dt nuclear fusion within a single Coulomb exploding composite nanodroplet

We present a computational study of dt fusion driven by Coulomb explosion within a single, large, heteronuclear two-component D₂/T₂nanodroplet, originating from kinematic overrun effects between deuterons and tritons. Scaled electron and ion dynamics simulations have been used to explore the size dependence and the isotopic composition dependence of the intra-nanodroplet (INTRA) dt fusion yield in a composite D_2n-2kT_2k nanodroplet, initially consisting of an inner sphere of D₂ molecules surrounded by an outer sphere of T₂ molecules (n = 1.4×10⁸–2.0×10⁹, k/n = 0.10–0.60, and initial radii R₀= 1100–2700 Å) driven by a single, ultraintense, near-infrared, Gaussian laser pulse (peak intensity 10²⁰ W?cm^-2, pulse length 25 fs). INTRA dt fusion in D_2n-2kT_2k nanodroplets with neutron yields of 30–90 (per nanodroplet, per laser pulse) were attained in the size domain R₀ = 2000–2700 Å with the optimal composition in the range of k/n = 0.2–0.4. INTRA yields in D_2n-2kT_2k nanodroplets are similar (within 20–40%) to those in initially homogeneous (DT)_n nanodroplets of the same size. These INTRA yields are sufficiently large to warrant experimental observation in a single nanodroplet. The INTRA dt fusion can be distinguished from the inter-nanodroplet dt fusion reaction, which occurs inside and outside the macroscopic plasma filament, by the nanodroplet size dependence of the yield and by the different energies of the neutrons produced in these two channels.     

Muonic atom-nucleus collisions in the energy region of dtµ, resonant states

We calculated the (dµ) _n=1 +t scattering in the energy region of the (dtµ)^* resonant states below then=2 level of the tµ atom. From the cross sections, we estimated the resonant energies, widths and branching ratios. We found eleven resonant states with angular momentumJ=0, and some of their resonant energies relative to then=2 level of tµ are small enough to form the [(dtµ)^* dee] by the Vesman mechanism. These resonant states decay to (dµ)[inn=1 +t or (tµ) _n=1 + d scattering states. The total decay rates are about 10¹¹ s^–1 which is three orders of magnitude larger than the fusion rates of (dtµ)^*4 He + n+ 17.6 MeV + µ. The main part of the decaying channel from the shallow resonant states is the (dµ) _n=1 +t channel. The branching ratios of the (dµ) _n=1 +t decay channel are around 0.9. Most of the muons that reach to then=2 states of tµ can transfer to then=1 state of du through (tµ) _n=2 + D₂ [(dtµ)^*dee] and (dtµ)^* (dµ) _n=1 +t processes.     

Growth of crystalline/amorphous biphase Sm-Fe-Ta-N magnetic nanodroplets

Thin films of biphase (amorphous/crystalline) magnetic Sm-Fe-Ta-N nanodroplets were fabricated at room temperature with 157 nm pulse laser deposition in nitrogen from a Sm_13.8Fe_82.2Ta_4.0 target. The 50-100 nm biphase spherical nanodroplets consist of a 5-10 nm internal crystal portion surrounded by the external amorphous phase. Nitrogen fixation in the nanodroplets occurred in the plume. The films exhibit a ferromagnetic response of 2.5 kOe coercivity at room temperature. With further annealing and thermal treatment in nitrogen, the coercivity was increased to 5.0 kOe. The surrounding amorphous layer prevents post-ablation oxidization of the crystalline magnetic nucleus of the nanodroplet.     

A new theoretical approach to resonant dtµ formation

A key process in the muon-catalysed fusion cycle is a low-energy collision of tµ with a D₂ molecule which leads, at appropriate incident energies, to the formation of a resonant complex containing dtµ. In this paper the result is described of a formal derivation of the partial wave cross section for resonant dtµ formation, which makes use of elements of Feshbach's treatment of resonances. The expression obtained is similar to the Breit-Wigner formula. Full details of the calculation will be published elsewhere.     

