equal. The results suggest that the major part of the gas ions in Ar is generated from electron impact ionization, while gas ions in a N{sub 2} atmosphere primarily originate from a nitrogen contaminated layer on the cathode surface. The presented results provide a contribution to the understanding processes of plasma generation from compound cathodes. It also allows for a more reasonable approach to the selection of composite cathode and experimental conditions for thin film depositions.« less

The cataphoretic emitter effect exhibited in high intensity discharge lamp electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mentel, Juergen

2018-01-01

A mono-layer of atoms, electropositive with respect to the substrate atoms, forms a dipole layer, reducing its work function. Such a layer is generated by diffusion of emitter material from the interior of the substrate, by vapour deposition or by deposition of emitter material onto arc electrodes by cataphoresis. This cataphoretic emitter effect is investigated within metal halide lamps with transparent YAG ceramic burners, and within model lamps. Within the YAG lamps, arcs are operated with switched-dc current between rod shaped tungsten electrodes in high pressure Hg vapour seeded with metal iodides. Within the model lamps, dc arcs are operated between rod-shaped tungsten electrodes—one doped—in atmospheric pressure Ar. Electrode temperatures are determined by 1λ -pyrometry, combined with simulation of the electrode heat balance. Plasma temperatures, atom and ion densities of emitter material are determined by emission and absorption spectroscopy. Phase resolved measurements in YAG lamps seeded with CeI3, CsI, DyI3, TmI3 and LaI3 show, within the cathodic half period, a reduction of the electrode temperature and an enhanced metal ion density in front of the electrode, and an opposite behavior after phase reversal. With increasing operating frequency, the state of the cathode overlaps onto the anodic phase—except for Cs, being low in adsorption energy. Generally, the phase averaged electrode tip temperature is reduced by seeding a lamp with emitter material; its height depends on admixtures. Measurements at tungsten electrodes doped with ThO2, La2O3 and Ce2O3 within the model lamp show that evaporated emitter material is redeposited by an emitter ion current onto the electrode surface. It reduces the work function of tungsten cathodes above the evaporation temperature of the emitter material, too; and also of cold anodes, indicating a field reversal in front of them. The formation of an emitter spot at low cathode temperature and high emitter material density is traced back to a locally reduced work function generated by a locally enhanced emitter ion current density.

NASA Ames Research Center 60 MW Power Supply Modernization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Choy, Yuen Ching; Ilinets, Boris V.; Miller, Ted; Nagel, Kirsten (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

The NASA Ames Research Center 60 MW DC Power Supply was built in 1974 to provide controlled DC power for the Thermophysics Facility Arc Jet Laboratory. The Power Supply has gradually losing reliability due to outdated technology and component life limitation. NASA has decided to upgrade the existing rectifier modules with contemporary high-power electronics and control equipment. NASA plans to complete this project in 2001. This project includes a complete replacement of obsolete thyristor stacks in all six rectifier modules and rectifier bridge control system. High power water-cooled thyristors and freewheeling diodes will be used. The rating of each of the six modules will be 4000 A at 5500 V. The control firing angle signal will be sent from the Facility Control System to six modules via fiberoptic cable. The Power Supply control and monitoring system will include a Master PLC in the Facility building and a Slave PLC in each rectifier module. This system will also monitor each thyristor level in each stack and the auxiliary equipment.

Effect of ion beam irradiation on the structure of ZnO films deposited by a dc arc plasmatron.

PubMed

Penkov, Oleksiy V; Lee, Heon-Ju; Plaksin, Vadim Yu; Ko, Min Gook; Joa, Sang Beom; Yim, Chan Joo

2008-02-01

The deposition of polycrystalline ZnO film on a cold substrate was performed by using a plasmatron in rough vacuum condition. Low energy oxygen ion beam generated by a cold cathode ion source was introduced during the deposition process. The change of film property on the ion beam energy was checked. It is shown that irradiation by 200 eV ions improves crystalline structure of the film. Increasing of ion beam energy up to 400 eV leads to the degradation of a crystalline structure and decreases the deposition rate.

Examining exposure reciprocity in a resin based composite using high irradiance levels and real-time degree of conversion values.

PubMed

Selig, Daniela; Haenel, Thomas; Hausnerová, Berenika; Moeginger, Bernhard; Labrie, Daniel; Sullivan, Braden; Price, Richard B T

2015-05-01

Exposure reciprocity suggests that, as long as the same radiant exposure is delivered, different combinations of irradiance and exposure time will achieve the same degree of resin polymerization. This study examined the validity of exposure reciprocity using real time degree of conversion results from one commercial flowable dental resin. Additionally a new fitting function to describe the polymerization kinetics is proposed. A Plasma Arc Light Curing Unit (LCU) was used to deliver 0.75, 1.2, 1.5, 3.7 or 7.5 W/cm(2) to 2mm thick samples of Tetric EvoFlow (Ivoclar Vivadent). The irradiances and radiant exposures received by the resin were determined using an integrating sphere connected to a fiber-optic spectrometer. The degree of conversion (DC) was recorded at a rate of 8.5 measurements a second at the bottom of the resin using attenuated total reflectance Fourier Transform mid-infrared spectroscopy (FT-MIR). Five specimens were exposed at each irradiance level. The DC reached after 170s and after 5, 10 and 15 J/cm(2) had been delivered was compared using analysis of variance and Fisher's PLSD post hoc multiple comparison tests (alpha=0.05). The same DC values were not reached after the same radiant exposures of 5, 10 and 15 J/cm(2) had been delivered at an irradiance of 3.7 and 7.5 W/cm(2). Thus exposure reciprocity was not supported for Tetric EvoFlow (p<0.05). For Tetric EvoFlow, there was no significant difference in the DC when 5, 10 and 15J/cm(2) were delivered at irradiance levels of 0.75, 1.2 and 1.5 W/cm(2). The optimum combination of irradiance and exposure time for this commercial dental resin may be close to 1.5 W/cm(2) for 12s. Copyright © 2015 Academy of Dental Materials. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Balloon Borne Arc-Second Pointer Feasibility Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ward, Philip R.; DeWeese, Keith D.

2003-01-01

For many years scientists have been utilizing stratospheric balloons as low-cost platforms on which to conduct space science experiments. A major hurdle in extending the range of experiments for which these vehicles are useful has been the imposition of the gondola dynamics on the accuracy with which an instrument can be kept pointed at a celestial target. A significant number of scientists have sought the ability to point their instruments with jitter in the arc-second range. This paper presents the design and analysis of a stratospheric balloon borne pointing system that is able to meet this requirement. The foundation for a high fidelity controller simulation is presented. The flexibility of the flight train is represented through generalized modal analysis. A multiple controller scheme is introduced for coarse and fine pointing. Coarse azimuth pointing is accomplished by an established pointing system, with extensive flight history, residing above the gondola structure. A pitch-yaw gimbal mount is used for fine pointing, providing orthogonal axes when nominally on target. Fine pointing actuation is from direct drive dc motors, eliminating backlash problems. An analysis of friction nonlinearities and a demonstration of the necessity in eliminating static fiction are provided. A unique bearing hub design is introduced that eliminates static fiction from the system dynamics. A control scheme involving linear accelerometers for enhanced disturbance rejection is also presented. Results from a linear analysis of the total system and the high fidelity simulation are given. This paper establishes that the proposed control strategy can be made robustly stable with significant design margins. Also demonstrated is the efficacy of the proposed system in rejecting disturbances larger than those considered realistic. Finally, we see that sub arc-second pointing stability can be achieved for a large instrument pointing at an inertial target.

Spectrochemical determination of thorium in monazite by the powder-d.c. arc technique

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dutra, C.V.; Murata, K.J.

1954-01-01

Thorium in monazite is determined by a d.c. carbon-arc technique using zirconium as the internal standard. The analytical curve for Th II 2870.413 A??/Zr II 2844-579 A?? is established by means of synthetic standards containing graduated amounts of thoria and 0.500 per cent zirconia in pegmatite base (60 parts quartz, 40 parts microchne, and 1 part ferric oxide). Monazite samples are diluted 14-fold with pegmatite base that contains 0.538 per cent ZrO2, so that the zirconia content of the resulting mixture is also 0.500 per cent. In addition, both the standards and the diluted monazites are mixed with one-half their weight of powdered graphite. Approximately 25 mg of the prepared samples are arced to completion at 15.5 to 17.5 amperes. With the 14-fold dilution employed, the accurate range of the method is 3 to 20 per cent thoria in the original monazite. The coefficient of variation for a single determination is 4 per cent at the 7 per cent thoria level. Tests with synthetic unknowns and chemically analyzed monazites show a maximum error of ??10 per cent of the thoria content. If niobium is substituted for zirconium as the internal standard, there is a loss of precision. Platinum as the internal standard gives results of good precision but introduces a marked sensitivity to matrix effects. ?? 1954.

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.

Telescience operations with the solar array module plasma interaction experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wald, Lawrence W.; Bibyk, Irene K.

1995-01-01

The Solar Array Module Plasma Interactions Experiment (SAMPIE) is a flight experiment that flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-62) in March 1994, as part of the OAST-2 mission. The overall objective of SAMPIE was to determine the adverse environmental interactions within the space plasma of low earth orbit (LEO) on modern solar cells and space power system materials which are artificially biased to high positive and negative direct current (DC) voltages. The two environmental interactions of interest included high voltage arcing from the samples to the space plasma and parasitic current losses. High voltage arcing can cause physical damage to power system materials and shorten expected hardware life. parasitic current losses can reduce power system efficiency because electric currents generated in a power system drain into the surrounding plasma via parasitic resistance. The flight electronics included two programmable high voltage DC power supplies to bias the experiment samples, instruments to measure the surrounding plasma environment in the STS cargo bay, and the on-board data acquisition system (DAS). The DAS provided in-flight experiment control, data storage, and communications through the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Hitchhiker flight avionics to the GSFC Payload Operations Control Center (POCC). The DAS and the SAMPIE POCC computer systems were designed for telescience operations; this paper will focus on the experiences of the SAMPIE team regarding telescience development and operations from the GSFC POCC during STS-62. The SAMPIE conceptual development, hardware design, and system verification testing were accomplished at the NASA Lewis Research Center (LeRC). SAMPIE was developed under the In-Space Technology Experiment Program (IN-STEP), which sponsors NASA, industry, and university flight experiments designed to enable and enhance space flight technology. The IN-STEP Program is sponsored by the Office of Space Access and Technology (OSAT).

Hydrogen generation from water using Mg nanopowder produced by arc plasma method.

PubMed

Uda, Masahiro; Okuyama, Hideo; Suzuki, Tohru S; Sakka, Yoshio

2012-04-01

We report that hydrogen gas can be easily produced from water at room temperature using a Mg nanopowder (30-1000 nm particles, average diameter 265 nm). The Mg nanopowder was produced by dc arc melting of a Mg ingot in a chamber with mixed-gas atmosphere (20% N 2 -80% Ar) at 0.1 MPa using custom-built nanopowder production equipment. The Mg nanopowder was passivated with a gas mixture of 1% O 2 in Ar for 12 h in the final step of the synthesis, after which the nanopowder could be safely handled in ambient air. The nanopowder vigorously reacted with water at room temperature, producing 110 ml of hydrogen gas per 1 g of powder in 600 s. This amount corresponds to 11% of the hydrogen that could be generated by the stoichiometric reaction between Mg and water. Mg(OH) 2 flakes formed on the surface of the Mg particles as a result of this reaction. They easily peeled off, and the generation of hydrogen continued until all the Mg was consumed.

Low power DC arcjet operation with hydrogen/nitrogen/ammonia mixtures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardy, Terry L.; Curran, Francis M.

1987-01-01

The effect of gas composition and ambient pressure on arcjet operation was determined. Arcjet operation in different facilities was also compared to determine the validity of tests in small facilities. Volt-ampere characteristics were determined for an arcjet using hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures (simulating both ammonia and hydrazine), hydrogen/nitrogen/ammonia mixtures, and pure ammonia as propellants at various flow rates. The arcjet had a typical performance of 450 sec specific impulse at 1 kW with hydrogen/nitrogen mixures. It was determined that the amount of ammonia present in the gas stream had a significant effect on the arcjet volt-ampere characteristics. Also, hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures simulating ammonia gave arc characteristics approximately the same as those of pure ammonia. Finally, no differences in arc volt-ampere characteristics were seen between low and high ambient pressure operation in the same facility. A 3 to 5 V difference was seen when different facilities were compared, but this difference was probably due to differences in the voltage drops across the current connections, and not due to arcjet operational differences in the two facilities.

Low power dc arcjet operation with hydrogen/nitrogen/ammonia mixtures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hardy, Terry L.; Curran, Francis M.

1986-01-01

The effect of gas composition and ambient pressure on arcjet operation was determined. Arcjet operation in different facilities was also compared to determine the validity of tests in small facilities. Volt-ampere characteristics were determined for an arcjet using hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures (simulating both ammonia and hydrazine), hydrogen/nitrogen/ammonia mixtures, and pure ammonia as propellants at various flow rates. The arcjet had a typical performance of 450 sec specific impulse at 1 kW with hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures. It was determined that the amount of ammonia present in the gas stream had a significant effect on the arcjet volt-ampere characteristics. Also, hydrogen/nitrogen mixtures simulating ammonia gave arc characteristics approximately the same as those of pure ammonia. Finally, no differences in arc volt-ampere characteristics were seen between low and high ambient pressure operation in the same facility. A 3 to 5 V difference was seen when different facilities were compared, but this difference was probably due to differences in the voltage drops across the current connections, and not due to arcjet operational differences in the two facilities.

Generator of chemically active low-temperature plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyuftyaev, A. S.; Gadzhiev, M. Kh; Sargsyan, M. A.; Demirov, N. A.; Spector, N. O.

2016-11-01

A new generator of high enthalpy (H 0 > 40 kJ/g), chemically active nitrogen and air plasmas was designed and constructed. Main feature of the generator is an expanding channel of an output electrode; the generator belongs to the class of DC plasma torches with thermionic cathode with an efficiency of 80%. The generator ensures the formation of a slightly divergent plasma jet (2α = 12°) with a diameter of D = 10-12 mm, an electric arc maximum power of 20-50 kW, plasma forming gas flow rate 1.0-2.0 g/s, and the average plasma temperature at an outlet of 8000-11000 K.

Application of low-temperature plasma for the synthesis of hydrogenated graphene (graphane)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shavelkina, M. B.; Amirov, R. H.; Katarzhis, V. A.; Kiselev, V. I.

2017-12-01

The possibility of a direct synthesis of hydrogenated graphene in decomposition of methane by means of low-temperature plasma was investigated. A DC plasma torch with an expanding channel-anode, a vortex gas supply and a self-setting arc length was used as a generator of low-temperature plasma. Argon was used as the plasma-forming gas. The temperatures of argon plasma and with methane addition to it were determined on the basis of spectral measurements. The synthesis products were characterized by electron microscopy and thermogravimetry. The effect of hydrogenated graphene as a nanomodifier on the properties of the cubic boron nitride based functional ceramics was investigated.

Charge carrier transport mechanisms in perovskite CdTiO{sub 3} fibers

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

Imran, Z.; Rafiq, M. A., E-mail: aftab@cantab.net; Hasan, M. M.

Electrical transport properties of electrospun cadmium titanate (CdTiO{sub 3}) fibers have been investigated using ac and dc measurements. Air annealing of as spun fibers at 1000 °C yielded the single phase perovskite fibers having diameter ∼600 nm - 800 nm. Both the ac and dc electrical measurements were carried out at temperatures from 200 K – 420 K. The complex impedance plane plots revealed a single semicircular arc which indicates the interfacial effect due to grain boundaries of fibers. The dielectric properties obey the Maxwell-Wagner theory of interfacial polarization. In dc transport study at low voltages, data show Ohmic like behaviormore » followed by space charge limited current (SCLC) with traps at higher voltages at all temperatures (200 K – 420 K). Trap density in our fibers system is N{sub t} = 6.27 × 10{sup 17} /cm{sup 3}. Conduction mechanism in the sample is governed by 3-D variable range hopping (VRH) from 200 K – 300 K. The localized density of states were found to be N(E{sub F}) = 5.51 × 10{sup 21} eV{sup −1} cm{sup −3} at 2 V. Other VRH parameters such as hopping distance (R{sub hop}) and hopping energy (W{sub hop}) were also calculated. In the high temperature range of 320 K – 420 K, conductivity follows the Arrhenius law. The activation energy found at 2 V is 0.10 eV. Temperature dependent and higher values of dielectric constant make the perovskite CdTiO{sub 3} fibers efficient material for capacitive energy storage devices.« less

Influence of Al3+ substitution on the electrical resistivity and dielectric behavior of Ni0.25Cu0.20Zn0.55AlxFe2-xO4 ferrites synthesized by solid state reaction technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rahman, K. R.; Chowdhury, F.-U.-Z.; Khan, M. N. I.

2017-12-01

In this paper, the effect of Al3+ substitution on the electrical and dielectric properties of Ni0.25Cu0.20Zn0.55AlxFe2-xO4 ferrites with x = 0.0, 0.05. 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20, synthesized by solid state reaction has been reported. Using two probe method, the DC resistivity has been investigated in the temperature range from 30 °C to 300 °C. Activation energy was calculated from the Arrhenius plot. The electrical conduction is explained on the basis of the hopping mechanism. The frequency dependent dielectric properties of these spinel ferrites have been studied at room temperature by measuring AC resistivity, conductivity (σac), dielectric constant and dielectric loss tangent (tan δ) in the frequency range between 1 kHz and 120 MHz. The study of dielectric properties showed that the dielectric constant and dielectric loss increased with increasing non-magnetic Al ions. The dependence of dielectric constant with frequency has been explained by Maxwell-Wagner interfacial polarization. Cole-Cole plots show semicircular arc(s) for the samples, and equivalent RC circuits have been proposed to clarify the phenomena involved therein. The analysis of complex impedance spectroscopy has been used to distinguish between the grain and grain boundary contribution to the total resistance.

High energy density capacitors for vacuum operation with a pulsed plasma load

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Guman, W. J.

1976-01-01

Results of the effort of designing, fabricating, and testing of a 40 joules/lb (88.2 joules/Kg) high voltage energy storage capacitor suitable for operating a pulsed plasma thruster in a vacuum environment for millions of pulses are presented. Using vacuum brazing and heli-arc welding techniques followed by vacuum and high pressure helium leak tests it was possible to produce a hermetically sealed relatively light weight enclosure for the dielectric system. An energy density of 40 joules/lb was realized with a KF-polyvinylidene fluoride dielectric system. One capacitor was D.C. life tested at 4 KV (107.8 joules/lb) for 2,000 hours before it failed. Another exceeded 2,670 hours without failure at 38.3 joules/lb. Pulse life testing in a vacuum exceeded 300,000 discharges with testing still in progress. The D.C. life test data shows a small decrease in capacitance and an increase in dissipation factor with time. Heat transfer from the load to the capacitor must also be considered besides the self-heat generated by the capacitor.

Cloud Arcs in the Western Pacific

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2002-01-01

Small cumulus clouds in this natural-color view from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer have formed a distinctive series of quasi-circular arcs. Clues regarding the formation of these arcs can be found by noting that larger clouds exist in the interior of each arc.

The interior clouds are thicker and likely to be more convectively active than the other clouds, causing much of the air near the centers of the arcs to rise. This air spreads out horizontally in all directions as it rises and continues to spread out as it begins to sink back to the surface. This pushes any existing small cumulus clouds away from the central region of convection.

As the air sinks, it also warms, preventing other small clouds from forming, so that the regions just inside the arcs are kept clear. At the arcs, the horizontal flow of sinking air is now quite weak and on meeting the undisturbed air it can rise again slightly -- possibly assisting in the formation of new small cumulus clouds. Although examples of the continuity of air, in which every rising air motion must be compensated by a sinking motion elsewhere, are very common, the degree of organization exhibited here is relatively rare, as the wind field at different altitudes usually disrupts such patterns. The degree of self organization of this cloud image, whereby three or four such circular events form a quasi-periodic pattern, probably also requires a relatively uncommon combination of wind, temperature and humidity conditions for it to occur.

The image was acquired by MISR's nadir camera on March 11, 2002, and is centered west of the Marshall Islands. Enewetak Atoll is discernible through thin cloud as the turquoise band near the right-hand edge of the image.

The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer observes the daylit Earth continuously from pole to pole, and views almost the entire globe every 9 days. This image is a portion of the data acquired during Terra orbit 11863, and covers an area of about 380 kilometers x 345 kilometers. It utilizes data from blocks 80 to 82 within World Reference System-2 path 90.

MISR was built and is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, for NASA's Office of Earth Science, Washington, DC. The Terra satellite is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology.

Application of an atomic oxygen beam facility to the investigation of shuttle glow chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnold, G. S.; Peplinski, D. R.

1985-01-01

A facility for the investigation of the interactions of energetic atomic oxygen with solids is described. The facility is comprised of a four chambered, differentially pumped molecular beam apparatus which can be equipped with one of a variety of sources of atomic oxygen. The primary source is a dc arc heated supersonic nozzle source which produces a flux of atomic oxygen in excess of 10 to the 15th power sq cm/sec at the target, at a velocity of 3.5 km/sec. Results of applications of this facility to the study of the reactions of atomic oxygen with carbon and polyimide films are briefly reviewed and compared to data obtained on various flights of the space shuttle. A brief discussion of possible application of this facility to investigation of chemical reactions which might contribute to atmosphere induced vehicle glow is presented.

Electrokinetic properties of PMAA functionalized NiFe2O4 nanoparticles synthesized by thermal plasma route

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhosale, Shivaji V.; Mhaske, Pravin; Kanhe, N.; Navale, A. B.; Bhoraskar, S. V.; Mathe, V. L.; Bhatt, S. K.

2014-04-01

The magnetic nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles with an average size of 30nm were synthesised by Transferred arc DC Thermal Plasma route. The synthesized nickel ferrite nanoparticles were characterized by TEM and FTIR techniques. The synthesized nickel ferrite nanoparticles were further functionalized with PMAA (polymethacrylic acid) by self emulsion polymerization method and subsequently were characterized by FTIR and Zeta Analyzer. The variation of zeta potential with pH was systematically studied for both PMAA functionalized (PNFO) and uncoated nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NFO). The IEP (isoelectric points) for PNFO and NFO was determined from the graph of zeta potential vs pH. It was observed that the IEP for NFO was at 7.20 and for PNFO it was 2.52. The decrease in IEP of PNFO was attributed to the COOH functional group of PMAA.

[Spectra and thermal analysis of the arc in activating flux plasma arc welding].

PubMed

Chai, Guo-Ming; Zhu, Yi-Feng

2010-04-01

In activating flux plasma arc welding the welding arc was analyzed by spectra analysis technique, and the welding arc temperature field was measured by the infrared sensing and computer image technique. The distribution models of welding arc heat flow density of activating flux PAW welding were developed. The composition of welding arc affected by activated flux was studied, and the welding arc temperature field was studied. The results show that the spectral lines of argon atom and ionized argon atom of primary ionization are the main spectra lines of the conventional plasma welding arc. The spectra lines of weld metal are inappreciable in the spectra lines of the conventional plasma welding arc. The gas particle is the main in the conventional plasma welding arc. The conventional plasma welding arc is gas welding arc. The spectra lines of argon atom and ionized argon atom of primary ionization are intensified in the activating flux plasma welding arc, and the spectra lines of Ti, Cr and Fe elements are found in the activating flux plasma welding arc. The welding arc temperature distribution in activating flux plasma arc welding is compact, the outline of the welding arc temperature field is narrow, the range of the welding arc temperature distribution is concentrated, the welding arc radial temperature gradient is large, and the welding arc radial temperature gradient shows normal Gauss distribution.

ArcS, the cognate sensor kinase in an atypical Arc system of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1.

PubMed

Lassak, Jürgen; Henche, Anna-Lena; Binnenkade, Lucas; Thormann, Kai M

2010-05-01

The availability of oxygen is a major environmental factor for many microbes, in particular for bacteria such as Shewanella species, which thrive in redox-stratified environments. One of the best-studied systems involved in mediating the response to changes in environmental oxygen levels is the Arc two-component system of Escherichia coli, consisting of the sensor kinase ArcB and the cognate response regulator ArcA. An ArcA ortholog was previously identified in Shewanella, and as in Escherichia coli, Shewanella ArcA is involved in regulating the response to shifts in oxygen levels. Here, we identified the hybrid sensor kinase SO_0577, now designated ArcS, as the previously elusive cognate sensor kinase of the Arc system in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Phenotypic mutant characterization, transcriptomic analysis, protein-protein interaction, and phosphotransfer studies revealed that the Shewanella Arc system consists of the sensor kinase ArcS, the single phosphotransfer domain protein HptA, and the response regulator ArcA. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that HptA might be a relict of ArcB. Conversely, ArcS is substantially different with respect to overall sequence homologies and domain organizations. Thus, we speculate that ArcS might have adopted the role of ArcB after a loss of the original sensor kinase, perhaps as a consequence of regulatory adaptation to a redox-stratified environment.

Effect of crystallographic orientation on the anodic formation of nanoscale pores/tubes in TiO 2 films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalantar-zadeh, K.; Sadek, A. Z.; Zheng, H.; Partridge, J. G.; McCulloch, D. G.; Li, Y. X.; Yu, X. F.; Wlodarski, W.

2009-10-01

Self-organized nanopores and nanotubes have been produced in thin films of titanium (Ti) prepared using filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA), DC- and RF-sputter deposition systems. The anodization process was performed using a neutral electrolyte containing fluoride ions with an applied potential between 2 and 20 V (for clarity the results are only presented for 5 V). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to characterise the films. It was found that the crystallographic orientation of the Ti films played a significant role in determining whether pores or tubes were formed during the anodic etching process.

Development of ion source with a washer gun for pulsed neutral beam injection.

PubMed

Asai, T; Yamaguchi, N; Kajiya, H; Takahashi, T; Imanaka, H; Takase, Y; Ono, Y; Sato, K N

2008-06-01

A new type of economical neutral beam source has been developed by using a single washer gun, pulsed operation, and a simple electrode system. We replaced the conventional hot filaments for arc-discharge-type plasma formation with a single stainless-steel washer gun, eliminating the entire dc power supply for the filaments and the cooling system for the electrodes. Our initial experiments revealed successful beam extraction up to 10 kV and 8.6 A, based on spatial profile measurements of density and temperature in the plasma source. The system also shows the potential to control the beam profile by controlling the plasma parameters in the ion accumulation chamber.

REGULATOR FOR CALUTRON ION SOURCE

DOEpatents

Miller, B.F.

1958-09-01

Improvements are described in electric discharge devices and circuits for a calutron and, more specifically, presents an arc discharge regulator circuit for the ion source of the calatron. In general, the source comprises a filament which bombards a cathode with electrons, a griid control electrode between the filament and the cathode, and an anode electrode. The control electrode has a DC potential which is varied in response to changes in the anode current flow by means of a saturable reactor installed in its power supply energizing line having the anode current flowing through its control winding. In this manner the bombardment current to the cathode may be decreased when the anode current increases beyond a predetermined level.

Two-photon laser-induced fluorescence of atomic hydrogen in a diamond-depositing dc arcjet.

PubMed

Juchmann, Wolfgang; Luque, Jorge; Jeffries, Jay B

2005-11-01

Atomic hydrogen in the plume of a dc-arcjet plasma is monitored by use of two-photon excited laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) during the deposition of diamond film. The effluent of a dc-arc discharge in hydrogen and argon forms a luminous plume as it flows through a converging-diverging nozzle into a reactor. When a trace of methane (< 2%) is added to the flow in the diverging part of the nozzle, diamond thin film grows on a water-cooled molybdenum substrate from the reactive mixture. LIF of atomic hydrogen in the arcjet plume is excited to the 3S and 3D levels with two photons near 205 nm, and the subsequent fluorescence is observed at Balmer-alpha near 656 nm. Spatially resolved LIF measurements of atomic hydrogen are made as a function of the ratio of hydrogen to argon feedstock gas, methane addition, and reactor pressure. At lower reactor pressures, time-resolved LIF measurements are used to verify our collisional quenching correction algorithm. The quenching rate coefficients for collisions with the major species in the arcjet (Ar, H, and H2) do not change with gas temperature variations in the plume (T < 2300 K). Corrections of the LIF intensity measurements for the spatial variation of collisional quenching are important to determine relative distributions of the atomic hydrogen concentration. The relative atomic hydrogen concentrations measured here are calibrated with an earlier calorimetric determination of the feedstock hydrogen dissociation to provide quantitative hydrogen-atom concentration distributions.

Fabrication of graphene/titanium carbide nanorod arrays for chemical sensor application.

PubMed

Fu, Chong; Li, Mingji; Li, Hongji; Li, Cuiping; Qu, Changqing; Yang, Baohe

2017-03-01

Vertically stacked graphene nanosheet/titanium carbide nanorod array/titanium (graphene/TiC nanorod array) wires were fabricated using a direct current arc plasma jet chemical vapor deposition (DC arc plasma jet CVD) method. The graphene/TiC nanorod arrays were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. The TiO 2 nanotube array was reduced to the TiC nanorod array, and using those TiC nanorods as nucleation sites, the vertical graphene layer was formed on the TiC nanorod surface. The multi-target response mechanisms of the graphene/TiC nanorod array were investigated for ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ). The vertically stacked graphene sheets facilitated the electron transfer and reactant transport with a unique porous surface, high surface area, and high electron transport network of CVD graphene sheets. The TiC nanorod array facilitated the electron transfer and firmly held the graphene layer. Thus, the graphene/TiC nanorod arrays could simultaneously respond to trace biomarkers and antihypertensive drugs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multiple-element semiquantitative analysis of one-milligram geochemical samples by D.C. arc emission spectrography

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rait, N.

1981-01-01

A modified method is described for a 1-mg sample multi-element semiquantitative spectrographic analysis. This method uses a direct-current arc source, carbon instead of graphite electrodes, and an 80% argon-20% oxygen atmosphere instead of air. Although this is a destructive method, an analysis can be made for 68 elements in all mineral and geochemical samples. Carbon electrodes have been an aid in improving the detection limits of many elements. The carbon has a greater resistance to heat conductance and develops a better tip, facilitating sample volatilization and counter balancing the cooling effect of a flow of the argon-oxygen mixture around the anode. Where such an argon-oxygen atmosphere is used instead of air, the cyanogen band lines are greatly diminished in intensity, and thus more spectral lines of analysis elements are available for use; the spectral background is also lower. The main advantage of using the carbon electrode and the 80% argon-20% oxygen atmosphere is the improved detection limits of 36 out of 68 elements. The detection limits remain the same for 23 elements, and are not as good for only nine elements. ?? 1981.

DC electrostatic gyro suspension system for the Gravity Probe B experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Chang-Huei

1994-12-01

The Gravity Probe B experiment is a satellite-based experiment primarily designed to test two aspects of Einstein's General Theory of Relativity by observing the spin axis drift of near-perfect gyroscopes in a 650-km circular polar orbit. The goal of this experiment is to measure the drift angles to an accuracy of 0.3 milli-arcsec after one year in orbit. As a result, electrostatically suspended free-spinning gyroscopes operating at a very low temperature became the final choice for their ultra-low Newtonian torque-induced drift rate. The Conventional AC current-driven suspension system faces two fundamental difficulties for ground gyro testing. Field emission causes rotor charging and arcing with an imperfect electrode or rotor surfaces because the electric field intensity needed to support a solid rotor in the 1-g field is more than 107 V/m. The system not only becomes unstable at a high rotor charge, which can be more than 500 volts, but may also lose control in case of arcing. Both the high voltage AC suspension signal and the high frequency (1 MHz) signal for rotor position sensing interfere with the superconducting SQUID magnetometer for spin axis readout through inductive coupling. These problems were resolved by using DC voltage to generate a suspension force and a low frequency position sensor. In addition to the Input/Output linearization algorithm developed to remove the system nonlinearity for global stability and dynamic performance, we also minimized the electric field intensity to reduce rotor charging. Experimental results verified the desired global stability and satisfactory dynamic performance. The problem of rotor charging is virtually eliminated. More importantly, the DC system is compatible with the SQUID readout system in the Science Mission configuration. Consequently, experiments in low magnetic field at a sub-micro-gauss level for SQUID design verification and trapped flux distribution study were finally realizable in ground environment. The second part of the research focused on design issues for the Science Mission in a micro-g environment. The unique requirement of the GP-B experiment is to minimize suspension-induced torque and subsequent spin axis drift. A nonlinear control law which employs stiffened spring and stiffened damping coefficients was developed to achieve both low RMS noise in steady-state operation and quick response for situations like a micrometeoroid impact. Rotor voltage measurement and in-flight sensor bias correction schemes were developed to ensure system stability and absolute centering accuracy. Simulation results verified the system performances and confirmed that a suspension system induced rotor spin axis drift lower than 0.1 milli arcsec/year can be reached.

