Tens Of eV Research Articles

Production of runaway electrons by negative streamer discharges

In this paper we estimate the probability that cold electrons can be accelerated by an ambient electric field into the runaway regime, and discuss the implications for negative streamer formation. The study is motivated by the discovery of ms duration bursts of γ‐rays from the atmosphere above thunderstorms, the so‐called Terrestrial Gamma‐Ray Flashes. The radiation is thought to be bremsstrahlung from energetic (MeV) electrons accelerated in a thunderstorm discharge. The observation goes against conventional wisdom that discharges in air are carried by electrons with energies below a few tens of eV. Instead the relativistic runaway electron discharge has been proposed which requires a lower threshold electric field; however, seed electrons must be born with energies in the runaway regime. In this work we study the fundamental problem of electron acceleration in a conventional discharge and the conditions on the electric field for the acceleration of electrons into the runaway regime. We use particle codes to describe the process of stochastic acceleration and introduce a novel technique that improves the statistics of the relatively few electrons that reach high energies. The calculation of probabilities for electrons to reach energies in the runaway regime shows that even with modest fields, electrons can be energized in negative streamer tips into the runaway regime, creating a beamed distribution in front of the streamer that affects its propagation. The results reported here suggest that theories of negative streamers and spark propagation should be reexamined with an improved characterization of the kinetic effects of electrons.

Micro- and Nanoprocessing of Polymers Using a Laser Plasma Extreme Ultraviolet Source

Laser plasma with temperature of the order of tens eV can be an efficient source of extreme ultraviolet (EUV). The radiation can be focused using different kind of optics, giving sufficient fluence for some applications. In this work we present results of investigations concerning applications of a laser plasma EUV source based on a double stream gas puff target. The source was equipped with two different grazing incidence collectors. One of them was a multifoil collector, the second one was an axisymmetrical ellipsoidal collector. The multifoil mirror was used mainly in experiments concerning micromachining of organic polymers by direct photo-etching. The experiments were performed for different polymers that were irradiated through a fine metal grid as a contact mask. The smallest element of a pattern structure obtained in this way was 5 μm, while the structure height was 50 μm giving an aspect ratio about 10. The laser-plasma EUV source equipped with the axisymmetrical ellipsoidal collector was used for surface modification of organic polymers and inorganic solids. The surface morphology after irradiation was investigated. Different forms of microand nanostructures were obtained depending on material and irradiation conditions.

Total cross sections of electron scattering by molecules NF3, PF3, N(CH3)3, P(CH3)3, NH(CH3)2, PH(CH3)2, NH2CH3 and PH2CH3 at 30–5000 eV

Total cross sections of electron scattering by eight molecules NF3, PF3, N(CH3)3, P(CH3)3, NH(CH3)2, PH(CH3)2, NH2CH3 and PH2CH3, which have some structural similarities, are calculated at the Hartree-Fork level by the modified additivity rule approach [D.H. Shi, J.F. Sun, Z.L. Zhu, H. Ma, Y.F. Liu, Eur. Phys. J. D 45, 253 (2007); D.H. Shi, J.F. Sun, Y.F. Liu, Z.L. Zhu, X.D. Yang, Chin. Opt. Lett. 4, 192 (2006)]. The modified additivity rule approach takes into considerations that the contributions of the geometric shielding effect vary as the energy of incident electrons, the dimension of target molecule, the number of electrons in the molecule and the number of atoms constituting the molecule. The present investigations cover the impact energy range from 30 to 5000 eV. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiments and other theories. Excellent agreement is observed even at energies of several tens of eV. It shows that the modified additivity rule approach is applicable to carry out the total cross section calculations of electron scattering by these molecules at intermediate and high energies, in particular over the energy range above 80 eV or so. It proves that the microscopic molecular properties, such as the geometrical size of the target and the number of atoms constituting the molecule, are of crucial importance in the TCS calculations. The new results for PH(CH3)2 and PH2CH3 are also presented at energies from 30 to 5000 eV, although no experimental and theoretical data are available for comparison. In the present calculations, the atoms are still represented by the spherical complex optical potential, which is composed of static, exchange, polarization and absorption terms.

