Initial Plasma Density Research Articles

Decay characteristic of gas arc in C4F7N/N2 and C4F7N/CO2 gas mixture by Thomson scattering

Abstract C4F7N/N2 and C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures are considered potential alternative gases to SF6, and it is of particular significance to investigate the plasma decay process in these mixtures for evaluating their circuit breaker breaking performance. To comprehend the decay process of electron density(ne) in arc plasma within C4F7N/N2 and C4F7N/CO2 gas mixtures, an arc-generating circuit and a Thomson scattering experiment platform were established. Through coherent Thomson scattering diagnosis of gas arc plasma under various gas mixture conditions, a series of electron density results over time and space were obtained. The findings suggest that the initial electron density of the arc plasma diminishes with an increase in the proportion of C4F7N, and electron density decay is further accelerated as the proportion of C4F7N increases. Moreover, it was observed that the electron density decay rate is higher in the C4F7N/N2 mixture compared to the C4F7N/CO2 mixture. Notably, the electron decay rate in a 50% C4F7N/N2 mixture closely resembles that observed in pure SF6.

Generation of the vortex terahertz radiation by the interaction of two-color Laguerre–Gaussian laser with plasmas in the presence of a static magnetic field

The generation of vortex terahertz (THz) radiation by the interaction of a two-color Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) laser with plasmas under an external magnetic field is investigated theoretically and numerically. It is found that the vortex THz radiation with good monoenergetic properties can be generated successfully, and the orbital angular momentum of the LG lasers can be transferred to the radiation. In this scheme, the external magnetic field can not only enhance the intensity but can also break the spatial distribution symmetry of the vortex THz radiation. With the increase in the initial plasma density, the intensity of the vortex THz radiation increases significantly before reaching saturation and the spatial period of the radiation decreases, which indicates the monoenergetic peak of the vortex THz radiation can be well controlled through the initial plasma density. The relevant conclusions are verified by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

Hysteresis between gas breakdown and plasma discharge

In direct-current (DC) discharge, it is well known that hysteresis is observed between the Townsend (gas breakdown) and glow regimes. Forward and backward voltage sweep is performed using a one-dimensional particle-in-cell Monte Carlo collision (PIC-MCC) model considering a ballast resistor. When increasing the applied voltage after reaching the breakdown voltage (Vb), transition from Townsend to glow discharges is observed. When decreasing the applied voltage from the glow regime, the discharge voltage (Vd) between the anode–cathode gap can be smaller than the breakdown voltage, resulting in a hysteresis, which is consistent with experimental observations. Next, the PIC-MCC model is used to investigate the self-sustaining voltage (Vs) in the presence of finite initial plasma densities between the anode and cathode gap. It is observed that the self-sustaining voltage coincides with the discharge voltage obtained from the backward voltage sweep. In addition, the self-sustaining voltage decreases with increased initial plasma density and saturates above a certain initial plasma density, which indicates a change in plasma resistivity. The decrease in self-sustaining voltage is associated with the electron heat loss at the anode for the low pd (rarefied) regime. In the high pd (collisional) regime, the ion energy loss toward the cathode due to the cathode fall and the inelastic collision loss of electrons in the bulk discharge balance out. Finally, it is demonstrated that the self-sustaining voltage collapses to a singular value, despite the presence of a initial plasma, for microgaps when field emission is dominant, which is also consistent with experimental observations.

Improved numerical simulation model for nuclear reaction rate calculations in high-speed plasma collisions

Beam–target reactions in fusion plasmas play an important role in both magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion in the condition of low-density plasmas with high-velocity interactions. The traditional method for calculating beam–target reaction rate neglects the transport process of incident particles in inhomogeneous plasmas, leading to errors providing that the temperature and density in the transport path of incident particles vary obviously. An improved method considering the transport process is proposed in this paper to eliminate the deficiencies. Then the method is employed in high-speed plasma collision studies. When the initial plasma density and temperature are set to $0.5\,{\rm g}\,{\rm cm}^{-3}$ and 100 eV, it is found that the beam–target reaction rate calculated by the traditional method is almost identical to that by our method if the collision velocity is less than 600 km s $^{-1}$ . However, the traditional method is not suitable for study as the collision velocity gets higher, inducing obvious differences, which can reach 70 % at 1000 km s $^{-1}$ . The improved method will make large corrections to evaluate the importance of the non-negligible beam–target reaction for inertial confinement fusion schemes with large implosion velocity such as double-cone ignition and impact ignition, in which the high-speed plasmas collide with each other to realize plasma ignition.