Magma addition rates in continental arcs: New methods of calculation and global implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ratschbacher, B. C.; Paterson, S. R.

2017-12-01

The transport of mass, heat and geochemical constituents (elements and volatiles) from the mantle to the atmosphere occurs via magma addition to the lithosphere. Calculation of magma addition rates (MARs) in continental arcs based on exposed proportions of igneous arc rocks is complex and rarely consistently determined. Multiple factors influence MAR calculations such as crust versus mantle contributions to magmas, a change in MARs across the arc and with depths throughout the arc crustal column, `arc tempos' with periods of high and low magmatic activity, the loss of previous emplaced arc rocks by subsequent magmatism and return to the mantle, arc migration, variations in the intrusive versus extrusive additions and evolving arc widths and thicknesses during tectonism. All of these factors need to be considered when calculating MARs.This study makes a new attempt to calculate MARs in continental arcs by studying three arc sections: the Famatinian arc, Argentina, the Sierra Nevada batholith, California and the Coast Mountain batholith, Washington and British Columbia. Arcs are divided into fore-arc, main arc and back arc sections and `boxes' with a defined width, length and thickness spanning upper middle and lower crustal levels are assigned to each section. Representative exposed crustal slices for each depth are then used to calculate MARs based on outcrop proportions for each box. Geochemical data is used to infer crustal recycling percentages and total thickness of the arc. Preliminary results show a correlation between MARs, crustal thicknesses and magmatic flare-up durations. For instance, the Famatinian arc shows a strong decrease in MARs between the main arc section (9.4 km3/Ma/arc-km) and the fore-arc (0.61 km3/Ma/arc-km) and back-arc (1.52 km3/Ma/arc-km) regions and an increase in the amount of magmatism with depth.Global MARs over geologic timescales have the potential to investigate mantle melt generation rates and the volatile outgassing contribution of unerupted arc magmas to the balance of volatile element cycling from the mantle to the surface. We address this question by using exposed arc length estimates from 760 Ma until present (Cao et al. 2017, EPSL) and scale to MARs based on constrains from the detailed study of the three arc sections and a further division into magma-rich and magma-poor arcs.

Predictors of femtosecond laser intrastromal astigmatic keratotomy efficacy for astigmatism management in cataract surgery.

PubMed

Day, Alexander C; Stevens, Julian D

2016-02-01

To evaluate the factors associated with the efficacy of femtosecond laser intrastromal astigmatic keratotomy (AK). Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Prospective case series. Eyes having intrastromal AK for corneal cylinder correction were analyzed. Preoperative biometric parameters included axial length, anterior chamber depth, central corneal thickness, and Ocular Response Analyzer corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF). Preoperative and 1-month postoperative corneal keratometry was measured using the Topcon KR8100PA topographer-autorefractor. Astigmatic analyses were performed using the Alpins method. The study analyzed 319 eyes of 213 patients with a mean target induced astigmatism of 1.24 diopters (D) ± 0.44 (SD), mean surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) of 0.71 ± 0.43 D, and mean difference vector of 0.79 ± 0.41 D. Two multiple regression models were constructed for SIA prediction. Model 1, based on previous manual limbal relaxing incision parameters, confirmed age and astigmatism meridian (with/against the rule and oblique) to be associated with SIA in addition to AK arc length, AK start depth, and preoperative corneal cylinder magnitude. Model 2, additionally considering other parameters, found only lower CH (-0.06 DC per unit CH), a higher CRF (0.04 D per unit CRF), and the astigmatism meridian to be independent predictors of greater SIA (after adjusting for intrastromal AK arc length, start depth, and preoperative corneal cylinder). With-the-rule astigmatism was associated with a 0.13 D higher SIA than against-the-rule astigmatism, holding all other variables constant. Corneal biomechanical parameters and astigmatism meridian were independent predictors of femtosecond laser intrastromal AK efficacy even after adjusting for AK arc length, AK start depth, and preoperative corneal cylinder. Dr. Stevens is a previous consultant to Optimedica, Inc. which is now part of Abbott Medical Optics, Inc. Drs. Stevens and Day have no financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned. Copyright © 2016 ASCRS and ESCRS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diagnostics of Thermal Spraying Plasma Jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

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

Evaluation of the clinical usefulness of modulated arc treatment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Young Kyu; Jang, Hong Seok; Kim, Yeon Sil; Choi, Byung Ock; Kang, Young-Nam; Nam, Sang Hee; Park, Hyeong Wook; Kim, Shin Wook; Shin, Hun Joo; Lee, Jae Choon; Kim, Ji Na; Park, Sung Kwang; Kim, Jin Young

2015-07-01

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical usefulness of modulated arc (mARC) treatment techniques. The mARC treatment plans for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were made in order to verify the clinical usefulness of mARC. A pre-study was conducted to find the best plan condition for mARC treatment, and the usefulness of the mARC treatment plan was evaluated by comparing it with other Arc treatment plans such as tomotherapy and RapidArc plans. In the case of mARC, the optimal condition for the mARC plan was determined by comparing the dosimetric performance of the mARC plans developed by using various parameters, which included the photon energy (6 MV, 10 MV), the optimization point angle (6°- 10°intervals), and the total number of segments (36 - 59 segments). The best dosimetric performance of mARC was observed at a 10 MV photon energy, a point angle 6 degrees, and 59 segments. The treatment plans for the three different techniques were compared by using the following parameters: the conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), the target coverage, the dose to the OARs, the number of monitor units (MU), the beam on time, and the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP). As a result, the three different treatment techniques showed similar target coverages. The mARC plan had the lowest V20 (volume of lung receiving > 20 Gy) and MU per fraction compared with both the RapidArc and the tomotherapy plans. The mARC plan reduced the beam on time as well. Therefore, the results of this study provide satisfactory evidence that the mARC technique can be considered as a useful clinical technique for radiation treatment.

Statistics of vacuum breakdown in the high-gradient and low-rate regime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wuensch, Walter; Degiovanni, Alberto; Calatroni, Sergio; Korsbäck, Anders; Djurabekova, Flyura; Rajamäki, Robin; Giner-Navarro, Jorge

2017-01-01

In an increasing number of high-gradient linear accelerator applications, accelerating structures must operate with both high surface electric fields and low breakdown rates. Understanding the statistical properties of breakdown occurrence in such a regime is of practical importance for optimizing accelerator conditioning and operation algorithms, as well as of interest for efforts to understand the physical processes which underlie the breakdown phenomenon. Experimental data of breakdown has been collected in two distinct high-gradient experimental set-ups: A prototype linear accelerating structure operated in the Compact Linear Collider Xbox 12 GHz test stands, and a parallel plate electrode system operated with pulsed DC in the kV range. Collected data is presented, analyzed and compared. The two systems show similar, distinctive, two-part distributions of number of pulses between breakdowns, with each part corresponding to a specific, constant event rate. The correlation between distance and number of pulses between breakdown indicates that the two parts of the distribution, and their corresponding event rates, represent independent primary and induced follow-up breakdowns. The similarity of results from pulsed DC to 12 GHz rf indicates a similar vacuum arc triggering mechanism over the range of conditions covered by the experiments.

Covalent attachment of Arc repressor subunits by a peptide linker enhances affinity for operator DNA.

PubMed

Robinson, C R; Sauer, R T

1996-01-09

By designing a recombinant gene containing tandem copies of the arc coding sequence with intervening DNA encoding the linker sequence GGGSGGGTGGGSGGG, the two subunits of the P22 Are repressor dimer have been covalently linked to form a single-chain protein called Arc-L1-Arc. The 15-residue linker joins the C-terminus of one monomer to the N-terminus of the second, a distance of approximately 45 A in the Arc-operator cocrystal structure. Arc-L1-Arc is expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli, with no evidence of degradation or proteolytic clipping of the linker, and is more active than wild-type Arc in repression assays. The purified Arc-L1-Arc protein has the molecular weight expected for the designed protein and unfolds cooperatively, reversibly, and with no concentration dependence in thermal-denaturation studies. Arc-L1-Arc protects operator DNA in a manner indistinguishable from that of wild-type Arc in DNase I and copper-phenanthroline footprinting studies, but the covalent attachment of the two monomers results in enhanced affinity for operator DNA. Arc-L1-Arc binds operator DNA half-maximally at a concentration of 1.7 pM, compared with the wild-type value of 185 pM, and also binds DNA fragments containing the left or right operator half-sites more tightly than wild type. Because wild-type Arc is monomeric at sub-nanomolar concentrations and must dimerize before binding to the operator, it was anticipated that Arc-L1-Arc would exhibit a lower half-maximal binding concentration. However, even when the change from a monomeric to a dimeric species is taken into account, the affinity of Arc-L1-Arc for operator and half-operator DNA is greater than the wild-type affinity. This tighter binding appears to result from slower dissociation, as Arc-L1-Arc DNA complexes with full or half-site operators dissociate at rates 5-10 times slower than the corresponding Arc--DNA complexes. Hence, the activity of the designed Arc-L1-Arc protein is substantially increased relative to wild-type Arc in a variety of assays.

Plasma treatment of air pollution control residues.

PubMed

Amutha Rani, D; Gomez, E; Boccaccini, A R; Hao, L; Deegan, D; Cheeseman, C R

2008-01-01

Air pollution control (APC) residues from waste incineration have been blended with silica and alumina and the mix melted using DC plasma arc technology. The chemical composition of the fully amorphous homogeneous glass formed has been determined. Waste acceptance criteria compliance leach testing demonstrates that the APC residue derived glass releases only trace levels of heavy metals (Pb (<0.007mg/kg) and Zn (0.02mg/kg)) and Cl(-) (0.2mg/kg). These are significantly below the limit values for disposal to inert landfill. It is concluded that plasma treatment of APC residues can produce an inert glass that may have potential to be used either in bulk civil engineering applications or in the production of higher value glass-ceramic products.

The Role of CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in Activity-Dependent Neuronal Plasticity in the Visual Cortex.

PubMed

Pulimood, Nisha S; Rodrigues, Wandilson Dos Santos; Atkinson, Devon A; Mooney, Sandra M; Medina, Alexandre E

2017-07-12

The transcription factors CREB (cAMP response element binding factor), SRF (serum response factor), and MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2) play critical roles in the mechanisms underlying neuronal plasticity. However, the role of the activation of these transcription factors in the different components of plasticity in vivo is not well known. In this study, we tested the role of CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in ocular dominance plasticity (ODP), a paradigm of activity-dependent neuronal plasticity in the visual cortex. These three proteins bind to the synaptic activity response element (SARE), an enhancer sequence found upstream of many plasticity-related genes (Kawashima et al., 2009; Rodríguez-Tornos et al., 2013), and can act cooperatively to express Arc , a gene required for ODP (McCurry et al., 2010). We used viral-mediated gene transfer to block the transcription function of CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in the visual cortex, and measured visually evoked potentials in awake male and female mice before and after a 7 d monocular deprivation, which allowed us to examine both the depression component (Dc-ODP) and potentiation component (Pc-ODP) of plasticity independently. We found that CREB, SRF, and MEF2 are all required for ODP, but have differential effects on Dc-ODP and Pc-ODP. CREB is necessary for both Dc-ODP and Pc-ODP, whereas SRF and MEF2 are only needed for Dc-ODP. This finding supports previous reports implicating SRF and MEF2 in long-term depression (required for Dc-ODP), and CREB in long-term potentiation (required for Pc-ODP). SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Activity-dependent neuronal plasticity is the cellular basis for learning and memory, and it is crucial for the refinement of neuronal circuits during development. Identifying the mechanisms of activity-dependent neuronal plasticity is crucial to finding therapeutic interventions in the myriad of disorders where it is disrupted, such as Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Transcription factors are essential nuclear proteins that trigger the expression of gene programs required for long-term functional and structural plasticity changes. Our results elucidate the specific role of the transcription factors CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in the depression and potentiation components of ODP in vivo , therefore better informing future attempts to find therapeutic targets for diseases where activity-dependent plasticity is disrupted. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/376628-10$15.00/0.

The Role of CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in Activity-Dependent Neuronal Plasticity in the Visual Cortex

PubMed Central

Rodrigues, Wandilson dos Santos; Mooney, Sandra M.

2017-01-01

The transcription factors CREB (cAMP response element binding factor), SRF (serum response factor), and MEF2 (myocyte enhancer factor 2) play critical roles in the mechanisms underlying neuronal plasticity. However, the role of the activation of these transcription factors in the different components of plasticity in vivo is not well known. In this study, we tested the role of CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in ocular dominance plasticity (ODP), a paradigm of activity-dependent neuronal plasticity in the visual cortex. These three proteins bind to the synaptic activity response element (SARE), an enhancer sequence found upstream of many plasticity-related genes (Kawashima et al., 2009; Rodríguez-Tornos et al., 2013), and can act cooperatively to express Arc, a gene required for ODP (McCurry et al., 2010). We used viral-mediated gene transfer to block the transcription function of CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in the visual cortex, and measured visually evoked potentials in awake male and female mice before and after a 7 d monocular deprivation, which allowed us to examine both the depression component (Dc-ODP) and potentiation component (Pc-ODP) of plasticity independently. We found that CREB, SRF, and MEF2 are all required for ODP, but have differential effects on Dc-ODP and Pc-ODP. CREB is necessary for both Dc-ODP and Pc-ODP, whereas SRF and MEF2 are only needed for Dc-ODP. This finding supports previous reports implicating SRF and MEF2 in long-term depression (required for Dc-ODP), and CREB in long-term potentiation (required for Pc-ODP). SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Activity-dependent neuronal plasticity is the cellular basis for learning and memory, and it is crucial for the refinement of neuronal circuits during development. Identifying the mechanisms of activity-dependent neuronal plasticity is crucial to finding therapeutic interventions in the myriad of disorders where it is disrupted, such as Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome, epilepsy, major depressive disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Transcription factors are essential nuclear proteins that trigger the expression of gene programs required for long-term functional and structural plasticity changes. Our results elucidate the specific role of the transcription factors CREB, SRF, and MEF2 in the depression and potentiation components of ODP in vivo, therefore better informing future attempts to find therapeutic targets for diseases where activity-dependent plasticity is disrupted. PMID:28607167

Study of different nanostructured carbon supports for fuel cell catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirabile Gattia, Daniele; Antisari, Marco Vittori; Giorgi, Leonardo; Marazzi, Renzo; Piscopiello, Emanuela; Montone, Amelia; Bellitto, Serafina; Licoccia, Silvia; Traversa, Enrico

Pt clusters were deposited by an impregnation process on three carbon supports: multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNT), single-wall carbon nanohorns (SWNH), and Vulcan XC-72 carbon black to investigate the effect of the carbon support structure on the possibility of reducing Pt loading on electrodes for direct methanol (DMFC) fuel cells without impairing performance. MWNT and SWNH were in-house synthesised by a DC and an AC arc discharge process between pure graphite electrodes, respectively. UV-vis spectrophotometry, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry measurements were used to characterize the Pt particles deposited on the three carbon supports. A differential yield for Pt deposition, not strictly related to the surface area of the carbon support, was observed. SWNH showed the highest surface chemical activity toward Pt deposition. Pt deposited in different forms depending on the carbon support. Electrochemical characterizations showed that the Pt nanostructures deposited on MWNT are particularly efficient in the methanol oxidation reaction.

Pressure-enhanced superconductivity in quasi-1D cobalt carbide Sc3CoC4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Enyu; Zhu, Xiyu; Wen, Hai-Hu

2016-07-01

We have successfully synthesized the quasi-1D cobalt carbide Sc3CoC4 by using the arc-melting technique which is similar to that of the previous reports. An incomplete superconducting transition is detected at ambient pressure. In addition, two anomalies have been observed at 72 K and 143 K both from resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements. According to previous studies, it was argued that they correspond to the 1D Peierls-type distortion and charge-density-wave transitions, respectively. By applying a pressure, the transition at about 72 K is quickly suppressed, which is accompanied by the occurrence of a complete superconducting transition at about 4.5 K. Moreover, the DC magnetic susceptibility under high pressures also reveals the enhancement of superconductivity. We attribute this enhancement of superconductivity to the suppression of the Peierls-type distortion at about 72 K and probably together with the promoted Josephson coupling between the [CoC4] ∞ one-dimensional ribbons.

Endothelialization of TiO2 Nanorods Coated with Ultrathin Amorphous Carbon Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Hongpeng; Tang, Nan; Chen, Min; Chen, Dihu

2016-03-01

Carbon plasma nanocoatings with controlled fraction of sp3-C bonding were deposited on TiO2 nanorod arrays (TNAs) by DC magnetic-filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition (FCVAD). The cytocompatibility of TNA/carbon nanocomposites was systematically investigated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured on the nanocomposites for 4, 24, and 72 h in vitro. It was found that plasma-treated TNAs exhibited excellent cell viability as compared to the untreated. Importantly, our results show that cellular responses positively correlate with the sp3-C content. The cells cultured on high sp3-C-contented substrates exhibit better attachment, shape configuration, and proliferation. These findings indicate that the nanocomposites with high sp3-C content possessed superior cytocompatibility. Notably, the nanocomposites drastically reduced platelet adhesion and activation in our previous studies. Taken together, these findings suggest the TNA/carbon scaffold may serve as a guide for the design of multi-functionality devices that promotes endothelialization and improves hemocompatibility.

Numerical assessment of bureau of mines electric arc melter

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

Paik, S.; Hawkes, G.; Nguyen, H.D.

1994-12-31

An electric arc melter used for the waste treatment process at Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) in cooperation with the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) has been numerically studied. The arc melter is being used for vitrification of thermally oxidized, buried, transuranic (TRU) contaminated wastes by INEL in conjunction with the USBM as a part of the Buried Waste Integrated Demonstration project. The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate the performance of the laboratory-scale arc melter simulating the USBM arc melter. Initial results of modeling the full-scale USBM arc melter are also reported in this paper.

Development of plasma cathode electron guns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oks, Efim M.; Schanin, Peter M.

1999-05-01

The status of experimental research and ongoing development of plasma cathode electron guns in recent years is reviewed, including some novel upgrades and applications to various technological fields. The attractiveness of this kind of e-gun is due to its capability of creating high current, broad or focused beams, both in pulsed and steady-state modes of operation. An important characteristic of the plasma cathode electron gun is the absence of a thermionic cathode, a feature which leads to long lifetime and reliable operation even in the presence of aggressive background gas media and at fore-vacuum gas pressure ranges such as achieved by mechanical pumps. Depending on the required beam parameters, different kinds of plasma discharge systems can be used in plasma cathode electron guns, such as vacuum arcs, constricted gaseous arcs, hollow cathode glows, and two kinds of discharges in crossed E×B fields: Penning and magnetron. At the present time, plasma cathode electron guns provide beams with transverse dimension from fractional millimeter up to about one meter, beam current from microamperes to kiloamperes, beam current density up to about 100 A/cm2, pulse duration from nanoseconds to dc, and electron energy from several keV to hundreds of keV. Applications include electron beam melting and welding, surface treatment, plasma chemistry, radiation technologies, laser pumping, microwave generation, and more.

Formation of Sn–M (M=Fe, Al, Ni) alloy nanoparticles by DC arc-discharge and their electrochemical properties as anodes for Li-ion batteries

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

Gao, Song; Huang, Hao, E-mail: huanghao@dlut.edu.cn; Wu, Aimin

2016-10-15

A direct current arc-discharge method was applied to prepare the Sn–M (M=Fe, Al, Ni) bi-alloy nanoparticles. Thermodynamic is introduced to analyze the energy circumstances for the formation of the nanoparticles during the physical condensation process. The electrochemical properties of as-prepared Sn–M alloy nanoparticles are systematically investigated as anodes of Li-ion batteries. Among them, Sn–Fe nanoparticles electrode exhibits high Coulomb efficiency (about 71.2%) in the initial charge/discharge (257.9 mA h g{sup −1}/366.6 mA h g{sup −1}) and optimal cycle stability (a specific reversible capacity of 240 mA h g{sup −1} maintained after 20 cycles) compared with others. Large differences in themore » electrochemical behaviors indicate that the chemical composition and microstructure of the nanoparticles determine the lithium-ion storage properties and the long-term cyclic stability during the charge/discharge process. - Graphical abstract: The growth mechanism and electrochemical performance of Sn-based alloy nanoparticles. - Highlights: • Thermodynamic analyses of oxides on Sn-M nanoparticles surface. • The relationship between chemical components and electrochemical responses. • Sn-Fe nanoparticles show excellent electrode performance.« less

The AMT maglev test sled -- EML weapons technology transition to transportation

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

Schaaf, J.C. Jr.; Zowarka, R.C. Jr.; Davey, K.

1997-01-01

Technology spinoffs from prior electromagnetic launcher work enhance a magnetic levitation transportation system test bed being developed by American Maglev Technology of Florida. This project uses a series wound linear DC motor and brushes to simplify the magnetic levitation propulsion system. It takes advantage of previous related work in electromagnetic launcher technology to achieve success with this innovative design. Technology and knowledge gained from developments for homopolar generators and proposed railgun arc control are key to successful performance. This contribution supports a cost effective design that is competitive with alternative concepts. Brushes transfer power from the guideway (rail) to themore » vehicle (armature) in a novel design that activates the guideway only under the vehicle, reducing power losses and guideway construction costs. The vehicle carries no power for propulsion and levitation, and acts only as a conduit for the power through the high speed brushes. Brush selection and performance is based on previous EML homopolar generator research. A counterpulse circuit, first introduced in an early EML conference, is used to suppress arcing on the trailing brush and to transfer inductive energy to the next propulsion coil. Isolated static lift and preliminary propulsion tests have been completed, and integrated propulsion and lift tests are scheduled in early 1996.« less

Weldability of Weldalite (tm) 049 with and without TiB2 reinforcement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1991-01-01

The effects are assessed of TiB2 reinforcement and parent alloy Li content on the weldability of Weldalite (tm) 049 type alloys. Welding trials were performed using either AC or DC polarity gas tungsten arc (GTA) welding according to described procedures. The welding was performed under conditions of high restraint on 5 cm (2 in) wide x 25.4 cm (10 in) long plates machined from the 0.952 cm (0.375 in) extruded bar parallel to the extrusion direction. A 37.5 deg bevel was machined on the center edge of the extruded bar. Cut rod filler wire was machined from three alloys, and one commercially available 2319 filler wire was also used. The preliminary assessment of the weldability revealed no propensity for hot cracking under conditions of high restraint. This result is significant, because hot cracking has been reported for all other leading aluminum lithium alloys welded with certain conventional filler alloys. The strengths for Weldalite parent welded with parent filler obtained were higher than those for alloys used in launch systems, such as 2219 and 2014 welded with 2319 and 4043 fillers, respectively. Even higher values were obtained by variable polarity plasma arc welding (e.g., 54 ksi (372 MPa) mean tensile strength).

Sub-micrometer particles produced by a low-powered AC electric arc in liquids.

PubMed

Jaworski, Jacek A; Fleury, Eric

2012-01-01

The article presents the report of the production of composites of sub-micrometer metal particles in matrix consisted of the metal compounds by means of an AC electric arc in water and paraffin solutions using electrodes carbon-metal and metal-metal (metal: Ni, Fe, Co, Cu). The advantage of this method is the low electric power (from 5 to 10 W) needed in comparison to standard DC arc-discharge methods (0.8 to 3 kW). This method enables the production of particles from conductive material also in wide range of temperature and in solvent which could be either transparent to light or opaque. Moreover the solvent can be electrolyte or insulating liquid. The microstructure of the composite layer was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA) and X-ray. During particles production in water metal oxides were created. Additionally using cobalt-copper, nickel-copper as couple electrodes, insoluble in water copper (II) hydroxide crystal grains were created additionally which crystals shape was depended on transition metal. For iron-copper couple electrodes system the copper (II) hydroxide was not formed. Experiments with sequence production of Ni and Fe particles with C electrode assisting in molten paraffin let to obtain both Ni and Fe particles surrounded by paraffin. After solidification the material was insulator but if locally magnetic field influenced on the liquid solution in that place after solidification a new composite was created which was electric current conductor with resistivity around 0.1 omega x m, was attracted by magnetic field and presented magneto resistance around 0.4% in changing magnetic field in a range 150 mT. After mixing the concentrated paraffin with normal paraffin resistivity of the mixture increased and it became photosensitive and created small voltage under light influence.

Electric arc discharge damage to ion thruster grids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Beebe, D. D.; Nakanishi, S.; Finke, R. C.

1974-01-01

Arcs representative of those occurring between the grids of a mercury ion thruster were simulated. Parameters affecting an arc and the resulting damage were studied. The parameters investigated were arc energy, arc duration, and grid geometry. Arc attenuation techniques were also investigated. Potentially serious damage occurred at all energy levels representative of actual thruster operating conditions. Of the grids tested, the lowest open-area configuration sustained the least damage for given conditions. At a fixed energy level a long duration discharge caused greater damage than a short discharge. Attenuation of arc current using various impedances proved to be effective in reducing arc damage. Faults were also deliberately caused using chips of sputtered materials formed during the operation of an actual thruster. These faults were cleared with no serious grid damage resulting using the principles and methods developed in this study.

Evaluation of Kapton pyrolysis, arc tracking, and flashover on SiO(x)-coated polyimide insulated samples of flat flexible current carriers for Space Station Freedom

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stueber, Thomas J.; Mundson, Chris

1993-01-01

Kapton polyimide wiring insulation was found to be vulnerable to pyrolization, arc tracking, and flashover when momentary short-circuit arcs have occurred on aircraft power systems. Short-circuit arcs between wire pairs can pyrolize the polyimide resulting in a conductive char between conductors that may sustain the arc (arc tracking). Furthermore, the arc tracking may spread (flashover) to other wire pairs within a wire bundle. Polyimide Kapton will also be used as the insulating material for the flexible current carrier (FCC) of Space Station Freedom (SSF). The FCC, with conductors in a planar type geometric layout as opposed to bundles, is known to sustain arc tracking at proposed SSF power levels. Tests were conducted in a vacuum bell jar that was designed to conduct polyimide pyrolysis, arc tracking, and flashover studies on samples of SSF's FCC. Test results will be reported concerning the minimal power level needed to sustain arc tracking and the FCC susceptibility to flashover. Results of the FCC arc tracking tests indicate that only 22 volt amps were necessary to sustain arc tracking (proposed SSF power level is 400 watts). FCC flashover studies indicate that the flashover event is highly unlikely.

A comparative study of standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy and RapidArc planning techniques for ipsilateral and bilateral head and neck irradiation

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

Pursley, Jennifer, E-mail: jpursley@mgh.harvard.edu; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Damato, Antonio L.

The purpose of this study was to investigate class solutions using RapidArc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning for ipsilateral and bilateral head and neck (H&N) irradiation, and to compare dosimetric results with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans. A total of 14 patients who received ipsilateral and 10 patients who received bilateral head and neck irradiation were retrospectively replanned with several volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques. For ipsilateral neck irradiation, the volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques included two 360° arcs, two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the contralateral parotid, two 260° or 270° arcs, and two 210° arcs. For bilateral neck irradiation, themore » volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques included two 360° arcs, two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the shoulders, and 3 arcs. All patients had a sliding-window-delivery intensity-modulated radiotherapy plan that was used as the benchmark for dosimetric comparison. For ipsilateral neck irradiation, a volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique using two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the contralateral parotid was dosimetrically comparable to intensity-modulated radiotherapy, with improved conformity (conformity index = 1.22 vs 1.36, p < 0.04) and lower contralateral parotid mean dose (5.6 vs 6.8 Gy, p < 0.03). For bilateral neck irradiation, 3-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques were dosimetrically comparable to intensity-modulated radiotherapy while also avoiding irradiation through the shoulders. All volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques required fewer monitor units than sliding-window intensity-modulated radiotherapy to deliver treatment, with an average reduction of 35% for ipsilateral plans and 67% for bilateral plans. Thus, for ipsilateral head and neck irradiation a volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique using two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the contralateral parotid is recommended. For bilateral neck irradiation, 2- or 3-arc techniques are dosimetrically comparable to intensity-modulated radiotherapy, but more work is needed to determine the optimal approaches by disease site.« less

A comparative study of standard intensity-modulated radiotherapy and RapidArc planning techniques for ipsilateral and bilateral head and neck irradiation.

PubMed

Pursley, Jennifer; Damato, Antonio L; Czerminska, Maria A; Margalit, Danielle N; Sher, David J; Tishler, Roy B

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate class solutions using RapidArc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) planning for ipsilateral and bilateral head and neck (H&N) irradiation, and to compare dosimetric results with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans. A total of 14 patients who received ipsilateral and 10 patients who received bilateral head and neck irradiation were retrospectively replanned with several volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques. For ipsilateral neck irradiation, the volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques included two 360° arcs, two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the contralateral parotid, two 260° or 270° arcs, and two 210° arcs. For bilateral neck irradiation, the volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques included two 360° arcs, two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the shoulders, and 3 arcs. All patients had a sliding-window-delivery intensity-modulated radiotherapy plan that was used as the benchmark for dosimetric comparison. For ipsilateral neck irradiation, a volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique using two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the contralateral parotid was dosimetrically comparable to intensity-modulated radiotherapy, with improved conformity (conformity index = 1.22 vs 1.36, p < 0.04) and lower contralateral parotid mean dose (5.6 vs 6.8Gy, p < 0.03). For bilateral neck irradiation, 3-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques were dosimetrically comparable to intensity-modulated radiotherapy while also avoiding irradiation through the shoulders. All volumetric-modulated arc therapy techniques required fewer monitor units than sliding-window intensity-modulated radiotherapy to deliver treatment, with an average reduction of 35% for ipsilateral plans and 67% for bilateral plans. Thus, for ipsilateral head and neck irradiation a volumetric-modulated arc therapy technique using two 360° arcs with avoidance sectors around the contralateral parotid is recommended. For bilateral neck irradiation, 2- or 3-arc techniques are dosimetrically comparable to intensity-modulated radiotherapy, but more work is needed to determine the optimal approaches by disease site. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Medical Dosimetrists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Investigation of the short argon arc with hot anode. II. Analytical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khrabry, A.; Kaganovich, I. D.; Nemchinsky, V.; Khodak, A.

2018-01-01

A short atmospheric pressure argon arc is studied numerically and analytically. In a short arc with an inter-electrode gap of several millimeters, non-equilibrium effects in plasma play an important role in operation of the arc. High anode temperature leads to electron emission and intensive radiation from its surface. A complete, self-consistent analytical model of the whole arc comprising of models for near-electrode regions, arc column, and a model of heat transfer in cylindrical electrodes was developed. The model predicts the width of non-equilibrium layers and arc column, voltages and plasma profiles in these regions, and heat and ion fluxes to the electrodes. Parametric studies of the arc have been performed for a range of the arc current densities, inter-electrode gap widths, and gas pressures. The model was validated against experimental data and verified by comparison with numerical solution. Good agreement between the analytical model and simulations and reasonable agreement with experimental data were obtained.

Investigation of the short argon arc with hot anode. II. Analytical model

DOE PAGES

Khrabry, A.; Kaganovich, I. D.; Nemchinsky, V.; ...

2018-01-22

A short atmospheric pressure argon arc is studied numerically and analytically. In a short arc with an inter-electrode gap of several millimeters, non-equilibrium effects in plasma play an important role in operation of the arc. High anode temperature leads to electron emission and intensive radiation from its surface. A complete, self-consistent analytical model of the whole arc comprising of models for near-electrode regions, arc column, and a model of heat transfer in cylindrical electrodes was developed. The model predicts the width of non-equilibrium layers and arc column, voltages and plasma profiles in these regions, and heat and ion fluxes tomore » the electrodes. Parametric studies of the arc have been performed for a range of the arc current densities, inter-electrode gap widths, and gas pressures. The model was validated against experimental data and verified by comparison with numerical solution. In conclusion, good agreement between the analytical model and simulations and reasonable agreement with experimental data were obtained.« less

Investigation of the short argon arc with hot anode. II. Analytical model

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

Khrabry, A.; Kaganovich, I. D.; Nemchinsky, V.

