纳秒脉冲气体放电机理探讨

 经典Townsend机理和流注理论是气体放电研究的基础,但在解释纳秒脉冲气体放电时均存在一定缺陷。基于经典气体放电理论,探讨纳秒脉冲气体放电机理,分析流注理论判据在纳秒脉冲气体放电中的有效性,解释纳秒脉冲下电子逃逸现象和基于电子逃逸的快速电离波击穿理论,仿真计算高能快电子的逃逸过程。结果认为基于高能量快电子的逃逸击穿将是可能解释纳秒脉冲下气体放电现象的依据。     

纳秒脉冲下高能量快电子逃逸过程的计算

基于快电子的逃逸击穿机理将是一种能解释纳秒脉冲高过电压倍数下气体放电现象的理论，对高能量快电子的逃逸运动、碰撞电离引导电子崩的发展等进行了分析，并根据电子能量与阻力关系式，对电子的俘获或逃逸过程进行了计算.结果表明外加场强越高，更多的电子能逃逸，逃逸的能量阈值越低，气压对电子的逃逸过程影响也较大.同时也定性描述了纳秒脉冲下逃逸击穿放电过程. 关键词： 气体放电 快电子 逃逸击穿 纳秒脉冲     

大气压管板结构纳秒脉冲放电中时域X射线研究

纳秒脉冲放电能在大气压下产生高电子能量、高功率密度的低温等离子体,由于经典放电理论无法很好地解释纳秒脉冲放电中的现象,近年来以高能逃逸电子为基础的纳秒脉冲气体放电理论受到广泛关注.纳秒脉冲放电会产生高能逃逸电子,伴随产生X射线,研究X射线的特性可以间接反映高能逃逸电子的特性.本文利用纳秒脉冲电源在大气压下激励空气放电,通过金刚石光导探测器测量放电产生的X射线,研究不同电极间隙、阳极厚度下和空间不同位置测量的X射线特性.实验结果表明,在大气压下纳秒脉冲放电能产生上升沿约1 ns,脉宽约2 ns的X射线脉冲,其产生时间与纳秒脉冲电压峰值对应,经计算探测到的X射线能量约为2.3×10-3J.当增大电极间隙时,探测到的X射线能量减弱,因为增大电极间隙会减小电场强度和逃逸电子数,从而减少阳极的轫致辐射.电极间距大于50 mm后加速减弱,同时放电模式从弥散过渡到电晕.随着阳极厚度增加,阳极后方和放电腔侧面观察窗测得的X射线能量均有所减弱,在阳极后面探测的X射线能量减弱趋势更加明显,这说明X射线主要产生在阳极内表面,因此增加阳极厚度会使穿透阳极薄膜的X射线能量减少.     

Spectra of electrons and X-ray photons in a diffusive nanosecond discharge in air under atmospheric pressure

The spectra of electrons and X-ray photons generated in nanosecond discharges in air under atmospheric pressure are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Data for the discharge formation dynamics in a nonuniform electric field are gathered. It is confirmed that voltage pulses with an amplitude of more than 100 kV and a rise time of 1 ns or less causing breakdown of an electrode gap with a small-radius cathode generate runaway electrons, which can be divided into three groups in energy (their energy varies from several kiloelectronvolts to several hundreds of kiloelectronvolts). It is also borne out that the formation of the space charge is due to electrons appearing in the gap at the cathode and a major contribution to the electron beam behind the foil comes from electrons of the second group, the maximal energy of which roughly corresponds to the voltage across the gap during electron beam generation. X-ray radiation from the gas-filled diode results from beam electron slowdown both in the anode and in the gap. It is shown that the amount of group-3 electrons with an energy above the energy gained by runaway electrons (in the absence of losses) at a maximal voltage across the gap is much smaller than the amount of group-2 electrons.     

Amplification and nonlinear modification of runaway breakdown

The astonishing natural phenomenon of narrow bipolar pulses (NBP) is an isolated discharges in thunderstorms at tropopause heights (10–20 km) that generates enormously powerful radio emission but lasts only a few microseconds. The theory of this phenomenon based on runaway breakdown is elaborated. At such high heights extensive atmospheric shower (EAS) become well developed only if the energetic cosmic ray particle momentum is directed close to the horizon. For these conditions the runaway breakdown–extensive atmospheric shower (RB–EAS) discharge amplified strongly what lead to the effective diminishing of thundercloud electric field and results in nonlinear saturation of the discharge current. A reasonable agreement of the theory with NBP observations is demonstrated.     

