Global energy balance and density limit on CASTOR tokamak

Total radiative power losses have been measured by a pyroelectric detector on the CASTOR tokamak in a broad range of plasma parameters. It has been shown that while for the low density operation (n _e <10 ¹⁹ m ^–3 ) the most important channel of energy losses is a thermal conductivity, the high density regimes are radiation dominated. Using a simple analytic energy balance model, the connection between such a high level of radiation and shrinking of the current channel resulting in an enhanced MHD activity is discussed.The authors would like to thank Dr. R. Klíma for many helpful and stimulating discussions.     

Optical transition properties of Eu in Eu(DBM)3phen mono-dispersed microspheres for microcavity laser application

Mono-dispersed microspheres of ternary complex Eu(DBM)₃phen (DBM=dibenzoylmethide; phen=1,10-phenanthroline) were prepared through a facile process. The obtained sample was characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). And the luminescence properties of the Eu(DBM)₃phen were investigated by the fluorescence spectra and the fluorescence decay. According to Judd-Ofelt theory, the optical transition intensity parameters Ω_λ (λ=2, 4 and 6) were obtained to be 20.99×10⁻²⁰, 0.98×10⁻²⁰ and 1.79×10⁻²⁰ cm², respectively. The radiative transition properties of ⁵D₀ level, including transition rates, branch ratios and radiative transition lifetime were calculated. As a potential material for microsphere lasers, the optical gain performance for ⁵D₀→⁷F₂ transition was also evaluated.     

Spectroscopic Study of Neodymium-Doped Sodium–Yttrium Double Fluoride Nd<Superscript>3+</Superscript>:Na<Subscript>0.4</Subscript>Y<Subscript>0.6</Subscript>F<Subscript>2.2</Subscript> crystals

Nd³⁺:Na_0.4Y_0.6F_2.2 (Nd³⁺:NYF) crystals are grown by the Stockbarger–Bridgman method for a stoichiometric mixture prepared by the solid-phase method and containing neodymium up to 20 at. %. The absorption spectrum of Nd³⁺:NYF crystals exhibits bands located in the emission region of laser diodes. The peak absorption cross section of the 796.8-nm band is σ _a = 0.96 × 10^–20 cm² and the bandwidth is Δλ = 17.5 nm. The most intense luminescence band is located at 1.05 μ m and the radiative time of the ⁴F_3/2 level is τ₀ = τ_exp ~ 960 μ s. It is shown that the ²P_3/2 and ⁴D_3/2 levels of Nd³⁺:NYF crystals are also radiative with lifetimes τ exp equal to ~110 and 9.5 μ s, respectively. However, these radiative transitions are partially quenched due to nonradiative relaxation. The intensity parameters Ω t are determined by the Judd–Ofelt method to be Ω₂ = 1.18 × 10^–20, Ω₄ = 1.55 × 10^–20, and Ω 6 = 2.85 × 10–20 cm 2. Using these parameters, the probabilities of radiative transitions and branching ratios are calculated, and the probabilities of nonradiative transitions are estimated. A conclusion is made that Nd³⁺:NYF crystals are promising as active media for diode-pumped tunable lasers, in particular, up-conversion-pumped lasers.     

Experimental proof of mirror instabilities in the Isar I theta pinch

In the Isar I linear theta pinchm=0 instabilities were observed and experimentally investigated. The variation of the plasma parameters over a wide range (τ _ii =10^?2... 10²μsec) showed that them=0 instabilities only occurred in sufficiently hot and thin plasmas, and so they are most probably due to the anisotropic pressure of the ions and should be mirror instabilities. Perturbations of the plasma limited in space and time were observed by measuring the continuum radiation, by 90 ° laser scattering measurements and by measuring the magnetic field and the local neutron rate. All measurements showed distinct, correlated, local perturbations of the plasma cylinder. These perturbations were accompanied by bulging of the plasma cylinder and increasing density. The extent in the axial direction was of the order of the plasma diameter. It may be assumed that the observed instabilities contribute appreciably to relaxation of the anisotropic ion pressure and increase the end losses.     