A short atmospheric pressure argon arc is studied numerically and analytically. In a short arc with an inter-electrode gap of several millimeters, non-equilibrium effects in plasma play an important role in operation of the arc. High anode temperature leads to electron emission and intensive radiation from its surface. A complete, self-consistent analytical model of the whole arc comprising of models for near-electrode regions, arc column, and a model of heat transfer in cylindrical electrodes was developed. The model predicts the width of non-equilibrium layers and arc column, voltages and plasma profiles in these regions, and heat and ion fluxes tomore » the electrodes. Parametric studies of the arc have been performed for a range of the arc current densities, inter-electrode gap widths, and gas pressures. The model was validated against experimental data and verified by comparison with numerical solution. In conclusion, good agreement between the analytical model and simulations and reasonable agreement with experimental data were obtained.« less

Arctigenin Inhibits Lung Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer by Regulating Cell Viability and Metastatic Phenotypes.

PubMed

Han, Yo-Han; Kee, Ji-Ye; Kim, Dae-Seung; Mun, Jeong-Geon; Jeong, Mi-Young; Park, Sang-Hyun; Choi, Byung-Min; Park, Sung-Joo; Kim, Hyun-Jung; Um, Jae-Young; Hong, Seung-Heon

2016-08-27

Arctigenin (ARC) has been shown to have an anti-cancer effect in various cell types and tissues. However, there have been no studies concerning metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we investigated the anti-metastatic properties of ARC on colorectal metastasis and present a potential candidate drug. ARC induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in CT26 cells through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway via MAPKs signaling. In several metastatic phenotypes, ARC controlled epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through increasing the expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin and decreasing the expressions of mesenchymal markers; N-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin, and Snail. Moreover, ARC inhibited migration and invasion through reducing of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 expressions. In an experimental metastasis model, ARC significantly inhibited lung metastasis of CT26 cells. Taken together, our study demonstrates the inhibitory effects of ARC on colorectal metastasis.

Monitoring nanoparticle synthesis in a carbon arc discharge environment, in situ

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

Mitrani, James

This work presents experimental and theoretical studies of gas-phase synthesis of fullerenes and carbon nanoparticles in the presence of an atmospheric-pressure, arc discharge plasma. Carbon arc discharges have been used for synthesizing carbon nanotubes for over 25 years, and have the potential for economically synthesizing industrial-scale quantities of fullerenes. However, the efficiency and selectivity of fullerene synthesis with carbon arc discharges are quite low. Optimizing carbon arc discharges for fullerene synthesis requires a thorough understanding of the dynamics behind gas-phase nanoparticle synthesis in the presence of an arc discharge plasma. We built a carbon arc discharge setup to study nanoparticlemore » and fullerene synthesis. The laser-induced incandescence (LII) diagnostic was applied for monitoring nanoparticle synthesis, in situ. The LII diagnostic had previously been applied as a combustion diagnostic for in situ measurements of concentrations and sizes of soot particles in flame environments. Prior to the present study, it had never been applied for studying fullerenes, nor had it been applied to study nanoparticles in the presence of an atmospheric-pressure plasma. Therefore, experiments were designed that allowed for the calibration of the LII diagnostic with research-grade, arc-synthesized soot particles and carbon nanotubes. Additionally, the theory and models underpinning the LII diagnostic were adapted to include the presence of an atmospheric-pressure, arc-discharge plasma. Results presented in this work confirm the ability of the LII diagnostic to measure sizes of arc-synthesized nanoparticles in situ, and show the spatial location of high densities of arc-synthesized nanoparticles with respect to the arc discharge plasma. Determining the spatial location of nanoparticle synthesis and growth is crucial for understanding the background conditions (e.g. background gas temperature, electron densities ...) in which nanoparticles nucleate and grow in the arc discharge environment. Future work would involve combining the LII diagnostic with other laser-based diagnostics (e.g. Rayleigh scattering, laser-induced fluorescence) for a more comprehensive study of gas-phase nanoparticle synthesis and investigating fundamental basic-science questions related to low temperature plasma physics, and laser-nanoparticle interactions.« less

Monitoring Nanoparticle Synthesis in a Carbon Arc Discharge Environment, In Situ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitrani, James

This work presents experimental and theoretical studies of gas-phase synthesis of fullerenes and carbon nanoparticles in the presence of an atmospheric-pressure, arc discharge plasma. Carbon arc discharges have been used for synthesizing carbon nanotubes for over 25 years, and have the potential for economically synthesizing industrial-scale quantities of fullerenes. However, the efficiency and selectivity of fullerene synthesis with carbon arc discharges are quite low. Optimizing carbon arc discharges for fullerene synthesis requires a thorough understanding of the dynamics behind gas-phase nanoparticle synthesis in the presence of an arc discharge plasma. We built a carbon arc discharge setup to study nanoparticle and fullerene synthesis. The laser-induced incandescence (LII) diagnostic was applied for monitoring nanoparticle synthesis, in situ. The LII diagnostic had previously been applied as a combustion diagnostic for in situ measurements of concentrations and sizes of soot particles in flame environments. Prior to the present study, it had never been applied for studying fullerenes, nor had it been applied to study nanoparticles in the presence of an atmospheric-pressure plasma. Therefore, experiments were designed that allowed for the calibration of the LII diagnostic with research-grade, arc-synthesized soot particles and carbon nanotubes. Additionally, the theory and models underpinning the LII diagnostic were adapted to include the presence of an atmospheric-pressure, arc-discharge plasma. Results presented in this work confirm the ability of the LII diagnostic to measure sizes of arc-synthesized nanoparticles in situ, and show the spatial location of high densities of arc-synthesized nanoparticles with respect to the arc discharge plasma. Determining the spatial location of nanoparticle synthesis and growth is crucial for understanding the background conditions (e.g. background gas temperature, electron densities ...) in which nanoparticles nucleate and grow in the arc discharge environment. Future work would involve combining the LII diagnostic with other laser-based diagnostics (e.g. Rayleigh scattering, laser-induced fluorescence) for a more comprehensive study of gas-phase nanoparticle synthesis and investigating fundamental basic-science questions related to low temperature plasma physics, and laser-nanoparticle interactions.

Diagnostics for a waste processing plasma arc furnace (invited) (abstract)a)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woskov, P. P.

1995-01-01

Maintaining the quality of our environment has become an important goal of society. As part of this goal new technologies are being sought to clean up hazardous waste sites and to treat ongoing waste streams. A 1 MW pilot scale dc graphite electrode plasma arc furnace (Mark II) has been constructed at MIT under a joint program among Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL), MIT, and Electro-Pyrolysis, Inc. (EPI)c) for the remediation of buried wastes in the DOE complex. A key part of this program is the development of new and improved diagnostics to study, monitor, and control the entire waste remediation process for the optimization of this technology and to safeguard the environment. Continuous, real time diagnostics are needed for a variety of the waste process parameters. These parameters include internal furnace temperatures, slag fill levels, trace metals content in the off-gas stream, off-gas molecular content, feed and slag characterization, and off-gas particulate size, density, and velocity distributions. Diagnostics are currently being tested at MIT for the first three parameters. An active millimeter-wave radiometer with a novel, rotatable graphite waveguide/mirror antenna system has been implemented on Mark II for the measurement of surface emission and emissivity which can be used to determine internal furnace temperatures and fill levels. A microwave torch plasma is being evaluated for use as a excitation source in the furnace off-gas stream for continuous atomic emission spectroscopy of trace metals. These diagnostics should find applicability not only to waste remediation, but also to other high temperature processes such as incinerators, power plants, and steel plants.

Experimental study of unipolar arcs in a low pressure mercury discharge

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

Johnson, C.T.

1979-12-31

An experimental study of unipolar arcs was conducted in a low pressure mercury discharge inductively heated with RF. The results were found to be consistent with the concept of a sheath mechanism for driving the unipolar arcs. Floating double-probe measurements of the unipolar arc plasma parameters yielded electron temperatures of approx. 2 eV and electron number densities of approx. 1 x 10/sup 11/ cm/sup -3/ assuming quasi-neutral plasma conditions. The variation of the unipolar arc current with: (1) the RF power input; and (2) the metal surface area exposed to the plasma verified the predicted dependence of the arc currentmore » on the plasma parameters and the metal surface area. Finally, alternative mechanisms for sustaining the observed arcs by high frequency rectification were ruled out on the basis of the recorded current waveforms of the unipolar arcs.« less

Contributions to study of the stability of the electric welding arc under the action of acoustic pressure

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Petru, S.

1974-01-01

During the treatment of an electric welding arc with ultrasonic oscillations, an improvement was found in overall source-arc stability. Theoretical explanations are provided for this phenomenon and formulas of equivalence between the classical arc and the treated arc are derived, taking stability as their criterion. A knowledge of this phenomenon can be useful in extending the applications of ultrasounds to different forms of electric arcs.

Behavior of an indigenously fabricated transferred arc plasma furnace for smelting studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

A, K. MANDAL; R, K. DISHWAR; O, P. SINHA

2018-03-01

The utilization of industrial solid waste for metal recovery requires high-temperature tools due to the presence of silica and alumina, which is reducible at high temperature. In a plasma arc furnace, transferred arc plasma furnace (TAP) can meet all requirements, but the disadvantage of this technology is the high cost. For performing experiments in the laboratory, the TAP was fabricated indigenously in a laboratory based on the different inputs provided in the literature for the furnace design and fabrication. The observed parameters such as arc length, energy consumption, graphite electrode consumption, noise level as well as lining erosion were characterized for this fabricated furnace. The nitrogen plasma increased by around 200 K (200 °C) melt temperature and noise levels decreased by ∼10 dB compared to a normal arc. Hydrogen plasma offered 100 K (100 °C) higher melt temperature with ∼5 dB higher sound level than nitrogen plasma. Nitrogen plasma arc melting showed lower electrode and energy consumption than normal arc melting, whereas hydrogen plasma showed lower energy consumption and higher electrode consumption in comparison to nitrogen plasma. The higher plasma arc temperature resulted in a shorter meltdown time than normal arc with smoother arcing. Hydrogen plasma permitted more heats, reduced meltdown time, and lower energy consumption, but with increased graphite consumption and crucible wear. The present study showed that the fabricated arc plasma is better than the normal arc furnace with respect to temperature generation, energy consumption, and environmental friendliness. Therefore, it could be used effectively for smelting-reduction studies.

Calculation of intrinsic stresses in the diamond-like coatings produced by plasma ion deposition in modes of DC and pulse bias potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalinichenko, A. A.; Perepelkin, S. S.; Strel'nitskij, V. E.

2015-04-01

The formula derivation for calculation of intrinsic stress in diamond-like coatings deposited from the ion flux in modes of continuous and pulsed potentials in view of process of defects formation is given. The criterion of applicability of obtained formula allowing to determine critical parameters of the pulsed potential mode is suggested. Results of calculation of stresses in diamond-like coatings at deposition of low-energy ions C+ from filtered vacuum arc plasma are adduced. The influence of the bias potential, repetition frequency and pulse duration, on the value of intrinsic stress is discussed. Qualitative agreement of calculated stress and experimental data is stated. The important role of deposition temperature in control of intrinsic stress in deposited coating is noted.

LARGE—A Plasma Torch for Surface Chemistry Applications and CVD Processes—A Status Report

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, Stephan; Theophile, Eckart; Landes, Klaus; Schein, Jochen

2008-12-01

The LARGE ( LONG ARG GENERATOR) is a new generation DC-plasma torch featuring an extended arc which is operated with a perpendicular gas flow to create a wide (up to 45 cm) plasma jet well suited for large area plasma processing. Using plasma diagnostic systems like high speed imaging, enthalpy probe, emission spectroscopy, and tomography, the LARGE produced plasma jet characteristics have been measured and sources of instability have been identified. With a simple model/simulation of the system LARGE III-150 and numerous experimental results, a new nozzle configuration and geometry (LARGE IV-150) has been designed, which produces a more homogenous plasma jet. These improvements enable the standard applications of the LARGE plasma torch (CVD coating process and surface activation process) to operate with higher efficiency.

Back-arc basin development: Constraints on geochronology and geochemistry of arc-like and OIB-like basalts in the Central Qilian block (Northwest China)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Zhong; Zhang, Hong-Fei; Yang, He; Pan, Fa-Bin; Luo, Bi-Ji; Guo, Liang; Xu, Wang-Chun; Tao, Lu; Zhang, Li-Qi; Wu, Jing

2018-06-01

The Lajishan belt of the Central Qilian block was a back-arc basin during Early Paleozoic. The basaltic magmatism and temporal evolution in this basin provide an opportunity to study the development of back-arc basin in an active continental margin. In this study, we carry out an integrated study of geochronological, geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions for the Early Paleozoic arc-like and OIB-like basalts. The Lajishan arc-like basalts are enriched in large ion lithophile element (LILE) and show negative Nb and Ta anomalies whereas the OIB-like basalts have high LILE abundances and show positive Nb and Ta anomalies. The arc-like basalts have initial 87Sr/86Sr values of 0.7050-0.7054 and εNd(t) values of +0.51-+2.63, and the OIB-like basalts have initial 87Sr/86Sr values of 0.7049-0.7050 and εNd(t) values of +0.66-+1.57. The geochemical and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions suggest that the arc-like basalts are derived from partial melting of a depleted mantle source metasomatized by slab-derived components at shallow depth levels, and the OIB-like basalts also originated from a metasomatized mantle wedge source. U-Pb zircon dating yielded the ages of 494 ± 4 Ma for the arc-like basalts and 468 ± 6 Ma for the OIB-like basalts. We argue that the arc-like basalts are products of back-arc extension before the back-arc rifting initiated in earlier stage, resulting from the northward subduction of the Qaidam-West Qinling oceanic slab, while the OIB-like basalts represent products of further back-arc spreading in response to rollback of the Qaidam-West Qinling oceanic lithospheric slab. The association of arc-like and OIB-like basalts in the Lajishan belt records the development of back-arc basin from initial rifting to subsequent spreading, offering insight into how basaltic magmatism generates in the formation of back-arc basin in subduction zone setting.

Distribution of the ACME-arcA gene among meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus and identification of a novel ccr allotype in ACME-arcA-positive isolates.

PubMed

Pi, Borui; Yu, Meihong; Chen, Yagang; Yu, Yunsong; Li, Lanjuan

2009-06-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of ACME (arginine catabolic mobile element)-arcA-positive isolates among meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus (MRSH). ACME-arcA, native arcA and SCCmec elements were detected by PCR. Susceptibilities to 10 antimicrobial agents were compared between ACME-arcA-positive and -negative isolates by chi-square test. PFGE was used to investigate the clonal relatedness of ACME-arcA-positive isolates. The phylogenetic relationships of ACME-arcA and native arcA were analysed using the neighbour-joining methods of mega software. A total of 42 (47.7 %) of 88 isolates distributed in 13 PFGE types were positive for the ACME-arcA gene. There were no significant differences in antimicrobial susceptibility between ACME-arcA-positive and -negative isolates. A novel ccr allotype (ccrAB(SHP)) was identified in ACME-arcA-positive isolates. Among 42 ACME-arcA-positive isolates: 8 isolates harboured SCCmec V, 8 isolates harboured class C1 mec complex and ccrAB(SHP); 22 isolates harbouring class C1 mec complex and 4 isolates harbouring class C2 mec complex were negative for all known ccr allotypes. The ACME-arcA-positive isolates were first found in MRSH with high prevalence and clonal diversity, which suggests a mobility of ACME within MRSH. The results from this study revealed that MRSH is likely to be one of the potential reservoirs of ACME for Staphylococcus aureus.

Melanesian arc far-field response to collision of the Ontong Java Plateau: Geochronology and petrogenesis of the Simuku Igneous Complex, New Britain, Papua New Guinea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holm, Robert J.; Spandler, Carl; Richards, Simon W.

2013-09-01

Understanding the evolution of the mid-Cenozoic Melanesian arc is critical for our knowledge of the regional tectonic development of the Australian-Pacific plate margin, yet there have been no recent studies to constrain the nature and timing of magmatic activity in this arc segment. In particular, there are currently no robust absolute age constraints at the plate margin related to either the initiation or cessation of subduction and arc magmatism. We present the first combined U-Pb zircon geochronology and geochemical investigation into the evolution of the Melanesian arc utilizing a comprehensive sample suite from the Simuku Igneous Complex of West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Development of the embryonic island arc from at least 40 Ma and progressive arc growth was punctuated by distant collision of the Ontong Java Plateau and subduction cessation from 26 Ma. This change in subduction dynamics is represented in the Melanesian arc magmatic record by emplacement of the Simuku Porphyry Complex between 24 and 20 Ma. Petrological and geochemical affinities highlight genetic differences between 'normal' arc volcanics and adakite-like signatures of Cu-Mo mineralized porphyritic intrusives. The contemporaneous emplacement of both 'normal' arc volcanics and adakite-like porphyry intrusives may provide avenues for future research into the origin of diverse styles of arc volcanism. Not only is this one of few studies into the geology of the Melanesian arc, it is also among the first to address the distant tectono-magmatic effects of major arc/forearc collision events and subduction cessation on magmatic arcs, and also offers insight into the tectonic context of porphyry formation in island arc settings.

A comprehensive dosimetric evaluation of using RapidArc volumetric‐modulated arc therapy for the treatment of early‐stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PubMed Central

Wong, Wicger; Leung, Lucullus H.T.; Yu, Peter K.N.; So, Ronald W.K.; Cheng, Ashley C.K.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential benefits of using triple‐arc volumetric‐intensity modulated arc radiotherapy (RapidArc (RA)) for the treatment of early‐stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). A comprehensive evaluation was performed including plan quality, integral doses, and peripheral doses. Twenty cases of stage I or II NPC were selected for this study. Nine‐field sliding window IMRT, double‐arc, and triple‐arc RA treatment plans were compared with respect to target coverage, dose conformity, critical organ sparing, and integral doses. Measurement of peripheral doses was performed using thermoluminescent dosimeters in an anthropomorphic phantom. While similar conformity and target coverage were achieved by the three types of plans, triple‐arc RA produced better sparing of parotid glands and spinal cord than double‐arc RA or IMRT. Double‐arc RA plans produced slightly inferior parotid sparing and dose homogeneity than the other two delivery methods. The monitor units (MU) required for triple‐arc were about 50% less than those of IMRT plans, while there was no significant difference in the required MUs between triple‐arc and double‐arc RA plans. The peripheral dose in triple‐arc RA was found to be 50% less compared to IMRT near abdominal and pelvic region. Triple‐arc RA improves both the plan quality and treatment efficiency compared with IMRT for the treatment of early stage NPC. It has become the preferred choice of treatment delivery method for early stage NPC at our center. PACS numbers: 87.53.Bn, 87.55.D, 87.55.de, 87.55.dk, 87.56.ng PMID:23149781

Thermal re-ignition processes of switching arcs with various gas-blast using voltage application highly controlled by powersemiconductors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakano, Tomoyuki; Tanaka, Yasunori; Murai, K.; Uesugi, Y.; Ishijima, T.; Tomita, K.; Suzuki, K.; Shinkai, T.

2018-05-01

This paper focuses on a fundamental experimental approach to thermal arc re-ignition processes in a variety of gas flows in a nozzle. Using power semiconductor switches in the experimental system, the arc current and the voltage applied to the arc were controlled with precise timing. With this system, residual arcs were created in decaying phase under free recovery conditions; arc re-ignition was then intentionally instigated by application of artificial voltage—i.e. quasi-transient recovery voltage—to study the arc behaviour in both decaying and re-ignition phases. In this study, SF6, CO2, N2, O2, air and Ar arcs were intentionally re-ignited by quasi-TRV application at 20 μs delay time from initiation of free recovery condition. Through these experiments, the electron density at the nozzle throat was measured using a laser Thomson scattering method together with high speed video camera observation during the re-ignition process. Temporal variations in the electron density from the arc decaying to re-ignition phases were successfully obtained for each gas-blast arc at the nozzle throat. In addition, initial dielectric recovery properties of SF6, CO2, air and Ar arcs were measured under the same conditions. These data will be useful in the fundamental elucidation of thermal arc re-ignition processes.

Experimental investigation on the initial expansion stage of vacuum arc on cup-shaped TMF contacts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ting; Xiu, Shixin; Liu, Zixi; Zhang, Yanzhe; Feng, Dingyu

2018-02-01

Arc behavior and measures to control it directly affect the properties of vacuum circuit breakers. Nowadays, transverse magnetic field (TMF) contacts are widely used for medium voltages. A magnetic field perpendicular to the current direction between the TMF contacts makes the arc move, transmitting its energy to the whole contact and avoiding excessive local ablation. Previous research on TMF arc behavior concentrated mainly on the arc movement and less on the initial stage (from arc ignition to an unstable arc column). A significant amount of experiment results suggest that there is a short period of arc stagnation after ignition. The duration of this arc stagnation and the arc characteristics during this stage affect the subsequent arc motion and even the breaking property of interrupters. The present study is of the arc characteristics in the initial stage. Experiments were carried out in a demountable vacuum chamber with cup-shaped TMF contacts. Using a high-speed camera, both single-point arc ignition mode and multiple-point arc ignition (MPAI) mode were observed. The experimental data show that the probability of MPAI mode occurring is related to the arc current. The influences of arc-ignition mode, arc current, and contact diameter on the initial expansion process were investigated. In addition, simulations were performed to analyze the multiple arc expansion process mechanically. Based on the experimental phenomena and simulation results, the mechanism of the arc expansion motion was analyzed.

Lidar Measurements of Aerosol and Ozone Distributions During the 1992 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Browell, E. V.; Butler, C. F.; Fenn, M. A.; Grant, W. B.; Carter, A. F.

1992-01-01

The LaRC airborne lidar system was operated from the ARC DC-8 aircraft during the 1992 Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition (ASEE-2) to investigate the distribution of stratospheric aerosols and O3 across the Arctic vortex from Jan. to Mar. 1992. Monthly flights were made across the Arctic vortex from Anchorage, Alaska, to Stavanger, Norway, and then back to Bangor, Maine, and additional round-trip flights north into the vortex were made each month from either Stavanger or Bangor depending on the location of the vortex that month. The airborne lidar system uses the differential absorption lidar (DIAL) technique at laser wavelengths of 301.5 and 310.8 nm to measure O3 profiles above the DC-8 over the 12-25 km altitude range. Lidar measurements of aerosol backscatter and depolarization profiles over the 12-30 km altitude range are made simultaneously with the O3 measurements using infrared (IR) and visible (VIS) laser wavelengths of 603 and 1064 nm, respectively. The measurements of Pinatubo aerosols, polar stratospheric clouds, and O3 made with the airborne DIAL system during the AASE-2 expedition and to chemical and dynamical process that contribute to O3 depletion in the wintertime Arctic stratosphere.

Global Noise Studies for CMS Tracker Upgrade

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

Arteche, F.; /Zaragoza, ITA; Esteban, C.

The characterization of the noise emissions of DC-DC converters at system level is critical to optimize the design of the detector and define rules for the integration strategy. This paper presents the impedance effects on the noise emissions of DC-DC converters at system level. Conducted and radiated noise emissions at the input and at the output from DC-DC converters have been simulated for different types of power network and FEE impedances. System aspects as granularity, stray capacitances of the system and different working conditions of the DC-DC converters are presented too. This study has been carried out using simulation modelsmore » of noise emissions of DC-DC converters in the real scenario. The results of these studies show important recommendations and criteria to be applied to integrate the DC-DC converters and decrease the system noise level.« less

The development of shock wave overpressure driven by channel expansion of high current impulse discharge arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Jia-ming; Li, Lee; Dai, Hong-yu; Wu, Hai-bo; Peng, Ming-yang; Lin, Fu-chang

2018-03-01

During the formation of a high current impulse discharge arc, objects near the discharge arc will be strongly impacted. In this paper, a high power, high current gas switch is used as the site of the impulse discharge arc. The explosion wave theory and the arc channel energy balance equation are introduced to analyze the development of the shock wave overpressure driven by the high current impulse discharge arc, and the demarcation point of the arc channel is given, from which the energy of the arc channel is no longer converted into shock waves. Through the analysis and calculation, it is found that the magnitude of the shock wave overpressure caused by impulse discharge arc expansion is closely related to the arc current rising rate. The arc shock wave overpressure will undergo a slow decay process and then decay rapidly. The study of this paper will perform the function of deepening the understanding of the physical nature of the impulse arc discharge, which can be used to explain the damage effect of the high current impulse discharge arc.

Construction of Continental Crust at the Central American and Philippines Arc Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Whattam, S. A.; Stern, R. J.

2016-12-01

Whether or not magmatic arcs evolve compositionally with time and the processes responsible remain controversial. Resolution of this question requires reconstructing arc geochemical evolution at the level of discrete arc systems, as has been done for IBM, Central America, and the Greater Antilles. Emphasis should be on arcs built on oceanic crust because interaction with continental crust complicates interpretations. The Philippines are a particularly attractive target because this may be the best example where proto-continental crust has been generated and processed in Cretaceous and younger time. Here, we show how this question could be addressed for the Philippines using the well-studied Central American Volcanic Arc System (CAVAS) as an example. For the CAVAS, we avoided the northern arc segment because these are (Guatemala) or maybe (El Salvador) sections built on continental crust. Geochemical and isotopic data were compiled for 1031 samples of lavas and intrusive rocks from the 1100 km-long segment built on thickened, initially plume-derived oceanic crust over its 75 million year lifespan (Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua) . The most striking observation is the overall evolution of the CAVAS to more incompatible element enriched and ultimately continental-like compositions with time. Models entailing progressive arc magmatic enrichment are generally supported by the CAVAS record. Progressive enrichment of the oceanic CAVAS with time reflects changes in mantle wedge composition and decreased melting due to arc crust thickening, which was kick-started by the involvement of enriched plume mantle. Progressive crustal thickening and associated changes in the sub-arc thermal regime resulted in decreasing degrees of partial melting over time, which allowed for progressive enrichment of the CAVAS and ultimately the production of continental-like crust in Panama and Costa Rica by 16-10 Ma. Our similar study of the Philippine Arc system is in its infancy but earlier studies have shown that older magmatic rocks are tholeiitic and MORB-like whereas younger ones are invariably calc-alkaline and arc-like. Results of the Philippines Arc study will be compared with the CAVAS and other magmatic arc systems comprised of continental crust.

Preliminary model for high-power-waveguide arcing and arc protection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yen, H. C.

1978-01-01

The arc protection subsystems that are implemented in the DSN high power transmitters are discussed. The status of present knowledge about waveguide arcs is reviewed in terms of a simple engineering model. A fairly general arc detection scheme is also discussed. Areas where further studies are needed are pointed out along with proposed approaches to the solutions of these problems.

Power characteristics in GMAW: Experimental and numerical investigation

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

Joensson, P.G.; Szekely, J.; Madigan, R.B.

1995-03-01

The voltage and power distributions in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) were studied both experimentally and numerically. The principal voltage drop takes place in the arc, which also constitutes the dominant power contribution. Within the arc, the dominating voltage contributions are from the arc column and the cathode fall, while the anode fall and the electrode regions are less significant. The power input to the arc column increases with both increasing current and increasing arc length. These results indicate that it is critical to control the arc length in order to control the power input to the system.

Comparative study on interactions between laser and arc plasma during laser-GTA welding and laser-GMA welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Minghua; Xu, Jiannan; Xin, Lijun; Zhao, Zuofu; Wu, Fufa

2016-10-01

This paper describes an investigation on differences in interactions between laser and arc plasma during laser-gas tungsten arc (LT) welding and laser-gas metal arc (LM) welding. The characteristics of LT heat source and LM heat source, such as plasma behavior, heat penetration ability and spectral information were comparably studied. Based on the plasma discharge theory, the interactions during plasma discharge were modeled and analyzed. Results show that in both LT and LM welding, coupling discharge between the laser keyhole plasma and arc happens, which strongly enhance the arc. But, the enhancing effect in LT welding is much more sensitive than that in LM welding when parameters are adjusted.

Comparison on welding mode characteristics of arc heat source for heat input control in hybrid welding of aluminum alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Moo-Keun; Kim, Jong-Do; Oh, Jae-Hwan

2015-03-01

Presently in shipbuilding, transportation and aerospace industries, the potential to apply welding using laser and laser-arc hybrid heat sources is widely under research. This study has the purpose of comparing the weldability depending on the arc mode by varying the welding modes of arc heat sources in applying laser-arc hybrid welding to aluminum alloy and of implementing efficient hybrid welding while controlling heat input. In the experimental study, we found that hybrid welding using CMT mode produced deeper penetration and sounder bead surface than those characteristics produced during only laser welding, with less heat input compared to that required in pulsed arc mode.

Initiation of arcing on tungsten surface exposed to steady state He plasmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kajita, Shin; Noiri, Yasuyuki; Ohno, Noriyasu

2015-09-01

Arcing was initiated in steady state helium plasmas by negatively biasing a tungsten electrode to around -500 V. On the tungsten electrode, nanostructures were grown by the plasma irradiation. In this study, we characterized the property of the initiated arcing by measuring the temporal evolutions of the electrode potential and the arc current. The ignition frequency and duration of arcing were presented from the potential measurements; the arc duration was in the range of <10 ms and the distribution altered when changing the biasing voltage. The behavior of arc spots was observed with a fast framing camera. It was shown that the spots split frequently, and sometimes, they run on the surface independently. From the fluctuation of the arc current, the fractal feature of arcing was revealed.

Enhancement of dynamin polymerization and GTPase activity by Arc/Arg3.1

PubMed Central

Byers, Christopher E.; Barylko, Barbara; Ross, Justin A.; Southworth, Daniel R.; James, Nicholas G.; Taylor, Clinton A.; Wang, Lei; Collins, Katie A.; Estrada, Armando; Waung, Maggie; Tassin, Tara C.; Huber, Kimberly M.; Jameson, David.M.; Albanesi, Joseph P.

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND The Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc, is an immediate-early gene product implicated in various forms of synaptic plasticity. Arc promotes endocytosis of AMPA type glutamate receptors and regulates cytoskeletal assembly in neuronal dendrites. Its role in endocytosis may be mediated by its reported interaction with dynamin 2 (Dyn2), a 100 kDa GTPase that polymerizes around the necks of budding vesicles and catalyzes membrane scission. METHODS Enzymatic and turbidity assays are used in this study to monitor effects of Arc on dynamin activity and polymerization. Arc oligomerization is measured using a combination of approaches, including size exclusion chromatography, sedimentation analysis, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. RESULTS We present evidence that bacterially-expressed His6-Arc facilitates the polymerization of Dyn2 and stimulates its GTPase activity under physiologic conditions (37°C and 100 mM NaCl). At lower ionic strength Arc also stabilizes pre-formed Dyn2 polymers against GTP-dependent disassembly, thereby prolonging assembly-dependent GTP hydrolysis catalyzed by Dyn2. Arc also increases the GTPase activity of Dyn3, an isoform of implicated in dendrite remodeling, but does not affect the activity of Dyn1, a neuron-specific isoform involved in synaptic vesicle recycling. We further show in this study that Arc (either His6-tagged or untagged) has a tendency to form large soluble oligomers, which may function as a scaffold for dynamin assembly and activation. CONCLUSIONS and GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE The ability of Arc to enhance dynamin polymerization and GTPase activation may provide a mechanism to explain Arc-mediated endocytosis of AMPA receptors and the accompanying effects on synaptic plasticity. This study represents the first detailed characterization of the physical properties of Arc. PMID:25783003

Arc Inception Mechanism on a Solar Array Immersed in a Low-Density Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vayner, B.; Galofaro, J.; Ferguson, D.

2001-01-01

In this report, results are presented of an experimental and theoretical study of arc phenomena and snapover for two samples of solar arrays immersed in argon plasma. The effects of arcing and snapover are investigated. I-V curves are measured, and arc and snapover inception voltages and arc rates are determined within the wide range of plasma parameters. A considerable increase in arc rate due to absorption of molecules from atmospheric air has been confirmed. It is shown that increasing gas pressure causes increasing ion current collection and, consequently, arc rate even though the effect of conditioning also takes place. Arc sites have been determined by employing a video-camera. It is confirmed that keeping sample under high vacuum for a long time results in shifting arc threshold voltage well below -300 V. The results obtained seem to be important for the understanding of arc inception mechanism.

