Nanosecond electrical discharges between semiconducting sulfide mineral particles in water

A model for developing electric discharges between sulfide mineral (pyrite) particles under high-voltage nanosecond pulses in a liquid medium (water) is considered. A possibility of electrical breakdowns of liquid gaps between particles under nanosecond pulses is shown. This probability and the energy released in discharge channels depend strongly on the sulfide conductivity.     

利用黄铁矿去除地下水中Se(Ⅳ)污染的XPS分析

硒是生物生长所需的微量元素,但是过度摄入对人体是有害的。主要利用X射线光电子能谱仪(X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS)分析了湿法制备的黄铁矿去除水中Se(Ⅳ)的产物形态。利用X射线衍射仪(X-ray diffraction, XRD)和扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope, SEM)对湿法球磨制备的黄铁矿进行了表征。XRD图谱表明该法制备的黄铁矿纯度较高,图谱中除了FeS₂特征衍射峰外基本没有杂峰;SEM观测发现处理后的黄铁矿颗粒形状接近球形,尺寸在80～180 nm范围内。上述相关表征结果表明,湿法球磨制备的黄铁矿具有颗粒粒径更小、比表面积更大、反应活性更高等优点。实验结果表明, 在12 h反应时间内, 该法制备的黄铁矿颗粒对初始浓度为20 mg·L-1的Se(Ⅳ)去除效率达到95%。对该组实验数据进行动力学拟合,其结果满足准一级动力学方程, 表观反应速率常数k_obs为0.26 h-1。XPS分析得到如下结论：(1)反应后黄铁矿中铁和硫的结合能均有所降低,即黄铁矿表面出现了新价态的铁元素和硫元素;(2)在反应后的黄铁矿表面有新形态的硒—Se(0)形成,同时也检测到了Se(Ⅳ)形态,但Se(0)的含量占主导优势。由此推测,黄铁矿去除水体中的Se(Ⅳ)以氧化还原为主, 同时伴随着吸附反应。该结果对于利用黄铁矿去除水体中具有高毒性的Se(Ⅳ)具有重要的理论意义和实际应用价值。     

轰击阴极的重粒子能量分布

采用蒙特卡罗模拟对氮辉光放电等离子体中轰击极阴的重粒子（N2^ ,N^ ,Nf及N2f）能量分布随放电参数的变化规律进行了研究。结果表明：阴极臂前诸粒子的能量分布取决于粒子被加速的能量和碰撞频率,能量较低的快原子Nf的密度比高能粒子N^ 的密度最近两个量级。在活性氮粒子（N^ ,Nf）产率最高的放电条件下,适当降低放电气压,提高阴极位降和气体温度,有利于两种活性氮粒子（N^ ,Nf）达到阴极。     

First gamma-ray measurements of fusion alpha particles in JET trace tritium experiments

Gamma-ray spectra from nuclear reactions between fusion-born alpha (alpha) particles and Be impurities were measured for the first time in deuterium-tritium plasmas in the Joint European Torus. The time dependence of the measured spectra allowed the determination of the density evolution of fast alpha particles. Correlation between the decay time of the gamma-ray emission and the plasma parameters in different plasma scenarios was established. Results are consistent with classical slowing down of the alpha particles in discharges with high plasma currents and monotonic q-profiles. In low plasma current discharges and in the discharges with large on-axis current holes (extreme reversal central magnetic shear), the gamma-ray emission decay times are shorter than the classical slowing down times, indicating an alpha-particle confinement degradation in such discharges in line with theoretical predictions.     

Energy Balance of Low-Voltage Spark Discharges

In this work we are presenting an experimental and theoretical analysis of the energy balance of low-voltage spark discharges. It is pointed out that the greatest part of the energy from the central hot plasma region is lost in the form of radiation, but the radiation from electrode particles (here aluminium) can be important, too.     

气流对微秒脉冲滑动放电特性的影响

脉冲电源驱动的滑动放电能够在大气压下产生高能量、高功率密度的低温等离子体. 为了研究微秒脉冲电源在针-针电极结构中产生滑动放电的特征, 本文采用电压幅值为0–30 kV, 脉冲宽度约8 μs, 脉冲重复频率为1–3000 Hz的微秒脉冲电源, 通过测量电压、电流波形和拍摄放电图像, 研究了微秒脉冲滑动放电的电特性. 实验结果表明, 随着施加电压的增加微秒脉冲滑动放电存在三种典型的放电模式: 电晕放电、弥散放电和类滑动放电. 不同放电模式的电压、电流波形和放电图像之间差异显著. 脉冲重复频率对微秒脉冲滑动放电特性有影响, 表现为当气体流量较小(2 L/min)时, 类滑动放电的放电通道随着脉冲重复频率的增大逐渐集中, 而当气体流量较大(16 L/min)时, 类滑动放电的放电通道随着脉冲重复频率的增大逐渐分散. 不同气流下重复频率对滑动放电特性的影响与放电中粒子的记忆效应和气流的状态有关.     