Total cross sections of electron scattering by several sulfur-containing molecules OCS, SO2, SF4, SF6, SF5CF3, SO2Cl2 and SO2ClF at 30–5000 eV

Total cross sections of electron scattering by several sulfur-containing molecules OCS, SO2, SF4, SF6, SF5CF3, SO2Cl2 and SO2ClF are calculated at the Hartree-Fork level employing the modified additivity rule approach. The modified additivity rule approach, which was proposed by Shi et al. [Eur. Phys. J. D 45, 253 (2007); Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B 254, 205 (2007)], takes into consideration that the contributions of the geometric shielding effect vary as the energy of incident electrons, the target’s molecular dimension and the atomic and electronic numbers in the molecule. The present investigations cover the impact energies ranging from 30 to 5000 eV. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiments and other theories. Good agreement is observed even at energies of several tens of eV. It shows that the modified additivity rule approach is applicable to carry out the total cross section calculations of electron scattering by these sulfur-containing molecules at intermediate and high energies, especially over the energy range above 100 eV or so. In the present calculations, the atoms are still represented by the spherical complex optical potential, which is composed of static, exchange, polarization and absorption terms.

Phase Identification and Mapping Based on Valence Loss EELS and ELNES

Abstract Much of analytical TEM is based on elemental analysis of core-shell ionizations and their role in electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). In these techniques, integrals of the primary or secondary ionization signals (typically over many tens of eV in energy) are used to measure and map the elemental composition of probed sample areas. In contrast, present-day STEM EELS systems are able to reveal spectral details with resolution in the range 0.1-1.0 eV. This means that EELS provides access to electronic structure and response information that goes beyond the simple elemental composition information of the integrated core-loss signals.

An investigation on the capabilities of the PENELOPE MC code in nanodosimetry

The Monte Carlo (MC) method has been widely implemented in studies of radiation effects on human genetic material. Most of these works have used specific-purpose MC codes to simulate radiation transport in condensed media. PENELOPE is one of the general-purpose MC codes that has been used in many applications related to radiation dosimetry. Based on the fact that PENELOPE can carry out event-by-event coupled electron-photon transport simulations following these particles down to energies of the order of few tens of eV, we have decided to investigate the capacities of this code in the field of nanodosimetry. Single and double strand break probabilities due to the direct impact of gamma rays originated from Co60 and Cs137 isotopes and characteristic x-rays, from Al and C K-shells, have been determined by use of PENELOPE. Indirect damage has not been accounted for in this study. A human genetic material geometrical model has been developed, taking into account five organizational levels. In an article by Friedland et al. [Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 38, 39-47 (1999)], a specific-purpose MC code and a very sophisticated DNA geometrical model were used. We have chosen that work as a reference to compare our results. Single and double strand-break probabilities obtained here underestimate those reported by Friedland and co-workers by 20%-76% and 50%-60%, respectively. However, we obtain RBE values for Cs137, AlK and CK radiations in agreement with those reported in previous works [Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 38, 39-47 (1999)] and [Phys. Med. Biol. 53, 233-244 (2008)]. Some enhancements can be incorporated into the PENELOPE code to improve its results in the nanodosimetry field.

Accuracy of the pseudopotential approximation inab initiotheoretical spectroscopies

A large number of today's ab initio calculations, in particular in solid-state physics, are based on density-functional theory using first-principles pseudopotentials. This approach, initially developed for the ground state, is nowadays widely used as a starting point for the calculation of excited-state properties, as, for instance, those involved in optical spectroscopy. In this paper we investigate the validity and the accuracy of the pseudopotential approximation, analyzing how different choices within the latter can influence the calculated electronic response of silicon and silicon carbide. We consider norm-conserving first-principles pseudopotentials, both in the fully nonlocal (Kleinman-Bylander) and the semilocal forms, with different choices for the reference (local) component. The effects of the inclusion of outer-core states in the valence shell are analyzed in order to obtain a detailed comparison with all-electron calculations. We present accurate results for different pseudopotential descriptions of Kohn-Sham and quasiparticle band structures and of many spectroscopic quantities in the linear and the nonlinear response regimes for different momentum transfers $\mathbf{Q}$. Moreover, the effects of the pseudopotential nonlocality have been analyzed for electron-energy-loss spectra in the limit of vanishing momentum transfer. Our results show that the pseudopotential approximation can be quite safely applied to excited-state calculations, even when they involve Kohn-Sham eigenvalues and eigenvectors several tens of eV above the Fermi energy.

