Simulation of the discharge propagation in a capillary tube in air at atmospheric pressure

International audienceThis paper presents simulations of an air plasma discharge at atmospheric pressure initiated by a needle anode set inside a dielectric capillary tube. We have studied the influence of the tube inner radius and its relative permittivity ε r on the discharge structure and dynamics. As a reference, we have used a relative permittivity ε r = 1 to study only the influence of the cylindrical constraint of the tube on the discharge. For a tube radius of 100 µm and ε r = 1, we have shown that the discharge fills the tube during its propagation and is rather homogeneous behind the discharge front. When the radius of the tube is in the range 300 to 600 µm, the discharge structure is tubular with peak values of electric field and electron density close to the dielectric surface. When the radius of the tube is larger than 700 µm, the tube has no influence on the discharge which propagates axially. For a tube radius of 100 µm, when ε r increases from 1 to 10, the discharge structure becomes tubular. We have noted that the velocity of propagation of the discharge in the tube increases when the front is more homogeneous and then, the discharge velocity increases with the decrease of the tube radius and ε r. Then, we have compared the relative influence of the value of tube radius and ε r on the discharge characteristics. Our simulations indicate that the geometrical constraint of the cylindrical tube has more influence than the value of ε r on the discharge structure and dynamics. Finally, we have studied the influence of photoemission processes on the discharge structure by varying the photoemission coefficient. As expected, we have shown that photoemission, as it increases the number of secondary electrons close to the dielectric surface, promotes the tubular structure of the discharge

Analysis of life quality indicators in the area of natural resources in chosen micro-regions in the Czech Republic

Approved strategy of sustainable development of the Czech Republic is based on three pillars of defensibility, namely social, economic and environmental. The paper is focused on the third pillar that includes field of natural resources. It is solved in municipalities of chosen micro-regions in the Czech Republic compared with level in particular regions. In term of chosen indicators it is concerned with the coefficient analysis of ecological stability of landscape.Furthermore in the paper there are analysed chosen problems in the sphere of environment protection in particular districts where chosen micro-regions are situated. Analysis of environment protection is realized in years 2002–2008. Protection of environment is evaluated by indicators such as e.g. environmental assets and non-investment expenditures and emissions

Methodological approaches to evaluation of disparities in regions of the Czech Republic

The goal of the paper is to propose a methodological approach to evaluation of regional disparities, which is based on a comparison of life quality in each regions of the Czech Republic. Life quality in regions is influenced e.g. by natural, social-cultural and economical conditions or rather fields. This approach to evaluation of regional disparities is grounded in forming of summary index of development potential of the region. This index includes evaluation of life quality in all three above mentioned fields. Summary index of development potential also allows determine the ranking of regions from the view of life quality.Compiling of partial indexes comes before determination of summary index of development potential of the region. Partial indexes enable to evaluate development potential of certain regions in the field of natural resources, social and cultural resources and in the field of economic efficiency. Results of disparities evaluation in regions of the Czech Republic indicate relatively great disparities among individual regions. Evaluation of summary index of development potential evidently shows on significant position of the Capital of Prague and Central Bohemian region. Opposite position have primarily Karlovy Vary Region and Olomouc Region

Experimental - modeling study of an atmospheric pressure helium discharge propagating in a thin dielectric tube

