Vortex dynamics in three-dimensional continuous myocardium with fiber rotation: Filament instability and fibrillation

Wave propagation in ventricular muscle is rendered highly anisotropic by the intramural rotation of the fiber. This rotational anisotropy is especially important because it can produce a twist of electrical vortices, which measures the rate of rotation (in degree/mm) of activation wavefronts in successive planes perpendicular to a line of phase singularity, or filament. This twist can then significantly alter the dynamics of the filament. This paper explores this dynamics via numerical simulation. After a review of the literature, we present modeling tools that include: (i) a simplified ionic model with three membrane currents that approximates well the restitution properties and spiral wave behavior of more complex ionic models of cardiac action potential (Beeler-Reuter and others), and (ii) a semi-implicit algorithm for the fast solution of monodomain cable equations with rotational anisotropy. We then discuss selected results of a simulation study of vortex dynamics in a parallelepipedal slab of ventricular muscle of varying wall thickness (S) and fiber rotation rate (theta(z)). The main finding is that rotational anisotropy generates a sufficiently large twist to destabilize a single transmural filament and cause a transition to a wave turbulent state characterized by a high density of chaotically moving filaments. This instability is manifested by the propagation of localized disturbances along the filament and has no previously known analog in isotropic excitable media. These disturbances correspond to highly twisted and distorted regions of filament, or "twistons," that create vortex rings when colliding with the natural boundaries of the ventricle. Moreover, when sufficiently twisted, these rings expand and create additional filaments by further colliding with boundaries. This instability mechanism is distinct from the commonly invoked patchy failure or wave breakup that is not observed here during the initial instability. For modified Beeler-Reuter-like kinetics with stable reentry in two dimensions, decay into turbulence occurs in the left ventricle in about one second above a critical wall thickness in the range of 4-6 mm that matches experiment. However this decay is suppressed by uniformly decreasing excitability. Specific experiments to test these results, and a method to characterize the filament density during fibrillation are discussed. Results are contrasted with other mechanisms of fibrillation and future prospects are summarized. (c)1998 American Institute of Physics.     

Measurement of CO,HCN, and NO productions in atmospheric reaction induced by femtosecond laser filament

It is proved that the chemical reaction induced by femtosecond laser filament in the atmosphere produces CO, HCN, and NO, and the production CO and HCN are observed for the first time. The concentrations of the products are measured by mid-infrared tunable laser absorption spectroscopy. In the reduced pressure air, the decomposition of CO₂ is enhanced by vibration excitation induced by laser filament, resulting in the enhanced production of CO and HCN. At the same time, the CO and HCN generated from the atmosphere suffer rotation excitation induced by laser filament, enhancing their absorption spectra. It is found that NO, CO, and HCN accumulate to 134 ppm, 80 ppm, and 1.6 ppm in sealed air after sufficient reaction time. The atmospheric chemical reaction induced by laser filament opens the way to changing the air composition while maintaining environmental benefits.     

A semiflexible polymer ring acting as a nano-propeller

The dynamics of a rotating elastic nano-ring driven in a viscous fluid by an externally applied torque about a specific axis is studied using elasto-hydrodynamic simulations. We show that a helical deformation of the ring filament is excited, and that this leads to directed propulsion which is independent of the direction of rotation. It is found that the propulsive force and efficiency initially increase as the torque is increased, and then decrease discontinuously at a buckling transition at a critical torque. This unique propulsive behavior at the shape transition arises due to its specific geometry, i.e., circularity of an elastic filament. The implications of the behavior for artificial microscopic devices are discussed.     

Vortices formation induced by femtosecond laser filamentation in a cloud chamber filled with air and helium

We report on the experimental observation of the airflow motion induced by an 800 nm, 1 k Hz femtosecond filament in a cloud chamber filled with air and helium. It is found that vortex pairs with opposite rotation directions always form both below and above the filaments. We do not observe that the vortices clearly formed above the filament in air just because of the formation of smaller particles with weaker Mie scattering.Simulations of the airflow motion in helium are conducted by using the laser filament as a heat source, and the simulated pattern of vortices and airflow velocity agree well with the experimental results.     

Dynamic supercoiling bifurcations of growing elastic filaments

Certain bacteria form filamentous colonies when the cells fail to separate after dividing. In Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thermus, and Cyanobacteria, the filaments can wrap into complex supercoiled structures as the cells grow. The structures may be solenoids or plectonemes, with or without branches in the latter case. Any microscopic theory of these morphological instabilities must address the nature of pattern selection in the presence of growth, for growth renders the problem nonautonomous and the bifurcations dynamic. To gain insight into these phenomena, we formulate a general theory for growing elastic filaments with bending and twisting resistance in a viscous medium, and study an illustrative model problem: a growing filament with preferred twist, closed into a loop. Growth depletes the twist, inducing a twist strain. The closure of the loop prevents the filament from unwinding back to the preferred twist; instead, twist relaxation is accomplished by the formation of supercoils. Growth also produces viscous stresses on the filament which even in the absence of twist produce buckling instabilities. Our linear stability analysis and numerical studies reveal two dynamic regimes. For small intrinsic twist the instability is akin to Euler buckling, leading to solenoidal structures, while for large twist it is like the classic writhing of a twisted filament, producing plectonemic windings. This model may apply to situations in which supercoils form only, or more readily, when axial rotation of filaments is blocked. Applications to specific biological systems are proposed.     

