Experimental Phenomena of Improved Ohmic COnfinement Induced by Modulated Toroidal Current on the HT—7 Tokamak

The phenomena of improved ohmic confinement have been observed during the modulation of the toroidal current on the Hefei superconducting Tokamak-7(HT-7).In the experiment,the programming ohmic heating field was modulated.A toroidal frequency-modulated current induced by modulated loop voltage was added on the plasma equilibrium current.The ratio of ac amplitude of the plasma current to the main plasma current is about 12-30%.These improved plasma confinement phenomena include the facts that the average electron density and the central electron temperature both increase,the Dα radiation from the edge is reduced,the magnetohydrodynamics is obviously suppressed by oscillating plasma current,and the global energy confinement time increases by 27-45%.It is found that the faster the modulation is,the more effective the improved ohmic confinement phase.     

Effects of Wall Ablation on the Trigger Process in Two—Gap Capillary Plasma Generator

Two-gap capillary plasma generator is a realistic alternative to the conventional capillary in electrothermal launchers. It is designed to accomplish two goals: repetitive operation and a compact power supply system in which capillary itself serves as a closing switch. A theoretical model is proposed to investigate the trigger process of this kind of generator. Both ablation case and no ablation case are considered. Trigger delay time is also theoretically analysed. The calculation shows that capillary wall ablation can greatly change the behaviour of trigger discharge arc and plasma flow generated. Trigger delay time can be drastically shortened.     

Channel spacing halving and multi-channel apodisation of sampling fiber Bragg grating based on Moire effect

Channel spacing halving and multi-channel apodisation of sampling fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) based on Moire effect are demonstrated, which are realized by stretching and double exposure in fabrication of the SFBG. The experiment and theoretical analysis showed that the channel spacing could be halved when the period of Moire grating was four times of the period of sampling and the initial phase difference of two exposures was even times of m. The multi-channel apodisation could be realized when the period of Moire fringe was twice the length of SFBG and the initial phase difference of two exposures was odd times of m. A novel method to control the initial phase difference of two exposures is presented in this paper. Using this technique, we fabricated two SFBGs with channel spacing of 50 and 100 G by a same phase mask and an apodized SFBG with channel spacing of 100 G.     

Stochastic resonance and nonequilibrium dynamic phase transition of Ising spin system driven by a joint external field

The dynamic response and stochastic resonance of a kinetic Ising spin system （ISS） subject to the joint action of an external field of weak sinusoidal modulation and stochastic white-nolse are studied by solving the mean-field equation of motion based on Glauber dynamics. The periodically driven stochastic ISS shows that the characteristic stochastic resonance as well as nonequilibrium dynamic phase transition （NDPT） occurs when the frequency ω and amplitude h0 of driving field, the temperature t of the system and noise intensity D are all specifically in accordance with each other in quantity. There exist in the system two typical dynamic phases, referred to as dynamic disordered paramagnetic and ordered ferromagnetic phases respectively, corresponding to a zero- and a unit-dynamic order parameter. The NDPT boundary surface of the system which separates the dynamic paramagnetic phase from the dynamic ferromagnetic phase in the 3D parameter space of ho-t-D is also investigated. An interesting dynamical ferromagnetic phase with an intermediate order parameter of 0.66 is revealed for the first time in the ISS subject to the perturbation of a joint determinant and stochastic field. The intermediate order dynamical ferromagnetic phase is dynamically metastable in nature and owns a peculiar characteristic in its stability as well as the response to external driving field as compared with a fully order dynamic ferromagnetic phase.     

An efficient method of distinguishing chaos from noise

It is an important problem in chaos theory whether an observed irregular signal is deterministic chaotic or stochastic. We propose an efficient method for distinguishing deterministic chaotic from stochastic time series for short scalar time series. We first investigate, with the increase of the embedding dimension, the changing trend of the distance between two points which stay close in phase space. And then, we obtain the differences between Gaussian white noise and deterministic chaotic time series underlying this method. Finally, numerical experiments are presented to testify the validity and robustness of the method. Simulation results indicate that our method can distinguish deterministic chaotic from stochastic time series effectively even when the data are short and contaminated.     

