Capillary discharge-driven metal vapor plasma waveguides

Includes bibliographical references (pages 026413-6).We report the generation of dense plasma waveguides containing a large concentration of silver ions by means of a fast (~55 ns first half-cycle) microcapillary discharge. Concave plasma density profiles with axial electron density >1×1019 cm−3 were measured from discharge ablation of 330 or 440 μm diameter Ag2S capillaries with 3-5 kA peak amplitude current pulses. The dynamic of this plasma waveguide was studied with interferometry, absorption measurements, and hydrodynamic model simulations. The results are relevant to the development of efficient longitudinally pumped metal vapor soft x-ray lasers, in particular those employing transient excitation of Ni-like ions. An approach to the design of a gain saturated waveguided 13.9 nm laser in Ni-like Ag is discussed

Saturated 13.2 nm high-repetition-rate laser in nickel-like cadmium

Includes bibliographical references (page 2583).We report gain-saturated operation of a 13.2 nm tabletop laser in Ni-like Cd at a 5 Hz repetition rate. A gain-length product G×L=17.6 was obtained by heating a precreated plasma with 8 ps duration Ti:sapphirelaser pulses with an energy of only 1 J impinging at a grazing angle of 23°. With an average power of ~1 mW, this laser is an attractive coherent source for at-wavelength metrology of extreme UV lithography optics and other applications

Pile Burning After Conifer Removal From Aspen Stands Affects Tree Mortality, Regeneration, And Understory Recovery

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands throughout the western United States provide valuable ecosystem services but can be lost via succession from aspen to conifer. Forest managers are cutting conifers, but disposal of cut wood can be challenging in remote or sensitive areas. Piling and burning is being tested within aspen stands but ecosystem responses to this treatment are understudied. We assessed aspen tree mortality, tree regeneration, and understory vegetation after forest restoration thinning followed by pile burning in seven aspen-conifer stands around Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada, USA. Pile burning was conducted after cut wood had dried (1.5–7.5 years post cutting). Pile burning was more likely to kill aspen trees closer to piles regardless of tree size or pile size. Aspen regenerated rapidly inside the footprint of some burned piles, more often inside piles located in close proximity to other aspen, presumably by suckering from lateral roots beneath burned piles. Similarly, areas where higher densities of conifers were regenerating naturally were indicative of a greater likelihood for conifer regeneration inside pile footprints. Understory vegetation varied within and among study sites, and had similar vegetation cover and species richness inside pile footprints to vegetation in the vicinity of each pile. Overall, understory vegetation had mostly recovered after 2.5–8.5 years since pile burning. Thinning followed by burning of hand piles and smaller machine piles appears to be effective at promoting regeneration of aspen without lasting impact on understory vegetation. However, without further disturbance such as continued cutting and piling or use of prescribed fire, we caution that succession to conifer appears to continue, albeit slowly, via seedling regeneration

Pulse duration measurements of grazing-incidence-pumped high repetition rate Ni-like Ag and Cd transient soft x-ray lasers

Includes bibliographical references (page 3045).We have measured the pulse duration of gain-saturated 13.9 nm Ni-like Ag and 13.2 nm Ni-like Cd transient collisional lasers excited by grazing-incidence-pumping for several pumping conditions. High-resolution streak-camera measurements yielded FWHM pulse durations close to 5 ps for both lasers under optimum pumping conditions. The very high brightness and short pulse duration of these new high repetition tabletop soft x-ray lasers make them an attractive source for dynamic applications

Saturated high-repetition-rate 18.9-nm tabletop laser in nickel-like molybdenum

Includes bibliographical references (page 167).We report saturated operation of an 18.9-nm laser at 5-Hz repetition rate. An amplification with a gain-length product GL of 15.5 is obtained in the 4d 1S0―4p 1P1 laser line of Ni-like Mo in plasmas heated at grazing incidence with ~1-J pulses of 8.1-ps duration from a tabletop laser system. Lasing is obtained over a broad range of time delays and pumping conditions. We also measure a GL of 13.5 in the 22.6-nm transition of the same ion. The results are of interest for numerous applications requiring high-repetition-rate lasers at wavelengths below 20 nm

