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Danielson, J. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Danielson, J. R..

18 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Annihilation-gamma-based diagnostic techniques for magnetically confined electron–positron pair plasma

Efforts are underway to magnetically confine electron–positron pair plasmas to study their unique behaviour, which is characterized by significant changes in plasma time and length scales, supported waves and unstable modes. However, use of conventional plasma diagnostics presents challenges with these low-density and annihilating matter–antimatter plasmas. To address this problem, we propose to develop techniques based on the distinct emission provided by annihilation. This emission exhibits two spatial correlations: the distance attenuation of isotropic sources and the back-to-back propagation of momentum-preserving 2 $\gamma$ annihilation. We present the results of our analysis of the $\gamma$ emission rate and the spatial profile of the annihilation in a magnetized pair plasma from direct pair collisions, from the formation and decay of positronium as well as from transport processes. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of annihilation-based techniques, we tested them on annular $\gamma$ emission profiles produced by a $\beta ^+$ radioisotope on a rotating turntable. Direct and positronium-mediated annihilation result in overlapping volumetric $\gamma$ sources, and the 2 $\gamma$ emission from these volumetric sources can be tomographically reconstructed from coincident counts in multiple detectors. Transport processes result in localized annihilation where field lines intersect walls, limiters or internal magnets. These localized sources can be identified by the fractional $\gamma$ counts on spatially distributed detectors.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Inviscid damping of an elliptical vortex subject to an external strain flow

Inviscid spatial Landau damping is studied experimentally for the case of oscillatory motion of a two-dimensional vortex about its elliptical equilibrium in the presence of an applied strain flow. Here, the experiments are performed using electron plasmas in a Penning–Malmberg trap. They exploit the isomorphism between the two-dimensional Euler equations for an ideal fluid and the drift-Poisson equations for the plasma, where plasma density is the analog of vorticity. Perturbed elliptical vortex states are created using E x B strain flows, which are generated by applying voltages to electrodes surrounding the plasma. Measurements of spatial Landau damping (also called critical-layer damping) are in agreement with previous studies in the absence of an applied strain, where the damping is due to a resonance between the local fluid motion and the vortex oscillations. Interestingly, the damping rate does not change significantly over a wide range of applied strain rates. This can be accurately predicted from the initial vorticity profile, even though the resonant frequency is reduced substantially due to the applied strain. For higher amplitude perturbations, nonlinear trapping oscillations also exhibit behavior similar to the strain-free case. In principle, higher-order effects of the applied strain, such as separatrix crossing of peripheral vorticity and interactions with harmonics of the fundamental resonance, are expected to change the damping rate. However, this occurs only for conditions that are not realized in the experiments described here. Vortex-in-cell simulations are used to investigate the possible roles of these effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Non-neutral plasma manipulation techniques in development of a high-capacity positron trap

Preliminary experiments have been performed toward the development of a multi-cell Penning–Malmberg trap for the storage of large numbers of positrons (≥10 10 e + ). We introduce the master-cell test trap and the diagnostic tools for first experiments with electrons. The usage of a phosphor screen to measure the z-integrated plasma distribution and the number of confined particles is demonstrated, as well as the trap alignment to the magnetic field ( B = 3.1 T) using the m = 1 diocotron mode. The plasma parameters and expansion are described along with the autoresonant excitation of the diocotron mode using rotating dipole fields and frequency chirped sinusoidal drive signals. We analyze the reproducibility of the excitation and use these findings to settle on the path for the next generation multi-cell test device.

