Vacuum Phase Research Articles

Work function measurements during plasma exposition at conditions relevant in negative ion sources for the ITER neutral beam injection

Cesium seeded sources for surface generated negative hydrogen ions are major components of neutral beam injection systems in future large-scale fusion experiments such as ITER. The stability and delivered current density depend highly on the work function during vacuum and plasma phases of the ion source. One of the most important quantities that affect the source performance is the work function. A modified photocurrent method was developed to measure the temporal behavior of the work function during and after cesium evaporation. The investigation of cesium exposed Mo and MoLa samples under ITER negative hydrogen ion based neutral beam injection relevant surface and plasma conditions showed the influence of impurities which result in a fast degradation when the plasma exposure or the cesium flux onto the sample is stopped. A minimum work function close to that of bulk cesium was obtained under the influence of the plasma exposition, while a significantly higher work function was observed under ITER-like vacuum conditions.

Holographic Multiquarks in the Quark-Gluon Plasma: A Review

We review the holographic multiquark states in the deconfined quark-gluon plasma. Nuclear matter can become deconfined by extremely high temperature and/or density. In the deconfined nuclear medium, bound states with colour degrees of freedom are allowed to exist. Using holographic approach, the binding energy and the screening length of the multiquarks can be calculated. Using the deconfined Sakai-Sugimoto model, the phase diagram of the multiquark phase, the vacuum phase, and the chiral-symmetric quark-gluon plasma can be obtained. Then we review the magnetic properties of the multiquarks and their phase diagrams. The multiquark phase is compared with the pure pion gradient, the magnetized vacuum, and the chiral-symmetric quark-gluon plasma phases. For moderate temperature and sufficiently large density at a fixed magnetic field, the mixed phase of multiquark and pion gradient is the most energetically preferred phase.

On the formation of anisotropic gold nanoparticles by sputtering onto a nitrile functionalised ionic liquid

Sputtering deposition of gold onto the 1-(butyronitrile)-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BCN)MI·N(Tf)(2) ionic liquid (IL) has generated colloidal and stable gold nanospheres (AuNS) and gold nanodisks (AuND) in a bimodal size distribution. Upon increasing the sputtering discharge voltage, three distinct phenomena were observed: (i) the mean diameter of both AuNS and AuND decreased; (ii) the population with lower diameters increased and (iii) the formation of AuND disappeared at voltages higher than 340 V. By dissolving the colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in isopropanol and dropping the product onto carbon-coated Cu grids, 2D and 3D superlattices tended to be formed, as observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Therefore, the formation of AuND is probably related to a strong interaction between sputtered Au atoms of low kinetic energy and the nitrile groups orientated to the vacuum phase of the IL surface, which drives the preferential anisotropic lateral growth.

Characterization of atom and ion-induced “internal” electron emission by thin film tunnel junctions

Highly excited charge carriers are released when single or multiply charged ions impinge on metal surfaces. While electron emission into the adjacent vacuum phase is well investigated, one has only limited knowledge about the transport of excited electrons or holes into the bulk of a metal. This shortcoming can be reduced by studying the transport of these excited carriers over buried tunnel barriers in thin film metal-insulator–metal devices. The internal barriers can be tuned by a tunnel voltage which makes the device to a balance for excited electrons and holes. With a simple theoretical model we derive the balance function of different tunnel barriers and show their feasibility for the characterization of particle induced electronic excitations on metal surfaces.

A geometric approach to CP violation: applications to the MCPMFV SUSY model

We analyze the constraints imposed by experimental upper limits on electric dipole moments (EDMs) within the Maximally CP- and Minimally Flavour-Violating (MCPMFV) version of the MSSM. Since the MCPMFV scenario has 6 non-standard CP-violating phases, in addition to the CP-odd QCD vacuum phase \theta_QCD, cancellations may occur among the CP-violating contributions to the three measured EDMs, those of the Thallium, neutron and Mercury, leaving open the possibility of relatively large values of the other CP-violating observables. We develop a novel geometric method that uses the small-phase approximation as a starting point, takes the existing EDM constraints into account, and enables us to find maximal values of other CP-violating observables, such as the EDMs of the Deuteron and muon, the CP-violating asymmetry in b --> s \gamma decay, and the B_s mixing phase. We apply this geometric method to provide upper limits on these observables within specific benchmark supersymmetric scenarios, including extensions that allow for a non-zero \theta_QCD.