Effect of multiple contactless rotations of charged particles in a hollow circular glass ring

Experimental results concerning the existence of a new physical effect of multiple (many-millioned) rotations of charged particles in a circular hollow electrified glass ring are reported for the first time. Experiments are performed for electron and ion beams. A theoretical model of the interaction of particles with the electrified channel wall is proposed. The effect of acceleration of particles in a circle in which an electrode at a low potential of ～2 kV is fixed is discovered experimentally. Particles are accelerated in this case to hundreds of kilovolts. Intense radiation in the hard X-ray and γ ranges is generated as a result of interaction of accelerated particles with a thin tungsten filament. A number of important applications of the multiple rotation effect are briefly discussed.     

Disintegration of an eruptive filament via interactions with quasi-separatrix layers

The disintegration of solar filaments via mass drainage is a frequently observed phenomenon during a variety of filament activities. It is generally considered that the draining of dense filament material is directed by both gravity and magnetic field, yet the detailed process remains elusive. Here we report on a partial filament eruption during which filament material drains downward to the surface not only along the filament’s legs, but to a remote flare ribbon through a fan-out curtain-like structure. It is found that the magnetic configuration is characterized by two conjoining dome-like quasi-sepratrix layers (QSLs). The filament is located underneath one QSL dome, whose footprint apparently bounds the major flare ribbons resulting from the filament eruption, whereas the remote flare ribbon matches well with the other QSL dome’s far-side footprint. We suggest that the interaction of the filament with the overlying QSLs results in the splitting and disintegration of the filament.     

Effects of edge-localized mode-induced neoclassical toroidal viscosity torque on the toroidal intrinsic rotation in the EAST tokamak

Intrinsic rotation has been observed in lower hybrid current-driven (LHCD) H-mode plasmas with type-III edge-localized modes (ELMs) on Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), and it is found that the edge toroidal rotation accelerated before the onset of the ELM burst. Magnetic perturbation analysis shows there is a perturbation amplitude growth below 30 kHz corresponding to the edge rotation acceleration. Using the filament model, the neoclassical toroidal viscosity (NTV) code shows there is a co-current NTV torque at the edge, which may be responsible for the edge rotation acceleration. For maximum displacement ～1 cm and toroidal mode number n=15, the calculated torque density is ～0.44 N/m², comparable with the average edge toroidal angular momentum change rate ～1.24 N/m². Here, the 1 cm maximum magnetic surface displacement estimated from the experimental observation corresponds to a maximum magnetic perturbation ～ 10^?3–10^?2 T, in accordance with magnetic perturbation measurements during ELMs. By varying n from 10 to 20, the magnitude of the edge NTV torque density is mainly ～0.1–1 N/m². This significant co-current torque indicates that the NTV theory may be important in rotation problems during ELMs in H-mode plasmas. To better illuminate the problem, magnetic surface deformation obtained from other codes is desired for a more accurate calculation.     

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介绍了HL-2A装置NBI系统的多极会切场桶式离子源灯丝电阻特性的实验结果,运用一维数值模型对灯丝稳态温度分布进行了数值计算.在不起弧时,计算了不同灯丝加热电流下的灯丝温度分布和对应的灯丝电阻.在起弧时,通过灯丝表面的等离子体鞘层近似,计算了灯丝电源输出电流为120A时不同弧流下的灯丝温度分布及灯丝电阻,给出了钨灯丝熔化对应的极限弧放电电流.最后,分析讨论了计算结果与实验测量结果的偏差.     