Field ion microscopy of cascades of atomic displacements in metals and alloys after various types of irradiation

Experimental results on atomic-spatial investigation of radiative defect formation in surface layers of materials, initiated by neutron bombardment (of Pt, E > 0.1 MeV) and ion implantation (in Cu₃Au: E = 40 keV, F = 10¹⁶ ion/m², j = 10^?3 A/cm²), are considered. Quantitative estimates are obtained for the size, shape, and volume fraction of cascades of atomic displacements formed under various types of irradiation in the surface layers of the materials. It is shown that the average size of radiation clusters after irradiation of platinum to a fast neutron fluence of 6.7 × 10²² m^?2 (E > 0.1 MeV) is about 3.8 nm. The experimentally established average size of a radiation cluster (disordered zone) in the alloy after ion bombardment is 4 × 4 × 1.5 nm.     

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.     

Short-lived primary radiation defects in LiF crystals

The spectral and kinetic parameters of electron-pulse-initiated transient absorption and emission of LiF crystals were studied using pulsed spectrometry with a nanosecond time resolution. The measurements were performed in the spectral region of 6 eV, the temperature range of 11–150 K, and within 10^?8–10 s after the termination of an electron pulse. It is shown that the electron-pulse irradiation not only gives rise to F, V _k , and H centers in the LiF crystal but also to certain short-lived defects of two types that differ in the spectral positions of the absorptive and radiative transitions, the lifetime, and the temperature dependence of the production efficiency. Defects of type I feature absorptive transitions at 5.5 and 5.1 eV and a radiative transition at 5.8 eV, whereas the absorptive transitions at 5.3 and 4.75 eV and a radiative transition at 4.4 eV are characteristic of type-II defects. It is found that a variation in the ratio between the concentrations of the different types of short-lived centers in the range of 11–150 K does not affect the quantum efficiency of the F centers. It is assumed that the observed centers are self-trapped excitons of various types.     

Spectroscopic studies of the decay of hydrogen plasmas in aT-tube

This paper reports on spectroscopic studies of the decay of hydrogen plasmas generated in a relatively low energyT-tube of conventional design equipped with a reflector. These measurements indicate that the plasma behind the reflected front is not quiescent, but suffers a severe expansion with flow velocities ～10⁵ cm s^?1 (velocities of the incident and the reflected front are 7×10⁶ and 3.4×10⁶ cm s^?1). The net energy loss during the first two microseconds of the decay is almost entirely due to radiative losses (principally Ly-α radiation) and no significant radial temperature gradients are observed.     

Gamma rays from resonance neutron capture in 115In

Gamma rays in the range 5.4–6.7 MeV have been studied for 31 s-wave neutron resonances of ¹¹⁵In, selected by time of flight in the range 3–430 eV. In a subsidiary experiment, spin J = 5 has been assigned to 17 and J = 4 to 14 resonances by measuring intensity variations of some strong low-energy transitions. The reduced widths averaged over all initial states of the same spin have been estimated for 41 primary transitions: these values have provided information on the spin and parity of the corresponding ¹¹⁶In final states. Overall mean values of E1 and M1 radiative strength have been calculated. The width distribution has been fitted with a χ² function with ν = 1.10^+0.27_?0.09 degrees of freedom for M1 and ν = 1.42 ^{+ 0.014}_?0.08 for E1 radiation. An estimate of the spin cut-off parameter σ = 3.6_?0.4^{+ 0.8} has been derived. A non-statistical effect already evidenced in previous measurements has been confirmed, consisting of a strong modulation of the radiative strength against resonance energy, correlated also with the local neutron strength function. In addition, it has now been shown that this structure is due to E1 radiation only.     

A semi-analytical numerical method for time-dependent radiative transfer problems in slab geometry with coherent isotropic scattering

We describe a semi-analytical numerical method for coherent isotropic scattering time-dependent radiative transfer problems in slab geometry. This numerical method is based on a combination of two classes of numerical methods: the spectral methods and the Laplace transform (LTS_N) methods applied to the radiative transfer equation in the discrete ordinates (S_N) formulation. The basic idea is to use the essence of the spectral methods and expand the intensity of radiation in a truncated series of Laguerre polynomials in the time variable and then solve recursively the resulting set of “time-independent” S_N problems by using the LTS_N method. We show some numerical experiments for a typical model problem.     

Radiative tau decay into pion

The possibility of the experimental investigation of the radiative tau decay into pion is discussed including background conditions. The decay width is estimated to be Br(τ→v _τ π γ)=0.15% (at the minimal registered photon energy 50 MeV). The contribution of the structural component is 10% of the total radiation. The main background is produced by photons from the τ→v _τ π ^? π ⁰ decay. We investigate the angular and energy spectra of the decay products and analyse the background conditions. The kinematic region was found where the structural radiation dominates over background.     