Temporal and spatial structure of the X-ray emission in alow-energy vacuum spark

Two distinct phases of X-ray emission in a small vacuum spark with a plasma trigger have been identified. The first phase of emission is associated with the trigger plasma and originates from beam-target X-rays issued from the pointed anode. The source of electrons at this period is from the trigger plasma. The second phase of emission is associated with the breakdown of the main gap. The source of X-rays is a combination of beam-target and beam-plasma X-rays. It is observed that the angular distribution is constant. The X-ray energies vary regularly with the applied voltage, and the triggered vacuum spark as a high brightness     

Runaway electron generation decrease during a major disruption by limiter biasing in tokamaks

The high-energy current of runaway electrons during a major disruption in tokamak reactors can cause serious damage to the first wall of the reactors and reduce their life time. Therefore, finding a method to minimize runaway electron generation during a major disruption is much needed. Tokamak limiter biasing is one of the methods that can be used for controlling the radial electric field and can induce a transition to an improved confinement state. This paper attempts to examine the effect of limiter biasing on the generation of runaway electrons during a major disruption. To do so, a horizontal biased limiter placed on the tokamak was used. Main parameters such as plasma current, loop voltage, emitted hard X-ray intensity, magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) oscillation and H_α radiation and spectrum of hard X-rays, in the presence and absence of negative and positive limiter biasing, were measured. The results show that the application of limiter biasing during a major disruption can reduce runaway electron generation.     

HL-1装置的X射线测量

本文叙述了HL-1装置的X射线测量。结果表明,电子温度随着等离子体电流通道的缩小而升高,其典型值为480eV。稳定放电的软X射线扰动幅度大约是总强度的15％,锯齿振荡周期约为2ms。与磁探针信号比较,明显看到了内、外模之间的耦合关系。多次放电清洗了真空空器壁,含水量下降;硬X射线测量表明,逃逸产生率减小。     

Pseudospark switches-technological aspects and application

We report results of the development of fast closing switches, so-called pseudospark switches, at Erlangen University. Two different parameter regimes are under investigation: medium power switches (32 kV anode voltage, 30 kA anode current and 0.02 C charge transfer per shot) for pulsed gas discharge lasers and high power switches (30 kV anode voltage, 400 kA anode current and 3.4 C charge transfer per shot) for high current applications. The lifetime of these switches is determined by erosion of the cathode. The total charge transfer of devices with one discharge channel is about 220 kC for the medium and 27 kC for the high power switch. At currents exceeding 45 kA a sudden increase in erosion rate was observed. Multichannel devices are suited to increase lifetime as the current per channel can be reduced. Successful experiments with radial and coaxial arrangements of the discharge channels were performed. In these systems the discharge channels move due to magnetic forces. A skilful use of this phenomena will result in a considerably increase of switch lifetime. Multigap devices enable an increase of anode voltage. A three gap switch has run reliably at an anode voltage of 70 kV     

Effect of oxidation state and coordination with Hg(II) on the electronic spectra of an anthraquinone–rhodamine sensor

ABSTRACT

In this study, a computational examination of the electronic transitions and through-space energy transfer processes lends insight into the experimental electronic spectra of a redox-sensitive rhodamine–anthraquinone dyad. Electronic transitions were calculated using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) based on models optimised from single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) ion positions. DFT calculations were performed on gas-phase models using the Vienna Ab Initio Software Package (VASP) with the functional developed by Perdew, Burke, and Ernzerhof (PBE) on a basis set of plane waves. Using the DFT results, select transitions were evaluated based on a dipole–dipole coupling mechanism to find the Förster resonance energy transfer coupling, the square of which is approximately proportional to the rate of energy transfer between the donor and the acceptor. Electronic transitions during the relaxation of charge carriers are also investigated using nonadiabatic molecular dynamics. In order to investigate the transitions contributing to key peaks in the experimental absorbance spectra, TDDFT calculations were performed in Gaussian 09 with the B3LYP functional on the sensor in solution phase, which is simulated using a polarisable continuum model (PCM). The computed electron transfer process from the excited rhodamine to the quinone correlates better with the experimental data than does the computed Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process. This computed electron transfer process is faster than the radiative lifetime of the fluorescent state, which collectively suggests that the charge transfer process quenches fluorescence. These results support the observation that fluorescence is more prominent in the oxidised sensor than in the reduced sensor.     

Core level absorption spectroscopy of perovskites and high temperature superconductors

We present K-edge, or Is, absorption spectra of oxygen in different oxides, and relate the fine structure near the absorption edge to different degrees of charge transfer between the cations and anions, and to features of the electronic structure. We use the experimental technique of electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) where incident fast electrons, rather than incident X-rays, excite the core electrons of the atoms. The spectrometer is attached to a transmission electron microscope enabling us to analyze nanometer sized volumes and study bonding and local electronic structure near defects and interfaces. Comparisons are made with the closely related technique of X-ray absorption spectroscopy. By examples we demonstrate that increase in the oxygen content above, or the reduction of the cation content below, the equilibrium level, as well as the interchange of a cation with one of lower formal valency result in a pre-edge peak a few eV below the threshold of the oxygen K-edge. We attribute this feature to transfer ofs valence electrons away from the oxygen anions, thus creating empty states below the conduction band of the originally stoichiometric compound.     