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

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

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

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

The Neutral Gas Desorption and Breakdown on a Metal-Dielectric Junction Immersed in a Plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vayner, Boris; Galofaro, Joel; Ferguson, Dale; Lyons, Valerie J. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

New results are presented of an experimental study and theoretical analysis of arcing on metal-dielectric junctions immersed in a low-density plasma. Two samples of conventional solar arrays have been used to investigate the effects of arcing within a wide range of neutral gas pressures, ion currents, and electron number densities. All data (except video) were obtained in digital form that allowed us to study the correlation between external parameters (plasma density, additional capacitance, bias voltage, etc) and arc characteristics (arc rate, arc current pulse width and amplitude, gas species partial pressures, intensities of spectral lines, and so on). Arc sites were determined by employing a video-camera, and it is shown that the most probable sites for arc inception are trip le-junctions, even though some arcs were initiated in gaps between cells. The effect of surface conditioning (decrease of arc rate due to outgassing) was clearly demonstrated. Moreover, a considerable increase in arc rate due to absorption of molecules from atmospheric air has been confirmed. The analysis of optical spectra (240-800 nm) reveals intense narrow atomic lines (Ag, H) and wide molecular bands (OH, CH, SiH, SiN) that confirm a complicated mechanism of arc plasma generation. The rate of plasma contamination due to arcing was measured by employing a mass-spectrometer. These measurements provided quite reliable data for the development of a theoretical model of plasma contamination, In conclusion, the arc threshold was increased to above 350 V (from 190 V) by keeping a sample in vacuum (20 micronTorr) for seven days. The results obtained are important for the understanding of the arc inception mechanism, which is absolutely essential for progress toward the design of high voltage solar arrays for space applications.

Arc is a flexible modular protein capable of reversible self-oligomerization

PubMed Central

Myrum, Craig; Baumann, Anne; Bustad, Helene J.; Flydal, Marte Innselset; Mariaule, Vincent; Alvira, Sara; Cuéllar, Jorge; Haavik, Jan; Soulé, Jonathan; Valpuesta, José Maria; Márquez, José Antonio; Martinez, Aurora; Bramham, Clive R.

2015-01-01

The immediate early gene product Arc (activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein) is posited as a master regulator of long-term synaptic plasticity and memory. However, the physicochemical and structural properties of Arc have not been elucidated. In the present study, we expressed and purified recombinant human Arc (hArc) and performed the first biochemical and biophysical analysis of hArc's structure and stability. Limited proteolysis assays and MS analysis indicate that hArc has two major domains on either side of a central more disordered linker region, consistent with in silico structure predictions. hArc's secondary structure was estimated using CD, and stability was analysed by CD-monitored thermal denaturation and differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF). Oligomerization states under different conditions were studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and visualized by AFM and EM. Biophysical analyses show that hArc is a modular protein with defined secondary structure and loose tertiary structure. hArc appears to be pyramid-shaped as a monomer and is capable of reversible self-association, forming large soluble oligomers. The N-terminal domain of hArc is highly basic, which may promote interaction with cytoskeletal structures or other polyanionic surfaces, whereas the C-terminal domain is acidic and stabilized by ionic conditions that promote oligomerization. Upon binding of presenilin-1 (PS1) peptide, hArc undergoes a large structural change. A non-synonymous genetic variant of hArc (V231G) showed properties similar to the wild-type (WT) protein. We conclude that hArc is a flexible multi-domain protein that exists in monomeric and oligomeric forms, compatible with a diverse, hub-like role in plasticity-related processes. PMID:25748042

DC biased low-frequency insulating constriction dielectrophoresis for protein biomolecules concentration.

PubMed

Zhang, Peng; Liu, Yuxin

2017-09-01

Sample enrichment or molecules concentration is considered an essential step in sample processing of miniaturized devices aimed at biosensing and bioanalysis. Among all the means involved to achieve this aim, dielectrophoresis (DEP) is increasingly employed in molecules manipulation and concentration because it is non-destructive and high efficiency. This paper presents a methodology to achieve protein concentration utilizing the combination effects of electrokinetics and low frequency insulating dielectrophoresis (iDEP) generated within a microfluidic device, in which a submicron constricted channel was fabricated using DNA molecular combing and replica molding. This fabrication technique avoids using e-beam lithography or other complicated nanochannel fabrication methods, and provides an easy and low cost approach with the flexibility of controlling channel dimensions to create highly constricted channels embedded in a microfluidic device. With theoretical analysis and experiments, we demonstrated that fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) protein molecules can be significantly concentrated to form an arc-shaped band near the constricted channel under the effects of a negative dielectrophoretic force and DC electrokinetic forces within a short period of time. It was also observed that the amplitudes of the applied DC and AC electric fields, the AC frequencies as well as the suspending medium conductivities had strong effects on the concentration responses of the FITC-BSA molecules, including the concentrated area and position, intensities of the focused molecules, and concentration speed. Our method provides a simple and flexible approach for quickly concentrating protein molecules by controlling the applied electric field parameters. The iDEP device reported in this paper can be used as a stand-alone sensor or worked as a pre-concentration module integrated with biosensors for protein biomarker detection. Furthermore, low frequency dielectrophoresis provides practical uses for integrating the concentration module with a portable biosensing system.

High Power Amplifier and Power Supply

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

2008-01-01

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

Characteristics of arc currents on a negatively biased solar cell array in a plasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Snyder, D. B.

1984-01-01

The time dependence of the emitted currents during arcing on solar cell arrays is being studied. The arcs are characterized using three parameters: the voltage change of the array during the arc (i.e., the charge lost), the peak current during the arc, and the time constant describing the arc current. This paper reports the dependence of these characteristics on two array parameters, the interconnect bias voltage and the array capacitance to ground. It was found that the voltage change of the array during an arc is nearly equal to the bias voltage. The array capacitance, on the other hand, influences both the peak current and the decay time constant of the arc. Both of these characteristics increase with increasing capacitance.

Hydrogenation behavior of Ti-implanted Zr-1Nb alloy with TiN films deposited using filtered vacuum arc and magnetron sputtering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kashkarov, E. B.; Nikitenkov, N. N.; Sutygina, A. N.; Bezmaternykh, A. O.; Kudiiarov, V. N.; Syrtanov, M. S.; Pryamushko, T. S.

2018-02-01

More than 60 years of operation of water-cooled reactors have shown that local or general critical hydrogen concentration is one of the basic limiting criteria of zirconium-based fuel element claddings. During the coolant radiolysis, released hydrogen penetrates and accumulates in zirconium alloys. Hydrogenation of zirconium alloys leads to degradation of their mechanical properties, hydride cracking and stress corrosion cracking. In this research the effect of titanium nitride (TiN) deposition on hydrogenation behavior of Ti-implanted Zr-1Nb alloy was described. Ti-implanted interlayer was fabricated by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) at the pulsed bias voltage of 1500 V to improve the adhesion of TiN and reduce hydrogen penetration into Zr-1Nb alloy. We conducted the comparative analysis on hydrogenation behavior of the Ti-implanted alloy with sputtered and evaporated TiN films by reactive dc magnetron sputtering (dcMS) and filtered cathodic vacuum arc deposition (FVAD), respectively. The crystalline structure and surface morphology were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The elemental distribution was analyzed using glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES). Hydrogenation was performed from gas atmosphere at 350 °C and 2 atm hydrogen pressure. The results revealed that TiN films as well as Ti implantation significantly reduce hydrogen absorption rate of Zr-1Nb alloy. The best performance to reduce the rate of hydrogen absorption is Ti-implanted layer with evaporated TiN film. Morphology of the films impacted hydrogen permeation through TiN films: the denser film the lower hydrogen permeation. The Ti-implanted interface plays an important role of hydrogen accumulation layer for trapping the penetrated hydrogen. No deterioration of adhesive properties of TiN films on Zr-1Nb alloy with Ti-implanted interface occurs under high-temperature hydrogen exposure. Thus, the fabrication of Ti-implanted layer with dense TiN films can be an effective way to protect Zr-1Nb alloy from hydrogen embrittlement.

A Novel Arc Fault Detector for Early Detection of Electrical Fires

PubMed Central

Yang, Kai; Zhang, Rencheng; Yang, Jianhong; Liu, Canhua; Chen, Shouhong; Zhang, Fujiang

2016-01-01

Arc faults can produce very high temperatures and can easily ignite combustible materials; thus, they represent one of the most important causes of electrical fires. The application of arc fault detection, as an emerging early fire detection technology, is required by the National Electrical Code to reduce the occurrence of electrical fires. However, the concealment, randomness and diversity of arc faults make them difficult to detect. To improve the accuracy of arc fault detection, a novel arc fault detector (AFD) is developed in this study. First, an experimental arc fault platform is built to study electrical fires. A high-frequency transducer and a current transducer are used to measure typical load signals of arc faults and normal states. After the common features of these signals are studied, high-frequency energy and current variations are extracted as an input eigenvector for use by an arc fault detection algorithm. Then, the detection algorithm based on a weighted least squares support vector machine is designed and successfully applied in a microprocessor. Finally, an AFD is developed. The test results show that the AFD can detect arc faults in a timely manner and interrupt the circuit power supply before electrical fires can occur. The AFD is not influenced by cross talk or transient processes, and the detection accuracy is very high. Hence, the AFD can be installed in low-voltage circuits to monitor circuit states in real-time to facilitate the early detection of electrical fires. PMID:27070618

Evaluation of Kapton pyrolysis, arc tracking, and arc propagation on the Space Station Freedom (SSF) solar array Flexible Current Carrier (FCC)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stueber, Thomas J.

1991-01-01

Recent studies involving the use of polyimide Kapton coated wires indicate that if a momentary electrical short circuit occurs between two wires, sufficient heating of the Kapton can occur to thermally char (pyrolyze) the Kapton. Such charred Kapton has sufficient electrical conductivity to create an arc which tracks down the wires and possibly propagates to adjoining wires. These studies prompted an investigation to ascertain the likelihood of the Kapton pyrolysis, arc tracking and propagation phenomena, and the magnitude of destruction conceivably inflicted on Space Station Freedom's (SSF) Flexible Current Carrier (FCC) for the photovoltaic array. The geometric layout of the FCC, having a planar-type orientation as opposed to bundles, may reduce the probability of sustaining an arc. An experimental investigation was conducted to simulate conditions under which an arc can occur on the FCC of SSF, and the consequences of arc initiation.

Evaluation of Kapton pyrolysis, arc tracking, and arc propagation on the Space Station Freedom (SSF) solar array flexible current carrier (FCC)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stueber, Thomas J.

1991-01-01

Recent studies involving the use of polyimide Kapton coated wires indicate that if a momentary electrical short circuit occurs between two wires, sufficient heating of the Kapton can occur to themally chlar (pyrolyze) the Kapton. Such charred Kapton has sufficient electricxl conductivity to create an arc which tracks down the wires and possibly propagates to adjoining wires. These studies prompted an invetigation to ascertain the likelihood of Kapton pyrolysis, arc tracking and propagation phenomena, and the magnitude of destruction conceivably inflicted on Space Station Freedom's (SSF's) Flexible Current Carrier (FCC) for the photovoltaic array. The geometric layout of the FCC, having a planar-type orientation as opposed to bundles, may reduce the probability of sustaining an arc. An experimental investigation was conducted to simulate conditions under which an arc can occur on the FCC of the SSF, and the consequences of arc initiation.

Is high–dose rate RapidArc-based radiosurgery dosimetrically advantageous for the treatment of intracranial tumors?

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

Zhao, Bo; Yang, Yong, E-mail: yangy2@upmc.edu; Li, Xiang

In linac-based stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and radiotherapy (SRT), circular cone(s) or conformal arc(s) are conventionally used to treat intracranial lesions. However, when the target is in close proximity to critical structures, it is frequently quite challenging to generate a quality plan using these techniques. In this study, we investigated the dosimetric characteristics of using high–dose rate RapidArc (RA) technique for radiosurgical treatment of intracranial lesions. A total of 10 intracranial SRS/SRT cases previously planned using dynamic conformal arc (DCA) or cone-based techniques have been included in this study. For each case, 3 treatment plans were generated: (1) a DCA planmore » with multiple noncoplanar arcs, (2) a high–dose rate RA plan with arcs oriented the same as DCA (multiple-arc RA), and 3) a high–dose rate RA plan with a single coplanar arc (single-arc RA). All treatment plans were generated under the same prescription and similar critical structure dose limits. Plan quality for different plans was evaluated by comparing various dosimetric parameters such as target coverage, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), critical structures, and normal brain tissue doses as well as beam delivery time. With similar critical structure sparing, high–dose rate RA plans can achieve much better target coverage, dose conformity, and dose homogeneity than the DCA plans can. Plan quality indices CI and HI, for the DCA, multiple-arc RA, and single-arc RA techniques, were measured as 1.67 ± 0.39, 1.32 ± 0.28, and 1.38 ± 0.30 and 1.24 ± 0.11, 1.10 ± 0.04, and 1.12 ± 0.07, respectively. Normal brain tissue dose (V{sub 12} {sub Gy}) was found to be similar for DCA and multiple-arc RA plans but much larger for the single-arc RA plans. Beam delivery was similar for DCA and multiple-arc RA plans but shorter with single-arc RA plans. Multiple-arc RA SRS/SRT can provide better treatment plans than conventional DCA plans, especially for complex cases.« less

Three-dimensional modeling of the plasma arc in arc welding

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

Xu, G.; Tsai, H. L.; Hu, J.

2008-11-15

Most previous three-dimensional modeling on gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) and gas metal arc welding (GMAW) focuses on the weld pool dynamics and assumes the two-dimensional axisymmetric Gaussian distributions for plasma arc pressure and heat flux. In this article, a three-dimensional plasma arc model is developed, and the distributions of velocity, pressure, temperature, current density, and magnetic field of the plasma arc are calculated by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy, as well as part of the Maxwell's equations. This three-dimensional model can be used to study the nonaxisymmetric plasma arc caused by external perturbations such asmore » an external magnetic field. It also provides more accurate boundary conditions when modeling the weld pool dynamics. The present work lays a foundation for true three-dimensional comprehensive modeling of GTAW and GMAW including the plasma arc, weld pool, and/or electrode.« less

Differentiation and activation of equine monocyte-derived dendritic cells are not correlated with CD206 or CD83 expression

PubMed Central

Moyo, Nathifa A; Marchi, Emanuele; Steinbach, Falko

2013-01-01

Dendritic cells (DC) are the main immune mediators inducing primary immune responses. DC generated from monocytes (MoDC) are a model system to study the biology of DC in vitro, as they represent inflammatory DC in vivo. Previous studies on the generation of MoDC in horses indicated that there was no distinct difference between immature and mature DC and that the expression profile was distinctly different from humans, where CD206 is expressed on immature MoDC whereas CD83 is expressed on mature MoDC. Here we describe the kinetics of equine MoDC differentiation and activation, analysing both phenotypic and functional characteristics. Blood monocytes were first differentiated with equine granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4 generating immature DC (iMoDC). These cells were further activated with a cocktail of cytokines including interferon-γ) but not CD40 ligand to obtain mature DC (mMoDC). To determine the expression of a broad range of markers for which no monoclonal antibodies were available to analyse the protein expression, microarray and quantitative PCR analysis were performed to carry out gene expression analysis. This study demonstrates that equine iMoDC and mMoDC can be distinguished both phenotypically and functionally but the expression pattern of some markers including CD206 and CD83 is dissimilar to the human system. PMID:23461413

Effect of laser pulse on alternative current arc discharge during laser-arc hybrid welding of magnesium alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Minghua; Xin, Lijun; Zhou, Qi; He, Lijia; Wu, Fufa

2018-01-01

The coupling effect between a laser and arc plasma was studied in situations in which the laser acts at the positive and negative waveforms of the arc discharge during the laser-arc hybrid welding of magnesium alloy. Using the methods of direct observation, high speed imaging, and spectral analysis, the surface status of weld seams, weld penetration depths, plasma behavior, and spectral characteristics of welding plasma were investigated, respectively. Results show that, as compared with the laser pulse acting at the negative waveform of the arc plasma discharge, a better weld seam formation can be achieved when the laser pulse acts at the positive waveform of the arc discharge. At the same time, the radiation intensity of Mg atoms in the arc plasma increases significantly. However, the weld penetration depth is weaker. The findings show that when the laser pulse is acting at the negative waveform of the arc plasma discharge, the position of the arc plasma discharge on the workpiece can be restrained by the laser action point, which improves the energy density of the welding arc.

Linear Mathematical Model for Seam Tracking with an Arc Sensor in P-GMAW Processes

PubMed Central

Liu, Wenji; Li, Liangyu; Hong, Ying; Yue, Jianfeng

2017-01-01

Arc sensors have been used in seam tracking and widely studied since the 80s and commercial arc sensing products for T and V shaped grooves have been developed. However, it is difficult to use these arc sensors in narrow gap welding because the arc stability and sensing accuracy are not satisfactory. Pulse gas melting arc welding (P-GMAW) has been successfully applied in narrow gap welding and all position welding processes, so it is worthwhile to research P-GMAW arc sensing technology. In this paper, we derived a linear mathematical P-GMAW model for arc sensing, and the assumptions for the model are verified through experiments and finite element methods. Finally, the linear characteristics of the mathematical model were investigated. In torch height changing experiments, uphill experiments, and groove angle changing experiments the P-GMAW arc signals all satisfied the linear rules. In addition, the faster the welding speed, the higher the arc signal sensitivities; the smaller the groove angle, the greater the arc sensitivities. The arc signal variation rate needs to be modified according to the welding power, groove angles, and weaving or rotate speed. PMID:28335425

Linear Mathematical Model for Seam Tracking with an Arc Sensor in P-GMAW Processes.

PubMed

Liu, Wenji; Li, Liangyu; Hong, Ying; Yue, Jianfeng

2017-03-14

Arc sensors have been used in seam tracking and widely studied since the 80s and commercial arc sensing products for T and V shaped grooves have been developed. However, it is difficult to use these arc sensors in narrow gap welding because the arc stability and sensing accuracy are not satisfactory. Pulse gas melting arc welding (P-GMAW) has been successfully applied in narrow gap welding and all position welding processes, so it is worthwhile to research P-GMAW arc sensing technology. In this paper, we derived a linear mathematical P-GMAW model for arc sensing, and the assumptions for the model are verified through experiments and finite element methods. Finally, the linear characteristics of the mathematical model were investigated. In torch height changing experiments, uphill experiments, and groove angle changing experiments the P-GMAW arc signals all satisfied the linear rules. In addition, the faster the welding speed, the higher the arc signal sensitivities; the smaller the groove angle, the greater the arc sensitivities. The arc signal variation rate needs to be modified according to the welding power, groove angles, and weaving or rotate speed.

The influence of TIG-Arc physical characteristics on the penetration and weld width under different Ar and He supply conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Hongbin; Shen, Xiuqiang; Wang, Haoran

2018-06-01

In the paper, the 5A03 aluminium alloy was employed to study the influence of TIG arc on the penetration and the weld width. And the split anode method with water-cooled copper plate was used to measure and record the distribution of arc current, under different flow ratio of argon and helium conditions. And a gas supply device controlled by a solenoid valve was employed to obtain the stable TIG welding arc of gas supply alternately at the frequency of 1 Hz and 4 Hz, and then collected the phenomenon of arc alternate by the high-speed camera. The experimental results indicated that the current density at the arc anode center of argon and helium supply alternately with different mixing ratio is lower than that of the pure argon-arc center. Nonetheless, the former is more uniform in current density within 2 mm from the arc center. Furthermore, it presented as a component arc of argon-arc and helium-arc switched, with the condition of argon and helium supply alternately at a frequency of 1 Hz and the arc power density is greater and concentrated, leading to the wider and deeper weld.

Demonstration of a Balloon Borne Arc-second Pointer Design

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deweese, K.; Ward, P.

Many designs for utilizing stratospheric balloons as low-cost platforms on which to conduct space science experiments have been proposed throughout the years A major hurdle in extending the range of experiments for which these vehicles are useful has been the imposition of the gondola dynamics on the accuracy with which an instrument can be kept pointed at a celestial target A significant number of scientists have sought the ability to point their instruments with jitter in the arc-second range This paper presents the design and analysis of a stratospheric balloon borne pointing system that is able to meet this requirement The test results of a demonstration prototype of the design with similar ability are also presented Discussion of a high fidelity controller simulation for design analysis is presented The flexibility of the flight train is represented through generalized modal analysis A multiple controller scheme is utilized for coarse and fine pointing Coarse azimuth pointing is accomplished by an established pointing system with extensive flight history residing above the gondola structure A pitch-yaw gimbal mount is used for fine pointing providing orthogonal axes when nominally on target Fine pointing actuation is from direct drive dc motors eliminating backlash problems An analysis of friction nonlinearities and a demonstration of the necessity in eliminating static friction are provided A unique bearing hub design is introduced that eliminates static friction from the system dynamics A control scheme involving linear

High Performance 50 nm InAlAs/In0.75GaAs Metamorphic High Electron Mobility Transistors with Si3N4 Passivation on Thin InGaAs Layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yeon, Seongjin; Seo, Kwangseok

2008-04-01

We fabricated 50 nm InAlAs/InGaAs metamorphic high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a very thin barrier. Through the reduction of the gate-channel distance (dGC) in the epitaxial structure, a channel aspect ratio (ARC) of over three was achieved when Lg was 50 nm. We inserted a thin InGaAs layer as a protective layer, and tested various gate structures to reduce surface problems induced by barrier shrinkage and to optimize the device characteristics. Through the optimization of the gate structure with the thin InGaAs layer, the fabricated 50 nm metamorphic HEMT exhibited high DC and RF characteristics, Gm of 1.5 S/mm, and fT of 490 GHz.

Evidence that dirty electricity is causing the worldwide epidemics of obesity and diabetes.

PubMed

Milham, Samuel

2014-01-01

The epidemics of obesity and diabetes most apparent in recent years had their origins with Thomas Edison's development of distributed electricity in New York City in 1882. His original direct current (DC) generators suffered serious commutator brush arcing which is a major source of high-frequency voltage transients (dirty electricity). From the onset of the electrical grid, electrified populations have been exposed to dirty electricity. Diesel generator sets are a major source of dirty electricity today and are used almost universally to electrify small islands and places unreachable by the conventional electric grid. This accounts for the fact that diabetes prevalence, fasting plasma glucose and obesity are highest on small islands and other places electrified by generator sets and lowest in places with low levels of electrification like sub-Saharan Africa and east and Southeast Asia.

Preparation and provisional certification of NBL Spectrographic Impurity Standards, CRM 123 (1-7) and 124 (1-7)

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

Santoliquido, P.M.

This report describes the design, production, and provisional certification of two new certified reference materials (CRMs): CRM No. 123 (1-7), U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ containing 18 trace elements, and CRM No. 124 (1-7), U/sub 3/O/sub 8/ containing 24 trace elements. The elements to be included and concentrations to be used were decided on the basis of information gathered from users of a previous CRM of this type, CRM No. 98 (1-7). The new CRMs were prepared by the addition of trace elements to high purity U/sub 3/O/sub 8/. Provisional certification was accomplished by an interlaboratory program in which four different laboratoriesmore » analyzed the materials by carrier distillation dc arc emission spectrography.« less

Influence of bias voltage on structural and optical properties of TiN{sub x} thin films

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

Singh, Omveer, E-mail: poonia.omveer@gmail.com; Dahiya, Raj P.; Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal – 131039

In the present work, Ti thin films were deposited on Si substrate using DC sputtering technique. Indigenous hot cathode arc discharge plasma system was used for nitriding over these samples, where the plasma parameters and work piece can be controlled independently. A mixture of H{sub 2} and N{sub 2} gases (in the ratio of 80:20) was supplied into the plasma chamber. The effect of bias voltage on the crystal structure, morphology and optical properties was investigated by employing various physical techniques such as X-ray Diffraction, Atomic Force Microscopy and UV-Vis spectrometry. It was found that bias voltage affects largely themore » crystal structure and band gap which in turn is responsible for the modifications in optical properties of the deposited films.« less

Differential Deposition for Surface Figure Corrections in Grazing Incidence X-Ray Optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramsey, Brian D.; Kilaru, Kiranmayee; Atkins, Carolyn; Gubarev, Mikhail V.; Broadway, David M.

2015-01-01

Differential deposition corrects the low- and mid- spatial-frequency deviations in the axial figure of Wolter-type grazing incidence X-ray optics. Figure deviations is one of the major contributors to the achievable angular resolution. Minimizing figure errors can significantly improve the imaging quality of X-ray optics. Material of varying thickness is selectively deposited, using DC magnetron sputtering, along the length of optic to minimize figure deviations. Custom vacuum chambers are built that can incorporate full-shell and segmented Xray optics. Metrology data of preliminary corrections on a single meridian of full-shell x-ray optics show an improvement of mid-spatial frequencies from 6.7 to 1.8 arc secs HPD. Efforts are in progress to correct a full-shell and segmented optics and to verify angular-resolution improvement with X-ray testing.

Field-aligned currents associated with multiple arc systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, J.; Knudsen, D. J.; Gillies, D. M.; Donovan, E.; Burchill, J. K.

2016-12-01

It is often thought that auroral arcs are a direct consequence of upward field-aligned currents. In fact, the relation between currents and brightness is more complicated. Multiple auroral arc systems provide and opportunity to study this relation in detail; this information can be used as a test of models for quasi-static arc formation. In this study, we have identified two types of FAC configurations in multiple parallel arc systems using ground-based optical data from the THEMIS all-sky imagers (ASIs), magnetometers and electric field instruments onboard the Swarm satellites during the period from December 2013 to March 2015. In type 1 events, each arc is an intensification within a broad, unipolar current sheet and downward currents only exist outside the upward current sheet. In type 2 events, multiple arc systems represent a collection of multiple up/down current pairs. By collecting 12 events for type 1 and 17 events for type 2, we find that (1) Type 1 events are mainly located between 22-23MLT. Type 2 events are mainly located around midnight. (2) The typical size of upward and downward FAC in type 2 events are comparable, while upward FAC in type 1 events are larger than downward FAC. (3) Upward currents with more arcs embedded have larger intensities and widths. (4) There is no significant difference between the characteristic widths of multiple arcs and single arcs.

Arctigenin Inhibits Adipogenesis by Inducing AMPK Activation and Reduces Weight Gain in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

PubMed

Han, Yo-Han; Kee, Ji-Ye; Park, Jinbong; Kim, Hye-Lin; Jeong, Mi-Young; Kim, Dae-Seung; Jeon, Yong-Deok; Jung, Yunu; Youn, Dong-Hyun; Kang, JongWook; So, Hong-Seob; Park, Raekil; Lee, Jong-Hyun; Shin, Soyoung; Kim, Su-Jin; Um, Jae-Young; Hong, Seung-Heon

2016-09-01

Although arctigenin (ARC) has been reported to have some pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, and antioxidant, there have been no reports on the anti-obesity effect of ARC. The aim of this study is to investigate whether ARC has an anti-obesity effect and mediates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. We investigated the anti-adipogenic effect of ARC using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs). In high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice, whether ARC can inhibit weight gain was investigated. We found that ARC reduced weight gain, fat pad weight, and triglycerides in HFD-induced obese mice. ARC also inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) in in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ARC induced the AMPK activation resulting in down-modulation of adipogenesis-related factors including PPARγ, C/EBPα, fatty acid synthase, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, and lipoprotein lipase. This study demonstrates that ARC can reduce key adipogenic factors by activating the AMPK in vitro and in vivo and suggests a therapeutic implication of ARC for obesity treatment. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2067-2077, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Breakdown of Immune Tolerance in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Dendritic Cells

PubMed Central

Reihl, Alec M.

2016-01-01

Dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease with multiple tissue manifestations. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the roles of conventional DC and plasmacytoid DC in the development of both murine lupus and human SLE. In the past decade, studies using selective DC depletions have demonstrated critical roles of DC in lupus progression. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies suggest activation of DC by self-antigens in lupus pathogenesis, followed by breakdown of immune tolerance to self. Potential treatment strategies targeting DC have been developed. However, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms by which DC modulate lupus pathogenesis that require further investigations. PMID:27034965

Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) vs. conventional fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy for {sup 18}F-FDG-PET-guided dose escalation in oropharyngeal cancer: A planning study

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

Teoh, May, E-mail: m.teoh@nhs.net; Beveridge, Sabeena; Wood, Katie

2013-04-01

Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography ({sup 18}F-FDG-PET)–guided focal dose escalation in oropharyngeal cancer may potentially improve local control. We evaluated the feasibility of this approach using volumetric-modulated arc therapy (RapidArc) and compared these plans with fixed-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) focal dose escalation plans. Materials and methods: An initial study of 20 patients compared RapidArc with fixed-field IMRT using standard dose prescriptions. From this cohort, 10 were included in a dose escalation planning study. Dose escalation was applied to {sup 18}F-FDG-PET–positive regions in the primary tumor at dose levels of 5% (DL1), 10% (DL2), and 15% (DL3) above standard radical dose (65 Gymore » in 30 fractions). Fixed-field IMRT and double-arc RapidArc plans were generated for each dataset. Dose-volume histograms were used for plan evaluation and comparison. The Paddick conformity index (CI{sub Paddick}) and monitor units (MU) for each plan were recorded and compared. Both IMRT and RapidArc produced clinically acceptable plans and achieved planning objectives for target volumes. Dose conformity was significantly better in the RapidArc plans, with lower CI{sub Paddick} scores in both primary (PTV1) and elective (PTV2) planning target volumes (largest difference in PTV1 at DL3; 0.81 ± 0.03 [RapidArc] vs. 0.77 ± 0.07 [IMRT], p = 0.04). Maximum dose constraints for spinal cord and brainstem were not exceeded in both RapidArc and IMRT plans, but mean doses were higher with RapidArc (by 2.7 ± 1 Gy for spinal cord and 1.9 ± 1 Gy for brainstem). Contralateral parotid mean dose was lower with RapidArc, which was statistically significant at DL1 (29.0 vs. 29.9 Gy, p = 0.01) and DL2 (29.3 vs. 30.3 Gy, p = 0.03). MU were reduced by 39.8–49.2% with RapidArc (largest difference at DL3, 641 ± 94 vs. 1261 ± 118, p < 0.01). {sup 18}F-FDG-PET–guided focal dose escalation in oropharyngeal cancer is feasible with RapidArc. Compared with conventional fixed-field IMRT, RapidArc can achieve better dose conformity, improve contralateral parotid sparing, and uses fewer MU.« less

POSS(Registered TradeMark) Coatings for Solar Cells: An Update

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brandhorst, Henry; Isaacs-Smith, Tamara; Wells, Brian; Lichtenhan, Joseph D.; Fu, Bruce X.

2007-01-01

Presently, solar cells are covered with Ce-doped microsheet cover glasses that are attached with Dow Corning DC 93-500 silicone adhesive. Various antireflection coatings are often applied to the cover glass to increase cell performance. This general approach has been used from the beginning of space exploration. However, it is expensive and time consuming. Furthermore, as the voltage of solar arrays increases, significant arcing has occurred in solar arrays, leading to loss of satellite power. The cause has been traced to differential voltages between strings and the close spacing between them with no insulation covering the edges of the solar cells. In addition, this problem could be ameliorated if the cover glass extended over the edges of the cell, but this would impact packing density. An alternative idea that might solve all these issues and be less expensive and more protective is to develop a coating that could be applied over the entire array. Such a coating must be resistant to atomic oxygen for low earth orbits below about 700 km, it must be resistant to ultraviolet radiation for all earth and near-sun orbits and, of course, it must withstand the damaging effects of space radiation. Coating flexibility would be an additional advantage. Based on past experience, one material that has many of the desired attributes of a universal protective coating is the Dow Corning DC 93-500. Of all the potential optical plastics, it appears to be the most suitable for use in space. As noted above, DC 93-500 has been extensively used to attach cover glasses to crystalline solar cells and has worked exceptionally well over the years. It is flexible and generally resistant to electrons, protons and ultraviolet (UV and VUV) radiation; although a VUV-rejection coating or VUV-absorbing ceria-doped cover glass may be required for long mission durations. It can also be applied in a thin coating (< 25 m) by conventional liquid coating processes. Unfortunately, when exposed to atomic oxygen (AO) DC 93-500 develops a frosty surface. Such frosting can lead to a loss of light transmitted into the cells and destroy the essential clarity needed for a concentrator lens.

Swarm Observation of Field-Aligned Currents Associated With Multiple Auroral Arc Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, J.; Knudsen, D. J.; Gillies, D. M.; Donovan, E. F.; Burchill, J. K.

2017-10-01

Auroral arcs occur in regions of upward field-aligned currents (FACs); however, the relation is not one to one, since kinetic energy of the current-carrying electrons is also important in the production of auroral luminosity. Multiple auroral arc systems provide an opportunity to study the relation between FACs and auroral brightness in detail. In this study, we have identified two types of FAC configurations in multiple parallel arc systems using ground-based optical data from the Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms all-sky imagers, magnetometers and electric field instruments on board the Swarm satellites. In "unipolar FAC" events, each arc is an intensification within a broad, unipolar current sheet and downward return currents occur outside of this broad sheet. In "multipolar FAC" events, multiple arc systems represent a collection of multiple up/down current pairs. By collecting 17 events with unipolar FAC and 12 events with multipolar FACs, we find that (1) unipolar FAC events occur most frequently between 20 and 21 magnetic local time and multipolar FAC events tend to occur around local midnight and within 1 h after substorm onset. (2) Arcs in unipolar FAC systems have a typical width of 10-20 km and a spacing of 25-50 km. Arcs in multipolar FAC systems are wider and more separated. (3) Upward currents with more arcs embedded have larger intensities and widths. (4) Electric fields are strong and highly structured on the edges of multiple arc system with unipolar FAC. The fact that arcs with unipolar FAC are much more highly structured than the associated currents suggests that arc multiplicity is indicative not of a structured generator deep in the magnetosphere, but rather of the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling process.