Singer, M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Adiabatic behavior of an elliptical vortex in a time-dependent external strain flow

The adiabatic behavior of two-dimensional (2D) fluid vortices subject to slowly varying, time-dependent external strain flows is studied theoretically, and experimentally using magnetized non-neutral electron plasmas. Here the E × B drift dynamics of the electrons perpendicular to the magnetic field are analogous to the motion of fluid vorticity under the 2D Euler equations describing ideal fluids. A low-dimensional elliptical vortex patch model is used along with a WKB approximation to derive a formula for the breaking of an adiabatic invariant due to the changing external flow. The invariant is interpreted as the amplitude of a perturbative oscillation about a stable fixed point corresponding to a steady elliptical vortex. Smooth, hyperbolic tangent and piecewise linear ramp functions are considered for the external strain time dependence. Standard exponential breaking is observed in the former case, whereas the latter exhibits a power-law breaking curve with periodic modulation. It is found that a driving term in the equations of motion contributes the majority of the breaking whereas the frequency variation plays a weaker, but significant role. The experimental data agree closely with the theoretical model. The most significant deviation is due to inviscid damping behavior associated with the smooth edges of the experimental vortices, which tends to reduce the amplitude of the oscillation. Finally, the results are compared and contrasted with other related experimental, numerical, and theoretical work.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

A new frontier in laboratory physics: magnetized electron–positron plasmas

We describe here efforts to create and study magnetized electron–positron pair plasmas, the existence of which in astrophysical environments is well-established. Laboratory incarnations of such systems are becoming ever more possible due to novel approaches and techniques in plasma, beam and laser physics. Traditional magnetized plasmas studied to date, both in nature and in the laboratory, exhibit a host of different wave types, many of which are generically unstable and evolve into turbulence or violent instabilities. This complexity and the instability of these waves stem to a large degree from the difference in mass between the positively and the negatively charged species: the ions and the electrons. The mass symmetry of pair plasmas, on the other hand, results in unique behaviour, a topic that has been intensively studied theoretically and numerically for decades, but experimental studies are still in the early stages of development. A levitated dipole device is now under construction to study magnetized low-energy, short-Debye-length electron–positron plasmas; this experiment, as well as a stellarator device that is in the planning stage, will be fuelled by a reactor-based positron source and make use of state-of-the-art positron cooling and storage techniques. Relativistic pair plasmas with very different parameters will be created using pair production resulting from intense laser–matter interactions and will be confined in a high-field mirror configuration. We highlight the differences between and similarities among these approaches, and discuss the unique physics insights that can be gained by these studies.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Positron orbit effects during injection and confinement in a magnetic dipole trap

Lossless injection of positrons into a magnetic dipole trap and their subsequent confinement have been demonstrated. Here, we investigate by numerical single-particle simulations how the radial distribution of positrons in the trap is affected by the measurement itself, the choice of injection parameters, the asymmetry of the electric potential, and by elastic collisions. The results are compared to experimental data. A comprehensive understanding of these effects is a milestone on the road to creating an electron–positron plasma in a trap with a levitating superconducting coil.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Instability of an electron-plasma shear layer in an externally imposed strain flow

The E x B shear instability of a two-dimensional (2D) filament (i.e., a thin, rectangular strip perpendicular to the magnetic field) of magnetized pure electron plasma is investigated experimentally in the presence of an externally imposed strain flow. Data are acquired using a specialized Penning–Malmberg trap in which strain flows can be applied in 2D by biasing segmented electrodes surrounding the plasma. The E x B drift dynamics are well-described by the Drift-Poisson equations, which are isomorphic to the 2D Euler equations describing ideal fluids. Thus, the experimental results correspond to the Rayleigh instability of a shear layer in a 2D ideal fluid, where the electron density is analogous to the fluid vorticity. Shear layers are prepared by stretching initially axisymmetric electron vortices using a strong, applied strain flow. The data at early times are in quantitative agreement with a linear model which extends Rayleigh’s work to account for the influence of an external strain flow. In the presence of weak strain, the system approximately maintains a phase relationship that corresponds to an instantaneous Rayleigh eigenmode. The instability develops into the nonlinear regime later in time and at smaller spatial scales as the strain rate is increased. A secondary vortex pairing instability is observed, but it is suppressed when the strain-to-vorticity ratio exceeds roughly 0.025. In this way, vorticity transport perpendicular to the filament is diminished due to the applied strain.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Confinement and manipulation of electron plasmas in a multicell trap

