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At least 1,531 records · Page 85

Radio evidence for a delayed acceleration process in solar flares

Observations of six delayed solar radio bursts at dm and mm frequencies are analyzed. The events included five Type II bursts. The data comprise 17 GHz interferometer data and ISEE-3 and SMM hard X-ray spectrometry data which peaked 0.5-1.0 hr after the main radio bursts. The data indicate the electrons with energies in the MeV range continue to be excited for tens of minutes after the impulsive phase acceleration. The continuing acceleration occurs in a large magnetic structure extending to at least 200,000 km altitude. The radio signals arise from a columnar source, the microwave signals being emitted near a leg or legs and meterwave emissions originating from the top of the magnetic structure.

Kai, K.↗

Turbulent Simulation of the Dynamics of the Magnetotail

In situ observations indicate that the dynamical processes in the geoplasma environment generally entail localized intermittent processes and anomalous global transports. It was suggested by T. Chang that instead of considering the turbulence as a mixture of interacting waves, such type of patchy intermittency could be more easily understood in terms of the development, interaction, merging, preferential acceleration and evolution of coherent magnetic structures. In this three-year project, we have used direct numerical MHD simulations to study some aspects of the MHD dynamics in Chang's model. Our large-scale numerical calculations and simulations have been supplemented by and coordinated with theoretical studies conducted by Chang and his colleagues.

Wu, Cheng-Chin↗

Orbit Design for Phase I and II of the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS)

The Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS) is a NASA mission intended to make fundamental advancements in our understanding of the Earth's Magnetosphere. There are three processes that MMS is intended to study including magnetic recon- nection, charged particle acceleration, and turbulence. There are four phases of the MMS mission and each phase is designed to study a particular region of the Earth's magnetosphere. The mission is composed of a formation of four spacecraft that are nominally in a regular tetrahedron formation. In this work, we present optimal orbit designs for Phase I and II. This entails designing optimal reference orbits so that the spacecraft dwell-time in the region of interest is a maximum. This is non-trivial because the Earth's magnetosphere is dynamic and its shape and position are not constant in inertial space. Optimal orbit design for MMS also entails designing the formation so that the relative motion of the four spacecraft yields the greatest science return. We develop performance metrics that are related to the science return, and use Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) to determine optimal relative motion solutions. We also ensure that practical constraints such as maximum eclipse time and minimum inter-spacecraft separation distances are not violated.

Hughes, Steve P.↗

Shock Structure and Magnetic Fields Generation Associated with Relativistic Jets Unmagnetized Pair Plasma

Using 3D and 2D particle-in-cell simulations we investigate a shock structure, magnetic field generation, and particle acceleration associated with an unmagnetized relativistic electron-positron jet propagating into an unmagnetized pair plasma. The simulations use long computational grids which allow to study the formation and dynamics of the system in a spatial and temporal way. We find for the first time a relativistic shock system comparable to a predicted magnetohydrodynamic shock structure consisting of leading and trailing shocks separated by a contact discontinuity. Strong electromagnetic fields resulting from the Weibel two-stream instability are generated in the trailing shock where jet matter is thermalized and decelerated. We analyze the formation and nonlinear development through saturation and dissipation of those fields and associated particle acceleration. In the AGN context the trailing shock corresponds to the jet shock at the head of a relativistic astrophysical jet. In the GRB context this trailing shock can be identified with the bow shock driven by relativistic ejecta. The strong electromagnetic field region in the trailing shock provides the emission site for the hot spot at the leading edge of AGN jets and for afterglow emission from GRBs.

Niemiec, J.↗

Development of Ultra High Gradient and High Q{sub 0} Superconducting Radio Frequency Cavities

We report on the recent progress at Jefferson Lab in developing ultra high gradient and high Q{sub 0} superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities for future SRF based machines. A new 1300 MHz 9-cell prototype cavity is being fabricated. This cavity has an optimized shape in terms of the ratio of the peak surface field (both magnetic and electric) to the acceleration gradient, hence the name low surface field (LSF) shape. The goal of the effort is to demonstrate an acceleration gradient of 50 MV/m with Q{sub 0} of 10{sup 10} at 2 K in a 9-cell SRF cavity. Fine-grain niobium material is used. Conventional forming, machining and electron beam welding method are used for cavity fabrication. New techniques are adopted to ensure repeatable, accurate and inexpensive fabrication of components and the full assembly. The completed cavity is to be first mechanically polished to a mirror-finish, a newly acquired in-house capability at JLab, followed by the proven ILC-style processing recipe established already at JLab. In parallel, new single-cell cavities made from large-grain niobium material are made to further advance the cavity treatment and processing procedures, aiming for the demonstration of an acceleration gradient of 50 MV/m with Q{sub 0} of 2-10{sup 10} at 2K.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Magnetic-Field Diffusion Effects in Beam Position Monitors II: Application to Calibration Single-Pulse Data

Beam position monitors (BPMs) provide time-resolved measurements of the current and centroid position of high-current electron beams in linear induction accelerators (LIAs). One of the types of detectors used in BPMs is the B-dot loop, which generates a signal from the EMF due to the time varying magnetic flux through the loop. If some of the boundaries of the loop are composed of thick metal walls with finite conductivity, the resulting signal must be corrected for the magnetic field diffusion into the metal. From first principles, we have derived the perturbation to BPM measurements due to this effect. The theoretical framework was used to design an algorithm for signal correction that does not require knowledge of the time history of the magnetic flux being measured. Corrected signals based on that process compared favorably with the know reference signals in a laboratory calibration test sequence.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Optimization of a traveling wave superconducting radiofrequency cavity for upgrading the International Linear Collider

The standing wave TESLA niobium-based superconducting radio frequency structure is limited to an accelerating gradient of about 50 MV/m by the critical rf magnetic field. To break through this barrier, we explore the option of niobium-based traveling wave (TW) structures. Optimization of TW structures was done considering experimentally known limiting electric and magnetic fields. It is shown that a TW structure can have an accelerating gradient above 70 MeV/m that is about 1.5 times higher than contemporary standing wave structures with the same critical magnetic field. The other benefit of TW structures shown is R/Q about 2 times higher than the TESLA structure that reduces the dynamic heat load by a factor of 2. A method is proposed how to make TW structures multipactor-free. Some design proposals are offered to facilitate fabrication. Further increase of the real-estate gradient (equivalent to 80 MV/m active gradient) is also possible by increasing the length of the accelerating structure because of higher group velocity and cell-to-cell coupling. Realization of this work opens paths to International Linear Collider energy upgrades beyond 1 to 3 TeV in competition with CLIC. The paper will discuss corresponding opportunities and challenges.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Upgrade scenario for the RHIC collimation system

The RHIC collimation system is used to reduce background levels in both STAR and PHENIX detectors. With a push for higher luminosity in the near future, it becomes critical to check if and how the level of performance of the collimators can be improved. The following reviews a proposal for additional collimators placed further downstream of the current system and designed to intercept the tertiary halo coming out of the IR8 insertion before it can reach the triplet quadrupoles in either STAR or PHENIX. Simulations have been peformed to quantify the efficiency of additional collimator jaws in RHIC. Each figure presented in this article clearly shows that the additional mask collimators provide the expected reduction in losses around the machine, and especially to the incoming triplet to the STAR experiment (IP6), for the Yellow beam as much as for the Blue beam. Looking at compiled statistics for all three working point cases studied, proton losses around the machine are reduced by roughly one order of magnitude: at most a factor 30 for magnet losses, and at most a factor 40 for losses in spaces between magnets.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

First-principles Prediction of X-Ray Polarization from Magnetic Reconnection in High-frequency BL Lacertae Objects

Relativistic magnetic reconnection is a potential particle acceleration mechanism for high-frequency BL Lac objects (HBLs). The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) scheduled to launch in 2021 has the capability to probe the evolution of magnetic field in HBLs, examining the magnetic reconnection scenario for the HBL flares. In this paper, we make the first attempt to self-consistently predict HBL X-ray polarization signatures arising from relativistic magnetic reconnection via combined particle-in-cell and polarized radiation transfer simulations. Here, we find that although the intrinsic optical and X-ray polarization degrees are similar on average, the X-ray polarization is much more variable in both the polarization degree and angle (PD and PA). Given the sensitivity of the IXPE, it may obtain one to a few polarization data points for one flaring event of nearby bright HBLs Mrk 421 and 501. However, it may not fully resolve the highly variable X-ray polarization. Due to temporal depolarization, where the integration of photons with variable polarization states over a finite period of time can lower the detected PD, the measured X-ray PD can be considerably lower than the optical counterpart or even undetectable. The lower X-ray PD than the optical thus can be a characteristic signature of relativistic magnetic reconnection. For very bright flares where the X-ray polarization is well resolved, relativistic magnetic reconnection predicts smooth X-ray PA swings, which originate from large plasmoid mergers in the reconnection region.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Control of seeding phase for a cascaded laser wakefield accelerator with gradient injection

We demonstrated experimentally the seeding-phase control for a two-stage laser wakefield accelerator with gradient injection. By optimizing the seeding phase of electrons into the second stage, electron beams beyond 0.5 GeV with a 3% rms energy spread were produced over a short acceleration distance of ∼2 mm. Peak energy of the electron beam was further extended beyond 1 GeV by lengthening the second acceleration stage to 5 mm. Time-resolved magnetic field measurements via magneto-optical Faraday polarimetry allowed us to monitor the processes of electron seeding and acceleration in the second stage.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Colloid Rates of Radionuclides in Cooling Water of the 120-GeV Proton Accelerator Facilities at Fermilab - Paper 58

