Overcoming a fast transverse instability by means of octupole-induced tune spread in the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider

During the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider commissioning in 2001 a fast transverse instability was observed on the ramp. In general this could be counteracted with increased chromaticity, resulting in Landau damping. However this method could not be applied around transition energy where chromaticities have to change sign. So octupoles were used near transition energy to create transverse Landau damping and avoid the transverse instability, emittance blowup, and beam loss. This paper describes the considerations that led to the present scheme, as well as experimental results

Comparison of the Spherical Averaged Pseudopotential Model with the Stabilized Jellium Model

We compare Kohn-Sham results (density, cohesive energy, size and effect of charging) of the Spherical Averaged Pseudopotential Model with the Stabilized Jellium Model for clusters of sodium and aluminum with less than 20 atoms. We find that the Stabilized Jellium Model, although conceptually and practically more simple, gives better results for the cohesive energy and the elastic stiffness. We use the Local Density Approximation as well as the Generalized Gradient Approximation to the exchange and correlation energies.Comment: 13 pages, latex, 8 figures, compressed postscript version available at http://www.fis.uc.pt/~vieir

3d transition metal doping of semiconducting boron carbides

The introduction metallocenes, in particular ferrocene (Fe(η5-C5H5)2), cobaltocene (Co(η5-C5H5)2), and nickelocene (Ni(η5-C5H5)2), together with the carborane source molecule closo-1,2-dicarbadodecaborane, during plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, will result in the transition metal doping of semiconducting boron carbides. Here we report using ferrocene to introduce Fe dop¬ants, and a semiconducting boron-carbide homojunction has been fabricated. The diode characteristics are very similar to those fabricated with Co and Ni doping

A hybrid version of the tilted axis cranking model and its application to ^{128}Ba

A hybrid version the deformed nuclear potential is suggested, which combines a spherical Woods Saxon potential with a deformed Nilsson potential. It removes the problems of the conventional Nilsson potential in the mass 130 region. Based on the hybrid potential, tilted axis cranking calculations are carried out for the magnetic dipole band in ^{128}Ba.Comment: 10 pages 6 figure

Twist Mode in Spherical Alkali Metal Clusters

A remarkable orbital quadrupole magnetic resonance, so-called twist mode, is predicted in alkali metal clusters where it is represented by $I^{\pi}=2^-$ low-energy excitations of valence electrons with strong M2 transitions to the ground state. We treat the twist by both macroscopic and microscopic ways. In the latter case, the shell structure of clusters is fully exploited, which is crucial for the considered size region ($8\le N_e\le 1314$). The energy-weighted sum rule is derived for the pseudo-Hamiltonian. In medium and heavy spherical clusters the twist dominates over its spin-dipole counterpart and becomes the most strong multipole magnetic mode.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Lett., v.85, n.15, 200

Ionic and electronic structure of sodium clusters up to N=59

We determined the ionic and electronic structure of sodium clusters with even electron numbers and 2 to 59 atoms in axially averaged and three-dimensional density functional calculations. A local, phenomenological pseudopotential that reproduces important bulk and atomic properties and facilitates structure calculations has been developed. Photoabsorption spectra have been calculated for $\mathrm{Na}_2$, $\mathrm{Na}_8$, and $\mathrm{Na}_9^+$ to $\mathrm{Na}_{59}^+$. The consistent inclusion of ionic structure considerably improves agreement with experiment. An icosahedral growth pattern is observed for $\mathrm{Na}_{19}^+$ to $\mathrm{Na}_{59}^+$. This finding is supported by photoabsorption data.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. B 62. Version with figures in better quality can be requested from the author

Weak-Strong Beam-Beam Simulation with Crab Cavity Noises for the Hadron Storage Ring of the Electron-Ion Collider

The Electron Ion Collider (EIC), to be constructed at Brookhaven National Laboratory, will collide polarized high-energy electron beams with hadron beams, achieving luminosities of up to 1 X 1034cm−2s−1 in the center-mass energy range of 20-140 GeV. Crab cavities are employed to compensate for the geometric luminosity loss caused by a large crossing angle of 25 mrad in the interaction region. The phase noise in crab cavities will induce a significant emittance growth for the hadron beams in the Hadron Storage Ring (HSR). Various models have been utilized to study the effects of crab cavity phase noise. In this article, we present our numerical simulation results using a weak-strong beam-beam model. In addition to horizontal emittance growth, we also observed vertical emittance growth resulting from both crab cavity noises and beam-beam interaction. The tolerance for crab cavity phase noise was determined and compared with analytical predictions

A coaxial pulsed plasma thruster model with efficient flyback converter approaches for small satellites

Pulsed plasma thrusters (PPT) have demonstrated enormous potential since the 1960s. One major shortcoming is their low thrust efficiency, typically <30%. Most of these losses are due to joule heating, while some can be attributed to poor efficiency of the power processing units (PPUs). We model PPTs to improve their efficiency, by exploring the use of power electronic topologies to enhance the power conversion efficiency from the DC source to the thruster head. Different control approaches are considered, starting off with the basic approach of a fixed frequency flyback converter. Then, the more advanced critical conduction mode (CrCM) flyback, as well as other optimized solutions using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components, are presented. Variations of these flyback converters are studied under different control regimes, such as zero voltage switching (ZVS), valley voltage switching (VVS), and hard switched, to enhance the performance and efficiency of the PPU. We compare the max voltage, charge time, and the overall power conversion efficiency for different operating regimes. Our analytical results show that a more dynamic control regime can result in fewer losses and enhanced performance, offering an improved power conversion efficiency for PPUs used with PPTs. An efficiency of 86% was achieved using the variable frequency approach. This work has narrowed the possible PPU options through analytical analysis and has therefore identified a strategic approach for future investigations. In addition, a new low-power coaxial micro-thruster model using equivalent circuit model elements is developed.This is referred to as the Carlow-Stuttgart model and has been validated against experimental data from vacuum chamber tests in Stuttgart’s Pulsed Plasma Laboratory. This work serves as a valuable precursor towards the implementation of highly optimized PPU designs for efficient PPT thrusters for the next PETRUS (pulsed electrothermal thruster for the University of Stuttgart) missions.Irish Research Counci