Role of the wall ablation in the operation of a 46.9 nmAr capillary discharge soft x‐ray laser

A capillary discharge pumped soft x‐ray laser operating at 46.9 nm on the 3p–3s transition of the Ne‐like Ar has been realized by pumping the active medium with a relatively slow current pulse (dI/dt ≈ 6 · 10¹¹ A/s). In order to study the role of the ablation in the production of the laser effect, the intensity of the amplified 46.9 nm line has been investigated using the same pumping current pulses in the plastic (polyacetal) and ceramic (Al₂O₃). We showed that the ablation of the capillary walls is unfavorable both for the compression and stability of the plasma and consequently for the soft x‐ray laser production. The amplification and lasing effects are observed only in the ceramic channel. The measurements of the line intensity at 46.9 nm showed the lasing with a gain‐length product of ≈ 9, a laser pulse energy of ≈ 5 μJ, a pulse duration of 1.3 ns and a beam divergence of ≈ 3.5 mrad. In addition, effect of the scaling of the time of lasing with the initial plasma diameter was demonstrated experimentally and compared with a one‐dimensional MHD model.     

Theoretical and Experimental Investigations of the Suitability of Low‐Current Z‐Pinch Plasma as an Absorption Medium for Laser Radiation

In this study the electron density of z‐pinch plasmas driven at relatively low currents (ca. 2‐5 kA) was determined using only emission spectroscopy. The suitability of a hollow‐cathode‐triggered z‐pinch plasma as an absorption medium for laser radiation was investigated. The temporal and spatial behaviors of electron temperature and density profiles were estimated using magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations to evaluate the experimental results. Temperature measurements were performed according to the Boltzmann plot method in the visible spectrum range, using the fact that, in low‐current z‐pinch plasma, a local thermodynamic equilibrium prevails for states at high principal quantum numbers (partial local thermodynamic equilibrium). In this case, the Saha equation can be used to determine the electron density. The results demonstrate that this method of determining the electron temperature and density of z‐pinch plasmas is only applicable during the pinching phase. However, in this case the experimentally determined values are in fairly good agreement with the values determined using the MHD model. A user‐oriented 1‐D radiation MHD code was used to simulate the dynamic evolution of the plasma. The experimentally determined maximum electron temperature of approximately 12 eV is in fairly good agreement with the simulated value. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

毛细管放电类氖氩69.8nm激光增益特性研究

建立了计算69.8nm激光增益系数的理论模型,根据实验参数,计算了在主脉冲电流为12 kA时,69.8nm激光增益系数最大值为0.32 cm~(-1).理论模拟了不同初始气压下增益系数在毛细管径向上的分布情况.对理论结果的分析表明,最佳的初始气压在12—14 Pa范围内,此时69.8nm激光增益系数的极值最大.实验上,利用毛细管放电装置和罗兰光谱仪,测量了不同气压下的69.8nm激光强度,实验确定的最佳气压为16 Pa,与理论结果相近.此外,实验测量的增益系数(0.4 cm~(-1))略高于理论计算的增益系数(0.32 cm~(-1)).     

Multiple M‐Effect Signal in Noble Gases and Hydrogen Mixture Discharge

The M‐effect (monochromatization‐effect) is a powerful process which can give high intensity monochromatic spectra with a certain wavelength depending on the type of used gas mixtures to generate the plasma state. The effect consists in the emission of a single spectral line emerging from plasma under specific experimental conditions involving one electropositive gas and one electronegative gas mixture. For example, in the case of Ne‐H₂ mixture, a clear monochrome radiation was obtained, corresponding to the λ_Ne =585.3 nm wavelength at 2p₁‐1s₂ transition in the Paschen notation, the pressures ranging between 10‐100 torr. In this paper we prove the general character of this effect, i.e. if the optical emission spectra (OES) reduced to selective lines can be noticed also in other multiple gas mixture discharges. The Ne‐Ar‐Xe mixture discharges with different percentages of H2 as electronegative gas added in has been investigated. The triple M‐effect, means three specific monochromatic lines, could be revealed in the OES at 50% of H2 addition in Ne‐Ar‐Xe mixture (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Laser generation on Cu II,Kr II,Ar II and Ne I lines in a water-cooled helical hollow-cathode discharge

The performance of a long helical water-cooled hollow-cathode laser is investigated. Quasi-cw laser action on five IR Cu II lines, one blue Kr II line, one green Ar II line, and cw laser action on seven IR Ne I lines is obtained. The cathode is made of copper and its length is 61 cm and inner diameter 8 mm.     

