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High-temperature equilibria from plasma sources. II - Hydrocarbon systems.
High temperature equilibria from hydrocarbon plasma sources subjected to 3000 W RF electrodeless discharge
Hydrogen Effects on GaAs, Status and Progress
It has been observed that GaAs devices in hermetically sealed packages when exposed to temperatures as low as 125oC can exhibit unacceptable degradation in both RF and DC characteristics. The source of the problem was found to be hydrogen that has been absorbed in the package's metals (Kovar, plating, etc.) and converted into atomic hydrogen within the Pt metallization of the gate structure. Subsequently, atomic hydrogen diffuses into the channel region of the FET structure and neutralizes the Si donors, resulting in a degradation of the device characteristics. Most of the data indicates the onslaught of the problem to occur after 500 hours at 125oC. This onslaught has been observed to be dependent on the thickness and processing conditions of the passivation layer, the sealing environment, and the amount of Pt or Pd in the gate structure of the device.
Design and Development of the SMAP Microwave Radiometer Electronics
The SMAP microwave radiometer will measure land surface brightness temperature at L-band (1413 MHz) in the presence of radio frequency interference (RFI) for soil moisture remote sensing. The radiometer design was driven by the requirements to incorporate internal calibration, to operate synchronously with the SMAP radar, and to mitigate the deleterious effects of RFI. The system design includes a highly linear super-heterodyne microwave receiver with internal reference loads and noise sources for calibration and an innovative digital signal processor and detection system. The front-end comprises a coaxial cable-based feed network, with a pair of diplexers and a coupled noise source, and radiometer front-end (RFE) box. Internal calibration is provided by reference switches and a common noise source inside the RFE. The RF back-end (RBE) downconverts the 1413 MHz channel to an intermediate frequency (IF) of 120 MHz. The IF signals are then sampled and quantized by high-speed analog-to-digital converters in the radiometer digital electronics (RDE) box. The RBE local oscillator and RDE sampling clocks are phase-locked to a common reference to ensure coherency between the signals. The RDE performs additional filtering, sub-band channelization, cross-correlation for measuring third and fourth Stokes parameters, and detection and integration of the first four raw moments of the signals. These data are packetized and sent to the ground for calibration and further processing. Here we discuss the novel features of the radiometer hardware particularly those influenced by the need to mitigate RFI.
Wafer-based charged particle accelerator, wafer components, methods, and applications
A wafer-based charged particle accelerator includes a charged particle source and at least one RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assembly and a power supply coupled to the at least one RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assembly. The wafer-based charged particle accelerator may further include a beam current-sensor. The wafer-based charged particle accelerator may further include at least a second RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assembly and at least one ESQ charged particle focusing wafer. Fabrication methods are disclosed for RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assemblies, ESQ charged particle focusing wafers, and the wafer-based charged particle accelerator.
Wafer-based charged particle accelerator, wafer components, methods, and applications
A wafer-based charged particle accelerator includes a charged particle source and at least one RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assembly and a power supply coupled to the at least one RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assembly. The wafer-based charged particle accelerator may further include a beam current-sensor. The wafer-based charged particle accelerator may further include at least a second RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assembly and at least one ESQ charged particle focusing wafer. Fabrication methods are disclosed for RF charged particle accelerator wafer sub-assemblies, ESQ charged particle focusing wafers, and the wafer-based charged particle accelerator.
WSF PISA example for SAFER pilot
On October 15, 2021, the Radioactive and Hazardous Waste Management Facility Manager declared a Potential Inadequacy in the Safety Analysis (PISA) due to a new information relating to an error discovered in calculation AB-WSF-20-002. Calculation AB-WSF-20-002 is used to determine source terms and heat release rates for vehicle and aircraft impacts with fuel fires involving TRU waste containers. The source term for an aircraft’s impact has different source terms factors (i.e., DR, ARF, RF, LPF) that are applied to multiple categories of drums impacted in the accident scenario based on the physical stresses of the aircraft impact and involvement in the subsequent fuel pool fire. The source terms of the multiple categories of affected drums are summed to determine the final source term for the accident scenario. Certain categories of affected drums are modeled to lose their lid, causing material to eject and burn unconfined on the ground. For these specific categories, a lower ARF value was incorrectly applied in AB-WSF-20-002 (i.e., an ARF value of 1E-3 was used instead of the DOE-STD-5506-2007 directed ARF value of 1E-2). For these categories, the ARF is applied to a relatively small number of low-activity drums (i.e., 17 drums at 2.9 PE-Ci each) compared to the total number of drums affected (i.e., 166 drums totaling 621.8 PE-Ci). Therefore, this error is not expected to significantly increase final dose for the accident scenario. No immediate actions or compensatory measures are required to maintain the facility in a safe condition.
