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At least 847 records · Page 47

Implementation of higher-order velocity mapping between marker particles and grid in the particle-in-cell code XGC

The global total-f gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code XGC, used to study transport in magnetic fusion plasmas or to couple with a core gyrokinetic code while functioning as an edge gyrokinetic code, implements a five-dimensional continuum grid to perform the dissipative operations, such as plasma collisions, or to exchange the particle distribution function information with a core code. To transfer the distribution function between marker particles and a rectangular two-dimensional velocity-space grid, XGC employs a bilinear mapping. The conservation of particle density and momentum is accurate enough in this bilinear operation, but the error in the particle energy conservation can become undesirably large and cause non-negligible numerical heating in a steep edge pedestal. In the present work we update XGC to use a novel mapping technique, based on the calculation of a pseudo-inverse, to exactly preserve moments up to the order of the discretization space. Here we describe the details of the implementation and we demonstrate the reduced interpolation error for a tokamak test plasma using first- and second-order elements with the pseudo-inverse method and comparing with the bilinear mapping.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Tuning the g-factor of neutral and charged excitons confined to self-assembled (Al,Ga)As shell quantum dots

We study the neutral exciton (X) and charged exciton (CX) transitions from (Al,Ga)As shell quantum dots located in core-shell nanowires, in the presence of a magnetic field. The g-factors and the diamagnetic coefficients of both the X and the CX depend on the orientation of the field with respect to the nanowire axis. The aspect ratio of the X wavefunction is quantified based on the anisotropy of the diamagnetic coefficient. For specific orientations of the magnetic field, it is possible to cancel the g-factor of the bright states of the X and the CX by means of an inversion of the sign of the hole's g-factor, which is promising for quantum information processing applications.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Multi-frequency optical-depth maps and the case for free-free absorption in two compact symmetric radio sources: The CSO candidate J1324 + 4048 and the CSO J0029 + 3457

We obtained dual-polarization very long baseline interferometry observations at six frequencies of the compact symmetric object J0029 + 3457 and the compact symmetric object candidate J1324 + 4048. By comparing the three lower-frequency maps with extrapolations of the high-frequency maps, we produced maps of the optical depth as a function of frequency. The morphology of the optical-depth maps of J1324 + 4048 is strikingly smooth, suggestive of a foreground screen of absorbing gas. The spectra at the intensity peaks fit a simple free-free absorption (FFA) model, with χ{sub ν}{sup 2}≈2, better than a simple synchrotron self-absorption model, in which χ{sub ν}{sup 2}≈3.5--5.5. We conclude that the case for FFA in J1324 + 4048 is strong. The optical-depth maps of J0029 + 3457 exhibit structure, but the morphology does not correlate with that in the intensity maps. The fit of the spectra at the peaks to a simple FFA model yields χ{sub ν}{sup 2}≈1, but because the turnover is gradual, the fit is relatively insensitive to the input parameters. We find that FFA by a thin amount of gas in J0029 + 3457 is likely but not definitive. One compact feature in J0029 + 3457 has an inverted spectrum even at the highest frequencies. We infer this to be the location of the core and estimate an upper limit to the magnetic field of order 3 Gauss at a radius of order 1 pc. In comparison with maps from observations at earlier epochs, no apparent growth in either J1324 + 4048 or J0029 + 3457 is apparent, with upper limits of 0.03 and 0.02 mas yr{sup –1}, corresponding to maximum linear separation speeds of 0.6c and 0.4c.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Shafranov-shift destabilization of ballooning-type micro-instabilities

Contrary to common wisdom, we argue that the Shafranov shift is destabilizing for the ambient ballooning-type instabilities, which account for most of the transport flux in tokamak core plasmas. Higher Shafranov shift indeed reduces the magnetic drift frequency ω d , i.e. improves the bad curvature mildly, around the outboard midplane. However, this improvement is limited to a very narrow spatial region while ω d is increased over the remaining poloidal space. The eigenfunction averaged $\langle$ω d $\rangle$ is effectively enhanced due to the finite mode width of the eigenfunction and is thus destabilizing to the ballooning-type mode, as demonstrated by gyrokinetic simulations with the CGYRO code using local Miller equilibrium geometry. The predicted nonlinear flux also increases with Shafranov shift, consistent with linear simulations. The reduced transport model TGLF can capture the physics reasonably well.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Implementation of higher-order velocity mapping between marker particles and grid in the particle-in-cell code XGC

