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At least 505 records · Page 28

Dielectric function and plasmons in graphene: A self-consistent-field calculation within a Markovian master equation formalism

We introduce a method for calculating the dielectric function of nanostructures with an arbitrary band dispersion and Bloch wave functions. The linear response of a dissipative electronic system to an external electromagnetic field is calculated by a self-consistent-field approach within a Markovian master equation formalism (SCF-MMEF) coupled with full-wave electromagnetic equations. The SCF-MMEF accurately accounts for several concurrent scattering mechanisms. The method captures interband electron-hole-pair generation, as well as the interband and intraband electron scattering with phonons and impurities. We employ the SCF-MMEF to calculate the dielectric function, complex conductivity, and loss function for supported graphene. From the loss-function maximum, we obtain plasmon dispersion and propagation length for different substrate types [nonpolar diamondlike carbon (DLC) and polar SiO 2 and hBN], impurity densities, carrier densities, and temperatures. Plasmons on the two polar substrates are suppressed below the highest surface phonon energy, while the spectrum is broad on the nonpolar DLC. Plasmon propagation lengths are comparable on polar and nonpolar substrates and are on the order of tens of nanometers, considerably shorter than previously reported. As a result, they improve with fewer impurities, at lower temperatures, and at higher carrier densities.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Excitation of O + Band EMIC Waves Through H + Ring Velocity Distributions: Van Allen Probe Observations

A typical case of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) emissions with both He + band and O + band waves was observed by Van Allen Probe A on 14 July 2014. These emissions occurred in the morning sector on the equator inside the plasmasphere, in which region O + band EMIC waves prefer to appear. Through property analysis of these emissions, it is found that the He + band EMIC waves are linearly polarized and propagating quasi–parallelly along the background magnetic field, while the O + band ones are of linear and left–hand polarization and propagating obliquely with respect to the background magnetic field. Using the in situ observations of plasma environment and particle data, excitation of these O + band EMIC waves has been investigated with the linear growth theory. The calculated linear growth rate shows that these O + band EMIC waves can be locally excited by ring current protons with ring velocity distributions. The comparison of the observed wave spectral intensity and the calculated growth rate suggests that the density of H + rings providing the free energy for the instability has decreased after the wave grows. Furthermore, this paper provides a direct observational evidence to the excitation mechanism of O + band EMIC waves: ring current protons with ring distributions provide the free energy supporting the instability in the presence of rich O + in the plasmasphere.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Synchrotron Polarization Signatures of Surface Waves in Supermassive Black Hole Jets

Abstract Supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei are known to launch relativistic jets, which are observed across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and thought to be efficient particle accelerators. Their primary radiation mechanism for radio emission is polarized synchrotron emission produced by a population of nonthermal electrons. In this Letter, we present a global general relativistic magnetohydrodynamical (GRMHD) simulation of a magnetically arrested disk (MAD). After the simulation reaches the MAD state, we show that waves are continuously launched from the vicinity of the black hole and propagate along the interface between the jet and the wind. At this interface, a steep gradient in velocity is present between the mildly relativistic wind and the highly relativistic jet. The interface is, therefore, a shear layer, and due to the shear, the waves generate roll-ups that alter the magnetic field configuration and the shear layer geometry. We then perform polarized radiation transfer calculations of our GRMHD simulation and find signatures of the waves in both total intensity and linear polarization, effectively lowering the fully resolved polarization fraction. The telltale polarization signatures of the waves could be observable by future very long baseline interferometric observations, e.g., the next-generation Event Horizon Telescope.

