3,466 research outputs found
Using the X-FEL to understand X-ray Thomson scattering for partially ionized plasmas
For the last decade numerous researchers have been trying to develop
experimental techniques to use X-ray Thomson scattering as a method to measure
the temperature, electron density, and ionization state of high energy density
plasmas such as those used in inertial confinement fusion. With the advent of
the X-ray free electron laser (X-FEL) at the SLAC Linac Coherent Light Source
(LCLS) we now have such a source available in the keV regime. One challenge
with X-ray Thomson scattering experiments is understanding how to model the
scattering for partially ionized plasmas. Most Thomson scattering codes used to
model experimental data greatly simplify or neglect the contributions of the
bound electrons to the scattered intensity. In this work we take the existing
models of Thomson scattering that include elastic ion-ion scattering and the
electron-electron plasmon scattering and add the contribution of the bound
electrons in the partially ionized plasmas. Except for hydrogen plasmas almost
every plasma that is studied today has bound electrons and it is important to
understand their contribution to the Thomson scattering, especially as new
X-ray sources such as the X-FEL will allow us to study much higher Z plasmas.
Currently most experiments have looked at hydrogen or beryllium. We will first
look at the bound electron contributions to beryllium by analysing existing
experimental data. We then consider several higher Z materials such as Cr and
predict the existence of additional peaks in the scattering spectrum that
requires new computational tools to understand. For a Sn plasma we show that
the bound contributions changes the shape of the scattered spectrum in a way
that would change the plasma temperature and density inferred by the
experiment.Comment: 13th International Conference on X-ray Lasers Paris, France June 10,
2012 through June 15, 201
Average-Atom Model for X-ray Scattering from Warm Dense Matter
A scheme for analyzing Thomson scattering of x-rays by warm dense matter,
based on the average-atom model, is developed. Emphasis is given to x-ray
scattering by bound electrons. Contributions to the scattered x-ray spectrum
from elastic scattering by electrons moving with the ions and from inelastic
scattering by free and bound electrons are evaluated using parameters (chemical
potential, average ionic charge, free electron density, bound and continuum
wave functions, and occupation numbers) taken from the average-atom model. The
resulting scheme provides a relatively simple diagnostic for use in connection
with x-ray scattering measurements. Applications are given to dense hydrogen,
beryllium, aluminum, titanium, and tin plasmas. At high momentum transfer,
contributions from inelastic scattering by bound electrons are dominant
features of the scattered x-ray spectrum for aluminum, titanium, and tin.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figures Presentation at Workshop IV: Computational
Challenges in Warm Dense Matter at IPAM (UCLA) May 21 - 25, 201
Shuttle Ku-band and S-band communications implementations study
The interfaces between the Ku-band system and the TDRSS, between the S-band system and the TDRSS, GSTDN and SGLS networks, and between the S-band payload communication equipment and the other Orbiter avionic equipment were investigated. The principal activities reported are: (1) performance analysis of the payload narrowband bent-pipe through the Ku-band communication system; (2) performance evaluation of the TDRSS user constraints placed on the S-band and Ku-band communication systems; (3) assessment of the shuttle-unique S-band TDRSS ground station false lock susceptibility; (4) development of procedure to make S-band antenna measurements during orbital flight; (5) development of procedure to make RFI measurements during orbital flight to assess the performance degradation to the TDRSS S-band communication link; and (6) analysis of the payload interface integration problem areas
X-ray Thomson scattering for partially ionized plasmas including the effect of bound levels
X-ray Thomson scattering is being developed as a method to measure the
temperature, electron density, and ionization state of high energy density
plasmas such as those used in inertial confinement fusion. Most experiments are
currently done at large laser facilities that can create bright X-ray sources,
however the advent of the X-ray free electron laser (X-FEL) provides a new
bright source to use in these experiments. One challenge with X-ray Thomson
scattering experiments is understanding how to model the scattering for
partially ionized plasmas in order to include the contributions of the bound
electrons in the scattered intensity. In this work we take the existing models
of Thomson scattering that include elastic ion-ion scattering and the
electron-electron plasmon scattering and add the contribution of the bound
electrons in the partially ionized plasmas. We validated our model by analyzing
existing beryllium experimental data. We then consider several higher Z
materials such as Cr and predict the existence of additional peaks in the
scattering spectrum that requires new computational tools to understand. We
also show examples of experiments in CH and Al that have bound contributions
that change the shape of the scattered spectra.Comment: SPIE 2013 Optics and Photonics, San Diego, CA, United States August
25, 2013 through August 29, 2013. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap
with arXiv:1212.5972, arXiv:1207.507
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The European Climate Research Alliance (ECRA): collaboration from bottom-up
The European Climate Research Alliance (ECRA) is an association of leading European research institutions in the field of climate research (http://www.ecra-climate.eu/, last access: 6 December 2018). ECRA is a bottom-up initiative and helps to facilitate the development of climate change research, combining the capacities of national research institutions, and inducing closer ties between existing national research initiatives, projects and infrastructures. ECRA works as an open platform to bring together climate researchers, providing excellent scientific expertise for policy makers and of societal relevance. The ECRA Board consists of representatives of ECRA partners and decides on governance, scientific priorities, and organisational matters.