The global total-f gyrokinetic particle-in-cell code XGC, used to study transport in magnetic fusion plasmas or to couple with a core gyrokinetic code while functioning as an edge gyrokinetic code, implements a 5-dimensional (5D) continuum grid to perform the dissipative operations, such as plasma collisions, or to exchange the particle distribution function information with a core code. To transfer the distribution function between marker particles and a rectangular 2D velocity-space grid, XGC employs a bilinear mapping. The conservation of particle density and momentum is accurate enough in this bilinear operation, but the error in the particle energy conservation can become undesirably large and cause non-negligible numerical heating in a steep edge pedestal. In the present work we update XGC to use a novel mapping technique, based on the calculation of a pseudo-inverse, to exactly preserve moments up to the order of the discretization space. We describe the details of the implementation and we demonstrate the reduced interpolation error for a tokamak test plasma by using 1st- and 2nd-order elements with the pseudo-inverse method and comparing to the bilinear mapping.

Fusion Plasma↗

A Flexible Field Mapping System for Accelerator Magnets

Magnetic field mapping is a fundamental magnetic measurement method that typically uses Hall and NMR sensors. In magnet measurement facilities, such systems are likely used in various configurations suitable for a specific task at hand. To address this diversity, the authors developed a flexible field mapping system capable of being configured and tailored to each particular measurement case. The system needs to address the variability introduced by differences in sensors and their readout systems, probe positioning systems, power supply systems and in required mapping geometry (mapping space and grid, measurement steps and sequences). Although the discussed field mapping systems range from a self-propelled, multi-sensor mapper of a large detector magnet to a single 3D Hall sensor system to scan a small permanent magnet, they were all built with the same core mapping system. The variability present in field mapping systems and the measurement system architecture addressing this variability, as well as examples of several field mapping systems built in this architecture are presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Dynamic Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer System for Electric Vehicles (CRADA Final Report)

Road transportation accounts for 23% of our nation's total energy consumption, 59% of our petroleum consumption and 22% of our total emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) have much higher well-to-wheel efficiency compared to gasoline vehicles and can reduce our dependence on oil, minimize emissions, improve local air quality and provide a platform for technological innovation and economic growth. While major progress has been made in the development of electric vehicles, their penetration remains under 1 The main hurdles in their widespread adoption are high cost, limited range and long charging times, due to limitations in battery technology. An approach to overcome these hurdles is to substantially reduce the on-board energy storage and instead deliver power wirelessly to the vehicle while it is in motion dynamic wireless power transfer (WPT). For EV charging applications, researchers have traditionally focused on inductive WPT. An issue with inductive WPT systems is that for magnetic flux guidance and shielding, they require ferrite cores, making them expensive, bulky and difficult to embed in the roadway. Under an ARPA-E IDEAS grant, the CU Boulder team has recently developed an alternative approach to WPT based on capacitive coupling that is much smaller, lighter, less expensive, and easier to embed in the roadway than inductive WPT; and have demonstrated a 1.2-kW 6.78-MHz version of this capacitive WPT system on a stationary platform. Under this seed grant program, preliminary work will be carried out on a dynamic capacitive WPT system to prepare a strong proposal for the ARPA-E OPEN 2018 FOA.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

The Role of Cerenkov Radiation in the Pressure Balance of Cool Core Clusters of Galaxies

