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1994

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Plasma and Beam Physics

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Physics

Generation Of A Single-Lobe, Far-Field Intensity Pattern From A Laser Diode Array Using An Optical Delay Line, Thomas A. Summers Dec 1994

Generation Of A Single-Lobe, Far-Field Intensity Pattern From A Laser Diode Array Using An Optical Delay Line, Thomas A. Summers

Theses and Dissertations

A simple and practical technique is demonstrated to generate a stable, single-lobe, far-field intensity pattern from a one-dimensional, antiphased, laser diode array with gain-guided elements. The two far-field lobes of the array are combined after introducing an optical delay line into the path of one of the lobes to make the lobes mutually incoherent. The incoherent superposition of intensities produces a near-diffraction-limited, single-lobe, far-field intensity pattern containing 84% of the power, exceeding any previous (known) phase control experiments. This technique compares favorably with more elaborate schemes advanced previously using integrated phase plates, etc. The method is directly applicable to one-dimensional …

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Laser Beam Propagation In Non-Kolmogorov Atmospheric Turbulence, Bruce E. Stribling Dec 1994

Laser Beam Propagation In Non-Kolmogorov Atmospheric Turbulence, Bruce E. Stribling

Theses and Dissertations

Several observations of atmospheric turbulence statistics have been reported which do not obey Kolmogorov's power spectral density model. These observations have prompted the study of optical propagation through turbulence described by non-classical power spectra. This thesis presents an analysis of optical propagation through turbulence which causes index of refraction fluctuations to have spatial power spectra that obey arbitrary power laws. The spherical and plane wave structure functions are derived using Mellin transform techniques and are applied to the field mutual coherence function (MCF) using the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle. The MCF is used to compute the Strehl ratio of a focused, …

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Analysis Of Instability Growth And Collisionless Relaxation In Thermionic Converters Using 1-D Pic Simulations, Bret B. Kreh Dec 1994

Analysis Of Instability Growth And Collisionless Relaxation In Thermionic Converters Using 1-D Pic Simulations, Bret B. Kreh

Theses and Dissertations

This work investigates the role that the beam-plasma instability may play in a thermionic converter. The traditional assumption of collisionally dominated relaxation is questioned, and the beam-plasma instability is proposed as a possible dominant relaxation mechanism. Theory is developed to describe the beam-plasma instability in the cold-plasma approximation, and the theory is tested with two common Particle-in- Cell (PIC) simulation codes. The theory is first confirmed using an unbounded plasma PIC simulation employing periodic boundary conditions, ES1. The theoretically predicted growth rates are on the order of the plasma frequencies, and ESl simulations verity these predictions within the order of …

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A Three Region Analysis Of A Bounded Plasma Using Particle In Cell And Fluid Techniques, Don F. Nichols Sep 1994

A Three Region Analysis Of A Bounded Plasma Using Particle In Cell And Fluid Techniques, Don F. Nichols

Theses and Dissertations

A detailed collisionless sheath theory and a three-region collisional model of a bounded plasma are presented, and the suitability of the collisional model for analysis of ignited mode thermionic converters is investigated. The sheath theory extends previous analyses to regimes in which the sheath potential and electron temperatures are comparable in magnitude. In all operating regimes typical of a ignited mode thermionic converter, the predicted sheaths extend several mean-free paths. The apparent collisionality of the sheaths prompted development of a collisional, three-region model of the converter plasma. By interfacing Particle-in-Cell regions for the sheaths and fluid regions for the bulk …

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Subpicosecond Thomson Scattering Measurements Of Optically Ionized Helium Plasmas, T. E. Glover, Thomas D. Donnelly, E. A. Lipman, A. Sullivan, R. W. Falcone Jul 1994

Subpicosecond Thomson Scattering Measurements Of Optically Ionized Helium Plasmas, T. E. Glover, Thomas D. Donnelly, E. A. Lipman, A. Sullivan, R. W. Falcone

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We present the first subpicosecond time-resolved temperature measurements of plasmas produced by high-intensity optical ionization. Thomson scattering is used to measure electron and ion temperatures of helium plasmas created by 125 fs, 800 nm laser pulses focused to an intensity of 2 × 1017 W/cm2. We find that the electron temperature is accurately predicted by a tunneling ionization model. The measured ion temperature is consistent with direct heating by the laser pulse.

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Experimental Stark Shift Of Several Nii And Oii Spectral Lines, Mara Scepanovic, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Stevan Djenize, Mihajlo Platisa, Jaroslav Labat Jun 1994

Experimental Stark Shift Of Several Nii And Oii Spectral Lines, Mara Scepanovic, Vladimir Milosavljevic, Stevan Djenize, Mihajlo Platisa, Jaroslav Labat

Articles

Stark shift of four NII and seven OII spectral lines have been measured for the first time in the linear low pressure pulsed arc plasma and compared with existing theoretical values.

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Tabletop X-Ray Lasers, D. C. Eder, P. Amendt, L. B. Dasilva, R. A. London, B. J. Macgowan, D. L. Matthews, B. M. Penetrante, M. D. Rosen, S. C. Silks, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Falcone, G. L. Strobel May 1994

Tabletop X-Ray Lasers, D. C. Eder, P. Amendt, L. B. Dasilva, R. A. London, B. J. Macgowan, D. L. Matthews, B. M. Penetrante, M. D. Rosen, S. C. Silks, Thomas D. Donnelly, R. W. Falcone, G. L. Strobel

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

Details of schemes for two tabletop size x‐ray lasers that require a high‐intensity short‐pulse driving laser are discussed. The first is based on rapid recombination following optical‐field ionization. Analytical and numerical calculations of the output properties are presented. Propagation in the confocal geometry is discussed and a solution for x‐ray lasing in Li‐like N at 247 Å is described. Since the calculated gain coefficient depends strongly on the electron temperature, the methods of calculating electron heating following field ionization are discussed. Recent experiments aimed at demonstrating lasing in H‐like Li at 135 Å are discussed along with modeling results. The …

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X-Rays From Microstructured Targets Heated By Femtosecond Lasers, S. P. Gordon, Thomas D. Donnelly, A. Sullivan, H. Hamster, R. W. Falcone Apr 1994

X-Rays From Microstructured Targets Heated By Femtosecond Lasers, S. P. Gordon, Thomas D. Donnelly, A. Sullivan, H. Hamster, R. W. Falcone

All HMC Faculty Publications and Research

We have demonstrated efficient conversion of ultrashort-pulse laser energy to x rays with energies above 1 keV, using laser-produced plasmas generated on a variety of microstructured surfaces. Lithographically produced grating targets generated 0.1 mJ of kilo-electron-volt x rays, and porous gold and aluminum targets emitted 1 mJ. This represents an improvement of a factor of 100 over flat targets. The K-shell emission spectrum of porous aluminum was composed primarily of heliumlike spectral lines.

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