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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 937 records · Page 52

Plasma-beam traps and radiofrequency quadrupole beam coolers

Two linear trap devices for particle beam manipulation (including emittance reduction, cooling, control of instabilities, dust dynamics, and non-neutral plasmas) are here presented, namely, a radiofrequency quadrupole (RFQ) beam cooler and a compact Penning trap with a dust injector. Both beam dynamics studies by means of dedicated codes including the interaction of the ions with a buffer gas (up to 3 Pa pressure), and the electromagnetic design of the RFQ beam cooler are reported. The compact multipurpose Penning trap is aimed to the study of multispecies charged particle samples, primarily electron beams interacting with a background gas and/or a micrometric dust contaminant. Using a 0.9 T solenoid and an electrode stack where both static and RF electric fields can be applied, both beam transport and confinement operations will be available. The design of the apparatus is presented.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Minimal model for spoof acoustoelastic surface states

Similar to textured perfect electric conductors for electromagnetic waves sustaining artificial or spoof surface plasmons we present an equivalent phenomena for the case of sound. Aided by a minimal model that is able to capture the complex wave interaction of elastic cavity modes and airborne sound radiation in perfect rigid panels, we construct designer acoustoelastic surface waves that are entirely controlled by the geometrical environment. Comparisons to results obtained by full-wave simulations confirm the feasibility of the model and we demonstrate illustrative examples such as resonant transmissions and waveguiding to show a few examples of many where spoof elastic surface waves are useful.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Designer Spatial Control of Interactions in Ultracold Gases

Designer optical control of interactions in ultracold atomic gases has wide applications, from creating new quantum phases to modeling the physics of black holes. We demonstrate wide tunability and spatial control of interactions in a two-component cloud of 6 Li fermions, using electromagnetically induced transparency. With two control fields detuned ≃1.5 THz from atomic resonance, megahertz changes in the frequency of one optical beam tune the measured scattering length over the full range achieved by magnetic control, with negligible (10 –6 ) effect on the net optical confining potential. A 1D “sandwich” of resonantly and weakly interacting regions is imprinted on the trapped cloud and broadly manipulated with sub-MHz frequency changes. Here, all of the data are in excellent agreement with our continuum-dressed state theoretical model of optical control, which includes both the spatial and momentum dependence of the scattering amplitude.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Understanding Debris-Background Ion Interactions in High Altitude Nuclear Explosions

The Starfish Prime event produced many interesting nuclear, electromagnetic, atomic and plasma effects, which have led over the past 50 years to much research in understanding the overall phenomenology of high altitude nuclear explosions (HANE). At altitudes lower than Starfish, where collisional processes come into play, the physics of a nuclear fireball in the atmosphere is well understood. But at high altitudes, where collisions are much weaker, the fundamental issue how the ionized weapon debris is stopped in the ionosphere in order to produce a relatively localized debris cloud remains unresolved. In the last 30 years this issue has been investigated in the laboratory using high-power lasers to simulation the explosion and subsequent expansion of the debris plasma. While experiments that were carried out on the Helios laser at Los Alamos and then later on the Pharos laser at NRL were able to produce some plasma conditions representative of the HANE environment and obtained interesting results, they were not very successful in addressing the basic debris-air coupling problem in the collisionless regime. This problem is being revisited in a new DTRA-funded experimental program with the 500 J Raptor glass laser on the Large Plasma Device (LAPD) at UCLA.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A spectral unaveraged algorithm for free electron laser simulations

We propose and discuss a numerical method to model electromagnetic emission from the oscillating relativistic charged particles and its coherent amplification. The developed technique is well suited for free electron laser simulations, but it may also be useful for a wider range of physical problems involving resonant field–particles interactions. The algorithm integrates the unaveraged coupled equations for the particles and the electromagnetic fields in a discrete spectral domain. Using this algorithm, it is possible to perform full three-dimensional or axisymmetric simulations of short-wavelength amplification. In this paper we describe the method, its implementation, and we present examples of free electron laser simulations comparing the results with the ones provided by commonly known free electron laser codes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Giant amplification in degenerate band edge slow-wave structures interacting with an electron beam

