Features and Limiting Characteristics of the Heating of a Substance by a Laser-Accelerated Fast Electron Beam

The features of plasma formation in a substance heated by a laser-accelerated fast electron beam have been studied. These features are related to the ratio of the heating rate to the rate of energy loss because of radiation processes and electronic thermal conductivity, which are governed by the dependence of the energy of the heating beam particles on the beam intensity, which is characteristic of laser-driven electron acceleration. It has been shown that energy losses increase with the beam intensity and significantly limit the maximum temperature of the formed plasma. The possibility of generating an intense γ-radiation pulse of a nonnuclear origin because of the bremsstrahlung of laser-accelerated electrons has been discussed.

     

Beam-Plasma Heating Model

A one-dimensional ionization and heating model is applied to results of several electron-beam-plasma interaction experiments. Beam energy is deposited resistively in the plasma at a rate ?j2, where j is the return current density and ? the plasma resistivity both classical and anomalous due to ion acoustic or e-e-mode turbulence. Principal energy losses include ionization, line radiation, inelastic electron impact excitation, bremsstrahlung and radiative recombination. The level of ionization and plasma heating are computed as a function of neutral gas pressure, beam rise time, pulsewidth and current density, and resistivity model. Plasma dynamics and kinetic effects such as expansion and end loss are not explicitly included in the model.     

强流电子束入射叠靶能量沉积计算

计算了多脉冲相对论强流电子束入射钽-石墨叠靶的能量沉积和轫致辐射谱。能量沉积采用Geant4程序计算,轫致辐射谱根据基本的辐射理论和蒙特卡罗方法计算。结果显示,各层的热区能量沉积呈由大到小的递减分布,截面轫致辐射分布和电子束径向分布主要受钽层的影响。石墨层的低能量沉积率和高热容能改善叠靶的性能。对于单脉冲,钽-石墨层厚比为1∶1时,石墨能全部吸收相邻钽层的热沉积,轫致辐射效率为35.4%;4脉冲情况下,钽-石墨层厚比应为1∶13,总轫致辐射效率降到19.9%。考虑轫致辐射剂量和质量,钽-石墨两者的厚度比为1∶5时,钽层的总厚度应为1.2 mm;当钽-石墨层厚比为1∶10时,钽层的总厚应降到0.7 mm。     

超热电子在稠密等离子体中输运的混合粒子模拟方法

相对论激光等离子体相互作用以及所产生的带电粒子束在高密度等离子体中的输运行为非常重要.该物理问题的数值模拟研究仍面临技术挑战.本文介绍一种粒子/流体混合模拟方法.该方法中超热电子采用动力学方法描述,背景冷的稠密等离子体采用简化的流体方程描述,适合于超热电子密度远小于背景电子密度,超热电子能量远大于背景电子温度.我们的三维并行混合模拟程序HEETS的模拟结果表明：背景材料的电离和电阻率模型至关重要,将严重影响高能电子输运过程的模拟.     

Effects of magnetic field and temperature on the nonrelativistic bremsstrahlung process in magnetized anisotropic plasmas

The magnetic field and thermal effects on the nonrelativistic electron-ion bremsstrahlung process are investigated in magnetized anisotropic plasmas. The effective electron-ion interaction potential is obtained in the presence of an external magnetic field. Using the Born approximation for the initial and final states of the projectile electron, the bremsstrahlung radiation cross section and bremsstrahlung emission rate are obtained as functions of the electron energy, radiation photon energy, magnetic field strength, plasma temperature, and Debye length. It is shown that the effects of the magnetic field enhance the bremsstrahlung radiation cross section for low plasma temperatures and, however, suppress the bremsstrahlung cross section for high plasma temperatures. It is also shown that the magnetic field effects diminish the bremsstrahlung emission rate in magnetized high temperature plasmas.     

Electromagnetic radiation from positive-energy bound electrons in the Coulomb field of a nucleus at rest in a strong uniform magnetic field

A classical analysis is presented of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by positive-energy electrons performing bound motion in the Coulomb field of a nucleus at rest in a strong uniform magnetic field. Bounded trajectories exist and span a wide range of velocity directions near the nucleus (compared to free trajectories with similar energies) when the electron Larmor radius is smaller than the distance at which the electron-nucleus Coulomb interaction energy is equal to the mechanical energy of an electron. The required conditions occur in magnetic white dwarf photospheres and have been achieved in experiments on production of antihydrogen. Under these conditions, the radiant power per unit volume emitted by positive-energy bound electrons is much higher than the analogous characteristic of bremsstrahlung (in particular, in thermal equilibrium) at frequencies that are below the electron cyclotron frequency but higher than the inverse transit time through the interaction region in a close collision in the absence of a magnetic field. The quantum energy discreteness of positive-energy bound states restricts the radiation from an ensemble of bound electrons (e.g., in thermal equilibrium) to nonoverlapping spectral lines, while continuum radiative transfer is dominated by linearly polarized bremsstrahlung.     

