Generation and characterization of a bright X-ray source using picosecond laser

High-resolution soft X-ray spectra of H-like and He-like ions were produced from laser irradiated silicon and aluminum targets. Plasma size was about 100 μm. X-ray spectra were analyzed to determine plasma parameters. We compared the line shape of resonance transitions and their intensity ratios to corresponding dielectronic satellites and the intensities of the inter combination lines of He-like ions, with the results of model calculations. Such comparison gave average values of the electron density N _e=(1?1.9)×10²¹ cm^?3 and the electron temperature T _e=460–560 eV for Si plasmas and about 560 eV for Al plasmas produced by the first and the second laser harmonics. According to our estimations, more than 10¹² photons were produced within the resonance line spectral width and in the solid angle 2π steredian during the total decay period.     

Electrostatic cnoidal waves and soliton structures in multi‐ions plasmas

Using a reductive perturbation technique (RPT), the Korteweg‐de Vries (KdV) equation for nonlinear electrostatic waves in multi‐ion plasmas is derived with appropriate boundary conditions. Furthermore, compressive and rarefactive cnoidal wave and soliton solutions are discussed. In our model, the multi‐ion plasma consists of light dynamic warm ions, heavy cold ions, and inertialess electrons, which follows the Maxwell‐Boltzmann distribution. It is observed that in such an unmagnetized multi‐ion plasma, two characteristic electrostatic waves i.e., slow ion‐acoustic (SIA) waves and fast ion‐acoustic (FIA) waves, can propagate. The results are discussed by considering two types of multi‐ion plasmas i.e., H⁺–O⁺–e plasma and H^?–O⁺–e plasma that exist in space plasmas. It is found that for H⁺–O⁺–e plasma, the SIA cnoidal wave and soliton form both positive (compressive) and negative (rarefactive) potential pulses, which depend on the temperature and density of the light and warm ions. However, only electrostatic positive potential structures are obtained for FIA cnoidal wave and soliton in H⁺–O⁺–e plasma. In the case of H^?–O⁺–e plasma, the SIA cnoidal wave and soliton form only compressive structures, while the FIA cnoidal wave and soliton compose rarefactive structures. The effects of light ions' density and temperature on nonlinear potential structures are investigated in detail. The parametric results are also demonstrated, which are applicable to space and laboratory multi‐ion plasma situations.     

Ionization equilibrium and radiative energy loss rates for C,N, and O ions in low-density plasmas

The results of calculations of the ionization equilibrium and radiative energy loss rates for C, N and O ions in low-density plasmas are presented for electron temperatures in the range 10⁴–10⁷ °K (～1–10³ eV). The ionization structure is determined using the steady-state corona model, in which electron impact ionization from the ground states is balanced by direct radiative and dielectronic recombination. Using an improved theory, detailed calculations are carried out for the dielectronic recombination rates in which account is taken of all radiative and autoionization processes involving a single-electron electricdipole transition of the recombining ion. The radiative energy loss processes considered are electron-impact excitation of resonance line emission, direct radiative recombination, dielectronic recombination, and electron-ion bremsstrahlung. For all three elements, resonance line emission resulting from 2s?2p transitions produces a broad maximum in the energy loss rate near 10⁵°K(～ 10 eV).     

Characterization of compact bright soft X-ray source based on picosecond laser plasma

Radiation emission of silicon and aluminum plasmas produced by 40-ps laser pulses with peak intensity above 10¹⁴ W/cm² was studied. High-resolution soft X-rayspectra of H-like and He-like ions were analyzed to determine plasma parameters. We compared the line shape of resonance transitions and their intensity ratios to corresponding dielectronic satellites and the intensities of the intercombination lines of He-like ions with the results of model calculations. Such comparisons gave average values of the electron number density N_e=(1-1.9)×10²¹ cm^-3 and the electron temperature T_e=460–560 eV for Si plasmas and about 560 eV for Al plasmas produced by the first and the second laser harmonics. The plasma size is about 100 μm. According to our estimations, more than 10¹² photons were produced within the resonance line spectral width and in the solid angle 2π during the total decay period. PACS 41.50.+h; 52.25.Os; 52.50.Jm     