Arc in synaptic plasticity: from gene to behavior

PubMed Central

Korb, Erica; Finkbeiner, Steven

2011-01-01

The activity-regulated cytoskeletal (Arc) gene encodes a protein that is critical for memory consolidation. Arc is one of the most tightly regulated molecules known: neuronal activity controls Arc mRNA induction, trafficking, and accumulation, and Arc protein production, localization and stability. Arc regulates synaptic strength through multiple mechanisms and is involved in essentially every known form of synaptic plasticity. It also mediates memory formation and is implicated in multiple neurological diseases. In this review, we will discuss how Arc is regulated and used as a tool to study neuronal activity. We will also attempt to clarify how its molecular functions correspond to its requirement for various forms of plasticity, discuss Arc’s role in behavior and disease, and highlight critical unresolved questions. PMID:21963089

[Plasma temperature calculation and coupling mechanism analysis of laser-double wire hybrid welding].

PubMed

Zheng, Kai; Li, Huan; Yang, Li-Jun; Gu, Xiao-Yan; Gao, Ying

2013-04-01

The plasma radiation of laser-double wire hybrid welding was collected by using fiber spectrometer, the coupling mechanism of arc with laser was studied through high-speed photography during welding process, and the temperature of hybrid plasma was calculated by using the method of Boltzmann plot. The results indicated that with laser hybrid, luminance was enhanced; radiation intensity became stronger; arc was attracted to the laser point; cross section contracted and arc was more stable. The laser power, welding current and arc-arc distance are important factors that have great influence on electron temperature. Increase in the laser power, amplification of welding current and reduction of arc-arc distance can all result in the rise of temperature.

Insights into Along Strike Variability in the Lau Back Spreading Center and Tonga Arc from Bodywave Tomography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adams, A. N.; Wiens, D.; Barklage, M.; Conder, J. A.; Wei, S. S.; Cai, C.

2016-12-01

The Lau Backarc Spreading Center (LBSC) and the Tonga Arc offer an excellent location to study the complex interactions between magma production in subduction arcs and backarcs. Although the LBSC is often considered to be an archetype of backarc spreading centers, the system exhibits major along strike changes in surficial and subsurface characteristics - including rift morphology, spreading and subduction rates, rift-arc separation, magma production, and crustal thickness. These variations, together with geochemical evidence, suggest that mixing of arc and backarc magmas may occur at depth beneath the southern LBSC, where the backarc spreading center and the Tonga Arc are most proximal. To investigate magma production and transport beneath the LBSC and the Tonga Arc, this study jointly inverts arrivals from local and teleseismic earthquakes at 51 OBS and 16 land stations to create P- and S-wave upper mantle velocity models. Results from this study show that low velocity zones associated with the LBSC and Tonga Arc are distinctly separated in the north, but merge to a single low velocity zone in the south, supporting prior geochemical evidence for a common source of arc and backarc magmas in the south. Low velocities beneath the LBSC tilt westward with depth, consistent with predictions from numerical models for asymmetrical melting in the mantle wedge. Beneath the central LBSC, low velocities extend to depths of 300 km, suggesting a deep source for melt in some regions.

Continental Arcs as Both Carbon Source and Sink in Regulating Long Term Climate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, H.; Lee, C. T.

2017-12-01

The long-term variability of atmospheric pCO2 is determined by the balance between the rate of geologic inputs of CO­­2 (e.g., magmatic/metamorphic degassing, carbonate weathering) and the rate of carbonate precipitation driven by silicate weathering. The Late Cretaceous-Early Cenozoic was characterized by elevated atmospheric pCO2 and greenhouse climate, likely due to increased magmatic flux from mid-ocean ridges and, in particular, continental arcs. However, it has been suggested that continental arc magmatism is accompanied by rapid uplift and erosion due to magmatic/tectonic thickening of the crust, thus continental arcs likely enhance the chemical weathering flux, in turn increasing the carbon sink. To assess the contribution of continental arcs to global carbon inputs and sinks, we conducted a case study in the Cretaceous Peninsular Ranges batholith (PRB) and associated forearc basin in southern California, USA, representing one segment of the Cretaceous Cordillera arc-forearc system. Arc magmatism occurred between 170-85 Ma, peaking at 100 Ma, but erosion of the arc continues into the early Eocene, with forearc sediments representing this protracted arc unroofing. During magmatism, we estimate the CO2 degassing flux from the PRB was at least 5-25*105 mol·km-2·yr-1. By calculating the depletion of Ca and Mg in the forearc sediments relative to their arc protoliths, we estimate the silicate weathering/carbonate precipitation flux to be 106 mol·km-2·yr-1 during Late Cretaceous magmatism, decreasing to 105 mol·km-2·yr-1 by the Early Eocene. We show that during active continental arc magmatism, the CO2 degassing flux is comparable to CO2 consumption driven by silicate weathering in the arc. However, after magmatism ends, a regional imbalance arises in which the arc no longer contributes to CO2 inputs but continued silicate weathering of the arc drives carbonate precipitation such that the arc indirectly becomes CO2 sink. We propose that the development of continental arcs increases weatherability through mountain building processes, and therefore may affect the strength of the global negative feedback between silicate weathering and climate. Future studies are needed to quantify the variability in weathering feedback strength associated with global continental arc development.

Pseudo-Capacitors: SPPS Deposition and Electrochemical Analysis of α-MoO3 and Mo2N Coatings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golozar, Mehdi; Chien, Ken; Lian, Keryn; Coyle, Thomas W.

2013-06-01

Solution precursor plasma spraying (SPPS) is a novel thermal spray process in which a solution precursor is injected into the high-temperature zone of a DC-arc plasma jet to allow solvent evaporation from the precursor droplets, solute precipitation, and precipitate pyrolysis prior to substrate impact. This investigation explored the potential of SPPS to fabricate α-MoO3 coatings with fine grain sizes, high porosity levels, and high surface area: characteristics needed for application as pseudo-capacitor electrodes. Since molybdenum nitride has shown a larger electrochemical stability window and higher specific area capacitance, the α-MoO3 deposits were subsequently converted into molybdenum nitride. A multistep heat-treatment procedure resulted in a topotactic phase-transformation mechanism, which retained the high surface area lath-shaped features of the original α-MoO3. The electrochemical behaviors of molybdenum oxide and molybdenum nitride deposits formed under different deposition conditions were studied using cyclic voltammetry to assess the influence of the resulting microstructure on the charge storage behavior and potential for use in pseudo-capacitors.

Preparation of ceramic coating on Ti substrate by Plasma electrolytic oxidation in different electrolytes and evaluation of its corrosion resistance

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shokouhfar, M.; Dehghanian, C.; Baradaran, A.

2011-01-01

Ceramic oxide coatings (titania) were produced on Ti by micro-arc oxidation in different aluminate and carbonate based electrolytes. This process was conducted under constant pulsed DC voltage condition. The effect of KOH and NaF in aluminate based solution was also studied. The surface morphology, growth and phase composition of coatings were investigated using scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Corrosion behavior of the coatings was also examined by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. It was found that the sparking initiation voltage (spark voltage) had a significant effect on the form and properties of coatings. Coatings obtained from potassium aluminate based solution had a lower spark voltage, higher surface homogeneity and a better corrosion resistance than the carbonate based solution. Addition of NaF instead of KOH had improper effects on the homogeneity and adhesion of coatings which in turn caused a poor corrosion protection behavior of the oxide layer. AC impedance curves showed two time constants which is an indication of the coatings with an outer porous layer and an inner compact layer.

Destruction of inorganic municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash in a DC arc plasma furnace.

PubMed

Zhao, Peng; Ni, Guohua; Jiang, Yiman; Chen, Longwei; Chen, Mingzhou; Meng, Yuedong

2010-09-15

Due to the toxicity of dioxins, furans and heavy metals, there is a growing environmental concern on municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI) fly ash in China. The purpose of this study is directed towards the volume-reduction of fly ash without any additive by thermal plasma and recycling of vitrified slag. This process uses extremely high-temperature in an oxygen-starved environment to completely decompose complex waste into very simple molecules. For developing the proper plasma processes to treat MSWI fly ash, a new crucible-type plasma furnace was built. The melting process metamorphosed fly ash to granulated slag that was less than 1/3 of the volume of the fly ash, and about 64% of the weight of the fly ash. The safety of the vitrified slag was tested. The properties of the slag were affected by the differences in the cooling methods. Water-cooled and composite-cooled slag showed more excellent resistance against the leaching of heavy metals and can be utilized as building material without toxicity problems. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ion beam and plasma methods of producing diamondlike carbon films

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swec, Diane M.; Mirtich, Michael J.; Banks, Bruce A.

1988-01-01

A variety of plasma and ion beam techniques was employed to generate diamondlike carbon films. These methods included the use of RF sputtering, dc glow discharge, vacuum arc, plasma gun, ion beam sputtering, and both single and dual ion beam deposition. Since films were generated using a wide variety of techniques, the physico-chemical properties of these films varied considerably. In general, these films had characteristics that were desirable in a number of applications. For example, the films generated using both single and dual ion beam systems were evaluated for applications including power electronics as insulated gates and protective coatings on transmitting windows. These films were impervious to reagents which dissolve graphitic and polymeric carbon structures. Nuclear reaction and combustion analysis indicated hydrogen to carbon ratios to be 1.00, which allowed the films to have good transmittance not only in the infrared, but also in the visible. Other evaluated properties of these films include band gap, resistivity, adherence, density, microhardness, and intrinsic stress. The results of these studies and those of the other techniques for depositing diamondlike carbon films are presented.

Effect of cathode cooling efficiency and oxygen plasma gas pressure on the hafnium cathode wall temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashtekar, Koustubh; Diehl, Gregory; Hamer, John

2012-10-01

The hafnium cathode is widely used in DC plasma arc cutting (PAC) under an oxygen gas environment to cut iron and iron alloys. The hafnium erosion is always a concern which is controlled by the surface temperature. In this study, the effect of cathode cooling efficiency and oxygen gas pressure on the hafnium surface temperature are quantified. The two layer cathode sheath model is applied on the refractive hafnium surface while oxygen species (O2, O, O+, O++, e-) are considered within the thermal dis-equilibrium regime. The system of non-linear equations comprising of current density balance, heat flux balance at both the cathode surface and the sheath-ionization layer is coupled with the plasma gas composition solver. Using cooling heat flux, gas pressure and current density as inputs; the cathode wall temperature, electron temperature, and sheath voltage drop are calculated. Additionally, contribution of emitted electron current (Je) and ions current (Ji) to the total current flux are estimated. Higher gas pressure usually reduces Ji and increases Je that reduces the surface temperature by thermionic cooling.

Anode energy transfer in a transient arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valensi, F.; Ratovoson, P.; Razafinimanana, M.; Gleizes, A.

2017-04-01

This work deals with experimental investigation of a transient arc. Arc configuration and electrode erosion were studied in order to quantify the energy transfer to the electrodes as a function of maximal current, time constant and electrodes material. Experiments with two consecutive arcs allow demonstrating non stationary behaviour of the arc electrode interaction. This is due to the fact that while the duration of the experiments is far larger than plasma phenomena time constants, it is comparable to those of electrode heating and melting processes.

The Role of Water Vapor and Dissociative Recombination Processes in Solar Array Arc Initiation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Galofar, J.; Vayner, B.; Degroot, W.; Ferguson, D.

2002-01-01

Experimental plasma arc investigations involving the onset of arc initiation for a negatively biased solar array immersed in low-density plasma have been performed. Previous studies into the arc initiation process have shown that the most probable arcing sites tend to occur at the triple junction involving the conductor, dielectric and plasma. More recently our own experiments have led us to believe that water vapor is the main causal factor behind the arc initiation process. Assuming the main component of the expelled plasma cloud by weight is water, the fastest process available is dissociative recombination (H2O(+) + e(-) (goes to) H* + OH*). A model that agrees with the observed dependency of arc current pulse width on the square root of capacitance is presented. A 400 MHz digital storage scope and current probe was used to detect arcs at the triple junction of a solar array. Simultaneous measurements of the arc trigger pulse, the gate pulse, the arc current and the arc voltage were then obtained. Finally, a large number of measurements of individual arc spectra were obtained in very short time intervals, ranging from 10 to 30 microseconds, using a 1/4 a spectrometer coupled with a gated intensified CCD. The spectrometer was systematically tuned to obtain optical arc spectra over the entire wavelength range of 260 to 680 nanometers. All relevant atomic lines and molecular bands were then identified.

'Decoy' and 'non-decoy' functions of DcR3 promote malignant potential in human malignant fibrous histiocytoma cells.

PubMed

Toda, Mitsunori; Kawamoto, Teruya; Ueha, Takeshi; Kishimoto, Kenta; Hara, Hitomi; Fukase, Naomasa; Onishi, Yasuo; Harada, Risa; Minoda, Masaya; Kurosaka, Masahiro; Akisue, Toshihiro

2013-09-01

Decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) is a soluble secreted protein that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) superfamily. DcR3 inhibits the Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas apoptotic pathway by binding to FasL, competitively with Fas receptor. Previous studies have reported that overexpression of DcR3 has been detected in various human malignancies and that DcR3 functions as a 'decoy' for FasL to inhibit FasL-induced apoptosis. In addition, recent studies have revealed that DcR3 has 'non-decoy' functions to promote tumor cell migration and invasion, suggesting that DcR3 may play important roles in tumor progression by decoy and non-decoy functions. We have previously reported that overexpression of DcR3 was observed in human malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), however, the roles of DcR3 in MFH have not been studied. In the present study, to elucidate the roles of DcR3 in tumor progression of MFH, we examined the effects of DcR3 inhibition on cell apoptosis, migration and invasion in human MFH cells. siRNA knockdown of DcR3 enhanced the FasL-induced apoptotic activity and significantly decreased cell migration and invasion with a decrease in the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2. The findings in this study strongly suggest that DcR3 plays important roles in tumor progression of human MFH by decoy as well as non-decoy functions and that DcR3 may serve as a potent therapeutic target for human MFH.

A micro-computed tomography study of the negotiation and anatomical feature in apical root canal of mandibular molars.

PubMed

Min, Yi; Ma, Jing-Zhi; Shen, Ya; Cheung, Gary Shun-Pan; Gao, Yuan

2016-11-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical negotiation of various apical anatomic features of the mandibular first molars in a Chinese population using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). A total of 152 mandibular first molars were scanned with micro-CT at 30 µm resolution. The apical 5 mm of root canal (ARC) was reconstructed three dimensionally and classified. Subsequently, the access cavity was prepared with the ARC anatomy blinded to the operator. The ARC was negotiated with a size 10 K file with or without precurve. Information on the ability to obtain a reproducible glide path was recorded. The anatomical classification of ARC was Type I with 68.45% in mandibular first molars. The negotiation result of ARC with Category i was 387 canals (74.00%). With a bent negotiating file, 96 canals were negotiated, including 88 reproducible glide paths (Category ii) and 8 irregular glide paths (Category iii). About 7.65% canals could not be negotiated with patency successfully (Category iv). The statistical analyze shown the anatomic feature of ARC had effect on the negotiation of ARC (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ARC anatomic variations had a strong potential impact on the negotiation. The category of negotiation in ARC would be helpful in the using of NiTi rotary instruments. Negotiation of ARC to the working length with patency should be careful and skillful because of the complexities of ARC. SCANNING 38:819-824, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Arc Discharges of a Pure Carbon Strip Affected by Dynamic Contact Force during Current-Carrying Sliding

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yanyan; Zhang, Yongzhen

2018-01-01

Arc discharges of a pure carbon strip induced by dynamic contact force were studied on a pin-on-disk tribometer. It was found that arc discharges were produced periodically in accordance with the period of the dynamic contact force. The arcing rate of the pure carbon strip increased with an increase of frequency f and amplitude B, which led to a decrease of current-carrying quality. These influences at high velocities became much more significant. A critical point of the arcing rate at around 2% was detected. Lower than 2%, the pure carbon strip was able to maintain its excellent current-carrying capability; higher than this point, the current-carrying quality deteriorated abruptly. SEM and XPS analysis show that the element Cu detected on the worn surface at lower arcing rates was metal Cu. CuO was found at higher arcing rates. This indicated that the wear mechanism transferred from mechanical wear to arc erosion with the increase of the arcing rate. PMID:29762496

Arc Discharges of a Pure Carbon Strip Affected by Dynamic Contact Force during Current-Carrying Sliding.

PubMed

Zhang, Yanyan; Zhang, Yongzhen; Song, Chenfei

2018-05-15

Arc discharges of a pure carbon strip induced by dynamic contact force were studied on a pin-on-disk tribometer. It was found that arc discharges were produced periodically in accordance with the period of the dynamic contact force. The arcing rate of the pure carbon strip increased with an increase of frequency f and amplitude B , which led to a decrease of current-carrying quality. These influences at high velocities became much more significant. A critical point of the arcing rate at around 2% was detected. Lower than 2%, the pure carbon strip was able to maintain its excellent current-carrying capability; higher than this point, the current-carrying quality deteriorated abruptly. SEM and XPS analysis show that the element Cu detected on the worn surface at lower arcing rates was metal Cu. CuO was found at higher arcing rates. This indicated that the wear mechanism transferred from mechanical wear to arc erosion with the increase of the arcing rate.

Behavior and structure of metal vapor arc plasma between molten electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zanner, F. J.; Williamson, R. L.; Hareland, W. A.; Bertram, L. A.

A metal vapor arc is utilized in the industrially important vacuum arc remelting (VAR) process to produce materials by melting and resolidification which have improved structure and chemical homogeneity. Homogeneity is dependent on achieving quasi-steady conditions in the plasma because of its thermal and MHD coupling with the molten pool atop the ingot. Optimal operating conditions of low pressure (approx. = 0.01 torr) and short electrode gap (less than 15 mm) produce a diffuse arc and cathode spot behavior similar to that observed for the vacuum breaker arc. Under these conditions the arc provides a quasi-steady heat source that is considered to be the bench mark arc of the VAR process. Previous work has shown that deviation from the bench mark arc behavior can occur under production conditions, and is caused by electrode irregularities and liberation of gases such as CO from the molten pool. This study is an effort to characterize these behavioral deviations and discover operational conditions which stabilize the bench mark arc.

Electrical characteristics of TIG arcs in argon from non-equilibrium modelling and experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baeva, Margarita; Uhrlandt, Dirk; Siewert, Erwan

2016-09-01

Electric arcs are widely used in industrial processes so that a thorough understanding of the arc characteristics is highly important to industrial research and development. TIG welding arcs operated with pointed electrodes made of tungsten, doped with cerium oxide, have been studied in order to analyze in detail the electric field and the arc voltage. Newly developed non-equilibrium model of the arc is based on a complete diffusion treatment of particle fluxes, a generalized form of Ohm's law, and boundary conditions accounting for the space-charge sheaths within the magneto-hydrodynamic approach. Experiments have been carried out for electric currents in the range 5-200 A. The electric arc has been initiated between a WC20 cathode and a water-cooled copper plate placed 0.8 mm from each other. The arc length has been continuously increased by 0.1 mm up to 15 mm and the arc voltage has been simultaneously recorded. Modelling and experimental results will be presented and discussed.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of NB-ARC resistant genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and their expression during leaf rust infection.

PubMed

Chandra, Saket; Kazmi, Andaleeb Z; Ahmed, Zainab; Roychowdhury, Gargi; Kumari, Veena; Kumar, Manish; Mukhopadhyay, Kunal

2017-07-01

NB-ARC domain-containing resistance genes from the wheat genome were identified, characterized and localized on chromosome arms that displayed differential yet positive response during incompatible and compatible leaf rust interactions. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important cereal crop; however, its production is affected severely by numerous diseases including rusts. An efficient, cost-effective and ecologically viable approach to control pathogens is through host resistance. In wheat, high numbers of resistance loci are present but only few have been identified and cloned. A comprehensive analysis of the NB-ARC-containing genes in complete wheat genome was accomplished in this study. Complete NB-ARC encoding genes were mined from the Ensembl Plants database to predict 604 NB-ARC containing sequences using the HMM approach. Genome-wide analysis of orthologous clusters in the NB-ARC-containing sequences of wheat and other members of the Poaceae family revealed maximum homology with Oryza sativa indica and Brachypodium distachyon. The identification of overlap between orthologous clusters enabled the elucidation of the function and evolution of resistance proteins. The distributions of the NB-ARC domain-containing sequences were found to be balanced among the three wheat sub-genomes. Wheat chromosome arms 4AL and 7BL had the most NB-ARC domain-containing contigs. The spatio-temporal expression profiling studies exemplified the positive role of these genes in resistant and susceptible wheat plants during incompatible and compatible interaction in response to the leaf rust pathogen Puccinia triticina. Two NB-ARC domain-containing sequences were modelled in silico, cloned and sequenced to analyze their fine structures. The data obtained in this study will augment isolation, characterization and application NB-ARC resistance genes in marker-assisted selection based breeding programs for improving rust resistance in wheat.

CyberArc: a non-coplanar-arc optimization algorithm for CyberKnife

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kearney, Vasant; Cheung, Joey P.; McGuinness, Christopher; Solberg, Timothy D.

2017-07-01

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel non-coplanar-arc optimization algorithm (CyberArc). This method aims to reduce the delivery time of conventional CyberKnife treatments by allowing for continuous beam delivery. CyberArc uses a 4 step optimization strategy, in which nodes, beams, and collimator sizes are determined, source trajectories are calculated, intermediate radiation models are generated, and final monitor units are calculated, for the continuous radiation source model. The dosimetric results as well as the time reduction factors for CyberArc are presented for 7 prostate and 2 brain cases. The dosimetric quality of the CyberArc plans are evaluated using conformity index, heterogeneity index, local confined normalized-mutual-information, and various clinically relevant dosimetric parameters. The results indicate that the CyberArc algorithm dramatically reduces the treatment time of CyberKnife plans while simultaneously preserving the dosimetric quality of the original plans.

CyberArc: a non-coplanar-arc optimization algorithm for CyberKnife.

PubMed

Kearney, Vasant; Cheung, Joey P; McGuinness, Christopher; Solberg, Timothy D

2017-06-26

The goal of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel non-coplanar-arc optimization algorithm (CyberArc). This method aims to reduce the delivery time of conventional CyberKnife treatments by allowing for continuous beam delivery. CyberArc uses a 4 step optimization strategy, in which nodes, beams, and collimator sizes are determined, source trajectories are calculated, intermediate radiation models are generated, and final monitor units are calculated, for the continuous radiation source model. The dosimetric results as well as the time reduction factors for CyberArc are presented for 7 prostate and 2 brain cases. The dosimetric quality of the CyberArc plans are evaluated using conformity index, heterogeneity index, local confined normalized-mutual-information, and various clinically relevant dosimetric parameters. The results indicate that the CyberArc algorithm dramatically reduces the treatment time of CyberKnife plans while simultaneously preserving the dosimetric quality of the original plans.

Transformation of juvenile Izu-Bonin-Mariana oceanic arc into mature continental crust: An example from the Neogene Izu collision zone granitoid plutons, Central Japan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Satoshi; Tani, Kenichiro

2017-04-01

Granitic rocks (sensulato) are major constituents of upper continental crust. Recent reviews reveal that the average composition of Phanerozoic upper continental crust is granodioritic. Although oceanic arcs are regarded as a site producing continental crust material in an oceanic setting, intermediate to felsic igneous rocks occurring in modern oceanic arcs are dominantly tonalitic to trondhjemitic in composition and have lower incompatible element contents than the average upper continental crust. Therefore, juvenile oceanic arcs require additional processes in order to get transformed into mature continental crust enriched in incompatible elements. Neogene granitoid plutons are widely exposed in the Izu Collision Zone in central Japan, where the northern end of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana (IBM) arc (juvenile oceanic arc) has been colliding with the Honshu arc (mature island arc) since Middle Miocene. The plutons in this area are composed of various types of granitoids ranging from tonalite to trondhjemite, granodiorite, monzogranite and granite. Three main granitoid plutons are distributed in this area: Tanzawa plutonic complex, Kofu granitic complex, and Kaikomagatake granitoid pluton. Tanzawa plutonic complex is dominantly composed of tonalite and trondhjemite and characterized by low concentration of incompatible elements and shows geochemical similarity with modern juvenile oceanic arcs. In contrast, Kofu granitic complex and Kaikomagatake granitoid pluton consists mainly of granodiorite, monzogranite and granite and their incompatible element abundances are comparable to the average upper continental crust. Previous petrogenetic studies on these plutons suggested that (1) the Tanzawa plutonic complex formed by lower crustal anatexis of juvenile basaltic rocks occurring in the IBM arc, (2) the Kofu granitic complex formed by anatexis of 'hybrid lower crust' comprising of both basaltic rocks of the IBM arc and metasedimentary rocks of the Honshu arc, and (3) the Kaikomagatake granitoid pluton formed by anatexis of 'hybrid lower crust' consisting of K-rich rear-arc crust of the IBM arc and metasedimentary rocks of the Honshu arc. These studies collectively suggest that the chemical diversity within the Izu Collision Zone granitoid plutons reflects the chemical variation of basaltic sources (i.e., across-arc chemical variation in the IBM arc) as well as variable contribution of the metasedimentary component in the source region. The petrogenetic models of the Izu Collision Zone granitoid plutons suggest that collision with another mature arc/continent, hybrid lower crust formation and subsequent hybrid source anatexis are required for juvenile oceanic arcs to produce granitoid magmas with enriched compositions. The Izu Collision Zone granitoid plutons provide an exceptional example of the collision-induced transformation from a juvenile oceanic arc to the mature continental crust.

Attentive Reading With Constrained Summarization Adapted to Address Written Discourse in People With Mild Aphasia.

PubMed

Obermeyer, Jessica A; Edmonds, Lisa A

2018-03-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the preliminary efficacy of Attentive Reading and Constrained Summarization-Written (ARCS-W) in people with mild aphasia. ARCS-W adapts an existing treatment, ARCS (Rogalski & Edmonds, 2008), to address discourse level writing in mild aphasia. ARCS-W focuses on the cognitive and linguistic skills required for discourse production. This study was a within-subject pre-postdesign. Three people with mild aphasia participated. ARCS-W integrates attentive reading or listening with constrained summarization of discourse level material in spoken and written modalities. Outcomes included macro- (main concepts) and microlinguistic (correct information units, complete utterances) discourse measures, confrontation naming, aphasia severity, and functional communication. All 3 participants demonstrated some generalization to untrained spoken and written discourse at the word, sentence, and text levels. Reduced aphasia severity and/or increased functional communication and confrontation naming were also observed in some participants. The findings of this study provide preliminary evidence of the efficacy of ARCS-W to improve spoken and written discourse in mild aphasia. Different generalization patterns suggest different mechanisms of improvement. Further research and replication are required to better understand how ARCS-W can impact discourse abilities.

Photoionization in a Numerical Simulation of a Spark Discharge in Air

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-01

thunder , exploding thin conductors, and ignition of a fuel/air mixture in an internal combustion engine. All of these arcs have a circular cylindrical...that this arc resistance can be questioned. A detailed numerical study of an arc came from the research on thunder and lightning.4 This study is

Study on Surface Depression of Ti-6Al-4V with Ultrahigh-Frequency Pulsed Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mingxuan, Yang; Zhou, Yang; Bojin, Qi

2015-08-01

Molten pool surface depression was observed with the arc welding process that was caused by arc pressure. It was supposed to have a significant effect on fluid in the molten pool that was important for the microstructure and joint properties. The impact of arc force was recognized as the reason for the surface depression during arc welding. The mathematical distribution of arc force was produced with the exponent and parabola models. Different models showed different concentrations and attenuations. The comparison between them was discussed with the simulation results. The volume of fluid method was picked up with the arc force distribution model. The surface depression was caused by the arc force. The geometry of the surface depression was discussed with liquid metal properties. The welding process was carried out with different pulsed frequencies. The results indicated the forced depression exists in molten pool and the geometry of depression was hugely due to the arc force distribution. The previous work calculated the depression in the center with force balance at one point. The other area of gas shielding was resistant by the reverse gravity from the feedback of liquid metal that was squeezed out. The article discusses the pressure effect with free deformation that allowed resistance of liquid and was easy to compare with different distributions. The curve profiles were studied with the arc force distributions, and exponent model was supposed to be more accurate to the as-weld condition.

Prostate volumetric‐modulated arc therapy: dosimetry and radiobiological model variation between the single‐arc and double‐arc technique

PubMed Central

Jiang, Runqing

2013-01-01

This study investigates the dosimetry and radiobiological model variation when a second photon arc was added to prostate volumetric‐modulated arc therapy (VMAT) using the single‐arc technique. Dosimetry and radiobiological model comparison between the single‐arc and double‐arc prostate VMAT plans were performed on five patients with prostate volumes ranging from 29−68.1 cm3. The prescription dose was 78 Gy/39 fractions and the photon beam energy was 6 MV. Dose‐volume histogram, mean and maximum dose of targets (planning and clinical target volume) and normal tissues (rectum, bladder and femoral heads), dose‐volume criteria in the treatment plan (D99% of PTV; D30%,D50%,V17Gy and V35Gy of rectum and bladder; D5% of femoral heads), and dose profiles along the vertical and horizontal axis crossing the isocenter were determined using the single‐arc and double‐arc VMAT technique. For comparison, the monitor unit based on the RapidArc delivery method, prostate tumor control probability (TCP), and rectal normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) based on the Lyman‐Burman‐Kutcher algorithm were calculated. It was found that though the double‐arc technique required almost double the treatment time than the single‐arc, the double‐arc plan provided a better rectal and bladder dose‐volume criteria by shifting the delivered dose in the patient from the anterior–posterior direction to the lateral. As the femoral head was less radiosensitive than the rectum and bladder, the double‐arc technique resulted in a prostate VMAT plan with better prostate coverage and rectal dose‐volume criteria compared to the single‐arc. The prostate TCP of the double‐arc plan was found slightly increased (0.16%) compared to the single‐arc. Therefore, when the rectal dose‐volume criteria are very difficult to achieve in a single‐arc prostate VMAT plan, it is worthwhile to consider the double‐arc technique. PACS number: 87.55.D‐, 87.55.dk, 87.55.K‐, 87.55.Qr

Nd, Pb, Sr, and O isotopic characterization of Saudi Arabian Shield terranes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stoeser, D.B.; Frost, C.D.

2006-01-01

New Nd, Sr and O isotopic data for granitoid rocks of the Saudi Arabian Shield are presented together with published Nd, Pb, Sr and O isotopic data and all available geologic and geochronologic information to re-evaluate the terranes defined for the Saudi Arabian part of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Three groups of terranes are identified: 1) the western arc terranes, 2) the eastern arc terranes, and 3) the Khida terrane. The Khida terrane is the only terrane composed of pre-Neoproterozoic continental crust. The western arc terranes are of oceanic arc affinity, and have the least radiogenic Pb and Sr and most radiogenic Nd isotopic compositions and some of the lowest ??18O values of any rocks of the Saudi Arabian Shield. Although some previous studies have characterized the eastern arc terranes as of continental affinity, this study shows that they too are composed of Neoproterozoic oceanic arcs, although their sources have slightly elevated 208Pb/204Pb, Nd, Sri, and ??18O values compared to the western arc terranes. These data suggest that either the isotopic composition of the mantle source for the western arc terranes is more depleted than that of the eastern arc terranes or the eastern arc terranes have been mixed with a small amount of cratonic source material, or both. We further elaborate on the Hulayfah-Ad Dafinah fault zone as a major boundary within the Saudi Arabian portion of the East African Orogen. With further study, its northern extension may be shown to pass through what has been defined as the Hail terrane, and its southern extension appears to lie under cover east of the Tathlith-Malahah terrane and extend into Yemen. It may represent the collision zone between East and West Gondwana, and at the very least it is an important suture between groups of arc terranes of contrasting isotopic composition caught between two converging continents.

Heat and metal transfer in gas metal arc welding using argon and helium

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

Joensson, P.G.; Eagar, T.W.; Szekely, J.