Decontamination of viableStreptococcus mutansfrom orthodontic tungsten carbide debonding burs. Anin vitromicrobiological study

To investigate the effectiveness of currently recommended decontamination procedures on tungsten carbide debonding burs (TCDBs). In vitro microbiological study. St George's Hospital NHS Trust, UK. A total of 240 extracted tooth surfaces were bonded with orthodontic brackets, debonded to leave residual composite and artificially contaminated with Streptococcus mutans. Sterilized TCDBs in a slow handpiece were used to remove this composite before random allocation into one of six different decontamination groups of 40 burs each. These included a control group that was not decontaminated and a further five that underwent different methods of presterilization cleaning within the decontamination process (none, manual, ultrasonic, washer disinfector and enzyme soak) followed by sterilization in a vacuum phase autoclave at 134 degrees C for 3 min. The burs were placed in brain heart infusion (BHI) broths, incubated for 48 h. Following this the broths were inspected for turbidity and microbiological analysis was carried out to detect viable bacterial growth. Data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test for single ordered data. S. mutans was recovered from 39 out of 40 burs in the control group and no burs from the decontamination groups, which was statistically significant (P = 0.001). No differences were found between decontamination groups (P = 0.271). However, skin flora contamination was noted in 17 broths. The five methods of decontaminating TCDBs investigated in this study were effective in removing viable S. mutans. Other investigations are required to determine if TCDBs can be successfully cleaned of blood and protein residue prior reuse.

Decontamination procedures for tungsten carbide debonding burs: a cross‐sectional survey of hospital‐based orthodontic departments

To determine the current pattern of use and handling of tungsten carbide debonding burs (TCDBs) within UK hospital-based orthodontic departments. Cross-sectional survey. Questionnaires were sent to 217 departments within the UK and an overall response rate of 93% was achieved. Most hospital departments (68%) currently use TCDBs designed for a slow handpiece. Just over half (55%) discard their TCDBs after single-use, but only 24% adequately decontaminate new burs prior to initial use. Almost all those that reuse TCDBs decontaminate them in a sterilizer and carry out combinatorial presterilization cleaning. The most common methods are manual cleaning followed by an ultrasonic bath (26%) or washer-disinfector (15%); or alternatively, soaking of burs followed by manual cleaning (13%). For those departments that use only a single method, manual cleaning (29%) or a washer-disinfector (10%) are most common. In terms of sterilizing TCDBs, 58% used a vacuum phase autoclave and 13% a downward displacement. There is wide variation in the handling of TCDBs in UK hospital-based orthodontic departments. Decontamination of new TCDBs prior to initial use is carried out by less than a third of departments. Despite their classification as reusable devices, just over half discard TCDBs after single use. However, among those that do reuse TCDBs, almost all decontaminate them correctly.

Approximate kinetic quasiequilibrium distributions for intense beam propagation through a periodic focusing quadrupole lattice

The transverse dynamics of an intense charged particle beam propagating through a periodic quadrupole focusing lattice is described by the nonlinear Vlasov-Maxwell system of equations, where the propagation distances play the role of time. To determine matched-beam quasiequilibrium distribution functions, one needs to determine a dynamical invariant for the beam particles moving in the combined applied and self-generated fields. In this paper, a perturbative Hamiltonian transformation method is developed which is an expansion in the particle’s vacuum phase advance � � � � v=2� , treated as a small parameter, which is used to transform away the fast particle orbit oscillations and obtain the average Hamiltonian accurate to order � � 3 . The average Hamiltonian is an approximate invariant of the original system, and can be used to determine self-consistent beam quasiequilibrium solutions that are matched to the focusing channel. The equation determining the average self-field potential is derived for general boundary conditions by taking into account the average contribution of the charges induced on the boundary. It is shown for a cylindrical conducting boundary that the average self-field potential acquires an octupole component, which results in the average motion of some beam particles being nonintegrable and their trajectories chaotic. This chaotic behavior of the beam particles may significantly change the nature of the Landau damping (or growth) of collective excitations supported by an intense charged particle beam.

Conformational analysis of piperazine and piperidine analogs of GBR 12909: stochastic approach to evaluating the effects of force fields and solvent

Analogs of the flexible dopamine reuptake inhibitor, GBR 12909 (1), may have potential utility in the treatment of cocaine abuse. As a first step in the 3D-QSAR modeling of the dopamine transporter (DAT)/serotonin transporter (SERT) selectivity of these compounds, we carried out conformational analyses of two analogs of 1: a piperazine (2) and a related piperidine (3). Ensembles of conformers consisting of local minima on the potential energy surface of the molecule were generated in the vacuum phase and in implicit solvent by random search conformational analysis using the Tripos and MMFF94 force fields. Some differences were noted in the conformer populations due to differences in the treatment of the tertiary amine nitrogen and ether oxygen atom types by the force fields. The force fields also differed in their descriptions of internal rotation around the C(sp³)-O(sp³) bond proximal to the bisphenyl moiety. Molecular orbital calculations at the HF/6-31G(d) and B3LYP/6-31G(d) levels of C-O internal rotation in model compound (5), designed to model the effect of the proximity of the bisphenyl group on C-O internal rotation, showed a broad region of low energy between -60° to 60° with minima at both -60° and 30° and a low rotational barrier at 0°, in closer agreement with the MMFF94 results than the Tripos results. Molecular mechanics calculations on model compound (6) showed that the MMFF94 force field was much more sensitive than the Tripos force field to the effects of the bisphenyl moiety on C-O internal rotation.