A theory of localized electronic breakdown in insulating films

A review of measured breakdown properties in insulating films and of electronic theories of breakdown shows both theoretical and experimental inconsistencies. A theory is proposed in which electronic breakdown is caused by local chance events, such as a succession of avalanches at one spot. Successive avalanches sustain the growth of space charges, the local cathode field, and the avalanche rate. When the cathode field becomes large enough to make continuation of avalanching a certainty, instability with current runaway arises, causing breakdown. According to theory, breakdowns occur over a range of fields, their chance increasing very strongly with field; the breakdowns occur randomly in space and in time; the time to instability on a breakdown event decreases as some exponential function of increasing field; the breakdown field can both increase and decrease with temperature; it may be electrode dependent, and it decreases first rapidly and then more slowly with increasing film thickness. Observations made in a number of insulating films support the proposed theory.     

Numerical analysis of the concept of a laboratory experiment on the demonstration of runaway electron breakdown under normal conditions at high overvoltages

A numerical Monte Carlo experiment has been performed simulating the concept of a laboratory experiment on the demonstration of runaway electron breakdown of air at high overvoltages. The pronounced second peak of a picosecond runaway-electron pulse, which was observed in the laboratory experiment and interpreted as runaway electron avalanche initiated by the first peak of the pulse, is very slightly manifested in the numerical experiment. Only the initial stage of runaway electron avalanche can be observed in the laboratory experiment, but the fraction of secondary runaway electrons is too small to significantly affect the development of the breakdown.     

Stimulation of high-frequency breakdown of gas in Uragan-3M torsatron by runaway electrons

In experiments on confinement and heating of plasma in the Uragan-3M torsatron, the method of high-frequency breakdown of the working gas is used. In these experiments, in conditions of a relatively stable magnetic field, the rf power supplied to the setup chamber has a frequency close to the ion-cyclotron frequency. Such a method of gas breakdown is not always sufficiently reliable. In our experiments, preliminary ionization of the working gas by the run-away electron beam is used for stabilizing the breakdown. This work contains the results of experiments on enhancement of the runaway electron beam and on the interaction of the runaway electron beam in the Uragan-3M torsatron with the HF electromagnetic pump field. This enables us to formulate a number of recommendations for using spontaneously formed beams of accelerated particles for stimulating the rf breakdown. Our results confirm the possibility of gas breakdown by runaway electrons.     

Experimental and numerical investigation of two mechanisms underlying runaway electron beam formation

The electrical breakdown of a gas-filled diode with a highly nonuniform electric field is studied in the case when a 25-kV voltage pulse generates runaway electron beams with time-separated maxima of different duration behind anode foil. Experimental data are analyzed and numerically simulated using the PIC/MC code OOPIC-Pro. It is shown that, in terms of the model used, both beams arise at the cathode but their formation mechanisms differ. The first runaway electron beam no longer than 500 ps is attributed to the ionization mechanism; the second one, which may last several nanoseconds, is due to emission.     

Effective dynamics of a classical point charge

The effective Lagrangian of a point charge is derived by eliminating the electromagnetic field within the framework of the classical closed time path formalism. The short distance singularity of the electromagnetic field is regulated by an UV cutoff. The Abraham–Lorentz force is recovered and its similarity to quantum anomalies is underlined. The full cutoff-dependent linearized equation of motion is obtained, no runaway trajectories are found but the effective dynamics shows acausality if the cutoff is beyond the classical charge radius. The strength of the radiation reaction force displays a pole in its cutoff-dependence in a manner reminiscent of the Landau-pole of perturbative QED. Similarity between the dynamical breakdown of the time reversal invariance and dynamical symmetry breaking is pointed out.     

化学气相沉积金刚石探测器测量辐射驱动内爆的硬X射线

金刚石探测器具有响应快、灵敏度高、动态范围大、平响应、击穿电压高、抗辐射等优点, 广泛运用于X射线测量. 利用化学气相沉积方法制备的光学级金刚石, 采用金属-金刚石-金属结构研制了X射线金刚石探测器. 在8ps激光器上的探测器响应性能考核表明, 整个探测器系统的响应时间为444 ps, 上升时间为175 ps, 载流子寿命为285 ps. 将探测器应用于神光Ⅲ原型装置的内爆物理实验硬X射线测量, 分别测量得到以注入黑腔的激光转化为主和靶丸内爆产生为主的硬X射线能流, 测得的峰值信号分别正比于激光总能量和反比于靶丸CH层厚度. 关键词： CVD金刚石探测器 硬X射线 激光能量