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At least 271 records · Page 15
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

EM counterparts of structured jets from 3D GRMHD simulations

ABSTRACT GW170817/GRB170817A has offered unprecedented insight into binary neutron star post-merger systems. Its Prompt and afterglow emission imply the presence of a tightly collimated relativistic jet with a smooth transverse structure. However, it remains unclear whether and how the central engine can produce such structured jets. Here, we utilize 3D general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations starting with a black hole surrounded by a magnetized torus with properties typically expected of a post-merger system. We follow the jet, as it is self-consistently launched, from the scale of the compact object out to more than three orders of magnitude in distance. We find that this naturally results in a structured jet, which is collimated by the disc wind into a half-opening angle of roughly 10°; its emission can explain features of both the prompt and afterglow emission of GRB170817A for a 30° observing angle. Our work is the first to compute the afterglow, in the context of a binary merger, from a relativistic magnetized jet self-consistently generated by an accreting black hole, with the jet’s transverse structure determined by the accretion physics and not prescribed at any point.

Kathirgamaraju, Adithan (ORCID:000000028560692X)↗
DOE OSTI2017

Three-wave scattering in magnetized plasmas: From cold fluid to quantized Lagrangian

Large amplitude waves in magnetized plasmas, generated either by external pumps or internal instabilities, can scatter via three-wave interactions. While three-wave scattering is well known in collimated geometry, what happens when waves propagate at angles with one another in magnetized plasmas remains largely unknown, mainly due to the analytical difficulty of this problem. In this study, we overcome this analytical difficulty and find a convenient formula for three-wave coupling coefficient in cold, uniform, magnetized, and collisionless plasmas in the most general geometry. This is achieved by systematically solving the fluid-Maxwell model to second order using a multiscale perturbative expansion. The general formula for the coupling coefficient becomes transparent when we reformulate it as the scattering matrix element of a quantized Lagrangian. Using the quantized Lagrangian, it is possible to bypass the perturbative solution and directly obtain the nonlinear coupling coefficient from the linear response of the plasma. To illustrate how to evaluate the cold coupling coefficient, we give a set of examples where the participating waves are either quasitransverse or quasilongitudinal. In these examples, we determine the angular dependence of three-wave scattering, and demonstrate that backscattering is not necessarily the strongest scattering channel in magnetized plasmas, in contrast to what happens in unmagnetized plasmas. Finally, our approach gives a more complete picture, beyond the simple collimated geometry, of how injected waves can decay in magnetic confinement devices, as well as how lasers can be scattered in magnetized plasma targets.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Enhancement of Quasistationary Shocks and Heating via Temporal Staging in a Magnetized Laser-Plasma Jet

Here, we investigate the formation of a laser-produced magnetized jet under conditions of a varying mass ejection rate and a varying divergence of the ejected plasma flow. This is done by irradiating a solid target placed in a 20 T magnetic field with, first, a collinear precursor laser pulse (10 12 W/cm 2 ) and, then, a main pulse (10 13 W/cm 2 ) arriving 9–19 ns later. Varying the time delay between the two pulses is found to control the divergence of the expanding plasma, which is shown to increase the strength of and heating in the conical shock that is responsible for jet collimation. These results show that plasma collimation due to shocks against a strong magnetic field can lead to stable, astrophysically relevant jets that are sustained over time scales 100 times the laser pulse duration (i.e., >70 ns), even in the case of strong variability at the source.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2019

Helical Shear-Flow Stabilization of an Astrophysically Relevant Laboratory Plasma Jet

Astrophysical jets are collimated, high-speed outflows observed to be natural features of celestial objects that spin and accrete matter. From protoplanetary nebula and young stellar objects to active galactic nuclei, common features suggest that universal mechanisms may lead to the remarkable straightness observed in many jets. Here we report observations from a new astrophysically relevant laboratory plasma jet experiment demonstrating the formation of long-lived, collimated, high aspect-ratio jets. The magnetized jets have strong helical shear flows and remain stable to instabilities over many growth times. These observations corroborate theoretical predictions that strong helical shear flows can stabilize current-driven instabilities in magnetically confined plasmas, solar prominences, and magnetically driven astrophysical jets in nature.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Laboratory Demonstration of Collisionless Blob Formation via Laser-Produced Plasma Self-Focusing