Temporal evolution of the light emitted by a thin, laser-ionized plasma source

We present an experimental and simulation-based investigation of the temporal evolution of light emission from a thin, laser-ionized helium plasma source. We demonstrate an analytic model to calculate the approximate scaling of the time-integrated, on-axis light emission with the initial plasma density and temperature, supported by the experiment, which enhances the understanding of plasma light measurement for plasma wakefield accelerator (PWFA) plasma sources. Our model simulates the plasma density and temperature using a split-step Fourier code and a particle-in-cell code. A fluid simulation is then used to model the plasma and neutral density, and the electron temperature as a function of time and position. We then show the numerical results of the space-and-time-resolved light emission and that collisional excitation is the dominant source of light emission. We validate our model by measuring the light emitted by a laser-ionized plasma using a novel statistical method capable of resolving the nanosecond-scale temporal dynamics of the plasma light using a cost-effective camera with microsecond-scale timing jitter. This method is ideal for deployment in the high radiation environment of a particle accelerator that precludes the use of expensive nanosecond-gated cameras. Our results show that our models can effectively simulate the dynamics of a thin, laser-ionized plasma source. In addition, this work provides a detailed understanding of the plasma light measurement, which is one of the few diagnostic signals available for the direct measurement of PWFA plasma sources.

Wavefront distortion and compensation for weakly relativistic vortex beams propagating in plasma

The propagation of electromagnetic wave in plasma is one of the long-standing concerns in the field of laser plasma, and it is closely related to the researches of radiation source generation, particle acceleration, and inertial confinement fusion. Recently, the proposal of various schemes for generating intense vortex beams has led to an increasing number of researchers focusing on the interaction between intense vortex beams and plasmas, resulting in significant research progress in various areas, such as particle acceleration, high-order harmonic generation, quasi-static self-generated magnetic fields, and parametric instability. Compared with traditional Gaussian beams, vortex beams, featuring their hollow amplitudes and helical phases, can exhibit novel phenomena during propagating through plasma. In this work, we primarily focus on studying the influence of the propagation process on the wave structure of vortex beams before filamentation occurs. The three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that weakly relativistic vortex beams exhibit wavefront distortion during their propagation in plasma. The distortion degree is closely related to the intensity of the electromagnetic wave and the propagation distance for a given plasma density. This phenomenon is theoretically explained by using a phase correction model that considers the relativistic mass correction of electrons. Additionally, we demonstrate that the wavefront distortion can be compensated for and suppressed by appropriately modulating the initial plasma density, as confirmed by three-dimensional particle simulations. The results of decomposing the wavefront into Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) mode components indicate that the wavefront distortion is primarily caused by high-order <i>p</i> LG modes, and it is independent of other <i>l</i> LG modes. Additionally, we extend the present investigation to the propagation of vortex beams in axially magnetized plasma, where the phase correction model can also effectively explain the occurrence of wavefront distortion. Our work can deepen the understanding of the interaction between plasma and strong vortex beams, and provide some valuable references for designing plasma devices serving as the manipulation of intense vortex beams in future research.

On the impact of short laser pulses on cold diluted plasmas

We analytically study the impact of a (possibly, very intense) short laser pulse onto an inhomogeneous cold diluted plasma at rest, in particular: the duration of the hydrodynamic regime; the formation and the features of plasma waves (PWs); their wave-breakings (WBs); the motion of test electrons injected in the PWs.If the pulse is a plane wave travelling in the z-direction, and the initial plasma density (IPD) depends only on z, then suitable matched bounds on the maximum and relative variations of the IPD, as well as the intensity and duration of the pulse, ensure a strictly hydrodynamic evolution of the electron fluid during its whole interaction with the pulse, while ions can be regarded as immobile. This evolution is ruled by a family (parametrized by Z≥0) of decoupled systems of non-autonomous Hamilton equations with 1 degree of freedom, which determine how electrons initially located in the layer Z≤z<Z+dZ move; ξ=ct−z replaces time t as the independent variable. This family of ODEs is obtained by reduction from the Lorentz–Maxwell and continuity PDEs for the electrons’ fluid within the spacetime region where the change of the pulse is negligible. After the laser–plasma interaction the Jacobian of the map from Lagrangian to Eulerian coordinates is linear-quasi-periodic in ξ. We determine spacetime locations and features of the first wave-breakings of the wakefield PWs, the motion of test electrons (self-)injected in the PWs. The energy of those trapped in a single PW trough grows linearly with the distance gone, where the IPD is constant.If the pulse has cylindrical symmetry and a not too small radius, the same conclusions hold for the part of the plasma enclosed within the causal cone swept by it.This computationally light approach may help in a preliminary study of extreme acceleration mechanisms of electrons (LWFA, etc.), before 2D or 3D PIC simulations.