Evolution of vacuum states and phase transitions in the two Higgs doublet model during cooling of the Universe

We consider the evolution of the ground state in the two Higgs doublet model during cooling down of the Universe after the big bang. Different regions in the space of free parameters of this model correspond to different sequences of thermal phase transitions. We discuss different paths of thermal evolution and corresponding evolution of physical properties of the system for different modern values of the parameters.

A level-set procedure for the design of electromagnetic metamaterials

Achieving negative permittivity and negative permeability signifies a key topic of research in the design of metamaterials. This paper introduces a level-set based topology optimization method, in which the interface between the vacuum and metal phases is implicitly expressed by the zero-level contour of a higher dimensional level-set function. Following a sensitivity analysis, the optimization maximizes the objective based on the normal direction of the level-set function and induced current flow, thereby generating the desirable patterns of current flow on metal surface. As a benchmark example, the U-shaped structure and its variations are obtained from the level-set topology optimization. Numerical examples demonstrate that both negative permittivity and negative permeability can be attained.

Long ball-milling of bcc-FeCr at different injected powers: Amorphization and partial crystallization

The structural changes induced by long ball-milling of the α-FeCr bcc phase in vacuum in a vibratory Fritsch P0 mill at two different amplitudes, were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. In previous studies we showed that amorphization is an intrinsic phenomenon which occurs when grinding alpha and sigma phases of near-equiatomic FeCr alloys. With long periods of milling at different injected powers, we observe a phenomenon of amorphization-partial crystallization-amorphization which is reminiscent of the cyclic amorphization-crystallization phenomenon that takes place in various ball-milled alloys.

Adiabatic formation of a matched-beam distribution for an alternating-gradient quadrupole lattice

The formation of a quasiequilibrium beam distribution matched to an alternating-gradient quadrupole focusing lattice by means of the adiabatic turn-on of the oscillating focusing field is studied numerically using particle-in-cell simulations. Quiescent beam propagation over several hundred lattice periods is demonstrated for a broad range of beam intensities and vacuum phase advances describing the strength of the oscillating focusing field. Properties of the matched-beam distribution are investigated. In particular, self-similar evolution of the beam density profile is observed over a wide range of system parameters. The numerical simulations are performed using the WARP particle-in-cell code.

Exotic multi-quark states in the deconfined phase from gravity dual models

In the deconfined phase of quark-gluon plasma, it seems that most of the quarks, antiquarks and gluons should be effectively free in the absence of the linear confining potential. However, the remaining Coulomb-type potential between quarks in the plasma could still be sufficiently strong that certain bound states, notably of heavy quarks such as $J/\psi$ are stable even in the deconfined plasma up to a certain temperature. Baryons can also exist in the deconfined phase provided that the density is sufficiently large. We study three kinds of exotic multi-quark bound states in the deconfined phase of quark-gluon plasma from gravity dual models in addition to the normal baryon. They are $k$-baryon, $(N+\bar{k})$-baryon and a bound state of $j$ mesons which we call "$j$-mesonance". Binding energies and screening lengths of these exotic states are studied and are found to have similar properties to those of mesons and baryons at the leading order. Phase diagram for the exotic nuclear phases is subsequently studied in the Sakai-Sugimoto model. Even though the exotics are less stable than normal baryons, in the region of high chemical potential and low temperature, they are more stable thermodynamically than the vacuum and chiral-symmetric quark-gluon plasma phases ($\chi$S-QGP).

The Universe emerging from a vacuum in loop–string cosmology

In this paper we study a description of the Universe based on a low energy superstringtheory modified by loop quantum gravity effects. This approach was proposed by De Risiet al (2007 Phys. Rev. D 76 103531). We show that in contrast with the casefor a string motivated pre-big bang scenario, the cosmological realization of thet-duality transformation is not necessary to avoid an initial singularity. In the modelconsidered, the Universe starts its evolution in the vacuum phase at time . In this phase the scale factor , energy density and the coupling of the interactions . After this stage the Universe evolves to the non-singular hot big bang phase, . Then the standard classical Universe emerges. During the whole evolution the scalefactor increases monotonically. We solve this model analytically. We also propose and solvenumerically the model with an additional dilaton potential in which the Universe starts itsevolution from the asymptotically free vacuum phase, , and then evolves non-singularly to the emerging dark energy dominated phase withthe saturated coupling constant .