Despite the substantial progress made recently in understanding the role of AGN feedback and associated non-thermal effects, the precise mechanism that prevents the core of some clusters of galaxies from collapsing catastrophically by radiative cooling remains unidentified. In this Letter, we demonstrate that the evolution of a cluster's cooling core, in terms of its density, temperature, and magnetic field strength, inevitably enables the plasma electrons there to quickly become Cerenkov loss dominated, with emission at the radio frequency of ≲350 Hz, and with a rate considerably exceeding free–free continuum and line emission. However, the same does not apply to the plasmas at the cluster's outskirts, which lacks such radiation. Owing to its low frequency, the radiation cannot escape, but because over the relevant scale size of a Cerenkov wavelength the energy of an electron in the gas cannot follow the Boltzmann distribution to the requisite precision to ensure reabsorption always occurs faster than stimulated emission, the emitting gas cools before it reheats. This leaves behind the radiation itself, trapped by the overlying reflective plasma, yet providing enough pressure to maintain quasi-hydrostatic equilibrium. The mass condensation then happens by Rayleigh–Taylor instability, at a rate determined by the outermost radius where Cerenkov radiation can occur. In this way, it is possible to estimate the rate at ≈2 M {sub ⊙} year{sup −1}, consistent with observational inference. Thus, the process appears to provide a natural solution to the longstanding problem of “cooling flow” in clusters; at least it offers another line of defense against cooling and collapse should gas heating by AGN feedback be inadequate in some clusters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Amorphous Metal Ribbon (AMR) and Metal Amorphous Nanocomposite (MANC) Materials Enabled High Power Density Vehicle Motor Applications (Final Technical Report)

A collaborative team from Carnegie Mellon Univ. (CMU), North Carolina State Univ. (NCSU) and Metglas, South Carolina have studied new high speed motors (HSMs) with high-power density for traction motor applications. These are enabled by hybrid designs, including Flux Switching with Permanent Magnets (FSWPM) motors, exploiting permanent magnets without heavy rare earths (RE-lean) and high induction/high resistivity soft magnetic materials that allow for high switching frequencies needed to increase power densities. Team members include Michael E. McHenry, Prof. Materials Science & Eng., CMU, with > 30 years experience in magnetic materials development; Subashish Bhattacharya, Prof. Electrical Eng. and Freedom Center Director at NCSU with > 30 years experience in development of power electronic components and systems and Eric Theisen, Director of Research at Metglas, the only US located supplier of AMR and MANC materials. The team offers novel axial motor architectures exploiting soft magnetic materials (SMMs) that switch with low loss at high frequencies and heavy rare earth free permanent magnets that address materials criticality issues, supply chain risks, and high costs for traction motors. Axial-flux permanent magnet motors (APFM), offer efficiency improvements reducing rotor losses and also significantly higher power density. Axial-flux construction requires less core material, high torque-to-weight ratio. Since AFPM machines have thin magnets, they are smaller than radial flux motors making them attractive in space-limited applications. Noise and vibration are less and planar air gaps are easily adjusted. Flexibility in air-gap direction allows many topologies.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Torque ripple reduction in electric machines

An electric machine, such as an Internal Permanent magnet or Synchronous Reluctance machine, having X phases, that includes a stator assembly, having M slots, with a stator core and stator teeth, that is further configured with stator windings to generate a stator magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface that defines a cavity; and a rotor assembly, having N poles, disposed within the cavity which is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotor assembly includes a shaft, a rotor core located circumferentially around the shaft. The machine is configured such that a value k=M/(X*N) wherein k is a non-integer greater than about 1.3. The electric machine may alternatively, or additionally, include a non-uniformed gap between the exterior surface of the rotor spokes and the interior stator surface of the stator.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Magnetic fields in the formation of the first stars – II. Results

ABSTRACT Beginning with cosmological initial conditions at z = 100, we simulate the effects of magnetic fields on the formation of Population III stars and compare our results with the predictions of Paper I. We use gadget-2 to follow the evolution of the system while the field is weak. We introduce a new method for treating kinematic fields by tracking the evolution of the deformation tensor. The growth rate in this stage of the simulation is lower than expected for diffuse astrophysical plasmas, which have a very low resistivity (high magnetic Prandtl number); we attribute this to the large numerical resistivity in simulations, corresponding to a magnetic Prandtl number of order unity. When the magnetic field begins to be dynamically significant in the core of the minihalo at z = 27, we map it on to a uniform grid and follow the evolution in an adaptive mesh refinement, MHD simulation in orion2. The non-linear evolution of the field in the orion2 simulation violates flux-freezing and is consistent with the theory proposed by Xu & Lazarian. The fields approach equipartition with kinetic energy at densities ∼1010–1012 cm−3. When the same calculation is carried out in orion2 with no magnetic fields, several protostars form, ranging in mass from ∼1 to 30 M⊙; with magnetic fields, only a single ∼30 M⊙ protostar forms by the end of the simulation. Magnetic fields thus suppress the formation of low-mass Pop III stars, yielding a top-heavy Pop III initial mass function and contributing to the absence of observed Pop III stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Correlated spin canting in ordered core-shell Fe 3 O 4 / Mn x Fe 3 - x O 4 nanoparticle assemblies