Z箍缩动态黑腔动力学及辐射特性初步实验研究

在“强光一号”装置进行的Z箍缩动态黑腔实验中, 初步系统研究了动态黑腔的内爆动力学特性及辐射特性的一般规律. 通过高空间分辨图像, 对丝阵与泡沫黑腔碰撞前后泡沫辐射场的变化, 泡沫对不稳定性发展的抑制开展了细致研究. 实验结果显示, 动态黑腔负载内爆的辐射功率波形呈现双峰结构, 首峰和主峰分别对应于碰撞和滞止过程. 8 mm负载的内爆速度高于12 mm负载, 但其他内爆动力学参数和辐射参数均无明显差异. 实验使用的泡沫黑腔能够很好地抑制不稳定性的发展, 但在泡沫内部未能实现对辐射的均匀控制, 滞止泡沫等离子体柱上仍能轻易区分辐射较强和辐射较弱的区域. 关键词： Z箍缩动态黑腔 泡沫黑腔 动力学特性 辐射特性     

Modelling of a nitrogen x-ray laser pumped by capillary discharge

We performed computer modelling of a fast electrical discharge in a nitrogen-filled alumina capillary in order to discover discharge system parameters that may lead to efficient recombination pumping of soft X-ray laser with active medium created by H-like nitrogen ions. The space-time dependences of pinch plasma quantities were found by means of a one-dimensional MHD code. Time dependences of populations of all ionisation states and populations of selected energy levels of lithium-, helium- and hydrogen-like nitrogen ions were evaluated using the FLY code as a post-processor. The population inversion was found at the quantum transition corresponding to the Balmer α-line of N⁶⁺ ions and the resulting gain factor was evaluated for different capillary radii, initial pressure, electric current peaks and periods. A gain factor of 1 cm⁻¹ spanning the time interval of 1 ns was found for an optimised arrangement with capillary radius 1.5 mm, peak current 50 kA, quarter period 40 ns and filling gas pressure 0.5 kPa. It is pointed out that even higher values of the gain factor may be achieved with thinner capillaries and shorter current pulses, e.g. a gain factor of 6 cm⁻¹ is achieved if the capillary radius is 0.5 mm, peak current 56 kA, quarter period 15 ns, and filling nitrogen pressure 3.9 kPa.     

毛细管放电复合X光激光机制的理论研究

 以毛细管放电泵浦产生的C等离子体中,复合机制产生类H-C离子3d_5/2-2p_3/2跃迁激光线为例,研究毛细管放电复合X光激光中的物理机制。提出在C气中掺入适量的惰气来抑制等离子体被压得过细以至密度过高;在设计实验方案时 ,应该使等离子体在电流峰值之后进入膨胀冷却阶段;还要适当降低毛细管中等离子体初始 密度以增大毛细管半径,使工艺上更容易实现。     

Raman spectroscopy of melamine‐formaldehyde resin microparticles exposed to processing in complex plasma

We explore the characterization of melamine formaldehyde resin (MF‐R) micron‐sized particles, immersed in argon, neon and argon–oxygen plasmas, using Raman spectroscopy. It is shown that plasma treatment of MF‐R results in modification of its chemical composition. Particularly, a decrease in the intensities of the Raman scattering bands, corresponding to both formaldehyde C―H and melamine C―N and N―H bonds, is observed. The band at 980–990 cm⁻¹, associated with breathing vibrations of the triazine rings, undergoes the most significant changes, and the greatest modifications of the spectra are observed after exposure to Ar and Ar–O₂ plasma, whilst for the MF‐R particles exposed to Ne plasma these modifications are less pronounced. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Condition for Injection of Intense Relativistic Electron Beams into a Z Pinch

