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NASA NTRS2005

Time-Averaged Velocity, Temperature and Density Surveys of Supersonic Free Jets

A spectrally resolved molecular Rayleigh scattering technique was used to simultaneously measure axial component of velocity U, static temperature T, and density p in unheated free jets at Mach numbers M = 0.6,0.95, 1.4 and 1.8. The latter two conditions were achieved using contoured convergent-divergent nozzles. A narrow line-width continuous wave laser was passed through the jet plumes and molecular scattered light from a small region on the beam was collected and analyzed using a Fabry-Perot interferometer. The optical spectrum analysis air density at the probe volume was determined by monitoring the intensity variation of the scattered light using photo-multiplier tubes. The Fabry-Perot interferometer was operated in the imaging mode, whereby the fringe formed at the image plane was captured by a cooled CCD camera. Special attention was given to remove dust particles from the plume and to provide adequate vibration isolation to the optical components. The velocity profiles from various operating conditions were compared with that measured by a Pitot tube. An excellent comparison within 5m's demonstrated the maturity of the technique. Temperature was measured least accurately, within 10K, while density was measured within 1% uncertainty. The survey data consisted of centerline variations and radial profiles of time-averaged U, T and p. The static temperature and density values were used to determine static pressure variations inside the jet. The data provided a comparative study of jet growth rates with increasing Mach number. The current work is part of a data-base development project for Computational Fluid Dynamics and Aeroacoustics codes that endeavor to predict noise characteristics of high speed jets. A limited amount of far field noise spectra from the same jets are also presented. Finally, a direct experimental validation was obtained for the Crocco-Busemann equation which is commonly used to predict temperature and density profiles from known velocity profiles. Data presented in this paper are available in ASCII format upon request.

Panda, Jayanta↗

NASA NTRS1996

Dynamic Coupling of Quasi-Electrostatic Thundercloud Fields to the Mesosphere and Lower Ionosphere: Sprites and Jets

Red Sprites and Blue Jets are two different types of recently discovered optical flashes ob- served above large thunderstorm systems. Sprites are luminous glows occurring at altitudes typically ranging from approximately 50 to 90 km. In video they exhibit a red color at their top which gradually changes to blue at lower altitudes. Sprites may occur singly or in clusters of two or more. The lateral extent of "unit" sprites is typically 5-10 km and they endure for several milliseconds. Jets are upward moving (approximately 100 km/s) highly collimated beams of luminosity, emanating from the tops of thunderclouds, extending up to approximately 50 km altitude and exhibiting a primarily blue color. We propose that sprites result from large electric field transients capable of causing electron heating, breakdown ionization and excitation of optical emissions at mesospheric altitudes following the removal of thundercloud charge by a cloud-to-ground discharge. Depending on the history of charge accumulation and removal, and the distribution of ambient atmospheric conductivity, the breakdown region may have the shape of vertically oriented ionization column(s). Results of a two-dimensional and self consistent quasi-electrostatic (QE) model indicate that most of the observed features of sprites can be explained in terms of the formation and self-driven propagation of streamer type channels of breakdown ionization. Comparison of the optical emission intensities of the 1st and 2nd positive bands of N2, Meinel and 1st negative bands of N2(+) and the 1st negative band of O2(+) demonstrates that the 1st positive band of N2 is the dominant optical emission in the altitude range approximately 50-90 km, which accounts for the observed red color of sprites. Optical emissions of the 1st and 2nd positive bands of N2 occur in carrot-like vertical structures with typical transverse dimension approximately 5-10 km which can span an altitude range from approximately 80 km to well below approximately 50 km. The appearance of optical emissions associated with sprites can be delayed in time (approximately 1-20 ms) with respect to the causative cloud to ground discharge. Theoretical model results are found to be in good agreement with recent video, photometric and spectral measurements of sprites.

