Low frequency structural dynamics of warm dense matter

Measurements of the microscopic response of warm dense matter have been demonstrated by multi-keV inelastic x-ray scattering using laser-based sources. These techniques have been used to study the high frequency electron correlations (plasmons) in low to mid-Z plasmas. The advent of fourth generation light sources will provide high fluxes of narrowband and coherent x rays that will allow to look at the low frequency correlations (the ion-acoustic waves). In this paper we present an analysis of such low frequency modes by calculating the frequency dependent ion-ion structure factor. Our model includes all the relevant multibody contributions arising from strong coupling and nonideal plasma effects. In particular, the ion-ion structure factor is obtained within the memory function formalism by satisfying a finite number of sum rules. This work could be used as a basis to a direct experimental test of dense plasma model as soon as keV free electron laser sources will become available

Ramp wave loading experiments driven by heavy ion beams: a feasibility study

A new design for heavy-ion beam driven ramp wave loading experiments is suggested and analyzed. The proposed setup utilizes the long stopping ranges and the variable focal spot geometry of the high-energy uranium beams available at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung and Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research accelerator centers in Darmstadt, Germany. The release wave created by ion beams can be utilized to create a planar ramp loading of various samples. In such experiments, the predicted high pressure amplitudes (up to 10 Mbar) and short timescales of compression (<10 ns) will allow to test the time-dependent material deformation at unprecedented extreme conditions

Fast nonadiabatic dynamics of many-body quantum systems

Modeling many-body quantum systems with strong interactions is one of the core challenges of modern physics. A range of methods has been developed to approach this task, each with its own idiosyncrasies, approximations, and realm of applicability. However, there remain many problems that are intractable for existing methods. In particular, many approaches face a huge computational barrier when modeling large numbers of coupled electrons and ions at finite temperature. Here, we address this shortfall with a new approach to modeling many-body quantum systems. On the basis of the Bohmian trajectory formalism, our new method treats the full particle dynamics with a considerable increase in computational speed. As a result, we are able to perform large-scale simulations of coupled electron-ion systems without using the adiabatic Born-Oppenheimer approximation

Optical properties of gold after intense short-pulse excitations

Intense ultrashort laser pulses can create highly excited matter with extraordinary properties. Experimental and theoretical investigations of these extreme conditions are very complex and usually intertwined. Here, we report on a theoretical approach for the electron scattering rates and the optical properties in gold at elevated temperatures. Our theory is based on the degree of occupancy of the conduction band as well as inputs from ab initio simulations and experimental data. After the electron system has reached a quasi-equilibrium, the occupancy is fully determined by the electron temperature. Thus, our approach covers the important relaxation stage after fast excitations when the two-temperature model can be applied. Being based on the electronic structure of solids, the model is valid for lattice temperatures up to melting but the electron temperature might exceed this limit by far. Our results agree well with recent experimental data for both the collision frequencies and the conductivity of highly excited gold. Scattering of sp-electrons by d-electrons is found to be the dominant damping mechanism at elevated electron temperatures and depends strongly on the number of conduction electrons, hence, revealing the microscopic origin of the conductivity change after heating. The supportive benchmarks with experiments are very valuable as the underlying scattering rates determine a number of other transport, optical and relaxation properties of laser-excited matter

Nonequilibrium band occupation and optical response of gold after ultrafast XUV excitation

Free electron lasers offer unique properties to study matter in states far from equilibrium as they combine short pulses with a large range of photon energies. In particular, the possibility to excite core states drives new relaxation pathways that, in turn, also change the properties of the optically and chemically active electrons. Here, we present a theoretical model for the dynamics of the nonequilibrium occupation of the different energy bands in solid gold driven by exciting deep core states. The resulting optical response is in excellent agreement with recent measurements and, combined with our model, provides a quantitative benchmark for the description of electron–phonon coupling in strongly driven gold. Focusing on sub-picosecond time scales, we find essential differences between the dynamics induced by XUV and visible light

N-Umsatz und Spurengasemissionen typischer Biomassefruchtfolgen zur Biogaserzeugung in Norddeutschland

