New type of metal ion source: Surface diffusion Li⁺ ion source

A surface diffusion metal ion source, a new type of metal ion source, is explored. In this device a field desorption process is used to achieve an almost monoenergetic continuous flux of Li+ ions from a [111]‐oriented W field emitter. Earlier difficulties with the continuous supply of adatoms, required to produce measurable desorption rates, were overcome by making use of solid state surface diffusion from the Li multilayer reservoir at the shank of the field emitter. The high density of the ion beam (an ion current of 10−12 A was achieved from a W trimer), the extremely narrow energy distribution (full width at half‐maximum of 0.25 eV) and the stable geometric form of the emitter itself during the operation are advantages of the new ion source which may be important in different areas of nanotechnology

Weibel instability and associated strong fields in a fully 3D simulation of a relativistic shock

Plasma instabilities (e.g., Buneman, Weibel and other two-stream instabilities) excited in collisionless shocks are responsible for particle (electron, positron, and ion) acceleration. Using a new 3-D relativistic particle-in-cell code, we have investigated the particle acceleration and shock structure associated with an unmagnetized relativistic electron-positron jet propagating into an unmagnetized electron-positron plasma. The simulation has been performed using a long simulation system in order to study the nonlinear stages of the Weibel instability, the particle acceleration mechanism, and the shock structure. Cold jet electrons are thermalized and slowed while the ambient electrons are swept up to create a partially developed hydrodynamic (HD) like shock structure. In the leading shock, electron density increases by a factor of 3.5 in the simulation frame. Strong electromagnetic fields are generated in the trailing shock and provide an emission site. We discuss the possible implication of our simulation results within the AGN and GRB context.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, ApJ Letters, in pres

Field desorption of lithium

Absolute appearance energies of field-desorbed Li+ ions were obtained from mass-to-charge resolved retarding potential analyses of Li+ emitted from the first and second Li layer on W(111). Activation energies for Li+ field desorption were derived from desorption rate measurements. The field-independent binding energy of Li adatoms has been found from field-dependent Li+ appearance and activation energy values, indicating a negligible field-induced charge transfer in the applied field range. We use the cluster embedded in jellium model, based on density-functional theory, to interpret the data by calculating local field enhancements, surface potentials, and activation energies for Li field desorption as a function of field strength and surface coverage as well as geometry

Radiation from relativistic jets

Nonthermal radiation observed from astrophysical systems containing relativistic jets and shocks, e.g., gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and Galactic microquasar systems usually have power-law emission spectra. Recent PIC simulations of relativistic electron-ion (electron-positron) jets injected into a stationary medium show that particle acceleration occurs within the downstream jet. In the presence of relativistic jets, instabilities such as the Buneman instability, other two-streaming instability, and the Weibel (filamentation) instability create collisionless shocks, which are responsible for particle (electron, positron, and ion) acceleration. The simulation results show that the Weibel instability is responsible for generating and amplifying highly nonuniform, small-scale magnetic fields. These magnetic fields contribute to the electron's transverse deflection behind the jet head. The ``jitter'' radiation from deflected electrons in small-scale magnetic fields has different properties than synchrotron radiation which is calculated in a uniform magnetic field. This jitter radiation, a case of diffusive synchrotron radiation, may be important to understand the complex time evolution and/or spectral structure in gamma-ray bursts, relativistic jets, and supernova remnants.Comment: 8 pages,3 figures, accepted for the Proceedings of Science of the Workshop on Blazar Variability across the Electromagnetic Spectrum, April 22 to 25, 200

Magnetic Field Generation in Core-Sheath Jets via the Kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability

We have investigated magnetic field generation in velocity shears via the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (kKHI) using a relativistic plasma jet core and stationary plasma sheath. Our three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations consider plasma jet cores with Lorentz factors of 1.5, 5, and 15 for both electron-proton and electron-positron plasmas. For electron-proton plasmas we find generation of strong large-scale DC currents and magnetic fields which extend over the entire shear-surface and reach thicknesses of a few tens of electron skin depths. For electron-positron plasmas we find generation of alternating currents and magnetic fields. Jet and sheath plasmas are accelerated across the shear surface in the strong magnetic fields generated by the kKHI. The mixing of jet and sheath plasmas generates transverse structure similar to that produced by the Weibel instability.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures, in press, ApJ, September 10, 201

Frequency-domain analysis for pulsating combustion of gaseous fuel

Pulsating combustion is among combustion control methods used to suppress formation of NOx. Past experiments showed that the dependency of NOx content from pulsation rate has a minimum. A measuring unit was set up to study torch behavior in infrared band. To study pulsating combustion of gaseous fuel a thermographic camera was used. Thermographic sequences were recorded using the instrument FLIR 7700M with the resolution of 320×240 pixels at the frame rate of 412 Hz. The experiments resulted in obtaining thermographic sequences radiation intensity fields in the longitudinal section of the torch at different pulsation rates. The obtained raw data was preprocessed to obtain distributions of quantities of pixels corresponding to temperatures in each frame, as well as time-domain series for changes of the torch core longitudinal section area. Frequency-domain analysis was run for each time-domain series using Fast Fourier transform (FFT). The results demonstrate that the first maximum of spectral density coincides with the control action rate. The spectrum also contains pronounced second and third harmonics. For each spectrum of the time-domain series signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was calculated. Comparison of different SNR shows that maximum impact of pulsation control on torch radiation intensity takes place at the on/off valve opening rate of 4 Hz. This method of torch diagnostics can be helpful for future studies and development of pulsating combustion control systems. © 2017 Author(s)

Radiation from relativistic jets in turbulent magnetic fields

Using our new 3-D relativistic electromagnetic particle (REMP) code parallelized with MPI, we have investigated long-term particle acceleration associated with an relativistic electron-positron jet propagating in an unmagnetized ambient electron-positron plasma. The simulations have been performed using a much longer simulation system than our previous simulations in order to investigate the full nonlinear stage of the Weibel instability and its particle acceleration mechanism. Cold jet electrons are thermalized and ambient electrons are accelerated in the resulting shocks. The acceleration of ambient electrons leads to a maximum ambient electron density three times larger than the original value. Behind the bow shock in the jet shock strong electromagnetic fields are generated. These fields may lead to the afterglow emission. We have calculated the time evolution of the spectrum from two electrons propagating in a uniform parallel magnetic field to verify the technique.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figures, submitted for the Proceedings of The Sixth Huntsville Gamma-Ray Burst Symposium 2008, Huntsville, AL, October 20-23, 200