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Articles 211 - 229 of 229

Full-Text Articles in Plasma and Beam Physics

Spontaneous Emission In Microcavity Lasers, Dustin Philip Ziegler Dec 1997

Spontaneous Emission In Microcavity Lasers, Dustin Philip Ziegler

Theses and Dissertations

An understanding of spontaneous emission processes within microcavities is crucial in addressing the need to make tomorrow's microlasers more efficient. One approach to improving the device efficiency is to reduce the threshold input energy at which lasing begins to occur. It has been suggested that the threshold in a microcavity laser can be decreased by increasing the fraction of spontaneous emission into the lasing mode, this can be accomplished by preferentially coupling the gain medium of the laser to the electromagnetic cavity mode of interest. It therefore becomes necessary to understand the mechanism by which this coupling takes place. This …


Shock Waves In Nonequilibrium Gases And Plasmas, William M. Hilbun Oct 1997

Shock Waves In Nonequilibrium Gases And Plasmas, William M. Hilbun

Theses and Dissertations

An analysis and assessment of three mechanisms describing plasma/shock wave interactions was conducted under conditions typically encountered in a weakly ionized glow discharge. The mechanisms of ion-acoustic wave damping, post-shock energy addition and thermal inhomogeneities were examined by numerically solving the Euler equations with appropriate source terms adapted for each mechanism. Ion-acoustic wave damping was examined by modeling the partially ionized plasma as two fluids in one spatial dimension using the Riemann problem as a basis. Post-shock energy addition in the form of nonequilibrium vibrational energy relaxation was also examined in one spatial dimension using the Riemann problem as a …


Turbulence Modeling Of The Toroidal Wall Heat Load Due To Shear Flows Over Cavities In The Neutral Gas Blanket Divertor Regime, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Joseph Morrison Jan 1997

Turbulence Modeling Of The Toroidal Wall Heat Load Due To Shear Flows Over Cavities In The Neutral Gas Blanket Divertor Regime, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Joseph Morrison

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Heat loads to the target plate in reactor tokamaks are estimated to be orders of magnitude higher than those that can be withstood by known materials. In regimes of plasma detachment, there is strong evidence that plasma recombination occurs near the divertor plate, leading to a cold neutral gas blanket. Because of the strong coupling between the plasma and the neutrals within the divertor region, there is significant neutral flows along field lines up to Mach 1.2 and Reynolds numbers over 1000. The effects of three dimensional (3D) neutral turbulence within the gas blanket on heat deposition to the toroidal …


Nlo Waveguide "And" Switch And Method Therefor, John J. Kester, Iyad A. Dajani, Peter M. Ranon, Thomas G. Alley Sep 1996

Nlo Waveguide "And" Switch And Method Therefor, John J. Kester, Iyad A. Dajani, Peter M. Ranon, Thomas G. Alley

AFIT Patents

Method and apparatus are provided for NLO switching by first providing a phase-matched SHG grating which outputs a reinforced SHG beam only when two input beams of frequency (ω) are present in two modes of such wg. The so encoded NLO switch is operated by directing at least two input pulsed laser beams of frequency (ω) into the two modes of the wg to generate a reinforced pulsed output SHG beam and output same from the wg in an NLO switching process. The two input beams desirably have a separate pulse train and the spatial and temporal overlap of the …


Effects Of Large Aspect Ratios And Fluctuations On Hard X-Ray-Detection In Lower Hybrid Driven Divertor Tokamaks, Linda L. Vahala, George Vahala, Paul Bonoli Jan 1995

Effects Of Large Aspect Ratios And Fluctuations On Hard X-Ray-Detection In Lower Hybrid Driven Divertor Tokamaks, Linda L. Vahala, George Vahala, Paul Bonoli

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

It is shown that lower hybrid wave scattering from fluctuations plays a critical role in large aspect ratio divertor plasmas even through the edge density fluctuation levels are only at 1%. This is seen in the theoretically calculated electron power-density profiles which can be directly correlated to the standard experimental chordal hard x-ray profiles. It thus seems that fluctuation effects must be included in determining rf current-density profiles.


The Effects Of Optical Feedback On Polarization Of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Gregory J. Vansuch Dec 1993

The Effects Of Optical Feedback On Polarization Of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Gregory J. Vansuch

Theses and Dissertations

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers VCSELs are a type of semiconductor laser with a cavity oriented orthogonally to the planes of material growth. These lasers differ from conventional edge emitting lasers in several important ways. They have symmetric output beams and they are easily built into two dimensional arrays, making them very attractive as photonic components. The characteristic of interest in this thesis is polarization. While the asymmetric cavities of edge emitters exhibit a clear preference for light polarized in a particular direction, the cylindrically symmetric cavity of a VCSEL has no clear preference. Therefore, it should be relatively easy …


Glow-Discharge Enhanced Permeation Of Oxygen Through Silver, D. Wu, R. A. Outlaw, Robert L. Ash Jan 1993

Glow-Discharge Enhanced Permeation Of Oxygen Through Silver, D. Wu, R. A. Outlaw, Robert L. Ash