30-W Yb<Superscript>3+</Superscript>-pulsed fiber laser with wavelength tuning

We have investigated various pulsed operation regimes of a diode-pumped Yb³⁺-doped fiber laser with both an acoustooptic filter and a shutter inside the resonator. To imbed the polarization-sensitive acoustooptic-tunable spectral filter into the polarization-nonmaintaining resonator, based on an “isotropic” single-mode fiber without “polarization’ losses, we have used a CaCO₃ single-crystal nondispersive thermostable polarization splitter. Stable smooth bell-shaped laser pulses were obtained in the Q-switch generation regime across the entire wavelength tuning band. Their duration depended on the resonator travel time and their repetition rate was determined exclusively by the outer high-frequency generator controlling the acoustooptic shutter. A pulsed laser radiation tuning bandwidth of more than 20-nm at a repetition rate band of 10–100 kHz was observed in the amplification band of the Yb³⁺-doped fiber. A stable average power of 30 W of the pulsed 70-ns 100-kHz laser radiation in a near Gaussian beam was reached by means of the two-stage amplifier based on Yb³⁺-doped fibers with an enlarged mode field diameter (14 μm). The amplifier was pumped by λ = 975 nm CW multimode laser diodes with a maximum average power of 42 W.     

Lifetime measurement in the β system (c1Φ-a1Δ) of TiO

The radiative lifetime of the v′ = 0 level of the c¹Φ state of TiO has been measured from observations on fluorescent decay of a single rotational level, following excitation by laser radiation. The value is τ₀ = 17.5 ± 1.0 nsec. From this is derived a transition probability of 5.71 × 10⁷ sec^?1 and an emission f value of 0.270. Transition probabilities for the other bands in the β system have been calculated.     

Emission characteristics of Dy3+ ions in lead antimony borate glasses

Glasses with the composition 30PbO–25Sb₂O₃–(45?x)B₂O₃–xDy₂O₃ for x=0 to 1 were prepared in steps of 0.2 by the melt-quenching method. Various physical parameters, viz., density, molar volume, and oxygen packing density, were evaluated. Optical absorption and luminescence spectra of all the glasses were recorded at room temperature. From the observed absorption edges optical band gap, the Urbach energies are calculated; the optical band gap is found to decrease with the concentration of Dy₂O₃. The Judd–Ofelt theory was applied to characterize the absorption and luminescence spectra of Dy³⁺ ions in these glasses. Following the luminescence spectra, various radiative properties, like transition probability A, branching ratio β and the radiative life time τ for different emission levels of Dy³⁺ ions, have been evaluated. The radiative lifetime for the ⁴F_9/2 multiplet has also been evaluated from the recorded life time decay curves, and the quantum efficiencies were estimated for all the glasses. The quantum efficiency is found to increase with the concentration of Dy₂O₃.     

Differential approximations for transient radiative transfer in refractive planar media with pulse irradiation

Transient radiative transfer in an anisotropically scattering refractive planar medium with pulse irradiation is solved by various approximation methods, such as P?1, P?1 parabolic, P_1/3 and two-flux. The time-resolved transmittance and reflectance are calculated for various radiative parameters, and are compared with those obtained by the discrete ordinate method (DOM). Among the approximation methods considered, the P_1/3 approximation is the better one, because its results are in overall good agreement with those obtained by the more rigorous DOM, except the transmittance around the peak for neither thin nor very thick slabs. It is found that the curved paths of radiation and the internal reflection of the back scattered radiation enhance the effect of scattering.     

Gain studies on a uranine-damc dye mixture laser under nitrogen laser pumping

The radiative and Forster type of energy transfer processes in a dye mixture laser of 7-diethylamino-4-methyl coumarin (donor) and fluorescein disodium salt (acceptor) under nitrogen laser pumping were investigated. The Forster transfer rate calculated from the absorption and emission spectra of acceptor and donor is 1.3 × 10¹¹ liter mole^?1sec^?1. The gain of acceptor at 550 nm was measured for acceptor concentrations N_A from 10^?3M to 3 × 10^?3M for a fixed ratio F = 1 of donor to acceptor concentrations at different pump powers. The results agreed with the rate equation model proposed for the dye mixture laser. The radiative rate constant calculated from these results is 3.1 × 10¹⁰ liter mole^?1sec^?1. Numerical simulation of the rate equations showed that the acceptor reaches peak emission with a time lag of 3 ns with respect to the donor peak emission for F = 0.998, N_A = 10^?5M. This time lag decreases with increasing N_A and becomes zero for N_A = 10^?1M, F = 0.048.     