Cooling water systems for high-energy accelerators are typically equipped with a deionizer to keep water pure for accelerator materials and to remove radionuclides for radioactivity control. Although the deionizers are expected to collect the entire radionuclides, more radioactivity than expected remains in the cooling water in typical cooling water operations at J-PARC and the Tsukuba Campus of High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), Japan. For example, specific activity of {sup 7}Be in the cooling water for magnetic horns at the J-PARC Neutrino Experimental Facility was observed to be comparable to the limit of {sup 7}Be activity for drain (30 Bq/mL) after enough deionization duration. Removing this activity from the cooling water is an important problem that must be solved before the water can be released into the environment. In our previous study, it was found that some radionuclides had weak retention on ion-exchange resins in the cooling water deionizer system for the K2K target and magnetic horns at the 12-GeV proton accelerator in KEK, Japan. Incomplete adsorption in the deionizer was attributed to colloid formation. Therefore, understanding the colloid formation of radionuclides in cooling water is important for understanding the activity remaining in the cooling water. Colloid formation in water under high-intensity radiation fields has been investigated by previous irradiation experiments. Under 120-GeV proton irradiation of Cu foils in water, it was found that the colloid formation rates of Mg, Mn, Co, Ni, and Cu isotopes and those of {sup 7}Be, {sup 24}Na, {sup 42}K, and {sup 43}K were approximately 30% and 1.8-3.9%, respectively. Sc, Cr, and Fe isotopes were missing from the water. In the photon irradiation of water in a Cu tube using Bremsstrahlung from an electron linear accelerator and a {sup 60}Co γ-ray source at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute, we observed Cu colloid formation in consequence of the corrosion of Cu. It is possible that radionuclides attach to the colloids formed by the corrosion of accelerator materials and pass through the deionizer. To enhance the understanding of the behavior of radionuclides in cooling water in a high-energy accelerator environment, we investigated the colloid formation of radionuclides in cooling waters at the 120-GeV proton accelerator facilities at Fermilab, USA. We have already reported the previous results of specific activities of γemitting radionuclides and {sup 3}H in water samples collected from eight cooling water systems. Following the previous study, this paper is concerned with the measurement of colloid formation rates of radionuclides in cooling waters. (authors)

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Induced core formation time in subcritical magnetic clouds by large-scale trans-Alfvénic flows

We clarify the mechanism of accelerated core formation by large-scale nonlinear flows in subcritical magnetic clouds by finding a semi-analytical formula for the core formation time and describing the physical processes that lead to them. Recent numerical simulations show that nonlinear flows induce rapid ambipolar diffusion that leads to localized supercritical regions that can collapse. Here, we employ non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic simulations including ambipolar diffusion for gravitationally stratified sheets threaded by vertical magnetic fields. One of the horizontal dimensions is eliminated, resulting in a simpler two-dimensional simulation that can clarify the basic process of accelerated core formation. A parameter study of simulations shows that the core formation time is inversely proportional to the square of the flow speed when the flow speed is greater than the Alfvén speed. We find a semi-analytical formula that explains this numerical result. The formula also predicts that the core formation time is about three times shorter than that with no turbulence, when the turbulent speed is comparable to the Alfvén speed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Magnetic-Field Diffusion Effects in Beam Position Monitors III: Application to DARHT-II Beam Data

Beam position monitors (BPMs) provide time-resolved measurements of the current and centroid position of high-current electron beams in linear induction accelerators (LIAs). One of the types of detectors used in BPMs is the B-dot loop, which generates a signal from the EMF due to the time varying magnetic flux through the loop. If some of the boundaries of the loop are composed of thick metal walls with finite conductivity, the resulting signal must be corrected for the magnetic field diffusion into the metal. The theoretically predicted flux due to diffusion is in remarkable agreement with experimental measurements. Although accurate BPM measurements of beam current require correction of magnetic field diffusion, accurate measurement of beam position requires no correction. In this note, we present experimental validation of current and position results from a prototype detector employing finite conductivity sensing areas, based on experiments on the DARHT-II LIA.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

