SearcharxivSearch

arXiv subjects

Y. Maron

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Maron.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Hot Spot Evolution Measured by High-Resolution X-Ray Spectroscopy at the National Ignition Facility

Evolution of the hot spot plasma conditions was measured using high-resolution x-ray spectroscopy at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). The capsules were filled with DD gas with trace levels of Kr, and had either a high-density-carbon (HDC) ablator or a tungsten (W)-doped HDC ablator. Time-resolved measurement of the Kr He$\beta$ spectra, absolutely calibrated by a simultaneous time-integrated measurement, allows inference of the electron density and temperature through observing Stark broadening and the relative intensities of dielectronic satellites. By matching the calculated hot spot emission using a collisional-radiative code to experimental observations, the hot spot size and areal density are determined. These advanced spectroscopy techniques further reveal the effect of W dopant in the ablator on the hot spot parameters for their improved implosion performance.

physics.plasm-ph

Self-generated plasma rotation in a Z-pinch implosion with preembedded axial magnetic field

Using detailed spectroscopic measurements, highly-resolved in both time and space, a self-generated plasma rotation is demonstrated for the first time in a cylindrical Z-pinch implosion with a pre-embedded axial magnetic field. The plasma parameters and all three components of the magnetic field are resolved. The plasma is seen to rotate at a velocity comparable to the peak implosion velocity, considerably affecting the force and energy balance throughout the implosion. Moreover, the evolution of the rotation is consistent with magnetic flux surface isorotation, a novel observation in a Z-pinch.

physics.plasm-ph

Turbulent stagnation in a z-pinch plasma

The ion kinetic energy in a stagnating plasma was previously determined by Kroupp et al. (Kroupp et al., 2011), from Doppler-dominated lineshapes augmented by measurements of plasma properties and assuming a uniform-plasma model. Notably, the energy was found to be dominantly stored in hydrodynamic flow. Here, we advance a new description of this stagnation as supersonically turbulent. Such turbulence implies a non-uniform density distribution. We demonstrate how to re-analyze the spectroscopic data consistent with the turbulent picture, and show this leads to better concordance of the overconstrained spectroscopic measurements, while also substantially lowering the inferred mean density.

physics.plasm-ph

Electric fields in plasmas under pulsed currents

Electric fields in a plasma that conducts a high-current pulse are measured as a function of time and space. The experiment is performed using a coaxial configuration, in which a current rising to 160 kA in 100 ns is conducted through a plasma that prefills the region between two coaxial electrodes. The electric field is determined using laser spectroscopy and line-shape analysis. Plasma doping allows for 3D spatially resolved measurements. The measured peak magnitude and propagation velocity of the electric field is found to match those of the Hall electric field, inferred from the magnetic-field front propagation measured previously.

physics.plasm-ph

Accelerated Recombination due to Resonant Deexcitation of Metastable States

In a recombining plasma the metastable states are known to accumulate population thereby slowing down the recombination process. We show that an account of the doubly-excited autoionizing states, formed due to collisional recombination of metastable ions, results in a significant acceleration of recombination. A fully time-dependent collisional-radiative (CR) modeling for stripped ions of carbon recombining in a cold dense plasma demonstrates an order of magnitude faster recombination of He-like ions. The CR model used in calculations is discussed in detail.

physics.plasm-ph

Spectroscopic investigations of a dielectric-surface-discharge plasma source

Spectroscopic investigations of the properties of a plasma produced by a flashboard plasma source, commonly used in pulsed plasma experiments, are presented. The plasma is used to prefill a planar 0.4-ms-conduction time plasma opening switch (POS). A novel gas-doping technique and a secondary surface flashover plasma source are used to locally dope the plasma with gaseous and solid materials, respectively, allowing for spatially-resolved measurements. The electron density, temperature, and plasma composition are determined from spectral line intensities and line profiles. Detailed collisional-radiative modeling is used to analyze the observed line intensities. The propagation velocity and divergence angle of various ions are determined from time-of-flight measurements and Doppler broadening of spectral lines, respectively. This allows for distinguishing the secondary plasma ejected from the POS electrodes from the plasma of the flashboard source.

physics.plasm-ph

Novel Gas-Doping Technique for Local Spectroscopic Measurements in Pulsed-Power Systems

A novel method for doping plasmas in pulsed-power experiments with gaseous elements has been developed. A fast gas valve, a nozzle, and a skimmer are used to generate an ultrasonic gas beam that is injected into a planar-geometry microsecond plasma-opening-switch (POS). An array of ionization probes with relatively high spatial and temporal resolutions was developed for diagnosing the absolute injected-gas density and its spatial profile. The properties of the gas column were also studied using spectroscopy of line emission that results from the interaction of the doped gas with the POS prefilled plasma. The doped column is found to have a width of ~1 cm and a density of (0.8-1.7)*10^14 cm-3. Observations of characteristic emission lines from the doped atoms and their ions allow for various spectroscopic measurements, such as the magnetic field from Zeeman splitting and the ion velocity distributions from Doppler shifts, that are local in three dimensions. It is shown that this gas doping technique can also be used to study proton-dominated plasmas that cannot be studied with simple emission spectroscopy due to the lack of light emitting ions. The variety of gases used with this method, together with the small valve dimensions and its fast opening, make it potentially useful for broad diagnostics of various short-duration plasma experiments.

physics.plasm-ph

Electron Impact Excitation Cross Sections for Hydrogen-Like Ions

We present cross sections for electron-impact-induced transitions n --> n' in hydrogen-like ions C 5+, Ne 9+, Al 12+, and Ar 17+. The cross sections are computed by Coulomb-Born with exchange and normalization (CBE) method for all transitions with n < n' < 7 and by convergent close-coupling (CCC) method for transitions with n < n' < 5 in C 5+ and Al 12+. Cross sections 1s --> 2s and 1s --> 2p are presented as well. The CCC and CBE cross sections agree to better than 10% with each other and with earlier close-coupling results (available for transition 1 --> 2 only). Analytical expression for n --> n' cross sections and semiempirical formulae are discussed.

atom-ph

Electron impact excitation cross sections for allowed transitions in atoms

We present a semiempirical Gaunt factor for widely used Van Regemorter formula [Astrophys. J. 136, 906 (1962)] for the case of allowed transitions in atoms with the LS coupling scheme. Cross sections calculated using this Gaunt factor agree with measured cross sections to within the experimental error.

atom-ph