Astronomy & Astrophysics↗

SU-E-E-08: Applications of the Quantization of Coupled Circuits in Radiation Physics (design of Klystron, Bremsstrahlung, Synchrotron)

Purpose: During the past decade the quantization of coupled/forced electromagnetic circuits with or without Ohm’s resistance has gained the subject of some fundamental studies, since even problems of quantum electrodynamics can be solved in an elegant manner, e.g. the creation of quantized electromagnetic fields. In this communication, we shall use these principles to describe optimization procedures in the design of klystrons, synchrotron irradiation and high energy bremsstrahlung. Methods: The base is the Hamiltonian of an electromagnetic circuit and the extension to coupled circuits, which allow the study of symmetries and perturbed symmetries in a very apparent way (SU2, SU3, SU4). The introduction resistance and forced oscillators for the emission and absorption in such coupled systems provides characteristic resonance conditions, and atomic orbitals can be described by that. The extension to virtual orbitals leads to creation of bremsstrahlung, if the incident electron (velocity v nearly c) is described by a current, which is associated with its inductivitance and the virtual orbital to the charge distribution (capacitance). Coupled systems with forced oscillators can be used to amplify drastically the resonance frequencies to describe klystrons and synchrotron radiation. Results: The cross-section formula for bremsstrahlung given by the propagator method of Feynman can readily be derived. The design of klystrons and synchrotrons inclusive the radiation outcome can be described and optimized by the determination of the mutual magnetic couplings between the oscillators induced by the currents. Conclusions: The presented methods of quantization of circuits inclusive resistance provide rather a straightforward way to understand complex technical processes such as creation of bremsstrahlung or creation of radiation by klystrons and synchrotrons. They can either be used for optimization procedures and, last but not least, for pedagogical purposes with regard to a qualified understanding of radiation physics for students.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Laser heating of ferroelectric cubes for tunable electromagnetic properties in metamaterials

In this experimental study, we demonstrate the feasibility of a thermally tunable, resonant dielectric microwave metasurface based on sub-wavelength Mie resonances of ferroelectric dielectric cubes (Calcium titanate, CaTiO 3 ) in which the temperature of the meta-atoms can be locally and dynamically controlled by heating with an optical laser beam over a large range of temperatures and, consequently, values of the dielectric constant of the cube and corresponding resonance frequency of the meta-atoms. Further, this avoids any interference of otherwise necessary heating elements or power supply wires with the propagation of the microwave signal and can be made spatially addressable. The concept scales at least to the THz domain. This contactless approach opens up an alternative avenue to tunability and active control of metamaterials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Applications of laser wakefield accelerator-based light sources

Laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) were proposed more than three decades ago, and while they promise to deliver compact, high energy particle accelerators, they will also provide the scientific community with novel light sources. In a LWFA, where an intense laser pulse focused onto a plasma forms an electromagnetic wave in its wake, electrons can be trapped and are now routinely accelerated to GeV energies. From terahertz radiation to gamma-rays, this article reviews light sources from relativistic electrons produced by LWFAs, and discusses their potential applications. Betatron motion, Compton scattering and undulators respectively produce x-rays or gamma-rays by oscillating relativistic electrons in the wakefield behind the laser pulse, a counter-propagating laser field, or a magnetic undulator. Other LWFA-based light sources include bremsstrahlung and terahertz radiation. Here, we first evaluate the performance of each of these light sources, and compare them with more conventional approaches, including radio frequency accelerators or other laser-driven sources. We have then identified applications, which we discuss in details, in a broad range of fields: medical and biological applications, military, defense and industrial applications, and condensed matter and high energy density science.

42 ENGINEERING↗

A preconditioned dual–primal finite element tearing and interconnecting method for solving three-dimensional time-harmonic Maxwell's equations

