Decay of an electronic vortex of a collisionless shock wave as a possible mechanism of a “Coulomb explosion”

A new mechanism of a “Coulomb explosion,” where ions are accelerated by the electric field separating charges at the magnetic Debye radius r _B∼B/4πen _e, is proposed on the basis of a nonquasineutral model of electronic vortices in a magnetic field. It is shown by means of numerical calculations that in the process of acceleration of the ions a collisionless shock wave, whose front has an effective width of the order of δ∼r _B, determined by the breakdown of quasineutrality, is formed in a time of the order of ω _pi ⁻¹ , where ω_pi is the ion plasma frequency. The origin of such explosive dynamics is the formation of “holes” in the electron density at characteristic times of the order of ω _pe ⁻¹ (ω_pe is the electronic plasma frequency) as a result of the generation of electronic vorticity by the Weibel instability of an electromagnetic wave. Calculations for a laser pulse with intensity J∼6×10¹⁸ W/cm² show that the ions expand in the radial direction with velocities up to 3.5×10⁸ cm/s. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 10, 669–674 (25 November 1999)     

Stimulated brillouin scattering of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves in a plasma

Using the fluid model for the nonlinear response of ions, we have studied the nonlinear scattering of an electromagnetic ion cyclotron wave off the ion acoustic wave in a plasma. The low frequency nonlinearity arises through the parallel ponderomotive force on ions and the high frequency nonlinearity arises through the nonlinear current density of ions. For a typical nonisothermal plasma (T _e/T _i∼10) the threshold for this instability in a uniform plasma is ∼1mW/cm². At power densities ≳10² W/cm², the growth rate for backscatter turns out to be ∼10⁴s⁻¹.     

Plasma plume induced during laser ablation of graphite

The plasma plume induced during ArF laser ablation of a graphite target is studied. Velocities of the plasma expansion front are determined by the optical time of flight method. Mass center velocities of the emitting atoms and ions are constant and amount to 1.7×10⁴ and 3.8×10⁴ m s⁻¹, respectively. Higher velocities of ions result probably from their acceleration in electrostatic field created by electron emission prior to ion emission. The emission spectroscopy of the plasma plume is used to determine the electron densities and temperatures at various distances from the target. The electron density is determined from the Stark broadening of the Ca II and Ca I lines. It reaches a maximum of ∼9.5×10²³ m⁻³ 30 ns from the beginning of the laser pulse at the distance of 1.2 mm from the target and next decreases to ∼1.2×10²² m⁻³ at the distance of 7.6 mm from the target. The electron temperature is determined from the ratio of intensities of ionic and atomic lines. Close to the target the electron temperature of ∼30 kK is found but it decreases quickly to 11.5 kK 4 mm from the target.     

Experimental study of optical gas-dynamic processes of polymeric material ablation by ultrashort laser pulses

Optical gas-dynamic processes occurring in polymeric targets ((CH₂O) _n , (C₂F₄) _n ) exposed to ultrashort laser pulses (τ _0.5 ∼ 45 − 70 fs; λ _I,II,III = 266, 400, 800 nm; and E/S ∼ 0.1 − 40 J/cm² at r ₀ ∼ 20 μm) were studied under normal conditions and in vacuum (p ∼ 10⁻² Pa). The dynamics of the mass flow from the target surface (m′ ∼ 10⁻⁵ − 10⁻⁴ g/J) was studied and the spectral-energy thresholds of laser ablation, the electron density distribution (n _e ∼ 10¹⁴ − 10¹⁸ cm⁻³), the mass-averaged velocity of the material flow from the target surface (∼ 10³ m/s), and the chemical composition and average temperature in the near-surface plasma formation (T ∼ 5000 K) were determined using interference microscopy, emission spectroscopy, and shadowgraphy.     

Microwave energy channeling in plasma waveguides created by a high-power UV laser in the atmosphere

The grazing mode of microwave propagation in a hollow plasma waveguide formed by ionization of atmospheric air with a small easily ionized additive by strong UV pulses of the Garpun KrF laser (λ = 248 nm, the pulse duration and energy are ∼70 ns and ∼50 J) was experimentally demonstrated for the first time. The annular laser beam produced a hollow tube ∼10 cm in diameter with an electron density of ∼10¹² cm⁻³ in a plasma wall ∼1 cm thick, over whichmicrowave radiation with λ _mw ∼ 8 mm was transmitted to a distance of 60 m. Themicrowave signal transmitted by the waveguide was amplified by a factor of 6 in comparison with propagation in free space.     

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.     