Plasma dynamics and transport are studied experimentally in a multicell Penning-Malmberg trap. The goal is to develop methods for accumulation and long-term confinement of larger numbers of charged particles (e.g., positrons) than is presently possible. In this scheme, the particles constitute non-neutral plasmas which are confined separately in a parallel array of storage cells. Experiments are presented in which pure electron plasmas are transferred from a large-diameter “master cell” trapping region into four smaller, parallel “storage cells,” three of which are offset from the magnetic symmetry axis. The physics of the transfer process, as well as the confinement properties of plasmas in the storage cells, is discussed. We show that plasmas can be transferred into the storage cells and held there for up to a day or more using the rotating wall technique, provided that the plasma radius is sufficiently small compared to that of the cell wall. Experiments regarding the confinement of plasmas with kilovolt space charge are discussed. Recommendations are provided for future efforts with high-capacity multicell traps.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Experimental study of the stability and dynamics of a two-dimensional ideal vortex under external strain

The dynamics of two-dimensional (2-D) ideal fluid vortices is studied experimentally in the presence of an irrotational strain flow. Laboratory experiments are conducted using strongly magnetized pure electron plasmas, a technique which is made possible by the isomorphism between the drift–Poisson equations describing plasma dynamics transverse to the field and the 2-D Euler equations describing an ideal fluid. The electron plasma system provides an excellent opportunity to study the dynamics of a 2-D Euler fluid due to weak dissipation and weak 3-D effects, simple diagnosis and precise control. The plasma confinement apparatus used here was designed specifically to study vortex dynamics under the influence of external flow by applying boundary conditions in two dimensions. Additionally, vortex-in-cell simulations are carried out to complement the experimental results and to extend the parameter range of the studies. It is shown that the global dynamics of a quasi-flat vorticity profile is in good quantitative agreement with the theory of a piecewise-constant elliptical patch of vorticity, including the equilibria, dynamical orbits and stability properties. Deviations from the elliptical patch theory are observed for non-flat vorticity profiles; they include inviscid damping of the orbits and modified stability limits. The dependence of these phenomena on the flatness of the initial profile is discussed. The relationship of these results to other theoretical, numerical and experimental studies is also discussed.

Mechanics↗
DOE OSTI2017

Mode coupling and multiquantum vibrational excitations in Feshbach-resonant positron annihilation in molecules

The dominant mechanism of low-energy positron annihilation in polyatomic molecules is through positron capture in vibrational Feshbach resonances (VFR). In this paper, we investigate theoretically the effect of anharmonic terms in the vibrational Hamiltonian on positron annihilation rates. Such interactions enable positron capture in VFRs associated with multiquantum vibrational excitations, leading to enhanced annihilation. Mode coupling can also lead to faster depopulation of VFRs, thereby reducing their contribution to the annihilation rates. To analyze this complex picture, we use coupled-cluster methods to calculate the anharmonic vibrational spectra and dipole transition amplitudes for chloroform, chloroform-d 1 , 1,1-dichloroethylene, and methanol, and use these data to compute positron resonant annihilation rates for these molecules. Theoretical predictions are compared with the annihilation rates measured as a function of incident positron energy. Overall, the results demonstrate the importance of mode coupling in both enhancement and suppression of the VFR. There is also experimental evidence for the direct excitation of multimode VFR. Their contribution is analyzed using a statistical approach, with an outlook towards more accurate treatment of this phenomenon.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evolution of a Vortex in a Strain Flow

Experiments and vortex-in-cell simulations are used to study an initially axisymmetric, spatially distributed vortex subject to an externally imposed strain flow. The experiments use a magnetized pure electron plasma to model an inviscid two-dimensional fluid. The results are compared to a theory assuming an elliptical region of constant vorticity. For relatively flat vorticity profiles, the dynamics and stability threshold are in close quantitative agreement with the theory. Physics beyond the constant-vorticity model, such as vortex stripping, is investigated by studying the behavior of nonflat vorticity profiles.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