Effect of a dust component on the rates of elementary processes in low-temperature plasmas

Elementary processes in dusty, beam-driven plasma discharges are studied experimentally and theoretically for the first time. A theoretical model is constructed for a beam-driven plasma containing macroscopic particles. The effect of macroscopic particles on the electron energy distribution function is estimated assuming a Coulomb field for the particles. The resulting rate of electron-ion recombination on the macroscopic particles is compared with the electron loss constant calculated from the electron energy distribution function with an electron absorption constant in the orbital-motion approximation. This approximation, which is valid in the collisionless case, is found to work satisfactorily beyond its range of applicability. The distributions of the charged particles and electric fields created by macroscopic particles in a helium plasma are determined. The experimental data demonstrate the importance of secondary emission by high-energy electrons. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 115, 2020–2036 (June 1999)     

Cooling in a bistable optical cavity

We propose a generic approach to nonresonant laser cooling of atoms and molecules in a bistable optical cavity. The method exemplifies a photonic version of Sisyphus cooling, in which the matter-dressed cavity extracts energy from the particles and discharges it to the external field as a result of sudden transitions between two stable states.     

A particle-in-cell simulation of dust charging and shielding in lowpressure glow discharges

The transport of particles (“dust”) in low pressure electrical glow discharges is being studied in regard to its role in contaminating silicon wafers during plasma etching and deposition. Particles (10 s nm-μm) negatively charge in glow discharges and, to first order, appear to be massively large negative ions around which sheaths develop. The forces on particles in plasmas include electrostatic (drift of charged particles in electric fields) and viscous ion drag. The latter force is momentum transfer from ions to particles by either collisions or orbital motion. This force critically depends on the charge on the particle and the shape of the sheath surrounding the particle. In this work, we report on a pseudoparticle-in-cell (PIC) simulation of the transport of electrons and ions in the vicinity of dust particles in low pressure glow discharges. The simulation produces the electrical charge on the dust particle, the sheath structure around the dust particle and the orbital dynamics of the ions. A companion molecular dynamics simulation uses these parameters to produce ion-dust and electron-dust particle cross sections for momentum transfer and collection. Results will be discussed for charge, sheath thickness, cross sections and viscous ion drag forces on dust particles as a function of radius and plasma parameters     

Simple analytic formulas for estimating the parameters of the positive column of a glow discharge in electronegative gases

Simple analytic expressions are analyzed for the plasma of the positive column of low- and moderate-pressure discharges in the case of detachment by neutral particles. These relations make it possible to easily and rapidly estimate the parameters of spatial distributions of charged particle concentrations in this plasma, as well as its energy parameters. For the first time, the conditions for applicability of these relations are determined and their accuracy is estimated.     

Positive discharge from a grounded electrode toward negatively charged particles cloud

In order to understand electrostatic discharges occurring between a grounded electrode and a space charge cloud, the positive discharges were experimentally caused by negatively charged particles cloud. The discharges were initiated by locating a grounded sphere electrode at the inside or outside of the charged powder particles blown by an air flow. The luminous aspect and the discharge current were observed for the grounded sphere electrode with various diameters. Positive streamer corona discharges extended from it. The luminous aspect, peak value of the discharge current and the interval of the discharge significantly depend on the diameter of the grounded sphere electrode as well as its position.     

Self-sustaining discharges in needle-to-plane geometry with hundreds of microns electrode gaps

Atmospheric pressure needle-to-plane discharges have been explored experimentally in electrode gaps from 100 μm to 400 μm. These discharges can be self-sustained and follow the form of existing empirical formulae describing the current-voltage characteristics of corona discharge. The discharge can also be self-sustained by its lower sustaining voltage applied between the two electrodes once it is ignited by the initial high output voltage from power supply. The experiments of charging aerosol particles by the self-sustaining discharge operating with a lowered power have shown that for particles with a diameter of 46 nm, the charging efficiency attained 43.6%.     

Particle in Cell/Monte Carlo Collision Method for Simulation of RF Glow Discharges: Effect of Super Particle Weighting

A parallel Particle in Cell/Monte Carlo Collision (PIC/MCC) numerical code for glow discharge plasma simulations is developed and verified. This method is based on simultaneous solution of the Lorentz equations of motion of super particles, coupled with the Poisson's equation for electric field. Collisions between the particles are modelled by the Monte Carlo method. Proper choice of particle weighting is critically important in order to perform adequate and efficient PIC simulations of plasma. Herein, effects of particle weighting on the simulations of capacitive radio‐frequency argon plasma discharges are studied in details. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nature of monster sawteeth and their relationship to Alfven instabilities in tokamaks

A correlation is explored between the presence of energetic particle modes (EPM) and long-period sawtooth oscillations in tokamak plasmas heated by rf waves. The eventual crash of these sawteeth is explained in terms of the loss of the stabilizing fast particles due to the EPM. The absence of long-period sawteeth in high q(a) discharges is explained in terms of ion loss due to toroidal Alfven eigenmodes.     

