High-temperature Plasma Research Articles

Eco-Friendly High Microporosity Low Temperature Plasma Exposed Activated Carbon from Coconut Shell For nano Hybrid Super Capacitors

Abstract This study looked at the structural, chemical, and electrochemical properties of coconut shell activated carbon (CSAC) before and after plasma treatment. Structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) demonstrated that plasma treatment improves graphitic structure by plans at (002) and (101) for higher angles. Chemical investigation utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed an increase in hydroxyl groups and carboxylic content following plasma treatment, which enhances electrochemical performance. Raman spectroscopy revealed a drop in the ID/IG ratio from 1.00 to 0.90, indicating enhanced graphitic order. Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed that plasma treatment improves surface shape, while elemental analysis assessed the high carbon content (76.56% by weight). Contact angle measurements showed a decrease from 114° to 65°, showing improved hydrophilicity after treatment. Electrochemical investigation shows that the plasma-treated CSAC had a maximum specific capacitance of 1612 F/g, compared to 729 F/g for the untreated CSAC, and a total capacitance of plasma treated1685 F/g are untreated 1400 F/g. The cyclic stability tests indicated that the plasma-treated CSAC retained 94% capacitance and 98% coulombic efficiency after 3000 cycles, which is superior to the untreated CSAC's 92% capacitance retention and 95% coulombic efficiency. This reveals that plasma-treated CSAC has significantly improved performance and stability, making it an excellent alternative for high-performance and cost-effective energy storage applications.

Key Issues and Application Prospects in High-Temperature Plasma Physics

High-temperature plasma physics is the core area of research into nuclear fusion energy, and it also has broad application potential in industry and astrophysics. The paper systematically reviews the fundamental definition, the formation mechanism, and research history of high-temperature plasma; analyzes focal problems including energy confinement, plasma instability, radiation cooling, material tolerance, turbulent dynamics; and discusses the technical progress and challenges of magnetic confinement and inertial confinement experimental devices. The comparison of tokamak against laser inertial confinement gives further illustration of the pros and disadvantages of the two fusion routes. Nuclear fusion energy, from an application viewpoint, represents a very ideal energy source for future sustainable development, and high-temperature plasma technology is also very promising in industrial processing, astrophysical experiments, and other fields. In conjunction with relevant recent research, suggestions are also given in this paper regarding high-temperature plasma in the future development direction. All this is done as an effort to offer reference and guidance for future developments in that field.

Detecting neoclassical tearing modes in high-temperature ITER plasma scenarios with the ITER prototype electron cyclotron emission diagnostic

Abstract Electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics for ITER serve two key purposes. The diagnostics will measure plasma electron temperature with high spatial and temporal resolution. Additionally, they will be used to detect neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs), a deleterious and nonlinearly unstable mode causing the growth of magnetic ‘seed’ islands. Interpreting ECE requires anticipation of physical limits including frequency cut-offs and harmonic overlap. In high temperature plasmas, the relativistic shift and broadening of the emission must also be considered to accurately reconstruct the electron temperature spatial profile. Accounting for these effects allows ECE diagnostics to be used for accurate measurement of the equilibrium electron temperature profile, as well as fluctuations about this equilibrium. One such fluctuation is caused by the fast radial transport of heat across rotating magnetic islands. ECE diagnostics can detect this change as an oscillation at the plasma rotation frequency to determine the existence and location of NTMs. This paper presents work on a synthetic diagnostic for ECE. The synthetic diagnostic tests simulated ECE signals, which are inferred from ITER scenarios perturbed by magnetic islands after accounting for all ECE physics. The synthetic diagnostic tests conventional ECE detection algorithms for NTMs in real-time on ITER-recommended hardware. Combined, these two areas of focus help determine design of the ECE system.