Pasko, Victor Petrovich↗

DOE OSTI2025

Optical emission spectroscopy and imaging of low-pressure N2 plasmas generated by intense fast-pulsed electron beams

An optical emission spectroscopic (OES) and imaging characterization is conducted on N2 plasmas generated by a 100 keV fast-pulsed electron beam. The electron beams are injected into an N2 gas filled volume with a current of 4.5 kA (300 A/cm2) and a 100 ns pulse width. The characterization is conducted at the pressures, 1 Torr and 0.1 Torr, corresponding to two distinct regimes that exhibit significantly different plasma dynamics. Beam impact ionization is shown to be a primary mechanism for producing low temperature plasmas at 1 Torr during beam output. After beam termination, ionization by an inductive electric field becomes the primary mechanism for plasma formation later in time for both pressures. OES and plasma imaging are used in this work as a diagnostic tool to track the distribution of electronic, vibrational, and rotational state transitions and ionized species. This is achieved with the use of a multi-resolution suite of spectrometers capable of acquiring time-resolved spectra. Vibrational and rotational bands of the N2 second positive system (C3Πu→B3Πg) and the N2+ first negative system (B2Σu+→X2Σg+) are identified in both regimes as well as N+ states exclusively in the lower pressure regime. Vibrational and rotational spectra are shown to track the evolution of the time-varying plasma current. Plasma imaging also reveals spatially nonuniform plasma emission at 0.1 Torr. A few hundred shots are recorded to fully characterize the emissions, and results are shown to be highly reproducible (≤±1% with 2σ confidence).

Kaiser, E. R. (ORCID:0000000336493938)↗

DOE OSTI2020

Runaway electron seed formation at reactor-relevant temperature

Systematic variation of the pre-disruption core electron temperature (T e ) from 1 to 12 keV using an internal transport barrier scenario reveals a dramatic increase in the production of ‘seed’ runaway electrons (REs), ultimately accessing near-complete conversion of the pre-disruption current into sub-MeV RE current. Injected Ar pellets are observed to ablate more intensely and promptly as T e rises. At high T e , the observed ablation exceeds predictions from published thermal ablation models. Simultaneously, the thermal quench (TQ) is observed to significantly shorten with increasing T e —a surprising result. While the reason for the shorter TQ is not yet understood, candidate mechanisms include: insufficiently accurate thermal ablation models, enhanced ablation driven by the seed RE population, or significant parallel heat transport along stochastic fields. Kinetic modeling that self-consistently treats the plasma cooling via radiation, the induced electric field, and the formation of the seed RE is performed. Including the combined effect of the inherent dependence of hot-tail RE seeding on T e together with the shortened TQ, modeling recovers the progression towards near-complete conversion of the pre-disruption current to RE current as T e rises. Measurement of the HXR spectrum during the early current quench (CQ) reveals a trend of decreasing energy with pre-disruption T e . At the very highest T e (≈ 12 keV), ≈ 100% conversion of the thermal current to runaway current is found. The energy of this peculiar RE beam is inferred to be sub-MeV as it emits vanishingly few MeV hard x-rays (HXRs). These measurements demonstrate novel TQ dynamics as Te is varied and illustrate the limitations of treating the RE seed formation problem without considering the inter-related dependencies of the pellet ablation, radiative energy loss, and resultant variations of the TQ duration. Finally, if the observed shortening of the TQ with increasing T e extends to fusion-grade plasmas, than their propensity to form large quantities of RE seeds at high T e may be far worse than previously thought. Positively, the high T e scenario in DIII-D produces REs so prodigiously that it can serve as a meaningful new platform for demonstrating RE avoidance techniques.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2022

Optimization of an electron injector for operating high-intensity polarized electron beam

In this work, the simulation and optimization of an electron injector that operates a high-intensity polarized electron beam are presented. The electron injector would provide a single-bunch electron beam at a repetition rate of 1 Hz with a bunch charge of 10 nC, kinetic energy of 400 MeV and an electron spin polarization of 85%. A direct current (DC) high-voltage photogun was employed to produce the 10 nC polarized electron beam with a kinetic energy of 350 keV, beam diameter of 1.44 cm (Gaussian distribution with σ of 0.36 cm) and full bunch length of 1.3 ns (Gaussian distribution with σ of 0.325 ns). The beam was compressed to 6 ps of RMS bunch length using one 114.24 MHz standing-wave sub-harmonic buncher, two 571.2 MHz standing-wave sub-harmonic bunchers and one 2.856 GHz traveling-wave buncher. The beam was accelerated finally to 400 MeV via eight 2.856 GHz traveling-wave Linacs. We performed the beam simulation, and the simulated results showed that the optimized RMS bunch length was 4.65 ps, RMS relative energy spread was 0.48% and normalized RMS transverse emittance was 30.13 mm · mrad at a beam energy of 400 MeV.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS2005