Influence of the Epithermal Effects on the MCF Steady State

This work is devoted to the correct interpretation of the steady state parameters of the muon catalyzed fusion (MCF) process in a D/T mixture. Previously the influence of the epithermal effects dtμ-molecule formation by ‘hot,’ non-thermalyzed tμ-atoms) on the steady state parameters was studied only for measurements with a low-density target (density φ = 0.01 relative to the liquid hydrogen density). We suggest a new method allowing direct determination of the necessary corrections to the MCF cycling rate for high-density data (φ ≥ 0.4).     

Nitrogen nanobubbles and butane nanodroplets at Si(1 0 0)

Nanobubbles and nanodroplets were spontaneously formed at Si(1 0 0) in contact with nitrogen and butane saturated water, respectively. The topographic images obtained by tapping mode AFM were similar truncated nanospheres, but the phase images suggested that the nanobubbles were harder than the nanodroplets. The tip–sphere interactions showed the nanodroplets were much viscoelastic than the nanobubbles. The surface and three-phase contact line energies were estimated by analysis of the topographic images. The nanodroplet was stable, but the nanobubble was unstable in spite of the experimental long life. The two-dimensional spatial distribution indicated an attractive interaction between the nanodroplets, but no interaction was observed between the nanobubbles.     

飞秒强激光场中异核团簇的爆炸动力学

 利用Bathe过势垒模型,对飞秒强激光场中异核分子团簇((CH₄)_n,(CD₄)_n,(D₂O)n）的爆炸动力学过程进行了理论研究。结果表明:异核团簇爆炸后产生的离子能量与团簇初始半径的平方呈线性关系,爆炸机理为典型的库仑爆炸。研究发现,异核分子团簇发生库仑爆炸后的氘离子能量高于飞秒强激光和单核的(D)>)_n团簇相互作用后产生的氘离子能量,显示异核团簇中高Z元素电离后产生的高价离子对低Z元素离子有很强的加速作用。     

Tabletop nucleosynthesis driven by cluster Coulomb explosion

Coulomb explosion of completely ionized (CH4)n, (NH3)n, and (H2O)n clusters will drive tabletop nuclear reactions of protons with 12C6+, 14N7+, and 16O8+ nuclei, extending the realm of nuclear reactions driven by ultraintense laser-heterocluster interaction. The realization for nucleosynthesis in exploding cluster beams requires complete electron stripping from the clusters (at laser intensities I(M) > or = 10(19) W cm(-2)), the utilization of nanodroplets of radius 300-700 A for vertical ionization, and the attainment of the highest energies for the nuclei (i.e., approximately 30 MeV for heavy nuclei and approximately 3 MeV for protons).     

Characterising the chemical and physical properties of phase-change nanodroplets

Phase-change nanodroplets have attracted increasing interest in recent years as ultrasound theranostic nanoparticles. They are smaller compared to microbubbles and they may distribute better in tissues (e.g. in tumours). They are composed of a stabilising shell and a perfluorocarbon core. Nanodroplets can vaporise into echogenic microbubbles forming cavitation nuclei when exposed to ultrasound. Their perfluorocarbon core phase-change is responsible for the acoustic droplet vaporisation. However, methods to quantify the perfluorocarbon core in nanodroplets are lacking. This is an important feature that can help explain nanodroplet phase change characteristics. In this study, we fabricated nanodroplets using lipids shell and perfluorocarbons. To assess the amount of perfluorocarbon in the core we used two methods, ¹⁹F NMR and FTIR. To assess the cavitation after vaporisation we used an ultrasound transducer (1.1 MHz) and a high-speed camera. The ¹⁹F NMR based method showed that the fluorine signal correlated accurately with the perfluorocarbon concentration. Using this correlation, we were able to quantify the perfluorocarbon core of nanodroplets. This method was used to assess the content of the perfluorocarbon of the nanodroplets in solutions over time. It was found that perfluoropentane nanodroplets lost their content faster and at higher ratio compared to perfluorohexane nanodroplets. The high-speed imaging indicates that the nanodroplets generate cavitation comparable to that from commercial contrast agent microbubbles. Nanodroplet characterisation should include perfluorocarbon concentration assessment as critical information for their development.     

