Thomson Scattering Measurements of Plasma Dynamics

Thomson Scattering Measurements of Plasma Dynamics PDF Author: S. H. Glenzer
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 4

Book Description
The authors propose to investigate the dynamics of plasmas in the warm dense matter (WDM) regime on ultra-short time scales. Accessible plasma conditions are in the density range of n = 10{sup 20} - 10{sup 23} cm{sup -3} and at moderate temperatures of T = 1 - 20 eV. These plasmas are of importance for laboratory astrophysics, high energy density science and inertial confinement fusion. They are characterized by a coupling parameter of {Lambda} {approx}> 1, where electromagnetic interactions are of the same order as the kinetic energy. The high density of the plasma makes it opaque to radiation in the visible range and, as a consequence, UV up to x-ray radiation can be used to probe such systems. Therefore a wide range in the temperature-density plane of WDM is presently unexplored and only the VUV-FEL opens for the first time the opportunity for its detailed investigation. In equilibrium, the macroscopic state of the plasma is completely characterized by its density and temperature. In pump-probe experiments however, the plasma is initially in a nonequilibrium state and relaxes towards equilibrium within the relaxation time {tau}{sub R}. For t> {tau}{sub R}, the plasma is in an equilibrium state and expands hydrodynamically on a time scale {tau}{sub H}. The proposed experiment measures the time-resolved Thomson scattering signal with the VUV-FEL radiation characterizing the plasma in equilibrium and nonequilibrium states. Both regimes are extremely interesting and will provide new insight into the following phenomena: (1) details of nonequilibrium correlations, (2) relaxation phenomena, (3) hydrodynamic expansion, (4) recombination kinetics. The time-resolved Thomson scattering signal is obtained in a pump-probe experiment by varying the delay between pump and probe. The final stage of the relaxation process (t {approx} {tau}{sub R}) is of special interest since the plasma components (electrons and ion species) can be assumed to be in quasi-equilibrium. This allows for accurate measurements of the electron temperature using the detailed balance relation. For times t {approx}{tau}{sub R} the scattering spectrum provides also the plasmon damping in nonequilibrium from which information on the formation and decay of collective excitations at short time scales can be obtained. At large time scales (t {approx} {tau}{sub H}) the hydrodynamic expansion of the plasma sets in. Detailed information on the evolution of the plasma in this regime is available from sophisticated hydrodynamic computer simulations which can be tested with the proposed measurements. With the decreasing plasma density due to the expansion, recombination processes become important and need to be considered as well.

The Dynamics of Electrons in Linear Plasma Devices and Its Impact on Plasma Surface Interaction

The Dynamics of Electrons in Linear Plasma Devices and Its Impact on Plasma Surface Interaction PDF Author: Michael Hubeny
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 303012536X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 126

Book Description
Turbulence in plasma surface interaction holds crucial uncertainties for its impact on material erosion in the operation of fusion reactors. In this thesis, the design, development and operation of a Thomson scattering diagnostic and its novel implementation with fast visual imaging created a versatile tool to investigate intermittently occuring plasma oscillations. Specifically, ballistic transport events in the plasma edge, constituting turbulent transport, have been targeted in this thesis. With the help of a custom photon counting algorithm, the conditional averaging technique was applied on Thomson scattering for the first time to allow spatial and pseudo-time-resolved measurements. Since plasma turbulence and the emerging transport phenomena are comparable in most magnetized devices, the diagnostic development and the results from the linear plasma device PSI-2 are useful for an implementation of similar techniques in larger fusion experiments. Furthermore, the obtained results indicate a strong enhancement of erosion with turbulent transport and thus underline the importance of dedicated experiments investigating plasma turbulence in the framework of erosion in future fusion reactors.

