Laser-induced cavities and solitons in overcritical hydrogen plasma

A picosecond CO₂ laser was used successfully in a number of experiments exploring advanced methods of particle acceleration [1]. Proton acceleration from gas-jet plasma exemplifies another advantage of employing the increase in laser wavelength from the optical to the mid-IR region. Recent theoretical- and experimental-studies of ion acceleration from laser-generated plasma point to better ways to control the ion beam’s energy when plasma approaches the critical density. Studying this regime with solid-state lasers is problematic due to the dearth of plasma sources at the critical electron density ∼10²¹ cm⁻³, corresponding to laser wavelength λ = 1 μm. CO₂ laser offers a solution. The CO₂ laser’s 10 μm wavelength shifts the critical plasma density to 10¹⁹ cm⁻³, a value attainable with gas jets. Capitalizing on this approach, we focused a circular polarized 1-TW CO₂ laser beam onto a hydrogen gas jet and observed a monoenergetic proton beam in the 1–2 MeV range. Simultaneously, we optically probed the laser/plasma interaction region with visible light, revealing holes bored by radiation pressure, as well as quasi-stationary soliton-like plasma formations. Our findings from 2D PIC simulations agree with experimental results and aid in their interpretation.     

Low energy ion beams by laser interaction

We developed an ion accelerator with a double accelerating gap system supplied by two power generators of different polarity. The ions were generated by laser ion source technique. The laser plasma induced by an excimer KrF laser, freely expanded before the action of accelerating fields. After the first gap action, the ions were again accelerated by a second gap. The total acceleration can imprint a maximum ion energy up to 160 keV per charge state. We analysed the extracted charge from a Cu target as a function of the accelerating voltage at laser energy of 9, 11 and 17 mJ deposited on a spot of 0.005 cm². The peak of current density was 3.9 and 5.3 mA for the lower and medium laser energy at 60 kV. At the highest laser energy, the maximum output current was 11.7 mA with an accelerating voltage of 50 kV. The maximum ion dose was estimated to be 10¹² ions/cm². Under the condition of 60 kV accelerating voltage and 5.3 mA output current the normalized emittance of the beam measured by pepper pot method was 0.22 π mm mrad.     

Surfing and generation of cosmic rays in relativistic shock waves

We consider the problem of cosmic-ray generation through the surfing acceleration of charged particles in relativistic magnetosonic shock waves (the branch of fast magnetic sound) propagating in magnetized space plasmas. The dependence of the particle surfing acceleration efficiency on the angle θ _Bn between the normal to the shock front plane and the magnetic field vector in the plasma upstream of the shock is analyzed in detail. We show that for angles satisfying the condition χ = βΓ tan θ _Bn ⩾ 1, where β = U/c, Γ = (1 − β)^{2 −1/2}, U is the shock velocity, and c is the speed of light, the particles can theoretically be accelerated through surfing for an unlimited time and can gain an unlimited energy. For angles satisfying the condition χ < 1, the kinetic energy ℰ of the particles is limited by ℰ = 2mc ²χ²/(1 − χ²) (m is the particle rest mass). Our main conclusion is that the generation of cosmic rays through the surfing acceleration of particles in the front of a relativistic shock wave for Γ ≫ 1 is also efficient when the angle θ _Bn is very small, i.e., it differs significantly from a right angle. Estimates for the energies of particles accelerated through surfing in relativistic jets are provided.     

Gravity induced particle production in earth’s gravitational field in TeV region

We discuss the production of particles via interaction with the earth’s gravitational field. Explicit calculations are done for high energy scalars passing through earth’s gravitational field. We show for example, that the width for the scalar processφ→3φ can become comparable with a typical weak decay width at an energy scale of a few TeV. (Similar conclusions can be drawn about particles that ultimately couple to some scalar field.) We speculate that similar processes may be responsible for many of the anomalies in the 10–10⁴ TeV experimental data.     

Modeling a dimer state in CuGeO3 in the two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg model with alternated exchange interaction

The two-dimensional Heisenberg spin-1/2 model with alternated exchange interaction along the c axis and an anisotropic distribution of the exchange interaction in the lattice, J _b/J _c=0.1, is examined. A quantum Monte Carlo method is used to calculate the phase diagrams of the antiferromagnet, the dimer state in a plane, the value of the alternation δ of the exchange interaction, and the anisotropy Δ=1−J ^xy/J ^z of the exchange interaction, Δ∼δ ^0.58(6). The following characteristics are calculated for Δ=0.25: the dependence of the temperature of the dimer-state-paramagnet transition on the alternation of the exchange interaction, T _c(δ)=0.55(4)(δ−0.082(6))^0.50(3), the singlet-triplet energy gap, and the dependence of the magnetization on the external field for some values of δ. The value of the exchange interaction, J _c=127 K, the alternation of the exchange interaction, δ=0.11J _c, and the correlation radius along the c axis, ξ _c≈28c, are determined. Finally, it is found that the temperature dependence of the susceptibility and the specific heat are in good agreement with the experimental data. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 112, 2184–2197 (December 1997)     