Overview of ion source characterization diagnostics in INTF
INdian Test Facility (INTF) is envisaged to characterize ITER diagnostic neutral beam system and to establish the functionality of its eight inductively coupled RF plasma driver based negative hydrogen ion source and its beamline components. The beam quality mainly depends on the ion source performance and therefore, its diagnostics plays an important role for its safe and optimized operation. A number of diagnostics are planned in INTF to characterize the ion source performance. Negative ions and its cesium contents in the source will be monitored by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) and cavity ring down spectroscopy. Plasma near the extraction region will be studied using standard electrostatic probes. The beam divergence and negative ion stripping losses are planned to be measured using Doppler shift spectroscopy. During initial phase of ion beam characterization, carbon fiber composite based infrared imaging diagnostics will be used. Safe operation of the beam will be ensured by using standard thermocouples and electrical voltage-current measurement sensors. A novel concept, based on plasma density dependent plasma impedance measurement using RF electrical impedance matching parameters to characterize the RF driver plasma, will be tested in INTF and will be validated with OES data. The paper will discuss about the overview of the complete INTF diagnostics including its present status of procurement, experimentation, interface with mechanical systems in INTF, and integration with INTF data acquisition and control systems.
Automating the interpretation of PM 2.5 time–resolved measurements using a data–driven approach
The rapid development of automated measurement equipment enables researchers to collect greater quantities of time-resolved data from indoor and outdoor environments. While significant, the interpretation of the resulting data can be a time-consuming effort. This paper introduces an automated process of interpreting PM 2.5 time-resolved data and differentiating PM 2.5 emissions resulting from indoor and outdoor sources. Here, we use Random Forest (RF), a machine learning approach, to study a dataset of 836 indoor emission events that occurred over a 2-week period in 18 apartments in California. In this paper, we show model development and evaluate its performance as the sample size and source vary. We discuss the characteristics of the dataset that tended to help the source identification and why. For example, we show that data from many events and from different apartments are essential for the model to be suitable for analyzing a new separate dataset. We also show that longitudinal data appear to be more helpful than the time frequency of measurements within a given apartment. We use the resulting RF model to analyze PM 2.5 data of an entirely separate dataset collected from 65 new homes in California. The RF model identifies 442 indoor emission events, with only a few misidentifications.
Coupling extended magnetohydrodynamic fluid codes with radiofrequency ray tracing codes for fusion modeling
Neoclassical tearing modes are macroscopic ($L$ ~ 1 m) instabilities in magnetic fusion experiments; if unchecked, these modes degrade plasma performance and may catastrophically destroy plasma confinement by inducing a disruption. Fortunately, the use of properly tuned and directed radiofrequency waves ($λ$ ~ 1 mm) can eliminate these modes. Numerical modeling of this difficult multiscale problem requires the integration of separate mathematical models for each length and time scale [T. G. Jenkins, S. E. Kruger, Phys. Plasmas 19 (2012) 122508]; the extended MHD model captures macroscopic plasma evolution while the RF model tracks the flow and deposition of injected RF power through the evolving plasma profiles. The scale separation enables use of the eikonal (ray-tracing) approximation to model the RF wave propagation. In this work we demonstrate a technique, based on methods of computational geometry, for mapping the ensuing RF data (associated with discrete ray trajectories) onto the finite-element/pseudospectral grid that is used to model the extended MHD physics. In the new representation, the RF data can then be used to construct source terms in the equations of the extended MHD model, enabling quantitative modeling of RF-induced tearing mode stabilization. Though our specific implementation uses the NIMROD extended MHD [C. R. Sovinec et al., J. Comp. Phys. 195 (2004) 355] and GENRAY RF [A. P. Smirnov, R. W. Harvey, K. Kupfer, Bull. Amer. Phys. Soc. 39 (1994) 1626] codes, the approach presented can be applied more generally to any code coupling requiring the mapping of ray tracing data onto Eulerian grids.
The direct injection of intense ion beams from a high field electron cyclotron resonance ion source into a radio frequency quadrupole
The ion current achievable from high intensity ECR sources for highly charged ions is limited by the high space charge. This makes classical extraction systems for the transport and subsequent matching to a radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator less efficient. The direct plasma injection (DPI) method developed originally for the laser ion source avoids these problems and uses the combined focusing of the gap between the ion source and the RFQ vanes (or rods) and the focusing of the rf fields from the RFQ penetrating into this gap. For high performance ECR sources that use superconducting solenoids, the stray magnetic field of the source in addition to the DPI scheme provides focusing against the space charge blow-up of the beam. A combined extraction/matching system has been designed for a high performance ECR ion source injecting into an RFQ, allowing a total beam current of 10 mA from the ion source for the production of highly charged {sup 238}U{sup 40+} (1.33 mA) to be injected at an ion source voltage of 60 kV. In this design, the features of IGUN have been used to take into account the rf-focusing of an RFQ channel (without modulation), the electrostatic field between ion source extraction and the RFQ vanes, the magnetic stray field of the ECR superconducting solenoid, and the defocusing space charge of an ion beam. The stray magnetic field is shown to be critical in the case of a matched beam.