Effects of initial ion velocity, magnetic field and plasma density profiles in simulating the plasma plume in a Hall thruster

Effects of initial ion velocity, magnetic field and plasma density profiles in simulating the plasma plume in a Hall thruster

PLASMA AND MAGNETIC FIELD DYNAMICS IN POS: PIC SIMULATIONS

2D3V particle in cell computer simulations for plasma, magnetic field and current density spatio-temporal dynamics in plasma opening switch (POS) are presented for various initial plasma densities. The current channel formation in the POS’s plasma, its passage through the plasma bridge, and its destruction at the boundary of the plasma jumper are studied. It is shown, that during the penetration of the magnetic field into the POS's plasma and current channel formation, electron vortices are excited. The passage speed of the POS's plasma by vortices decreases with increasing plasma density, which is qualitatively consistent with estimates based on classical electron magnetohydrodynamics (EMHD).

Hydrodynamic Impacts of Short Laser Pulses on Plasmas

We determine conditions allowing for simplification of the description of the impact of a short and arbitrarily intense laser pulse onto a cold plasma at rest. If both the initial plasma density and pulse profile have plane symmetry, then suitable matched upper bounds on the maximum and the relative variations of the initial density, as well as on the intensity and duration of the pulse, ensure a strictly hydrodynamic evolution of the electron fluid without wave-breaking or vacuum-heating during its whole interaction with the pulse, while ions can be regarded as immobile. We use a recently developed fully relativistic plane model whereby the system of the Lorentz–Maxwell and continuity PDEs is reduced into a family of highly nonlinear but decoupled systems of non-autonomous Hamilton equations with one degree of freedom, the light-like coordinate ξ=ct−z instead of time t as an independent variable, and new a priori estimates (eased by use of a Liapunov function) of the solutions in terms of the input data (i.e., the initial density and pulse profile). If the laser spot radius R is finite and is not too small, the same conclusions hold for the part of the plasma close to the axis z→ of cylindrical symmetry. These results may help in drastically simplifying the study of extreme acceleration mechanisms of electrons.

Simulation on formation process of field-reversed configuration

Collisional-merging is a way to form high-performance field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma. An experiment device named HUST-FRC (HFRC) is under construction in Huazhong University of Science and Technology, which will be used to investigate the FRC formation through collisionalmerging. In this research, a magnetohydrodynamics simulation software called USim is used to study the effect of the initial density of plasma, the amplitude of the bias magnetic field, the configuration of the bias field, the rise time of the main field and the magnetic field ripple on the plasma parameters to facilitate the design and operation of HFRC. Preliminary simulation results show that cusp configuration, lower ripple, higher initial density, an initial bias field of −0.15 T or −0.2 T, and a rise time of 4 μs are conducive to the formation of high-performance FRC plasma in the HFRC device.

On the effect of stimulated raman scattering on THz radiation in the laser plasma interactions

In present study, two-dimensional Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations are used to investigate the interaction of ultrashort high-power laser pulses with an under-dense plasma medium. The results of the numerical simulations are followed by some mathematical procedures to obtain the terahertz electric field and the growth rates of the Stimulated Raman Forward (RFS) and Backward Scattering (RBS). The influences of incident laser pulse intensity and initial plasma density are examined on RFS and RBS instabilities and their consequent effects on the characteristics of THz radiation generation. It is seen that at the lower initial plasma densities i.e. 0.0001nc, the larger laser intensities will lead to more broadband and intense THz signals. Where nc=1.74 × 1027m−3 is known as critical plasma density corresponding to the laser pulse frequency. On the other hand, at the higher plasma densities, i.e., 0.0026nc, due to the instabilities growth, the effects of higher laser pulse intensities on the THz emission are insignificant. While for all the considered plasma densities and incident laser intensities, RBS inevitably affects the THz generation, RFS starts to grow for the initial plasma densities of n0=0.0026nc at the incident laser intensities higher than 1 × 1015Wcm−2. Hence, a higher bound is established on the pump intensity which is based on the RFS growth initiation. Thus, to achieve a stable THz signal for the initial plasma density of n0=0.0026nc (4.5 × 1018 cm−3), the incident laser intensity needs to be less than 1 × 1016Wcm−2.