A new preconditioned dual–primal nonoverlapping domain decomposition method is proposed for the finite element solution of three-dimensional large-scale electromagnetic problems. With the aid of two Lagrange multipliers, the new method converts the original volumetric problem to a surface problem by using a higher-order transmission condition at the subdomain interfaces to significantly improve the convergence of the iterative solution of the global interface equation. Similar to the previous version, a global coarse problem related to the degrees of freedom at the subdomain corner edges is formulated to propagate the residual error to the whole computational domain at each iteration, which further increases the rate of convergence. In addition, a fully algebraic preconditioner based on matrix splitting is constructed to make the proposed domain decomposition method even more robust and scalable. Perfectly matched layers (PMLs) are considered for the boundary truncation when solving open-region problems. The influence of the PML truncation on the convergence performance is investigated by examining the convergence of the transmission condition for an interface inside the PML. Numerical examples including wave propagation and antenna radiation problems truncated with PMLs are presented to demonstrate the validity and the capability of this method.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ultrabroadband Nanocavity of Hyperbolic Phonon–Polaritons in 1D-Like α-MoO 3

The exploitation of phonon–polaritons in nanostructured materials offers a pathway to manipulate infrared (IR) light for nanophotonic applications. Notably, hyperbolic phonon–polaritons (HP 2 ) in polar bidimensional crystals have been used to demonstrate strong electromagnetic field confinement, ultraslow group velocities, and long lifetimes (up to ~12 ps). Here we present nanobelts of α-phase molybdenum trioxide (α-MoO 3 ) as a low-dimensional medium supporting HP 2 modes in the mid- and far-IR ranges. Through real-space nanoimaging techniques with synchrotron and tunable laser IR light, we observe HP 2 Fabry-Perot resonances that demonstrate distinct anisotropic propagation and frequency dependence. We remark an anisotropic propagation that critically depends on the frequency range. Our findings are supported by the convergence of experiment, theory, and numerical simulations. Our work shows that the low dimensionality of natural nanostructured crystals, like α-MoO 3 nanobelts, provides an attractive platform to study polaritonic light–matter interactions and offers appealing cavity properties that could be harnessed in future designs of compact nanophotonic devices.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Studies of HED Plasmas with Self-Generated Magnetic Field

High-amplitude sub-Larmor-scale electromagnetic turbulence is ubiquitous in high-energy density environments, such as laboratory plasmas produced by high-intensity lasers, e.g., NIF, Omega-EP, Trident, and others, and in astrophysical and space plasmas, e.g., at high-Mach-number collisionless shocks in weakly magnetized plasmas upstream regions of quasi-parallel shocks, sites of magnetic reconnection and others. Studies of plasmas and turbulence in these environments are important for fusion energy sciences and the inertial confinement concept, in particular, as well as to numerous astrophysical systems such as gamma-ray bursts, supernovae blast waves, jets of quasars and active galactic nuclei, shocks in the interplanetary medium, solar flares and many more. Such turbulence can be of various origin and thus have rather different properties, from being purely magnetic (Weibel) turbulence to various types of electromagnetic turbulence (for example, whistler wave turbulence or turbulence produced by filamentation or Weibel-type streaming instability), to purely electrostatic Langmuir turbulence. In this project we use analytical and numerical tools to study the transport, radiative, and magneto-optical properties of plasmas with sub-Larmor-scale turbulence. We discovered the connection of transport/diffusion properties to certain spectral benchmark features of (jitter) radiation produced by the plasma and radiation propagation through it. All regimes, from the relativistic to non-relativistic, were thoroughly investigated and predictions were made for laboratory plasmas and astrophysical plasmas. Thus, all the tasks outlined in the proposal were fully and successfully accomplished.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Plasma interface of the EC waves to the LHD peripheral region

In order to realize an efficient ECRH and also to reduce stray radiation due to non-absorbed power during ECRH, it is necessary to excite a wave that is absorbed well near the electron cyclotron resonance. In the normal fusion magnetic field confinement machine and in the electron cyclotron frequency range, WKB approximation is valid almost all the way from antenna to the absorption region due to the large scale-length of the plasma density λ{sub n} and the magnetic shear τ{sub s} as compared with the local wavelength λ{sub 0}. In these situation, it is well known that the O/X mode propagates as O/X mode if τ{sub s} ≫ λ{sub 0}. Even in these situation, if τ{sub s} and λ{sub n} are comparable and |1/λ{sub O}−1/λ{sub X}|τ{sub s} ≪ 1, there still remains the question from where ”X” - or ”O” - mode become ”X” - or ”O” mode at the peripheral region. In order to simulate this situation, one dimensional full wave calculation code which solve electromagnetic wave equation under arbitrary magnetic field configuration and arbitrary density profile for a given polarization state are developed and incorporated in the upgraded ray tracing code LHDGauss. It is tried to find the density and shear scale lengths region where the mode mixing effect is not negligible.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Magnetized laser–plasma interactions in high-energy-density systems: Parallel propagation