Characteristics of electron cyclotron resonance plasma formed by lower hybrid current drive grill antenna

A 3.7 GHz system, which is meant for LHCD experiments on ADITYA tokamak, is used for producing ECR discharge. The ECR discharge is produced by setting the appropriate resonance magnetic field of 0.13 T, with hydrogen at a fill pressure of about 5 × 10⁻⁵ Torr. The RF power, up to 10 kW (of which ∼50% is reflected back), with a typical pulse length of 50 ms, is injected into the vacuum chamber of the ADITYA tokamak by a LHCD grill antenna and is used for plasma formation. The average coupled RF power density (the RF power/a typical volume of the plasma) is estimated to be ∼5 kW/m³. When the ECR appears inside the tokamak chamber for the given pumping frequency (f = 3.7 GHz) a plasma with a density (n _e) ∼ 4 × 10¹⁶ m⁻³ and electron temperature ∼8 eV is produced. The density and temperature during the RF pulse are measured by sets of Langmuir probes, located toroidally, on either side of the antenna. H_α signals are also monitored to detect ionization. An estimate of density and temperature based on simple theoretical calculation agrees well with our experimental measurements. The plasma produced by the above mechanism is further used to characterize the ECR-assisted low voltage Ohmic start-up discharges. During this part of the experiments, Ohmic plasma is formed using capacitor banks. The plasma loop voltage is gradually decreased, till the discharge ceases to form. The same is repeated in the presence of ECR-formed plasma (RF pre-ionization), formed 10 ms prior to the loop voltage. We have observed that (with LHCD-induced) ECR-assisted Ohmic start-up discharges is reliably and repeatedly obtained with reduced loop voltage requirement and breakdown time decreases substantially. The current ramp-up rates also decrease with reduced loop voltage operation. These studies established that ECR plasma formed with LHCD system exhibits similar characteristics as reported earlier by dedicated ECR systems. This experiment also addresses the issue of whether ECR plasma formed with grill antenna exhibits similar behavior as that formed by single waveguide ECR antenna. Our experimental observations suggest that the characteristics of (LHCD system-induced) ECR-assisted Ohmic start-up discharges show similar properties, reported earlier with normal ECR-assisted Ohmic start-up discharges and hence LHCD system may be used as ECR system at reduced toroidal magnetic field for other applications like wall conditioning.      

Acidichromism and Ionochromism of Luteolin and Apigenin,the Main Components of the Naturally Occurring Yellow Weld: A Spectrophotometric and Fluorimetric Study

Luteolin and apigenin, extracted from Reseda luteola L., were spectrophotometrically and fluorimetrically studied. The spectra were investigated as a function of pH in methanol/water solutions (1/2, v/v) in the 2–12 pH range. The absorption spectra markedly shifted to the red by increasing the pH. Three acid–base dissociation steps were detected for luteolin (pK _a = 6.9; 8.6; 10.3) and two for apigenin (pK _a = 6.6; 9.3). Fluorescence emission was very weak or undetectable (Φ _F < 10⁻⁴) in acidic solution, but increased in intensity with increasing the pH. Both molecules exhibited a great propensity towards complex formation with metal ions, with association constants on the order of 10⁵–10⁷ for the first complexation step; in the presence of excess Al³⁺ ions, multiple equilibria were detected. A marked fluorescence enhancement was observed upon complexation with Al³⁺ ions (Φ _F ∼ 1 for luteolin and ∼10⁻² for apigenin).     

Telecom-grade fiber laser-based difference-frequency generation and ppb-level detection of benzene vapor in air around 3 μm

We report on the development of a field deployable compact laser instrument tunable over ∼232 cm⁻¹ from 3.16 to 3.41 μm (2932.5–3164.5 cm⁻¹) for chemical species monitoring at the ppb-level. The laser instrument is based on widely tunable continuous-wave difference-frequency generation (DFG), pumped by two telecom-grade fiber lasers. DFG power of ∼0.3 mW near 3.3 μm with a spectral purity of ∼3.3 MHz was achieved by using moderate pumping powers: 408 mW at 1062 nm and 636 mW at 1570 nm. Spectroscopic performance of the developed DFG-based instrument was evaluated with direct absorption spectra of ethylene at 3.23 μm (∼3094.31 cm⁻¹). Absorption spectra of vapor-phase benzene near 3.28 μm (∼3043.82 cm⁻¹) were recorded with Doppler-limited resolution. Line intensities of the most intense absorption lines of the ν ₁₂ band near 3043.8 cm⁻¹ were determined to support development of sensitive mid-infrared trace gas detection of benzene vapor in the atmosphere. Detection of benzene vapor in air at different concentration levels has been performed for the first time using multi-pass cell enhanced direct absorption spectroscopy at ∼3.28 μm with a minimum detectable concentration of 50 ppb (1σ).     