Intense relativistic electron beams have been injected into the plasma of a Z pinch at various times during the formation of the plasma column. If the diameter of the plasma column exceeded a certain value, these beams were found to propagate with a high transport efficiency when injected either into the collapsing current sheet of the Z pinch or into the expanding plasma column after its diameter had reached a minimum. However, when the diameter of the plasma column is smaller than this critical value, the relativistic electron beam does not propagate. Instead, it continues to diverge until it strikes the glass wall of the Z pinch tube.     

Capillary discharge soft X-ray lasing in Ne-like Ar pumped by low main current pulses

Under the condition of the low main current pulse, the capillary discharge soft X-ray laser is obtained. The laser energy of the same discharge current amplitude at different Ar pressures and of different current amplitudes at the same Ar pressure are compared, respectively. At different Ar pressures, the amplitude of the main current pulse evidently impacts the soft X ray, especially at a pressure higher than 30 Pa. In order to obtain the laser output at a high Ar pressure, the amplitude should be increased. However, at the same Ar pressure, it might have an optimum current, in which case the laser spike is the highest and the most stationary. The laser achieving time at different amplitudes is also discussed. As far as we know, this is the first time the influence of the amplitude of the main current pulse has been analyzed.     

Critical Parameters of the Pumping Scheme of Ar+8 Lasers Excited by Z Pinches in Long Capilaries

The present study is focused on the demonstration of the most critical parameters of the pumping scheme of a table‐top Ar⁺⁸‐laser excited by discharges with relatively low current and voltage (I ≤ 20 kA, U ≤ 200 kV) in long (L ～ 0.5 m) capillaries. The most critical parameters of the pumping scheme were analyzed and then adjusted experimentally. The table‐top size is attributed to the use of a low‐inductance co‐axial discharge configuration that decreases the voltage and current necessary for laser excitation. Low inductance is achieved by using a capillary, water‐capacitor and water spark‐gap placed into a chamber filled with deionized water. The capillary z‐pinch is produced by the water capacitor, which is pulse‐charged by a six‐stage Marx generator, optimized for the low‐inductance discharge configuration. Optimization is performed by adjusting the value of the charging inductance and the peak charging voltage with a water spark‐gap. At the optimal conditions laser pulses with a Gaussian‐like intensity distribution and divergence angle ～ 1 mrad and energy ～ 10 μJ are generated. The physical method for generation of a laser beam with such parameters is based on the use of a long (L = 0.45 m) capillary plasma (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

铝丝阵列Z箍缩的辐射磁流体动力学过程

 在拉格朗日坐标系下，建立了描述Z箍缩等离子体内爆动力学过程的一维三温辐射磁流体力学方程组，并编制了相应的拉氏程序。利用该程序对美国Sandia实验室Saturn装置上的铝丝阵列内爆实验进行了数值模拟，得到了内爆等离子体各参量的时空分布。其中内爆到心时刻、X光峰值功率、X光总能量等计算结果与实验结果基本一致。表明所建立的物理模型和编制的程序是合理和可靠的。     

Effects of three-dimensional electromagnetic structures on resistive-wall-mode stability of reversed field pinches

In this Letter, the linear stability of the resistive wall modes (RWMs) in toroidal geometry for a reversed field pinch (RFP) plasma is studied. Three computational models are used: the cylindrical code ETAW, the toroidal MHD code MARS-F, and the CarMa code, able to take fully into account the effects of a three-dimensional conducting structure which mimics the real shell geometry of a reversed field pinch experimental device. The computed mode growth rates generally agree with experimental data. The toroidal effects and the three-dimensional features of the shell, like gaps, allow a novel interpretation of the RWM spectrum in RFP's and remove its degeneracy. This shows the importance of making accurate modeling of conductors for the RWM predictions also in future devices such as ITER.     