Results for the tμ+D<Subscript>2</Subscript> Reaction by the Methods of Quantum Reactive Scattering

In a recent paper [1], we applied the methods of quantum reactive scattering to the key resonant reaction in the muon catalyzed fusion (MCF) cycle that leads to the formation of a dtμ muonic molecular ion, in which fusion takes place very rapidly. We calculated reaction probabilities for tμ + D₂ scattering for incident kinetic energies less than 0.6 eV in the centre of mass frame and total angular momentum J _tot=0, using the APH (adiabatically adjusting, principal axes hyperspherical) formalism of Pack and Parker [2], which had previously been applied to simple chemical reactions. This was the first successful application of the above methods to the tμ + D₂ reaction. In this paper, we examine a significant discrepancy between our values for the back decay partial width for the resonances we consider and the results that have been obtained using previous methods. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Predicting initial nucleation events occurred in a metastable nanodroplet during acoustic droplet vaporization

Acoustic droplet vaporization (ADV) capable of converting liquid perfluorocarbon (PFC) micro/nanodroplets into gaseous microbubbles has gained much attention due to its medical potentials. However, its physical mechanisms for nanodroplets have not been well understood due to the disappeared superharmonic focusing effect and the prominent Laplace pressure compared to microdroplets, especially for the initial ADV nucleation occurring in a metastable PFC nanodroplet. The classical nucleation theory (CNT) was modified to describe the ADV nucleation via combining the phase-change thermodynamics of perfluoropentane (PFP) and the Laplace pressure effect on PFP nanodroplets. The thermodynamics was exactly predicted by the Redlich–Kwong equation of state (EoS) rather than the van der Waals EoS, based on which the surface tension of the vapor nucleus as a crucial parameter in the CNT was successfully obtained to modify the CNT. Compared to the CNT, the modified CNT eliminated the intrinsic limitations of the CNT, and it predicted a larger nucleation rate and a lower ADV nucleation threshold, which agree much better with experimental results. Furthermore, it indicated that the nanodroplet properties exert very strong influences on the nucleation threshold instead of the acoustic parameters, providing a potential strategy with an appropriate droplet design to reduce the ADV nucleation threshold. This study may contribute to further understanding the ADV mechanism for PFC nanodroplets and promoting its potential theranostic applications in clinical practice.     

Two-step excitation of Rb atoms on He nanodroplets

We present the first sequential laser excitation of atom-doped helium nanodroplets. Rubidium atoms on the surface of helium nanodroplets are selectively excited with a continuous wave laser to the 5²P_1/2 state so as not to desorb from the nanodroplets. From there they are excited by a laser pulse to the 5²D state; a laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrum is recorded by monitoring the 6²P ?\rightarrow 5²S_1/2 emission. The LIF spectrum differs from that of the two-photon one-color direct excitation spectrum 5²D ?\leftarrow 5²S_1/2, indicating that the system does relax vibrationally during the lifetime of the 5²P_1/2 state. To model the LIF spectra we use calculated energy levels of the Rb atom as a function of its distance R from the center of the helium nanodroplet. The Franck-Condon factors of the resulting potential energy curves agree with the experimental spectra. In the future the 5²P_1/2 state can be used as a springboard to reach high-lying ²S and ²D states, and possibly create an artificial super-atom.     