Study in the Extreme UV Range of the Spectral Transmission of Nickel Plasma Created under the Effect of an X-Ray Pulse of the Z-Pinch

Spectral properties of the high-temperature plasma obtained by exposing a nickel layer to a source of high-power X-ray radiation (a power of 6–10 TW with a duration of 7–10 ns) based on a Z-pinch, formed during implosion of tungsten multi-wire arrays at the Angara-5-1 facility, are studied. In this case, the Z-pinch radiation heats the target and turns it into the hot plasma, and the same radiation probes the target plasma to determine the spectral dependence of the transmission of this plasma. An original scheme is proposed for measuring the incident, transmitted and self-emission of a target simultaneously in one experiment in the frame mode using a grazing incidence diffraction spectrograph. Using laser shadow imaging, experimental data are obtained on the velocity of the plasma expansion on the irradiated and back sides of the target, which reached 100 km/s. Targets made of thin Ni layers deposited on a mylar film are studied. An irradiationinduced multiple increase in the transmission of the target plasma in the EUV range is observed compared to the transmittance of the target in the cold state. The dependence of the absorption spectrum of the plasma and the accompanying self-radiation of the target on the power and shape of the heating pulse is studied. The measurement results are compared with numerical calculations performed using the RALEF-2D two-dimensional radiation code, which has been repeatedly used previously to simulate similar experiments. The shape of the spectral dependence of the transmission in the experiment and calculation is similar in the range of ∼30–200 Å, but the model plasma transmission (∼0.8–0.9) is higher than that obtained using a spectrograph and X-ray multi-frame photography (∼0.5–0.6).

DEVELOPMENT OF PLASMA RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGIES AT THE GAS INSTITUTE OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF UKRAINE AND THE GLOBAL SITUATION

A multi-faceted analysis of the development of the subject of plasma research and technologies was performed, the center of which is the production of hydrogen from hydrocarbon-containing raw materials. The competitive selection of scientific and technical (experimental) developments under the state order, the implementation of which will begin in 2024 at the expense of the state budget, objectively proved the relevance of the subject matter of the department of plasma processes and technologies. Indeed, immediately two of the total number of 25 competitive works are directly based on plasma technologies in the field of competence of the department. The in-depth history of the initiation at the world level of plasma research or the “fourth state of matter”, as it was called in the 19th century, is analyzed; the outstanding role of the Ukrainian scientist Ivan Pulyuy is shown in it (in addition to his already well-known X-ray research, which is similar in terms of experimental technique). Peculiarities of the early formation of the problem of gasification of hydrocarbon-containing raw materials (as the basis of modern plasma technologies of hydrogen production) are also analyzed on the basis of a comparison of publications from the early period of the existence of the former USSR and Germany. In order to return to historical justice, the most prominent role of the former director of the Gas Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Academician V.F. Kopytov in the establishment of the institute as a powerful scientific organization and a scientist who also actively supported the development of research into high-temperature processes and plasma technologies. Individual scientific achievements of employees of the department of plasma processes and technologies at various stages of its formation and development are analyzed. The directions of development of plasma technologies are classified according to the physical state of the plasma and areas of application; the developments of the institute are briefly presented according to the directions where they are carried out. Bibl. 77, Fig. 6.

Thermodynamic Evolution of Plumes

Plumes are considered to play an important role in the origin of the solar wind. However, an understanding of their thermodynamic evolution is not complete. Here, we perform a detailed study of a plume inside a coronal hole throughout its lifetime, using the observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager. We find that the plume’s formation is preceded by frequent occurrences of small-scale jets and jetlets at its base, leading to the gradual development of plume haze. The plume rapidly developed within the first 6 hr into its well-known morphology. Light curves from all extreme ultraviolet channels exhibit a similar profile, suggesting its multithermal nature and intensity modulation over its lifespan. Moreover, the photospheric magnetic field dynamics at the plume’s base are highly correlated with its light curve in 171 Å. We calculate outflow velocities, observed prominently in the 171 Å passband and mildly in the 193 and 211 Å passbands, with median speeds lower in higher temperature bands but occasionally comparable to the respective sound speeds. When data are averaged over larger spatial scales, the plume appears isothermal along its length, with constant temperature throughout its lifetime. However, an analysis of the differential emission measure at full resolution reveals the presence of higher-temperature plasma, indicating internal temperature structures within the plume. These results provide new insights into the formation, dynamics, and thermal properties of coronal plumes, placing tighter constraints on models to understand their thermodynamic evolution and potential role in the solar wind.

Optimizing Surface Hardness and Corrosion Resistance in 316L Stainless Steel via SMRT and Plasma Nitriding.