Polymer–ion–clay interaction based model for ion conduction in intercalation-type polymer nanocomposite

A series of polymer nanocomposite films based on intercalation of (PAN)₈LiCF₃SO₃ into the nanometric clay channels of an organomodified clay has been prepared using the standard solution-casting technique. The role of organoclay concentration on polymer–ion interaction, ion–ion interaction, and ion–clay interaction in clay-based nanocomposite films has been analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. Substantial ion dissociation is observed even at a very low clay loading (1–2 wt.%) in the nanocomposites. FTIR results suggest the presence of both uncoordinated CF₃SO₃ ⁻ (free-anions) and ion pairs in the nanocomposite evidenced by changes in CF₃SO₃ ⁻ symmetry from C3ν to Cs and marked asymmetry in the profile of degenerate δ_d(CF₃ ⁻) mode. The experimental results suggest a direct correlation of clay-assisted ion dissociation process with variation in conductivity (σ _dc) and glass transition temperature (T _g) as a function of clay concentration. A model has been proposed to explain the observed correlation on the basis of polymer–ion–clay interaction. The proposed scheme of ion transport mechanism appears to be consistent with the experimental observation.     

A symmetry relating certain processes in 2-and 4-dimensional space-times and the value α0 = 1/4π of the bare fine structure constant

The symmetry manifests itself in exact relations between the Bogoliubov coefficients for processes induced by an accelerated point mirror in 1 + 1 dimensional space and the current (charge) densities for the processes caused by an accelerated point charge in 3 + 1 dimensional space. The spectra of pairs of Bose (Fermi) massless quanta emitted by the mirror coincide with the spectra of photons (scalar quanta) emitted by the electric (scalar) charge up to the factor e ²/ħc. The integral relation between the propagator of a pair of oppositely directed massless particles in 1 + 1 dimensional space and the propagator of a single particle in 3 + 1 dimensional space leads to the equality of the vacuum-vacuum amplitudes for the charge and the mirror if the mean number of created particles is small and the charge e = √ħc. Due to the symmetry, the mass shifts of electric and scalar charges (the sources of Bose fields with spin 1 and 0 in 3 + 1 dimensional space) for the trajectories with a subluminal relative velocity β₁₂ of the ends and the maximum proper acceleration w ₀ are expressed in terms of the heat capacity (or energy) spectral densities of Bose and Fermi gases of massless particles with the temperature w ₀/2π in 1 + 1 dimensional space. Thus, the acceleration excites 1-dimensional oscillation in the proper field of a charge, and the energy of oscillation is partly deexcited in the form of real quanta and partly remains in the field. As a result, the mass shift of an accelerated electric charge is nonzero and negative, while that of a scalar charge is zero. The symmetry is extended to the mirror and charge interactions with the fields carrying spacelike momenta and defining the Bogoliubov coefficients α^B,F. The traces trα^B,F, which describe the vector and scalar interactions of the accelerated mirror with a uniformly moving detector, were found in analytic form for two mirror trajectories with subluminal velocities of the ends. The symmetry predicts one and the same value e ₀ = √ħc for the electric and scalar charges in 3 + 1 dimensional space. Arguments are adduced in favor of the conclusion that this value and the corresponding value α₀ = 1/4π of the fine structure constant are the bare, nonrenormalized values. The text was submitted by the author in English.     

Quadrupole interactions in MoCl5 intercalated in graphite

The time-differential perturbed angular correlation technique was used to investigate quadrupole interactions following the decay of⁹⁹Mo as a probe in the intercalation compound graphite-molybdenum pentachloride. Analysis of the 740-(44) 141 keV γ-γ correlation in⁹⁹Tc reveals the presence of two sites with static electric field gradient interactions, one of which corresponds to a moderately damped (δ∼16%), high-frequency interaction (v _q∼630 MHz), the other to a heavily damped (δ∼28%), low-frequency (v _q∼283 MHz) component.     

Polarized absorption spectra of Co2+ in Na2Cd3Cl8 single crystals

Summary The polarized optical absorption spectra of Na₂Cd₃Cl₈: Co²⁺ in the range of 15 000 to 40 000 cm⁻¹ down to 15 K are reported. The Co²⁺ ion is found to occupy the Cd²⁺ sites in octahedral geometry and the spectra are interpreted satisfactorily in terms of a cubic ligand field model including spin-orbit coupling. The observed crystal field spectra are well reproduced withB=745 cm⁻¹,C=3410 cm⁻¹,Dq=700 cm⁻¹ and ζ (spin-orbit interaction) =520 cm⁻¹. No spectral evidence for tetragonal distortion is observed.     