Spectroscopic diagnostics of carbon and aluminum laser-produced plasmas

VUV emission spectra of plasmas produced by focusing laser radiation with intensity of 10¹⁰–10¹¹ W/cm² on carbon and aluminum targets were studied. Using the partial local thermodynamic equilibrium model for an electron density exceeding 10¹⁷ cm^?3, the spectroscopic diagnostics and the analysis of ion composition of plasmas were carried out. The electron temperatures determined for carbon and aluminum plasmas from the ratio of intensities of ionic lines were found to be 8±3 eV and 11±4 eV, respectively. Stark broadening of aluminum lines was measured and parameters of electron broadening were determined. Using the spatially resolved measurement of Stark line broadening, the spatial density distribution and the law of electron gas expansion were found. The electron gas in the hot region of size 5 mm with an average density of (5±2) 10₁₇cm ^?3 experienced one-dimensional expansion according to the law 1/z ^1.1 with increasing distance z from the target.     

Determination de la densite electronique d'un plasma ionise a partir de la distance entre les pics de la raie ‘permise’ LiI et de la raie ‘interdite’ LiI

The aim of this investigation is to verify the method of measuring electron concentrations in partially ionized plasmas on the basis of a comparison of an ‘allowed’ line [such as the LiI (2s² 2p ²P−2s² 4f ²D) line] and a ‘forbidden’ neighbouring line induced by the ionic field [such as the LiI (2s² 2p ²P−2s² 4f ²F) line]. First, the line profiles are calculated theoretically. They are then compared with the observed profiles. It is found that the separation Δ(N_e) between the intensity maxima of the two lines may be conveniently used for the evaluation of the electron concentration N_e. This method is more convenient than one based on the measurement of the width of the ‘allowed’ line or on measurement of the maximum intensity ratios of the ‘allowed’ and ‘forbidden’ lines.     

Temperature Distributions Across the Plasma Layer of Planar Low Pressure Microwave Plasmas — A Comparative Investigation by Optical Emission Spectroscopy

Nowadays low temperature non-equilibrium plasmas received considerable attention in very different fields of plasma processing. The subject of the present paper is the comparative measurement of neutral gas temperature and optical excitation temperature to analyze the temperature distributions across the plasma layer of H₂ non-equilibrium plasmas (p = 0.2 – 1.5 kPa) with small admixtures of hydrocarbons in a novel planar microwave plasma source (2.45 GHz) used for plasmachemical deposition purposes by means of optical emission spectroscopy. Typical microwave power flux densities into the plasma lie within a range of 2 W cm^?2 to 20 W cm^?2. Results of neutral gas temperature measurements derived from H_α line Doppler profiles are compared with rotational temperatures of H₂ and N₂ molecules. The neutral gas temperature (800–1700 K) corresponds to the rotational temperature of the H₂ molecules (Fulcher band, R 0–0 branch) but shows a more distinct spatial gradient. The rotational temperature of admixtured N₂ molecules (2000–3000 K) is much more higher although Boltzmann distribution was ensured. The spatially resolved measured excitation temperature (1–3 eV) determined with the help of line intensity ratios of admixtured Ar well agrees with Langmuir probe measurements. The reported measurements as a whole demonstrate the feasibility of comparative investigations of different optically determined temperatures for expressive characterization of low pressure microwave plasmas.     

ДлИны Boлн и Bepoятнocти пeppexoдoв Для иэoэлeктpoннoЙ пocлeдoбaтэльнocти киcлoпoдa

Energies of the transitions 1s²2s²2p⁴?1s²2s2p⁵?1s²2p⁶ belonging to the isoelectronic sequence of oxygen have been calculated. The Hartre-Fock energy and the correlation energy, as well as relativistic corrections, were taken into account. The results have been compared with experimental data. Agreement was found to be good, thus suggesting that the $\text{(}\text{1}\text{Z}\text{)-}\text{expansion}$ converges rapidly. Perturbation theory was used for calculations of transition probabilities for the transitions 1s²2s²2p⁴?1s²2s2p⁵?1s²2p⁶ of the isoelectronic sequence of oxygen. The results may be useful in interpreting soft X-ray line radiation from these transitions, as observed in the solar corona and in high-temperature laboratory-generated plasmas.     