Increasing the mechanical strength of stainless steel is fundamental to expanding its applications and extending its useful life, especially due to its impressive corrosion resistance. However, many processes that make possible increasing the hardness and wear resistance of these steels also compromise their performance when they are subjected to corrosive environments. Because of the need to increase surface hardness without jeopardizing corrosion resistance, this study explores the impact of a surface mechanical rolling treatment (SMRT) with volumetric reductions of 50% and 70%, together with high-temperature plasma nitriding (PN) (450, 500, and 550 °C), on 316L steel. X-ray diffraction analysis analyzed the composition and structure of the resulting coatings. Mechanical strength was assessed using Vickers microhardness, while corrosion resistance was tested in a 3.5%-by-weight NaCl solution. The results indicate a substantial increase in surface hardness in all of the nitrided samples. Notably, the samples were subjected to rolling with 50% and 70% volumetric reduction, and subsequent nitriding at 550 °C showed a reduced impairment of corrosion resistance. This shows that the methodology adopted in this study, consisting of SMRT and PN, can increase the useful life and expand the applicability of stainless steels commonly used in various industry sectors.

Spectroscopic analysis of tungsten spectra in extreme-ultraviolet range of 10-480 Å observed from EAST tokamak with full tungsten divertor

Tungsten spectra in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelength range of 10-480 Å have been observed from high-temperature plasmas in Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) with full tungsten divertor using four fast-time-response EUV spectrometers of EUV_Short (5-45 Å), EUV_Long_a (40–180 Å), EUV_Long_c (130–330 Å) and EUV_Long_b (270–480 Å) and two space-resolved EUV spectrometers of EUV_Short2_d (45–70 Å) and EUV_Long2_d (40–130 Å). The wavelength of measured spectra is accurately calibrated based on several well-known spectral lines emitted from low-Z (He, Li, C, N and O), medium-Z (Fe and Cu) and high-Z (Mo) impurity ions. Measurements of the tungsten spectra were taken from discharges accompanied with a transient tungsten burst event, which creates a pulsed influx of tungsten atoms into the EAST plasma. The tungsten spectra observed before and after the burst event are carefully analyzed with temporal behavior and radial profile distribution of the tungsten line intensity. As a result, 213 tungsten lines are successfully confirmed in the spectra observed after the tungsten burst, and the results are summarized in tables. These tungsten lines include line identifications of 78 lines of W XXIII - W XLVI (W22+ - W45+) at 10–140 Å and 88 lines of W V - W IX (W4+ - W8+) at 160–480 Å, while 47 tungsten lines at 50–380 Å could not be clarified the transition. In addition, quasi-continuum spectra called unresolved transition array (UTA) from tungsten ions in low- and high-ionization stages are also analyzed in three wavelength ranges of 18–38 Å, 45–70 Å and 150–280 Å at which W XXIII - W XXXVIII (W22+ - W37+), W XXVII - W XLVI (W26+ - W45+) and W VI—W IX (W5+ - W8+) are dominantly emitted, respectively. Through the analysis it is found that charge state distributions of tungsten UTA at 140–220 Å significantly vary with decrease in the electron temperature. Ionization stages of all observed tungsten lines including both isolated and quasi-continuum lines are experimentally reconfirmed by comparing the radial intensity profile with the electron temperature profile. Finally, spectral lines useful for tungsten diagnostic in fusion plasmas are selected and marked in the tables.

Separating states in astronomical sources using hidden Markov models: with a case study of flaring and quiescence on EV Lac

ABSTRACT We present a new method to distinguish between different states (e.g. high and low, quiescent and flaring) in astronomical sources with count data. The method models the underlying physical process as latent variables following a continuous-space Markov chain that determines the expected Poisson counts in observed light curves in multiple passbands. For the underlying state process, we consider several autoregressive processes, yielding continuous-space hidden Markov models of varying complexity. Under these models, we can infer the state that the object is in at any given time. The continuous state predictions from these models are then dichotomized with the help of a finite mixture model to produce state classifications. We apply these techniques to X-ray data from the active dMe flare star EV Lac, splitting the data into quiescent and flaring states. We find that a first-order vector autoregressive process efficiently separates flaring from quiescence: flaring occurs over 30 per cent–40 per cent of the observation durations, a well-defined persistent quiescent state can be identified, and the flaring state is characterized by higher plasma temperatures and emission measures.

