Time Evolution from Weak to Strong Coupling in a Spherically Confined Dusty Plasma

Langevin dynamics simulations are performed to study the emergence of correlations in a spherically confined dusty plasma. We follow the time evolution of a laser‐heated initial plasma during its approach to the neutral gas temperature. The effect of the cooling rate is investigated in detail and the time scales for the emergence of the shell structure are compared. In strongly damped systems the correlation buildup is found to be slower than in weakly dissipative systems. The role of the confinement potential for the shell structure is explored by means of Monte Carlo simulations. In a linear and a quartic confinement the shells emerge at the cluster boundary, but density modulations are also found near the trap center in the former case (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Variation of filamentation phenomenon in strongly magnetized plasma with various discharge parameters

Filamentation phenomenon is one of the most important outcomes of applying a strong magnetic field to low-pressure plasmas and dusty plasmas. In this article, the variation of filamentation phenomenon with neutral gas pressure and plasma density will be investigated using numerical simulations. It will be shown through these simulations how the formation of the filamentary patterns in the magnetized plasma results in a localized electric field structure that strongly contributes to the properties of the filamentary patterns. Based on the results of the simulations, a theoretical model is derived that relates the width of the filamentary patterns to the plasma density. The model has been successfully employed to predict the width of the patterns emerging in various simulations of the magnetized plasma.     

Confinement physics for thermal, neutral, high-charge-state plasmas in nested-well solenoidal traps

A theoretical study is presented which indicates that it is possible to confine a neutral plasma using static electric and solenoidal magnetic fields. The plasma consists of equal temperature electrons and highly stripped ions. The solenoidal magnetic field provides radial confinement, while the electric field, which produces an axial nested-well potential profile, provides axial confinement. A self-consistent, multidimensional numerical solution for the electric potential is obtained, and a fully kinetic theoretical treatment on axial transport is used to determine an axial confinement time scale. The effect on confinement of the presence of a radial electric field is explored with the use of ion trajectory calculations. A thermal, neutral, high-charge-state plasma confined in a nested-well trap opens new possibilities for fundamental studies on plasma recombination and cross-field transport processes under highly controlled conditions.     

等离子体湍流理论研究的最新进展

评述和分析了磁约束核聚变理论研究、数值模拟和实验研究等方面最近几年共同关心的一个重要问题——寻找托卡马克等离子体湍流中的带状剪切流（zonal flows）。简要介绍了作者最近对电阻性-重力模湍流中的带状剪切流的研究结果。 Progress of the research on the zonal flows in tokamak plasma turbulence is surveyed, especially it is reviewed that the zonal flows observed in the experiments and numerical simulations on atmosphere turbulence and ocean turbulence and the discovery of H-mode in tokamak experiments how lead the researchers in magnetic confinement fusion community to find out the existence of the zonal flow in tokamak plasma turbulence and subsequently give the experimental verification of its existence. Finally, the results of our research on zonal flow generation and evolution in resistive-g mode turbulence are presented in brief.     

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对EAST中性束反向注入过程中等离子体加热和电流驱动进行了实验研究,并采用了美国普林斯顿大学等离子体物理实验室开发的TRANSP程序对高功率中性束注入过程中能量热输运进行了分析.结果表明,中性束注入可有效提高本底等离子体温度,产生束驱动非感应电流,提高等离子体旋转以及有效改善等离子体约束.     

EAST中性束反向注入的初步实验研究

对EAST中性束反向注入过程中等离子体加热和电流驱动进行了实验研究,并采用了美国普林斯顿大学等离子体物理实验室开发的TRANSP 程序对高功率中性束注入过程中能量热输运进行了分析。结果表明,中性束注入可有效提高本底等离子体温度,产生束驱动非感应电流,提高等离子体旋转以及有效改善等离子体约束。     

Implementation of a separate fluid-neutral energy equation in SOLPS-ITER and its impact on the validity range of advanced fluid-neutral models

In plasma edge transport codes for nuclear fusion devices, fluid-neutral models offer an interesting alternative to the currently used kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, especially for cases of high ion-neutral collisionality. In this paper, we elaborate a separate neutral energy equation in the state-of-the-art SOLPS-ITER code suite, which previously assumed perfect ion-neutral temperature equilibration. Furthermore, we study the coupled plasma-neutral solutions for a range of divertor operating regimes, proving the validity of these fluid-neutral models for high-recycling and detached regimes.     

