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Wang, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Wang, S..

At least 19 records

Recent advance progress of HL-3 experiments

Since the first plasma realized in 2020, a series of key systems on HL-3 (known as HL-2M before) tokamak have been equipped/upgraded, including in-vessel components (the first wall, lower divertor, and toroidal cryogenic/water-cooling/baking/glow discharge systems, etc.), auxiliary heating system of 11 MW, and 28 diagnostic systems (to measure the plasma density, electron temperature, radiation, magnetic field, etc.). Magnet field systems were commissioned firstly for divertor plasma discharges. During the 2nd experimental campaign of HL-3 tokamak, several great progresses have been achieved. Firstly, the successful operation with plasma current larger than 1 MA was achieved under a divertor configuration. Secondly, the advanced divertor concept with two distinct snowflake configurations was realized. It is found that the distribution of ion saturation current and heat flux on bottom plate becomes wide due to magnetic surface expansion, demonstrating the advantage of such configuration in the heat flux mitigation. In addition, using the combination of NBI, ECRH and LHCD, the standard sawtoothing high confinement mode of megampere plasma was firstly accessed on the HL-3. The successful commissioning of HL-3 is beneficial for the initial operation of ITER.

1 MA plasma↗

Validation study of RWM stability in DIII-D high- β N plasmas

The n = 1 (n is the toroidal mode number) resistive wall mode (RWM) stability is numerically investigated for two DIII-D high-β N discharges 176440 and 172461, utilizing the MARS-F (Liu et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas 7 3681) and MARS-K (Liu et al 2008 Phys. Plasmas 15 112503) codes. Systematic validation efforts are attempted, for the first time, for discharges with very slow or vanishing toroidal flow for a large fraction of the plasma volume. While gaining physics insights in accessing stable operation regime at β N exceeding the Troyon no-wall limit in these slow-rotation experiments, the predictive capability of fluid and non-perturbative magnetohydrodynamic-kinetic hybrid models for the RWM is further confirmed. The MARS-F fluid model, with a strong but numerically tunable viscosity mimicking ion Landau damping of parallel sound waves, finds complete stabilization of the n = 1 RWM in the considered DIII-D plasmas under the experimental flow conditions. Similarly, either full stabilization (for discharge 176440) or marginal stability (for discharge 172461) of the mode is computed by the MARS-K hybrid model, which is first-principle based without free model parameters. In particular, all drift kinetic resonances, including those of thermal and energetic particles, are found to synergistically act to marginally stabilize the RWM in discharge 172461. These MARS-F/K modeling results explain the experimentally observed stable operational regime in DIII-D, as far as the RWM stability is concerned. Extensive numerical sensitivity studies, with respect to the plasma toroidal flow speed as well as the radial location of the resistive wall, are also carried out to further support the validation study.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Guided Mode Evolution and Ionization Injection in Meter-Scale Multi-GeV Laser Wakefield Accelerators

Here, we show that multi-GeV laser wakefield electron accelerators in meter-scale, low density hydrodynamic plasma waveguides operate in a new nonlinear propagation regime dominated by sustained beating of lowest order modes of the ponderomotively modified channel; this occurs whether or not the injected pulse is linearly matched to the guide. For a continuously doped gas jet, this emergent mode beating effect leads to axially modulated enhancement of ionization injection and a multi-GeV energy spectrum of multiple quasimonoenergetic peaks; the same process in a locally doped jet produces single multi-GeV peaks with <10% energy spread. A three-stage model of drive laser pulse evolution and ionization injection characterizes the beating effect and explains our experimental results.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Toward machine-learning-assisted PW-class high-repetition-rate experiments with solid targets

We present progress in utilizing a machine learning (ML) assisted optimization framework to study the trends in a parameter space defined by spectrally shaped, high-intensity, petawatt-class (8 J, 45 fs) laser pulses interacting with solid targets and give the first simulation-based overview of predicted trends. A neural network (NN) incorporating uncertainty quantification is trained to predict the number of hot electrons generated by the laser–target interaction as a function of pulse shaping parameters. The predictions of this NN serve as the basis function for a Bayesian optimization framework to navigate this space. For post-experimental evaluation, we compare two separate neural network (NN) models. One is based solely on data from experiments, and the other is trained only on ensemble particle-in-cell simulations. Reviewing the predicted and observed trends across the experiment-capable laser parameter search space, we find that both ML models predict a maximal increase in hot electron generation at a level of approximately 12%–18%; however, no statistically significant enhancement was observed in experiments. On direct comparison of the NN models, the average discrepancy is 8.5%, with a maximum of 30%. Since shot-to-shot fluctuations in experiments affect the observations, we evaluate the behavior of our optimization framework by performing virtual experiments that vary the number of repeated observations and the noise levels. Here, we discuss the implications of such a framework for future autonomous exploration platforms in high-repetition-rate experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Capture Cavities for the CW Polarized Positron Source Ce+BAF