MAGNETIC FIELD DYNAMICS IN PLASMA OPENING SWITCH

Computer simulations for magnetic field penetration into plasma of plasma opening switch (POS), and current loop formation in it are presented for various initial plasma densities, currents, and POS geometries. It is shown that the current loop dynamics in the POS is determined by the fast magnetic field penetration in plasma due to the Hall effect. The strong dependence of the current loop longitudinal velocity on the transverse coordinate, together with the influence of the boundary conditions at the POS cathode and anode, lead to the formation of the narrow S-shaped current loop even in a homogeneous plasma. It is shown that the control parameters influencing the dynam-ics of the magnetic field and the motion of the current loop in the POS are the initial plasma density, driving current and cathode radius. The POS resistance is calculated for wide range of initial plasma densities, currents, and cath-ode radiuses. It is shown, that POS resistance is proportional to the total current, inversely proportional to plasma density, and is in the range 10-3…1 Ω for plasma densities 1012…1015 cm-3.

Dust dynamics during the plasma afterglow

The charge and dynamics of dust particles in an afterglow plasma are studied using a 1D model in the diffusion approximation, taking into account the transition from ambipolar to free diffusion. It is analyzed how external conditions (dust particle size, neutral gas pressure and initial electron density) affect the dust motion. The dust particle dynamics has been examined in microgravity conditions and in presence of gravity. Without gravity, the location of dust particles in plasma volume may change essentially during the afterglow if the dust size and pressure are small (⩽10 nm and ⩽30 mTorr, respectively). At small pressures, in the very beginning of afterglow, small nanoparticles move to the plasma boundary because the ion drag force dominates over the electric force. At afterglow times when the electron temperature becomes time-independent, the ion drag force decreases faster with time than the electric force due to the ion density decrease, and dust particles may move to the slab center. In presence of gravity, the effect of gravity force on dust particles is important only at large afterglow times (t ⩾ 10 ms), when the electric and ion drag forces are small. The dust dynamics depends essentially on the initial plasma density. If the density is large (∼1012 cm−3), small nanoparticles (⩽10 nm) may deposit on plasma walls in the beginning of plasma afterglow because of an enhancement of the ion drag force.

Research on the current-zero period of vacuum arc interruption and equivalent model of post-arc gap

In this paper, the current breaking experiments of vacuum interrupter are conducted and the waveforms of voltage and current are obtained. The results show that there is current instability phenomenon when the value of is low and the value of instability-initiation current decreases as the value of increases. The number of voltage spikes will also decrease and irregular oscillation will weaken. According to the experimental results and theoretical analysis, the ‘memory characteristic’ of plasma is proposed and a new mathematical model of post-arc initial plasma density is estabilished which will provides a new method for the calculation of the sheath growth. The equivalent circuit model of post-arc gap is established to analyze the transient recovery voltage. The equivalent parameters in the circuit are obtained by the calculation of sheath growth and plasma density and verified by comparison with measurements. Through the comparison of experimental results between the axial magnetic field (AMF) contact and the butt contact, the effects of AMF on post-arc plasma density and sheath growth are analyzed. The results show that AMF can make the post-arc plasma density higher and the sheath growth slower.

Optimized window to produce ultra-intense and ultra-compressed laser pulses by Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

We propose a theoretical model to produce ultra-intense and ultra-compressed laser pulses based on Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS) process. The amplification of laser pulses via Brillouin amplification process is obtained when three waves (two transverse electromagnetic waves and a longitudinal plasma wave) couple in the plasma when resonance condition for energy (frequency ω) and momentum (wave-vector k) is satisfied. Counter propagating seed pulse takes energy from laser pulse when they interact with each other via the process of stimulated Brillouin scattering and finally it gets amplified and compressed. We optimize the parameters (like initial plasma density, initial laser pulse intensity, interaction time, wave breaking time, fillamentation time etc.) for SBS compression and amplification to obtain high intensity laser pulse. This optimized window exactly match with the simulation results reported by Weber et al. [1]. Due to strong SBS within the optimum parametric window, one can develop compact plasma-based amplifier, which can produce high intensity short laser pulse. This technique offers damage less amplification of laser pulses. The amplification and compression ratio obtained in this model are 94 and 30, respectively. These intensities can be used as seed intensities to obtain Zetta watt laser pulses using C-3 (Cascade, Conversion and Compression) technique reported by Mourou et al. [2].