Usefulness of diffusion derived vessel density computed from a simplified IVIM imaging protocol: An experimental study with rat biliary duct blockage induced liver fibrosis

ObjectivesLiver vessel density can be evaluated by DDVD (diffusion derived vessel density): DDVD_(b0b1) = Sb0/ROIarea0 – Sb1/ROIarea1, where Sb0 and Sb1 refer to the liver signal when b is 0 or 1 s/mm². Sb1 and ROIarea1 may be replaced by other b-values. With a rat biliary duct ligation (BDL) model, this study assesses the usefulness of liver DDVD computed from a simplified IVIM imaging protocol using b = 25 and b = 50 to replace b = 1 s/mm², alone and in combination with other IVIM parameters.MethodsMale Sprague-Dawley rats were used. The rat number was 5, 5, 5, and 3 respectively, for the timepoints of 7, 14, 21, 28 days post-BDL surgery. 12 rats had partial biliary duct recanalization performed after the rats had BDL for 7 days and then again followed-up for a mean of 14 days. Liver diffusion MRIs were acquired at 3.0 T with a b-value distribution of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 300, 700, 1000 s/mm². DDVD_mean (control rats n = 6) was the mean of DDVD_(b0b25) and DDVD_(b0b50). IVIM fitting started from b = 0 s/mm² with segmented fitting and a threshold b of 50 s/mm² (n = 5 for control rats). Three 3-D spaces were constructed using a combination of the four diffusion parameters.ResultsThe control rats and BDL rats (n = 18) had a liver DDVD_mean of 84.0 ± 26.2 and 44.7 ± 14.4 au/pixel (p < 0.001). All 3-D spaces totally separated healthy livers and all fibrotic livers (n = 30, BDL rats and recanalization rats). The mean relative distance between healthy liver cluster and fibrotic liver cluster was 0.331 for PF, D_slow, and D_fast; 0.381 for PF, D_fast, and DDVD_mean; and 0.384 for PF, D_slow, and DDVD_mean.ConclusionA combination of PF, D_slow, and D_fast allows total separation of healthy livers and fibrotic livers and the integration of DDVD improved the separation.     

玻璃微球内氘结晶行为研究

为研制出满足惯性约束聚变(ICF)实验的氘氚(DT)冷冻靶, 需要控制DT结晶生长过程, 实现DT单晶生长, 由此减少影响冰层均匀化及聚变实验的晶体缺陷. 本文运用晶体生长形态动力学理论建立了密排六方晶体(hcp)单晶生长模型, 实验中通过对靶室进行± 3 mK精确控温, 采用可见光背光成像技术在线表征了低温下玻璃微球内氘(D₂)的结晶生长过程, 结果表明: 在20–100 Pa低温氦气导热环境下, 通过缓慢降温可显著降低氘晶体生长过程中形成的缺陷; 当降温速率达到2 mK/min时, 观测到了氘燃料的两种单晶生长过程, 实验具有可重复性; 建立的hcp单晶生长理论模型与实验结果符合, 并与美国利弗莫尔国家实验室(LLNL)的DT单晶生长过程进行了对比, 提出了冷冻靶内D₂/DT燃料的单晶生长方法.     

Propagation of ion shock in solid DT target with nonlinear force-driven plasma blocks

The plasma block (piston) with pressure P ₁ is generated as a result of the nonlinear (ponderomotive) force in laser–plasma interaction. The plasma block can be used for the ignition of a fusion flame front in a solid density deuterium–tritium (DT) target by compressing the fuel that creates an ion shock propagating with velocity u _{ion? shock} in the inside of a solid DT target. The ignition is achieved by creating an ion shock during the final stages of the implosion. We estimated the effect of an ion shock in solid DT target at an early stage with no compression and at the last stage with compression, where density increases by a factor of solid-state density. According to the theoretical model, a large target with a very thin layer of fuel (high-aspect ratio target) would be ideal to obtain the very strong shocks. Results indicate that the maximum compression even by an infinitely strong single shock can never produce more than four times the initial density of DT fuel. The results reported that the threshold ignition energy in a solid DT target is reduced by a factor of 4.     

