arXiv subjects

Kenichi Nagaoka

Publications and source records attributed to Kenichi Nagaoka.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Conceptual design of Thomson scattering system with high wavelength resolution in magnetically confined plasmas for electron phase-space measurements

We discuss the conceptual design of a spatially-resolved spectroscopy system of Thomson scattering with high wavelength resolution capable of measuring the shape of electron velocity distribution functions in magnetically confined plasmas. We design a spatially-resolved spectrometer with 2560 wavelength channels. The estimated number of scattered photons in a single spectrometer channel is much larger than unity under the experimental setup and plasma parameters of the Compact Helical Device (CHD), indicating sufficient photon statistics for single-shot measurements. Simulations of the scattered spectra show that the signal-to-noise ratio exceeds 5 even under the most unfavorable conditions expected in CHD at full spectral resolution, and further improves with post-processing pixel binning. Bayesian inference applied to the simulated spectra demonstrates that the inferred plasma parameters agree with the input values within the estimated uncertainties. Comparisons between spectra generated from non-Maxwellian electron velocity distribution functions and their Maxwellian fits indicate that deviations from Maxwellian distributions can be identified using the proposed system.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2025

Enhanced plasma heating via interaction with high-contrast laser and cone-shaped target

We investigated plasma heating enhancement using a high-intensity, high-contrast laser and a cone-attached target. Fast electron spectra and X-ray emission were measured with an electron spectrometer and a Bragg crystal spectrometer. The results were analyzed using PrismSPECT simulations with a two-component electron distribution model and empirical scaling laws. X-ray pinhole images showed that the cone effectively focused multi-spot laser light near its tip, enhancing local emission. While high-contrast laser irradiation reduced the fast electron slope temperature for flat targets, the use of a cone increased it by over threefold, corresponding to a fourfold rise in laser intensity. X-ray spectral analysis indicated an electron temperature of ~9~keV for the cone case, 17.5 times higher than that with a low-contrast laser. These findings demonstrate that combining high-contrast laser irradiation with cone-target geometry significantly improves laser energy coupling and plasma heating efficiency.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2024

Response of negative ion beamlet to RF field in beam extraction region

Beam-focusing characteristics of negative ion beams have been experimentally investigated with a superimposition of a controlled perturbation of RF field in a filament-arc discharge negative ion source. Oscillations of a negative-ion beamlet width and axis responding to the RF perturbation were observed, which may be a cause of the larger beam divergence angle of the RF negative ion source for ITER. It is pointed out that the oscillation of the beamlet width depends on the perveance and on the RF frequency such that the oscillation is suppressed at perveance-matched conditions and at low RF frequency.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2020

Study of the Dynamics of Convective Turbulence in the Solar Granulation by Spectral Line Broadening and Asymmetry

In the quiet regions on the solar surface, turbulent convective motions of granulation play an important role in creating small-scale magnetic structures, as well as in energy injection into the upper atmosphere. The turbulent nature of granulation can be studied using spectral line profiles, especially line broadening, which contains information on the flow field smaller than the spatial resolution of an instrument. Moreover, the Doppler velocity gradient along a line-of-sight (LOS) causes line broadening as well. However, the quantitative relationship between velocity gradient and line broadening has not been understood well. In this study, we perform bisector analyses using the spectral profiles obtained using the Spectro-Polarimeter of the Hinode/Solar Optical Telescope to investigate the relationship of line broadening and bisector velocities with the granulation flows. The results indicate that line broadening has a positive correlation with the Doppler velocity gradients along the LOS. We found excessive line broadening in fading granules, that cannot be explained only by the LOS velocity gradient, although the velocity gradient is enhanced in the process of fading. If this excessive line broadening is attributed to small-scale turbulent motions, the averaged turbulent velocity is obtained as 0.9 km/s.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2004

Anti-ExB flow field associated with a vortex formation in a partially ionized plasma

A high-density magnetized plasma has been studied for understanding of plasma dynamics in partially ionized plasmas. Ion flow field has been obtained experimentally, and is shown to be associated with a vortex formation. The most remarkable result is that the direction of rotation is opposite to that of the ExB drift. Measurement of neutral density profile reveals that there is a steep density gradient of the neutrals around the vortex, suggesting that the generation of inward momentum of the neutrals due to the density gradient. The momentum is transfered to ion with charge-exchange collision, and cause effective force on the ion. The present experiment shows that this effective force may dominate the ambipolar-electric field and drive the anti-ExB vortical motion of ions.

physics.plasm-ph↗