Thomson Scattering Measurements on the High Beta Pinch Extrap-T1

Thomson Scattering Measurements on the High Beta Pinch Extrap-T1 PDF Author: P. Karlsson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

Book Description


Thomson Scattering Measurements of Mast Plasmas

Thomson Scattering Measurements of Mast Plasmas PDF Author: R. M. Patrick
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 27

Book Description
Measurements of Thomson scattering from the plasma electrons were created by high speed shock waves in a magnetic annular shock tube (MAST) used to determine the electron density behind the shock waves, and some preliminary measurements of the electron velocity distribution. A Q-switch ruby laser furnished the light beam which was scattered by the plasma electrons. A rotating quartz prism furnished the Q-switching of the optical cavity for the ruby laser, and rather long Q-switched pulses were obtained (between 10 to the -7th power and 10 to the -6th power sec duration). The power level during the Q-switched pulse was between 30 and 100 megawatts. Rayleigh scattering from an air sample at various pressures was used to calibrate the power output of the laser and gave a simultaneous measure of the laser output power for all of the tests, while the Thomson scattering was being measured. The measurements of the electron density using the Thomson scattering and the plasma continuum intensities agreed within the scatter of the data. The electron temperature measurements obtained with the Thomson scattering showed that the electron temperature increased with increasing shock speed for a given initial condition. (Author).

Molecular Origin of Background Light in Thomson Scattering Measurements

Molecular Origin of Background Light in Thomson Scattering Measurements PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description
The plasma background light in Thomson scattering measurements is often far higher than expected for a pure hydrogen plasma. The spectral distribution of light from three plasmas (duration: 1 ms to steady state; electron density: below 1012 to over 1014 cm−3; temperature: below 20 to over 1000 eV) and signal-to-noise and intensity data from the Thomson scattering systems used on them are compared with analytic estimates to show that in two of these plasmas molecular light dominates the spectrum, while in the other, molecular light is present, but bremsstrahlung is usually more intense. Knowledge of the mechanism for background light can aid in designing detection systems for Thomson scattering and provide information on the neutral species composition and effective charge of the plasma.

Electrical Probes for Plasma Diagnostics

Electrical Probes for Plasma Diagnostics PDF Author: John Douglas Swift
Publisher: Iliffe
ISBN:
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 350

Book Description


Thomson Scattering Measurements of the Plasma Parameters in a Hollow-anode with Ferroelectric Plasma Source

Thomson Scattering Measurements of the Plasma Parameters in a Hollow-anode with Ferroelectric Plasma Source PDF Author: Vladislav Vekselman
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 93

Book Description


Thomson Scattering Measurements on the High Beam Pinch Extrap-T1

Thomson Scattering Measurements on the High Beam Pinch Extrap-T1 PDF Author: P. Karlsson
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 16

Book Description


Molecular Origin of Background Light in Thomson Scattering Measurements

Molecular Origin of Background Light in Thomson Scattering Measurements PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description
The plasma background light in Thomson scattering measurements is often far higher than expected for a pure hydrogen plasma. The spectral distribution of light from three plasmas (duration: 1 ms to steady state; electron density: below 1012 to over 1014 cm−3; temperature: below 20 to over 1000 eV) and signal-to-noise and intensity data from the Thomson scattering systems used on them are compared with analytic estimates to show that in two of these plasmas molecular light dominates the spectrum, while in the other, molecular light is present, but bremsstrahlung is usually more intense. Knowledge of the mechanism for background light can aid in designing detection systems for Thomson scattering and provide information on the neutral species composition and effective charge of the plasma.

Measurements of Relativistic Effects in Collective Thomson Scattering at Electron Temperatures Less Than 1 KeV

Measurements of Relativistic Effects in Collective Thomson Scattering at Electron Temperatures Less Than 1 KeV PDF Author: James Steven Ross
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781124339498
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 88

Book Description
Simultaneous scattering from electron-plasma waves and ion-acoustic waves is used to measure local laser-produced plasma parameters with high spatiotemporal resolution including electron temperature and density, average charge state, plasma flow velocity, and ion temperature. In addition, the first measurements of relativistic modifications in the collective Thomson scattering spectrum from thermal electron-plasma fluctuations are presented [1]. Due to the high phase velocity of electron-plasma fluctuations, relativistic effects are important even at low electron temperatures (T/e