Im Rahmen des Verbundprojektes Biogas-Expert an der CAU-Kiel wurden an zwei Standorten Schleswig-Holsteins veschiedene Fruchtfolgen zur Bereitstellung von Biogassubstraten unter Verwendung von Biogasgüllen als N-Dünger durchgeführt. Maismonokultur wies die höchsten Trockenmasseerträge auf, wobei keine signifikanten Unterschiede in den Erträgen zwischen Biogasgärresten, organischen N-Düngern und mineralischen Düngern ermittelt wurden. Während in Bezug auf die N-Düngeform bei N2O- und Nitratauswaschungsverlusten kein Einfluss der N-Form auf die Höhe der Verluste festgestellt wurde, war die Düngung mit Biogasgüllen mit signifikant erhöhten NH3-Verlusten verknüpft. Eine abschließende Bewertung der Produktionssysteme ist erst durch Analyse der experimentellen Ergebnisse mit einem Systemmodell möglich

Neutron time-of-flight measurements of charged-particle energy loss in inertial confinement fusion plasmas

Neutron spectra from secondary ^{3}H(d,n)α reactions produced by an implosion of a deuterium-gas capsule at the National Ignition Facility have been measured with order-of-magnitude improvements in statistics and resolution over past experiments. These new data and their sensitivity to the energy loss of fast tritons emitted from thermal ^{2}H(d,p)^{3}H reactions enable the first statistically significant investigation of charged-particle stopping via the emitted neutron spectrum. Radiation-hydrodynamic simulations, constrained to match a number of observables from the implosion, were used to predict the neutron spectra while employing two different energy loss models. This analysis represents the first test of stopping models under inertial confinement fusion conditions, covering plasma temperatures of k_{B}T≈1-4  keV and particle densities of n≈(12-2)×10^{24}  cm^{-3}. Under these conditions, we find significant deviations of our data from a theory employing classical collisions whereas the theory including quantum diffraction agrees with our data

Di-(2-Ethylhexyl)-Phthalate (DEHP) Causes Impaired Adipocyte Function and Alters Serum Metabolites

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), an ubiquitous environmental contaminant, has been shown to cause adverse effects on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in epidemiological studies, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We therefore tested the hypothesis that chronic DEHP exposure causes impaired insulin sensitivity, affects body weight, adipose tissue (AT) function and circulating metabolic parameters of obesity resistant 129S6 mice in vivo. An obesity-resistant mouse model was chosen to reduce a potential obesity bias of DEHP effects on metabolic parameters and AT function. The metabolic effects of 10-weeks exposure to DEHP were tested by insulin tolerance tests and quantitative assessment of 183 metabolites in mice. Furthermore, 3T3-L1 cells were cultured with DEHP for two days, differentiated into mature adipocytes in which the effects on insulin stimulated glucose and palmitate uptake, lipid content as well as on mRNA/protein expression of key adipocyte genes were investigated.We observed in female mice that DEHP treatment causes enhanced weight gain, fat mass, impaired insulin tolerance, changes in circulating adiponectin and adipose tissue Pparg, adiponectin and estrogen expression. Serum metabolomics indicated a general increase in phospholipid and carnitine concentrations. In vitro, DEHP treatment increases the proliferation rate and alters glucose uptake in adipocytes. Taken together, DEHP has significant effects on adipose tissue (AT) function and alters specific serum metabolites. Although, DEHP treatment led to significantly impaired insulin tolerance, it did not affect glucose tolerance, HOMA-IR, fasting glucose, insulin or triglyceride serum concentrations. This may suggest that DEHP treatment does not cause impaired glucose metabolism at the whole body level

Experimental discrimination of ion stopping models near the Bragg peak in highly ionized matter

The energy deposition of ions in dense plasmas is a key process in inertial confinement fusion that determines the α-particle heating expected to trigger a burn wave in the hydrogen pellet and resulting in high thermonuclear gain. However, measurements of ion stopping in plasmas are scarce and mostly restricted to high ion velocities where theory agrees with the data. Here, we report experimental data at low projectile velocities near the Bragg peak, where the stopping force reaches its maximum. This parameter range features the largest theoretical uncertainties and conclusive data are missing until today. The precision of our measurements, combined with a reliable knowledge of the plasma parameters, allows to disprove several standard models for the stopping power for beam velocities typically encountered in inertial fusion. On the other hand, our data support theories that include a detailed treatment of strong ion-electron collisions