1995-04-01

This article describes a theoretical investigation on the arc parameters and metal transfer in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) of mild steel using argon and helium shielding gases. Major differences in the predicted arc parameters were determined to be due to large differences in thermophysical properties. Various findings from the study include that an arc cannot be struck in a pure helium atmosphere without the assistance of metal vapor, that a strong electromagnetic cathode force affects the fluid flow and heat transfer in the helium arc, providing a possible explanation for the experimentally observed globular transfer mode and that themore » tapering of t electrode in an argon arc is caused by electron condensation on the side of the electrode.« less

A circumzenithal arc to study optics concepts with geometrical optics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isik, Hakan

2017-05-01

This paper describes the formation of a circumzenithal arc for the purpose of teaching light and optics. A circumzenithal arc, an optic formation rarely witnessed by people, is formed in this study using a water-filled cylindrical glass illuminated by sunlight. Sunlight refracted at the top and side surfaces of the glass of water is dispersed into its constituent colours. First, multi-colour arcs are observed on paper at the bottom of the glass. Then, a single arc for each colour is observed on the floor when the rays are allowed to propagate to the furthest points from the glass. The change in observations is explained by formulating an equation for the geometry of the situation. The formula relates each point on the first refracting surface for an incoming light ray to a point further from the second refracting surface. Then, a parallel graph is drawn to visualize the superposition of colours to the formation of a single arc. The geometrical optics studies in this paper exemplify the concept of Snell’s law, total internal reflection and dispersion. The duration of the observation on a circumzenithal arc is limited by the altitude of the Sun in the sky. This study depends on the use of astronomy software to track solar altitude. Pedagogical aspects of the study are discussed for inquiry-based teaching and learning of light and optics concepts.

Reaction CH3 + OH studied over the 294-714 K temperature and 1-100 bar pressure ranges.

PubMed

Sangwan, Manuvesh; Chesnokov, Evgeni N; Krasnoperov, Lev N

2012-08-30

Reaction of methyl radicals with hydroxyl radicals, CH(3) + OH → products (1) was studied using pulsed laser photolysis coupled to transient UV-vis absorption spectroscopy over the 294-714 K temperature and 1-100 bar pressure ranges (bath gas He). Methyl radicals were produced by photolysis of acetone at 193.3 nm. Hydroxyl radicals were generated in reaction of electronically excited oxygen atoms O((1)D), produced in the photolysis of N(2)O at 193.3 nm, with H(2)O. Temporal profiles of CH(3) were recorded via absorption at 216.4 nm using xenon arc lamp and a spectrograph; OH radicals were monitored via transient absorption of light from a dc discharge H(2)O/Ar low pressure resonance lamp at ca. 308 nm. The absolute intensity of the photolysis light inside the reactor was determined by an accurate in situ actinometry based on the ozone formation in the presence of molecular oxygen. The results of this study indicate that the rate constant of reaction 1 is pressure independent within the studied pressure and temperature ranges and has slight negative temperature dependence, k(1) = (1.20 ± 0.20) × 10(-10)(T/300)(-0.49) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1).

DC/DC Converter Stability Testing Study

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Bright L.

2008-01-01

This report presents study results on hybrid DC/DC converter stability testing methods. An input impedance measurement method and a gain/phase margin measurement method were evaluated to be effective to determine front-end oscillation and feedback loop oscillation. In particular, certain channel power levels of converter input noises have been found to have high degree correlation with the gain/phase margins. It becomes a potential new method to evaluate stability levels of all type of DC/DC converters by utilizing the spectral analysis on converter input noises.

SU-F-T-558: ArcCheck for Patient Specific QA in Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy

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

Ramachandran, P; RMIT University, Bundoora; Tajaldeen, A

2016-06-15

Purpose: Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy (SABR) is one of the most preferred treatment techniques for early stage lung cancer. This technique has been extended to other treatment sites like Spine, Liver, Scapula, Sternum etc., This has resulted in increased physics QA time on machine. In this study, we’ve tested the feasibility of using ArcCheck as an alternative method to replace film dosimetry. Methods: Twelve patients with varied diagnosis of Lung, Liver, scapula, sternum and Spine undergoing SABR were selected for this study. Pre-treatment QA was performed for all the patients which include ionization chamber and film dosimetry. The required gamma criteriamore » for each SABR plan to pass QA and proceed to treatment is 95% (3%,1mm). In addition to this routine process, the treatment plans were exported on to an ArcCheck phantom. The planned and measured dose from the ArcCheck device were compared using four different gamma criteria: 2%,2 mm, 3%,2 mm, 3%,1 mm and 3%, 3 mm. In addition to this, we’ve also introduced errors to gantry, collimator and couch angle to assess sensitivity of the ArcCheck with potential delivery errors. Results: The ArcCheck mean passing rates for all twelve cases were 76.1%±9.7% for gamma criteria 3%,1 mm, 89.5%±5.3% for 2%,2 mm, 92.6%±4.2% for 3%,2 mm, and 97.6%±2.4% for 3%,3 mm gamma criteria. When SABR spine cases are excluded, we observe ArcCheck passing rates higher than 95% for all the studied cases with 3%, 3mm, and ArcCheck results in acceptable agreement with the film gamma results. Conclusion: Our ArcCheck results at 3%, 3 mm were found to correlate well with our non-SABR spine routine patient specific QA results (3%,1 mm). We observed significant reduction in QA time on using ArcCheck for SABR QA. This study shows that ArcCheck could replace film dosimetry for all sites except SABR spine.« less

The arginine-ornithine antiporter ArcD contributes to biological fitness of Streptococcus suis.

PubMed

Fulde, Marcus; Willenborg, Joerg; Huber, Claudia; Hitzmann, Angela; Willms, Daniela; Seitz, Maren; Eisenreich, Wolfgang; Valentin-Weigand, Peter; Goethe, Ralph

2014-01-01

The arginine-ornithine antiporter (ArcD) is part of the Arginine Deiminase System (ADS), a catabolic, energy-providing pathway found in a variety of different bacterial species, including the porcine zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis. The ADS has recently been shown to play a role in the pathogenicity of S. suis, in particular in its survival in host cells. The contribution of arginine and arginine transport mediated by ArcD, however, has yet to be clarified. In the present study, we showed by experiments using [U-(13)C6]arginine as a tracer molecule that S. suis is auxotrophic for arginine and that bacterial growth depends on the uptake of extracellular arginine. To further study the role of ArcD in arginine metabolism, we generated an arcD-specific mutant strain and characterized its growth compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, a virulent serotype 2 strain. The mutant strain showed a markedly reduced growth in chemically defined media supplemented with arginine when compared to the WT strain, suggesting that ArcD promotes arginine uptake. To further evaluate the in vivo relevance of ArcD, we studied the intracellular bacterial survival of the arcD mutant strain in an epithelial cell culture infection model. The mutant strain was substantially attenuated, and its reduced intracellular survival rate correlated with a lower ability to neutralize the acidified environment. Based on these results, we propose that ArcD, by its function as an arginine-ornithine antiporter, is important for supplying arginine as substrate of the ADS and, thereby, contributes to biological fitness and virulence of S. suis in the host.

Late Eocene volcanism in North Patagonia (42°30‧-43°S): Arc resumption after a stage of within-plate magmatism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fernández Paz, Lucía; Litvak, Vanesa D.; Echaurren, Andrés; Iannelli, Sofía B.; Encinas, Alfonso; Folguera, Andrés; Valencia, Víctor

2018-01-01

Mid-Cenozoic widespread arc magmatism in North Patagonia extends from the forearc to the retroarc zones, representing an anomalous large volume when compared to the present-day arc zone and even other past arc configurations. It represents a crucial stage in Andean arc evolution as was developed after a period of arc waning and within plate magmatism. Controversies exist regarding the origin of these volcanic sequences, with scarce integrated field, geochemical and geochronological analyses. We focused our study on the El Maitén Belt, located in the present-day retroarc zone, particularly on a poorly studied section corresponding to the southern outcrops of this volcanic belt. This volcanism consists of basaltic and andesitic lava flows and interbedded pyroclastic deposits, whose emplacement was controlled by extensional tectonics as indicated by the occurrence of wedge-like strata associated with normal faults. A U-Pb age on the basal part of this section shows that magmatic activity started by 37 Ma, earlier than previous studies that considered this volcanism as Oligocene. Geochemically, these rocks are part of the subalkaline and particularly tholeiitic series. All samples show trace element enrichments, depletions and ratios characteristic of arc magmas, though fluids and sediment imprint seem limited. On these bases, we propose decompression melting as the main process associated with the genesis of this volcanism. Therefore, this magmatic association constrained to the late Eocene represents the earliest evidence of arc volcanism in the Patagonian Andes, under an extensional regime, after a Paleogene waning of arc activity.

Intra-Arc extension in Central America: Links between plate motions, tectonics, volcanism, and geochemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Phipps Morgan, Jason; Ranero, Cesar; Vannucchi, Paola

2010-05-01

This study revisits the kinematics and tectonics of Central America subduction, synthesizing observations of marine bathymetry, high-resolution land topography, current plate motions, and the recent seismotectonic and magmatic history in this region. The inferred tectonic history implies that the Guatemala-El Salvador and Nicaraguan segments of this volcanic arc have been a region of significant arc tectonic extension; extension arising from the interplay between subduction roll-back of the Cocos Plate and the ~10-15 mm/yr slower westward drift of the Caribbean plate relative to the North American Plate. The ages of belts of magmatic rocks paralleling both sides of the current Nicaraguan arc are consistent with long-term arc-normal extension in Nicaragua at the rate of ~5-10 mm/yr, in agreement with rates predicted by plate kinematics. Significant arc-normal extension can ‘hide' a very large intrusive arc-magma flux; we suggest that Nicaragua is, in fact, the most magmatically robust section of the Central American arc, and that the volume of intrusive volcanism here has been previously greatly underestimated. Yet, this flux is hidden by the persistent extension and sediment infill of the rifting basin in which the current arc sits. Observed geochemical differences between the Nicaraguan arc and its neighbors which suggest that Nicaragua has a higher rate of arc-magmatism are consistent with this interpretation. Smaller-amplitude, but similar systematic geochemical correlations between arc-chemistry and arc-extension in Guatemala show the same pattern as the even larger variations between the Nicaragua arc and its neighbors. We are also exploring the potential implications of intra-arc extension for deformation processes along the subducting plate boundary and within the forearc ‘microplate'.

Space and time resolved representation of a vacuum arc light emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Georgescu, N.; Sandolache, G.; Zoita, V.

1999-04-01

An optoelectronic multichannel detection system for the study of the visible light emission of a vacuum circuit breaker arc is described. The system consists of two multiple slit collimator assemblies coupled directly to the arc discharge chamber and an electronic detection part. The light emitted by the arc is collected by the two collimator assemblies and is transmitted through optical fibres to the electronic detection part. By using a new, simple computational method two-dimensional plots of the vacuum arc light emission at different times are obtained.

Seismic velocity variation along the Izu-Bonin arc estaimated from traveltime tomography using OBS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obana, K.; Tamura, Y.; Takahashi, T.; Kodaira, S.

2014-12-01

The Izu-Bonin (Ogasawara) arc is an intra-oceanic island arc along the convergent plate boundary between the subducting Pacific and overriding Philippine Sea plates. Recent active seismic studies in the Izu-Bonin arc reveal significant along-arc variations in crustal structure [Kodaira et al., 2007]. The thickness of the arc crust shows a remarkable change between thicker Izu (~30 km) and thinner Bonin (~10 km) arcs. In addition to this, several geological and geophysical contrasts, such as seafloor topography and chemical composition of volcanic rocks, between Izu and Bonin arc have been reported [e.g., Yuasa 1992]. We have conducted earthquake observations using ocean bottom seismographs (OBSs) to reveal seismic velocity structure of the crust and mantle wedge in the Izu-Bonin arc and to investigate origin of the along-arc structure variations. We deployed 40 short-period OBSs in Izu and Bonin area in 2006 and 2009, respectively. The OBS data were processed with seismic data recorded at routine seismic stations on Hachijo-jima, Aoga-shima, and Chichi-jima operated by National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED). More than 5000 earthquakes were observed during about three-months observation period in each experiment. We conducted three-dimensional seismic tomography using manually picked P- and S-wave arrival time data. The obtained image shows a different seismic velocity structures in the mantle beneath the volcanic front between Izu and Bonin arcs. Low P-wave velocity anomalies in the mantle beneath the volcanic front in the Izu arc are limited at depths deeper than those in the Bonin arc. On the other hand, P-wave velocity in the low velocity anomalies beneath volcanic front in the Bonin arc is slower than that in the Izu arc. These large-scale along-arc structure variations in the mantle could relate to the geological and geophysical contrasts between Izu and Bonin arcs.

Bivergent thrust wedges surrounding oceanic island arcs: Insight from observations and sandbox models of the northeastern caribbean plate

USGS Publications Warehouse

ten Brink, Uri S.; Marshak, S.; Granja, Bruna J.L.

2009-01-01

At several localities around the world, thrust belts have developed on both sides of oceanic island arcs (e.g., Java-Timor, Panama, Vanuatu, and the northeastern Caribbean). In these localities, the overall vergence of the backarc thrust belt is opposite to that of the forearc thrust belt. For example, in the northeastern Caribbean, a north-verging accretionary prism lies to the north of the Eastern Greater Antilles arc (Hispaniola and Puerto Rico), whereas a south-verging thrust belt called the Muertos thrust belt lies to the south. Researchers have attributed such bivergent geometry to several processes, including: reversal of subduction polarity; subduction-driven mantle flow; stress transmission across the arc; gravitational spreading of the arc; and magmatic inflation within the arc. New observations of deformational features in the Muertos thrust belt and of fault geometries produced in sandbox kinematic models, along with examination of published studies of island arcs, lead to the conclusion that the bivergence of thrusting in island arcs can develop without reversal of subduction polarity, without subarc mantle flow, and without magmatic inflation. We suggest that the Eastern Greater Antilles arc and comparable arcs are simply crustalscale bivergent (or "doubly vergent") thrust wedges formed during unidirectional subduction. Sandbox kinematic modeling suggests, in addition, that a broad retrowedge containing an imbricate fan of thrusts develops only where the arc behaves relatively rigidly. In such cases, the arc acts as a backstop that transmits compressive stress into the backarc region. Further, modeling shows that when arcs behave as rigid blocks, the strike-slip component of oblique convergence is accommodated entirely within the prowedge and the arc-the retrowedge hosts only dip-slip faulting ("frontal thrusting"). The existence of large retrowedges and the distribution of faulting in an island arc may, therefore, be evidence that the arc is relatively rigid. The rigidity of an island arc may arise from its mafi c composition and has implications for seismic-hazard analysis. ?? 2009 Geological Society of America.

Enhancement of dynamin polymerization and GTPase activity by Arc/Arg3.1.

PubMed

Byers, Christopher E; Barylko, Barbara; Ross, Justin A; Southworth, Daniel R; James, Nicholas G; Taylor, Clinton A; Wang, Lei; Collins, Katie A; Estrada, Armando; Waung, Maggie; Tassin, Tara C; Huber, Kimberly M; Jameson, David M; Albanesi, Joseph P

2015-06-01

The Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc, is an immediate-early gene product implicated in various forms of synaptic plasticity. Arc promotes endocytosis of AMPA type glutamate receptors and regulates cytoskeletal assembly in neuronal dendrites. Its role in endocytosis may be mediated by its reported interaction with dynamin 2, a 100 kDa GTPase that polymerizes around the necks of budding vesicles and catalyzes membrane scission. Enzymatic and turbidity assays are used in this study to monitor effects of Arc on dynamin activity and polymerization. Arc oligomerization is measured using a combination of approaches, including size exclusion chromatography, sedimentation analysis, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. We present evidence that bacterially-expressed His6-Arc facilitates the polymerization of dynamin 2 and stimulates its GTPase activity under physiologic conditions (37°C and 100mM NaCl). At lower ionic strength Arc also stabilizes pre-formed dynamin 2 polymers against GTP-dependent disassembly, thereby prolonging assembly-dependent GTP hydrolysis catalyzed by dynamin 2. Arc also increases the GTPase activity of dynamin 3, an isoform of implicated in dendrite remodeling, but does not affect the activity of dynamin 1, a neuron-specific isoform involved in synaptic vesicle recycling. We further show in this study that Arc (either His6-tagged or untagged) has a tendency to form large soluble oligomers, which may function as a scaffold for dynamin assembly and activation. The ability of Arc to enhance dynamin polymerization and GTPase activation may provide a mechanism to explain Arc-mediated endocytosis of AMPA receptors and the accompanying effects on synaptic plasticity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Study on the arc spectral information for welding quality diagnosis].

PubMed

Li, Zhi-Yong; Gu, Xiao-Yan; Li, Huan; Yang, Li-Jun

2009-03-01

Through collecting the spectral signals of TIG and MIG welding arc with spectrometer, the arc light radiations were analyzed based on the basic theory of plasma physics. The radiation of welding arc distributes over a broad range of frequency, from infrared to ultraviolet. The arc spectrum is composed of line spectra and continuous spectra. Due to the variation of metal density in the welding arc, there is great difference between the welding arc spectra of TIG and MIG in both their intensity and distribution. The MIG welding arc provides more line spectra of metal and the intensity of radiation is greater than TIG. The arc spectrum of TIG welding is stable during the welding process, disturbance factors that cause the spectral variations can be reflected by the spectral line related to the corresponding element entering the welding arc. The arc spectrum of MIG welding will fluctuate severely due to droplet transfer, which produces "noise" in the line spectrum aggregation zone. So for MIG welding, the spectral zone lacking spectral line is suitable for welding quality diagnosis. According to the characteristic of TIG and MIG, special spectral zones were selected for welding quality diagnosis. For TIG welding, the selected zone is in ultraviolet zone (230-300 nm). For MIG welding, the selected zone is in visible zone (570-590 nm). With the basic theory provided for welding quality diagnosis, the integral intensity of spectral signal in the selected zone of welding process with disturbing factor was studied to prove the theory. The results show that the welding quality and disturbance factors can be diagnosed with good signal to noise ratio in the selected spectral zone compared with signal in other spectral zone. The spectral signal can be used for real-time diagnosis of the welding quality.

Mechanism and Microstructure of Oxide Fluxes for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding of Magnesium Alloy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, L. M.; Zhang, Z. D.; Song, G.; Wang, L.

2007-03-01

Five single oxide fluxes—MgO, CaO, TiO2, MnO2, and Cr2O3—were used to investigate the effect of active flux on the depth/width ratio in AZ31B magnesium alloy. The microstructure and mechanical property of the tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding seam were studied. The oxygen content in the weld seam and the arc images during the TIG welding process were analyzed. A series of emission spectroscopy of weld arc for TIG welding for magnesium with and without flux were developed. The results showed that for the five single oxide fluxes, all can increase the weld penetration effectively and grain size in the weld seam of alternating current tungsten inert gas (ACTIG) welding of the Mg alloy. The oxygen content of the welds made without flux is not very different from those produced with oxide fluxes not considering trapped oxide. However, welds that have the best penetration have a relatively higher oxygen content among those produced with flux. It was found that the arc images with the oxide fluxes were only the enlarged form of the arc images without flux; the arc constriction was not observed. The detection of arc spectroscopy showed that the metal elements in the oxides exist as the neutral atom or the first cation in the weld arc. This finding would influence the arc properties. When TIG simulation was carried out on a plate with flux applied only on one side, the arc image video showed an asymmetric arc, which deviated toward the flux free side. The thermal stability, the dissociation energy, and the electrical conductivity of oxide should be considered when studying the mechanism for increased TIG flux weld penetration.

Effects of shielding gas composition on arc profile and molten pool dynamics in gas metal arc welding of steels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, L. L.; Lu, F. G.; Wang, H. P.; Murphy, A. B.; Tang, X. H.

2014-11-01

In gas metal arc welding, gases of different compositions are used to produce an arc plasma, which heats and melts the workpiece. They also protect the workpiece from the influence of the air during the welding process. This paper models gas metal arc welding (GMAW) processes using an in-house simulation code. It investigates the effects of the gas composition on the temperature distribution in the arc and on the molten pool dynamics in gas metal arc welding of steels. Pure argon, pure CO2 and different mixtures of argon and CO2 are considered in the study. The model is validated by comparing the calculated weld profiles with physical weld measurements. The numerical calculations reveal that gas composition greatly affects the arc temperature profile, heat transfer to the workpiece, and consequently the weld dimension. As the CO2 content in the shielding gas increases, a more constricted arc plasma with higher energy density is generated as a result of the increased current density in the arc centre and increased Lorentz force. The calculation also shows that the heat transferred from the arc to the workpiece increases with increasing CO2 content, resulting in a wider and deeper weld pool and decreased reinforcement height.

Plasmacytoid DC from Aged Mice Down-Regulate CD8 T Cell Responses by Inhibiting cDC Maturation after Encephalitozoon cuniculi Infection

PubMed Central

Gigley, Jason P.; Khan, Imtiaz A.

2011-01-01

Age associated impairment of immune function results in inefficient vaccination, tumor surveillance and increased severity of infections. Several alterations in adaptive immunity have been observed and recent studies report age related declines in innate immune responses to opportunistic pathogens including Encephalitozoon cuniculi. We previously demonstrated that conventional dendritic cells (cDC) from 9-month-old animals exhibit sub-optimal response to E. cuniculi infection, suggesting that age associated immune senescence begins earlier than expected. We focused this study on how age affects plasmacytoid DC (pDC) function. More specifically how aged pDC affect cDC function as we observed that the latter are the predominant activators of CD8 T cells during this infection. Our present study demonstrates that pDC from middle-aged mice (12 months) suppress young (8 week old) cDC driven CD8 T cell priming against E. cuniculi infection. The suppressive effect of pDC from older mice decreased maturation of young cDC via cell contact. Aged mouse pDC exhibited higher expression of PD-L1 and blockade of their interaction with cDC via this molecule restored cDC maturation and T cell priming. Furthermore, the PD-L1 dependent suppression of cDC T cell priming was restricted to effector function of antigen-specific CD8 T cells not their expansion. To the best of our knowledge, the data presented here is the first report highlighting a cell contact dependent, PD-L1 regulated, age associated defect in a DC subpopulation that results in a sub-optimal immune response against E. cuniculi infection. These results have broad implications for design of immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance immunity for aging populations. PMID:21695169

Plasmacytoid DC from aged mice down-regulate CD8 T cell responses by inhibiting cDC maturation after Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection.

PubMed

Gigley, Jason P; Khan, Imtiaz A

2011-01-01

Age associated impairment of immune function results in inefficient vaccination, tumor surveillance and increased severity of infections. Several alterations in adaptive immunity have been observed and recent studies report age related declines in innate immune responses to opportunistic pathogens including Encephalitozoon cuniculi. We previously demonstrated that conventional dendritic cells (cDC) from 9-month-old animals exhibit sub-optimal response to E. cuniculi infection, suggesting that age associated immune senescence begins earlier than expected. We focused this study on how age affects plasmacytoid DC (pDC) function. More specifically how aged pDC affect cDC function as we observed that the latter are the predominant activators of CD8 T cells during this infection. Our present study demonstrates that pDC from middle-aged mice (12 months) suppress young (8 week old) cDC driven CD8 T cell priming against E. cuniculi infection. The suppressive effect of pDC from older mice decreased maturation of young cDC via cell contact. Aged mouse pDC exhibited higher expression of PD-L1 and blockade of their interaction with cDC via this molecule restored cDC maturation and T cell priming. Furthermore, the PD-L1 dependent suppression of cDC T cell priming was restricted to effector function of antigen-specific CD8 T cells not their expansion. To the best of our knowledge, the data presented here is the first report highlighting a cell contact dependent, PD-L1 regulated, age associated defect in a DC subpopulation that results in a sub-optimal immune response against E. cuniculi infection. These results have broad implications for design of immunotherapeutic approaches to enhance immunity for aging populations.

Tailoring the response of Autonomous Reactivity Control (ARC) systems

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

Qvist, Staffan A.; Hellesen, Carl; Gradecka, Malwina

The Autonomous Reactivity Control (ARC) system was developed to ensure inherent safety of Generation IV reactors while having a minimal impact on reactor performance and economic viability. In this study we present the transient response of fast reactor cores to postulated accident scenarios with and without ARC systems installed. Using a combination of analytical methods and numerical simulation, the principles of ARC system design that assure stability and avoids oscillatory behavior have been identified. A comprehensive transient analysis study for ARC-equipped cores, including a series of Unprotected Loss of Flow (ULOF) and Unprotected Loss of Heat Sink (ULOHS) simulations, weremore » performed for Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) Advanced Burner Reactor (ABR) designs. With carefully designed ARC-systems installed in the fuel assemblies, the cores exhibit a smooth non-oscillatory transition to stabilization at acceptable temperatures following all postulated transients. To avoid oscillations in power and temperature, the reactivity introduced per degree of temperature change in the ARC system needs to be kept below a certain threshold the value of which is system dependent, the temperature span of actuation needs to be as large as possible.« less

The ultrasonic characteristics of high frequency modulated arc and its application in material processing.

PubMed

He, Longbiao; Yang, Ping; Li, Luming; Wu, Minsheng

2014-12-01

To solve the difficulty of introducing traditional ultrasonic transducers to welding molten pool, high frequency current is used to modulate plasma arc and ultrasonic wave is excited successfully. The characteristics of the excited ultrasonic field are studied. The results show that the amplitude-frequency response of the ultrasonic emission is flat. The modulating current is the main factor influencing the ultrasonic power and the sound pressure depends on the variation of arc plasma stream force. Experimental study of the welding structure indicates grain refinement by the ultrasonic emission of the modulated arc and the test results showed there should be an energy region for the arc ultrasonic to get best welding joints. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Circumzenithal Arc to Study Optics Concepts with Geometrical Optics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Isik, Hakan

2017-01-01

This paper describes the formation of a circumzenithal arc for the purpose of teaching light and optics. A circumzenithal arc, an optic formation rarely witnessed by people, is formed in this study using a water-filled cylindrical glass illuminated by sunlight. Sunlight refracted at the top and side surfaces of the glass of water is dispersed into…

Arc-to-Arc mini-sling 1999: a critical analysis of concept and technology.

PubMed

Palma, Paulo

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to critically review the Arc-to-Arc mini-sling (Palma's technique) a less invasive mid-urethral sling using bovine pericardium as the sling material. The Arc-to-Arc mini-sling, using bovine pericardium, was the first published report of a mini-sling, in 1999. The technique was identical to the "tension-free tape" operation, midline incision and dissection of the urethra. The ATFP (white line) was identified by blunt dissection, and the mini-sling was sutured to the tendinous arc on both sides with 2 polypropylene 00 sutures. The initial results were encouraging, with 9/10 patients cured at the 6 weeks post-operative visit. However, infection and extrusion of the mini-sling resulted in sling extrusion and removal, with 5 patients remaining cured at 12 months. The Arc-to-Arc mini-sling was a good concept, but failed because of the poor technology available at that time. Further research using new materials and better technology has led to new and safer alternatives for the management of stress urinary incontinence.

Probing topological Fermi-Arcs and bulk boundary correspondence in the Weyl semimetal TaAs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Batabyal, Rajib; Morali, Noam; Avraham, Nurit; Sun, Yan; Schmidt, Marcus; Felser, Claudia; Stern, Ady; Yan, Binghai; Beidenkopf, Haim

The relation between surface Fermi-arcs and bulk Weyl cones in a Weyl semimetal, uniquely allows to study the notion of bulk to surface correspondence. We visualize these topological Fermi arc states on the surface of the Weyl semi-metal tantalum arsenide using scanning tunneling spectroscopy. Its surface hosts 12 Fermi arcs amongst several other surface bands of non-topological origin. We detect the possible scattering processes of surface bands in which Fermi arcs are involved including intra- and inter arc scatterings and arc-trivial scatterings. Each of the measured scattering processes entails additional information on the unique nature of Fermi arcs in tantalum arsenide: their contour, their energy-momentum dispersion and its relation with the bulk Weyl nodes. We further identify a sharp distinction between the wave function's spatial distribution of topological versus trivial bands. The non-topological surface bands, which are derived from the arsenic dangling bonds, are tightly bound to the arsenic termination layer. In contrast, the Fermi-arc bands reside on the deeper tantalum layer, penetrating into the bulk, which is predominantly derived from tantalum orbitals.

Mid-to-Lower-level Plutonic Rocks From Crust of the Southern Mariana Forearc: Implications for Growth of Continental Crust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fryer, P.; Reagan, M.

2006-12-01

Tonalitic plutonic rocks dredged from the southern Mariana forearc are similar in terms of major element composition to tonalitic plutonic rocks of the Tanzawa Mountains on the Izu Peninsula of Japan. The tonalites of the Tanzawa Mountains have been interpreted to represent mid-lower crustal plutonic rocks that make up the 6.0 to 6.3 km/s layer identified in seismic velocity profiles of the Izu arc at 32°N. The tonalities of the southern Mariana forearc may be analogous to the Tanzawa tonalities in terms of lithology and presumably seismic velocities, but have distinctive trace element and isotopic compositions. The exposure of these rocks on the southern Mariana forearc in a location where it is narrower by up to 80 km than elsewhere along its strike indicates a truncation of the arc lithosphere by tectonic erosion in the southern Mariana forearc. If tectonic processes in the forearc have exposed silicic plutonic rock of the arc lithosphere within 150 km of the volcanic front, then the structure of the Mariana arc and forearc is likely similar to that of the Izu arc, where seismic velocity structure suggests 25% of the arc/forearc lithosphere is comprised of a mid-crustal level tonalitic plutonic complex. The trace element and Sr isotopic compositions of the tonalities dredged from the Mariana forearc links them to a suprasubduction-zone environment. The Pb isotopic compositions, however, are consistent with crystallization ages that may be as old as Cretaceous. The compositions of these tonalites differ markedly from those of silicic volcanic rocks that have erupted throughout the history of the IBM arc and suggest that they represent a minor component of the arc. Nevertheless, the presence of Cretaceous tonalites in the Mariana forearc suggests that a portion of its crust may predate subduction initiation. The presence of silicic mid-to-lower crustal level plutonics beneath the Mariana arc as well as Eocene rhyolites on Saipan indicate that average major element composition of the arc crust may be comparable with average continental crust. This is consistent with estimates of the average composition of the Izu arc crust from seismic velocity studies and petrologic studies of exposures of the Izu arc crust in southern Japan's Izu peninsula. These data imply that the island arc that developed along the entire margin of the Philippine Sea plate may have had a generally similar structure and composition. Most components of the IBM arc crust, however, have relatively flat rare-earth patterns and low rare-earth concentrations compared with average continental crust. The averaged composition of the IBM crust, as a whole, differs markedly from that suggested by studies of the velocity structure of the central Aleutian arc. If the continental crust was generated in oceanic island arc settings throughout the history of the Earth, then its sources were significantly more enriched in LREE than the sources for the Cenozoic IBM arcs.

Parameterized study of the ionospheric modification associated with sun-aligned polar cap arcs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crain, D. J.; Sojka, J. J.; Schunk, R. W.; Zhu, L.

1993-01-01

The local ionospheric modification that is due to a generalized steady state solar aligned (SA) arc structure is addressed. For a representative set of SA arc parameters which includes both convection and precipitation, emphasis is placed on the modification by SA polar cap arcs upon the F region electron density and the height integrated conductivity. At low fluxes and low characteristic energies, SA polar cap arcs have the most pronounced relative effect at F region altitudes in darkness for winter solar minimum conditions. The absolute enhancement in summer solar minimum and winter solar maximum is equivalent to that of winter solar minimum, but the higher ambient densities make the relative enhancement less. The TEC enhancement associated with an SA arc may be used to indicate the degree of plasma cross flow across the arc.

Dilution in single pass arc welds

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

DuPont, J.N.; Marder, A.R.

1996-06-01

A study was conducted on dilution of single pass arc welds of type 308 stainless steel filler metal deposited onto A36 carbon steel by the plasma arc welding (PAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and submerged arc welding (SAW) processes. Knowledge of the arc and melting efficiency was used in a simple energy balance to develop an expression for dilution as a function of welding variables and thermophysical properties of the filler metal and substrate. Comparison of calculated and experimentally determined dilution values shows the approach provides reasonable predictions of dilution when the melting efficiencymore » can be accurately predicted. The conditions under which such accuracy is obtained are discussed. A diagram is developed from the dilution equation which readily reveals the effect of processing parameters on dilution to aid in parameter optimization.« less

High Power Flex-Propellant Arcjet Performance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Litchford, Ron J.