Radiation losses of a theta pinch plasma in the wave-length range 10–200 Å

In order to measure the radiation losses of a theta pinch plasma (electron densityn _e=1?5×10¹⁶ cm^?3, electron temperatureT _e=150?350 eV), a grazing incidence spectrograph is absolutely calibrated in the range 10–200 Å. This is done in two steps: First the measured intensity ratios of lines emitted by hydrogen-like ions are compared with their calculated values thus yielding the relative sensitivity of the instrument. The result is confirmed by incorporating well known intensity ratios of lithium-like ions. Secondly absolute calibration is possible by hanging the spectrograph on an absolutely calibrated monochromator via the branching-ratios of lithium-like ions. Radiation losses from the plasma turn out to be negligible as compared with heat conduction losses and the total energy radiated is found to be small compared with the energy content of the electrons, if the impurity concentration does not exceed 0.5 percent. The radiation is found to be predominantly emitted by the resonance lines of the oxygen and carbon ions O VI, O VII, O VIII, CV, CVI whereas continuum radiation and the contribution from other ions are negligible small. However, in discharge where the oxygen concentration reaches 5 percent, radiation losses can exceed the losses by heat conduction during the early phase of the discharge. But still the final electron temperature is not significantly influenced by the impurities.     

Effects of inverse bremsstrahlung in laser-induced plasmas from a graphite surface

The kinetic energy of electrons emitted due to laser interaction with a graphite surface was studied with a time-of-flight spectrometer. In addition the yields of carbon atomic and molecular ions were measured as a function of laser pulse energy. Pulse energy thresholds for ion emission are observed to correlate with the observed maximum electron energies. Furthermore, the data suggest that ionic carbon clusters can be dissociated by energetic electrons or photons created in the plasma. We believe that initially photoemitted electrons are accelerated by inverse bremsstrahlung to the energies required for electron impact ionization and dissociation     

On an anomaly of the thermal filamentation mechanism in a high-power electromagnetic field of a strongly collisional plasma

It is shown that, under the conditions when the mean free path of electrons in a fully ionized plasma is small compared with the London plasma length, the thermal mechanism of inverse bremsstrahlung absorption and electronic conductivity has a stabilizing action on filamentation instability of high-power electromagnetic radiation, in contrast to the known case of comparatively low-intensity radiation. This new nonlinear property of a plasma is shown to be determined by a decrease in the effectiveness of plasma heating in a heating pumping field with increasing the intensity of radiation if electron oscillations have above-thermal rates.     

Z箍缩内爆过程中的能量转换机制研究

利用一维三温辐射磁流体力学程序对氖气和铝丝阵Z箍缩内爆过程中的能量转换过程进行了详细的数值研究，发现在内爆过程中离子和电子之间的碰撞能量交换是最主要的能量交换过程，其次是电子和光子之间的光电过程和轫致过程，而康普顿散射过程中的能量交换可以忽略不计；辐射出的x射线主要是在光电激发和光电复合过程中产生的，其次是在轫致辐射过程和康普顿散射过程中产生的.理论分析表明，辐射出的x射线能量可以超过，也可能小于其等离子体最大动能.数值模拟结果表明，在氖气Z箍缩中，辐射出的x射线能量没有超过其等离子体最大动能，而在铝丝阵列内爆中，辐射出的x射线能量超过了其等离子体最大动能，但小于磁压所做的功；在整个Z箍缩过程中欧姆加热能量是较小的. 关键词： Z箍缩 能量转换 x射线辐射     

Strong convective and shock wave behavior in solar flares

A model has been developed to study the gasdynamics of a flare region heated by a stream of energetic electrons. It is shown that the energy deposition can introduce strong chromospheric dynamical effects. As a result of fluid motion into rarefield regions, there is considerable redistribution of mass causing a profound influence on the emitted line radiation.     

Investigation on non-LTE radiation emitted from a laser-irradiated Au disk

1 Introduction The laser-target coupling physics is a key topic in indirect-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) and X-ray application research[1―3]. When intense laser light irradiates the solid target, the plasmas are produced rapidly on the surface of the target. The laser en-ergy is mainly absorbed by inverse bremsstrahlung absorption, and a coronal region with high-temperature and low-density plasma is formed. Electron thermal conduction proc-ess transfers energy into over-dense re…     

A new microfocus x‐ray source,iMOXS, for highly sensitive XRF analysis in scanning electron microscopes

Scanning electron microscopes are usually equipped with energy‐dispersive X‐ray detectors for electron probe microanalysis. This widespread analytical method allows investigators to determine the elemental composition of specimens with a spatial resolution of about 1 µm. However, owing to the electron–specimen interaction, the emitted spectra reveal, in addition to characteristic lines, also a high level of continuous bremsstrahlung background. As a result, elements with low concentrations cannot be identified. The minimum detection limit can be diminished by two orders of magnitude if the characteristic lines are excited as fluorescence by an additional x‐ray source. In this case, the emergence of bremsstrahlung is considerably reduced. Combining a high‐brilliance microfocus x‐ray tube with efficient polycapillary optics enables one to realize an experimental arrangement for performing local fluorescence analysis at the same point where the electron beam hits the sample. The polycapillary optics under consideration focuses the emitted x‐radiation onto focal spots between 30 and 100 µm in diameter. Count rates of several thousands cps have been achieved. Elemental maps have been obtained by means of the motorized specimen stage of the microscope. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laser wakefield electron acceleration for γ-ray radiography application