Polarization-analyzed small-angle neutron-scattering methods are used to determine the spin arrangements and experimental length scales of magnetic correlations in ordered three-dimensional assemblies of ~7.4-nm-diam core-shell Fe 3 O 4 /Mn x Fe 3–x O 4 nanoparticles. In moderate to high magnetic fields, the assemblies display a canted magnetic structure where the canting direction is coherent from nanoparticle to nanoparticle, in contrast to the less extended, more single-particle-like behavior for similar ferrite assemblies. The observed magnetic scattering is modeled by assuming that the interparticle dipolar coupling combined with Zeeman effects in a field leads to nanoparticle domains with preferred net spin alignments relative to packing symmetry axes. Over a range of fields and temperatures, the model qualitatively explains the observed scattering anomalies in terms of clusters that vary in area and thickness, highlighting the complex structures adopted in real, dense nanoparticle systems. Here, the clusters often have a strong two-dimensional magnetic character which is attributed to structural stacking faults and the resulting influence of interparticle dipolar interactions for these magnetically soft nanoparticles.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Drift-wave stability in the field-reversed configuration

Gyrokinetic simulations of C-2-like field-reversed configuration (FRC) find that electrostatic drift-waves are locally stable in the core. The stabilization mechanisms include finite Larmor radius effects, magnetic well (negative grad-B), and fast electron short circuit effects. In the scrape-off layer (SOL), collisionless electrostatic drift-waves in the ion-to-electron-scale are destabilized by electron temperature gradients due to the resonance with locally barely trapped electrons. Collisions can suppress this instability, but a collisional drift-wave instability still exists at realistic pressure gradients. Simulation results are in qualitative agreement with C-2 FRC experiments. In particular, the lack of ion-scale instability in the core is not inconsistent with experimental measurements of a fluctuation spectrum showing a depression at ion-scales. Here, the pressure gradient thresholds for the SOL instability from simulations are also consistent with the critical gradient behavior observed in experiments.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Probing the innermost regions of AGN jets and their magnetic fields with RadioAstron. I. Imaging BL Lacertae at 21 μas resolution

We present the first polarimetric space very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging observations at 22 GHz. BL Lacertae was observed in 2013 November 10 with the RadioAstron space VLBI mission, including a ground array of 15 radio telescopes. The instrumental polarization of the space radio telescope is found to be less than 9%, demonstrating the polarimetric imaging capabilities of RadioAstron at 22 GHz. Ground–space fringes were obtained up to a projected baseline distance of 7.9 Earth diameters in length, allowing us to image the jet in BL Lacertae with a maximum angular resolution of 21 μas, the highest achieved to date. We find evidence for emission upstream of the radio core, which may correspond to a recollimation shock at about 40 μas from the jet apex, in a pattern that includes other recollimation shocks at approximately 100 and 250 μas from the jet apex. Polarized emission is detected in two components within the innermost 0.5 mas from the core, as well as in some knots 3 mas downstream. Faraday rotation analysis, obtained from combining RadioAstron 22 GHz and ground-based 15 and 43 GHz images, shows a gradient in rotation measure and Faraday-corrected polarization vector as a function of position angle with respect to the core, suggesting that the jet in BL Lacertae is threaded by a helical magnetic field. The intrinsic de-boosted brightness temperature in the unresolved core exceeds 3×10{sup 12} K, suggesting, at the very least, departure from equipartition of energy between the magnetic field and radiating particles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Performance of low-loss demountable joints between CORC ® cable-in-conduit-conductors at magnetic fields up to 8 T developed for fusion magnets