Tunable optical bistability at microwave frequency based on 1D sandwich photonic structure consisting of a nonlinear dielectric slab and two magnetized cold plasma layers

In this paper, tunable optical bistability that denotes the relationship between input intensity and output intensity is numerically investigated in the microwave frequency region based on the one-dimensional (1D) sandwich photonic structure consisting of a Kerr-type nonlinear material slab and two magnetized cold plasma layers. Results show that, in the case of TM-polarized electromagnetic wave, width and switching thresholds of the bistability loops are dependent on the working frequency, initial incidence angle, layer thickness, plasma density, and external magnetic field, which should be judiciously selected to obtain a required bistability behavior. Compared to the case of switch-down threshold, the switch-up threshold in the bistability loop is more sensitive to the changes of parameters. Through this study, the suggested 1D sandwich photonic structure is beneficial to the all-optical signal processing.

Coalescence instability in chromospheric partially ionized plasmas

Fast magnetic reconnection plays a fundamental role in driving explosive dynamics and heating in the solar chromosphere. The reconnection time scale of traditional models is shortened at the onset of the coalescence instability, which forms a turbulent reconnecting current sheet through plasmoid interaction. In this work we aim to investigate the role of partial ionisation on the development of fast reconnection through the study of the coalescence instability of plasmoids. Unlike the processes occurring in fully ionised coronal plasmas, relatively little is known about how fast reconnection develops in partially ionised plasmas of the chromosphere. We present 2.5D numerical simulations of coalescing plasmoids in a single fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model, and a two-fluid model of a partially ionised plasma (PIP). We find that in the PIP model, which has the same total density as the MHD model but an initial plasma density two orders of magnitude smaller, plasmoid coalescence is faster than the MHD case, following the faster thinning of the current sheet and secondary plasmoid dynamics. Secondary plasmoids form in the PIP model where the effective Lundquist number $S = 7.8 \cdot 10^3$, but are absent from the MHD case where $S = 9.7 \cdot 10^3$: these are responsible for a more violent reconnection. Secondary plasmoids also form in linearly stable conditions as a consequence of the non-linear dynamics of the neutrals in the inflow. In the light of these results we can affirm that two-fluid effects play a major role on the processes occurring in the solar chromosphere.

Numerical research on ion extraction with resonant charge exchange process

The electric ion extraction, which plays an important role in productivity and abundance of product, is a critical step in laser isotope separation (LIS) technology. Several collision processes happen during the electric ion extraction, such as resonant and non-resonant charge exchange between ion and atom, the secondary ionization process and the ion-electron recombination. The resonant charge exchange process between target isotope ions and no-target background atoms is one of the major reasons of product contamination. As a result, the study of ion extraction with the consideration of resonant charge exchange process is essential. However, the resonant charge exchange process in ion extraction has not received enough attention. Besides, contradictory findings have been deduced in published studies. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the effect of resonant charge exchange process in the electric ion extraction. In this article, the particle-in-cell (PIC) method and preprocessing hybrid-PIC method are adopted in both one- and two-dimensional numerical simulation. The preprocessing hybrid-PIC method is a calculation scheme by which accurate results can be obtained with less computational consumption. In this calculation scheme, the PIC method and hybrid-PIC method are used sequentially in different stages of ion extraction process. One-dimensional parallel type simulation cases are carried out under the circumstances of different initial plasma densities, applied voltages and background atom densities. The results show that the resonant charge exchange process happens in both shield layer and sheath layer. The ionic resonant charge exchange proportion in shield layer and sheath layer are related to the ion extraction time and average travel length in background vapor, respectively. Besides, they are proportional to the resonant charge exchange cross section and background atom density. And an empirical formula for deriving the resonant charge exchange ratio roughly is proposed. Two-dimensional simulations are carried out in four electrode configurations: parallel type, alternately biased parallel type, Π-type, and M-type. The extraction mechanisms are discussed and compared with each other. The simulation results show that M-type electrode configuration has the minimum resonant charge exchange ratio and extraction time among the configurations above. The results and conclusions provide an important reference for designing the LIS device.

Research on the Postarc Sheath Growth Process Considering the Plasma Motion and Distribution

In this article, the sheath growth of the vacuum circuit breaker and its initial conditions of the calculation are introduced. The images of cathode spots distribution and waveforms of postarc current under different frequencies are obtained by medium- to high-frequency current breaking experiments. The quantitative relationship of $D$ and $di/dt$ with the variation of current frequency $f$ and current amplitude $I_{m}$ is obtained by fitting the data. The reasons for the change of postarc current parameters are reasonably explained by the analysis of equivalent circuit and plasma movement process. Combined with the continuous transition model (CTM) and its initial calculation conditions, the influence of the cathode spots distribution diameter $D$ and $di/dt$ after the current zero crossing on the sheath growth is analyzed. An initial postarc plasma density calculation model which is suitable for each current frequency is proposed which makes the calculation of the sheath growth more accurate, especially when applied to medium- to high-frequency current conditions.