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The permeation of oxygen through Ag0.05Zr over the temperature range of 300-650°C under glow-discharge conditions has been studied and compared to the permeation of thermally dissociated molecular oxygen. A low-energy dc glow-discharge in O2 has been employed which produced approximately 10% atoms. The permeation rate during the glow discharge was found to be much higher (a factor of ∼10) than without the glow discharge. The small fraction of oxygen atoms generated appears to dominate the permeation because of much higher solution probabilities. Below 500°C, the activation energy for the permeation with glow discharge was found to be 15.5 kcal/mol …


Optimal Control Of The Starfire Beam Director, Troy V. Lanier Dec 1992

Optimal Control Of The Starfire Beam Director, Troy V. Lanier

Theses and Dissertations

The Starfire Beam Director (SBD) is located at the Starfire Optical Range at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The SBD capabilities include tracking celestial objects and active or passive tracking of artificial satellites to support the Phillips Laboratory Ground Based Laser Acquisition, Tracking, and Pointing (GBL ATP) program. The pointing and tracking accuracy needed to support such experiments is micron rad to sub-grad level. To accomplish this goal requires precise pointing of the massive 6 ton 1 -meter clear aperture coelostat. The purpose of this thesis is to use optimal control design techniques to develop a controller …


Design And Characterization Of Optically Pumped Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Richard J. Bagnell Dec 1992

Design And Characterization Of Optically Pumped Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers, Richard J. Bagnell

Theses and Dissertations

Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs) are a form of semiconductor laser which have their cavity oriented orthogonally to the plane of the wafer. The orientation necessitates short cavities, highly reflective mirrors and a relatively high gain/loss ratio. Even so, the resultant superior exit beam characteristics and the tight packing density of the finished lasers provide strong motivation for pursuing the growth of these structures. This thesis details the design of an optically pumped InGaAs multiple quantum well periodic gain structure VCSEL with a 950 nm lasing wavelength. These growths were to be a first attempt at VCSEL construction, so …


Multi-Ion Ambipolar Diffusion, Thomas E. Gist Jul 1992

Multi-Ion Ambipolar Diffusion, Thomas E. Gist

Theses and Dissertations

The continuity and momentum equations for electrons and multiple ion species are solved analytically and numerically using a new model for ambipolar diffusion. The general form of the model is valid for any quasi-neutral plasma for which the diffusion approximation is appropriate, including positive or negative ions, arbitrary geometries, and time dependence. The model provides criteria for determining when single ion diffusion theory is appropriate for describing multi-ion discharges, when a multi-ion proportional model is appropriate, and when a multi-ion nonproportional model is necessary. An expression is developed which provides a necessary condition for proportionality and provides the proportionality constant …


Effect Of Fluctuations On Lower Hybrid Power Deposition And Hard X-Ray Detection, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Paul T. Bonoli Jan 1992

Effect Of Fluctuations On Lower Hybrid Power Deposition And Hard X-Ray Detection, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Paul T. Bonoli

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The hard X-ray intensity radial profiles from lower hybrid current drive experiments are interpreted as being correlated with fluctuations in the bulk plasma. This view seems to be dictated by comparing the hard X-ray data for various n║ with the Monte Carlo solutions of the lower hybrid wave energy deposition on plasma electrons. Information on internal magnetic fluctuations may, under certain conditions, be unfolded from a n║ scan of the hard X-ray profiles.


Effect Of Magnetic And Density Fluctuations On The Propagation Of Lower Hybrid Waves In Tokamaks, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Paul T. Bonoli Jan 1992

Effect Of Magnetic And Density Fluctuations On The Propagation Of Lower Hybrid Waves In Tokamaks, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala, Paul T. Bonoli

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Lower hybrid waves have been used extensively for plasma heating, current drive, and ramp-up as well as sawteeth stabilization, The wave kinetic equation for lower hybrid wave propagation is extended to include the effects of both magnetic and density fluctuations. This integral equation is then solved by Monte Carlo procedures for a toroidal plasma. It is shown that even for magnetic/density fluctuation levels on the order of 10-4, there are significant magnetic fluctuation effects on the wave power deposition into the plasma. This effect is quite pronounced if the magnetic fluctuation spectrum is peaked within the plasma. For …


Charge-State Equilibrium And Nonequilibrium Modeling Of The Carbon-Pellet Plasma Interaction, A. G. Elcashlan, G. A. Gerdin, L. L. Vahala, P. B. Parks Jan 1992

Charge-State Equilibrium And Nonequilibrium Modeling Of The Carbon-Pellet Plasma Interaction, A. G. Elcashlan, G. A. Gerdin, L. L. Vahala, P. B. Parks

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Self-consistent equilibrium and nonequilibrium charge-state models are formulated for the spherical expansion of low-Z pellet vapor as an inviscid perfect gas of constant ratio of specific heats being heated volumetrically by the incident electrons of a thermonuclear plasma. The two models are found to be in agreement in the region where the ratio of the ionization length ζj to pellet radius rp is less than unity, but a single parameter, such as the magnitude of this ratio on the sonic surface, is insufficient to determine whether an equilibrium model will be valid for all regions of the ablatant …