2011-01-01

A MW-class electrothermal arcjet based on a water-cooled, wall-stabilized, constricted arc discharge configuration was subjected to extensive performance testing using hydrogen and simulated ammonia propellants with the deliberate aim of advancing technology readiness level for potential space propulsion applications. The breadboard design incorporates alternating conductor/insulator wafers to form a discharge barrel enclosure with a 2.5-cm internal bore diameter and an overall length of approximately 1 meter. Swirling propellant flow is introduced into the barrel, and a DC arc discharge mode is established between a backplate tungsten cathode button and a downstream ringanode/ spin-coil assembly. The arc-heated propellant then enters a short mixing plenum and is accelerated through a converging-diverging graphite nozzle. This innovative design configuration differs substantially from conventional arcjet thrusters, in which the throat functions as constrictor and the expansion nozzle serves as the anode, and permits the attainment of an equilibrium sonic throat (EST) condition. During the test program, applied electrical input power was varied between 0.5-1 MW with hydrogen and simulated ammonia flow rates in the range of 4-12 g/s and 15-35 g/s, respectively. The ranges of investigated specific input energy therefore fell between 50-250 MJ/kg for hydrogen and 10-60 MJ/kg for ammonia. In both cases, observed arc efficiencies were between 40-60 percent as determined via a simple heat balance method based on electrical input power and coolant water calorimeter measurements. These experimental results were found to be in excellent agreement with theoretical chemical equilibrium predictions, thereby validating the EST assumption and enabling the utilization of standard TDK nozzle expansion analyses to reliably infer baseline thruster performance characteristics. Inferred specific impulse performance accounting for recombination kinetics during the expansion process implied nearly frozen flow in the nozzle and yielded performance ranges of 800-1100 sec for hydrogen and 400-600 sec for ammonia. Inferred thrust-to-power ratios were in the range of 30-10 lbf/MWe for hydrogen and 60-20 lbf/MWe for ammonia. Successful completion of this test series represents a fundamental milestone in the progression of high power arcjet technology, and it is hoped that the results may serve as a reliable touchstone for the future development of MW-class regeneratively-cooled flex-propellant plasma rockets.

Demonstration of a Balloon Borne Arc-Second Pointer Design

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

DeWeese, Keith D.; Ward, Philip R.

2006-01-01

Many designs for utilizing stratospheric balloons as low-cost platforms on which to conduct space science experiments have been proposed throughout the years. A major hurdle in extending the range of experiments for which these vehicles are useful has been the imposition of the gondola dynamics on the accuracy with which an instrument can be kept pointed at a celestial target. A significant number of scientists have sought the ability to point their instruments with jitter in the arc-second range. This paper presents the design and analysis of a stratospheric balloon borne pointing system that is able to meet this requirement. The test results of a demonstration prototype of the design with similar ability are also presented. Discussion of a high fidelity controller simulation for design analysis is presented. The flexibility of the flight train is represented through generalized modal analysis. A multiple controller scheme is utilized for coarse and fine pointing. Coarse azimuth pointing is accomplished by an established pointing system, with extensive flight history, residing above the gondola structure. A pitch-yaw gimbal mount is used for fine pointing, providing orthogonal axes when nominally on target. Fine pointing actuation is from direct drive dc motors, eliminating backlash problems. An analysis of friction nonlinearities and a demonstration of the necessity in eliminating static friction are provided. A unique bearing hub design is introduced that eliminates static friction from the system dynamics. A control scheme involving linear accelerometers for enhanced disturbance rejection is also presented. Results from a linear analysis of the total system and the high fidelity simulation are given. Results from a generalized demonstration prototype are presented. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware was used to demonstrate the efficacy and performance of the pointer design for a mock instrument. Sub-arcsecond pointing ability from a ground hang test setup is shown from the testing results. This paper establishes that the proposed control strategy can be made robustly stable with significant design margins. Also demonstrated is the efficacy of the proposed system in rejecting disturbances larger than those considered realistic. The system is implemented and demonstrates sub arc second pointing ability using COTS hardware. Finally, we see that sub arc-second pointing stability can be achieved for a large instrument pointing at an inertial target.

Swarm observation of field-aligned current and electric field in multiple arc systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, J.; Knudsen, D. J.; Gillies, M.; Donovan, E.; Burchill, J. K.

2017-12-01

It is often thought that auroral arcs are a direct consequence of upward field-aligned currents. In fact, the relation between currents and brightness is more complicated. Multiple auroral arc systems provide and opportunity to study this relation in detail. In this study, we have identified two types of FAC configurations in multiple parallel arc systems using ground-based optical data from the THEMIS all-sky imagers (ASIs), magnetometers and electric field instruments onboard the Swarm satellites during the period from December 2013 to March 2015. In type 1 events, each arc is an intensification within a broad, unipolar current sheet and downward currents only exist outside the upward current sheet. These types of events are termed "unipolar FAC" events. In type 2 events, multiple arc systems represent a collection of multiple up/down current pairs, which are termed as "multipolar FAC" events. Comparisons of these two types of FAC events are presented with 17 "unipolar FAC" events and 12 "multipolar FAC" events. The results show that "unipolar FAC" and "multipolar FAC" events have systematic differences in terms of MLT, arc width and separation, and dependence on substorm onset time. For "unipolar FAC" events, significant electric field enhancements are shown on the edges of the broad upward current sheet. Electric field fluctuations inside the multiple arc system can be large or small. For "multipolar FAC" events, a strong correlation between magnetic and electric field indicate uniform conductance within each upward current sheet. The electrodynamical structures of multiple arc systems presented in this paper represents a step toward understanding arc generation.

Total dural irradiation: RapidArc versus static-field IMRT: A case study

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

Kelly, Paul J., E-mail: paulj.kelly@hse.ie; Mannarino, Edward; Lewis, John Henry

2012-07-01

The purpose of this study was to compare conventional fixed-gantry angle intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with RapidArc for total dural irradiation. We also hypothesize that target volume-individualized collimator angles may produce substantial normal tissue sparing when planning with RapidArc. Five-, 7-, and 9-field fixed-gantry angle sliding-window IMRT plans were generated for comparison with RapidArc plans. Optimization and normal tissue constraints were constant for all plans. All plans were normalized so that 95% of the planning target volume (PTV) received at least 100% of the dose. RapidArc was delivered using 350 Degree-Sign clockwise and counterclockwise arcs. Conventional collimator angles of 45more » Degree-Sign and 315 Degree-Sign were compared with 90 Degree-Sign on both arcs. Dose prescription was 59.4 Gy in 33 fractions. PTV metrics used for comparison were coverage, V{sub 107}%, D1%, conformality index (CI{sub 95}%), and heterogeneity index (D{sub 5}%-D{sub 95}%). Brain dose, the main challenge of this case, was compared using D{sub 1}%, Dmean, and V{sub 5} Gy. Dose to optic chiasm, optic nerves, globes, and lenses was also compared. The use of unconventional collimator angles (90 Degree-Sign on both arcs) substantially reduced dose to normal brain. All plans achieved acceptable target coverage. Homogeneity was similar for RapidArc and 9-field IMRT plans. However, heterogeneity increased with decreasing number of IMRT fields, resulting in unacceptable hotspots within the brain. Conformality was marginally better with RapidArc relative to IMRT. Low dose to brain, as indicated by V5Gy, was comparable in all plans. Doses to organs at risk (OARs) showed no clinically meaningful differences. The number of monitor units was lower and delivery time was reduced with RapidArc. The case-individualized RapidArc plan compared favorably with the 9-field conventional IMRT plan. In view of lower monitor unit requirements and shorter delivery time, RapidArc was selected as the optimal solution. Individualized collimator angle solutions should be considered by RapidArc dosimetrists for OARs dose reduction. RapidArc should be considered as a treatment modality for tumors that extensively involve in the skull, dura, or scalp.« less

Forearc structure in the Lesser Antilles inferred from depth to the Curie temperature and thermo-mechanical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gailler, Lydie; Arcay, Diane; Münch, Philippe; Martelet, Guillaume; Thinon, Isabelle; Lebrun, Jean-Frédéric

2017-06-01

Imaging deep active volcanic areas remains a challenge in our understanding of their activity and evolution, especially in subduction zones. Study of magnetic anomalies is appropriate to access such dynamics in depth. The magnetic anomaly pattern of the Lesser Antilles Arc (LAA) subduction is studied through Curie Point Depth (CPD), interpreted as the depth of the 580 °C isotherm, and developed to better assess the deep thermal structure of the arc. The depth of the estimated CPD exhibits a complex topography. Keeping in mind the overall uncertainty associated with this method, a main doming is evidenced below the Guadeloupe archipelago. Its apex is shifted towards the ancient arc, suggesting a very hot state of the fore-arc/arc domain. To better understand the LAA thermal state, we perform 2D thermo-mechanical simulations of the subduction zone. Recalling that magnetite is a serpentinization by-product, we simulate water transfer triggered by slab dehydration to test the assumption of fore-arc serpentinization suggested by the positive magnetic anomaly in the vicinity of the Guadeloupe archipelago. In this area, the subduction-induced arc lithosphere hydration and related weakening trigger a fast heating of the upper plate by basal convective removal. This process of fast arc lithosphere thinning may apply where simultaneously the volcanic arc is split in two and normal convergence is high enough. As serpentinization strongly decreases P-wave velocity, we propose a new interpretation of a published seismic profile below Guadeloupe. The seismic layer previously interpreted as the arc lower crust may rather be a layer of serpentinized mantle, as supported by spatial correlations between gravimetric and magnetic anomalies. Consequently, at the scale of Guadeloupe Island, the fore-arc Moho would be shallower than initially assumed, with a dome shape more consistent with both the extensive deformation active since the Oligocene in the inner fore-arc and the CPD doming.

A study on dosimetric properties of electronic portal imaging device and its use as a quality assurance tool in Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy

PubMed Central

Sukumar, Prabakar; Padmanaban, Sriram; Jeevanandam, Prakash; Syam Kumar, S.A.; Nagarajan, Vivekanandan

2011-01-01

Aim In this study, the dosimetric properties of the electronic portal imaging device were examined and the quality assurance testing of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy was performed. Background RapidArc involves the variable dose rate, leaf speed and the gantry rotation. The imager was studied for the effects like dose, dose rate, field size, leaf speed and sag during gantry rotation. Materials and methods A Varian RapidArc machine equipped with 120 multileaf collimator and amorphous silicon detector was used for the study. The characteristics that are variable in RapidArc treatment were studied for the portal imager. The accuracy of a dynamic multileaf collimator position at different gantry angles and during gantry rotation was examined using the picket fence test. The control of the dose rate and gantry speed was verified using a test field irradiating seven strips of the same dose with different dose rate and gantry speeds. The control over leaf speed during arc was verified by irradiating four strips of different leaf speeds with the same dose in each strip. To verify the results, the RapidArc test procedure was compared with the X-Omat film and verified for a period of 6 weeks using EPID. Results The effect of gantry rotation on leaf accuracy was minimal. The dose in segments showed good agreement with mean deviation of 0.8% for dose rate control and 1.09% for leaf speed control over different gantry speeds. Conclusion The results provided a precise control of gantry speed, dose rate and leaf speeds during RapidArc delivery and were consistent over 6 weeks. PMID:24376989

West Nile virus discriminates between DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR for cellular attachment and infection.

PubMed

Davis, Carl W; Nguyen, Hai-Yen; Hanna, Sheri L; Sánchez, Melissa D; Doms, Robert W; Pierson, Theodore C

2006-02-01

The C-type lectins DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR bind mannose-rich glycans with high affinity. In vitro, cells expressing these attachment factors efficiently capture, and are infected by, a diverse array of appropriately glycosylated pathogens, including dengue virus. In this study, we investigated whether these lectins could enhance cellular infection by West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus related to dengue virus. We discovered that DC-SIGNR promoted WNV infection much more efficiently than did DC-SIGN, particularly when the virus was grown in human cell types. The presence of a single N-linked glycosylation site on either the prM or E glycoprotein of WNV was sufficient to allow DC-SIGNR-mediated infection, demonstrating that uncleaved prM protein present on a flavivirus virion can influence viral tropism under certain circumstances. Preferential utilization of DC-SIGNR was a specific property conferred by the WNV envelope glycoproteins. Chimeras between DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR demonstrated that the ability of DC-SIGNR to promote WNV infection maps to its carbohydrate recognition domain. WNV virions and subviral particles bound to DC-SIGNR with much greater affinity than DC-SIGN. We believe this is the first report of a pathogen interacting more efficiently with DC-SIGNR than with DC-SIGN. Our results should lead to the discovery of new mechanisms by which these well-studied lectins discriminate among ligands.

Structural Basis of Arc Binding to Synaptic Proteins: Implications for Cognitive Disease

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Wenchi; Wu, Jing; Ward, Matthew D.; ...

2015-04-09

Arc is a cellular immediate-early gene (IEG) that functions at excitatory synapses and is required for learning and memory. Here we report crystal structures of Arc subdomains that form a bi-lobar architecture remarkably similar to the capsid domain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag protein. Analysis indicates Arc originated from the Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposon family and was “domesticated” in higher vertebrates for synaptic functions. The Arc N-terminal lobe evolved a unique hydrophobic pocket that mediates intermolecular binding with synaptic proteins as resolved in complexes with TARPγ2 (Stargazin) and CaMKII peptides and is essential for Arc’s synaptic function. A consensus sequence formore » Arc binding identifies several additional partners that include genes implicated in schizophrenia. Arc N-lobe binding is inhibited by small chemicals suggesting Arc’s synaptic action may be druggable. Finally, these studies reveal the remarkable evolutionary origin of Arc and provide a structural basis for understanding Arc’s contribution to neural plasticity and disease.« less

Structural Basis of Arc Binding to Synaptic Proteins: Implications for Cognitive Disease

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

Zhang, Wenchi; Wu, Jing; Ward, Matthew D.

Arc is a cellular immediate-early gene (IEG) that functions at excitatory synapses and is required for learning and memory. Here we report crystal structures of Arc subdomains that form a bi-lobar architecture remarkably similar to the capsid domain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag protein. Analysis indicates Arc originated from the Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposon family and was “domesticated” in higher vertebrates for synaptic functions. The Arc N-terminal lobe evolved a unique hydrophobic pocket that mediates intermolecular binding with synaptic proteins as resolved in complexes with TARPγ2 (Stargazin) and CaMKII peptides and is essential for Arc’s synaptic function. A consensus sequence formore » Arc binding identifies several additional partners that include genes implicated in schizophrenia. Arc N-lobe binding is inhibited by small chemicals suggesting Arc’s synaptic action may be druggable. Finally, these studies reveal the remarkable evolutionary origin of Arc and provide a structural basis for understanding Arc’s contribution to neural plasticity and disease.« less

Structural Basis of Arc Binding to Synaptic Proteins: Implications for Cognitive Disease

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wenchi; Wu, Jing; Ward, Matthew D.; Yang, Sunggu; Chuang, Yang-An; Xiao, Meifang; Li, Ruojing; Leahy, Daniel J.; Worley, Paul F.

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Arc is a cellular immediate early gene (IEG) that functions at excitatory synapses and is required for learning and memory. We report crystal structures of Arc subdomains that form a bi-lobar architecture remarkably similar to the capsid domain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) gag protein. Analysis indicates Arc originated from the Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposon family and was “domesticated” in higher vertebrates for synaptic functions. The Arc N-terminal lobe evolved a unique hydrophobic pocket that mediates intermolecular binding with synaptic proteins as resolved in complexes with TARPγ2 (Stargazin) and CaMKII peptides, and is essential for Arc’s synaptic function. A consensus sequence for Arc binding identifies several additional partners that include genes implicated in schizophrenia. Arc N-lobe binding is inhibited by small chemicals suggesting Arc’s synaptic action may be druggable. These studies reveal the remarkable evolutionary origin of Arc and provide a structural basis for understanding Arc’s contribution to neural plasticity and disease. PMID:25864631

Treatment planning and dosimetric comparison study on two different volumetric modulated arc therapy delivery techniques

PubMed Central

Kumar, S.A. Syam; Holla, Raghavendra; Sukumar, Prabakar; Padmanaban, Sriram; Vivekanandan, Nagarajan

2012-01-01

Aim To compare and evaluate the performance of two different volumetric modulated arc therapy delivery techniques. Background Volumetric modulated arc therapy is a novel technique that has recently been made available for clinical use. Planning and dosimetric comparison study was done for Elekta VMAT and Varian RapidArc for different treatment sites. Materials and methods Ten patients were selected for the planning comparison study. This includes 2 head and neck, 2 oesophagus, 1 bladder, 3 cervix and 2 rectum cases. Total dose of 50 Gy was given for all the plans. All plans were done for RapidArc using Eclipse and for Elekta VMAT with Monaco treatment planning system. All plans were generated with 6 MV X-rays for both RapidArc and Elekta VMAT. Plans were evaluated based on the ability to meet the dose volume histogram, dose homogeneity index, radiation conformity index, estimated radiation delivery time, integral dose and monitor units needed to deliver the prescribed dose. Results RapidArc plans achieved the best conformity (CI95% = 1.08 ± 0.07) while Elekta VMAT plans were slightly inferior (CI95% = 1.10 ± 0.05). The in-homogeneity in the PTV was highest with Elekta VMAT with HI equal to 0.12 ± 0.02 Gy when compared to RapidArc with 0.08 ± 0.03. Significant changes were observed between the RapidArc and Elekta VMAT plans in terms of the healthy tissue mean dose and integral dose. Elekta VMAT plans show a reduction in the healthy tissue mean dose (6.92 ± 2.90) Gy when compared to RapidArc (7.83 ± 3.31) Gy. The integral dose is found to be inferior with Elekta VMAT (11.50 ± 6.49) × 104 Gy cm3 when compared to RapidArc (13.11 ± 7.52) × 104 Gy cm3. Both Varian RapidArc and Elekta VMAT respected the planning objective for all organs at risk. Gamma analysis result for the pre-treatment quality assurance shows good agreement between the planned and delivered fluence for 3 mm DTA, 3% DD for all the evaluated points inside the PTV, for both VMAT and RapidArc techniques. Conclusion The study concludes that a variable gantry speed with variable dose rate is important for efficient arc therapy delivery. RapidArc presents a slight improvement in the OAR sparing with better target coverage when compared to Elekta VMAT. Trivial differences were noted in all the plans for organ at risk but the two techniques provided satisfactory conformal avoidance and conformation. PMID:24416535

Seismic evidence for arc segmentation, active magmatic intrusions and syn-rift fault system in the northern Ryukyu volcanic arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arai, Ryuta; Kodaira, Shuichi; Takahashi, Tsutomu; Miura, Seiichi; Kaneda, Yoshiyuki

2018-04-01

Tectonic and volcanic structures of the northern Ryukyu arc are investigated on the basis of multichannel seismic (MCS) reflection data. The study area forms an active volcanic front in parallel to the non-volcanic island chain in the eastern margin of the Eurasian plate and has been undergoing regional extension on its back-arc side. We carried out a MCS reflection experiment along two across-arc lines, and one of the profiles was laid out across the Tokara Channel, a linear bathymetric depression which demarcates the northern and central Ryukyu arcs. The reflection image reveals that beneath this topographic valley there exists a 3-km-deep sedimentary basin atop the arc crust, suggesting that the arc segment boundary was formed by rapid and focused subsidence of the arc crust driven by the arc-parallel extension. Around the volcanic front, magmatic conduits represented by tubular transparent bodies in the reflection images are well developed within the shallow sediments and some of them are accompanied by small fragments of dipping seismic reflectors indicating intruded sills at their bottoms. The spatial distribution of the conduits may suggest that the arc volcanism has multiple active outlets on the seafloor which bifurcate at crustal depths and/or that the location of the volcanic front has been migrating trenchward over time. Further distant from the volcanic front toward the back-arc (> 30 km away), these volcanic features vanish, and alternatively wide rift basins become predominant where rapid transitions from normal-fault-dominant regions to strike-slip-fault-dominant regions occur. This spatial variation in faulting patterns indicates complex stress regimes associated with arc/back-arc rifting in the northern Okinawa Trough.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

Surface Roughness of Various Diamond-Like Carbon Films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Dongping; Liu, Yanhong; Chen, Baoxiang

2006-11-01

Atomic force microscopy is used to estimate and compare the surface morphology of hydrogenated and hydrogen-free diamond-like carbon (DLC) films. The films were prepared by using DC magnetron sputtering of a graphite target, pulsed cathodic carbon arcs, electron cyclotron resonance (ECR), plasma source ion implantation and dielectric barrier discharge (DBD). The difference in the surface structure is presented for each method of deposition. The influences of various discharge parameters on the film surface properties are discussed based upon the experimental results. The coalescence process via the diffusion of adsorbed carbon species is responsible for the formation of hydrogen-free DLC films with rough surfaces. The films with surface roughness at an atomic level can be deposited by energetic ion impacts in a highly ionized carbon plasma. The dangling bonds created by atomic hydrogen lead to the uniform growth of hydrocarbon species at the a-C:H film surfaces of the ECR or DBD plasmas.

Acetylene from the co-pyrolysis of biomass and waste tires or coal in the H{sub 2}/Ar plasma

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

Bao, W.; Cao, Q.; Lv, Y.

Acetylene from carbon-containing materials via plasma pyrolysis is not only simple but also environmentally friendly. In this article, the acetylene produced from co-pyrolyzing biomass with waste tire or coal under the conditions of H{sub 2}/Ar DC arc plasma jet was investigated. The experimental results showed that the co-pyrolysis of mixture with biomass and waste tire or coal can improve largely the acetylene relative volume fraction (RVF) in gaseous products and the corresponding yield of acetylene. The change trends for the acetylene yield of plasma pyrolysis from mixture with raw sample properties were the same as relevant RVF. But the yieldmore » change trend with feeding rate is different from its RVF. The effects of the feeding rate of raw materials and the electric current of plasmatron on acetylene formation are also discussed.« less

Arc-driven rail gun research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ray, P. K.

1984-01-01

The equations describing the performance of an inductively-driven rail gun are analyzed numerically. Friction between the projectile and rails is included through an empirical formulation. The equations are applied to the experiment of Rashleigh and Marshall to obtain an estimate of energy distribution in rail guns as a function of time. The effect of frictional heat dissipation on the bore of the gun is calculated. The mechanism of plasma and projectile acceleration in a dc rail gun is described from a microscopic point of view through the establishment of the Hall field. The plasma conductivity is shown to be a tensor indicating that there is a small component of current parallel to the direction of acceleration. The plasma characteristics are evaluated as a function of plasma mass through a simple fluid mechanical analysis of the plasma. By equating the energy dissipated in the plasma with the radiation heat loss, the properties of the plasma are determined.

A telerobotic digital controller system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brown, Richard J.

1992-01-01

This system is a network of joint mounted dual axes digital servo-controllers (DDSC), providing control of various joints and end effectors of different robotic systems. This report provides description of and user required information for the Digital Controller System Network (DSCN) and, in particular, the DDSC, Model DDSC-2, developed to perform the controller functions. The DDSC can control 3 phase brushless or brush type DC motors, requiring up to 8 amps. Only four wires, two for power and 2 for serial communication, are required, except for local sensor and motor connections. This highly capable, very flexible, programmable servo-controller, contained on a single, compact printed circuit board measuring only 4.5 x 5.1 inches, is applicable to control systems of all types from sub-arc second precision pointing to control of robotic joints and end effectors. This document concentrates on the robotic applications for the DDSC.

Observations of Cirrus Clouds over the Pacific Region by the NASA Multiwavelength Lidar System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ismail, Syed; Browell, Edward V.; Fenn, Marta A.; Nowicki, Greg D.

1992-01-01

As part of the Pacific Exploratory Mission-West Campaign that took place during 16 Sep. - 21 Oct. 1991, lidar measurements were made from the ARC DC-8 aircraft at an altitude of approximately 9 km. This mission provided a unique opportunity to make cirrus cloud observations around the Pacific region covering the latitude range from 5 to 55 deg N and the longitude range from -114 to 120 deg E. Cirrus clouds were observed on most of these flights providing a unique data base. The latitudinal coverage of cirrus observations was further extended to -5 deg S from observations on 30 Jan. 1992 as part of the Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition 2. During this latter mission, aerosol depolarizations at 622 and 1064 nm were also measured. The optical characteristics and statistics related to these cirrus cloud observations are summarized.

Arcjet nozzle design impacts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curran, Francis M.; Sovie, Amy J.; Haag, Thomas W.

1989-01-01

The effect of nozzle configuration on the operating characteristics of a low power dc arcjet thruster was determined. A conical nozzle with a 30 deg converging angle, a 20 deg diverging angle, and an area ratio of 225 served as the baseline case. Variations on the geometry included bell-shaped contours both up and downstream, and a downstream trumpet-shaped contour. The nozzles were operated over a range of specific power near that anticipated for on-orbit operation. Mass flow rate, thrust, current, and voltage were monitored to provide accurate comparisons between nozzles. The upstream contour was found to have minimal effect on arcjet operation. It was determined that the contour of the divergent section of the nozzle, that serves as the anode, was very important in determining the location of arc attachment, and thus had a significant impact on arcjet performance. The conical nozzle was judged to have the optimal current/voltage characteristics and produced the best performance of the nozzles tested.

Arcjet Nozzle Design Impacts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curran, Francis M.; Sovie, Amy J.; Haag, Thomas W.

1989-01-01

The effect of nozzle configuration on the operating characteristics of a low power dc arcjet thruster was determined. A conical nozzle with a 30 deg converging angle, a 20 deg diverging angle, and an area ratio of 225 served as the baseline case. Variations on the geometry included bell-shaped contours both up and downstream, and a downstream trumpet-shaped contour. The nozzles were operated over a range of specific power near that anticipated for on-orbit operation. Mass flow rate, thrust, current, and voltage were monitored to provide accurate comparisons between nozzles. The upstream contour was found to have minimal effect on arcjet operation. It was determined that the contour of the divergent section of the nozzle, that serves as the anode, was very important in determining the location of arc attachment, and thus had a significant impact on arcjet performance. The conical nozzle was judged to have the optimal current/voltage characteristics and produced the best performance of the nozzles tested.

A chemical-spectrochemical method for the determination of rare earth elements and thorium in cerium minerals

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rose, H.J.; Murata, K.J.; Carron, M.K.

1954-01-01

In a combined chemical-spectrochemical procedure for quantitatively determining rare earth elements in cerium minerals, cerium is determined volumetrically, a total rare earths plus thoria precipitate is separated chemically, the ceria content of the precipitate is raised to 80??0 percent by adding pure ceria, and the resulting mixture is analyzed for lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, gadolinium, yttrium, and thorium spectrochemically by means of the d.c. carbon arc. Spectral lines of singly ionized cerium are used as internal standard lines in the spectrochemical determination which is patterned after Fassel's procedure [1]. Results of testing the method with synthetic mixtures of rare earths and with samples of chemically analyzed cerium minerals show that the coefficient of variation for a quadruplicate determination of any element does not exceed 5??0 (excepting yttrium at concentrations less than 1 percent) and that the method is free of serious systematic error. ?? 1954.

Diagnostics of thermal spraying plasma jets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

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

1992-06-01

The development of diagnostic techniques for dc plasma spraying is reviewed with attention given to the need for thick highly reproducible coatings of good quality for aeronautic and other uses. Among the techniques examined are fast cameras, laser-Doppler anemometry (LDA), coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS), enthalpy probes, and emission spectroscopy. Particular emphasis is given to the effect of arc fluctuations on the spectroscopic measurements, and a method is introduced for obtaining temperature and species density of vapor clouds traveling with each particle in flight. Coating properties can be deduced from data on single particles, and statistical approaches are often unreliable without added data on surface temperature and particle velocity. Also presented is a method for deriving the temperature evolution of a cooled splat and successive layers and passes. These methods are of interest to the control of adhesion and cohesion in coatings for critical aerospace applications.

An interactive modular design for computerized photometry in spectrochemical analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bair, V. L.

1980-01-01

A general functional description of totally automatic photometry of emission spectra is not available for an operating environment in which the sample compositions and analysis procedures are low-volume and non-routine. The advantages of using an interactive approach to computer control in such an operating environment are demonstrated. This approach includes modular subroutines selected at multiple-option, menu-style decision points. This style of programming is used to trace elemental determinations, including the automated reading of spectrographic plates produced by a 3.4 m Ebert mount spectrograph using a dc-arc in an argon atmosphere. The simplified control logic and modular subroutine approach facilitates innovative research and program development, yet is easily adapted to routine tasks. Operator confidence and control are increased by the built-in options including degree of automation, amount of intermediate data printed out, amount of user prompting, and multidirectional decision points.

THE REDSHIFT DISTRIBUTION OF GIANT ARCS IN THE SLOAN GIANT ARCS SURVEY

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

Bayliss, Matthew B.; Gladders, Michael D.; Koester, Benjamin P.

2011-01-20

We measure the redshift distribution of a sample of 28 giant arcs discovered as a part of the Sloan Giant Arcs Survey. Gemini/GMOS-North spectroscopy provides precise redshifts for 24 arcs, and 'redshift desert' constrains for the remaining 4 arcs. This is a direct measurement of the redshift distribution of a uniformly selected sample of bright giant arcs, which is an observable that can be used to inform efforts to predict giant arc statistics. Our primary giant arc sample has a median redshift z = 1.821 and nearly two-thirds of the arcs, 64%, are sources at z {approx}> 1.4, indicating thatmore » the population of background sources that are strongly lensed into bright giant arcs resides primarily at high redshift. We also analyze the distribution of redshifts for 19 secondary strongly lensed background sources that are not visually apparent in Sloan Digital Sky Survey imaging, but were identified in deeper follow-up imaging of the lensing cluster fields. Our redshift sample for the secondary sources is not spectroscopically complete, but combining it with our primary giant arc sample suggests that a large fraction of all background galaxies that are strongly lensed by foreground clusters reside at z {approx}> 1.4. Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests indicate that our well-selected, spectroscopically complete primary giant arc redshift sample can be reproduced with a model distribution that is constructed from a combination of results from studies of strong-lensing clusters in numerical simulations and observational constraints on the galaxy luminosity function.« less

Exhaust-gas measurements from NASAs HYMETS arc jet.

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

Miller, Paul Albert

Arc-jet wind tunnels produce conditions simulating high-altitude hypersonic flight such as occurs upon entry of space craft into planetary atmospheres. They have traditionally been used to study flight in Earth's atmosphere, which consists mostly of nitrogen and oxygen. NASA is presently using arc jets to study entry into Mars' atmosphere, which consists of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. In both cases, a wide variety of chemical reactions take place among the gas constituents and with test articles placed in the flow. In support of those studies, we made measurements using a residual gas analyzer (RGA) that sampled the exhaust stream ofmore » a NASA arc jet. The experiments were conducted at the HYMETS arc jet (Hypersonic Materials Environmental Test System) located at the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA. This report describes our RGA measurements, which are intended to be used for model validation in combination with similar measurements on other systems.« less

Historical Material Analysis of DC745U Pressure Pads

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

Ortiz-Acosta, Denisse

As part of the Enhance Surveillance mission, it is the goal to provide suitable lifetime assessment of stockpile materials. This report is an accumulation of historical publication on the DC745U material and their findings. It is the intention that the B61 LEP program uses this collection of data to further develop their understanding and potential areas of study. DC745U is a commercially available silicone elastomer consisting of dimethyl, methyl-phenyl, and methyl-vinyl siloxane repeat units. Originally, this material was manufactured by Dow Corning as Silastic{reg_sign} DC745U at their manufacturing facility in Kendallville, IN. Recently, Dow Corning shifted this material to themore » Xiameter{reg_sign} brand product line. Currently, DC745U is available through Xiameter{reg_sign} or Dow Corning's distributor R. D. Abbott Company. DC745U is cured using 0.5 wt% vinyl-specific peroxide curing agent known as Luperox 101 or Varox DBPH-50. This silicone elastomer is used in numerous parts, including two major components (outer pressure pads and aft cap support) in the W80 and as pressure pads on the B61. DC745U is a proprietary formulation, thus Dow Corning provides limited information on its composition and properties. Based on past experience with Dow Corning, DC745U is at risk of formulation changes without notification to the costumer. A formulation change for DC745U may have a significant impact because the network structure is a key variable in determining material properties. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of historical DC745U studies and identify gaps that need to be addressed in future work. Some of the previous studies include the following: 1. Spectroscopic characterization of raw gum stock. 2. Spectroscopic, thermal, and mechanical studies on cured DC745U. 3. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and solvent swelling studies on DC745U with different crosslink densities. 4. NMR, solvent swelling, thermal, and mechanical studies on thermally aged DC745U. 5. NMR, solvent swelling, thermal, and mechanical studies on radiolytically aged DC745U. Each area is reviewed and further work is suggested to improve our understanding of DC745U for systems engineering, surveillance, aging assessments, and lifetime assessment.« less

The arginine-ornithine antiporter ArcD contributes to biological fitness of Streptococcus suis

PubMed Central

Fulde, Marcus; Willenborg, Joerg; Huber, Claudia; Hitzmann, Angela; Willms, Daniela; Seitz, Maren; Eisenreich, Wolfgang; Valentin-Weigand, Peter; Goethe, Ralph

2014-01-01

The arginine-ornithine antiporter (ArcD) is part of the Arginine Deiminase System (ADS), a catabolic, energy-providing pathway found in a variety of different bacterial species, including the porcine zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis. The ADS has recently been shown to play a role in the pathogenicity of S. suis, in particular in its survival in host cells. The contribution of arginine and arginine transport mediated by ArcD, however, has yet to be clarified. In the present study, we showed by experiments using [U-13C6]arginine as a tracer molecule that S. suis is auxotrophic for arginine and that bacterial growth depends on the uptake of extracellular arginine. To further study the role of ArcD in arginine metabolism, we generated an arcD-specific mutant strain and characterized its growth compared to the wild-type (WT) strain, a virulent serotype 2 strain. The mutant strain showed a markedly reduced growth in chemically defined media supplemented with arginine when compared to the WT strain, suggesting that ArcD promotes arginine uptake. To further evaluate the in vivo relevance of ArcD, we studied the intracellular bacterial survival of the arcD mutant strain in an epithelial cell culture infection model. The mutant strain was substantially attenuated, and its reduced intracellular survival rate correlated with a lower ability to neutralize the acidified environment. Based on these results, we propose that ArcD, by its function as an arginine-ornithine antiporter, is important for supplying arginine as substrate of the ADS and, thereby, contributes to biological fitness and virulence of S. suis in the host. PMID:25161959

Estimation of axial curvature of anterior sclera: correlation between axial length and anterior scleral curvature as affected by angle kappa.