Chapter 19B - Antenna Radiation Patterns

Modern civil and military aircraft are equipped with a variety of communication devices, radio navigation equipment, and air traffic control systems. For all of these devices appropriate antennas must be available to transmit and receive the signals. As a result, as many as 30 antennas, and sometimes even more, are mounted around today's aircraft. For this reason, it is necessary to know the capabilities of the receiving/transmitting equipment on board. These capabilities are driven by the antenna characteristics. Therefore, coverage, shading, and beam pointing pattern data are necessary for optimum electronic coverage. The aircraft antenna has to convert the available power density of the electromagnetic field to an electric voltage at its connector. This voltage level must be sufficiently high to operate the connected equipment. The reciprocity principle states that it makes no difference if the antenna is receiving or transmitting. For the certification of the aircraft antennas it must be proven that the antennas are at least generating the minimum receiver input voltage which is required for each radio service. The prime condition is, of course, that the specified field power densities of the different radio navigation and communication services are available. An important property of a radio frequency link is the electro-magnetic field intensity at every point in space for a given output power of the antenna. As the propagation of radio frequency waves in free space is well known, the spatial distribution of the field intensity needs only be measured at one spatial sphere around the antenna. The information is usually given as distributions along the circumference of flat sections through this sphere: each of these is called an ARP. Several ARPs are usually required to describe the complete spatial antenna pattern of an antenna. In addition to mathematical modeling, measurements on sub-scale models, and static measurements on full size models or aircraft on the ground, dynamic measurements on aircraft in flight play the most important role in the aircraft antenna testing and certification. [19B-1] The shape of an ARP, for one given frequency, is determined by the shape of the antenna and the shape and material of the surface it is mounted on. As the directly transmitted waves interfere with waves reflected by the aircraft skin with its complex geometry, and the surface material parameters are only roughly known, it is not possible to predict the ARP with the required accuracy. In ground measurements the earth's surface also acts as a reflector thereby causing the ground ARP to be different from the in-flight ARP. As the in-flight ARP is the ARP we are actually interested in it becomes clear that it is necessary to conduct in-flight ARP measurements. The Flight Test Engineer must be aware of the needs of the specialists who are establishing the test program for measuring antenna patterns and radar cross sections. These tests will require special test equipment and dedicated flights to obtain the data that they require. This Section provides an introduction to the principles of determining antenna patterns and the flight techniques for determining both antenna patterns and radar cross section. Reference 19B-1 provides detailed information.

Helmut Bothe↗

DOE OSTI2023

Collimation Systems for the PSR

This note provides a review of collimator systems being used or considered in high-intensity proton accelerators like SNS, J-PARC, LHC, and PIP-II. These facilities use collimators to remove beam halo, restrict transverse size and momentum in the beam to constrain beam losses around collimators and minimize beam losses downstream, particularly losses arising from particles missing the design location at the stripping foil when injected into the proton storage ring. Collimators are placed either in the transport injection lines (single-pass collimators) or in the rings (multi-pass collimators). Collimators in the transport line are placed around stripping foils in H- accelerators, allowing the beamline optics to get rid of the unstripped protons into well localized absorbers. Rings and proton accelerators mostly rely on tungsten scrapers and collimators in a multi-stage configuration to clean the scattered beam particles mainly responsible for heavy losses at high energies. Placement of the collimators is carefully chosen in terms of the right phase advance to maximize the collimating efficiency, whether the collimation is intended to match an injection stripping foil or a downstream acceptance. Collimation systems are designed with the specific concerns of each facility in mind, although all of them prioritize the minimization of activation due to beam losses to enable hands-on access during maintenance periods. At LANSCE, there are no high-energy collimators, although pairs of horizontal and vertical jaws are routinely used in the LEBT to clean and control the transverse beam profile delivered downstream. This report will help in understanding, together with the beam dynamics simulations, which collimation schemes would be most effective for the PSR upgrade. For example, SNS designed off-momentum collimators to be placed in a 90° arc bend, a high-dispersion region in the beam injection line, very similar to the bend at Line D in LANSCE. This system was very effective at minimizing losses during injection into the SNS accumulator ring and is being re-designed for future operation.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Self-consistent PIC simulations of ultimate space charge compensation with electron lenses