An electron beam is obtained using laser wakefield electron accelerator, and converted into a γ-ray source after undergoing bremsstrahlung radiation in a dense material. A quasi-monoenergetic structure is observed when the length of the plasma channel was modified. The structure has a 58-MeV peak energy, 15mrad (full-width at half-maximum) divergence angle, and 340-pC charge. The γ-ray source generated by this high-quality electron beam is brighter and has higher spatial and temporal resolutions than other conventional sources. A γ-ray radiography demonstrational experiment is performed. Pictures of a ball with different layers made of different materials are taken. The results show a clear structure and density resolution.     

热离子、超热离子和离子加热

通过区分热离子和超热离子,讨论了ＨＬ－１Ｍ等离子体中性粒子束加热的」初步实验结果,分析表明,虽然电子对离子的磁撞加热机制仍然占主导地位,但中性粒子束也加热了离子。     

铝丝阵Z箍缩辐射产生机理初步研究

利用一维非平衡辐射磁流体力学程序研究了铝丝阵内爆过程中的能量转化规律和辐射产生机理.细致讨论了Z箍缩过程中脉冲功率驱动器电磁能馈入等离子体,等离子体动能转化为内能以及通过一系列原子过程电子内能转化为X射线辐射的能量转化机理.结合离子布居信息深入分析了Z箍缩过程中的辐射产生机理.结果表明,在内爆压缩阶段,电离和激发过程占优,线辐射占据总辐射的绝大部分.在滞止时,离子大都处于裸核离化度,连续谱辐射达到峰值.在滞止附近,线辐射出现两个峰值.在膨胀过程中,光电复合过程优于三体复合,线辐射占总辐射的份额逐渐下降.     

高能多脉冲辐射照相的复合靶物理分析

 介绍了电子束与钽靶相互作用的能量沉积解析理论和（钽-碳）复合靶的设计。单靶的某个区域内形成的高温等离子体沿轴的2个方向(±z)溅射而使单靶穿孔,大焦斑束形成较小的孔,小焦斑下靶孔较大而相对光滑。复合靶或修正复合靶可以经受2~3个束脉冲的连续照射。蒙卡模拟计算表明,复合靶或修正复合靶的焦斑尺寸与单靶相同,可用于多脉冲闪光照相。     

Dynamic plasma screening effects on low-energy bremsstrahlung emission in nonideal plasmas

The dynamic screening effects on the low-energy electron–ion bremsstrahlung process are investigated for both the soft and hard photon radiations in nonideal plasmas. The impact-parameter analysis is employed to obtain the bremsstrahlung radiation cross section as a function of the impact parameter, projectile energy, radiation photon energy, thermal energy, and Debye length. The results show that the dynamic screening effect on the bremsstrahlung radiation is found to be more significant for distant encounters. In addition, the dynamic screening effect is found to be more important for the soft photon radiation and decreases with increasing the radiation photon energy.     

Radiation loss of electrons under scattering by a Thomas-Fermi atom

A universal theory and calculation results for the bremsstrahlung of electrons on complex atoms are presented. The theory accounts for the dynamic polarization of the core in the energy range from 0.5 to 10 keV, which is characteristic of radiation energy losses in a hot plasma with heavy ions. The treatment is based on the statistical atom model and the quasi-classical approximation of the incident electron. The model accounts for the penetration of the incident electron into the atomic core, which affects the relationship between the polarization and static radiation channels. The contribution of the polarization channel in both the spectral and the total radiation loss of electrons at various frequencies, nucleus charges, and energies of the incident particle is analyzed. It is shown that the contribution of the polarization channel is comparable with that of the static channel (which was calculated elsewhere) in a wide range of parameters. The results obtained are in a reasonable quantitative agreement with the detailed quantum-mechanical calculation carried out for individual atoms.     

The role of photoelectronic processes in the formation of a fluorescent plume by 248-nm laser irradiation of single crystal NaNO3

 Visible fluorescent “plumes” are readily produced when nominally transparent ionic materials are exposed to pulsed UV laser irradiation. Over a wide range of laser fluences where plumes are observed, however, the photon and electron densities are inadequate to support multiphoton ionization and inverse bremsstrahlung, which are often used to explain plasma production and excitation of atomic spectral lines. We present evidence that the great majority of charged particles (electrons and positive ions) comprising the plume at the onset of formation in defect-laden NaNO₃ are emitted directly from the surface. A model is described wherein the required electron energy to excite and eventually ionize neutral atoms is provided by electrostatic interactions in the expanding plume. The time evolution of the “overlap” between the expanding charge cloud and thermally emitted neutrals accounts for the time evolution of the atomic line emissions after the laser pulse. Received: 15 August 1996/Accepted: 16 August 1996