Negative plasma potential in unmagnetized DC electropositive plasma with conducting walls

Negative plasma potentials were obtained in DC hot filament unmagnetized electropositive argon plasma for sufficiently low neutral pressure. Double layers provide ion and electron confinement near the walls. The potential profiles from the center of the plasma to the potential minima are quite similar in shape to those observed when the plasma has positive plasma potentials. The primary electrons emitted from the filaments are important for charge conservation and for modification of the Bohm criteria but are not important for current balance.     

Kinetic-diffusion asymptotic-preserving Monte Carlo algorithms for plasma edge neutral simulation

We developed novel Monte Carlo simulation strategies for the neutral model in plasma edge simulations where both low-collisional and high-collisional regimes are present. To maintain accuracy and reduce simulation costs in high-collisional regimes, we use hybridized particles that exhibit both kinetic and diffusive behaviour depending on the local collisionality. The method maintains an asymptotically correct distribution and a correct mean, variance, and time correlation for all values of the collisionality. We apply this scheme to a fusion case with a strongly heterogeneous background, prompting the inclusion of a diffusion-induced drift. Our numerical results show a large increase in efficiency at the expense of a minor bias.     

Energetic electron emission from a ferroelectric sample during incomplete surface discharge

In this paper, the results of simplified analytical modeling and particle-in-cell numerical simulations of plasma formation and propagation along the surface of a ferroelectric sample under the application of a negative driving pulse to the rear solid electrode are presented. These models allow one to reproduce the main characteristics of the incomplete discharge. In particular, it is shown that the experimentally observed energetic electrons are related to the secondary emission electron acceleration in the sheath between the plasma and the ferroelectric surface. Also, simulation results show that secondary electron emission significantly decreases the surface plasma density while increasing its propagation velocity and that high desorption rate of the neutrals is required to sustain surface plasma formation.     

Edge Turbulence During Limiter Biasing Experiments in the TJ-II Stellarator

The influence of limiter biasing on plasma confinement, turbulence and plasma flows has been investigated in the TJ-II stellarator. Experimental results show that it is possible to modify global particle confinement and edge plasma parameters with both positive and negative biasing. Significant and minor modifications in the structure of plasma fluctuations have been observed during the transition to improved confinement regimes induced by limiter biasing. These results show evidence of electric field induced improved confinement via multiple mechanisms. The investigation of the relaxation of plasma potential and electric fields shows evidence of two different characteristic decay times.     

First results of movable limiter experiments and its effects on the tokamak plasma confinement

Limiters play a number of roles in the tokamak operation. It serves primarily to protect the wall from the plasma when there are disruptions, runaway electrons, or other instabilities and also the limiters localize the plasma–surface interaction. In this research, we presented the first results of movable limiter experiments and its effects on the tokamak plasma confinement. For this purpose, we designed, constructed, and installed a movable localized poloidal limiter, and then measured the effects of limiter position on the time intervals of plasma parameters such as plasma density, temperature, and energy confinement time. The results of effects of the movable limiter experiments on plasma confinement.     

Volt-ampere characteristics of a nitrogen DC plasma arc with anode melting

The characteristics of a nitrogen arc using a graphite cathode and a melting anode in a pilot-scale plasma furnace are investigated. The voltage is examined as a function of current and apparent plasma length. The voltage increases non-linearly with the increase of apparent plasma length, with the current fixed. The experimental data so obtained are compared with the predictions of the Bowman model for the electric arc, and with numerical simulations as well. The level of agreement between the experimental data at the melting anode and the numerical predictions confirms the suitability of the proposed the Bowman model. These characteristics are relevant to the engineering design and evaluation of a DC plasma furnace and reactor for the treatment of hazardous fly ash waste.     