Further progress of fundamental particle physics requires high intensity and high brightness of accelerated proton and ion beams. This goal is essential for the FAIR hadron beams at GSI, for the neutrino production at the facilities such as Fermilab and JPARC, and for the Large Hadron Collider luminosity at CERN. One of the most formidable obstacles toward that goal is the beam's own space charge, whose forces cause beam emittance growth, losses and lifetime degradation. Typically, such effects become intolerable when the space charge tune-shift parameter Δ QSC exceeds ~ - (0.25–0.5). To reduce these detrimental effects, it was suggested to use electron lenses to compensate the space charge forces. Furthermore, this paper reports on detailed particle-in-cell space charge and electron lens compensation simulations for extremely intense proton bunches whose space charge tune-shift parameter exceeds -1.0. Different scenarios were evaluated based on reduction in the emittance growth and particle loss at a 4σ aperture. Further, we investigate phenomena and issues related to the focusing lattice errors, importance of the transverse and longitudinal matching of the electron beam profiles to the proton ones, and vary the strength and the number of the electron lenses distributed around a circular machine to optimize the reduction of harmful space charge effects.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2023

Toward direct spatial and intensity characterization of ultra-high-intensity laser pulses using ponderomotive scattering of free electrons

Spatial distributions of electrons ionized and scattered from ultra-low-pressure gases are proposed and experimentally demonstrated as a method to directly measure the intensity of an ultra-high-intensity laser pulse. Analytic models relating the peak scattered electron energy to the peak laser intensity are derived and compared to paraxial Runge–Kutta simulations highlighting two models suitable for describing electrons scattered from weakly paraxial beams (f#>5) for intensities in the range of 1018−1021 W cm−2. Scattering energies are shown to be dependent on gas species, emphasizing the need for specific gases for given intensity ranges. Direct measurements of the laser intensity at full power of two laser systems are demonstrated, both showing a good agreement between indirect methods of intensity measurement and the proposed method. One experiment exhibited the role of spatial aberrations in the scattered electron distribution, motivating a qualitative study on the effect. We propose the use of convolutional neural networks as a method for extracting quantitative information on the spatial structure of the laser at full power. We believe the presented technique to be a powerful tool that can be immediately implemented in many high-power laser facilities worldwide.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Laser-plasma ion beam booster based on hollow-channel magnetic vortex acceleration

Laser-driven ion acceleration provides ultrashort, high-charge, low-emittance beams, which are desirable for a wide range of high-impact applications. Yet after decades of research, a significant increase in maximum ion energy is still needed. This paper introduces a quality-preserving staging concept for ultraintense ion bunches that is seamlessly applicable from the nonrelativistic plasma source to the relativistic regime. Full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations prove robustness and capture of a high-charge proton bunch, suitable for readily available and near-term laser facilities.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2022

The 2022 magneto-optics roadmap

Abstract Magneto-optical (MO) effects, viz. magnetically induced changes in light intensity or polarization upon reflection from or transmission through a magnetic sample, were discovered over a century and a half ago. Initially they played a crucially relevant role in unveiling the fundamentals of electromagnetism and quantum mechanics. A more broad-based relevance and wide-spread use of MO methods, however, remained quite limited until the 1960s due to a lack of suitable, reliable and easy-to-operate light sources. The advent of Laser technology and the availability of other novel light sources led to an enormous expansion of MO measurement techniques and applications that continues to this day (see section 1). The here-assembled roadmap article is intended to provide a meaningful survey over many of the most relevant recent developments, advances, and emerging research directions in a rather condensed form, so that readers can easily access a significant overview about this very dynamic research field. While light source technology and other experimental developments were crucial in the establishment of today’s magneto-optics, progress also relies on an ever-increasing theoretical understanding of MO effects from a quantum mechanical perspective (see section 2), as well as using electromagnetic theory and modelling approaches (see section 3) to enable quantitatively reliable predictions for ever more complex materials, metamaterials, and device geometries. The latest advances in established MO methodologies and especially the utilization of the MO Kerr effect (MOKE) are presented in sections 4 (MOKE spectroscopy), 5 (higher order MOKE effects), 6 (MOKE microscopy), 8 (high sensitivity MOKE), 9 (generalized MO ellipsometry), and 20 (Cotton–Mouton effect in two-dimensional materials). In addition, MO effects are now being investigated and utilized in spectral ranges, to which they originally seemed completely foreign, as those of synchrotron radiation x-rays (see section 14 on three-dimensional magnetic characterization and section 16 on light beams carrying orbital angular momentum) and, very recently, the terahertz (THz) regime (see section 18 on THz MOKE and section 19 on THz ellipsometry for electron paramagnetic resonance detection). Magneto-optics also demonstrates its strength in a unique way when combined with femtosecond laser pulses (see section 10 on ultrafast MOKE and section 15 on magneto-optics using x-ray free electron lasers), facilitating the very active field of time-resolved MO spectroscopy that enables investigations of phenomena like spin relaxation of non-equilibrium photoexcited carriers, transient modifications of ferromagnetic order, and photo-induced dynamic phase transitions, to name a few. Recent progress in nanoscience and nanotechnology, which is intimately linked to the achieved impressive ability to reliably fabricate materials and functional structures at the nanoscale, now enables the exploitation of strongly enhanced MO effects induced by light–matter interaction at the nanoscale (see section 12 on magnetoplasmonics and section 13 on MO metasurfaces). MO effects are also at the very heart of powerful magnetic characterization techniques like Brillouin light scattering and time-resolved pump-probe measurements for the study of spin waves (see section 7), their interactions with acoustic waves (see section 11), and ultra-sensitive magnetic field sensing applications based on nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamond (see section 17). Despite our best attempt to represent the field of magneto-optics accurately and do justice to all its novel developments and its diversity, the research area is so extensive and active that there remains great latitude in deciding what to include in an article of this sort, which in turn means that some areas might not be adequately represented here. However, we feel that the 20 sections that form this 2022 magneto-optics roadmap article, each written by experts in the field and addressing a specific subject on only two pages, provide an accurate snapshot of where this research field stands today. Correspondingly, it should act as a valuable reference point and guideline for emerging research directions in modern magneto-optics, as well as illustrate the directions this research field might take in the foreseeable future.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2023