用红外测温仪观察二极管板流引起的阴极降温现象

为了观察由板流引起的灯丝温度下降现象,利用红外测温仪对理想二极管灯丝温度作了精密测量。由于忽略了板流,导致阴极灯丝温度下降,致使测得的金属逸出功存在着大约-1.86%的系统相对误差。实验验证了当灯丝电流和板流较小时,测不出灯丝温度随板流的变化。当灯丝电流为0.74A以上时,可以明显地观察到输出板流后,灯丝温度要比板流为0时低（1～2）K,此结果与预测值十分相符。     

具有红外反射膜的节能卤素灯

研究了节能卤素灯的技术和设计问题.给出了红外反射膜的厚度对近红外波段的反射率分布以及该涂层对2 850 K照明光源在可见光范围内的影响,讨论了灯丝和泡壳的几何形状,以及钨丝对红外反射能量的吸收.实验表明：1）当选用9层膜时,实验数据与计算值偏差很微小.当灯的管径为10 mm,而灯丝外径为1.5 mm时,节能可达12%到13%.2）对圆柱形灯外壳,在不考虑端面影响时,光源的灯丝若处于外壳的中心轴上,则反射的能量会有效地返回灯丝.3）螺旋结构的灯丝比表面光滑的直钨丝有更高的吸收率,灯丝绕成螺旋后在现行的螺距尺寸下吸收率能达到0.6~0.7.     

小型化行波管灯丝电源设计

综述了行波管灯丝基本工作过程及其对电源的特殊要求,分析了行波管灯丝负载基本特性,对灯丝电源设计的特殊性及问题进行了深入细致分析,通过对Topswitch系列控制芯片的性能特点分析,设计了以反激变换器为主电路的灯丝电源。根据灯丝启动特点及其对电源稳定性基本要求设计了高精度反馈电路与限流电路。通过Pspice仿真、样机实验及例行试验测试,验证了理论分析及设计的合理性与可行性,仿真与测试结果表明电源主电路、反馈电路及限流电路能够很好地满足行波管灯丝对电源的各项指标要求。     

Effect of electron emission and potential perturbations of a hot filament in high voltage pulsed glow discharge

The high voltage dc pulsed glow discharge can be ignited earlier by putting an electron emitting filament in the plasma chamber. The electrons emitted from the filament act as a seed and can cause earlier ignition. The potential of the hot filament shows some periodic positive perturbations (electron loss signals) when it is kept floating in the plasma chamber. It is observed that the positive perturbations disappear as potential difference between the plasma and the filament is made smaller by directly connecting the filament to the grounded chamber.     

Harmonic generation at air–soil interface by femtosecond laser filament

We observe the third-harmonic generation and second-harmonic generation together with element fluorescence from the interaction of a femtosecond laser filament with a rough surface sample(sandy soil) in non-phasematched directions. The harmonics prove to originate from the phase-matched surface harmonics and air filament, then scatter in non-phase-matched directions due to the rough surface. These harmonics occurr when the sample is in the region before and after the laser filament, where the laser intensity is not high enough to excite the element fluorescence. The observed harmonics are related to the element spectroscopy, which will benefit the understanding of the interaction of the laser filament with a solid and be helpful for the application on filament induced breakdown spectroscopy.     

Measurement of fiber diameter using an edge diode beam of light

The possibility of utilizing an edge diode as a source of light in shadow technique for filament diameter measurement is presented. The diode light beam is scanned across a filament by means of an oscillating optical assembly. The displacement of the scanning assembly when the beam intercepts the filament and casts a shadow on a photodetector is a measure of the outside diameter of the filament. The metrological properties of the method are presented. The inaccuracy of the technique is smaller than ±0.6 μm, in an acceptable range of the fiber lateral displacement equal to about 1 mm.     

Asymptotic pulse shapes in filamentary propagation of intense femtosecond pulses

Self-compression of intense ultrashort laser pulses inside a self-guided filament is discussed. The filament self-guiding mechanism requires a balance between diffraction, plasma self-defocusing and Kerr-type self-focusing, which gives rise to asymptotic intensity profiles on axis of the filament. The asymptotic solutions appear as the dominant pulse shaping mechanism in the leading part of the pulse, causing a pinch of the photon density close to zero delay, which substantiates as pulse compression. The simple analytical model is backed up by numerical simulations, confirming the prevalence of spatial coupling mechanisms and explaining the emerging inhomogeneous spatial structure. Numerical simulations confirm that only spatial effects alone may already give rise to filament formation. Consequently, self-compression is explained by a dynamic balance between two optical nonlinearities, giving rise to soliton-like pulse formation inside the filament.     

Influence of cutting off position of plasma filament formed by two-color femtosecond laser on terahertz generation

Femtosecond laser filamentation is a method of generating terahertz, which has wide application in terahertz subwavelength resolution imaging. In this paper, the plasma filament formed by femtosecond laser focusing was terminated with an alumina ceramics at different positions and the influence of the cutting off position of the plasma filament on the terahertz wave was studied. The results showed that the terahertz amplitude increases as the position approaches the end of the filament gradually. The stability of amplitude and peak frequency of the terahertz generated by the filament formed by two-color femtosecond laser via a lens with a longer focal length is lower than that through a lens with a shorter focal length, especially the terahertz amplitude at the end of the filament. The study will be helpful for future researchers in the field of THz sub-wavelength imaging utilizing femtosecond laser filament.