International audienceThis paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the dynamics and structure of an atmospheric-pressure helium discharge with nitrogen admixture propagating through a thin dielectric tube surrounded by two ring electrodes. The experimental unfiltered optical emission of the discharge has been compared to the computed emission of the second positive system of nitrogen and shows very good agreement. In all studied cases, the discharge ignition occurs inside the tube at the outer edges of the high-voltage electrode ring, and the discharge propagates outward of both sides of the high-voltage ring with a rather homogeneous discharge front structure. When the discharge ap- proaches the grounded ring, the emission is enhanced and moves from the symmetry axis to the tube surface. In both simulation and experiment, an initial front propagation velocity of about 3 × 106 cm/s is observed as the plasma traverses the first part of the electrode gap. This velocity increases in the later part of the electrode gap as the plasma approaches the grounded ring, and the observed velocity in the experiment is slightly higher than that in the simulation. In experiments, when the admixture is decreased, the discharge constricts close to the tube axis during its propaga- tion between the electrode rings before moving to the tube surface close to the grounded ring. In simulations, as a first step, we have considered that, in reducing the amount of nitrogen admixture, the efficiency of photoionization decreases significantly. This allows the formation of an electron depleted volume close to the grounded electrode ring, which then constrains the discharge to propagate close to the tube axis, in agreement with experiments

The effect of the aging of liquid organic scintillators used for gamma-neutron separation

Since the beginning of using liquid scintillators for gamma-neutron separation, there have been many articles dealing with long-term degradation especially due to oxygen presented during scintillator encapsulation. The effect of aging of liquid organic scintillators namely EJ301, EJ309 (both Eljen Technology), and new custom-made cocktails based on 1-Phenyl-3-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-pyrazoline and 2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-benzoxazol-2-yl)thiophene fluors were investigated for more than half a year. The research was focused on the Compton edge shifting of gamma particles since the position is proportional to the light yield of the selected scintillator. Furthermore, the gamma-neutron separation was observed and quantified using FOM (Figure Of Merit) for samples prepared and filled under normal and nitrogen atmosphere during the mentioned period. All stated parameters of liquid scintillator NE213 manufactured by Nuclear Enterprises Limited opened more than three decades ago were measured and used for comparison

Measurement and simulation of the new liquid organic scintillator response to fast neutrons

Liquid organic scintillators are important devices for measurements of neutron radiation. This work aims to develop and optimize the composition of liquid organic scintillators so it can be used for fast neutron spectrometry. As the neutron radiation is usually accompanied with γ ray radiation, it is important to have quality γ/n discrimination. The new cocktail for house made liquid organic scintillator is prepared and studied with intention of being able to separate gamma and neutron for neutron energies above 0.5 MeV while keeping lower constraints on practical use (e.g., sealing because of oxygen) than commercial liquid scintillators. In preceding work the composition of liquid scintillators was optimized. Two twocomponent scintillators were selected for further studies. Solvent DIPN (Di-iso-propyl-naphthalene Mixed Isomers) is selected for both. First is mixed with luminophore PYR (1-Phenyl-3-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-2-pyrazoline) of concentration 5 g/l. Second is mixed with luminophore THIO (2,5-Bis(5-tert-butyl-benzoxazol-2-yl)thiophene) of concentration 5 g/l. In this work the response of scintillator to monoenergetic beam of neutrons was measured for multiple neutron energies at PTB in Braunschweig. The two parameter spectrometric system NGA-01 is used to analyze the energy and discrimination characteristics. 137 Cs and 60 Co are used as radiation sources for calibration with pure γ rays. Then the response of scintillator for same neutron energies was simulated using GEANT4. The dissipated energy in the scintillator in response to monoenergetic neutrons is obtained. Both, measured and simulated responses are compared. Functional dependence for yield of recoiled products is estimated. It is seen that main recoil product hydrogen proton is well observed in both. From the edge of proton response one can assume the yield for given neutron energy. The recoiled carbon ion (from elastic collision) is on the other side difficult to observe in measured results but clearly seen in dissipated energy plots. It suggests that yield of carbon ion is very small relatively to proton yield. These results will serve as basis for response function evaluation of scintillator which is necessary for evaluation of unknown neutron spectra from measurements with scintillator

Numerical Simulation of Back Discharge Ignition

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Response to Mono-Energetic Neutrons and Light Output Function for Liquid Organic Scintillators PYR5/DIPN and THIO5/DIPN