Hard x-ray – optical four-wave mixing using a split-and-delay line

New, hard x-ray free electron lasers (FEL) produce intense femtosecond-to-attosecond pulses at angstrom wavelengths, giving access to the fundamental spatial and temporal scales of matter. These revolutionary light sources open the door to applying the suite of nonlinear, optical spectroscopy methods at hard x-ray photon energies. Nonlinear spectroscopy with hard x-rays can allow for measuring the coherence properties of short wavelength excitations with atomic specificity and for understanding how high energy excitations couple to other degrees of freedom in atomic, molecular or condensed-phase systems. As a step in this direction, here we present hard x-ray, optical four-wave mixing (4WM) measurements done at 9.8 keV at the split-and-delay line at the x-ray correlation spectroscopy (XCS) hutch of the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS). In this work, we create an x-ray transient grating (TG) from a pair of crossing x-ray beams and diffract optical laser pulses at 400 nm from the TG. The key technical advance here is being able to independently vary the delays of the x-ray pulses. Measurements were made in 3 different solid samples: bismuth germinate (BGO), zinc oxide (ZnO) and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). The resulting phase-matched, 4WM signal is measured in two different ways: by varying the x-ray, x-ray pulse delay which can reveal both material and light source coherence properties and also by varying the optical laser delay with respect to the x-ray TG to study how the x-ray excitation couples to the optical properties. Although no coherent 4WM signal was seen in these measurements, the absence of this signal gives important information on experimental requirements for detecting this in future work. Also, our laser-delay scans, although not a new measurement, were applied to different materials than in past work and reveal new examples x-ray induced lattice dynamics in solids. This work represents a key step towards extending nonlinear optics and time-resolved spectroscopy into the hard x-ray regime.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2020