Comment on “Spectroscopic database of CO2 line parameters: 4300–7000 cm–1”

The “Spectroscopic database of CO₂ line parameters: 4300–7000 cm^–1” constructed by Toth et al., has been considered in relation with our previous and current studies of the absorption spectrum of carbon dioxide (CO₂) by high-sensitivity CW-cavity ring down spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) in the 5850–7000 cm^?1 region. Part of the line parameters of the database are based on accurate spectroscopic measurements by Fourier transform spectroscopy (FTS) but Toth et al. have chosen to fix to a very low value (4×10^?30 cm/molecule) the lower intensity cut off. This value which is far below the FTS detection limit has led to long range extrapolations to high J values and to the inclusion of weak unobserved bands which were theoretically predicted. In the 5850–7000 cm^?1 region, most of these calculated transitions were previously observed by CW-CRDS. The comparison with the CW-CRDS ¹³CO₂ spectrum in this region, has evidenced that (i) many weak bands above the intensity cut off are missing; (ii) there are important deviations between the line parameters provided in the database and our previous observations both for line positions (up to 1.7 cm^?1) and line intensities (up to a factor 80). Our discussion was limited to the three ¹³C species (¹³C¹⁶O₂, ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁸O and ¹⁶O¹³C¹⁷O) but the conclusions should apply to the other isotopologues in particular ¹²C¹⁶O₂ and to the full spectral range of the database.Alternatively, the global effective operators models for CO₂ can reproduce satisfactorily all the experimental line positions and line intensities available in the literature. This polyad model, which has been developed for most of the CO₂ isotopologues, constitutes an interesting alternative for the most accurate and complete CO₂ database. In particular, very weak bands, accidental resonances, intensity transfers and extra lines are accurately accounted for and predicted by this polyad model.     

Study of some two-nucleon pick-up reactions in the 1p shell with 39.8 MeV protons

Differential cross sections at a proton energy of 39.8 MeV (lab) have been measured for the following reactions (energies in MeV): ¹²C(p,τ)¹⁰B(g.s., 0.72, 1.74, 2.15, 3.59), ¹⁴C(p, t)¹²C(g.s., 4.43), ¹⁴N(p, τ)¹²C(g.s., 4.43), and ¹⁶O(p,τ)¹⁴N(g.s., 2.31, 3.95). A zero-range DWBA analysis of the data has been performed using the 1p shell wave functions of Cohen and Kurath. The fits we find are overall somewhat worse in shape than those found in the (p, t) survey of the 1p shell performed by Kahana and Kurath, the principal reason being that of the (p, τ) transitions which proceed with both L = 0 and L = 2 components we find several which occur with a much weaker L = 0 strength than the calculations predict. When ratios of experimental integrated cross sections to DWBA integrated cross sections are compared for all transitions, an rms deviation about the mean of 39% of the mean is found, whereas if only ratios for transitions from a given target nucleus are compared, then the rms deviations are considerably smaller.     

Line strengths and self-broadened linewidths of N2O in the 2-μm region: 2400-0000 and 0112-0000 transitions

The strenghths and self-broadened linewidths of the parallel 24⁰0-00⁰0 and perpendicular 01¹2-00⁰0 bands of N₂O have been measured with a precision better than 3%, using a deconvolution procedure. For both transitions, the coefficient of the vibration-rotation interaction polynomial, the values of the rotationless dipolar transition moment, and the band intensity have been calculated from the line strengths. For the total intensity the values found are S_00⁰0²⁴⁰⁰ = (1.325 ± 0.021) × 10^?2 cm^?2·atm^?1 and S_00⁰0⁰¹¹² = (1.209 ± 0.018) × 10^?2 cm^?2·atm^?1.     