The mass spectrum analyzer (MSA) onboard BEPI COLOMBO MMO: Scientific objectives and prototype results

BEPI COLOMBO is a joint mission between ESA and JAXA that is scheduled for launch in 2014 and arrival at Mercury in 2020. A comprehensive set of ion sensors will be flown onboard the two probes that form BEPI COLOMBO. These ion sensors combined with electron analyzers will allow a detailed investigation of the structure and dynamics of the charged particle environment at Mercury. Among the ion sensors, the Mass Spectrum Analyzer (MSA) is the experiment dedicated to composition analysis onboard the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). It consists of a top-hat for energy analysis followed by a Time-Of-Flight (TOF) section to derive the ion mass. A notable feature of MSA is that the TOF section is polarized with a linear electric field that provides an enhanced mass resolution, a capability that is of importance at Mercury since a variety of species originating from the planet surface and exosphere is expected. MSA exhibits two detection planes: (i) one with moderate mass resolution but a high count rate making MSA appropriate for plasma analysis, (ii) another with a high (above 40) mass resolution though a low count rate making it appropriate for planetology science. Taking advantage of the spacecraft rotation, MSA will provide three-dimensional distribution functions of magnetospheric ions, from energies characteristic of exospheric populations (a few eVs or a few tens of eVs) up to the plasma sheet energy range (up to ∼40 keV/q) in one spin (4 s).

Positive ion polymerization in hydrogen diluted silane plasmas

Mass spectra of positive ions (cations) and neutrals have been measured in hydrogen diluted silane plasmas at gas pressures of 0.1–10 Torr. The mass spectrum of ions changes with the pressure, while that of neutrals maintains a similar shape. The dominant ion species varies from a hydrogen ion group at ≲0.5 Torr to a monosilicon hydride ion group at ≈0.5–1 Torr and polysilicon hydride ion groups at ≳1 Torr, which is determined from ionization channels and consecutive ion-molecule reactions. The ion bombardment is suppressed with the pressure, from several tens of eV at ≲1 Torr to a few eV at ≳7 Torr.

Simulation of SCNT Modification by Ion Bombardment

Energy transfer in collision of light atom(ion) with a single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) were investigated theoretically within two approximations, frozen electron subsystem and adiabatic motion, which correspond to high and low energi limits, respectively. Average energy losses as well as standard deviations were obtained as functions of the collision energy and ion charge for E = 0.1 ÷ 5 keV and Q = 0 ÷ 4. It is demonstrated that contribution to energy losses by elastic scattering dominates in all considered energy range and light ion can transfer energy to SWCNT of the order of tens eV which is enough for CNT destructions.

Total cross sections of electron scattering by C4H8O, C5H10O2, C6H5F, C6H5Cl, C6F5Cl, C6H4(CHO)F and C4H8O2 at 30-5000 eV

Total cross sections for electron scattering by large molecules C4H8O, C5H10O2, C6H5F, C6H5Cl, C6F5Cl, C6H4(CHO)F and C4H8O2 are calculated at the Hartree-Fork level using the modified additivity rule approach. The modified additivity rule approach, which was proposed by Shi et al. [Eur. Phys. J. D 45, 253 (2007); Nucl. Instrum. Meth. B 254, 205 (2007)], takes into consideration that the contributions of the geometric shielding effect vary with the energy of the incident electrons, the target’s molecular dimension and the atomic and electronic numbers of the molecule. The present calculations cover the collision energies ranging from 30 to 5000 eV. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiments and other theories. Good agreement is obtained even at energies of several tens of eV. It shows that the modified additivity rule approach is applicable to calculate the total cross sections of electron scattering by so large molecules at intermediate and high energies, especially above 100 eV. The total cross sections for electron scattering by the C4H8O2 molecule are predicted although no experimental and theoretical data are available for comparison over the present energy region.

Additivity rule for electron–molecule total cross section calculations at 50–5000 eV: a new geometrical approach

Taking into consideration the changes of the geometric shielding effect in a molecule as the energy of incident electrons varies, this paper presents an empirical fraction, which depends on the energy of incident electrons, the target's molecular dimension and the atomic and electronic numbers in the molecule. Using this empirical fraction, it proposes a new formulation of the additivity rule. Employing the new additivity rule, it calculates the total cross sections of electron scattering by C2H4, C6H6, C6H14 and C8H18 over the energy range from 50 to 5000eV. In order to exclude the calculation deviations caused by solving the radial Schrodinger equation of electron scattering by atoms, here the atomic cross sections are derived from the experimental total cross section results of simple molecules (H2, O2, CO) via the inversion algorithm. The quantitative total cross sections are compared with those obtained by experiments and other theories, and good agreement is obtained over a wide energy range, even at energy of several tens of eV.