A cryogenically cooled, ultra-high-energy-resolution, trap-based positron beam

A technique is described to produce a pulsed, magnetically guided positron beam with significantly improved beam characteristics over those available previously. A pulsed, room-temperature positron beam from a buffer gas trap is used as input to a trap that captures the positrons, compresses them both radially and axially, and cools them to 50 K on a cryogenic CO buffer gas before ejecting them as a pulsed beam. The total energy spread of the beam formed using this technique is 6.9 ± 0.7 meV FWHM, which is a factor of ∼5 better than the previous state-of-the-art, while simultaneously having sub-microsecond temporal resolution and millimeter spatial resolution. Possible further improvements in beam quality are discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Magnetic field extraction of trap-based electron beams using a high-permeability grid

A method to form high quality electrostatically guided lepton beams is explored. Test electron beams are extracted from tailored plasmas confined in a Penning-Malmberg trap. The particles are then extracted from the confining axial magnetic field by passing them through a high magnetic permeability grid with radial tines (a so-called “magnetic spider”). An Einzel lens is used to focus and analyze the beam properties. Numerical simulations are used to model non-adiabatic effects due to the spider, and the predictions are compared with the experimental results. Improvements in beam quality are discussed relative to the use of a hole in a high permeability shield (i.e., in lieu of the spider), and areas for further improvement are described.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Progress toward positron-electron pair plasma experiments

Electron-positron plasmas have been of theoretical interest for decades, due to the unique plasma physics that arises from all charged particles having precisely identical mass. It is only recently, though, that developments in non-neutral plasma physics (both in linear and toroidal geometries) and in the flux of sources for cold positrons have brought the goal of conducting electron-positron pair plasma experiments within reach. The APEX/PAX collaboration is working on a number of projects in parallel toward that goal; this paper provides an overview of recent, current, and upcoming activities.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Measurement of an Explosively Driven Hemispherical Shell Using 96 Points of Optical Velocimetry

We report the measurement of the surface motion of a hemispherical copper shell driven by high explosives. This measurement was made using three 32-channel multiplexed photonic Doppler velocimetry (PDV) systems, in combination with a novel compound optical probe. Clearly visible are detailed features of the motion of the shell over time, enhanced by spatial correlation. Significant non-normal motion is apparent, and challenges in measuring such a geometry are discussed.

multiplexed PDV, frequency-time measurements, Quic↗
DOE OSTI2013

Progress towards a practical multicell positron trap

Described here is progress in an experimental program to develop a 21 cell multicell trap for the accumulation and storage of {approx} 10{sup 12} positrons. The basic architecture is an arrangement of multiple Penning-Malmberg (PM) trapped plasmas (i.e., cells) arranged in parallel in a common vacuum system and magnetic field. Experiments are described that are intended to address several key issues, including the effects of large space charge potentials and high plasma densities on: plasma heating, deterioration of confinement, and decreased efficiency of rotating electric fields in producing plasma compression. The confinement of PM plasmas displaced both radially and toward the ends of the uniform magnetic field region will also be investigated.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Recent progress in tailoring trap-based positron beams

Recent progress is described to implement two approaches to specially tailor trap-based positron beams. Experiments and simulations are presented to understand the limits on the energy spread and pulse duration of positron beams extracted from a Penning-Malmberg (PM) trap after the particles have been buffer-gas cooled (or heated) in the range of temperatures 1000 {>=} T {>=} 300 K. These simulations are also used to predict beam performance for cryogenically cooled positrons. Experiments and simulations are also presented to understand the properties of beams formed when plasmas are tailored in a PM trap in a 5 tesla magnetic field, then non-adiabatically extracted from the field using a specially designed high-permeability grid to create a new class of electrostatically guided beams.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