Coincidences among the data recorded by the baksan, kamioka and mont blanc underground neutrino detectors, and by the Maryland and Rome gravitational-wave detectors during Supernova 1987 A

Summary The data recorded with the neutrino detectors at Mont Blanc, Kamioka, Baksan and with the gravitational-wave detectors in Maryland and Rome have been analysed searching for correlations associated with SN 1987 A, without presuming or excluding hypotheses for correlations due to neutrinos and gravitational waves. The statistical analysis has been based on a previous analysis that showed a correlation among Maryland, Rome and Mont Blanc with a probability to be accidental less than 10⁻⁵. Independent correlations are found during a period of one or two hours, around the Mont Blanc 5ν burst (2h 52 min 36 s UT), among the various sets of data: Mont Blanc-Baksan with a probability to be accidental of the order ofp∼4·10⁻³, Mont Blanc-Kamioka withp∼4·10⁻³, Maryland-Rome-Kamioka withp∼5·10⁻⁴, Maryland-Rome-Baksan withp∼5·10⁻². It is remarkable that the events from all the neutrino detectors follow the signals from the g.w. detectors by a time of the order of 1/2 or 1 s. At present we will not give a physical interpretation of the observed correlations which have strong statistical significance. Professor Edoardo Amaldi died on December 5, 1989.     

Multilevel rotational transitions in the intermediate stage of three-photon ionization of molecules

Ionization and dissociation of diatomic molecules induced by a weak field (after preliminarily populating an intermediate level) and by intense, linearly polarized monochromatic radiation have been studied. Field-induced mixing of rotational components of various electronic-vibrational states of molecules (such as CO, NO, etc.) at field strength f∼10⁻⁴–10⁻⁵ atomic units can lead to migration among states with different angular momenta J. Therefore, ions with rotational momenta J ⁺ much higher than those prescribed by selection rules for three-photon absorption can be formed from molecules in the ground state. The possibility of selective formation of ions with J ⁺≫1 and zero projection of the angular momentum on the polarization vector of the external electromagnetic radiation has been investigated. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 111, 1624–1632 (May 1997)     

Atomic frequency offset locking in a Λ type three-level Doppler broadened Cs system

We here present a comparative study of frequency stabilities of pump and probe lasers coupled at a frequency offset generated by coherent photon-atom interaction. Pump-probe spectroscopy of the Λ configuration in D₂ transition of cesium is carried out to obtain sub-natural (∼2 MHz) electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and sub-Doppler (∼10 MHz) Autler-Townes (AT) resonance. The pump laser is locked on the saturated absorption spectrum (SAS, ∼13 MHz) and the probe laser is successively stabilized on EIT and AT signals. Frequency stabilities of pump and probe lasers are calculated in terms of Allan variance σ(2,τ) by using the frequency noise power spectrum. It is found that the frequency stability of the probe stabilized on EIT is superior (σ∼2×10⁻¹³) to that of SAS locked pump laser (σ∼10⁻¹²), whereas the performance of the AT stabilized laser is inferior (σ∼6×10⁻¹²). This contrasting behavior is discussed in terms of the theme of conventional master-slave offset locking scheme and the mechanisms underlying the EIT and sub-Doppler AT resonances in a Doppler broadened atomic medium.     

Excitation of X rays by electrons accelerated in air in the wake wave of a laser pulse

The characteristics of X rays of a laser plasma generated in the interaction of a femtosecond pulse with solid targets in an air atmosphere have been investigated. It has been shown that the mechanism for the generation of X rays in the interaction of short intense laser pulses with solid targets in a gas atmosphere is attributed to the generation of fast electrons in the region of the filamentation of a laser pulse. It has been proven experimentally that under such conditions, the solid target irradiated by laser radiation of even a low density of about 10¹⁵ W/cm² very efficiently emits ∼10-keV photons. It has been shown theoretically that the maximum energy of accelerated electrons can reach ɛ_max ∼ 100–200 keV under these conditions. This means that the proposed method can provide characteristic radiation with the energy of photons much higher than 10 keV.     