Fast determination of thermal conductivity of aluminum alloy by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Abstract The matrix thermal properties are closely linked to laser-induced plasma, because it is the heat effect predominantly governs the process when the nanosecond-pulsed laser acting on the material, particularly in metallic materials. In the study using a series of pure metal samples, We detected a substantial inverse linear relationship linking the matrix’s thermal storage coefficient of the material to the temperature of the plasma. This discovery reveals that metals exhibiting reduced thermal conductivity or lower specific heat capacity necessitate a smaller amount of laser energy to achieve thermal spreading and to facilitate the transitions to the melted and vaporized states, which consequently results in a higher rate of material removal and higher plasma temperatures. Based on this correlation, a prediction model for the thermal conductivity of aluminum alloys has been developed, employing LIBS technique as analysis method, alongside PLS regression, with a relative error of below 1.5%. It presents a pioneering technique for the swift evaluation of thermal conductivity in aluminum alloys.

High-n Rydberg transition spectroscopy for heavy impurity transport studies in W7-X (invited).

Here, we present a novel spectroscopy approach to investigate impurity transport by analyzing line-radiation following high-n Rydberg transitions. While high-n Rydberg states of impurity ions are unlikely to be populated via impact excitation, they can be accessed by charge exchange (CX) reactions along the neutral beams in high-temperature plasmas. Hence, localized radiation of highly ionized impurities, free of passive contributions, can be observed at multiple wavelengths in the visible range. For the analysis and modeling of the observed Rydberg transitions, a technique for calculating effective emission coefficients is presented that can well reproduce the energy dependence seen in datasets available on the OPEN-ADAS database. By using the rate coefficients and comparing modeling results with the new high-n Rydberg CX measurements, impurity transport coefficients are determined with well-documented 2σ confidence intervals for the first time. This demonstrates that high-n Rydberg spectroscopy provides important constraints on the determination of impurity transport coefficients. By additionally considering Bolometer measurements, which provide constraints on the overall impurity emissivity and, therefore, impurity densities, error bars can be reduced even further.

Obtaining frequency-time diagram from perturbation signal-time diagram

Abstract In the field of nuclear fusion energy development, magnetic confinement tokamak reactors, which use strong magnetic fields to confine high-temperature plasmas, are crucial for sustainable and clean fusion energy. Disruption caused by plasma instability can terminate the fusion reaction and even cause irreparable damage to the equipment. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms is essential for predicting and preventing plasma disruption. The recently proposed analytical theory of plasma disruption may predict and prevent plasma disruption, but its validation requires the frequency-time signals. The Heavy Ion Beam Probe (HIBP) can provide such signals, however, because its scarcity in the world, particularly in China, it is necessary to develop more suitable methods. Here we show a new approach that employs Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) on magnetic perturbation signals to obtain frequency-time diagrams. We successfully applied this algorithm to acquire the frequency-time diagram of the J-TEXT-1054560 discharge. This new method offers an effective tool for validating the plasma disruption theory, overcoming the limitations of traditional techniques and providing a crucial methodological basis for understanding and predicting plasma disruption. This new analytical approach will accelerate the advancement of fusion technology.

Enhanced plasma performance in C-2W advanced beam-driven field-reversed configuration experiments

TAE Technologies’ fifth-generation fusion device, C-2W (also called ‘Norman’), is the world’s largest compact-toroid device and has made significant progress in field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma performance. C-2W produces record breaking, macroscopically stable, high-temperature advanced beam-driven FRC plasmas, dominated by injected fast particles and sustained in steady state, which is primarily limited by neutral-beam (NB) pulse duration. The NB power supply system has recently been upgraded to extend the pulse length from 30 ms to 40 ms, which allows for a longer plasma lifetime and thus better characterization and further enhancement of FRC performance. An active plasma control system is routinely used in C-2W to produce consistent FRC performance as well as for reliable machine operations using magnet coils, edge-biasing electrodes, gas injection and tunable-energy NBs. Google’s machine learning framework for experimental optimization has also been routinely used to enhance plasma performance. Dedicated plasma optimization experimental campaigns, particularly focused on the external magnetic field profile and NB injection (NBI) optimizations, have produced a superior FRC plasma performance; for instance, achieving a total plasma energy of ∼13 kJ, a trapped poloidal magnetic flux of ∼16 mWb (based on the rigid-rotor model) and plasma sustainment in steady state up to ∼40 ms. Furthermore, under some operating conditions, the electron temperature of FRC plasmas at a quiescent phase has successfully reached up to ∼1 keV at the peak inside the FRC separatrix for the first time. The overall FRC performance is well correlated with the NB and edge-biasing systems, where higher total plasma energy is obtained with higher NBI power and applied voltage on biasing electrodes. C-2W operations have now reached a mature level where the machine can produce hot, stable, long-lived, and repeatable plasmas in a well-controlled manner.