Strongly localized, propagating plasma density structures that are capable of crossing magnetic field lines are known as “blobs.” Here we demonstrate a novel mechanism for the formation and propagation of an ion gyroradius-scale blob-cavity structure at the interface between a super-Alfvénic laser-produced plasma (LPP) and an ambient magnetized plasma. The LPP self-focuses along the edge of the diamagnetic cavity which results in a dense, jetlike structure as compared to ballistic motion. This collimated flow couples momentum to the ambient plasma through a collisionless process known as Larmor coupling. The Larmor electric fields locally displace the ambient ions forming a blob above the LPP flow. In the region between a gyrating blob and collimated LPP flow, a secondary cavity of expelled magnetic field forms. In conclusion, these findings are supported by particle-in-cell simulations that replicate the blob formation mechanism and provide insight to similar processes in space, astrophysical, and laboratory settings characterized by ion kinetic scales.

Fluorescence spectroscopy↗
DOE OSTI2021

Diaboloidal mirrors: algebraic solution and surface shape approximations

A new type of optical element that can focus a cylindrical wave to a point focus (or vice versa) is analytically described. Such waves are, for example, produced in a beamline where light is collimated in one direction and then doubly focused by a single optic. A classical example in X-ray optics is the collimated two-crystal monochromator, with toroidal mirror refocusing. The element here replaces the toroid, and in such a system provides completely aberration free, point-to-point imaging of rays from the on-axis source point. We present an analytic solution for the mirror shape in its laboratory coordinate system with zero slope at the centre, and approximate solutions, based on bending an oblique circular cone and a bent right circular cylinder, that may facilitate fabrication and metrology.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Progress on HL-LHC Nb 3 Sn Magnets

The high-luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC) project aims at allowing to increase the collisions in the LHC by a factor of ten in the decade 2025-2035. One essential element is the superconducting magnet around the interaction region points, where the large aperture magnets will be installed to allow to further reduce the beam size in the interaction point. The core of this upgrade is the Nb 3 Sn triplet, made up of 150-mm aperture quadrupoles in the range of 7-8 m. The project is being shared between the European Organization for Nuclear Research and the US Accelerator Upgrade Program, based on the same design, and on the two strand technologies. The project is ending the short model phase, and entering the prototype construction. We will report on the main results of the short model program, including the quench performance and field quality. A second important element is the 11 T dipole that replaces a standard dipole making space for additional collimators. The magnet is also ending the model development and entering the prototype phase. A critical point in the design of this magnet is the large current density, allowing increase of the field from 8 to 11 T with the same coil cross section as in the LHC dipoles. This is also the first two-in-one Nb 3 Sn magnet developed so far. We will report the main results on the test and the critical aspects.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2025

Individual and Simultaneous Imaging of ⁹⁹mTc and ¹⁷⁷Lu With a Preclinical Broad Energy-Spectrum CZT-Based SPECT

Radiopharmaceutical therapy has demonstrated a high efficacy in the treatment of various tumor types. One of the radionuclides already used in the clinic is 177Lu, a beta emitter that also emits several photons imageable with SPECT. Quantitative imaging of 177Lu is critical for developing new radiopharmaceuticals. Energy resolution is an important factor when imaging multiple photon emissions. Solid-state detectors offer a superior performance over scintillators, that are commonly used in commercially-available preclinical SPECT scanners. This study demonstrates the feasibility of 99m Tc and 177Lu quantitative imaging in mouse phantoms, individually and simultaneously, with a SPECT prototype built with four CdZnTe (CZT) detector heads and a custom-designed and energy-optimized parallel-hole tungsten collimator. With a custom implementation of the one-step late (OSL) image reconstruction algorithm, the system is capable of imaging energies from ~70 keV to 250 keV. Above 250 keV, images were significantly affected by septal penetration, consistent with the collimator design. A recovery coefficient within 25% was obtained for activities as low as 2 kBq/mL for 99m Tc and 45% for 177Lu. Compared to a commercial NaI-based preclinical SPECT (VECTor4/CT), our prototype showed a superior energy resolution (< 5% at 140 keV), a similar uniformity with a high-compact design.