Pulsed pyroelectric crystal-powered gamma source
A compact pulsed gamma generator is being developed to replace radiological sources used in commercial, industrial and medical applications. Mono-energetic gammas are produced in the 0.4 - 1.0 MeV energy range using nuclear reactions such as {sup 9}Be(d,n{gamma}){sup 10}B. The gamma generator employs an RF-driven inductively coupled plasma ion source to produce deuterium ion current densities up to 2 mA/mm{sup 2} and ampere-level current pulses can be attained by utilizing an array extraction grid. The extracted deuterium ions are accelerated to approximately 300 keV via a compact stacked pyroelectric crystal system and then bombard the beryllium target to generate gammas. The resulting microsecond pulse of gammas is equivalent to a radiological source with curie-level activity.
Noise and interference study for satellite lightning sensor
The use of radio frequency techniques for the detection and monitoring of terrestrial thunderstorms from space are discussed. Three major points are assessed: (1) lightning and noise source characteristics; (2) propagation effects imposed by the atmosphere and ionosphere; and (3) the electromagnetic environment in near space within which lightning RF signatures must be detected. A composite frequency spectrum of the peak of amplitude from lightning flashes is developed. Propagation effects (ionospheric cutoff, refraction, absorption, dispersion and scintillation) are considered to modify the lightning spectrum to the geosynchronous case. It is suggested that in comparing the modified spectrum with interfering noise source spectra RF lightning pulses on frequencies up to a few GHz are detectable above the natural noise environment in near space.
Investigation of hot-spots due to trapped flux in niobium superconducting radiofrequency cavities
One of the significant sources of residual losses in superconducting radio-frequency cavities is magnetic flux trapped during the cool-down due to the incomplete Messier effect. If the trapped vortices are non-uniformly distributed on the cavity surface, the temperature mapping revealed the “hotspots” at the location of high density of pinned vortices. Here, we performed a rf test on 1.3 GHz single cell cavity with the combination of the temperature mapping system. The temperature mapping reveled the development of the hot spots with the increase in rf field inside the cavity. When magnetic field is trapped locally on the surface of cavity, the hot-spots strength increase rapidly, showing the direct correlation of vortex induced hot spot and corresponding rf loss.
Langmuir probe study of an inductively coupled magnetic-pole-enhanced helium plasma
This study reports the effects of RF power and filling gas pressure variation on the plasma parameters, including the electron number density n{sub e}, electron temperature T{sub e}, plasma potential V{sub p}, skin depth δ, and electron energy probability functions (EEPFs) in a low-pressure inductively coupled helium plasma source with magnetic pole enhancement. An RF compensated Langmuir probe is used to measure these plasma parameters. It is observed that the electron number density increases with both the RF power and the filling gas pressure. Conversely, the electron temperature decreases with increasing RF power and gas pressure. It is also noted that, at low RF powers and gas pressures, the EEPFs are non-Maxwellian, while at RF powers of ≥50 W, they evolve into a Maxwellian distribution. The dependences of the skin depth and plasma potential on the RF power are also studied and show a decreasing trend.