The initial design of the capture cavities for a continuous wave (CW) polarized positron beam for the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) up-grade at Jefferson Lab is presented. A chain of standing wave multi-cell copper cavities inside a solenoid channel are selected to capture positrons in CW mode. The cavity shunt impedance is surveyed by tuning the cavity geometry while considering accommodating large phase space distribution positron beams with large beam pipe radius while ensuring a large enough passband mode separation. The RF field wall loss power and maximum wall loss power density are considered in cavity and waveguide design. A range of design parameters are given for larger system optimization when the capture cavities are considered together with thermal calculation and beam dynamics in next phase of work.

Wang, S.↗

Multichannel Doppler fiber-imager spectrometer for spatiotemporal characterization of high-intensity laser-driven plasmas

Here, we demonstrate a flexible multichannel fiber-based imaging Doppler spectrometer to characterize plasmas in high intensity (≥1 × 10 18 W/cm 2 ) laser-plasma experiments at high repetition rates. This instrument collects data from ×21 different plasma locations combining optical fibers and a single imaging spectrometer. This diagnostic maps the plasma velocity evolution as a function of time with sub-pico-second resolution. Experimental results showing 2D velocity measurements of plasma with 20 μm spatial resolution are presented. Intensities of the order of 10 18 W/cm 2 were used to generate a plasma, while a much less intense, frequency doubled (400 nm), probe beam (10 11 W/cm 2 ) was used to measure the Doppler shift from the plasma critical surface. The instrument can be scaled to a larger number of channels (e.g., 100) still using a single spectrometer.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Graph Analytics for CEBAF Operations

We report on the progress achieved during a 2-year Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) project titled “Graph Analytics for CEBAF Operations”. The objective of this project is to leverage deep learning on graph representations of CEBAF’s injector beamline in order to create a tool for improving the efficiency of beam tuning tasks. Specifically, we use graphs to represent the injector beamline at any arbitrary date and time and invoke a graph neural network (GNN) to extract a low-dimensional, informative representation that can be visualized in two-dimensions. By analyzing years of operational data from the CEBAF archiver, good and bad regions of parameter space can be identified. The goal is to exercise this framework as a real-time tool to aid beam tuning, which represents the dominant source of machine downtime.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Evolving winter atmospheric teleconnection patterns and their potential triggers across western North America

Abstract We present a comprehensive analysis diagnosing the primary factors driving the observed changes in major atmospheric teleconnection patterns in the Northern Hemisphere winter, including the Pacific North American pattern (PNA), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and North American winter dipole (NAWD), with particular focus on their roles in shaping anomalous weather across North America. Our investigation reveals a consistent influence of the NAWD over seven decades, contrasting with fluctuating impacts from PNA and minor impacts from NAO. In particular, an emergent negative correlation between the NAWD and PNA, signaling a shifted phase of teleconnection patterns, is identified. Such a relationship change is traced to enhanced upper-level ridges across western North America, reflecting a reinforced winter stationary wave. Through attribution analysis, we identify greenhouse gas emissions as a probable driver for the northward drift of the Asia-Pacific jet core, which, aided by orographic lifting over the Alaskan Range, subsequently amplifies the winter stationary wave across western North America. This work emphasizes the pronounced effect of human-induced global warming on the structure and teleconnection of large-scale atmospheric circulation in the Northern Hemisphere winter, providing vital perspectives on the dynamics of current climate trends.