Beam Optics Analysis for the 120-keV Multiaperture Accelerator of Neutral Beam Injector

Neutral beam injection is an important auxiliary heating method for magnetic confinement nuclear fusion. To further optimize the steady-state operation of the high-temperature plasma in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a higher beam energy is required for the high-power, long-pulse neutral beam injection system. The most critical technology to achieve this goal is the upgrade of the ion source accelerator. This paper analyzes the beam optics of the multiaperture accelerator for the extraction of a deuterium ion beam of 120 keV/50 A with a divergence angle of less than 1 deg root-mean-square. The effects of the number of grids, shapes of plasma grids (PGs), grid gaps, voltage ratio, and plasma parameters on beam optics were assessed by numerical simulation. The results allowed optimization of the PG shape; they also indicated that the tetrode configuration can reduce the beam divergence angle effectively while the triode configuration can extract a higher current. These conclusions provide guiding significance for the selection and parameter design of the EAST neutral beam injector ion positive source with a 120-keV accelerator.

Wigner Function Method for Describing Electromagnetic Field in Plasma-Like Media with Spatial Dispersion and Resonant Dissipation

The paper gives a systematic presentation of the Wigner function method (Weyl formalism) for modeling the propagation and absorption of electromagnetic waves in anisotropic and gyrotropic dissipative media with spatial dispersion. A general kinetic equation for the Wigner function (tensor) is formulated, and its asymptotic expansion up to the second order for smoothly inhomogeneous and weakly dissipative media is constructed. As a result, a modification of the method of the kinetic equation for rays is proposed, based on the stochastic description of rays, making it possible to increase the accuracy of numerical modeling of wave problems with strong transverse inhomogeneity of the absorption coefficient without increasing the amount of calculations. The technique developed can be used to describe the propagation, absorption, and scattering of electron-cyclotron waves in high-temperature plasma of magnetic traps for controlled fusion in cases where standard modeling methods do not provide the necessary accuracy.

Exploring the physics of a high-performance H-mode scenario with small ELMs at low collisionality in JET with Be/W wall

A new H-mode regime at low density and low edge safety factor (q 95 = 3.2, with Ip = 3 MA) that combines high energy confinement, stationary conditions for density and radiation and small Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) have been found in JET with Be/W wall. Such a regime is achieved by operating without external gas puffing, leading to a decrease in the edge density and a substantial increase in rotation and ion temperature in both the pedestal and the core region. Transport modelling shows a reduction of the turbulence, which starts in the pedestal region and extends into the plasma core, and outward impurity convection, consistent with the improved energy confinement and the lack of W accumulation observed in those conditions. In addition, large type I ELMs, typically found in gas-fuelled plasmas, are replaced by smaller and more frequent ELMs, whose appearance is correlated with a substantial reduction of the pedestal density and its gradient. Pedestals in this operating regime are stable to peeling–ballooning modes, consistent with the lack of large ELMs. This is in contrast to results in unfuelled JET-C plasmas that typically operated at higher pedestal densities and developed low frequency, large type I ELMs, thus pointing to the low density as one of the critical parameters for accessing this small ELMs regime in JET. This small ELMs regime exhibits the same low pedestal collisionality ( νe,ped∗∼0.1 ) expected in ITER and operates at low q 95, thus making it different from other small ELMs regimes that are typically obtained at higher q 95 and higher pedestal collisionality. These features make this newly developed H-mode regime in JET with Be/W wall a valuable tool for exploring the underlying transport, the different mechanisms of turbulence stabilization, as well as the physics associated with the appearance of small ELMs in high-temperature plasmas at ITER relevant pedestal collisionality.

Comparison between EAST and ITER tokamak

This paper provides an overview of nuclear fusion, which is considered as an ideal energy source for the future, with emphasis on its theoretical foundation and tokamak device. In nuclear fusion, the mass of products is always less than the mass of reactants, and this mass defect is converted into enormous released energy. Scientists have proposed several ideas to reach such extreme conditions for nuclear fusion. Among these concepts, the tokamak device which uses magnetic fields to generate heat and confine high temperature plasma is probably the most promising one. Over the last half century, with the unremitting endeavor of building and operation a series of international tokamak projects, magnetic confinement fusion has made a lot of satisfactory successes. In this paper, two representative tokamak devices are discussed, which are International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), about their major difference and similarities between them. ITER is constructed with the cooperation of many countries, and it is the largest tokamak project which targets to prove nuclear fusion is commercially feasible. EAST is another tokamak device which is located in China and made great achievements of magnetic confinement nuclear fusion, such as the record-breaking plasma temperature.