Currently organized into four Collaborative Programmes, climate scientists share their knowledge, experience and expertise to identify the most important research requirements for the future, thus developing a foresight approach. The CPs cover the topics: (1) Arctic variability and change, (2) Sea level changes and coastal impacts, (3) Changes in the hydrological cycle and (4) High impact events. The CP activities are planned in workshops and participation is open to all interested scientists from the relevant research fields. In particular, young researchers are actively encouraged to join the network. Each CP develops its joint research priorities for shaping European research into the future. Because scientific themes are interconnected, the four Collaborative Programmes interact with each other, e.g. through the organization of common workshops or joint applications. In addition, the Collaborative Programme leads attend the Board meetings.
The different formats of ECRA meetings range from scientific workshops to briefing events and side events at conferences to involve different groups of interests. This facilitates the interaction of scientists, various stakeholder groups and politicians. A biennial open ECRA General Assembly that is organised in Brussels represents an umbrella event and acts as a platform for discussion and contact with stakeholders. This event is an excellent opportunity to jointly discuss research priorities of high societal relevance
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Searching for plasmas with anomalous dispersion in the soft X-ray regime
Over the last decade the electron density of plasmas has been measured using X-ray laser interferometers in the 14 to 47 nm wavelength regime. With the same formula used in decades of experiments with optical interferometers, the data analysis assumes the index of refraction is due only to the free electrons, which makes the index less than one. Over the last several years, interferometer experiments in C, Al, Ag, and Sn plasmas have observed plasmas with index of refraction greater than one at 14 or 47 nm and demonstrated unequivocally that the usual formula for calculating the index of refraction is not always valid as the contribution from bound electrons can dominate the free electrons in certain cases. In this paper we search for other materials with strong anomalous dispersion that could be used in X-ray laser interferometer experiments to help understand this phenomena. An average atom code is used to calculate the plasma properties. This paper discusses the calculations of anomalous dispersion in Ne and Na plasmas near 47 nm and Xe plasmas near 14 nm. With the advent of the FLASH X-ray free electron laser in Germany and the LCLS X-FEL coming online at Stanford in 2 years the average atom code will be an invaluable tool to explore plasmas at higher X-ray energy to identify potential experiments for the future. During the next decade X-ray free electron lasers and other X-ray sources will be used to probe a wider variety of plasmas at higher densities and shorter wavelengths so understanding the index of refraction in plasmas will be even more essential
Public perceptions of how alcohol consumption is dealt with in Swedish and Norwegian health care
Can screening and brief intervention lead to population-level reductions in alcohol-related harm?
A distinction is made between the clinical and public health justifications for screening and brief intervention (SBI) against hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption. Early claims for a public health benefit of SBI derived from research on general medical practitioners' (GPs') advice on smoking cessation, but these claims have not been realized, mainly because GPs have not incorporated SBI into their routine practice. A recent modeling exercise estimated that, if all GPs in England screened every patient at their next consultation, 96% of the general population would be screened over 10 years, with 70-79% of excessive drinkers receiving brief interventions (BI); assuming a 10% success rate, this would probably amount to a population-level effect of SBI. Thus, a public health benefit for SBI presupposes widespread screening; but recent government policy in England favors targeted versus universal screening, and in Scotland screening is based on new registrations and clinical presentation. A recent proposal for a national screening program was rejected by the UK National Health Service's National Screening Committee because 1) there was no good evidence that SBI led to reductions in mortality or morbidity, and 2) a safe, simple, precise, and validated screening test was not available. Even in countries like Sweden and Finland, where expensive national programs to disseminate SBI have been implemented, only a minority of the population has been asked about drinking during health-care visits, and a minority of excessive drinkers has been advised to cut down. Although there has been research on the relationship between treatment for alcohol problems and population-level effects, there has been no such research for SBI, nor have there been experimental investigations of its relationship with population-level measures of alcohol-related harm. These are strongly recommended. In this article, conditions that would allow a population-level effect of SBI to occur are reviewed, including their political acceptability. It is tentatively concluded that widespread dissemination of SBI, without the implementation of alcohol control measures, might have indirect influences on levels of consumption and harm but would be unlikely on its own to result in public health benefits. However, if and when alcohol control measures were introduced, SBI would still have an important role in the battle against alcohol-related harm
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