Wavelength modulation and cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy using ～1.9?μm radiation produced by difference frequency generation with a MgO doped PPLN crystal

We have demonstrated the production of ∼1.9 μm near-infrared radiation by using difference frequency generation within a 5% MgO doped PPLN crystal by coupling ∼735 nm radiation from a tunable external cavity diode laser with relatively high powered 532 nm radiation from both Nd:YVO₃ and Nd:YAG lasers. The radiation produced is of low power, ∼15 μW, and was used in conjunction with the sensitivity enhancing techniques of wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) and cavity enhanced absorption spectroscopy (CEAS). Experiments were carried out on rotationally resolved transitions in the combination bands of NH₃ and CO₂ in the 1.9 μm region. An α _min value of 3.6×10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ Hz^−1/2 was achieved for WMS measurements on CO₂. A comparable α _min value of 2.2×10⁻⁶ cm⁻¹ Hz^−1/2 was achieved for NH₃ using CEAS. The low NIR power indicates that despite the level of MgO doping quoted for the crystal, under prolonged exposure photorefractive damage has occurred.     

Formation of highly organised,periodic microstructures on steel surfaces upon pulsed laser irradiation

We present results on the growth of highly organised, reproducible, periodic microstructure arrays on a stainless steel substrate using multi-pulsed Nd:YAG (wavelength of 1064 nm, pulse duration of 7 ns, repetition rate of 25 kHz, beam quality factor of M ²∼1.5) laser irradiation in standard atmospheric environment (room temperature and normal pressure) with laser spot diameter of the target being ∼50 μm. The target surface was irradiated at laser fluence of ∼2.2 J/cm² and intensity of ∼0.31×10⁹ W/cm², resulting in the controllable generation of arrays of microstructures with average periods ranging from ∼30 to ∼70 μm, depending on the hatching overlap between the consecutive scans. The received tips of the structures were either below or at the level of the original substrate surface, depending on the experimental conditions. The peculiarity of our work is on the utilised approach for scanning the laser beam over the surface. A possible mechanism for the formation of the structures is proposed.     

Ion-electron transfer in solid solutions Rb2 ? 2xFe2 ? xPxO4

The rubidium monoferrite RbFeO₂-based solid solutions with the composition Rb_{2 − 2x} Fe_{2 − x} P _x O₄ have been synthesized, and their crystal structure and the temperature and concentration dependences of the total and electron conductivities have been studied. The introduction of P⁵⁺ ions has been found to sharply decrease the electron conductivity that prevails in pure rubidium monoferrite and, at the same time, to increase the ionic conductivity. The latter becomes dominant as the phosphorus concentration increases. The maximum rubidium-cation conductivity of the materials under study is ∼3 × 10⁻² S/cm at 300°C and ∼3 × 10⁻¹ S/cm at 700°C. The results have been compared with the previously obtained data for similar solid solutions based on rubidium monogallate and monoaluminate.     

The Co-luminescence Effect of Eu–Gd–Ofloxacin–SDBS System and its Analytical Application

A fluorescence enhancement phenomenon in the europium (Eu)–Ofloxacin (OF)–Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate (SDBS) fluorescence system was observed when Gd³⁺ was added. The fluorescence intensity of the systems was measured (λ _ex/λ _em = 280/612 nm) at pH 7.8. Under optimum conditions, a linear relationship between the enhanced fluorescence intensity and the Eu³⁺ concentration in the range of 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ ∼ 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol·L⁻¹ was observed. The detection limit of Eu³⁺ was 1.46 × 10⁻¹⁰ mol·L⁻¹ (S/N = 3). This method was used for the determination of trace amounts of europium in synthetic rare earth samples with satisfactory results. In addition, the interaction mechanism is also studied.     

Simulation on intensity self-pulsation in cw semiconductor lasers

Intensity self-pulsation in cw semiconductor lasers has been analyzed by computer simulation assuming saturable absorbing characteristics in the loss term of the rate equation. A loss decrease of about 1% due to the saturable absorber is capable of generating self-pulsation. The theoretical pumping dependence of the self-pulsation frequency is consistent with the experimental data. Reflected light in the range of 10⁻⁵∼10⁻³ reduces the self-pulsation. Reflected light of larger than 10⁻², however, induces self pulsation whose frequency is locked with the round trip time. The contribution of spontaneous emission in the range of 10⁻⁴∼10⁻³ also reduces the self-pulsation, while 10⁻⁶∼10⁻⁵ is ineffective.     

Study of opto-mechanical characteristics of interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with polymer materials

The opto-mechanical characteristics, such as the specific mechanical recoil momentum, the specific impulse, and the energy efficiency, of the laser ablation of flat polymer targets ((C₂F₄) _n , (CH₂O) _n ) have been determined experimentally for the first time for the case of excitation with femtosecond pulses (τ ∼ 45–70 fs) of UV-IR (λ ∼ 266, 400, 800 nm) laser radiation (I ₀ up to 10¹⁵ W/cm²) under normal atmospheric and vacuum (p ∼ 10⁻⁴ mbar) conditions. The efficiency of mechanical recoil momentum generation is analyzed for various regimes of the laser irradiation.