We propose a new amplification regime based on a synchronous operation of four degenerate electromagnetic (EM) modes in a slow-wave structure and the electron beam, referred to as super synchronization. These four EM modes arise in a Fabry-Pérot cavity when degenerate band edge (DBE) condition is satisfied. The modes interact constructively with the electron beam resulting in superior amplification. In particular, much larger gains are achieved for smaller beam currents compared to conventional structures based on synchronization with only a single EM mode. We demonstrate giant gain scaling with respect to the length of the slow-wave structure compared to conventional Pierce type single mode traveling wave tube amplifiers. We construct a coupled transmission line model for a loaded waveguide slow-wave structure exhibiting a DBE, and investigate the phenomenon of giant gain via super synchronization using the Pierce model generalized to multimode interaction.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions

Light contains both spin and orbital angular momentum. Despite contributing equally to the total photonic angular momentum, these components derive from quite different parts of the electromagnetic field profile, namely its polarization and spatial variation, respectively, and therefore do not always share equal influence in light–matter interactions. With the growing interest in utilizing light’s orbital angular momentum to practice added control in the study of atomic systems, it becomes increasingly important for students and researchers to understand the subtlety involved in these interactions. In this article, we present a review of the fundamental concepts and recent experiments related to the interaction of beams containing orbital angular momentum with atoms. An emphasis is placed on understanding light’s angular momentum from the perspective of both classical waves and individual photons. We then review the application of these beams in recent experiments, namely single- and few-photon transitions, strong-field ionization, and high-harmonic generation, highlighting the role of light’s orbital angular momentum and the atom’s location within the beam profile within each case.

Optics↗

A blended continuous–discontinuous finite element method for solving the multi-fluid plasma model

The multi-fluid plasma model represents electrons, multiple ion species, and multiple neutral species as separate fluids that interact through short-range collisions and long-range electromagnetic fields. The model spans a large range of temporal and spatial scales, which renders the model stiff and presents numerical challenges. To address the large range of timescales, a blended continuous and discontinuous Galerkin method is proposed, where the massive ion and neutral species are modeled using an explicit discontinuous Galerkin method while the electrons and electromagnetic fields are modeled using an implicit continuous Galerkin method. This approach is able to capture large-gradient ion and neutral physics like shock formation, while resolving high-frequency electron dynamics in a computationally efficient manner. The details of the Blended Finite Element Method (BFEM) are presented. The numerical method is benchmarked for accuracy and tested using two-fluid one-dimensional soliton problem and electromagnetic shock problem. The results are compared to conventional finite volume and finite element methods, and demonstrate that the BFEM is particularly effective in resolving physics in stiff problems involving realistic physical parameters, including realistic electron mass and speed of light. The benefit is illustrated by computing a three-fluid plasma application that demonstrates species separation in multi-component plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Observation of the molecular response to light upon photoexcitation

Abstract When a molecule interacts with light, its electrons can absorb energy from the electromagnetic field by rapidly rearranging their positions. This constitutes the first step of photochemical and photophysical processes that include primary events in human vision and photosynthesis. Here, we report the direct measurement of the initial redistribution of electron density when the molecule 1,3-cyclohexadiene (CHD) is optically excited. Our experiments exploit the intense, ultrashort hard x-ray pulses of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) to map the change in electron density using ultrafast x-ray scattering. The nature of the excited electronic state is identified with excellent spatial resolution and in good agreement with theoretical predictions. The excited state electron density distributions are thus amenable to direct experimental observation.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Ultraconfined terahertz phonon polaritons in hafnium dichalcogenides

The confinement of electromagnetic radiation to subwavelength scales relies on strong light–matter interactions. In the infrared and terahertz spectral ranges, phonon polaritons are commonly employed to achieve deeply subdiffractional light confinement, with such optical modes offering much lower losses in comparison to plasmon polaritons. Among these, hyperbolic phonon polaritons in anisotropic materials offer a promising platform for light confinement. Here we report on ultraconfined phonon polaritons in hafnium-based dichalcogenides with confinement factors exceeding λ 0 /250 in the terahertz spectral range. This extreme light compression within deeply subwavelength thin films is enabled by the large magnitude of the light–matter coupling strength in these compounds and the natural hyperbolicity of HfSe 2 . Our findings emphasize the role of light–matter coupling for polariton confinement, which for phonon polaritons in polar dielectrics is dictated by the transverse–longitudinal optical phonon energy splitting. Our results demonstrate transition-metal dichalcogenides as an enabling platform for terahertz nanophotonic applications.