Simulation of Resonant Interaction between Energetic Electrons and Whistler-Mode Chorus in the Outer Radiation Belt

We construct a realistic model to evaluate the chorus wave-particle interaction in the outer radiation belt L = 4.5. This model incorporates a plasmatrough number density model, a field-aligned density model and a realistic wave power and frequency model. We solve the 2D bounce-averaged momentum-pitch-angle Fokker-Planck equation and show that the Whistler-mode chorus can be effective in the acceleration of electrons, and enhance the phase space density for energies of -1 MeV by a factor from 10 to 10^3 in about two days, consistent with the observation. We also demonstrate that ignorance of the electron number density variation along field line and magnetic local time in the previous work yields an overestimate of energetic electron phase space density by a factor 5-10 at large pitch-angle after two days, suggesting that a realistic plasma density model is very important to evaluate the evolution of energetic electrons in the outer radiation belt.     

Non-Markovian dynamics of two non-coupled qubits interacting with two separate reservoirs with different spectral densities

The dynamics of two non-coupled qubits independently interacting with their reservoirs is solved by the time convolutionless projection operator method. We study two-qubit quantum correlation dynamics for two different types of spectral densities, which are a Lorentzian distribution and an Ohmic spectral density with a Lorentzian-Drude cutoff function. For two qubits initially prepared in the initial Bell state, quantum discord can keep longer time and reach larger values in nonMarkovian reservoirs for the first spectral distribution or by reducing the cutoff frequency for the second case. For the initial Bell-like state, the dynamic behaviors of quantum discord and entanglement are compared. The results show that a long time of quantum correlation can be obtained by adjusting some parameters in experiment and further confirm that the discord can capture quantum correlation in addition to entanglement.     

Ion pickup by intrinsic low-frequency Alfven waves with a spectrum

<正>Ion pickup by a monochromatic low-frequency Alfven wave,which propagates along the background magnetic field,has recently been investigated in a low beta plasma(Lu and Li 2007 Phys.Plasmas 14 042303).In this paper, the monochromatic Alfven wave is generalized to a spectrum of Alfven waves with random phase.It finds that the process of ion pickup can be divided into two stages.First,ions are picked up in the transverse direction,and then phase difference(randomization) between ions due to their different parallel thermal motions leads to heating of the ions.The heating is dominant in the direction perpendicular to the background magnetic field.The temperatures of the ions at the asymptotic stage do not depend on individual waves in the spectrum,but are determined by the total amplitude of the waves.The effect of the initial ion bulk flow in the parallel direction on the heating is also considered in this paper.     

Transition to Film Boiling in Microgravity： Influence of Subcooling

The transition process to film pool boiling in microgravity is studied experimentally aboard the Chinese recoverable satellite S J-8. A quasi-steady heating method is adopted, in which the heating voltage is controlled to increase exponentially with time. Small, primary bubbles are formed and slid on the surface, which coalesce with each other to form a large coalesced bubble. Two ways are observed for the transition from nucleate to film boiling at different subcoolings. At high subcooling, the coalesced bubble with a smooth surface grows slowly. It is then difficult for the coalesced bubble to cover the whole heater surface, resulting in a special region of transition boiling in which nucleate boiling and local dry areas can coexist. In contrast, strong oscillation of the coalesced bubble surface at low subcooling may cause rewetting of local dry areas and activation of more nucleate sites, resulting in an abrupt transition to film boiling.     

