Engineering topics

Jie, Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to Jie, Zhang.

9 records

DOE OSTI2013

LORENTZ SELF-FORCE OF AN ELLIPSE CURRENT LOOP MODEL

In this work, the Lorentz self-force of an ellipse current loop model is derived. We are motivated by the fact that it has been reported in the literature that coronal mass ejection morphology can resemble an ellipse in the field of view of coronagraph images. Deriving the Lorentz self-force using an ellipse geometry has the advantage of being able to be solved analytically, as opposed to other more complex geometries. The derived ellipse model is compared with the local curvature approximation, where the Lorentz self-force at the ellipse major/minor axis is compared with the Lorentz self-force of a torus with curvature equal to the local curvature at the ellipses major/minor axis. It is found that the local curvature approximation is valid for moderate values of eccentricity.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

ON THE ORIGIN OF THE EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET LATE PHASE OF SOLAR FLARES

Solar flares typically have an impulsive phase that is followed by a gradual phase as best seen in soft X-ray emissions. A recent discovery based on the EUV Variability Experiment observations on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) reveals that some flares exhibit a second large peak separated from the first main phase peak by tens of minutes to hours, which is coined as the flare's EUV late phase. In this paper, we address the origin of the EUV late phase by analyzing in detail two late phase flares, an M2.9 flare on 2010 October 16 and an M1.4 flare on 2011 February 18, using multi-passband imaging observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board SDO. We find that (1) the late phase emission originates from a different magnetic loop system, which is much larger and higher than the main phase loop system. (2) The two loop systems have different thermal evolution. While the late phase loop arcade reaches its peak brightness progressively at a later time spanning for more than one hour from high to low temperatures, the main phase loop arcade reaches its peak brightness at almost the same time (within several minutes) in all temperatures. (3) Nevertheless, the two loop systems seem to be connected magnetically, forming an asymmetric magnetic quadruple configuration. (4) Further, the footpoint brightenings in UV wavelengths show a systematic delay of about one minute from the main flare region to the remote footpoint of the late phase arcade system. We argue that the EUV late phase is the result of a long-lasting cooling process in the larger magnetic arcade system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Quasimonoenergetic proton bunches generation from doped foil targets irradiated by intense lasers

We propose a scheme to generate 10 MeV-level quasimonoenergetic proton bunches using proton-doped heavy-ion targets irradiated by intense lasers via target normal sheath acceleration. The heavy substrate ions provide a long-life quasi-stable sheath field to accelerate the doped protons at the target rear and consequently a quasimonoenergetic proton bunch is produced. The scheme is demonstrated by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. An exemplificative simulation with parameters of targets made by ion-implant technique, a kind of modern doping process, gives a quasimonoenergetic bunch with peak energy {approx}13MeV, energy spread {approx}24%, and {approx}nC charge at the focused laser intensity 10{sup 20}W/cm{sup 2}.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2012

Sub-microsecond pulsed atmospheric glow discharges with and without dielectric barrier

The discharge characteristics and mechanism of glow discharges in atmospheric pressure helium excited by repetitive voltage pulses with and without dielectric barriers are numerically studied using a one-dimensional self-consistent fluid model. The waveforms of discharge current density show that one discharge event occurs during the voltage pulse with bare electrodes and two distinct discharge events happen at the rising and falling phases of voltage pulse with dielectric barrier electrodes, respectively. The spatial profiles of electron and electric field at the time instant of discharge current peak reveal that the electrons are trapped in the plasma bulk with bare electrodes, while the electrons are accumulated in the region between the sheath and plasma bulk with dielectric barrier electrodes. Furthermore, the spatio-temporal evolution of electron density and mean electron energy clearly demonstrate the dynamics of discharge ignition, especially the temporal evolution of sheath above the instantaneous cathode.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2012

Upper limit power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in plasma

It is shown that there is an upper-limit laser power for self-focusing of a laser pulse in plasma in addition to the well-known lower-limit critical power set by the relativistic effect. This upper limit is caused by the transverse ponderomotive force of the laser, which tends to expel plasma electrons from the laser propagating area. Furthermore, there is a lower-limit plasma density for a given laser spot size, below which self-focusing does not occur for any laser power. Both the lower-limit density and the upper-limit power are derived theoretically and verified by two-dimensional and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is also found that plasma channels may be unfavorable for stable guiding of lasers above the upper-limit power.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2012

THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION OF EXTREME-ULTRAVIOLET BRIGHT POINTS OBSERVED BY STEREO/SECCHI/EUVI

We unveil the three-dimensional structure of quiet-Sun EUV bright points and their temporal evolution by applying a triangulation method to time series of images taken by SECCHI/EUVI on board the STEREO twin spacecraft. For this study we examine the heights and lengths as the components of the three-dimensional structure of EUV bright points and their temporal evolutions. Among them we present three bright points which show three distinct changes in the height and length: decreasing, increasing, and steady. We show that the three distinct changes are consistent with the motions (converging, diverging, and shearing, respectively) of their photospheric magnetic flux concentrations. Both growth and shrinkage of the magnetic fluxes occur during their lifetimes and they are dominant in the initial and later phases, respectively. They are all multi-temperature loop systems which have hot loops ({approx}10{sup 6.2} K) overlying cooler ones ({approx}10{sup 6.0} K) with cool legs ({approx}10{sup 4.9} K) during their whole evolutionary histories. Our results imply that the multi-thermal loop system is a general character of EUV bright points. We conclude that EUV bright points are flaring loops formed by magnetic reconnection and their geometry may represent the reconnected magnetic field lines rather than the separator field lines.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2012

SECONDARY WAVES AND/OR THE 'REFLECTION' FROM AND 'TRANSMISSION' THROUGH A CORONAL HOLE OF AN EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET WAVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2011 FEBRUARY 15 X2.2 FLARE OBSERVED WITH SDO/AIA AND STEREO/EUVI

For the first time, the kinematic evolution of a coronal wave over the entire solar surface is studied. Full Sun maps can be made by combining images from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory satellites, Ahead and Behind, and the Solar Dynamics Observatory, thanks to the wide angular separation between them. We study the propagation of a coronal wave, also known as the 'Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope' wave, and its interaction with a coronal hole (CH) resulting in secondary waves and/or reflection and transmission. We explore the possibility of the wave obeying the law of reflection. In a detailed example, we find that a loop arcade at the CH boundary cascades and oscillates as a result of the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wave passage and triggers a wave directed eastward that appears to have reflected. We find that the speed of this wave decelerates to an asymptotic value, which is less than half of the primary EUV wave speed. Thanks to the full Sun coverage we are able to determine that part of the primary wave is transmitted through the CH. This is the first observation of its kind. The kinematic measurements of the reflected and transmitted wave tracks are consistent with a fast-mode magnetohydrodynamic wave interpretation. Eventually, all wave tracks decelerate and disappear at a distance. A possible scenario of the whole process is that the wave is initially driven by the expanding coronal mass ejection and subsequently decouples from the driver and then propagates at the local fast-mode speed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2012

Laser induced thermal-wave fields in multi-layered spherical solids based on Green function method

In this paper, we establish a Green-function based theoretical model for evaluating solid multi-layered spherical samples which are illuminated by a frequency modulated incident beam. The specific Green function for the multi-layered spherical structure is derived and an analytical expression for the thermal-wave field in such a spherical sample is presented. The characteristics of the thermal-wave field with respect to the thermophysical, geometrical, and measurement parameters are presented. Unlike the quadruple method, the Green function method is capable of evaluating thermal-wave fields at any point of multi-layered structures with arbitrary intensity distributions of incident laser beams. Furthermore, experimental validation is also presented in the form of experimental results with steel spheres of various diameters.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

DOE OSTI2012

Numerical studies of third-harmonic generation in laser filament in air perturbed by plasma spot

Third-harmonic emission from laser filament intercepted by plasma spot is studied by numerical simulations. Significant enhancement of the third-harmonic generation is obtained due to the disturbance of the additional plasma. The contribution of the pure plasma effect and the possible plasma-enhanced third-order susceptibility on the third-harmonic generation enhancement are compared. It is shown that the plasma induced cancellation of destructive interference [Y. Liu et al., Opt. Commun. 284, 4706 (2011)] of two-colored filament is the dominant mechanism of the enhancement of third-harmonic generation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