Characteristics of high-power radiating imploding discharge with cold start

A qualitative model of the dynamics of a multiterawatt radiating Z-pinch with cold start and high rate of current rise is proposed. The model is used to analyze discharges with currents I ～ 2–5 MA (with dI/dt > 10¹³ A/s) through uniform or structured plasma-producing loads, including wire arrays. The most important consequence of cold start is that spatially nonuniform plasma production is prolonged to almost the entire current rise time. Under these conditions, the Ampére force begins to play a dominant role in the plasma dynamics before the plasma-producing load is completely transformed into an accelerated plasma. The results of computations of wire-array vaporization are presented. A formula is proposed for estimating the highest attainable velocity of plasma flow into a heterogeneous liner driven by the Ampére force. It is shown that local imbalance between radial motion of the produced plasma and supply of the plasma-producing substance to be ionized leads to axially nonuniform breakthrough of magnetic flux into the liner, which precedes plasma collapse. The magnetic-flux breakthrough gives rise to a chaotic azimuthal-axial plasma structure consisting of radial plasma jets of relatively small diameter, which is called a radial plasma rainstorm. The breaking-through azimuthal magnetic flux obstructs further current flow in the breakthrough region. Analyses of Z-pinch implosion based on the theory of Rayleigh-Taylor instability or the snowplow model are incorrect under the plasma-rainstorm conditions. The processes taking place in a stagnant Z-pinch include conversion of the energy carried by the current-generated magnetic field into turbulent MHD flow of the ion component of the plasma, its convective mixing with magnetic field, heating, energy transfer from ions to electrons, and emission from the plasma. Under typical experimental conditions, emission plays a key role in the energy balance in an imploding pinch. Z-pinch is modeled by an electric-circuit component that has a time-dependent nonlinear impedance and consumes the magnetic energy supplied by a generator through a magnetically insulated transmission line (MITL). The peak power reached in the circuit is comparable to the peak soft X-ray power output emitted by the pinch in terms of magnitude and timing. Optimum matching conditions are formulated for the generator-MITL-pinch circuit.     

Synthesis of ordered Ge-Si heterostructures containing ultrasmall germanium nanoclusters

Different techniques for the fabrication of structures containing ensembles of ultrasmall germanium nanoclusters distributed with a high density over the substrate surface are discussed. How to control the morphology and ordering of these ensembles is also discussed.     

Currently available methods of industrial nanodiamond synthesis

The main theoretical aspects of detonation decomposition of powerful mixed explosives with a negative oxygen balance accompanied by the formation of nanodiamonds (ultrafine-dispersed diamonds, UDDs) are described. The basic UDD synthesis parameters are considered, and the expediency of using trotyl-hexogen alloys is shown. The conditions of diamond phase conservation in the detonation products are specified. Various versions of industrial detonation synthesis of UDDs are considered. The most efficient technology of chemical cleaning of UDDs (with nitric acid at high temperatures and pressures) for producing UDDs with the highest purity is described.

     

Destruction and stabilization of the electromagnetic transparency of a semiconductor superlattice

Three types of transparency of a semiconductor superlattice, namely, self-induced, induced, and selective transparency, were studied. The conditions of their existence and the causes of their destruction were revealed. It was shown that the state of self-induced transparency, which is unstable in a harmonic field, can be stable in a biharmonic field.     

Influence of the skin effect on the absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a fine metal particle

The cross section of absorption of electromagnetic radiation by a fine spherical metal particle is calculated. The influence of the skin effect on the absorption cross-section is estimated for an arbitrary ratio between the free path and size of the particle. The results of this work are compared with those obtained earlier in the framework of classical electrodynamics. It is shown that taking into account the kinetic effects modifies essentially the known data for the skin effect in a spherical particle.     

Low-power RF plasma sources for technological applications: II. plasma sources under anomalous skin effect conditions

A theory of a planar disk-shaped RF plasma source under anomalous skin effect conditions is developed. In the absence of an external magnetic field, such conditions are satisfied for transverse electromagnetic waves with phase velocities below the electron thermal velocity, and, in the presence of this field, they are satisfied for electron cyclotron waves with frequencies corresponding to the resonant absorption line. For each of these cases, the RF field power deposited in a plasma with given parameters is determined and the equivalent plasma resistance is calculated.     

Model for describing the production of Centauro events and strangelets in heavy-ion collisions

A phenomenological model for describing the production of Centauro events in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is discussed. The model provides quantitative predictions for kinematical variables, for the baryon number, and for the masses of a Centauro fireball and of its decay products. A Centauro fireball decays predominantly into nucleons, strange hyperons, and possibly strangelets. Centauro events in Pb + Pb collisions at the LHC energy are simulated for the CASTOR detector. The signatures of these events are discussed in detail.     

Thermal effects and flat direction baryogenesis

We provide a detailed numerical study of the influence of thermal effects on the original picture of the Affleck-Dine baryogenesis. These effects are found to modify the results greatly in some cases. We estimate the baryon/entropy ratio and provide numerical results on the typical behavior of the charge as a function of the strength of the potential and other parameters.     

Living polymerization of styrene initiated by mercaptan/ε‐caprolactam

The bulk polymerization of styrene initiated by ?‐caprolactam (CL) and n‐dodecyl mercaptan (RSH) has been explored. This novel polymerization system shows living characteristics. For example, the molecular weight of the resulting polymers increases with conversion, and the system has the ability to form diblock copolymers and so forth. The polymer chain end contains thiol and lactam structures, which we have investigated with Fourier transform infrared, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR techniques. Electron spin resonance spectra and theoretical calculations by the Hartree–Fock methods have been used to examine the mechanism. The results reveal that the initial polymerization starts from thiol via a chain‐transfer reaction, and the propagation proceeds by the insertion of a monomer between the terminal group and the intermediate structure of lactam. Finally, the polymerization kinetics have been examined. The polymerization rate varies linearly with the concentration of CL and RSH, and this confirms the mechanism. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 4976–4993, 2004