Encarnação, Pedro M C C↗
DOE OSTI2017

New results from sub-3 MeV Compton spectrometer experiments

We report that our team at Los Alamos National Laboratory has successfully employed Compton spectrometers to measure the X-ray spectra of both continuous and flash radiographic sources. In this method, a collimated beam of X-rays incident on a converter foil ejects Compton electrons. A collimator may be inserted into the entrance of the spectrometer to narrow the angular acceptance of the forward-scattered electrons, which then enter the magnetic field region of the spectrometer. The position of the electrons at the magnet’s focal plane is proportional to the square root of their momentum, allowing the X-ray spectrum to be reconstructed. A new samarium-cobalt spectrometer with an energy range of 50 keV to 4 MeV has been fielded at two facilities. Finally, the X-ray generating machines produced intense photon beams (> 4 rad at 1 m) with spectral endpoints below 3 MeV. Recent experimental results will be presented.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Technical Note: Experimental results from a prototype high-field inline MRI-linac

Purpose: The pursuit of real-time image guided radiotherapy using optimal tissue contrast has seen the development of several hybrid magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-treatment systems, high field and low field, and inline and perpendicular configurations. As part of a new MRI-linac program, an MRI scanner was integrated with a linear accelerator to enable investigations of a coupled inline MRI-linac system. This work describes results from a prototype experimental system to demonstrate the feasibility of a high field inline MR-linac. Methods: The magnet is a 1.5 T MRI system (Sonata, Siemens Healthcare) was located in a purpose built radiofrequency (RF) cage enabling shielding from and close proximity to a linear accelerator with inline (and future perpendicular) orientation. A portable linear accelerator (Linatron, Varian) was installed together with a multileaf collimator (Millennium, Varian) to provide dynamic field collimation and the whole assembly built onto a stainless-steel rail system. A series of MRI-linac experiments was performed to investigate (1) image quality with beam on measured using a macropodine (kangaroo) ex vivo phantom; (2) the noise as a function of beam state measured using a 6-channel surface coil array; and (3) electron contamination effects measured using Gafchromic film and an electronic portal imaging device (EPID). Results: (1) Image quality was unaffected by the radiation beam with the macropodine phantom image with the beam on being almost identical to the image with the beam off. (2) Noise measured with a surface RF coil produced a 25% elevation of background intensity when the radiation beam was on. (3) Film and EPID measurements demonstrated electron focusing occurring along the centerline of the magnet axis. Conclusions: A proof-of-concept high-field MRI-linac has been built and experimentally characterized. This system has allowed us to establish the efficacy of a high field inline MRI-linac and study a number of the technical challenges and solutions.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Sci-Thur PM – Colourful Interactions: Highlights 01: Design to delivery of spatially fractionated mini-beam canine radiotherapy

Spatial fractionation of radiation using arrays of narrow parallel micro-planar beams (less than 1 mm), is a relatively new concept with many unknowns specifically within the underlying biology of cell death. A tungsten collimator has been designed to produce mini-beams with a Varian linear accelerator for translational animal research into the effectiveness of spatial fractionation mini-beam radiotherapy (MBRT). This work presents the treatment planning process and workflow for the application of MBRT treatments within a clinical study. For patient dose calculations, the MBRT collimator was incorporated into a Monte Carlo based treatment planning system called MMCTP. Treatment planning was split between Eclipse and MMCTP, as the field apertures were determined within Eclipse prior to being sent to MMCTP for dose calculations. The calculated plan was transferred back into Aria with updated MUs per field for patient treatment. Patients were positioned within a vac-lock bag lying prone with a bite block and a thermoplastic mask to immobilize the head. Prior to treatment, a delivery verification plan was created within MMCTP. DQA output measurements of the treatment fields agreed with the calculated dose to within 1.5%. We have presented a workflow for MBRT treatments that include the planning technique, dose calculation method, DQA process and data integration into a record and verify system. The clinical study following this workflow represent the first series of linac based MBRT patients and depending on the clinical outcome of the study, our technique could be applied to human MBRT treatments.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Study of Extracted Beam Characteristics of the Photoneutron Source at the Institute for Nuclear Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences

The characteristics of the extracted beam of thermal neutrons at the IN-LUE photoneutron source are investigated. A collimator with a cross-section diameter of 30 mm, located at an angle of 67° relative to the electron beam direction, was used to extract neutrons from the source. The neutron flux density as a function of the distance from the source center and the distribution of flux density over the distance from the collimator axis (beam profile) are obtained.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Laboratory tests of laser control of electron beams for future colliders

Laser-driven Compton backscattering (CBS) has been proposed as method for controlling the intensity of colliding bunches in the FCC-ee so as to avoid the flip-flop instability caused by intensity asymmetry in colliding bunches. Laser-based collimation has also been proposed as an indestructible collimator for high-intensity electron beams. We have initiated a laboratory-based test program of these concepts with the E344 experiment at FACET-II. In this paper, we describe simulations of laser–beam interactions at FACET-II and the relevant scaling for FCC-ee. We also describe the experimental setup and diagnostics that will be used to make the measurements at FACET-II.