Liquid organic scintillators are important devices for measurements of neutron radiation. Currently, large-scale liquid organic scintillators have capabilities of detecting neutrons, but the determination of the neutron energy spectra is a challenge. This work aims to measure the responses of two liquid two-component scintillators to mono-energetic neutron radiation and to determine their light output function, which is necessary for proper neutron energy spectra determination. Both scintillators are composed of the solvent di-iso-propyl-naphthalene (DIPN) mixed isomers. The first scintillator, labeled PYR5/DIPN, contains the luminophore 1-phenyl-3-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-2-pyrazoline with a concentration of 5 g/L. The second scintillator labeled THIO5/DIPN contains the luminophore 2,5-bis(5-tert-butyl-benzoxazol-2-yl)thiophene also with a concentration of 5 g/L. The responses to neutron energies of 1.5 MeV, 2.5 MeV, and 19 MeV are measured at PTB in Braunschweig. The responses to neutron energies of 2.45 MeV and 14 MeV were measured at CTU in Prague using DD and DT reactions. The responses to a silicon filtered beam were measured at Research Centre Řež. The measurements were processed using a two-parameter spectrometric system NGA-01 to discriminate neutrons from gamma rays. The obtained responses are dominated by recoil protons from elastic collisions of neutrons with hydrogen atoms. The edge of the response of recoil protons gives information about the light output of neutrons, compared to gamma rays for the same radiation energy. The light output function for protons in the PYR5/DIPN scintillator is L(Ep)=0.6294Ep−1.00(1−exp(−0.4933Ep0.95)). The light output function for protons in the THIO5/DIPN scintillator is L(Ep)=0.6323Ep−1.00(1−exp(−0.4986Ep0.9883)). The light output functions well resemble the standard shape, and they are quite similar to each other. That suggests a weak influence of the luminophore on the light output function. The light output functions are ready to be incorporated to the response matrix for the neutron energy spectra determination

Response to Mono-Energetic Neutrons and Light Output Function for Liquid Organic Scintillators PYR5/DIPN and THIO5/DIPN

Liquid organic scintillators are important devices for measurements of neutron radiation. Currently, large-scale liquid organic scintillators have capabilities of detecting neutrons, but the determination of the neutron energy spectra is a challenge. This work aims to measure the responses of two liquid two-component scintillators to mono-energetic neutron radiation and to determine their light output function, which is necessary for proper neutron energy spectra determination. Both scintillators are composed of the solvent di-iso-propyl-naphthalene (DIPN) mixed isomers. The first scintillator, labeled PYR5/DIPN, contains the luminophore 1-phenyl-3-(2,4,6-trimethyl-phenyl)-2-pyrazoline with a concentration of 5 g/L. The second scintillator labeled THIO5/DIPN contains the luminophore 2,5-bis(5-tert-butyl-benzoxazol-2-yl)thiophene also with a concentration of 5 g/L. The responses to neutron energies of 1.5 MeV, 2.5 MeV, and 19 MeV are measured at PTB in Braunschweig. The responses to neutron energies of 2.45 MeV and 14 MeV were measured at CTU in Prague using DD and DT reactions. The responses to a silicon filtered beam were measured at Research Centre Řež. The measurements were processed using a two-parameter spectrometric system NGA-01 to discriminate neutrons from gamma rays. The obtained responses are dominated by recoil protons from elastic collisions of neutrons with hydrogen atoms. The edge of the response of recoil protons gives information about the light output of neutrons, compared to gamma rays for the same radiation energy. The light output function for protons in the PYR5/DIPN scintillator is L(Ep)=0.6294Ep−1.00(1−exp(−0.4933Ep0.95)). The light output function for protons in the THIO5/DIPN scintillator is L(Ep)=0.6323Ep−1.00(1−exp(−0.4986Ep0.9883)). The light output functions well resemble the standard shape, and they are quite similar to each other. That suggests a weak influence of the luminophore on the light output function. The light output functions are ready to be incorporated to the response matrix for the neutron energy spectra determination