Physics Division Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2020-2024

The vision of the Physics Division (PHY) at Argonne National Laboratory is to continue enhancing its role as a world-leading institution in basic nuclear physics research and its applications. Key to this vision is for PHY to continue to safely and effectively operate and evolve the capabilities of the Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility to best serve its users. ATLAS is the Department of Energy (DOE) accelerator facility for low-energy nuclear physics research. The research carried out by PHY covers many themes in contemporary science but can be distilled into five areas of focus. These themes are interconnected, with continuously evolving synergies between the various groups and facilities in PHY and the broader Laboratory. This five-year strategic plan serves to illustrate our current capabilities and new directions related to these five areas of focus (ATLAS also develops an independent strategic plan): Accelerator research and design. The goal of this theme is to design, fabricate, test, and implement novel accelerator systems, with a focus on high-intensity ion and electron systems. These R&D activities have led to enhancements in the ATLAS accelerator system. Among others, the division’s accelerator systems are in use or planned for use at Fermilab, the Advanced Photon Source, and in a broad variety of applications at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Atom trapping and fundamental symmetries. The goal of this theme is to explore and exploit the uses of advanced laser cooling and trapping techniques to manipulate atoms. There are three main areas of focus. First is in the application of the atom trap trace analysis (ATTA) technique for age determination of groundwater and ice by using radio-krypton dating. The next two trapping-based programs involve tests of fundamental symmetries in nature: the cooling and trapping of radium-225 with the aim of determining limits on an observation of its electric dipole moment and precision measurements of the beta decay properties of helium-6 to set limits on the tensor coupling constant. This is complemented by measurements of similar properties in lithium-8 and boron-8. Nuclear astrophysics. The goal of this theme is to enhance our understanding of how elements are created in the universe via explosive nucleosynthesis and how stars evolve. To meet the challenges of this theme, many of the capabilities of ATLAS are being enhanced, including the development of new beams through a new in-flight separator (RAISOR) and the anticipated neutron-generator upgrade of the Californium Rare Isotope Breeder Upgrade facility (nuCARIBU). These are coupled to state-of-the-art instruments such as the Canadian Penning Trap, Helical Orbit Spectrometer, Gammasphere, GRETINA, Multi-Sampling Ionization Chamber, the Fragment Mass Analyzer, and Argonne Gas-filled Fragment Analyzer, and a new low-background experimental area for decay studies. Nuclear structure. The goal of this theme is to understand the structure of nuclei, both stable and radioactive, in terms of single-particle properties, their shapes, and the dynamics governing reactions between them. These include questions such as what are the limits of nuclear stability and what are the properties of super heavy nuclei. As with the nuclear astrophysics theme, the capabilities of ATLAS, guided by the ATLAS user community, are continuously being enhanced to this end. The Division has strategic initiatives to play a leading role in the development of instrumentation and research programs at the FRIB. Quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and hadron physics. The goal of this theme is to lead major research programs focused on revealing the quark and gluon structure of protons, neutrons, nuclei, and short-lived mesons and baryons. These involve major programs at Jefferson Lab, Fermilab, and smaller facilities. They are complemented by theoretical endeavors centered on the question of how hadrons and their properties emerge from QCD. Out of these activities arise strategic initiatives to play a major role in the forthcoming Electron-Ion Collider (EIC).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Computational Imaging for Intelligence in Highly Scattering Aerosols (Final Report)

Natural and man-made degraded visual environments pose major threats to national security. The random scattering and absorption of light by tiny particles suspended in the air reduces situational awareness and causes unacceptable down-time for critical systems and operations. To improve the situation, we have developed several approaches to interpret the information contained within scattered light to enhance sensing and imaging in scattering media. These approaches were tested at the Sandia National Laboratory Fog Chamber facility and with tabletop fog chambers. Computationally efficient light transport models were developed and leveraged for computational sensing. The models are based on a weak angular dependence approximation to the Boltzmann or radiative transfer equation that appears to be applicable in both the moderate and highly scattering regimes. After the new model was experimentally validated, statistical approaches for detection, localization, and imaging of objects hidden in fog were developed and demonstrated. A binary hypothesis test and the Neyman-Pearson lemma provided the highest theoretically possible probability of detection for a specified false alarm rate and signal-to-noise ratio. Maximum likelihood estimation allowed estimation of the fog optical properties as well as the position, size, and reflection coefficient of an object in fog. A computational dehazing approach was implemented to reduce the effects of scatter on images, making object features more readily discernible. We have developed, characterized, and deployed a new Tabletop Fog Chamber capable of repeatably generating multiple unique fog-analogues for optical testing in degraded visual environments. We characterized this chamber using both optical and microphysical techniques. In doing so we have explored the ability of droplet nucleation theory to describe the aerosols generated within the chamber, as well as Mie scattering theory to describe the attenuation of light by said aerosols, and correlated the aerosol microphysics to optical properties such as transmission and meteorological optical range (MOR). This chamber has proved highly valuable and has supported multiple efforts inclusive to and exclusive of this LDRD project to test optics in degraded visual environments. Circularly polarized light has been found to maintain its polarization state better than linearly polarized light when propagating through fog. This was demonstrated experimentally in both the visible and short-wave infrared (SWIR) by imaging targets made of different commercially available retroreflective films. It was found that active circularly polarized imaging can increase contrast and range compared to linearly polarized imaging. We have completed an initial investigation of the capability for machine learning methods to reduce the effects of light scattering when imaging through fog. Previously acquired experimental long-wave images were used to train an autoencoder denoising architecture. Overfitting was found to be a problem because of lack of variability in the object type in this data set. The lessons learned were used to collect a well labeled dataset with much more variability using the Tabletop Fog Chamber that will be available for future studies. We have developed several new sensing methods using speckle intensity correlations. First, the ability to image moving objects in fog was shown, establishing that our unique speckle imaging method can be implemented in dynamic scattering media. Second, the speckle decorrelation over time was found to be sensitive to fog composition, implying extensions to fog characterization. Third, the ability to distinguish macroscopically identical objects on a far-subwavelength scale was demonstrated, suggesting numerous applications ranging from nanoscale defect detection to security. Fourth, we have shown the capability to simultaneously image and localize hidden objects, allowing the speckle imaging method to be effective without prior object positional information. Finally, an interferometric effect was presented that illustrates a new approach for analyzing speckle intensity correlations that may lead to more effective ways to localize and image moving objects. All of these results represent significant developments that challenge the limits of the application of speckle imaging and open important application spaces. A theory was developed and simulations were performed to assess the potential transverse resolution benefit of relative motion in structured illumination for radar systems. Results for a simplified radar system model indicate that significant resolution benefits are possible using data from scanning a structured beam over the target, with the use of appropriate signal processing.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2025

Experimental Generation of Extreme Electron Beams for Advanced Accelerator Applications

In this Letter, we report on the experimental generation of high energy (10 GeV), ultrashort (femtosecond-duration), ultrahigh current (∼ 0.1 MA), petawatt peak power electron beams in a particle accelerator. These extreme beams enable the exploration of a new frontier of high-intensity beam-light and beam-matter interactions broadly relevant across fields ranging from laboratory astrophysics to strong field quantum electrodynamics and ultrafast quantum chemistry. We demonstrate our ability to generate and control the properties of these electron beams by means of a laser-electron beam shaping technique. In conclusion, this experimental demonstration opens the door to on-the-fly customization of extreme beam current profiles for desired experiments and is poised to benefit a broad swath of cross-cutting applications of relativistic electron beams.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

NASA NTRS2012

G-LiHT: Goddard's LiDAR, Hyperspectral and Thermal Airborne Imager

Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center have developed an ultra-portable, low-cost, multi-sensor remote sensing system for studying the form and function of terrestrial ecosystems. G-LiHT integrates two LIDARs, a 905 nanometer single beam profiler and 1550 nm scanner, with a narrowband (1.5 nanometers) VNIR imaging spectrometer and a broadband (8-14 micrometers) thermal imager. The small footprint (approximately 12 centimeters) LIDAR data and approximately 1 meter ground resolution imagery are advantageous for high resolution applications such as the delineation of canopy crowns, characterization of canopy gaps, and the identification of sparse, low-stature vegetation, which is difficult to detect from space-based instruments and large-footprint LiDAR. The hyperspectral and thermal imagery can be used to characterize species composition, variations in biophysical variables (e.g., photosynthetic pigments), surface temperature, and responses to environmental stressors (e.g., heat, moisture loss). Additionally, the combination of LIDAR optical, and thermal data from G-LiHT is being used to assess forest health by sensing differences in foliage density, photosynthetic pigments, and transpiration. Low operating costs (approximately $1 ha) have allowed us to evaluate seasonal differences in LiDAR, passive optical and thermal data, which provides insight into year-round observations from space. Canopy characteristics and tree allometry (e.g., crown height:width, canopy:ground reflectance) derived from G-LiHT data are being used to generate realistic scenes for radiative transfer models, which in turn are being used to improve instrument design and ensure continuity between LiDAR instruments. G-LiHT has been installed and tested in aircraft with fuselage viewports and in a custom wing-mounted pod that allows G-LiHT to be flown on any Cessna 206, a common aircraft in use throughout the world. G-LiHT is currently being used for forest biomass and growth estimation in the CONUS and Mexico in support of NASA's Carbon Monitoring System (CMS) and AMIGA-Carb (AMerican Icesat Glas Assessment of Carbon). For NASA's CMS, wall-to-wall G-LiHT data have been acquired over intensive study sites with historic LiDAR datasets, dense inventory data, stem maps and flux tower observations. For AMIGA-Carb, G-LiHT transects have been acquired over ICESat tracks and USDA-FS inventory plots throughout the CONUS, and similar data will be acquired in Mexico during 2013. This talk will highlight recent science results from continental-scale transects landscape-scale deployments of G-LiHT, as well as seasonal forest dynamics from repeat pass G-LiHT acquisitions.

