123 research outputs found

    Kinetic simulations of X-B and O-X-B mode conversion and its deterioration at high input power

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    Spherical tokamak plasmas are typically overdense and thus inaccessible to externally-injected microwaves in the electron cyclotron range. The electrostatic electron Bernstein wave (EBW), however, provides a method to access the plasma core for heating and diagnostic purposes. Understanding the details of the coupling process to electromagnetic waves is thus important both for the interpretation of microwave diagnostic data and for assessing the feasibility of EBW heating and current drive. While the coupling is reasonably well-understood in the linear regime, nonlinear physics arising from high input power has not been previously quantified. To tackle this problem, we have performed one- and two-dimensional fully kinetic particle-in-cell simulations of the two possible coupling mechanisms, namely X-B and O-X-B mode conversion. We find that the ion dynamics has a profound effect on the field structure in the nonlinear regime, as high amplitude short-scale oscillations of the longitudinal electric field are excited in the region below the high-density cut-off prior to the arrival of the EBW. We identify this effect as the instability of the X wave with respect to resonant scattering into an EBW and a lower-hybrid wave. We calculate the instability rate analytically and find this basic theory to be in reasonable agreement with our simulation results

    TMJ response to mandibular advancement surgery: an overview of risk factors

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    Objective: In order to understand the conflicting information on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathophysiologic responses after mandibular advancement surgery, an overview of the literature was proposed with a focus on certain risk factors. Methods: A literature search was carried out in the Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases in the period from January 1980 through March 2013. Various combinations of keywords related to TMJ changes [disc displacement, arthralgia, condylar resorption (CR)] and aspects of surgical intervention (fixation technique, amount of advancement) were used. A hand search of these papers was also carried out to identify additional articles. Results: A total of 148 articles were considered for this overview and, although methodological troubles were common, this review identified relevant findings which the practitioner can take into consideration during treatment planning: 1- Surgery was unable to influence TMJ with preexisting displaced disc and crepitus; 2- Clicking and arthralgia were not predictable after surgery, although there was greater likelihood of improvement rather than deterioration; 3- The amount of mandibular advancement and counterclockwise rotation, and the rigidity of the fixation technique seemed to influence TMJ position and health; 4- The risk of CR increased, especially in identified high-risk cases. Conclusions: Young adult females with mandibular retrognathism and increased mandibular plane angle are susceptible to painful TMJ, and are subject to less improvement after surgery and prone to CR. Furthermore, thorough evidenced-based studies are required to understand the response of the TMJ after mandibular advancement surgery

    Synchrotron emission from the ring electrons in EBT

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    The energy spectrum of the synchrotron radiation emitted by the relativistic ring electrons in ELMP bumpy Torus (EBT) has been calculated for various classes of isotropic and anisotropic ring electron distribution functions. Calculations have been carried out for present (EBT-I/S) and planned (EBT-P) experiments. The ring temperatures in EBT-I and EBT-S are approx. 200 and approx. 500 keV, respectively. The projected ring temperature in EBT-P is approx. 1000 to 1500 keV. The calculations indicate that the radiation is predominantly in higher harmonics (l greater than or equal to ..gamma../sup 2//2) and the radiation spectrum monotonically decreases and becomes almost flat at high frequencies, as observed in the experiments. With increasing temperature and anisotropy, the total emission increases, the slope of the spectrum decreases, and the peak of the spectrum moves to higher frequency. Correlations of calculated intensity variations with temperature, density, beta, anisotropy, etc., are given that can be used as a useful tool for comparison of theory and experiment, as well as in the determination of ring properties and scaling of the radiation with ring parameters
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