PubMed

Lee, Sang-Mok; Choi, Hyuk Jin; Choi, Heejin; Kim, Mee Kum; Wee, Won Ryang

2016-10-07

BACKGROUND: Though the development and fitting of scleral contact lenses are expanding steadily, there is no simple method to provide scleral metrics for scleral contact lens fitting yet. The aim of this study was to establish formulae for estimation of the axial radius of curvature (ARC) of the anterior sclera using ocular biometric parameters that can be easily obtained with conventional devices. A semi-automated stitching method and a computational analysis tool for calculating ARC were developed by using the ImageJ and MATLAB software. The ARC of all the ocular surface points were analyzed from the composite horizontal cross-sectional images of the right eyes of 24 volunteers; these measurements were obtained using anterior segment optical coherence tomography for a previous study (AS-OCT; Visante). Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from the same volunteers with slit-scanning topography and partial coherence interferometry. Correlation analysis was performed between the ARC at 8 mm to the axis line (ARC[8]) and other ocular parameters (including age). With ARC obtained on several nasal and temporal points (7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 mm from the axis line), univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to develop a model for estimating ARC with the help of ocular biometric parameters. Axial length, spherical equivalent, and angle kappa showed correlations with temporal ARC[8] (tARC[8]; Pearson's r = 0.653, -0.579, and -0.341; P = 0.001, 0.015, and 0.015, respectively). White-to-white corneal diameter (WTW) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) showed correlation with nasal ARC[8] (nARC[8]; Pearson's r = -0.492 and -0.461; P = 0.015 and 0.023, respectively). The formulae for estimating scleral curvatures (tARC, nARC, and average ARC) were developed as a function of axial length, ACD, WTW, and distance from the axis line, with good determinant power (72 - 80 %; SPSS ver. 22.0). Angle kappa showed strong correlation with axial length (Pearson's r = -0.813, P <0.001), and the different correlation patterns of nasal and temporal ARC with axial length can be explained by the ocular surface deviation represented by angle kappa. Axial length, ACD, and WTW are useful parameters for estimating the ARC of the anterior sclera, which is important for the haptic design of scleral contact lenses. Angle kappa affects the discrepancies between the nasal and temporal scleral curvature.

Theoretical study of a consumable anode in a gas metal welding arc

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

Zhu, P.; Simpson, S.W.

1996-12-31

A better understanding of the behavior of the metal transfer process in a welding arc is important for further improvement of quality control for gas-metal-arc welding (GMAW). The problems related to the metal transfer are generally complicated because (a) the metal transfer process is strongly coupled with the arc plasma, which is not stable, for example, the length of the arc plasma varies during the formation and detachment of a metal droplet, and (b) the formation of the electrode droplet itself is influenced by energy transfer, the anode-plasma interface, and also the location of the liquid-solid interface inside the anode.more » This paper presents primary results of an investigation of the consumable anode in a gas metal welding arc. The study includes theoretical predictions of the properties related to metal transfer including moving anode temperature profile, welding arc length and arc current as a function of time for various wire feed rates, as well as numerical treatment of droplet formation. The anode temperature profile and the melting rate are analyzed by a metal transfer model which couples a two-dimensional arc model to a one-dimensional anode thermal model. The droplet formation is predicted by a quasi-one-dimensional dynamic model of a pendant drop which accounts for the electromagnet pinch effect, the surface tension, gravitation and the momentum transfer due to wire motion. Comparison between experimental observation and theoretical predictions will also be discussed.« less

A Statistical Survey of the 630.0-nm Optical Signature of Periodic Auroral Arcs Resulting From Magnetospheric Field Line Resonances

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gillies, D. Megan; Knudsen, David; Rankin, Robert; Milan, Stephen; Donovan, Eric

2018-05-01

Advances in networks of ground-based optical instrumentation have enabled us to identify over 400 examples of auroral arcs with an infrequently observed, temporally periodic auroral morphology. This study focuses on these arcs observed via the 630-nm ("redline") auroral emission wavelength and connects them to global magnetospheric wave modes known as field line resonances (FLRs). We show that optical redline FLR auroral arcs occur most frequently near 20 and 4 magnetic local time, in contrast to nonperiodic redline arcs, which occur most frequently near midnight. We find that this periodic type of auroral arc is rare, occurring in approximately 5% of redline aurora observed by the Redline Emission Geospace Observatory all-sky imagers. We also show Swarm satellite observations of two separate instances of 630-nm FLR arcs with strong upward field-aligned currents of the order of 3-6 μA/m2.

Sensoring fusion data from the optic and acoustic emissions of electric arcs in the GMAW-S process for welding quality assessment.

PubMed

Alfaro, Sadek Crisóstomo Absi; Cayo, Eber Huanca

2012-01-01

The present study shows the relationship between welding quality and optical-acoustic emissions from electric arcs, during welding runs, in the GMAW-S process. Bead on plate welding tests was carried out with pre-set parameters chosen from manufacturing standards. During the welding runs interferences were induced on the welding path using paint, grease or gas faults. In each welding run arc voltage, welding current, infrared and acoustic emission values were acquired and parameters such as arc power, acoustic peaks rate and infrared radiation rate computed. Data fusion algorithms were developed by assessing known welding quality parameters from arc emissions. These algorithms have showed better responses when they are based on more than just one sensor. Finally, it was concluded that there is a close relation between arc emissions and quality in welding and it can be measured from arc emissions sensing and data fusion algorithms.

Arc Jet Testing of Thermal Protection Materials: 3 Case Studies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Sylvia; Conley, Joe

2015-01-01

Arc jet testing is used to simulate entry to test thermal protection materials. This paper discusses the usefulness of arc jet testing for 3 cases. Case 1 is MSL and PICA, Case 2 is Advanced TUFROC, and Case 3 is conformable ablators.

Revealing the arc dynamics in a gliding arc plasmatron: a better insight to improve CO2 conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramakers, Marleen; Medrano, Jose A.; Trenchev, Georgi; Gallucci, Fausto; Bogaerts, Annemie

2017-12-01

A gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) is very promising for CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals, but to further improve this important application, a better understanding of the arc behavior is indispensable. Therefore, we study here for the first time the dynamic arc behavior of the GAP by means of a high-speed camera, for different reactor configurations and in a wide range of operating conditions. This allows us to provide a complete image of the behavior of the gliding arc. More specifically, the arc body shape, diameter, movement and rotation speed are analyzed and discussed. Clearly, the arc movement and shape relies on a number of factors, such as gas turbulence, outlet diameter, electrode surface, gas contraction and buoyance force. Furthermore, we also compare the experimentally measured arc movement to a state-of-the-art 3D-plasma model, which predicts the plasma movement and rotation speed with very good accuracy, to gain further insight in the underlying mechanisms. Finally, we correlate the arc dynamics with the CO2 conversion and energy efficiency, at exactly the same conditions, to explain the effect of these parameters on the CO2 conversion process. This work is important for understanding and optimizing the GAP for CO2 conversion.

ARC-1989-A89-7042

NASA Image and Video Library

1989-08-11

P-34578 BW One of two new ring arcs, or partial rings, discovered by Voyager 2, is faintly visible just outside the orbit of the Neptunian moon 1989N4.The 155-second exposure taken by the spacecraft's narrow-angle camera shows the glare of an overexposed Neptune to the right of the moon and ring arc. The two bright streaks below the moon and ring arc are stars. The ring arc is approximately 50,000 kilometers (30,000 miles) long. The second ring arc, not apparent here, is about 10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) long and is assoiciated with moon 1989N3. The ring arc, along with 1989N4, orbits about 62,000 kilometers (38,000 miles) from the planet's cloud tops. Astronomers long suspected the existence of such an irregular ring system around Neptune. Data from repeated ground-based observations hinted at the existence of irregular strands of partial rings orbiting Neptune. Voyager's photographs of the ring arcs are the first photographic evidence that such a ring system exists. Voyager scientists said the ring arcs may be comprised of debris associated with the nearby moons, or may be the remnants of moons that have been torn apart or ground down through collisions. Close-up studies of the ring arcs by Voyager 2 will help determine their composition.

How to Measure Qualitative Understanding of DC-Circuit Phenomena - Taking a Closer Look at the External Representations of 9-Year-Olds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kallunki, Veera

2013-04-01

Pupils' qualitative understanding of DC-circuit phenomena is reported to be weak. In numerous research reports lists of problems in understanding the functioning of simple DC-circuits have been presented. So-called mental model surveys have uncovered difficulties in different age groups, and in different phases of instruction. In this study, the concept of qualitative understanding, and the content or position of reported mental models of DC-circuit phenomena are discussed. On the grounds of this review, new tools for investigating qualitative understanding and analysing external representations of DC-circuit phenomena are presented. According to this approach, the external representations of DC-circuit phenomena that describe pupils' expressed conceptions of the topic should include both empirical-based models and theoretical explanations. In the empirical part of this study , third-graders (9-year-olds) learning DC-circuit phenomena in a comprehensive school in a small group were scrutinised. The focus of the study is the external representations manifested in the talk of the small group. The study challenges earlier studies, which claim that children exhibit a wide range of qualitative difficulties when learning DC-circuit phenomena. In this study it will be shown that even in the case of abstract subject matter like DC-circuit phenomena, small groups that highlight empirical-based modelling and activate talk can be a fruitful learning environment, where pupils' qualitative understanding really develops. Thus, the study proposes taking a closer look at pupils' external representations concerning DC-circuit phenomena.

Characterization of an electrothermal plasma source for fusion transient simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebhart, T. E.; Baylor, L. R.; Rapp, J.; Winfrey, A. L.

2018-01-01

The realization of fusion energy requires materials that can withstand high heat and particle fluxes at the plasma material interface. In this work, an electrothermal (ET) plasma source has been designed as a transient heat flux source for a linear plasma material interaction device. An ET plasma source operates in the ablative arc regime driven by a DC capacitive discharge. The current channel width is defined by the 4 mm bore of a boron nitride liner. At large plasma currents, the arc impacts the liner wall, leading to high particle and heat fluxes to the liner material, which subsequently ablates and ionizes. This results in a high density plasma with a large unidirectional bulk flow out of the source exit. The pulse length for the ET source has been optimized using a pulse forming network to have durations of 1 and 2 ms. The peak currents and maximum source energies seen in this system are 1.9 kA and 1.2 kJ for the 2 ms pulse and 3.2 kA and 2.1 kJ for the 1 ms pulse, respectively. This work is a proof of the principal project to show that an ET source produces electron densities and heat fluxes comparable to those anticipated in transient events in large future magnetic confinement fusion devices. Heat flux, plasma temperature, and plasma density were determined for each shot using infrared imaging and optical spectroscopy techniques. This paper will discuss the assumptions, methods, and results of the experiments.

Log file-based patient dose calculations of double-arc VMAT for head-and-neck radiotherapy.

PubMed

Katsuta, Yoshiyuki; Kadoya, Noriyuki; Fujita, Yukio; Shimizu, Eiji; Majima, Kazuhiro; Matsushita, Haruo; Takeda, Ken; Jingu, Keiichi

2018-04-01

The log file-based method cannot display dosimetric changes due to linac component miscalibration because of the insensitivity of log files to linac component miscalibration. The purpose of this study was to supply dosimetric changes in log file-based patient dose calculations for double-arc volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in head-and-neck cases. Fifteen head-and-neck cases participated in this study. For each case, treatment planning system (TPS) doses were produced by double-arc and single-arc VMAT. Miscalibration-simulated log files were generated by inducing a leaf miscalibration of ±0.5 mm into the log files that were acquired during VMAT irradiation. Subsequently, patient doses were estimated using the miscalibration-simulated log files. For double-arc VMAT, regarding planning target volume (PTV), the change from TPS dose to miscalibration-simulated log file dose in D mean was 0.9 Gy and that for tumor control probability was 1.4%. As for organ-at-risks (OARs), the change in D mean was <0.7 Gy and normal tissue complication probability was <1.8%. A comparison between double-arc and single-arc VMAT for PTV showed statistically significant differences in the changes evaluated by D mean and radiobiological metrics (P < 0.01), even though the magnitude of these differences was small. Similarly, for OARs, the magnitude of these changes was found to be small. Using the log file-based method for PTV and OARs, the log file-based method estimate of patient dose using the double-arc VMAT has accuracy comparable to that obtained using the single-arc VMAT. Copyright © 2018 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two Types of Transpolar Arc Development, Event Studies with Data Set of ASTRID-2, DMSP, FAST, and SuperDARN

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Narita, Yasuhito; Maezawa, Kiyoshi; Toshinori, Mukai; Kullen, A.; Ivchenko, N.; Marklund, G.; Frederick, R.; Carlson, C. W.; Spann, J. F.; Parks, G. K.;

Silica-enriched mantle sources of subalkaline picrite-boninite-andesite island arc magmas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bénard, A.; Arculus, R. J.; Nebel, O.; Ionov, D. A.; McAlpine, S. R. B.

2017-02-01

Primary arc melts may form through fluxed or adiabatic decompression melting in the mantle wedge, or via a combination of both processes. Major limitations to our understanding of the formation of primary arc melts stem from the fact that most arc lavas are aggregated blends of individual magma batches, further modified by differentiation processes in the sub-arc mantle lithosphere and overlying crust. Primary melt generation is thus masked by these types of second-stage processes. Magma-hosted peridotites sampled as xenoliths in subduction zone magmas are possible remnants of sub-arc mantle and magma generation processes, but are rarely sampled in active arcs. Published studies have emphasised the predominantly harzburgitic lithologies with particularly high modal orthopyroxene in these xenoliths; the former characteristic reflects the refractory nature of these materials consequent to extensive melt depletion of a lherzolitic protolith whereas the latter feature requires additional explanation. Here we present major and minor element data for pristine, mantle-derived, lava-hosted spinel-bearing harzburgite and dunite xenoliths and associated primitive melts from the active Kamchatka and Bismarck arcs. We show that these peridotite suites, and other mantle xenoliths sampled in circum-Pacific arcs, are a distinctive peridotite type not found in other tectonic settings, and are melting residues from hydrous melting of silica-enriched mantle sources. We explore the ability of experimental studies allied with mantle melting parameterisations (pMELTS, Petrolog3) to reproduce the compositions of these arc peridotites, and present a protolith ('hybrid mantle wedge') composition that satisfies the available constraints. The composition of peridotite xenoliths recovered from erupted arc magmas plausibly requires their formation initially via interaction of slab-derived components with refractory mantle prior to or during the formation of primary arc melts. The liquid compositions extracted from these hybrid sources are higher in normative quartz and hypersthene (i.e., they have a more silica-saturated character) in comparison with basalts derived from prior melt-depleted asthenospheric mantle beneath ridges. These primary arc melts range from silica-rich picrite to boninite and high-Mg basaltic andesite along a residual spinel harzburgite cotectic. Silica enrichment in the mantle sources of arc-related, subalkaline picrite-boninite-andesite suites coupled with the amount of water and depth of melting, are important for the formation of medium-Fe ('calc-alkaline') andesite-dacite-rhyolite suites, key lithologies forming the continental crust.

Guidelines for Reliable DC/DC Converters for Space Use

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Plante, Jeannette; Shue, Jack

2008-01-01

NESC saw the need to study the persistent failure of DC/DC Converters during ground testing and in flight, motivated investigation of causes and mitigation options. Research indicated misapplication and device quality to be root causes. The study took 20 months. Team included multiple NASA Centers : JPL, JSC, MSFC, GSFC Project Background

Variable-Polarity Plasma Arc Welding Of Alloy 2219

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Walsh, Daniel W.; Nunes, Arthur C., Jr.

1989-01-01

Report presents results of study of variable-polarity plasma arc (VPPA) welding of aluminum alloy 2219. Consists of two parts: Examination of effects of microsegregation and transient weld stress on macrosegregation in weld pool and, electrical characterization of straight- and reverse-polarity portions of arc cycle.

[Arc spectrum diagnostic and heat coupling mechanism analysis of double wire pulsed MIG welding].

PubMed

Liu, Yong-qiang; Li, Huan; Yang, Li-jun; Zheng, Kai; Gao, Ying

2015-01-01

A double wire pulsed MIG welding test system was built in the present paper, in order to analyze the heat-coupling mechanism of double wire pulsed MIG welding, and study are temperature field. Spectroscopic technique was used in diagnostic analysis of the are, plasma radiation was collected by using hollow probe method to obtain the arc plasma optical signal The electron temperature of double wire pulsed MIG welding arc plasma was calculated by using Boltzmann diagram method, the electron temperature distribution was obtained, a comprehensive analysis of the arc was conducted combined with the high speed camera technology and acquisition means of electricity signal. The innovation of this paper is the combination of high-speed camera image information of are and optical signal of arc plasma to analyze the coupling mechanism for dual arc, and a more intuitive analysis for are temperature field was conducted. The test results showed that a push-pull output was achieved and droplet transfer mode was a drop in a pulse in the welding process; Two arcs attracted each other under the action of a magnetic field, and shifted to the center of the arc in welding process, so a new heat center was formed at the geometric center of the double arc, and flowing up phenomenon occurred on the arc; Dual arc electronic temperature showed an inverted V-shaped distribution overall, and at the geometric center of the double arc, the arc electron temperature at 3 mm off the workpiece surface was the highest, which was 16,887.66 K, about 4,900 K higher than the lowest temperature 11,963.63 K.

Alterations in dendritic cell function in aged mice: potential implications for immunotherapy design.

PubMed

Paula, Carine; Motta, Adriana; Schmitz, Carla; Nunes, Claudia P; Souza, Ana Paula; Bonorino, Cristina

2009-02-01

It is known that immune system functions decrease with age, and that adaptive immune responses, especially CD4+ T cell function, seem to be the main affected point in immunity with aging. Dendritic cells (DC) are the major antigen presenting cell (APC), and at least part of the defects observed in adaptive immunity of aged individuals could be due to diminished potential of bone marrow to generate new DC, or defects in DC function. In this study, we investigated if the ability of aged bone marrow (BM) to generate new DC in vitro, as well as aged BM-derived DC responses to lypopolysaccharide (LPS). Because DC are important tools in newly developing anti-tumor therapies, we also studied the ability of aged DC to phagocytose and present antigen from necrotic tumor cells. We found that aged BM generated fewer DC in vitro compared to young BM. While LPS-induced DC maturation is reduced in DC of aged mice, a high TNF-alpha production is observed in aged DC even without LPS stimulation. While phagocytosis of tumor cells is not affected by age, and DC derived from aged BM show a higher TNF-alpha production in response to phagocytosis, presentation of tumor antigens was decreased in aged DC. Because class II upregulation in response to phagocytosis was similar between aged and young DC, this could indicate an age associated processing defect in the exogenous pathway. These findings suggest that age of BM used to generate DC does not impair their phagocytic ability or TNF-alpha production, however leads to a decreased yield in mature DC, reduced response to LPS, and diminished antigen processing/presentation potential. Our results are relevant to optimization DC-based vaccine design for aged populations.

Retrieval of Inhibitory Avoidance Memory Induces Differential Transcription of arc in Striatum, Hippocampus, and Amygdala.

PubMed

González-Salinas, Sofía; Medina, Andrea C; Alvarado-Ortiz, Eduardo; Antaramian, Anaid; Quirarte, Gina L; Prado-Alcalá, Roberto A

2018-07-01

Similar to the hippocampus and amygdala, the dorsal striatum is involved in memory retrieval of inhibitory avoidance, a task commonly used to study memory processes. It has been reported that memory retrieval of fear conditioning regulates gene expression of arc and zif268 in the amygdala and the hippocampus, and it is surprising that only limited effort has been made to study the molecular events caused by retrieval in the striatum. To further explore the involvement of immediate early genes in retrieval, we used real-time PCR to analyze arc and zif268 transcription in dorsal striatum, dorsal hippocampus, and amygdala at different time intervals after retrieval of step-through inhibitory avoidance memory. We found that arc expression in the striatum increased 30 min after retrieval while no changes were observed in zif268 in this region. Expression of arc and zif268 also increased in the dorsal hippocampus but the changes were attributed to context re-exposure. Control procedures indicated that in the amygdala, arc and zif268 expression was not dependent on retrieval. Our data indicate that memory retrieval of inhibitory avoidance induces arc gene expression in the dorsal striatum, caused, very likely, by the instrumental component of the task. Striatal arc expression after retrieval may induce structural and functional changes in the neurons involved in this process. Copyright © 2018 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Odors regulate Arc expression in neuronal ensembles engaged in odor processing.

PubMed

Guthrie, K; Rayhanabad, J; Kuhl, D; Gall, C

2000-06-26

Synaptic activity is critical to developmental and plastic processes that produce long-term changes in neuronal connectivity and function. Genes expressed by neurons in an activity-dependent fashion are of particular interest since the proteins they encode may mediate neuronal plasticity. One such gene encodes the activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein, Arc. The present study evaluated the effects of odor stimulation on Arc expression in rat olfactory bulb. Arc mRNA was rapidly increased in functionally linked cohorts of neurons topographically activated by odor stimuli. These included neurons surrounding individual glomeruli, mitral cells and transynaptically activated granule cells. Dendritic Arc immunoreactivity was also increased in odor-activated glomeruli. Our results suggest that odor regulation of Arc expression may contribute to activity-dependent structural changes associated with olfactory experience.

Luminosity variations in several parallel auroral arcs before auroral breakup

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Safargaleev, V.; Lyatsky, W.; Tagirov, V.

1997-08-01

Variation of the luminosity in two parallel auroral arcs before auroral breakup has been studied by using digitised TV-data with high temporal and spatial resolution. The intervals when a new arc appears near already existing one were chosen for analysis. It is shown, for all cases, that the appearance of a new arc is accompanied by fading or disappearance of another arc. We have named these events out-of-phase events, OP. Another type of luminosity variation is characterised by almost simultaneous enhancement of intensity in the both arcs (in-phase event, IP). The characteristic time of IP events is 10-20 s, whereas OP events last about one minute. Sometimes out-of-phase events begin as IP events. The possible mechanisms for OP and IP events are discussed.

Fluorescent Arc/Arg3.1 indicator mice: a versatile tool to study brain activity changes in vitro and in vivo

PubMed Central

Grinevich, Valery; Kolleker, Alexander; Eliava, Marina; Takada, Naoki; Takuma, Hiroshi; Fukazawa, Yugo; Shigemoto, Ryuichi; Kuhl, Dietmar; Waters, Jack; Seeburg, Peter H.; Osten, Pavel

2014-01-01

The brain-specific immediate early gene Arc/Arg3.1 is induced in response to a variety of stimuli, including sensory and behavior-linked neural activity. Here we report the generation of transgenic mice, termed TgArc/Arg3.1-d4EGFP, expressing a 4-hour half-life form of enhanced green fluorescent protein (d4EGFP) under the control of the Arc/Arg3.1 promoter. We show that d4EGFP-mediated fluorescence faithfully reports Arc/Arg3.1 induction in response to physiological, pathological and pharmacological stimuli, and that this fluorescence permits electrical recording from activated neurons in the live mouse. Moreover, the fluorescent Arc/Arg3.1 indicator revealed activity changes in circumscribed brain areas in distinct modes of stress and in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. These findings identify the TgArc/Arg3.1-d4EGFP mouse as a versatile tool to monitor Arc/Arg3.1 induction in neural circuits, both in vitro and in vivo. PMID:19628007

Analysis of plasma characteristics and conductive mechanism of laser assisted pulsed arc welding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Shuangyu; Chen, Shixian; Wang, Qinghua; Li, Yanqing; Zhang, Hong; Ding, Hongtao

2017-05-01

This study aims to investigate the arc plasma shape and the spectral characteristics during the laser assisted pulsed arc welding process. The arc plasma shape was synchronously observed using a high speed camera, and the emission spectrum of plasma was obtained by spectrometer. The well-known Boltzmann plot method and Stark broadening were used to calculate the electron temperature and density respectively. The conductive mechanism of arc ignition in laser assisted arc hybrid welding was investigated, and it was found that the plasma current moved to the arc anode under the action of electric field. Thus, a significant parabolic channel was formed between the keyhole and the wire tip. This channel became the main method of energy transformation between the arc and the molten pool. The calculation results of plasma resistivity show that the laser plasma has low resistivity as the starting point of conductive channel formation. When the laser pulse duration increases, the intensity of the plasma radiation spectrum and the plasma electron density will increase, and the electron temperature will decrease.

Arctigenin represses TGF-β-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition in human lung cancer cells.

PubMed

Xu, Yanrui; Lou, Zhiyuan; Lee, Seong-Ho

2017-11-18

Arctigenin (ARC) is a lignan that is abundant in Asteraceae plants, which show anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. The current study investigated whether ARC affects cancer progression and metastasis, focusing on EMT using invasive human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. No toxicity was observed in the cells treated with different doses of ARC (12-100 μM). The treatment of ARC repressed TGF-β-stimulated changes of metastatic morphology and cell invasion and migration. ARC inhibited TGF-β-induced phosphorylation and transcriptional activity of smad2/3, and expression of snail. ARC also decreased expression of N-cadherin and increased expression of E-cadherin in dose-dependent and time-dependent manners. These changes were accompanied by decreased amount of phospho-smad2/3 in nucleus and nuclear translocation of smad2/3. Moreover, ARC repressed TGF-β-induced phosphorylation of ERK and transcriptional activity of β-catenin. Our data demonstrate anti-metastatic activity of ARC in lung cancer model. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Schizophrenia: What's Arc Got to Do with It?

PubMed

Managò, Francesca; Papaleo, Francesco

2017-01-01

Human studies of schizophrenia are now reporting a previously unidentified genetic convergence on postsynaptic signaling complexes such as the activity-regulated cytoskeletal-associated (Arc) gene. However, because this evidence is still very recent, the neurobiological implication of Arc in schizophrenia is still scattered and unrecognized. Here, we first review current and developing findings connecting Arc in schizophrenia. We then highlight recent and previous findings from preclinical mouse models that elucidate how Arc genetic modifications might recapitulate schizophrenia-relevant behavioral phenotypes following the novel Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) framework. Building on this, we finally compare and evaluate several lines of evidence demonstrating that Arc genetics can alter both glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems in a very selective way, again consistent with molecular alterations characteristic of schizophrenia. Despite being only initial, accumulating and compelling data are showing that Arc might be one of the primary biological players in schizophrenia. Synaptic plasticity alterations in the genetic architecture of psychiatric disorders might be a rule, not an exception. Thus, we anticipate that additional evidence will soon emerge to clarify the Arc-dependent mechanisms involved in the psychiatric-related dysfunctional behavior.

Convergent Validity of the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Diagnostic for Children (ASD-DC) and Childhood Autism Rating Scales (CARS)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matson, Johnny L.; Mahan, Sara; Hess, Julie A.; Fodstad, Jill C.; Neal, Daniene

2010-01-01

Previous studies analyzed the reliability as well as sensitivity and specificity of the Autism Spectrum Disorder-Diagnostic for Children (ASD-DC). This study further examines the psychometric properties of the ASD-DC by assessing whether the ASD-DC has convergent validity against a psychometrically sound observational instrument for Autistic…

Development of circuit model for arcing on solar panels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehta, Bhoomi K.; Deshpande, S. P.; Mukherjee, S.; Gupta, S. B.; Ranjan, M.; Rane, R.; Vaghela, N.; Acharya, V.; Sudhakar, M.; Sankaran, M.; Suresh, E. P.

2010-02-01

The increased requirements of payload capacity of the satellites have resulted in much higher power requirements of the satellites. In order to minimize the energy loss during power transmission due to cable loss, use of high voltage solar panels becomes necessary. When a satellite encounters space plasma it floats negatively with respect to the surrounding space plasma environment. At high voltage, charging and discharging on solar panels causes the power system breakdown. Once a solar panel surface is charged and potential difference between surface insulator and conductor exceeds certain value, electrostatic discharge (ESD) may occur. This ESD may trigger a secondary arc that can destroy the solar panel circuit. ESD is also called as primary or minor arc and secondary is called major arc. The energy of minor arc is supplied by the charge stored in the coverglass of solar array and is a pulse of typically several 100 ns to several 100 μs duration. The damage caused by minor arc is less compared to major arcs, but it is observed that the minor arc is cause of major arc. Therefore it is important to develop an understanding of minor arc and mitigation techniques. In this paper we present a linear circuit analysis for minor arcs on solar panels. To study arcing event, a ground experimental facility to simulate space plasma environment has been developed at Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies (Institute for Plasma Research) in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization's ISRO Satellite Technology Centre (ISAC). A linear circuit model has been developed to explain the experimental results by representing the coverglass, solar cell interconnect and wiring by an LCR circuit and the primary arc by an equivalent LR circuit. The aim of the circuit analysis is to predict the arc current which flows through the arc plasma. It is established from the model that the current depends on various parameters like potential difference between insulator and conductor, arc resistance, stored charge in the solar cell coverglass and the external capacitor that simulates wire harness. A close correlation between the experiments and circuit model results has been observed.

Experimental and analytical study of the DC breakdown characteristics of polypropylene laminated paper with a butt gap condition considering the insulation design of superconducting cable

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seo, In-jin; Choi, Won; Seong, Jae-gyu; Lee, Bang-wook; Koo, Ja-yoon

2014-08-01

It has been reported that the insulation design under DC stress is considered as one of the critical factors in determining the performance of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) superconducting cable. Therefore, it is fundamentally necessary to investigate the DC breakdown characteristics of the composite insulation system consisting of liquid nitrogen (LN2)/polypropylene-laminated-paper (PPLP). In particular, the insulation characteristics under DC polarity reversal condition should be verified to understand the polarity effect of the DC voltage considering the unexpected incidents taking place at line-commutated-converters (LCC) under service at a DC power grid. In this study, to examine the variation of DC electric field strength, the step voltage and polarity reversal breakdown tests are performed under DC stress. Also, we investigate the electric field distributions in a butt gap of the LN2/PPLP condition considering the DC polarity reversal by using simulation software.

Tank Information System (tis): a Case Study in Migrating Web Mapping Application from Flex to Dojo for Arcgis Server and then to Open Source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pulsani, B. R.

2017-11-01

Tank Information System is a web application which provides comprehensive information about minor irrigation tanks of Telangana State. As part of the program, a web mapping application using Flex and ArcGIS server was developed to make the data available to the public. In course of time as Flex be-came outdated, a migration of the client interface to the latest JavaScript based technologies was carried out. Initially, the Flex based application was migrated to ArcGIS JavaScript API using Dojo Toolkit. Both the client applications used published services from ArcGIS server. To check the migration pattern from proprietary to open source, the JavaScript based ArcGIS application was later migrated to OpenLayers and Dojo Toolkit which used published service from GeoServer. The migration pattern noticed in the study especially emphasizes upon the use of Dojo Toolkit and PostgreSQL database for ArcGIS server so that migration to open source could be performed effortlessly. The current ap-plication provides a case in study which could assist organizations in migrating their proprietary based ArcGIS web applications to open source. Furthermore, the study reveals cost benefits of adopting open source against commercial software's.