Measurement of N2O line strengths from high-resolution Fourier transform spectra

The absolute line strengths in four bands of nitrous oxide N₂O have been measured by means of the high information Fourier transform interferometer at the Laboratoire d'Infrarouge (apodized resolution: 5.4 × 10^?3 cm^?1). The investigated transitions were the 2ν₁ and ν₁ + 2ν₂ near 4 μm, and the ν₁ and 2ν₂ near 8 μm, which are all used for atmospheric detection. Conditions for extracting accurate line parameters are discussed. Reproducibility of measurements is better than 3% while absolute precision on both line and band intensities is shown to be currently better than 5%. Band intensity values compare well with the most recent determinations whereas the line strengths were never measured previously.     

On the octupole excitation in236U

Measurements of theK,L _I,L _II andM _I conversion lines of the 687.7 keV transition in²³⁶U are evaluated within the electron penetration formalism. The spin-parity assignment of the octupole bandhead is found to be 1^? in accordance with reaction data, and an assignment of 2^? to the 687.7 keV state is ruled out. The penetration matrix element ∥η∥ has the value of 13.5 for theK-shell and increases slightly for higher main shells. An estimate of the anomalous amplitudes is compared with values reported for transitions in the odd even actinide nuclei. Furthermore electron conversion data for the 1^?→2⁺ and 1^?→4⁺ transitions are given. Radioactivity²³⁶U from²³⁵U(n,e ^?); measured: conversion electron decay; deduced: conversion coefficients fromK, L andM shells; evaluated: dynamic matrix elements.     

Generation of MeV photons and protons in laser picosecond plasmas

The results of experiments devoted to studying the generation of MeV photons and protons in picosecond laser plasmas at a laser beam intensity of 10¹⁸ W/cm² on Be, Ta, LiF and H⁷Li targets are presented. Nuclear reactions (γ, n) and (p, n) were used to detect MeV photons and protons. The number of MeV photons and protons generated in laser plasmas was found from the measured neutron yield. Possibilities of particle acceleration due to the formation of pinch structures in laser plasmas are discussed. Calculated and experimental results are compared.     

A study of 75Se by neutron capture and the SU(3)-SU(5) transition in the quadrupole-phonon representation

The γ and e^? spectra following thermal neutron capture in ⁷⁴Se were studied with curved-crystal, β, and pair spectrometers. Precise energies have been obtained for the transitions and levels at low energies. Two primary E2 transitions were found. The neutron separation energy for ⁷⁵Se was determined as 8027.6 keV. Precise γ-energies following the electron capture decay of ⁷⁵Se were also measured, resulting in precise level energies in ⁷⁵As. The calculation of the energy levels in ⁷⁵Se has been performed in the SU(6) particle-vibrational model (PTQM) and 27 theoretical states have been tentatively assigned to the experimental levels. The spectrum of the core nucleus ⁷⁴Se has been calculated in the SU(6) quadrupolephonon model (TQM). The structure of theoretical states, the relation to SU(3) and SU(5) limits, and potential energy surface are discussed. The E2, M1 and E1 transitions have been calculated in PTQM and compared to the experiment. Also, an overview is presented of theoretical explanations of the I = j, j?1, j?2 anomalous triplet emphasizing the rule with shell-model classification corrected for quadrupole phonons.     

Phase transitions in adsorbed films of barium on W(011)

Phase transitions in barium submonolayers adsorbed on W(011) are studied in a wide range of temperatures and coverages by the LEED technique, including the temperature measurement of the diffraction intensity. The regions of ordered and disordered structures are determined, the result is presented in the form of phase diagram. The temperature dependence of the adfilm Bragg intensity in the low temperature limit (the lowest temperature is 5 K) shows an appreciable slope for all incoherent and almost all coherent structures, except for (3×2). The fact is discussed in terms of the adfilm long- and quasi-long-range order. The disordering of the (3 × 2) lattice near T_c=130 K is the second-order phase transition with the order parameter critical exponent β=0.16. the adfilm is two-phase in the range n=(3.2?3.8)×10¹⁴cm^?2 and singlehase for the rest of the coverages. The effect of the first-order phase transition on the character of the work function change in the two-phase region is discussed.     