Large eddy simulation of orientation and rotation of ellipsoidal particles in isotropic turbulent flows

The rotational motion and orientational distribution of ellipsoidal particles in turbulent flows are of significance in environmental and engineering applications. Whereas the translational motion of an ellipsoidal particle is controlled by the turbulent motions at large scales, its rotational motion is determined by the fluid velocity gradient tensor at small scales, which raises a challenge when predicting the rotational dispersion of ellipsoidal particles using large eddy simulation (LES) method due to the lack of subgrid scale (SGS) fluid motions. We report the effects of the SGS fluid motions on the orientational and rotational statistics, such as the alignment between the long axis of ellipsoidal particles and the vorticity, the mean rotational energy at various aspect ratios against those obtained with direct numerical simulation (DNS) and filtered DNS. The performances of a stochastic differential equation (SDE) model for the SGS velocity gradient seen by the particles and the approximate deconvolution method (ADM) for LES are investigated. It is found that the missing SGS fluid motions in LES flow fields have significant effects on the rotational statistics of ellipsoidal particles. Alignment between the particles and the vorticity is weakened; and the rotational energy of the particles is reduced in LES. The SGS-SDE model leads to a large error in predicting the alignment between the particles and the vorticity and over-predicts the rotational energy of rod-like particles. The ADM significantly improves the rotational energy prediction of particles in LES.     

Quasistationary high confinement discharges with trans-greenwald density on TEXTOR-94

Confinement quality as good as ELM-free H-mode at densities substantially above the Greenwald density limit ( &nmacr;(e,0)/n(GW) = 1.4) has been obtained in discharges with a radiative boundary under quasistationary conditions for 20 times the energy confinement time. This is achieved by optimizing the gas-fueling rate of RI-mode discharges which tailors their favorable energy confinement and leads to discharges with beta values just below the operational limit beta(n) = 2 of TEXTOR-94, thereby effectively avoiding confinement back transitions or disruptions. In addition, this high-density regime is favorable for helium removal and results in figures of merit tau(*)(p,He)/tau(E) approximately 10-15, relevant for a future fusion power reactor.     

Effective method for measuring the energy of propagating brush discharges

Due to their very high energy propagating brush discharges are the most dangerous electrostatic discharges. As it is known, they usually occur on thick insulating layers on which significant charge can be accumulated. Discharge energy is a function of several parameters, like the surface charge density (influenced by the thickness of the layer and its relative permittivity), the size of the charged surface, etc. This paper represents a laboratory model to examine the energy of propagating brush discharges. Based on these measurements list of results were evaluated to estimate the energy of the generated propagating brush discharges. This energy is especially important to determine how incentive these discharges are. By the help of the model the effect of the polarity of the original charging, the surface charge density of the sample and the geometry of the sample have been examined.     

Reaction Kinetics and Oxidation Mechanisms of the Conversion of Pyrite to Ferrous Sulphate: A Mössbauer Spectroscopy Study

Pyrite undergoes a series of exothermic reactions during mine roasting to porous hematite. At low temperatures, the first non-refractive phase to form is ferrous sulphate and could be a cheaper alternative to hematite roasting for the mining industry. In this study, pyrite powder is heated in air at temperatures between 200 and 370 °C for 1 to 256 h in a temperature and time series. The rate of oxidation of pyrite to ferrous sulphate is modelled by combining the Arrhenius equation with the Weibull function to extract reliable thermodynamic data, including the energy of activation, the frequency factor and the overall order of reaction. From the thermodynamic data obtained, two possible oxidation mechanisms are recognized, depending on the bond dissociation energies of the S–S and Fe–S bonds in pyrite.     

Trajectories of Charged Particles in Radial Electric and Uniform Axial Magnetic Fields

The trajectories of charged particles were determined over a wide range of parameters characterizing the motion in cylindrical low-pressure gaseous discharges and plasma-heating devices which have steady radial electric fields E perpendicular to uniform steady magnetic flelds B. Three radial distributions of E were considered: E ? r, constant E, and E ? r-1. These distributions are characteristic of the fields measured in a modified Penning discharge, in two NASA Lewis Bum-out-type plasma-heating devices, and that estimated for the Ixion device, respectively. The plasmas of such ? × B? devices are often characterized by their high ratios of drift energy to mean particle energy, finite gyroradius effects, and sizeable electric field changes in the distance covered by a cyclotron radius. Such particle motions are not amenable to simple guiding center theory. From numerical calculations of the actual trajectories it was concluded that the differences between cyclotron frequency and qB/m, and between azimuthal drift and a guiding center approximation (including ? × B? and centrifugal force terms) are appreciable. The net cyclotron motion obtained by subtracting the actual drift from the trajectories, however, has a nearly circular contour over which the speed is quite constant.