Stochastic resonance in a bistable system with coloured correlation between additive and multiplicative noise

The phenomenon of stochastic resonance (SR) in a bistable nonlinear system with coupling between additive and multiplicative noises is investigated when the correlation between two noise terms is coloured. It is found that the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the system is affected not only by the coupling strength λ between two noise terms, but also by the noise correlation time τ. The SNR is changed from a single peak, to two peaks with a dip, and then to a monotonically decreasing function with noise strength. The dependence of the SR on the initial conditions is entirely caused by the coupling strength λ between two noise terms.     

Critical behavior of thermal relaxation near a breakdown point

At a composition far above the percolation threshold, the resistance of a composite sample increases with time due to Joule heating as a constant current of a sufficiently large value is passed through the sample. If the current is less than a certain breakdown current (I(b)) the resistance eventually reaches a steady value with a characteristic relaxation time tau(h). The latter diverges with current I as tau(h) approximately (1-I(2)/I(2)(b))(-z). The value of the exponent z displays large fluctuations leading to unusual scaling of the relaxation time. It is shown that the results lead to important conclusions about the nature of breakdown phenomena.     

On the Heat Sources of the Arc Cathode Spot

The main heat sources of the are cathode root are ion impact and neutralization heating at the surface and Joule (resistance) heating in the volume of the cathode. The ratio II_ji between these two components of cathode power supply is investigated, it depends only on J/a (spot current divided by spot radius). In the case of Cu cathodes both components are equal if J/a = 9.17A/_μm, and their contributions to the increase of the spot temperature are equal if J/a = 10.25 A/_μm. This holds approximately even if the electron emission cooling is taken into account (by inclusion in the surface power supply). In the real (non-stationary) arc spot the influence of resistive heating is rather low (between 0.1 and 1 percent of the total power supply in the case of clean surfaces), with the exception of the explosive emission processes, where the Joule heat generation is comparable with or even superior to the surface heating processes by impact or possibly electron emission (Nottingham effect). The time average of the Joule component relative to the impact power input depends on the role of such essentially non-stationary processes in the arc spot regime. An estimate of this ratio II_j,ie basing on theoretical investigations and experimental experiences results in 0.01 ? II_j,ie ? 1.     

Condensation of injected electrons and holes in silicon

We report that the condensed electron—hole phase in silicon has been produced by electrical carrier injection. The condensed phase recombination radiation occured at 1.082 ± 0.001 eV with a linewidth of 0.012 eV. Hence the line position and linewidth appear to be independent of whether the semiconductor is excited by optical of electrical injection. Joule heating is shown to be important by analyses of time resolved recombination radiation spectra and double pulse experiments.     

Experimental investigation of the anode region of a free-burning atmospheric-pressure inert-gas arc. II. Intermediate current regime—multiple anode constriction

This paper reports the experimental investigation of multiple anode constriction in atmospheric-pressure arcs in argon and xenon. The investigations were carried out in a free-burning arc with water-cooled electrodes. Results are presented from spectroscopic measurements of the electron temperature and density in the arc column and near the anode in various regimes of burning. Analysis of the experimental data leads to the conclusion that the constriction occurs because of the development of an overheating instability near the anode due to the disruption of the balance between Joule heating of the plasma and its cooling via the emission of radiation. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 67, 41–45 (January 1997)     

圆柱电极激光触发开关击穿前的模拟计算

在加入SF6气体与电子的碰撞反应截面后,利用基于PIC-MCC方法的XOOPIC程序,对天光Ⅰ号激光装置预放大器上的圆柱电极激光触发开关进行击穿前流柱形成过程的模拟计算。详述了模拟条件的选择及激光触发条件的等效,并给出了模拟结果。模拟结果表明,在弧道初始半径约为250μm的条件下,经过0.15 ns后正离子到达阴极,开关导通。因此验证了通过PIC-MCC方法模拟,可以为开关弧道的电阻的动态变化的电路模拟给出初始条件,使之能够更为准确的预测开关的导通行为,为开关设计提供了一个新的工具。     