76-Year Decline and Recovery of Aspen Mediated by Contrasting Fire Regimes: Long-Unburned, Infrequent and Frequent Mixed-Severity Wildfire

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a valued, minor component on northeastern California landscapes. It provides a wide range of ecosystem services and has been in decline throughout the region for the last century. This decline may be explained partially by the lack of fire on the landscape due to heavier fire suppression, as aspen benefit from fire that eliminates conifer competition and stimulates reproduction through root suckering. However, there is little known about how aspen stand area changes in response to overlapping fire. Our study area in northeastern California on the Lassen, Modoc and Plumas National Forests has experienced recent large mixed-severity wildfires where aspen was present, providing an opportunity to study the re-introduction of fire. We observed two time periods; a 52-year absence of fire from 1941 to 1993 preceding a 24-year period of wildfire activity from 1993 to 2017. We utilized aerial photos and satellite imagery to delineate aspen stands and assess conifer cover percent. We chose aspen stands in areas where wildfires overlapped (twice-burned), where only a single wildfire burned, and areas that did not burn within the recent 24-year period. We observed these same stands within the first period of fire exclusion for comparison (i.e., 1941–1993). In the absence of fire, all aspen stand areas declined and all stands experienced increases in conifer composition. After wildfire, stands that burned experienced a release from conifer competition and increased in stand area. Stands that burned twice or at high severity experienced a larger removal of conifer competition than stands that burned once at low severity, promoting expansion of aspen stand area. Stands with less edge:area ratio also expanded in area more with fire present. Across both time periods, stand movement, where aspen stand footprints were mostly in new areas compared to footprints of previous years, was highest in smaller stands. In the fire exclusion period, smaller stands exhibited greater loss of area and changes in location (movement) than in the return of fire period, highlighting their vulnerability to loss via succession to conifers in the absence of disturbances that provide adequate growing space for aspen over time

High repetition rate collisional soft x-ray lasers based on grazing incidence pumping

We discuss the demonstration of gain-saturated high repetition rate table-top soft x-ray lasers producing microwatt average powers at wavelengths ranging from 13.9 to 33 nm. The results were obtained heating a pre-created plasma with a picosecond optical laser pulse impinging at grazing incidence onto a pre-created plasma. This pumping geometry increases the energy deposition efficiency of the pump beam into the gain region, making it possible to saturate soft x-ray lasers in this wavelength range with a short pulse pump energy of only 1 J at 800 nm wavelength. Results corresponding to 5 Hz repetition rate operation of gain-saturated 14.7 nm Ni-like Pd and 32.6 nm line Ne-like Ti lasers pumped by a table-top Ti:sapphire laser are reported. We also discuss results obtained using a 1 {omega} 1054 nm pre-pulse and 2{omega} 527 nm short pulse from a Nd:glass pump laser. This work demonstrates the feasibility of producing compact high average power soft x-ray lasers for applications

Towards a public policy of cities and human settlements in the 21st century

Cities and other human settlements are major contributors to climate change and are highly vulnerable to its impacts. They are also uniquely positioned to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lead adaptation efforts. These compound challenges and opportunities require a comprehensive perspective on the public policy of human settlements. Drawing on core literature that has driven debate around cities and climate over recent decades, we put forward a set of boundary objects that can be applied to connect the knowledge of epistemic communities and support an integrated urbanism. We then use these boundary objects to develop the Goals-Intervention-Stakeholder-Enablers (GISE) framework for a public policy of human settlements that is both place-specific and provides insights and tools useful for climate action in cities and other human settlements worldwide. Using examples from Berlin, we apply this framework to show that climate mitigation and adaptation, public health, and well-being goals are closely linked and mutually supportive when a comprehensive approach to urban public policy is applied