Electromagnetic Wave Scattering From Magnetic Fluctuations In Tokamaks, L. L. Vahala, G. Vahala, N. Bretz Jan 1992

Electromagnetic Wave Scattering From Magnetic Fluctuations In Tokamaks, L. L. Vahala, G. Vahala, N. Bretz

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Cross sections are calculated for electromagnetic wave scattering and mode transformation from magnetic and density fluctuations in a homogeneous plasma. For the special case of scattering perpendicular to the magnetic field, density fluctuations scatter ordinary to ordinary and extraordinary to extraordinary modes-but cannot transform these modes. On the other hand, magnetic fluctuations perpendicular to the field can transform modes but cannot scatter on a single branch. For incident frequencies on the order of the electron plasma frequency or gyrofrequency, the cross sections for scattering and transformation due to field and density fluctuations have a similar value. Estimates are given for …


Electric Field Induced Emission As A Diagnostic Tool For Measurement Of Local Electric Field Strengths, A. N. Dharamsi, K. H. Schoenbach Jan 1991

Electric Field Induced Emission As A Diagnostic Tool For Measurement Of Local Electric Field Strengths, A. N. Dharamsi, K. H. Schoenbach

Bioelectrics Publications

The phenomenon of electric field induced (EFI) emission is examined in several diatomic and polyatomic molecules. The possibility of using this phenomenon as a diagnostic tool to measure, nonintrusively, the strength and direction of local electric fields in plasmas is discussed. An estimate of the EFI signal emitted in a typical application plasma is given. This yields a lower bound on the detector sensitivity necessary to exploit EFI emission in practical applications. It is concluded that, at present, the EFI signal could be measured by some very sensitive infrared detection schemes available. Current progress in infrared detector technology, if maintained, …


Measurement Of Magnetic Fluctuations By O-X Mode Conversion, L. L. Vahala, G. Vahala, N. Bretz Jan 1990

Measurement Of Magnetic Fluctuations By O-X Mode Conversion, L. L. Vahala, G. Vahala, N. Bretz

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The possibility of measuring magnetic fluctuations in a fusion plasma is considered by examining the O→X mode conversion. Under certain conditions and with good angular resolution, this mode conversion can be attributed to the presence of magnetic fluctuations even though the level of these fluctuations is much lower than that of density fluctuations. Some nonideal effects such as mode polarization mismatch at the plasma edge are also discussed.


Application Of The Results Of Carbon Pellet Modeling To The Problem Of Plasma Penetration, L. L. Vahala, A. G. El Cashlan, G. A. Gerdin, P. B. Parks Jan 1990

Application Of The Results Of Carbon Pellet Modeling To The Problem Of Plasma Penetration, L. L. Vahala, A. G. El Cashlan, G. A. Gerdin, P. B. Parks

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The assumptions of the evaporation model for low-Z pellets interacting with magnetic fusion plasmas developed by Parks are tested. These assumptions are that the vapor density profile in the region adjacent to the pellet surface falls off with radial distance as r-α , where 5 <α<6, and that the ionization time for the transition between charge states זf (i.e., for r < ~3 sonic radii). The first assumption is tested by solving a two-parameter eigenvalue problem for the evaporation cloud in the region interior to the sonic radius; the results are found to be consistent with the low-Z evaporation model. The second assumption, that זzi «זf, is tested at the sonic radius using the results from atomic physics and the low-Z evaporation model. It is found that indeed זzi «זf for plasmas with parameters close to thermonuclear conditions (e.g. CIT), but not for those of smaller Tokamaks such as …


High Resolution Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Of Ozone Near 1129.4 Cm-1, Lawrence N. Majorana Dec 1980

High Resolution Laser Absorption Spectroscopy Of Ozone Near 1129.4 Cm-1, Lawrence N. Majorana

Physics Theses & Dissertations

A Beer's Law experiment was performed with a tunable laser to determine self broadened line shape parameters of one infrared absorption ozone line in the v1 band for ten pressures from 0.26 to 6.29 Torr at 285K. SO2 line positions were used for wavelength calibration. Line shapes were iteratively fitted to the Voigt function at a Doppler width of 29.54 MHz (HWHM) resulting in values for the integrated line• strength, ( S), of (0.144 +/- 0.007 ) x ·10-20 cm-1/molecule cm-2, line center frequency, (υο) of 1129.426 cm-1 and the Lorentzian contributions to half width, (α …


Stable Equilibrium Statistical States For Spheromaks, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala Jan 1979

Stable Equilibrium Statistical States For Spheromaks, George Vahala, Linda L. Vahala

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Incompressible nondissipative magnetohydrodynamic turbulence is treated for spherical systems. From the absolute equilibrium expectation values of the fields one can investigate those initially quiescent states for which no large mean square velocity will develop. This stable state is force-free and gives rise to the Hill vortex structure for the magnetic flux surfaces.