Abstract High-temperature superconductors (HTS) are promising candidates for use in the high-field magnets needed in particle accelerators and fusion reactors. HTS conductor on round core (CORC ® ) cables and wires wound from ReBa 2 Cu 3 O 7- x (REBCO) coated tapes are being developed for use in high-field magnet applications including fusion magnets operating at currents beyond 80 kA, requiring them to be bundled into cable-in-conduit conductor (CICC) configurations. The use of HTS cables enable demountable superconducting fusion magnets that would allow easier access to the fusion machine for maintenance and parts replacement. Such demountable magnets require practical, low-resistance joints, capable of injecting current uniformly into the many REBCO tapes that make up different cable designs. Optimization steps on CORC ® cables have resulted in high-current terminations and joints with a joint resistance measured between a pair of 30-tape CORC ® cables of 51 nΩ at 76 K and 1.9 nΩ at 4 K. Demountable joints between CICCs consisting of six CORC ® cables arranged in flat and round configurations were also tested and compared to joints between low-temperature superconducting (LTS) CICCs consisting of NbTi Rutherford cables. Samples were paired into two configurations (LTS-to-LTS and HTS-to-HTS) with a demountable joint between them that were each tested in series with currents up to 10 000 A in an applied background magnetic field of up to 8 T. The total loop resistance of the HTS-to-HTS sample, including their terminations and joint, was about 4 nΩ at 4 K in self-field with the resistance of the copper pressed joint being less than 1 nΩ. At 8 T, the total loop resistance increased to 6.9 nΩ with the pressed joint contributing 1.4 nΩ. These initial tests prove the feasibility of producing remountable (dry) joints with low resistance between superconducting magnet windings in future compact fusion machines.

Physics↗

National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade Collaborative Research on Configuration Optimization of Advanced Operating Scenarios and Control Including Macroscopy Stability EOG for Period 3/1/14 through 2/28/18

General Atomics has collaborated with PPPL since 1999 in support of NSTX and NSXT-U by leveraging DIII-D program expertise. John Ferron was the principal investigator (PI) for the first nine years (to 2008) and Rob La Haye since then. The research effort evolved over a number of three-year grants and originally included both the core (control, stability, resonant error fields) and the boundary (ELMs, divertor, error fields). In 2014 the current and last grant extension was stretched to four years and split into a core grant (advanced scenarios and control, macroscopic plasma stability and extending 3D magnetics diagnostics) and a boundary grant. Todd Evans is the PI for the new boundary grant which while also for four years expires later than the core grant; a separate end of grant (EOG) report for that is due in July 2018.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

High-cadence and high-resolution Hα imaging spectroscopy of a circular flare's remote ribbon with IBIS

We present an unprecedented high-resolution Hα imaging spectroscopic observation of a C4.1 flare taken with the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer (IBIS) in conjunction with the adaptive optics system at the 76 cm Dunn Solar Telescope on 2011 October 22 in the active region NOAA 11324. Such a two-dimensional spectroscopic observation covering the entire evolution of a flare ribbon with high spatial (0.''1 pixel{sup –1} image scale), cadence (4.8 s), and spectral (0.1 Å step size) resolution is rarely reported. The flare consists of a main circular ribbon that occurred in a parasitic magnetic configuration and a remote ribbon that was observed by the IBIS. Such a circular-ribbon flare with a remote brightening is predicted in three-dimensional fan-spine reconnection but so far has been rarely studied. During the flare impulsive phase, we define 'core' and 'halo' structures in the observed ribbon based on IBIS narrowband images in the Hα line wing and line center. Examining the Hα emission spectra averaged in the flare core and halo areas, we find that only those from the flare cores show typical nonthermal electron beam heating characteristics that have been revealed by previous theoretical simulations and observations of flaring Hα line profiles. These characteristics include broad and centrally reversed emission spectra, excess emission in the red wing with regard to the blue wing (i.e., red asymmetry), and redshifted bisectors of the emission spectra. We also observe rather quick timescales for the heating (∼30 s) and cooling (∼14-33 s) in the flare core locations. Therefore, we suggest that the flare cores revealed by IBIS track the sites of electron beam precipitation with exceptional spatial and temporal resolution. The flare cores show two-stage motion (a parallel motion along the ribbon followed by an expansion motion perpendicular to the ribbon) during the two impulsive phases of the flare. Some cores jump quickly (30 km s{sup –1}) between discrete magnetic elements implying reconnection involving different flux tubes. We observe a very high temporal correlation (≳ 0.9) between the integrated Hα and hard X-rays (HXR) emission during the flare impulsive phase. A short time delay (4.6 s) is also found in the Hα emission spikes relative to HXR bursts. The ionization timescale of the cool chromosphere and the extra time taken for the electrons to travel to the remote ribbon site may contribute to this delay.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