Total cross sections of electron scattering by large molecules C4H8O, C5H10O2, C6H5CH3 and C4H8O2 at 50—5000 eV

Using the modified additivity rule (AR) approach, the total cross sections (TCSs) for electron scattering by large molecules C4H8O, C5H10O2, C6H5CH3 and C4H8O2 are calculated over a wide energy range from 50 to 5000eV by employing the experimental TCS results of electron scattering from atoms C, H and O. Here the atomic TCSs are derived from the experimental TCS results of simple molecules (H2, O2, CO). The quantitative TCSs are compared with those obtained by measurements and other theories wherever available. It is shown that there is excellent accordance between the theories obtained by the modified AR approach and the measurements even at energies of several tens of eV. And it is also shown that the problem that the log_log TCS curves obtained by the original AR approach are steeper than those obtained by the experiments, is introduced by the AR model itself. The intrinsic reason is that the mutual screening effects are not taken into consideration in the original AR approach at lower energies.

OPTIMAL ENERGIES FOR ION-ASSISTED GROWTH OF IVA THIN FILMS

Based on a modified interaction potential and experimental results, an extensive study of ion-energy-correlative thin film growth is presented, As a result, an analytical model for ion energy dissipation into top surface layers is proposed. The proposed model extends previously published models and includes analytical expressions for lattice damage by atomic displacement in surface and subsurface layers. Theoretical calculation indicated that there were three distinctive ion energy regimes within which the different processes occur to the condensed adatoms. The medium energy region (in tens of eV) is a favorite "energy window" from which the pre-deposited atoms or atomic clusters on the substrate can be stimulated further to be rearranged by absorbing the effective energy from an energetic ion beam, leading to uniform film growth. However, over the energy region, the ion can penetrate deeply into the film, and more damage will be caused in the subsurface layer or bulk in this case, which results in the growth of poor-quality or amorphous films. When the ion energy is lower than the "energy window", there is no driving effect for adatoms in both surface and subsurface layers. The molecular dynamic simulations and experimental results have verified the validity of the proposed analytical model and optimal ion energy regimes.

Relativistic electron transport and confinement within charge-insulated, mass-limited targets

We present experimental results on the interaction of short-pulse ultra-high-intensity laser beams with small size (“mass-limited”) targets. Several diagnostics (X-ray spectroscopy, K α and optical imaging of target rear side) have been simultaneously used in order to characterize the laser-generated fast electron transport and energy deposition into the target material. Our results show that fast electrons are effectively confined inside the target by the induced space charge. This electrostatic confinement opens new opportunities to create “Warm Dense Matter” states characterized by solid-state density and temperatures of the order of a few tens of eV.

Simulation and laboratory validation of magnetic nozzle effects for the high power helicon thruster

The efficiency of a plasma thruster can be improved if the plasma stream can be highly focused, so that there is maximum conversion of thermal energy to the directed energy. Such focusing can be potentially achieved through the use of magnetic nozzles, but this introduces the potential problem of detachment of plasma from the magnetic field lines tied to the nozzles. Simulations and laboratory testing are used to investigate these processes for the high power helicon (HPH) thruster, which has the capacity of producing a dense (1018−1020m−3) energetic (tens of eV) plasma stream which can be both supersonic and super-Alfvénic within a few antenna wavelengths. In its standard configuration, the plasma plume generated by this device has a large opening angle, due to relatively high thermal velocity and rapid divergence of the magnetic field. With the addition of a magnetic nozzle system, the plasma can be directed/collimated close to the pole of the nozzle system causing an increase in the axial velocity of the plasma, as well as an increase in the Alfvén Mach number. As such the magnetic field of the nozzle is insufficient to pull the plasma back to the spacecraft, i.e., plasma attachment is not a problem for the system. Laboratory results show that the specific impulse (Isp) of the system can be increased by ∼30% by the addition of the nozzle due to the conversion of thermal energy into directed energy in association with a highly collimated profile. An interesting feature of the system is that self-collimation of the beam is expected to occur during continuous operation through plasma currents induced downstream from the magnetic nozzle. These currents lead to magnetic fields that have a smaller divergence than the original vacuum magnetic field so that the following plasma will be more collimated than the proceeding plasma. This self-focusing can lead to beam propagation over extended distances.