Plasma–wall transition in the quasi‐neutral region of collisional and stationary plasmas in a magnetic field enclosed by totally absorbing walls

The structure of stationary electron–positive ion plasmas in spatially limited vessels is analysed with special emphasis on the plasma–wall transition using different physical models. Basic investigations are carried out in a two‐fluid model, which is supplemented by ionization and oblique magnetic fields. Collisions between the two particle species were taken into account, as well as the dependence of the collision frequency on the particle density. For the case of non‐vanishing magnetic fields, electrons are not assumed to be in Boltzmann equilibrium. The investigated one‐dimensional domain is limited by totally absorbing walls on each side. Stationary states are considered, in which ionization sources balance the wall losses. To also take into account kinetic effects, simulations in a quasi‐neutral hybrid model are performed. The hybrid model assumes the electrons as a fluid and treats the ions using a particle‐in‐cell (PIC) method. A new way of ensuring the Bohm criterion is used by removing those superparticles impeding the wall. When comparing the results, both models reveal differences, especially when ionization from a resting neutral gas or weakly magnetized plasmas is considered, causing a broadening of the ion distribution or anisotropy effects, respectively.     

HL-1M装置逃逸电子的定标律

使用一维数值模型, 推断了逃逸能量ε_r与逃逸约束时间τ_r的关系。模拟结果给出能量ε_r 和放电参数的定标律。在HL- 1M 装置中不同实验条件下测量了硬X 射线谱, 研究了逃逸电子能量 ε_r模拟的定标律, 并推导出HL- 1M 装置放电的逃逸电子的约束时间与逃逸电子扩散系数。     

Numerical investigation of the plasma processes for propellant heating in electrothermal plasma thruster for nanosatellites

Numerical investigation of the plasma processes in a cylindrical chamber with small dimensions of a novel microwave electrothermal plasma thruster for nanosatellites has been conducted. The absorbed microwave power from the electrons in the plasma column of the surface wave discharge is included in the computational model as a heat source with Gaussian distribution. The computational model takes into account the elastic and inelastic collisions of the electrons with the atoms in the ground state and two excited states (−s, −p) and the processes of recombination and deactivation of the plasma species in the volume and on the walls of the chamber. The computational model includes the flow of neutral gas and the processes in the plasma for effective heating of neutral particles by collisions not only with electrons but also with ions. Selected combinations of input power and propellant mass flow rates are used as initial parameters for the numerical investigation. The results show that at higher mass flow rates the heating of the neutral gas is more effective and at power levels of 4 W and propellant mass flow rate of 3 mg/s the electrothermal plasma thruster demonstrates effective performance and thrust levels in the order of 1 mN.     

THERMAL INSTABILITY OF D-T BURNING PLASMAS

ＴＨＥＲＭＡＬＩＮＳＴＡＢＩＬＩＴＹＯＦＤ－ＴＢＵＲＮＩＮＧＰＬＡＳＭＡＳ￥Ｂ．Ｒ．ＳＨＩＹ．Ｘ．ＬＯＮＧＨ．Ｇ．ＺＨＡＯ（ＳｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔｅｒｎｉｎｓｔｉｔｕｔｅｏｆＰｈｙｓｉｃｓ，Ｐ．Ｏ．Ｂｏｘ４３２，Ｃｈｅｎｇｄｕ６１００４１，Ｓｉｃｈｕａｎ...     

强激光与等离子体相互作用中沿靶表面发射的高能超热电子

在强激光与等离子体相互作用研究中，文章作者从实验上首次观测到沿靶面方向发射的高能超热电子束．该电子束只有在等离子体电子密度标长较短的条件下才会出现。数值模拟表明，靶表面电磁场的约束作用是产生这束电子的主要原因。这一结果有助于加深对激光惯性约束聚变快点火实验中的锥靶物理过程的理解，并有潜在的应用前景。     

HT-7超导托卡马克调制电流改善等离子体约束

 在HT-7超导托卡马克上进行了电流调制改善等离子体约束物理实验，获得了初步的实验结果。对电流调制时的径向电场进行了数值计算和讨论。当等离子体环向电流以适当的频率和幅值周期性调制时，低模数的磁流体不稳定性得到明显的抑制，等离子体中心电子温度增加了33%，等离子体电子密度分布明显陡化，能量约束时间增加了27%~45%。杂质辐射周期性减少,粒子约束时间增加了2倍。在等离子体边界产生更强的径向负电场。     

Ultracold plasma in blue-detuned optical molasses

The possibility of a new application of optical molasses for viscous confinement and control of the state of ultracold electron-ion neutral plasma containing ions with quantum transition resonant with respect to the laser radiation has been shown. This viscous confinement scheme is based on the action of radiation damping force upon plasma ions in the strong field of standing light wave with large positive (“blue”) frequency detuning from resonance.