Systematic trends in the radiative emission rates for low- and medium-Z elements in high-temperature plasmas

The power radiated by an optically thin, low-density (N_e ≤ 10¹⁴ electrons/cm³) plasma has been calculated for the electron temperature range 1–10⁶ eV taking into account resonance line emission, direct recombination radiation, dielectronic recombination radiation, and bremsstrahlung from the ions of a given element. The ionization structure has been determined by using a corona equilibrium model in which collisional ionization and inner-shelled excitation followed by autoionization are balanced by direct radiative and dielectronic recombination. Based on the results for respresentative elements from carbon through nickel, graphs are presented of the maximum radiated power, the maximum emission temperature, and the mean charge at the maximum for each shell as functions of the atomic number Z. Assuming that the maximum emission temperature can be achieved, aluminum and iron are predicted to be the most efficient K-shell radiators for Z ≤28.     

Simultaneous solution of Kompaneets equation and radiative transfer equation in the photon energy range 1-125 keV

Radiative transfer equation in plane parallel geometry and Kompaneets equation is solved simultaneously to obtain theoretical spectrum of 1-125 keV photon energy range. Diffuse radiation field are calculated using time-independent radiative transfer equation in plane parallel geometry, which is developed using discrete space theory (DST) of radiative transfer in a homogeneous medium for different optical depths. We assumed free-free emission and absorption and emission due to electron gas to be operating in the medium. The three terms n, n² and (∂n/∂x_k) where n is photon phase density and x_k=(hν/kT_e), in Kompaneets equation and those due to free-free emission are utilized to calculate the change in the photon phase density in a hot electron gas. Two types of incident radiation are considered: (1) isotropic radiation with the modified black body radiation I^MB[1] and (2) anisotropic radiation which is angle dependent. The emergent radiation at τ=0 and reflected radiation τ=τ_max are calculated by using the diffuse radiation from the medium. The emergent and reflected radiation contain the free-free emission and emission from the hot electron gas. Kompaneets equation gives the changes in photon phase densities in different types of media. Although the initial spectrum is angle dependent, the Kompaneets equation gives a spectrum which is angle independent after several Compton scattering times.     

Spectroscopic features of Pr, Nd, Sm and Er ions in Li2O-MO (Nb2O5, MoO3 and WO3)-B2O3 glass systems

Li₂O-MO (Nb₂O₅, MoO₃ and WO₃)-B₂O₃ glasses doped with four rare earth ions, viz., Pr³⁺, Nd³⁺, Sm³⁺ and Er³⁺ (of 1.0 mol% each) were prepared. The glasses were characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, ESR, optical absorption and photoluminescence spectra. From the measured intensities of various absorption bands of these glasses, the Judd-Ofelt parameters Ω₂, Ω₄ and Ω₆ have been evaluated. The Judd-Ofelt theory could successfully be applied to characterize the absorption and luminescence spectra of these glasses. From this theory, various radiative properties like transition probability A, branching ratio β_r, the radiative life time τ_r and the emission cross-section σ^E for various emission levels of these glasses have been determined and reported. An attempt has also been made to throw some light on the relationship between the structural modifications and luminescence efficiencies of all the three glasses. The analysis of the data indicated high non-radiative losses in Nb₂O₅ mixed glasses.     

Spectroscopy of Ca3(BO3)2: Dy crystal

Dy³⁺: Ca₃(BO₃)₂ crystal was grown successfully by the Czochraski technique. The absorption spectrum was measured and its absorption peaks were assigned. The Judd-Ofelt intensity parameters were found to be Ω₂=5.216×10⁻²⁰, Ω₄=1.858×10⁻²⁰, Ω₆=0.623×10⁻²⁰ cm². The spectroscopic parameters of this crystal such as the oscillator strengths, radiative transition probabilities, radiative lifetime as well as the branching ratios were calculated. Also, room temperature luminescence decay curve in correspondence with the emission line ⁴F_9/2→⁶H_13/2 centered at 575 nm was measured.