Design, preparation and firing characterization of PCB-EBW

Exploding Bridge Wire (EBW) is a special actuator that drives high-temperature and high-pressure plasma. To address the issues of low efficiency and high cost in the preparation process of EBW detonators, an EBW chip based on Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technology was designed and studied. By utilizing a specially designed "S"-shaped transition region and using copper (Cu) as the bridge wire material, the PCB method has enabled batch production of the PCB-EBW device. Four different types of PCB-EBW chips were constructed by designing bridge wires of varying lengths. Subsequently, electro-thermal simulations, electrical explosion performance studies, and shock wave simulations were conducted on the PCB-EBW. It is inferred from the research findings that the main factor triggering the explosive detonation of the PCB-EBW chip is the coupling effect between the high-temperature plasma generated by the electrical explosion and the electrical explosion shock wave. The speculation on the working mechanism of the PCB-EBW was validated by igniting PETN, with the minimum firing voltage determined to be 550 V (for a bridge wire length of 200 μm). This novel EBW design expands the application prospects and provides new insights into the mechanism of EBW for future research.

Microstructure and high-temperature tribological behaviours of nano-HfC reinforced Inconel 625 composite coating by plasma-transferred arc welding

The study involved plasma arc transfer welding (PTAW) for preparing coatings of Inconel 625 alloys that contained different amounts of nano-sized hafnium carbide (nano-HfC) particles. The impact of nano-HfC on the microstructure evolution and mechanical properties of PTAWed Inconel 625 were investigated. The research reveals that nano-HfC decomposes during the high-temperature plasma arc process and then react with O element to generate nano-HfO2. These HfO2 can serve as nucleation sites for MC carbides, which restricts the growth of secondary dendrite arms, leading to a more disordered grain growth direction. Simultaneously, the decomposition of HfC can increase the C/Nb ratio of the matrix, effectively suppressing Laves phase formation while encouraging the development of MC carbides. Compared with IN625, the wear rate of composites at room temperature and 600 °C were decreased. Notably, at 600 °C, the wear rate of the coating with 0.5 wt% HfC is the lowest among all the samples, as reflected by a noteworthy reduction in wear rate of 50 %. This is mainly attributed to the refinement of γ matrix, reduction of Laves phase as well as precipitation of the fine-sized MC carbides. This work illustrates that adding nano-HfC is an effective way to improve the wear resistance of the PTAWed Inconel 625.

An Experimental Investigation On The Effect Of Laser Energy Deposition In An Over-Expanded Jet

The shock train structure of a supersonic over-expanded jet is the product of the interaction between the jet flow at the nozzle exit and the ambient environment. Although the effect of flow disturbances on the performance of the supersonic inlets has been studied in detail, a limited understanding of the shock train dynamics subject to flow disturbances is available for over-expanded jets. This experimental investigation focuses on understanding the influence of perturbations due to short-duration energy deposition on the shock train structure and its dynamics in an axisymmetric over-expanded Mach 2.52 jet. The flow is perturbed by laser-induced breakdown, creating a shock wave and a high-temperature plasma zone in the shock train. A high-speed self-aligning focusing schlieren system is used to visualize the flow structure variations by measuring the shock angles and Mach disk height and width to characterize the shock train dynamics and the flow structure recovery process. The response of jet flow to the perturbation at the nozzle exit and the pre-reflection point is found to be similar, however, the response of the supersonic jet to the post-reflection energy deposition is significantly different. The damping ratio for the pre-reflection point and nozzle exit cases found are nearly constant for all scenarios whereas it is linearly dependent on the jet chamber pressure for the post-reflection cases. The frequency of the oscillations is found to be the same for all cases and irrespective of the chamber pressure, laser energy, and deposition location, approximately 10 kHz. The transition from Mach to regular reflection and vice versa are observed at a chamber pressure of Pc = 689 kPa. Any perturbation to the shock structure of a supersonic over-expanding jet at close to the steady-state bifurcation condition between Mach and regular reflection will exhibit Mach-to-regular transition or vice versa.