Kowalski, Ryan A. [Vanderbilt Univ., Nashville, TN↗

Design and simulation of a gyroklystron amplifier

In the present paper, a design methodology of the gyroklystron amplifier has been described and subsequently used for the design of a typically selected 200 kW, Ka-band, four-cavity gyroklystron amplifier. This conceptual device design has been validated through the 3D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation and nonlinear analysis. Commercially available PIC simulation code “MAGIC” has been used for the electromagnetic study at the different location of the device RF interaction structure for the beam-absent case, i.e., eigenmode study as well as for the electron beam and RF wave interaction behaviour study in the beam present case of the gyroklystron. In addition, a practical problem of misalignment of the RF cavities with drift tubes within the tube has been also investigated and its effect on device performance studied. The analytical and simulation results confirmed the validity of the gyroklystron device design. The PIC simulation results of the present gyroklystron produced a stable RF output power of ∼218 kW for 0% velocity spread at 35 GHz, with ∼45 dB gain, 37% efficiency, and a bandwidth of 0.3% for a 70 kV, 8.2 A gyrating electron beam. The simulated values of RF output power have been found in agreement with the nonlinear analysis results within ∼5%. Further, the PIC simulation has been extended to study a practical problem of misalignment of the cavities axis and drift tube axis of the gyroklystron amplifier and found that the RF output power is more sensitive to misalignments in comparison to the device bandwidth. The present paper, gyroklystron device design, nonlinear analysis, and 3D PIC simulation using commercially available code had been systematically described would be of use to the high-power gyro-amplifier tube designers and research scientists.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Modelling of electron beam induced nanowire attraction

Scanning electron microscope (SEM) induced nanowire (NW) attraction or bundling is a well known effect, which is mainly ascribed to structural or material dependent properties. However, there have also been recent reports of electron beam induced nanowire bending by SEM imaging, which is not fully explained by the current models, especially when considering the electro-dynamic interaction between NWs. In this article, we contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon, by introducing an electro-dynamic model based on capacitor and Lorentz force interaction, where the active NW bending is stimulated by an electromagnetic force between individual wires. The model includes geometrical, electrical, and mechanical NW parameters, as well as the influence of the electron beam source parameters and is validated using in-situ observations of electron beam induced GaAs nanowire (NW) bending by SEM imaging.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Spin 3/2 and 5/2 nucleon resonances in kaon electroproduction

We have analyzed the available kaon electroproduction data by using the field theoretical approach involving spin 3/2 and 5/2 nucleon resonances. To this end we extend our previous isobar model for photoproduction to the finite Q{sup 2} region by making use of different electromagnetic form factors. The result indicates that kaon electroproduction data can be nicely described by the photoproduction isobar model, provided that the inserted electromagnetic form factors in all electromagnetic vertices are constructed from a combination of dipole and exponential form factors is included in all electromagnetic vertices.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Elliptically polarized electromagnetic waves in a magnetized quantum electron-positron plasma with effects of exchange-correlation

The dispersion properties of elliptically polarized electromagnetic waves in a magnetized electron-positron-pair (EP-pair) plasma are studied with the effects of particle dispersion associated with the Bohm potential, the Fermi degenerate pressure, and the exchange-correlation force. Two possible modes of the extraordinary or X wave, modified by these quantum effects, are identified and their propagation characteristics are investigated numerically. It is shown that the upper-hybrid frequency and the cutoff and resonance frequencies are no longer constants but are dispersive due to these quantum effects. It is found that the particle dispersion and the exchange-correlation force can have different dominating roles on each other depending on whether the X waves are of short or long wavelengths (in comparison with the Fermi Debye length). The present investigation should be useful for understanding the collective behaviors of EP plasma oscillations and the propagation of extraordinary waves in magnetized dense EP-pair plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Self-compensating light calorimetry with liquid argon time projection chamber for GeV neutrino physics

The Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) is a powerful dual calorimeter capable of estimating particle energy from both ionization charge and scintillation light. Here, our study shows that, due to the recombination luminescence, the LArTPC functions as a self-compensating light calorimeter: the missing energy in the hadronic component is compensated for by the increased luminescence relative to the electromagnetic component. Using 0.5-5 GeV electron neutrino charged current interactions as a case study, we show that good compensation of the electron-to-hadron response ratio (e/h) from 1-1.05 can be achieved across a broad range of drift electric fields (0.2-1.8 kV / cm), with better performance for neutrino energies above 2 GeV. This study highlights the potential of light calorimetry in LArTPCs for GeV neutrino energy reconstruction, complementing traditional charge calorimetry. Under ideal conditions of uniform light collection, we show that LArTPC light calorimetry can achieve an energy resolution comparable to the charge imaging calorimetry. Challenges arising from nonuniform light collection in large LArTPCs can be mitigated with a position-dependent light yield correction derived from 3D charge signal imaging.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Coupled radiation transport and plasma physics for ICF simulations [Slides]

Describing high-temperature plasmas requires inclusion of several nonlinear coupled physics, including ion kinetics - for each isotope species present in the plasma, electron kinetics, thermal radiative transfer (TRT), electromagnetic description, and nuclear reactions (fusion burn). Simulating plasmas in ICF hohlraums aims to solve kinetic ions (particles), fluid electrons, energetic electrons, electromagnetics, kinetic radiation (MG DP solver), and laser-plasma interactions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The Present and Future of QCD: QCD Town Meeting White Paper – An Input to the 2023 NSAC Long Range Plan

It is currently understood that there are four fundamental forces in nature: gravitational, electromagnetic, weak and strong forces. The strong force governs the interactions between quarks and gluons, elementary particles whose interactions give rise to the vast majority of visible mass in the universe. The mathematical description of the strong force is provided by the non-Abelian gauge theory Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). While QCD is an exquisite theory, constructing the nucleons and nuclei from quarks, and furthermore explaining the behavior of quarks and gluons at all energies, remain to be complex and challenging problems. Such challenges, along with the desire to understand all visible matter at the most fundamental level, position the study of QCD as a central thrust of research in nuclear science. Experimental insight into the strong force can be gained using large particle accelerator facilities, which are necessary to probe the very short distance scales over which quarks and gluons interact. The Long Range Plans (LRPs) exercise of 1989 and 1996 led directly to the construction of two world-class facilities: the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility (CEBAF) at Jefferson Lab (JLab) that is focused on studying how the structure of hadrons emerges from QCD (cold QCD research), and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Lab (BNL) that aims at the discovery and study of a new state of matter, the quark-gluon plasma (QGP), at extremely high temperatures (hot QCD research). These past investments have produced major advances. Nucleons and nuclei are being studied with increasing precision with a unified description of the partonic structure utilizing multi-dimensional imaging. Significant progress has been made, paving the way towards a complete picture of how quarks and gluons give rise to the mass, spin, and momentum of the nucleon. In hot QCD, the QGP is created in the collisions of nuclei at RHIC and the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) and is observed to behave like a fluid with very low specific shear viscosity; the current goals are to understand how the fluid behavior emerges from QCD and to characterize the temperature (and chemical potential) dependence of the properties of the QGP. As this White Paper is written, current experimental programs at CEBAF, RHIC and the LHC continue to provide exciting near term opportunities to capitalize on the investments in experimental equipment and accelerator operations. Most importantly, the QCD community looks forward to the construction of the Electron Ion Collider (EIC) as a major new facility to push forward QCD research in the next decades, with significant focus on exploring the properties of gluons, the mediators of the strong force.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