Raman spectrographic system for quantitative analysis of isotopic hydrogen mixtures for muon catalysis experiments

We show that Raman spectral lines from H₂, D₂, T₂, HD, HT and DT are readily resolved, permitting an effective means to analyze isotopic hydrogen mixtures used in muon-catalyzed fusion experiments. We propose a Raman spectrographic system to allow for real-time analysis of targets involving all three isotopes of hydrogen.     

Holographic dark energy in Brans–Dicke theory with logarithmic correction

In the derivation of holographic dark energy density, the area law of the black hole entropy plays a crucial role. However, the entropy-area relation can be modified from the inclusion of quantum effects, motivated from the loop quantum gravity, string theory and black hole physics. In this paper, we study cosmological implication of the interacting entropy-corrected holographic dark energy model in the framework of Brans–Dicke cosmology. We obtain the equation of state and the deceleration parameters of the entropy-corrected holographic dark energy in a non-flat Universe. As system’s IR cutoff we choose the radius of the event horizon measured on the sphere of the horizon, defined as L = ar(t). We find out that when the entropy-corrected holographic dark energy is combined with the Brans–Dicke field, the transition from normal state where w _D > −1 to the phantom regime where w _D < −1 for the equation of state of interacting dark energy can be more easily achieved for than when resort to the Einstein field equations is made.     

Local state probabilities for solvable restricted solid-on-solid models:A n,D n,D n (1) , andA n (1)

The local state probabilities (LSPs) are exactly computed for four hierarchies of solvable lattice models. They are restricted solid-on-solid (RSOS) models whose local states and their adjacent conditions are specified by Dinkin diagrams of typesA _n,D _n,D _n ⁽¹⁾ andA _n ⁽¹⁾ . The LSPs are expressed in terms of modular functions characterized by branching identities among the theta functions. Their automorphic properties are used to study the critical behaviors. Some fine structures are found in the spectrum of the critical exponents.     

Deuterium-deuterium fusion by an activated precursor

Summary A general scheme is proposed for the interpretation of the phenomena involving low-energy hydrogen-isotope fusion. This scheme is especially developed for the interpretation of the fusion rate observed after the impact of heavy-water clusters (D₂O) _n , 25≲n≲1350, onto targets of titanium deuteride TiD. It is shown that 1) the impinging energy of large clusters or molecules is equiparted among a lot of target atoms which are brought in collective motion; 2) data can conveniently be represented in an Arrhenius plot; 3) this plot suggests that fusion is a thermally activated process from a metastable precursor; 4) the activation energy for the precursor formation isE ^*≃2E ₀ (E ₀ being the electron binding energy in the hydrogen atom), and 5) the activated precursor can reasonably be identified with the metastable binuclear heliumlike (D⁺D⁺)2e⁻ atom.     

Mobility–diffusivity relationship for heavily doped organic semiconductors

The relationship between the diffusivity D _n and the mobility μ _n of chemically doped organic n-type semiconductors exhibiting a disordered band structure is presented. These semiconductors have a Gaussian-type density of states. So, calculations have been performed to elucidate the dependence of D _n /μ _n on the various parameters of this Gaussian density of states. Y. Roichman and N. Tessler (Appl. Phys. Lett. 80:1948, 2002), and subsequently Peng et al. (Appl. Phys. A 86:225, 2007), conducted numerical simulations to study this diffusivity–mobility relationship in organic semiconductors. However, almost all other previous studies of the diffusivity–mobility relationship for inorganic semiconductors are based on Fermi–Dirac integrals. An analytical formulation has therefore been developed for the diffusivity/mobility relationship for organic semiconductors based on Fermi–Dirac integrals. The D _n /μ _n relationship is general enough to be applicable to both non-degenerate and degenerate organic semiconductors. It may be an important tool to study electrical transport in these semiconductors.