FLUCTONS

From the perspective of topological field theory we explore the physics beyond instantons. We propose the fluctons as nonperturbative topological fluctuations of vacuum, from which the self-dual domain of instantons is attained as a particular case. Invoking the Atiyah–Singer index theorem, we determine the dimension of the corresponding flucton moduli space, which gives the number of degrees of freedom of the fluctons. An important consequence of these results is that the topological phases of vacuum in non-Abelian gauge theories are not necessarily associated with self-dual fields, but only with smooth fields. Fluctons in different scenarios are considered, the basic aspects of the quantum mechanical amplitude for fluctons are discussed. A possible application of fluctons in the N = 4 Topologically Twisted Supersymmetric Yang–Mills Theory is explored and the case of gravity is discussed briefly.

Adiabatic thermal equilibrium theory for periodically focused axisymmetric intense beam propagation

An adiabatic equilibrium theory is presented for an intense, axisymmetric charged-particle beam propagating through a periodic solenoidal focusing field. The thermal beam distribution function is constructed based on the approximate and exact invariants of motion, i.e., a scaled transverse Hamiltonian and the angular momentum. The approximation of the scaled transverse Hamiltonian as an invariant of motion is validated analytically for highly emittance-dominated beams and highly space-charge-dominated beams, and numerically tested to be valid for cases in between with moderate vacuum phase advances (σv<90°). The beam root-mean-square (rms) envelope equation is derived, and the self-consistent nonuniform density profile is determined. Other statistical properties such as flow velocity, temperature, total emittance and rms thermal emittance, equation of state, and Debye length are discussed. Numerical examples are presented, illustrating the effects of the beam perveance, emittance, and rotation on the beam envelope and density distribution. Good agreement is found between theory and a recent high-intensity beam experiment performed at the University of Maryland Electron Ring [S. Bernal, B. Quinn, M. Reiser, and P. G. O’Shea, Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams 5, 064202 (2002)].

Gravastar energy conditions revisited

We consider the gravastar model where the vacuum phase transition between the de Sitter interior and the Schwarzschild or Schwarzschild–de Sitter exterior geometries takes place at a single spherical δ-shell. We derive sharp analytic bounds on the surface compactness (2m/r) that follow from the requirement that the dominant energy condition (DEC) holds at the shell. In the case of Schwarzschild exterior, the highest surface compactness is achieved with the stiff shell in the limit of vanishing (dark) energy density in the interior. In the case of Schwarzschild–de Sitter exterior, in addition to the gravastar configurations with the shell under surface pressure, gravastar configurations with vanishing shell pressure (dust shells), as well as configurations with the shell under surface tension, are allowed by the DEC. Respective bounds on the surface compactness are derived for all cases. We also consider the speed of sound on the shell as derived from the requirement that the shell is stable against the radial perturbations. The causality requirement (sound speed not exceeding that of light) further restricts the space of allowed gravastar configurations.

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy of Soft-Landed Polyatomic Ions and Molecules

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to detect and characterize polyatomic cations and molecules that were electrosprayed into the gas phase and soft-landed in vacuum on plasma-treated silver substrates. Organic dyes such as crystal violet and Rhodamine B, the nucleobase cytosine, and nucleosides cytidine and 2'-deoxycytidine were immobilized by soft landing on plasma-treated metal surfaces at kinetic energies ranging from near thermal to 200 eV. While enhancing Raman scattering 10(5)-10(6)-fold, the metal surface effectively quenches the fluorescence that does not interfere with the Raman spectra. SERS spectra from submonolayer amounts of soft-landed compounds were sufficiently intense and reproducible to allow identification of Raman active vibrational modes for structure assignment. Soft-landed species appear to be microsolvated on the surface and bound via ion pairing or pi-complexation to the Ag atoms and ions in the surface oxide layer. Comparison of spectra from soft-landed and solution samples indicates that the molecules survive soft landing without significant chemical damage even when they strike the surface at hyperthermal collision energies.

Vacuum phase transition at nonzero baryon density

It is argued that the dominant contribution to the interaction of quark–gluon plasma at moderate T⩾Tc is given by the nonperturbative vacuum field correlators. Basing on that nonperturbative equation of state of quark–gluon plasma is computed and in the lowest approximation expressed in terms of absolute values of Polyakov lines for quarks and gluons Lfund(T),Ladj(T)=(Lfund)9/4 known from lattice and analytic calculations. Phase transition at any μ is described as a transition due to vanishing of one of correlators, DE(x), which implies the change of gluonic condensate ΔG2. Resulting transition temperature Tc(μ) is calculated in terms of ΔG2 and Lfund(Tc). The phase curve Tc(μ) is in a good agreement with lattice data. In particular Tc(0)=0.27; 0.19; 0.17 GeV for nf=0,2,3 and fixed ΔG2=0.0035 GeV4.