Onset of breakdown and formation of cathode spots

When an increasing diode voltage is applied, enhanced field emission of electrons begins from a growing number of small spots or whiskers on the cathode surface. This stimulates desorption of weakly bound adsorbates from the surface of a whisker. As the diode voltage increases, the 100-V equipotential surface moving toward the cathode is met by the desorbed neutrals moving away from the cathode, resulting in sharp risetime for the onset of ionization of desorbed neutrals by field-emitted electrons. Positive ions produced in the ionization region a few microns from the electron emitting spot are accelerated back to it. This bombardment leads to surface heating of the spot. The onset of breakdown by this mechanism requires much less current than the Joule heating mechanism. The localized buildup of plasma above the electron emitting spot leads to pressure and electric field distributions that ignite unipolar arcs. The high current density of the unipolar arc and the associated surface heating by ions result in the explosive formation of cathode spot plasma     

A numerical simulation of transient ignition and ignition limit of a composite solid by a localised radiant source

An unsteady three-dimensional numerical model has been formulated, coded, and solved to study ignition and flame development over a composite solid fuel sample upon heating by a localised radiant beam in a buoyant atmosphere. The model consists of an unsteady gas phase and an unsteady solid phase. The gas phase formulation consists of full Navier-Stokes equations for the conservation of mass, momentum, energy, and species. A one-step, second-order overall Arrhenius reaction is adopted. Gas radiation is included by solving the radiation transfer equation. For the solid phase formulation, the energy (heat conduction) equation is employed to solve the transient solid temperature. A first-order in-depth solid pyrolysis relation between the solid fuel density and the local solid temperature is assumed. Numerical simulations provide time-and-space resolved details of the ignition transient and flame development and the existence of two types of ignition modes: one with reaction kernel initiated on the surface and the other with ignition kernel initiated in the gas phase. Other primary outputs of the computation are the minimum ignition energy (Joule) for the solid as a function of the external heating rate (Watt). Both the critical heat input for ignition and the optimal ignition energy are identified. Other parameters that were varied over the simulations include: sample thickness, ignition heat source spatial shape factor, and gravity level.     

Geometrical study of spark ignition in two dimensions

Spark ignition, as the first step during the combustion in Otto engines, has a profound impact on the further development of the flame kernel. Over the last ten years growing concern for environment protection, including low emission of pollutants has increased the interest in the numerical simulation of ignition phenomena to guarantee successful flame kernel development even for lean mixtures.

However, the process of spark ignition in a combustible mixture is not yet fully understood. The use of detailed reaction mechanisms, combined with electrodynamical modelling of the spark, is necessary to optimize ignition of lean mixtures.

This work presents simulations of the coupling of flow, chemical reactions and transport with discharge processes in order to investigate the development of a stable flame kernel initiated by an electrical spark. A two-dimensional code to simulate the early stages of flame kernel formation, shortly after the breakdown discharge, has been developed. The model includes Joule heating. The spark plasma channel formed as a consequence of the breakdown is incorporated into the initial conditions. The computations include the initial phase (1–5 µs), which is governed by pressure wave formation, but also the transition to flame propagation. A thorough study of the influence of the electrodes' geometry, i.e. shape and size, and gap width, has been performed for air and a lean H₂–air mixture. Also a detailed methane-air mechanism was chosen as another example including combustion.

Due to the fast expansion of the plasma channel, together with the geometrical complexity of the electrodes, a complicated flow field develops after the emission of a pressure wave by the expanding channel. Special numerical methods, including artificial viscosity, are required to resolve the complicated flow field during these first 1–5 µs. The heat release through chemical reactions and transport processes is almost negligible during this short phase. The second phase, i.e. the development of a propagating flame and the flame kernel expansion, can last up to several milliseconds and is dominated by diffusive processes and chemical reactions. It has been found that the geometry greatly influences the developing flame kernel and the flow field. As soon as chemical reactions begin to contribute significantly to the heat release, the effect becomes smaller.