In this study, we investigate parametric processes in magnetized plasmas, driven by a large-amplitude pump light wave. Our focus is on laser–plasma interactions relevant to high-energy-density (HED) systems, such as the National Ignition Facility and the Sandia MagLIF concept. We present a self-contained derivation of a “parametric” dispersion relation for magnetized three-wave interactions, meaning the pump wave is included in the equilibrium, similar to the unmagnetized work of Drake et al., Phys. Fluids 17, 778 (1974). For this, we use a multi-species plasma fluid model and Maxwell's equations. The application of an external B field causes right- and left-polarized light waves to propagate with differing phase velocities. This leads to Faraday rotation of the polarization, which can be significant in HED conditions. Phase-matching and linear wave dispersion relations show that Raman and Brillouin scattering have modified spectra due to the background B field, though this effect is usually small in systems of current practical interest. We study a scattering process we call stimulated whistler scattering, where a light wave decays to an electromagnetic whistler wave (ω≲ω ce ) and a Langmuir wave. This only occurs in the presence of an external B field, which is required for the whistler wave to exist.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetic Tilt Effect on Externally Driven Electromagnetic Ion Cyclotron (EMIC) Waves

Abstract We examine coupling of fluctuations in the solar wind with electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves in the magnetosphere using an advanced full‐wave simulation code, Petra‐M. Dipole tilt dramatically affects the coupling process. While very little wave power can reach the inner magnetosphere without tilt effects, a tilted dipole field dramatically increases the efficiency of the coupling process. Solar wind fluctuations incident at high magnetic latitude effectively reaches the ground along the field line and mode‐convert to linearly polarized field‐aligned propagating waves at the Alfvén and IIH resonances. Therefore, solar wind compressions efficiently drive linearly polarized EMIC waves when the dipole angle is tilted toward or away from the Sun‐Earth direction.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Coulomb bound states of strongly interacting photons

We show that two photons coupled to Rydberg states via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) can interact via an effective Coulomb potential. The interaction then gives rise to a continuum of two-body bound states. Within the continuum, metastable bound states are distinguished in analogy with quasi-bound states tunneling through a potential barrier. We find multiple branches of metastable bound states whose energy spectrum is governed by the Coulomb problem, thus obtaining a photonic analogue of the hydrogen atom. These states propagate with a negative group velocity in the medium, which allows for a simple preparation and detection scheme, before they slowly decay to pairs of bound Rydberg atoms. As a result, we verify the metastability and backward propagation of these Coulomb bound states with exact numerical simulations.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Excitation of helicons by current antennas

Depending on the angle θ between the wave vector and the magnetic field, helicons are conventionally divided into two branches: proper helicons (H mode), propagating at small θ, and Trivelpiece–Gould waves (TG mode), propagating at large θ. The latter are close to potential waves and have a significant electric component along the external magnetic field. It is believed that it is these waves that provide electron heating in helicon discharges. There is also commonly believed that current antennas, widely used to ignite helicon discharges, excite essentially nonpotential Н modes, which then transform into TG modes due to plasma inhomogeneity. In this work, it is demonstrated that electromagnetic energy can also be efficiently introduced in plasma by means of TG modes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Magnetopause Reconnection as Influenced by the Dipole Tilt Under Southward IMF Conditions: Hybrid Simulation and MMS Observation