Optical absorption spectrum of Ni2+ doped in ammonium zinc sulphate

The optical absorption spectrum of Ni²⁺ ion doped in ammonium zinc sulphate has been studied at room and liquid air temperatures. From the nature and the positions of the bands a successful interpretation of all the bands could be made assumingO _h symmetry for the Ni²⁺ ion in the crystal. The fine splitting of the³ T ₁ ¹ band at liquid air temperature has been successfully interpreted to be due to spin-orbit interaction. The crystal field and spin-orbit parameters derived areDq=1000 cm⁻¹;B=750 cm⁻¹;C=3.45B andξ=600 cm⁻¹.     

Scaling of the energy of ion beams in the low-altitude plasma sheet boundary layer

The scaling of the energy of ion beams (beamlets) in resonance regions of the low-altitude plasma sheet boundary layer has been analyzed using the measurements made on the Interball-2 and Cluster satellites at distances of 3.0 to 6.0 Earth’s radii and numerical simulations of the acceleration of ions in the current sheet of the Earth’s magnetotail. The experimental test of the previously theoretically predicted scaling W _N ∼ N ^A (where W _N is the energy at the Nth resonance and A ∼ 1.33) shows that the real scaling of resonance energies varies in a wide range A ∈ [0.61, 1.75] and is independent of the geomagnetic indices K _p and AE. Model calculations with allowance for an electric field E _z perpendicular to the current sheet are in good agreement with the experimental data. They indicate that the scaling increases in the case of the dominance of the ion current and decreases in the case of the dominance of the electron current (A > 1.33 and A < 1.33, respectively).     

Erosion of the GaAs target under irradiation by a high-power pulsed ion beam

The results of examination of the GaAs-target erosion under irradiation by a high-power pulsed ion beam are reported. In the experiments, use was made of a high-power pulsed ion source with the following parameters: ion energy — 250 keV, target current density — 350 A/cm², pulse duration — 80 ns, target energy density — up to 7 J/cm². The target erosion coefficient and its dependence on the number of successive pulses are measured. It is found that the surface roughness parameter is increased with the number of successive beam pulses. A regular structure of surface relief is observed to form in the case where the number of pulses > 20–40. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 66–70, January, 2007.     

Near perpendicular propagation of ion cyclotron modes in a deuterium-hydrogen-oxygen fusion plasma

A dispersion relation for the near perpendicular propagation of the electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave has been derived in a fusion plasma that has deuterium as a majority species, hydrogen as a minority species and fully ionized oxygen as an impurity constituent; all being modelled by loss cone distribution functions. The wave has a frequencyω around the deuterium ion gyrofrequency-Ω_D and a wavelength much longer than its Larmor radiusγ _LD(k _⊥ γ _LD<1); the plasma itself being characterized by large ion plasma frequencies (ω _PD ² >Ω _D ² ). Two modes, a low frequency (LF) and a high frequency (HF) mode of opposite electrical energy can propagate in the plasma; the instabilities that arise are thus due to an interaction of modes of opposite energies. We find that while hydrogen tends to destabilize the plasma, the impurity oxygen ions have the reverse effect. Also the plasma is most stable when the ratios of the perpendicular components of oxygen-to-deuterium and hydrogen-to-deuterium temperatures are kept low. Detailed studies of the wave propagation characteristics and energy reveal the close resemblance of a loss cone plasma containing oxygen to a stable Maxwellian plasma in regard to wave stability, propagation and energy.     

Relativistic correction to the dipole polarizability of a hydrogenic ion

The first relativistic correction of orderα ² to the dipole polarizability of a hydrogenic ion has been investigated by using mean excitation energy of the ion within the second-order perturbation theory. The density-dependent mean excitation energy is estimated via Bethe theory for the stopping cross section for a moving point charge interacting with the hydrogenic ion. In this approach only the unperturbed Dirac wavefunctions are required to evaluate the appropriate matrix elements. The first relativistic correction turns out to be − (13/12)(αZ)². This has the correct sign and is within 5% of the exact result which is −(28/27)(αZ)².     