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences↗

Flexible tape-drive target system for secondary high-intensity laser-driven sources

Here, we present the development of a flexible tape-drive target system to generate and control secondary high-intensity laser-plasma sources. Its adjustable design permits the generation of relativistic MeV particles and x rays at high-intensity (i.e., ≥1 × 10 18 W cm —2 ) laser facilities, at high repetition rates (>1 Hz). The compact and robust structure shows good mechanical stability and a high target placement accuracy (<4 μm RMS). Its compact and flexible design allows for mounting in both the horizontal and vertical planes, which makes it practical for use in cluttered laser-plasma experimental setups. The design permits ~170° of access on the laser-driver side and 120° of diagnostic access at the rear. A range of adapted apertures have been designed and tested to be easily implemented to the targetry system. The design and performance testing of the tape-drive system in the context of two experiments performed at the COMET laser facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and at the Advanced Lasers and Extreme Photonics (ALEPH) facility at Colorado State University are discussed. Experimental data showing that the designed prototype is also able to both generate and focus high-intensity laser-driven protons at high repetition rates are also presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Relativistic ultrafast electron diffraction at high repetition rates

The ability to resolve the dynamics of matter on its native temporal and spatial scales constitutes a key challenge and convergent theme across chemistry, biology, and materials science. The last couple of decades have witnessed ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) emerge as one of the forefront techniques with the sensitivity to resolve atomic motions. Increasingly sophisticated UED instruments are being developed that are aimed at increasing the beam brightness in order to observe structural signatures, but so far they have been limited to low average current beams. Here, we present the technical design and capabilities of the HiRES (High Repetition-rate Electron Scattering) instrument, which blends relativistic electrons and high repetition rates to achieve orders of magnitude improvement in average beam current compared to the existing state-of-the-art instruments. The setup utilizes a novel electron source to deliver femtosecond duration electron pulses at up to MHz repetition rates for UED experiments. Instrument response function of sub-500 fs is demonstrated with < 100 fs time resolution targeted in future. We provide example cases of diffraction measurements on solid-state and gas-phase samples, including both micro- and nanodiffraction (featuring 100 nm beam size) modes, which showcase the potential of the instrument for novel UED experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

High-bandwidth density silicon photonic resonators for energy-efficient optical interconnects

The growth of artificial intelligence applications demands ever larger and more complex deep learning models, dominating today's—and tomorrow's—data center and high-performance computing systems. While traditional electronics are failing to keep pace with application demands, silicon photonic (SiPh) interconnects have emerged as a necessary technology to support these systems. SiPh-driven wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) offers a particularly promising path toward supporting incredibly high-aggregate link bandwidth in a compact and efficient form factor. One of the basic building blocks of these integrated WDM interconnects is the SiPh resonator. Their inherent wavelength selectivity and compact footprint allow for efficient data transmission multiplexed across dozens of carrier wavelengths. Used as add-drop (AD) filters, SiPh resonators are critical to constructing integrated tunable wavelength-selective optical circuit switches as well as for demultiplexing the different carrier wavelengths toward independent wavelength-insensitive photodiodes in a dense wavelength-division multiplexing receiver. Resonators in the all-pass (AP) configuration are widespread as well, allowing for wavelength-selective modulation to drive aggregate link bandwidths far beyond the individual channel data rate. Unlike SiPh Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZM), resonant modulators can be driven using low, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor drive voltages, allowing for tight co-integration between photonic integrated circuits, fabricated with larger process node technologies, and electronic integrated circuits, designed to exploit the advantages of the latest node. To push toward practical peta-scale interconnects, a comprehensive review of SiPh resonators is required, addressing bottlenecks and design constraints at both the architecture and device levels. We first describe the predominant integrated link architectures and identify their limits. We then discuss the device-level design considerations that can be made for both AD and AP configuration resonators to overcome the system level limits with novel resonator device designs. Analytical models and numerical simulation of resonators are validated by experimental measurement of devices fabricated in a commercial 300-mm foundry, showing a clear path toward volume manufacturing. The demonstrated resonant modulators and filters support the feasibility of increasing the aggregate bandwidth of resonator-driven SiPh interconnects into the peta-scale regime.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Differentiating multi-MeV, multi-ion spectra with CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors

The development of high intensity petawatt lasers has created new possibilities for ion acceleration and nuclear fusion using solid targets. In such laser-matter interaction, multiple ion species are accelerated with broad spectra up to hundreds of MeV. To measure ion yields and for species identification, CR-39 solid-state nuclear track detectors are frequently used. However, these detectors are limited in their applicability for multi-ion spectra differentiation as standard image recognition algorithms can lead to a misinterpretation of data, there is no unique relation between track diameter and particle energy, and there are overlapping pit diameter relationships for multiple particle species. In this report, we address these issues by first developing an algorithm to overcome user bias during image processing. Second, we use calibration of the detector response for protons, carbon and helium ions (alpha particles) from 0.1 to above 10 MeV and measurements of statistical energy loss fluctuations in a forward-fitting procedure utilizing multiple, differently filtered CR-39, altogether enabling high-sensitivity, multi-species particle spectroscopy. To validate this capability, we show that inferred CR-39 spectra match Thomson parabola ion spectrometer data from the same experiment. Filtered CR-39 spectrometers were used to detect, within a background of ~ 2 × 10 11 sr -1 J -1 protons and carbons, (1.3 ± 0.7) × 10 8 sr -1 J -1 alpha particles from laser-driven proton-boron fusion reactions.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations including toroidal sidebands on magnetic footprints and fast ion losses in HL-2M

Externally applied resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs), generated by magnetic coils located outside the plasma (referred to as RMP coils), provide an effective way to control the edge localized mode (ELM) in tokamak devices. Due to the discrete nature of the toroidal distribution of these window-frame coils, toroidal sidebands always exist together with the fundamental harmonics designed for ELM control. In this work, the MARS-F code (Liu et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas7 3681) is applied to investigate the detailed features of the RMP spectra considering both the dominant harmonic (n = 2) and the associated sideband (n = 6), and the impact of the combined fields on magnetic footprints as well as on the fast ion losses for a reference double-null scenario in the HL-2M device. It is found that the sum of the n = 2 and n = 6 RMP fields splits the footprint and widens the footprint area, as compared to the single-n (n = 2) harmonic case. The resistive plasma response breaks the up–down symmetry of the footprint pattern on the outer divertor plates, which is otherwise symmetric assuming vacuum RMP fields. Considering fast ion losses, a threshold value exists for the initially launched radial position of test particles, as well as for the RMP coil current, before the loss occurs. When the threshold criterion is satisfied, the combined n = 2 and n = 6 RMP fields enhance the fast ion loss rate by , as compared to that of the n = 2 component alone. These results illustrate the important role of the sideband of RMP fields on the magnetic footprints and fast ion losses in tokamak plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Loss of energetic ions due to n = 1 internal kink instability in HL-2M

Effects of three-dimensional (3D) perturbations due to an unstable n = 1 (n is the toroidal mode number) internal kink (IK) on the energetic particles (EPs) are systematically investigated for the HL-2M tokamak, utilizing the MARS-F/K code and a recently developed test particle tracing module. A high-beta sawteething HL-2M scenario, simulated by the TRANSP code, is chosen for this study. In general, the 3D perturbation associated with an unstable IK is found to affect the EP drift orbit, confinement, and loss in HL-2M. The instability-induced EP loss fraction is found to be typically less than 10%, without counting for the prompt orbit loss associated with the 2D equilibrium field for counter-current particles. The latter reaches about 16% in HL-2M. For co-current EPs, a 100 G 3D magnetic field (inside the plasma) due to the IK does not induce any EP loss assuming a static perturbation. A sawtooth-like time-varying perturbation field, with the peak amplitude reaching 1000 G, can however produce about 30% loss for the co-current EPs in HL-2M. The majority of lost EPs tend to strike the lower divertor region, with a small fraction of particles striking the low-field side mid-plane region of the limiting surface.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Effects of NBI-induced energetic ions on internal kink stability in HL-2M

A systematic investigation is carried out, studying the effect of the neutral beam injection induced energetic particles (EPs) on the n = 1 (n is the toroidal mode number) internal kink (IK) instability in the HL-2M tokamak, utilizing the MARS-F/K code [Liu et al., Phys. Plasmas 7, 3681 (2000) and 15, 112503 (2008)]. A high-beta sawteething HL-2M scenario, simulated by the TRANSP code [Breslau et al. Computer Software (2018)], is chosen for this study. Compared to the fluid model, non-perturbative magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-kinetic hybrid computations with MARS-K show a generally stabilization effect on the IK, due to drift kinetic resonances associated with EPs. Further, the bounce resonance of trapped EPs has minor influence on the mode stability. In the absence of the plasma equilibrium flow and with the assumed particle pitch distribution, the transit resonance of co-current (countercurrent) passing EPs destabilizes (stabilizes) the IK. With plasma flow, both co- and countercurrent passing EPs tend to stabilize the mode, but the effect is stronger with the countercurrent particles. These modeling results provide useful guidance for interpreting MHD instabilities in the future high-performance experiments in HL-2M.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