Cathodic arc modulator systems for metallic plasma ion implantation

This paper describes the electrical design and operation of a cathodic arc modulator system for metallic plasma ion implantation. Depending on the ion implantation process recipe, various repetition rates, pulse widths, and currents are required. In addition, the cathodic arc system may be synchronized with a higher voltage target modulator system. The cathodic arc is water cooled and usually uses a self generated axial B-field, by use of a series connected solenoid around the arc anode. Typical arc currents of 800 amperes may be utilized with pulse widths ranging from 20 uS to 4 mS. Typical PRF`s may exceed 400 Hz, with overall system power limited by the presently available 10 kW transformer-rectifier. The cathodic arc modulator system consists of a command charged 10 kV trigger generator, a high voltage arc starter, and a low voltage, high current arc sustain circuit. The arc start and sustain circuits are independently adjustable and utilize a common IGBT device in a hot-deck configuration. This paper provides circuit design and performance information in addition to various process applications

Experimental determination of the 6s^2 ^1S_0 -> 5d6s ^3 D_1 magnetic-dipole transition amplitude in atomic ytterbium

We report on a measurement of the highly forbidden 6s^2 ^1S_0 \to 5d6s ^3 D_1 magnetic-dipole transition in atomic ytterbium using the Stark-interference technique. This amplitude is important in interpreting a future parity nonconservation experiment that exploits the same transition. We find $| | ~ = ~ 1.33(6)_{Stat}(20)_{\beta} \times 10^{-4} \mu_0$, where the larger uncertainty comes from the previously measured vector transition polarizability $\beta$. The $M1$ amplitude is small and should not limit the precision of the parity nonconservation experiment.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures Paper resubmitted with minor corrections and additions based on comments from referee

On the use of intense ion beams for generating magnetized target fusion plasma

Magnetized Target Fusion (MTF) is a concept for creating a burning D-T plasma in a potentially inexpensive system. In essence, the concept involves ion heating on time scales short compared to ion transport times plus strong inhibition of thermal electron transport with a transverse magnetic field. The magnetic field is not intended to confine the ionic component. MTF is an intrinsically pulsed concept. A straightforward analysis of MTF indicates that D-T burning conditions can be achieved in compact plasma volumes with modest initial temperatures, through the use of pulsed power technology. In terms of size, density, temperature, and time scales, MTF occupies a position in phase space that is intermediate between steady MFE schemes and ICF. In terms of cost, it is one to two orders of magnitude less expensive than these. In this paper, the authors consider a possible method for creating the initial conditions adequate for the MTF concept through the use intense ion beam injection

Supernova 1987A did not test the neutrino mass hierarchy

We dispel the misconception that data from SN 1987A favor the normal neutrino mass hierarchy over the inverted hierarchy for \sin^2 \theta_{13} \gsim 10^{-4}. We find comparable fits for the two hierarchies. No bound can be placed on the mixing angle $\theta_{13}$ even at the 1$\sigma$ level.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Radiation Testing of Electronics for the CMS Endcap Muon System

The electronics used in the data readout and triggering system for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator at CERN are exposed to high radiation levels. This radiation can cause permanent damage to the electronic circuitry, as well as temporary effects such as data corruption induced by Single Event Upsets. Once the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) accelerator upgrades are completed it will have five times higher instantaneous luminosity than LHC, allowing for detection of rare physics processes, new particles and interactions. Tests have been performed to determine the effects of radiation on the electronic components to be used for the Endcap Muon electronics project currently being designed for installation in the CMS experiment in 2013. During these tests the digital components on the test boards were operating with active data readout while being irradiated with 55 MeV protons. In reactor tests, components were exposed to 30 years equivalent levels of neutron radiation expected at the HL-LHC. The highest total ionizing dose (TID) for the muon system is expected at the inner-most portion of the CMS detector, with 8900 rad over ten years. Our results show that Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components selected for the new electronics will operate reliably in the CMS radiation environment

On the connection between the Nekhoroshev theorem and Arnold Diffusion

The analytical techniques of the Nekhoroshev theorem are used to provide estimates on the coefficient of Arnold diffusion along a particular resonance in the Hamiltonian model of Froeschl\'{e} et al. (2000). A resonant normal form is constructed by a computer program and the size of its remainder $||R_{opt}||$ at the optimal order of normalization is calculated as a function of the small parameter $\epsilon$. We find that the diffusion coefficient scales as $D\propto||R_{opt}||^3$, while the size of the optimal remainder scales as $||R_{opt}|| \propto\exp(1/\epsilon^{0.21})$ in the range $10^{-4}\leq\epsilon \leq 10^{-2}$. A comparison is made with the numerical results of Lega et al. (2003) in the same model.Comment: Accepted in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronom

Imprint of SNO neutral current data on the solar neutrino problem

We perform a global analysis in the framework of two active neutrino oscillations of all solar neutrino data, including the recent SNO day and night spectra (comprised of the charged current (CC), elastic scattering (ES) and neutral current (NC) events), the Super-Kamiokande (SK) day and night spectra (from 1496 days) and the updated SAGE results. We find that the Large Mixing Angle (LMA) solution is selected at the 99% C.L.; the best-fit parameters are \Delta m^2=5.6 \times 10^{-5} eV^2 and \theta=32^{\circ}. No solutions with \theta\geq \pi/4 are allowed at the 5\sigma C.L. Oscillations to a pure sterile state are excluded at 5.3\sigma, but a sizeable sterile neutrino component could still be present in the solar flux.Comment: Version to appear in PL

Radiation testing of electronics for the CMS endcap muon system

The electronics used in the data readout and triggering system for the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) particle accelerator at CERN are exposed to high radiation levels. This radiation can cause permanent damage to the electronic circuitry, as well as temporary effects such as data corruption induced by Single Event Upsets. Once the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC) accelerator upgrades are completed it will have five times higher instantaneous luminosity than LHC, allowing for detection of rare physics processes, new particles and interactions. Tests have been performed to determine the effects of radiation on the electronic components to be used for the Endcap Muon electronics project currently being designed for installation in the CMS experiment in 2013. During these tests the digital components on the test boards were operating with active data readout while being irradiated with 55 MeV protons. In reactor tests, components were exposed to 30 years equivalent levels of neutron radiation expected at the HL-LHC. The highest total ionizing dose (TID) for the muon system is expected at the innermost portion of the CMS detector, with 8900 rad over 10 years. Our results show that Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components selected for the new electronics will operate reliably in the CMS radiation environment.Physic

The G0 Experiment: Apparatus for Parity-Violating Electron Scattering Measurements at Forward and Backward Angles

In the G0 experiment, performed at Jefferson Lab, the parity-violating elastic scattering of electrons from protons and quasi-elastic scattering from deuterons is measured in order to determine the neutral weak currents of the nucleon. Asymmetries as small as 1 part per million in the scattering of a polarized electron beam are determined using a dedicated apparatus. It consists of specialized beam-monitoring and control systems, a cryogenic hydrogen (or deuterium) target, and a superconducting, toroidal magnetic spectrometer equipped with plastic scintillation and aerogel Cerenkov detectors, as well as fast readout electronics for the measurement of individual events. The overall design and performance of this experimental system is discussed.Comment: Submitted to Nuclear Instruments and Method