An Optical Streaking Method for Measuring Femtosecond Electron Bunches
The measurement of the ultra-short electron bunch length on the femtosecond time scale constitutes a very challenging problem. In the x-ray free electron laser facilities such as the Linac Coherent Light Source, generation of a sub-ten femtoseconds electron beam with 20pC charge is possible, but direct measurements are very difficult due to the resolution limit of the present diagnostics. We propose a new method here based on the measurement of the electron beam energy modulation induced from laser-electron interaction in a short wiggler. A typical optical streaking method requires a laser wavelength much longer than the electron bunch length. In this paper a laser with its wavelength shorter than the electron bunch length has been adopted, while the slope on the laser intensity envelope is used to distinguish the different periods. With this technique it is possible to reconstruct the bunch longitudinal profile from a single shot measurement. Generation of ultrashort x-ray pulses at femtoseconds (fs) scale is of great interest within synchrotron radiation and free electron laser (FEL) user community. One of the simple methods is to operate the FEL facility at low charge. At the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS), we have demonstrated the capability of generating ultrashort electron-beam (e-beam) with a duration of less than 10 fs fwhm using 20 pC charge. The x-ray pulses have been delivered to the x-ray users with a similar or even shorter pulse duration. However, The measurement of such short electron or x-ray pulse length at the fs time-scale constitutes a challenging problem. A standard method using an S-band radio-frequency (rf) transverse deflector has been established at LCLS, which works like a streak camera for electrons and is capable of resolving bunch lengths as short as 25 fs fwhm. With this device, the electrons are transversely deflected by the high-frequency time-variation of the deflecting fields. Increasing the deflecting voltage and rf frequency are the right direction to achieve a better resolution. For example, by choosing an X-band transverse deflecting cavity, the expected resolution for LCLS beam with 4.3 GeV is about 1 fs rms. Typically the rf breakdown threshold and the power source availability prevent going to even higher voltage and frequency. With the highly-developed laser techniques, we can choose to streak the beam at optical frequencies. By jumping from rf to optical frequency, the wavelength is shortening by 4 to 5 orders. With an electron bunch length shorter than half period of the laser, we can apply the similar rf deflecting or zero-phasing method for e-beam bunch length measurements using a high-power laser. A short wiggler is required to provide interaction between the electron and the laser. For example, to measure the e-beam at the order of 1 m rms length, a laser with its wavelength of 10 {mu}m may be considered. For a typical few GeV e-beam, the wiggler period has to be large to satisfy the resonance condition. Also, if the e-beam is longer than one laser period, the different modulation periods will overlap and we cannot distinguish them. So this method is so far limited by the achievable long-wavelength laser power. To get an effective modulation on an e-beam of 4.3 GeV, the required laser power is about a few tens GW. In this paper we propose to adopt a high-power Ti:Sapphire laser (wavelength of 800 nm), and use the slope in the intensity envelope to distinguish the different modulation periods. First an ultrashort electron beam interacts with the Ti:Sapphire laser in a wiggler, where the electron energy is modulated at the same periods of the laser. If the laser pulse is long and the short electron bunch is overlapped (in time) with the middle part of the laser, such as the setup at LCLS laser heater, the different energy modulation periods on the electron beam will be overlapped on the energy profile. In this conditionwe typically have a double-horn distribution of the energy profile, and the electron-bunch length information cannot be retrieved. But if the laser pulse (with a Gaussian temporal shape) is relatively short, we can synchronize the e-beam with the laser at the slope region of the intensity envelope, and the amplitude of each energy modulation period will be different. Then these electrons pass through a dispersive section such as a spectrometer, after that this periodically-modulated energy profile can be observed in a transverse screen. By properly choosing the laser parameters, each modulation period will show as a separate streak on the screen. This modulation period in energy dimension correlates to the laser wavelength in time dimension. Since the laser wavelength is a known parameter, no additional calibration is needed. This provides a single shot, self-calibrated method for ultrashort electron bunch length measurements.
Rotational and vibrational temperatures in a hydrogen discharge with a magnetic X-point
A novel plasma source with a magnetic X-point has been developed to probe an alternative for cesium-free negative hydrogen ion production. This study presents first results for the gas and vibrational temperatures in the source at 1 Pa and various RF powers. The temperatures are obtained from analysis of the intensity distribution of the molecular Fulcher-{alpha} bands. The gas temperature increases with the RF power, while the vibrational temperature remains constant in the studied range of RF powers. Both quantities show no appreciable spatial dependence. The obtained high values of the vibrational temperatures indicate a high population of the vibrational levels, favourable for the volume negative ion production. A theoretical concept indicates the presence of an optimum value for the vibrational temperature at which the negative hydrogen ion yield by volume processes has a maximum. Coincidently, the measured value is close to this optimum. This indicates that the novel concept can provide certain advantages compared to other sources based on volume production.
RF generation in the DARHT Axis-II beam dump
We have occasionally observed radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals in the downstream transport (DST) of the second axis linear induction accelerator (LIA) at the dual-axis radiographic hydrodynamic testing (DARHT) facility. We have identified and eliminated some of the sources by eliminating the offending cavities. However, we still observe strong RF in the range 1 GHz t0 2 GHz occurring late in the ~2-μs pulse that can be excited or prevented by varying the downstream tune. The narrow frequency width (<0.5%) and near exponential growth at the dominant frequency is indicative of a beam-cavity interaction, and electro-magnetic simulations of cavity structure show a spectrum rich in resonances in the observed frequency range. However, the source of beam produced RF in the cavity resonance frequency range has not been identified, and it has been the subject of much speculation, ranging from beam-plasma or beam-ion instabilities to unstable cavity coupling.