Nonlinear evolution of modified two‐stream instability above ionosphere of Titan: Comparison with the data of the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer

The ionosphere of Titan, moon of Saturn, is directly exposed to the streaming plasma either of magnetospheric or solar wind origin. A turbulent interaction region is formed, called here flowside plasma mantle, where both cold ionospheric and hot streaming plasma are present at comparable densities. Within the framework of a one‐dimensional electromagnetic hybrid simulation using realistic electron mass we have shown that significant wave activity may be generated because of a modified two‐stream instability (MTSI). Having its free energy in the relative drift between the streaming ion flow and the ionospheric ions MTSI is very effective in generating “anomalous viscosity” type interaction leading to significant bulk velocity loss of the proton component of the external plasma flow and turbulent heating of the ionospheric ions. The stochastic energy transfer from the streaming plasma to the ionospheric ions may also increase the tailward planetary ion escape by collective pickup mechanism enhancing the rate of erosion of the atmosphere of Titan. We predict significant wave activity within the characteristic frequency range of about 1–10 Hz and at saturated wave electric field levels of about 5–25 mV/m. Similarly, according to our model calculations superthermal charged particles of ionospheric origin with kinetic energies of about few tens of eV are expected to be detectable by the charged particle analyzers onboard of Cassini spacecraft close to the upper edge of Titan's ionosphere.

Charge transfer and electronic excitation in collisions of protons with water molecules below10keV

Charge transfer and electronic excitation processes for ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}+{\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ collisions are investigated theoretically below $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$. Molecular-orbital close-coupling approach is employed for scattering dynamics, while an ab initio multireference single- and double-configuration interaction method is used for the determination of molecular states. The present results for charge transfer show rather weak energy dependence in the energy range from $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}$ down to a few tens of eV with very slowly varying cross-section value of $4--13\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}16}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, and are found to be in excellent agreement with experimental measurements by Lindsay et al. [Phys. Rev. A 55, 3945 (1997)] where the energy in the experiment and theory overlaps. The electronic-excitation cross sections are found to be much smaller than those for the charge transfer, but increase rapidly and become comparable to charge transfer at a few keV. Most of the water molecular ions and excited species produced in the collision are unstable and soon undergo dissociation; some insight into the fragmentation process and the fragmented species is given.

Role of surface states in Auger neutralization ofHe+ions on Ag surfaces

Recent measurements of He{sup +} ion fractions that survive to a whole scatterig event when they impinge on Ag surfaces have shown two different and interesting effects: (1) a notable difference of surviving ion fraction depending on which crystallographic face of the target surface is studied [Yu. Bandurin et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 017601 (2004)], and (2) an uncommonly high ion fraction in the very-low-energy range (tens of eV) [S. Wethekam et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 037602 (2003)]. Apart from the geometry, one of the differences between the surfaces of a crystal can be seen in the electronic structure: while the (111) surface has an occupied surface state near the Fermi level at the {gamma} point the (110) and (100) faces have not. Motivated by these facts, in this work we study the role that the occupied surface state plays on the Auger neutralization rate and we present an estimation of the ion fractions that survive for the different Ag faces.

The effect of incident cluster ion energy and size on secondary ion yields emitted from Si

Secondary ions produced from a Si target bombarded with Ar cluster ions much larger than the molecular ions have been investigated. Secondary ions have been measured for a Si target bombarded with large Ar cluster ions at an incident energy between 7.5 and 27.5keV using a time-of-flight technique. The mean size of the Ar cluster ion was about 1000atoms/cluster, and then the collision energy per atom is between a few tens of eV and a few hundreds of eV. Secondary silicon cluster ions were detected under large Ar cluster ion bombardment. In this study, we succeeded to accurately measure the dependence of secondary ion spectra obtained by large Ar cluster ions on the incident cluster-ion size using a time-of-flight technique combined a primary-ion beam deflector and a secondary-ion deflector. The dependence of the secondary ion spectra under large Ar cluster ion bombardment on the incident cluster size is discussed.