Abstract Using a three‐dimensional (3‐D) global‐scale hybrid code, the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) reconnection event around 02:13 UT on 18 November 2015, highlighted in the Geospace Environment Modeling (GEM) Dayside Kinetic Challenge, is simulated, in which the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) points southward and the geomagnetic field has a −27° dipole tilt angle. Strong southward plasma jets are found near the magnetopause as a result of the dayside reconnection. Our results indicate that the subsolar magnetopause reconnection X line shifts from the subsolar point toward the Northern Hemisphere due to the effect of the tilted geomagnetic dipole angle, consistent with the MMS observation. Subsequently, the reconnection X lines or sites and reconnection flux ropes above the equator propagate northward along the magnetopause. The formation and global distribution of the X lines and the structure of the magnetopause reconnection are investigated in detail with the simulation. Mirror mode waves are also found in the middle of the magnetosheath downstream of the quasi‐perpendicular shock where the plasma properties are consistent with the mirror instability condition. As a special outcome of the GEM challenge event, the spatial and temporal variations in reconnection, the electromagnetic power spectra, and the associated D‐shaped ion velocity distributions in the simulated reconnection event are compared with the MMS observation.

Guo, Zhifang↗

Waveguide modes of 1D photonic crystals in a transverse magnetic field

We analyze waveguide modes in 1D photonic crystals containing layers magnetized in the plane. It is shown that the magnetooptical nonreciprocity effect emerges in such structures during the propagation of waveguide modes along the layers and perpendicularly to the magnetization. This effect involves a change in the phase velocity of the mode upon reversal of the direction of magnetization. Comparison of the effects in a nonmagnetic photonic crystal with an additional magnetic layer and in a photonic crystal with magnetic layers shows that the magnitude of this effect is several times larger in the former case in spite of the fact that the electromagnetic field of the modes in the latter case is localized in magnetic regions more strongly. This is associated with asymmetry of the dielectric layers contacting with the magnetic layer in the former case. This effect is important for controlling waveguide structure modes with the help of an external magnetic field.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Parameters of the Lightning Attachment Processes in a Negative Cloud-To-Ground Stroke Observed on a Microsecond Timescale

We present time-correlated ultra-high-speed video camera and electromagnetic field measurements of the attachment processes in a natural negative cloud-to-ground stroke. The video camera frame exposure time and pixel resolution were 740 ns and 0.91 m/pixel, respectively. The common streamer zone (CSZ) was first observed 2.52 µs preceding the first frame showing the return stroke (RS) in progress, when the upward and downward leader-tips were 9.8 m apart. In the next frame, the two leaders were observed to have propagated toward each other within the CSZ, with their tips being 0.91 m apart. Our observations show with unprecedented precision/clarity that (a) the slow front in the field waveform is associated with the CSZ, and (b) the “proper” start of the RS is marked by the onset of the fast transition in the field waveform which occurs at the completion of the attachment processes (when the upward and downward leaders have merged).

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Electromagnetic analysis of the plasma chamber of an ECR-based charge breeder

The optimization of the efficiency of an ECR-based charge breeder is a twofold task: efforts must be paid to maximize the capture of the injected 1+ ions by the confined plasma and to produce high charge states to allow post-acceleration at high energies. Both tasks must be faced by studying in detail the electrons heating dynamics, influenced by the microwave-to-plasma coupling mechanism. Numerical simulations are a powerful tools for obtaining quantitative information about the wave-to-plasma interaction process: this paper presents a numerical study of the microwaves propagation and absorption inside the plasma chamber of the PHOENIX charge breeder, which the selective production of exotic species project, under construction at Legnaro National Laboratories, will adopt as charge breeder. Calculations were carried out with a commercial 3D FEM solver: first, all the resonant frequencies were determined by considering a simplified plasma chamber; then, the realistic geometry was taken into account, including a cold plasma model of increasing complexity. The results gave important information about the power absorption and losses and will allow the improvement of the plasma model to be used in a refined step of calculation reproducing the breeding process itself.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