Laser acceleration of electrons in a thin metal film

A mechanism acceleration of electrons to relativistic velocities in a thin metal film irradiated with ultrashort (τ _L ≤1 ps) high-power (I>¹⁶ W/cm²) laser pulses is proposed. The acceleration is due to a resonance action of the nonuniform field on a portion of the electrons, viz., those which oscillate in the direction transverse to the film with a frequency close to the frequency of the field. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 66, No. 1, 8–12 (10 July 1997)     

First-order transition in a 2D classical XY-model using microcanonical Monte Carlo simulations

We have simulated two-dimensional classical XY-model in a microcanonical ensemble using the Monte Carlo technique. Simulations were carried out on a square lattice having 25, 100 or 900-spins with periodic boundary conditions. The nearest neighbour interaction potential was taken to beV(θ)=2J[1−cos¹⁰⁰(θ/2)]. The system energy, mean square magnetization and vortex-density were calculated as functions of temperature. A sudden change in the system energy, vortex density and mean square magnetization was observed at the first-order transition which is associated with this choice of the nearest neighbour interaction potential. The transition temperature increases with decrease in the system size. It is found that the creation of a vortex-antivortex pair costs more energy during the first-order transition than the energy associated with a tightly bound vortex-antivortex pair.     

Advanced targets,diagnostics and applications of laser-generated plasmas

High-intensity sub-nanosecond-pulsed lasers irradiating thin targets in vacuum permit generation of electrons and ion acceleration and high photon yield emission in non-equilibrium plasmas. At intensities higher than 10¹⁵?W/cm² thin foils can be irradiated in the target-normal sheath acceleration regime driving ion acceleration in the forward direction above 1?MeV per charge state. The distributions of emitted ions in terms of energy, charge state and angular emission are controlled by laser parameters, irradiation conditions, target geometry and composition. Advanced targets can be employed to increase the laser absorption in thin foils and to enhance the energy and the yield of the ion acceleration process. Semiconductor detectors, Thomson parabola spectrometer and streak camera can be employed as online plasma diagnostics to monitor the plasma parameters, shot by shot. Some applications in the field of the multiple ion implantation, hadrontherapy and nuclear physics are reported.     

Magnetic-field-induced retardation of the recombination of nonequilibrium charge carriers in semiconductors

The retardation of the recombination of electrons and holes in semiconductors in an applied uniform magnetic field has been predicted. It has been shown that the recombination time in germanium in the temperature range of T = 1–10 K at charge carrier densities of n _e = 10¹⁰−10¹⁴ cm⁻³ in magnetic fields of B = 3 × 10²−3 × 10⁴ G can be more than two orders of magnitude larger than that at zero magnetic field. This means that, after creation of nonequilibrium charge carriers by their injection at the p-n junction owing to some radiation sources or fast electron irradiation, the semiconductor retains its conductivity for a much longer time at nonzero applied magnetic field. The effect under study can be used, for example, to detect radiation sources.     

Low-frequency fluctuations in a pure toroidal magnetized plasma

A magnetized, low-β plasma in pure toroidal configuration is formed and extensively studied with ion mass as control parameter. Xenon, krypton and argon plasmas are formed at a fixed toroidal magnetic field of 0.024 T, with a peak density of ∼10¹¹ cm⁻³, ∼4 × 10¹⁰ cm ⁻³ and ∼2 × 10¹⁰ cm ⁻³ respectively. The experimental investigation of time-averaged plasma parameter reveals that their profiles remain insensitive to ion mass and suggests that saturated slab equilibrium is obtained. Low-frequency (LF) coherent fluctuations (ω < ω _ci) are observed and identified as flute modes. Here ω _ci represents ion cyclotron frequency. Our results indicate that these modes get reduced with ion mass. The frequency of the fluctuating mode decreases with increase in the ion mass. Further, an attempt has been made to discuss the theory of flute modes to understand the relevance of some of our experimental observations.     

Field dependence of spin-lattice relaxation of Nd3+ ions in Y3Al5O12 crystals

Our studies involve measuring spin-lattice relaxation times for Nd³⁺ ions in yttrium-aluminum garnets over the temperature range 4–50 K at 9.25 and 36.4 GHz for different orientations of the external magnetic field in relation to the crystallographic axes. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rate is described by T ₁ ⁻¹ =AT ⁿ+b exp(−Δ/kT), where n varies from sample to sample, with n=1 for “perfect” samples (i.e., with the longest relaxation times). Here Δ is approximately 130 cm⁻¹, which is the energy of the excited Kramers doublet of the neodymium ion closest to the ground state, and this makes it possible to interpret the second term in T ₁ ⁻¹ as the contribution of two-stage relaxation proceeding through the intermediate level Δ. A strong field dependence of these processes has been discovered: when the frequency was increased fourfold, the relaxation rate increased by a factor of 10. The effect is a specific manifestation of the degeneracy of the excited level, breaking of the symmetry of the crystalline field due to lattice defects, and the prevalence of deformations of a certain type in the spin-lattice interaction. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 332–343 (January 1997)