accelerator physics↗
DOE OSTI2025

Comparing optical four-flux model results with experimental data obtained by integrating sphere measurements

Four-flux theory is a way to model scattering through multiple layers of a system based on diffuse and collimated properties. When compared with measurement results obtained using an integrating sphere or a goniophotometer, an approximation is often made as the physical instrument cannot separate the collimated component from the diffuse light scattered in the forward direction. This paper tries to clarify the meaning of the word diffuse for the different cases and outlines simple corrections to improve the accuracy when comparing four-flux models and measured data based on sample haze and the geometry of the integrating sphere.

Bilokur, Maryna (ORCID:0000000191839650)↗
DOE OSTI2019

Adaptive control of laser-wakefield accelerators driven by mid-IR laser pulses

There has been growing interest both in studying high intensity ultrafast laser plasma interactions with adaptive control systems as well as using long wavelength driver beams. We demonstrate the coherent control of the dynamics of laser-wakefield acceleration driven by ultrashort (~ 100 fs) mid-infrared (~ 3.9 μ m) laser pulses. The critical density at this wavelength is 7.3 × 10 19 cm -3 , which is achievable with an ordinary gas target system. Interactions between mid-infrared laser pulses and such near-critical-density plasma may be beneficial due to much higher absorption of laser energy. In addition, the normalized vector potential of the laser field a 0 increases with longer laser wavelength, lowering the required peak laser intensity to drive non-linear laser-wakefield acceleration. Here, MeV level, collimated electron beams with non-thermal, peaked energy spectra are generated. Optimization of electron beam qualities are realized through adaptive control of the laser wavefront. A genetic algorithm controlling a deformable mirror improves the electron total charge, energy spectra, beam pointing and stability at various plasma density profiles. Particle-in-cell simulations reveal that the optimal wavefront causes an earlier injection on the density up-ramp and thus higher energy gain as well as less filamentation during the interaction, which leads to the improvement in electron beam collimation and energy spectra.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Automating Orbit Correction in the Main Injector 8 GeV Line

The Main Injector 8 GeV line (MI8 line) transports beam from Fermilab's Booster accelerator to either the Booster Neutrino experiments (BNB), the Recycler or the Main Injector. Often the orbit of the beam through the MI8 line differs depending on the beam destination. The beam is collimated in the MI8 line, so increasing intensities and repetition rates make controlling orbits through the collimators a necessity. The current method of regulating the MI8 line orbit with DC corrector settings is insufficient. A system named MITUNE is being developed to sample and categorize all beams through the MI8 line and automatically calculate and apply proper dipole corrector ramps to maintain desired orbits for pulses to any destination.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Synchronization and phase locking of resonant magnet power supplies for Mu2e experiment at Fermilab

The Mu2e Experiment has stringent beam structure requirements; namely, it requires short (~200 ns) proton bunches separated by 1.5-2.0 $\mu$s. This beam structure will be produced using the Fermilab 8 GeV Booster, the 8 GeV Recycler Ring, and the Delivery Ring, which was formerly part of the antiproton accumulator system. Out of time beam is limited to a fraction of level of no more than $1\times 10^{-10}$, a requirement known as "extinction". Achieving this level of extinction requires a system of resonant magnets and collimators, phased such that only in time particles will pass through. The Mu2e magnet system involves two components: a 300 kHz component, timed such that the 600 kHz beam will pass through the collimators at the nodes, and a 4.5 MHz system to reduce the slewing of the in-time beam. These two systems must be precisely phase locked to the bunch rate coming from the Delivery Ring, which itself must be phased to match beam transfers coming from the Recycler. This poster describes the control system for the magnets, which is based on an Intel Arria FPGA, which handles phase locking of the magnets to the Delivery Ring, including the phase jumps required to match transfers from the Recycler.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Design and Testing of Subsystems for Mo-99 Production

Argonne National Laboratory, in cooperation with Los Alamos National Laboratory, is developing technology with NorthStar Medical Technologies to produce 99 Mo from the γ,n reaction on a 100 Mo target in an electron accelerator. During production runs and thermal testing of the helium-cooled target, it became obvious that a production-scale beam-line configuration would need a collimator to protect the target from accidental beam misplacement or a beam-profile change. A prototype high-power collimator and beam stop were designed and fabricated. Testing indicated that they will be able to operate at full power in the production-scale accelerator.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