Intensity parameters for Er<Superscript>3+</Superscript> ions in calcium-niobium-gallium garnet crystals

Based on the analysis of the absorption spectra of Er-doped calcium-niobium-gallium garnet (Er:CNGG) crystals according to the Judd-Ofelt theory, the intensity parameters for these crystals are determined to be Θ₂ = 3.43 × 10^?20 cm² Θ₄ = 1.20 × 10^?20 cm², and Θ₆ = 0.58 × 10^?20 cm². The parameters found are compared with the intensity parameters for other laser oxide crystals. Using these intensity parameters, the probabilities of radiative transitions between the energy levels of Er³⁺ ions in CNGG crystals and the luminescence branching ratios β_JJ’ are calculated. From the measured lifetime of the ⁴ I _11/2 level of Er³⁺ ions (τ = 626 μs) and the probability of the radiative transition from this level (A = 192 s^?1), it is found that about 88% of the excitation energy in the Er:CNGG crystals is nonradiatively transferred from the ⁴ I _11/2 to the ⁴ I _13/2 level. It is suggested that an increase in the oscillator strength and in the line strength of the ⁴ I _15/2 → ² H _11/2 transition of Er³⁺ in CNGG crystals, as well as an increase in the intensity parameter Θ₂ with respect to the corresponding parameters for other garnet crystals are caused by the existence in CNGG crystals of Er³⁺ centers with the environment symmetry lower than D ₂.     

Coulomb excitation of230Th with32S,84Kr and142Nd projectiles

The Coulomb excitation measurements for the²³⁰Th nucleus with³²S,⁸⁴Kr and¹⁴²Nd projectiles are presented. The use of different projectiles allowed us to get information in the ground-state band and side bands. The energy spectrum of the ground-state band and of the lowest negative-parity band have been investigated up to the spin valueI=24⁺ andI=19^?(21), respectively. Five side bands (K ^π=0⁺, 2 ₁ ⁺ , 2 ₂ ⁺ , 1^?, 2^?) were observed also. The branching ratios for a large number of transitions in the spin regionI≦10 for π=+1 andI≦9 for π=? 1 are analysed. The full set of experimental data contains information on the mixing of the adiabatic states and on the nuclear response to the electromagnetic field ofγ-radiation. It is shown that the experimental data may be explained taking into account the coupling of the ground-β- and twoγ-bands and also of theK ^π=0^?, 1^? and 2^? negative-parity bands. An enhancement of the transitions from theγ-to theβ-band in respect to the transitions from theγ to the ground band and from theβ- to the ground band is reported. The mixing of the negative-parity bands is found to be typical for the alignment of the octupole-vibrational angular momentum. The strong spin dependence of the intrinsic matrix elements of the electric-dipole operator follows from the branching ratios of inter- and intra-band transitions from theK ^π=0^? states.     

Kaon and pion ratio probes of jet quenching in nuclear collisions

Non-Abelian energy loss in quark gluon plasmas is shown to lead to novel hadron ratio suppression patterns in ultrarelativistic nuclear collisions. Here we investigate pion and kaon production in pp and AA collisions in a perturbative QCD frame, suppression pattern and hadron ratios. The K^?/K⁺ and K⁺/π⁺ ratios are found to be most sensitive to the opacity (density) of the plasma. Experimental data indicate that the fragmentation dominated pQCD region will be reached only at higher p _T; in an intermediate p _Tregion other particle production mechanisms dominate the K/π ratios.     

Rare kaon decaysK L(S) 0 →π0ℓ+ℓ− in the quark confinement model

K _L(S) ⁰ →π⁰?⁺?^?. The rare decaysK _L(S) ⁰ →π⁰?⁺?^?(?=e or μ) are investigated in the Quark Confinement Model (QCM), a relativistic quark model, based on some assumptions about hadronization and quark confinement. Using the effective electroweak Lagrangian (with QCD corrections), proposed by Gilman and Wise, the matrix elements of kaon transitions to a pion and lepton pair are calculated. The obtained results for the decay widths are in agreement with the experimental data for upper limits on branching ratios and the theoretical predictions calculated by effective chiral Lagrangian method.