Cook, Bruce↗

DOE OSTI2020

Laser Plasma Interaction in the MG Magnetic Field (Final Report)

Strong magnetic fields change properties of plasma. Employment of the magnetic fields can improve conditions for inertial confinement fusion. Compression and heating of the magnetized plasma is a base of the MagLIF pulsed power approach to the controlled fusion. Study of expansion and heating of plasma in the external magnetic fields, development of plasma instabilities, parametric and other effects are important for basic physics and applications. The main goal of the research for the grant was experimental investigation of laser produced plasma in the well characterized and controlled MG magnetic fields. We developed a platform for investigation of high intensity laser-plasma interaction (LPI) in the MG fields using a university-scale pulsed power machine. A Zebra machine at UNR generated transverse magnetic fields of 3 MG on the surface of the rod load and longitudinal fields of 1.4 MG in the coil loads. The magnetic fields were characterized with two-color Faraday rotation diagnostics. The pulsed power machine provided almost static magnetic fields for LPI compared to the much faster laser driven magnetic fields. We found that eddy currents in the rising magnetic field generate plasma on the metal targets. Eddy currents did not impact Si and CH dielectric targets. A Leopard laser with intensity in the focus up to 10 19 W/cm 2 produced plasma in the MG magnetic fields. The modified reflected Faraday diagnostics was used to study laser driven B-field at the MTW laser at Laboratory for Laser Energetics, UR. We demonstrated a slow dependence of the magnetic field in the coil on the applied laser intensity. The magnetic field increased by a factor of 2 if laser intensity increased by a factor of 30. This scaling is important for comparison of experiments at different laser facilities. Expansion of the plasma in the 2-3 MG external B-field was studied. Laser-produced plasma in the azimuthal magnetic field took the unique form of a thin disc expanding radially with a velocity of 250 km/s and confined in the vertical direction. A HYDRA MHD program at the University of Rochester was applied for simulations of LPI in the magnetic field B >3 MG. Simulations for the plasma disc parameters and the expansion dynamics were in a good agreement with experiments. Generation of narrow dense plasma jets in the longitudinal magnetic field of 0.6-0.8 MG was studied. Narrow plasma jets reached a length of 3-4 mm with the electron plasma density of (0.2-1.2)x10 20 cm -3 . A jet tip propagated with the velocity of 160-200 km/s. MHD simulations showed a good agreement of the dynamics of the formation of plasma jets with experiments. These jets are relevant to astrophysical jets. Simulations of K-shell spectra of Si plasma was performed for LPI in the B-field. The laser prepulse generated plasma near the laser target. A PrismSPECT model with a MeV electron beam produced by the laser was used. The spectral modelling showed the increased plasma density by a factor by 2-3 in the magnetic field. This was in agreement with the observed dynamics of the plasma plume confined by the axial magnetic field. The two-plasmon decay was studied in the 2.5-3 MG transversal magnetic fields. Strong 2-3.5 nm spectral widening and a 2-4 nm shifts of “red” and “blue” 3/2ω 0 spectral components were observed. The large shift and widening exceed the expected temperature and magnetic shift. PIC simulations are performing to clarify physics of this effect. The experimental research program for the grant is completed. New plasma effects in the MG fields were studied at the university-scale pulsed power generator. Two graduate and two undergraduate UNR and UR students carried experiments at the Zebra generator, supported and developed plasma diagnostics, provided data processing, and performed MHD simulations of LPI in the strong magnetic field. Research results are published in 9 referred papers and presented in 12 conferences. Program manager: Kramer U. Akli; Collaborators: R. C. Mancini and H. Sawada, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR); R. Betti and A. V. Maximov, University of Rochester (UR).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2025

Emergence of pseudoresonance in high-intensity resonant inelastic x-ray scattering

We report resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) spectra of neon atoms interacting with intense x-ray pulses generated using an x-ray free-electron laser (XFEL). We find that an unexpected peak emerges near the 𝐾⁢𝛼 line of Ne, which does not coincide with any physical resonances of neon ions. We perform theoretical calculations based on a quantum-state-resolved rate-equation approach with x-ray-induced processes including possible resonant excitations. Our dynamics simulations demonstrate that a sequence of multiple resonant photoabsorption events are involved and the interplay of those multiple resonances in combination with the relatively large spectral bandwidth of XFEL radiation leads to the emergent resonance-like structure at a position where no resonances exist. Our finding offers critical guidance for future applications of high-intensity RIXS at XFEL facilities.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