High-energy neutrino emission from white dwarf mergers

The merger of two white dwarfs is expected to result in a central fast-rotating core surrounded by a debris disk, in which magnetorotational instabilities give rise to a hot magnetized corona and a magnetized outflow. The dissipation of magnetic energy via reconnection could lead to the acceleration of cosmic-rays (CRs) in the expanding material, which would result in high energy neutrinos. We discuss the possibility of using these neutrino signals as probes of the outflow dynamics, magnetic energy dissipation rate, and CR acceleration efficiency. Importantly, the accompanying high-energy gamma-rays are absorbed within these sources because of the large optical depth, so these neutrino sources can be regarded as hidden cosmic-ray accelerators that are consistent with the non-detection of gamma-rays with Fermi-LAT. While the CR generation rate is highly uncertain, if it reaches ∼10{sup 45} erg Mpc{sup −3} yr{sup −1}, the diffuse neutrino flux could contribute a substantial fraction of the IceCube observations. We also evaluate the prospect of observing individual merger events, which provides a means for testing such sources in the future.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Two-Layer 16 T Cos θ Dipole Design for the FCC

Here, the Future Circular Collider or FCC is a study aimed at exploring the possibility to reach 100 TeV total collision energy which would require 16 tesla dipoles. Upon the conclusion of the High Luminosity Upgrade, the US LHC Accelerator Upgrade Pro-ject in collaboration with CERN will have extensive Nb 3 Sn magnet fabrication experience. This experience includes robust Nb 3 Sn conductor and insulation scheming, 2-layer cos2θ coil fabrication, and bladder-and-key structure and assembly. By making im-provements and modification to existing technology the feasibility of a two-layer 16 tesla dipole is investigated. Preliminary designs indicate that fields up to 16.6 tesla are feasible with conductor grading while satisfying the HE-LHC and FCC specifications. Key challenges include accommodating high-aspect ratio conductor, narrow wedge design, Nb 3 Sn conductor grading, and especially quench protection of a 16 tesla device.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Cosmic-ray transport in accelerating flows

The quasi-linear transport equation of energetic charged particles is derived, including scattering by Alfven waves propagating parallel and antiparallel to a uniform magnetic field, losses by synchrotron radiation, and acceleration of the cold background fluid supporting the waves. As in the comoving frame equations of radiative transfer, scattering, and loss terms are evaluated in the frame in which the fluid is locally at rest. The diffusion approximation is applied to the resulting equation, yielding a transport equation for the isotropic part of the distribution function and a first-order approximation to the anisotropy. The conditions under which this approximation may be applied are discussed. In the nonrelativistic regime, the standard equation of the diffusion approximation is recovered. As contributions previously investigated, new effects appear from the spatial and temporal variations of the fluid velocity as well as the synchrotron radiation terms. These are discussed in detail.

Kirk, John G.↗

Magnetic Field Would Reduce Electron Backstreaming in Ion Thrusters

The imposition of a magnetic field has been proposed as a means of reducing the electron backstreaming problem in ion thrusters. Electron backstreaming refers to the backflow of electrons into the ion thruster. Backstreaming electrons are accelerated by the large potential difference that exists between the ion-thruster acceleration electrodes, which otherwise accelerates positive ions out of the engine to develop thrust. The energetic beam formed by the backstreaming electrons can damage the discharge cathode, as well as other discharge surfaces upstream of the acceleration electrodes. The electron-backstreaming condition occurs when the center potential of the ion accelerator grid is no longer sufficiently negative to prevent electron diffusion back into the ion thruster. This typically occurs over extended periods of operation as accelerator-grid apertures enlarge due to erosion. As a result, ion thrusters are required to operate at increasingly negative accelerator-grid voltages in order to prevent electron backstreaming. These larger negative voltages give rise to higher accelerator grid erosion rates, which in turn accelerates aperture enlargement. Electron backstreaming due to accelerator-gridhole enlargement has been identified as a failure mechanism that will limit ionthruster service lifetime. The proposed method would make it possible to not only reduce the electron backstreaming current at and below the backstreaming voltage limit, but also reduce the backstreaming voltage limit itself. This reduction in the voltage at which electron backstreaming occurs provides operating margin and thereby reduces the magnitude of negative voltage that must be placed on the accelerator grid. Such a reduction reduces accelerator- grid erosion rates. The basic idea behind the proposed method is to impose a spatially uniform magnetic field downstream of the accelerator electrode that is oriented transverse to the thruster axis. The magnetic field must be sufficiently strong to impede backstreaming electrons, but not so strong as to significantly perturb ion trajectories. An electromagnet or permanent magnetic circuit can be used to impose the transverse magnetic field downstream of the accelerator-grid electrode. For example, in the case of an accelerator grid containing straight, parallel rows of apertures, one can apply nearly uniform magnetic fields across all the apertures by the use of permanent magnets of alternating polarity connected to pole pieces laid out parallel to the rows, as shown in the left part of the figure. For low-temperature operation, the pole pieces can be replaced with bar magnets of alternating polarity. Alternatively, for the same accelerator grid, one could use an electromagnet in the form of current-carrying rods laid out parallel to the rows.

Foster, John E.↗