Physics of Complex Plasmas.

Physics of complex plasmas is a wide and varied field. In the context of this PhD thesis I present the major results from my research on fundamental properties of the plasma sheath, the plasma dust interaction, non-Hamiltonian dynamics, and on non-equilibrium phase transitions, using complex plasmas as a model system. The first chapter provides a short overview of the development of physics of Complex Plasmas. From fundamental plasma physics, properties of dust in plasmas, to the exceptional and unique features of complex plasmas. A summary of twenty years of research topics is also presented. This is followed by three chapters that illustrate publications based on experiments I did during my PhD. These publications, in my opinion, reflect nicely the large diversity of complex plasma research. • The investigation of nonlinear vertical oscillations of a particle in a sheath of an rf discharge was a simultaneous test of (pre-)sheath models and parameters. The nonlinear oscillations were shown to derive from a (strong) nonlinearity of the local sheath potential. They could be described quantitatively applying the theory of anharmonic oscillations, and the first two anharmonic terms in an expansion of the sheath potential were measured. On top of that we provided a simple experimentally, theoretically and mathematically based method that allows for in situ measurement of these coefficients for other experimental conditions. • The vertical pairing of identical particles suspended in the plasma sheath demonstrated some of the unique features that complex plasmas have as an open (non-Hamiltonian) system. Particle interaction becomes non-reciprocal in the presence of streaming ions. The symmetry breaking allows for mode-coupling of in plane and out of plane motion of particles. • Lane formation is a non-equilibrium phase transition. I summarize the main result of my papers on the dynamics of lane formation, i.e., the temporal evolution of lanes. This is followed by an outlook on my future research on non-equilibrium phase transitions, how they relate to our research of systems at the critical point, and how they allow us to test fundamental theories of charging of particles and the shielding of the resulting surface potential. Finally there is an appendix on the scaling index method. A versatile mathematical tool to quantify structural differences / peculiarities in data, that I used to define a suitable order parameter for lane formation

Temporal Variations in Fibril Orientation

We measure variations in orientation of fourteen dynamic fibrils as a function of time in a small isolated plage and nearby network using a 10-min time sequence of H-alpha filtergrams obtained by the Dutch Open Telescope. We found motions with average angular velocities of the order of 1 deg/min suggesting systematic turning from one limit position to another, particularly apparent in the case of fibrils with lifetimes of a few minutes. Shorter fibrils tend to turn faster than longer ones, which we interpret as due to vortex flows in the underlying granulation that twist magnetic fields.Comment: In press,"Physics of Chromospheric Plasmas" (Coimbra), ASP 368, 115 (2007

Jet ventilation vid luftvägskirurgi : Betydelse av ventilationsmode och frekvens for ventilationens effektivitet

In surgery for airway obstruction, the anesthetist and the ear-nose-throat surgeon share the approach to the airway and jet ventilation (JV) is a mutually convenient ventilation technique for both parties. As a consequence of the open system jet ventilation is applied in, bedside measurements of lung volumes are cumbersome to perform and thus, there is a lack of studies comparing different modes of JV or investigating the influence of ventilator settings on lung volumes and gas exchange. In this thesis, single frequency jet ventilation and superimposed high frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) at different frequencies are systematically compared with respect to lung volume changes, underlying airway pressure variations and the resulting gas exchange. We compared three single-frequency JV modalities with SHFJV in patients. Moreover, we performed a systematic investigation of single frequency JV and SHFJV in a porcine model. Single frequency JV and SHFJV were compared frequency-wise in intact airways and in a newly developed model of tracheal obstruction. This model was also used to assess the influence of variable airway diameter on ventilation effectiveness during SHFJV. We measured chest wall volume variations with opto-electronic plethysmography and obtained airway pressures as well as gas exchange parameters. In unobstructed airways, both single-frequency JV and SHFJV provided adequate oxygenation, despite differences in lung volumes. Carbon dioxide removal was most effective using single frequency JV at a frequency of 150 min-1. During SHFJV, for both intact and obstructed airways, the choice of frequency for the high frequency component had little influence on lung volumes, airway pressures and gas exchange. With decreasing airway diameter and SHFJV, we observed air trapping and lower tidal volumes and acceptable oxygenation. Carbon dioxide removal, however, was insufficient at the narrowest airway diameter. In single frequency JV, very high frequencies resulted in negligible tidal volume and inacceptable gas exchange. Airway obstruction potentiated this frequency dependence. In conclusion, in intact airways, single frequency JV at sufficiently low frequencies provided adequate oxygenation and better CO2 removal than SHFJV. With decreasing airway diameter, SHFJV provided better oxygenation and CO2 removal and may therefore be the mode of choice in more complicated cases

Void instabilities and void oscillations in complex plasmas

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Influence of Tracheal Obstruction on the Efficacy of Superimposed High-frequency Jet Ventilation and Single-frequency Jet Ventilation

Both superimposed high-frequency jet ventilation (SHFJV) and single-frequency (high-frequency) jet ventilation (HFJV) have been used with success for airway surgery, but SHFJV has been found to provide higher lung volumes and better gas exchange than HFJV in unobstructed airways. The authors systematically compared the ventilation efficacy of SHFJV and HFJV at different ventilation frequencies in a model of tracheal obstruction and describe the frequency and obstruction dependence of SHFJV efficacy

Cryo-EM analysis of homodimeric full-length LRRK2 and LRRK1 protein complexes

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a large multidomain protein implicated in the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), and currently one of the most promising therapeutic targets for drug design in Parkinson's disease. In contrast, LRRK1, the closest homologue to LRRK2, does not play any role in PD. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and single particle analysis to gain structural insight into the full-length dimeric structures of LRRK2 and LRRK1. Differential scanning fluorimetry-based screening of purification buffers showed that elution of the purified LRRK2 protein in a high pH buffer is beneficial in obtaining high quality cryo-EM images. Next, analysis of the 3D maps generated from the cryo-EM data show 16 and 25 Å resolution structures of full length LRRK2 and LRRK1, respectively, revealing the overall shape of the dimers with two-fold symmetric orientations of the protomers that is closely similar between the two proteins. These results suggest that dimerization mechanisms of both LRRKs are closely related and hence that specificities in functions of each LRRK are likely derived from LRRK2 and LRRK1's other biochemical functions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide 3D structural insights in LRRK2 and LRRK1 dimers in parallel.status: publishe

Cryo-EM analysis of homodimeric full-length LRRK2 and LRRK1 protein complexes

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a large multidomain protein implicated in the pathogenesis of both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), and currently one of the most promising therapeutic targets for drug design in Parkinson's disease. In contrast, LRRK1, the closest homologue to LRRK2, does not play any role in PD. Here, we use cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and single particle analysis to gain structural insight into the full-length dimeric structures of LRRK2 and LRRK1. Differential scanning fluorimetry-based screening of purification buffers showed that elution of the purified LRRK2 protein in a high pH buffer is beneficial in obtaining high quality cryo-EM images. Next, analysis of the 3D maps generated from the cryo-EM data show 16 and 25 Å resolution structures of full length LRRK2 and LRRK1, respectively, revealing the overall shape of the dimers with two-fold symmetric orientations of the protomers that is closely similar between the two proteins. These results suggest that dimerization mechanisms of both LRRKs are closely related and hence that specificities in functions of each LRRK are likely derived from LRRK2 and LRRK1's other biochemical functions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide 3D structural insights in LRRK2 and LRRK1 dimers in parallel