毛细管阵列电泳检测过程中的杂散光分析

建立了激光诱导荧光检测系统.采用光学仿真方法,建立与实际光学系统相同的模型.模拟表明:聚焦光束扫描毛细管阵列,轴上光束入射到毛细管内径中心时产生的杂散光最大,在两边逐渐减小.由毛细管产生的杂散光的平均光强是无毛细管时的2.725倍,说明由它产生的杂散光比较严重.对不同大小的内径产生的杂散光影响进行了分析比较,增大毛细管的内径,杂散光增大,但毛细管内径减小会使进样量少,检测困难,同时还会加大清洗与灌胶的难度.综合考虑,选取内径为50 μm的毛细管较为合适.利用自行设计的激光诱导荧光检测系统扫描毛细管阵列,进行了杂散光检测实验,光电倍增管记录所收集到的信号,作出了激光束扫描毛细管的不同位置时的杂散光信号强度分布图,实验与模拟结果相一致.     

Study of multiple impurity seeding effect using SONIC integrated divertor code for JT-60SA plasma prediction

In order to study the potential impurity seeding operation regime of the future fusion devices, the first application of the integrated divertor code SONIC to the Ar + Ne mixed-impurity seeding operation of JT-60SA steady-state high-β plasma has been carried out. In the case, Ne is added to Ar-only seeding, the separatrix electron density has fell into the desired low separatrix electron density of the scenario. This is mainly because the D⁺ flow velocity towards the inner divertor has been increased by the Ne seeding. The resultant friction force transports Ar impurities towards the inner divertor region, while impurities are stagnated in the top of scrape-off layer (SOL) in the Ar-only seeding case. The higher impurity radiation power in the divertor regions and lower one in the SOL region above the X point have been obtained in mixed-impurity seeding cases, which show similar tendency as the Ar + Ne mixed-impurity seeding experiment in JT-60 U. At the core edge, Z_eff has been slightly increased and the radiation power has been decreased as the Ne seeding rate increases. The core plasma/impurity transport has been also evaluated by the TOPICS code using the impurity density at the core edge computed by the SONIC as a boundary parameter. The results show lower Z_eff and radiation power, and higher electron temperature in the core in the mixed-impurity seeding cases. Above possible contributors to the better energy confinement indicate that the mixed-impurity seeding operation might be more effective than Ar-only seeding operation.     

双层丝阵Z箍缩电流分配实验研究

负载内外层电流分配是决定双层丝阵Z箍缩内爆动力学模式的关键因素. 在"强光一号"装置上, 利用微型磁探针系统定量测量了双层钨丝阵三个重要径向位置点的电流, 获得了其在驱动电流开始上升至驱动电流达到峰值之前20ns这一阶段内的时间演化行为. 实验使用的双层钨丝阵负载高度为20mm、单丝直径为3.8μm、内/外层丝阵直径分别为8mm/16mm. 对比了内/外层丝根数分别为42/21和21/42时电流分配的差异. 结果表明: 驱动电流上升过程中, 内外层丝阵的电流均逐步增大, 外层丝阵电流份额逐渐减小, 而内层丝阵电流份额逐渐增大; 内层丝阵最大电流份额未超过50%; 内/外层丝根数为21/42的负载外层电流较大. 关键词： Z箍缩 双层丝阵 电流分配     

Study of the internal structure and small-scale instabilities in the dense Z pinch

High-resolution laser diagnostics at the wavelength of 266 nm were applied for the investigation of Z pinches at the 1-MA generator. The internal structure of the stagnated Z pinches was observed in unprecedented detail. A dense pinch with strong instabilities was seen inside the column of the trailing plasma. Kink instability, disruptions, and micropinches were seen at the peak of the x-ray pulse and later in time. The three-dimensional structure of the stagnated Z pinch depends on the initial wire-array configuration and implosion scenario. Small-scale density perturbations were found in the precursor plasma and in the stagnated Z pinch. Development of instabilities is in agreement with three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations.