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DOE OSTI2011

Comment on ''Scalings for radiation from plasma bubbles''[Phys. Plasmas 17, 056708 (2010)]

Thomas has recently derived scaling laws for x-ray radiation from electrons accelerated in plasma bubbles, as well as a threshold for the self-injection of background electrons into the bubble [A. G. R. Thomas, Phys. Plasmas 17, 056708 (2010)]. To obtain this threshold, the equations of motion for a test electron are studied within the frame of the bubble model, where the bubble is described by prescribed electromagnetic fields and has a perfectly spherical shape. The author affirms that any elliptical trajectory of the form x{sup '2}/{gamma}{sub p}{sup 2}+y{sup '2}=R{sup 2} is solution of the equations of motion (in the bubble frame), within the approximation p{sub y}{sup '2}/p{sub x}{sup '2}<<1. In addition, he highlights that his result is different from the work of Kostyukov et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 175003 (2009)], and explains the error committed by Kostyukov-Nerush-Pukhov-Seredov (KNPS). In this comment, we show that numerically integrated trajectories, based on the same equations than the analytical work of Thomas, lead to a completely different result for the self-injection threshold, the result published by KNPS [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 175003 (2009)]. We explain why the analytical analysis of Thomas fails and we provide a discussion based on numerical simulations which show exactly where the difference arises. We also show that the arguments of Thomas concerning the error of KNPS do not hold, and that their analysis is mathematically correct. Finally, we emphasize that if the KNPS threshold is found not to be verified in PIC (Particle In Cell) simulations or experiments, it is due to a deficiency of the model itself, and not to an error in the mathematical derivation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Response to ''Comment on 'Scalings for radiation from plasma bubbles''' [Phys. Plasmas 18, 034701 (2011)]

In the preceding Comment, Corde, Stordeur, and Malka claim that the trapping threshold derived in my recent paper is incorrect. Their principal argument is that the elliptical orbits I used are not exact solutions of the equation of motion in the fields of the bubble. The original paper never claimed this--rather I claimed that the use of elliptical orbits was a reasonable approximation, which I based on observations from particle-in-cell simulations. Integration of the equation of motion for analytical expressions for idealized bubble fields (either analytically [I. Kostyukov, E. Nerush, A. Pukhov, and V. Seredov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 175003 (2009)] or numerically [S. Corde, A. Stordeur, and V. Malka, ''Comment on 'Scalings for radiation from plasma bubbles,' '' Phys. Plasmas 18, 034701 (2011)]) produces a trapping threshold wholly inconsistent with experiments and full particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations (e.g., requiring an estimated laser intensity of a{sub 0{approx}}30 for n{sub e{approx}}10{sup 19} cm{sup -3}). The inconsistency in the particle trajectories between PIC and the numeric model used by the comment authors arises due to the fact that the analytical fields are only approximately true for ''real'' plasma bubbles, and lack certain key features of the field structure. Two possible methods of resolution to this inconsistency are either to find ever more complicated but accurate models for the bubble fields or to find approximate solutions to the equations of motion that capture the essential features of the self-consistent electron trajectories. The latter, heuristic approach used in my recent paper produced a threshold that is better matched to experimental observations. In this reply, I will also revisit the problem and examine the relationship between bubble radius and electron momentum at the point of trapping without reference to a particular trajectory.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Skyrmions, rational maps, and scaling identities

Starting from approximate Skyrmion solutions obtained using the rational map ansatz, improved approximate Skyrmions are constructed using scaling arguments. Although the energy improvement is small, the change of shape clarifies whether the true Skyrmions are more oblate or prolate.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2011

Superresolution of a compact neutron spectrometer at energies relevant for fusion diagnostics

The ability to achieve resolution that is better than the instrument resolution (i.e., superresolution) is well known in optics, where it has been extensively studied. Unfortunately, there are only a handful of theoretical studies concerning superresolution of particle spectrometers, even though experimentalists are familiar with the enhancement of resolution that is achievable when appropriate methods of data analysis are used, such as maximum entropy and Bayesian methods. Knowledge of the superresolution factor is in many cases important. For example, in applications of neutron spectrometry to fusion diagnostics, the temperature of a burning plasma is an important physical parameter which may be inferred from the width of the peak of the neutron energy spectrum, and the ability to determine this width depends on the superresolution factor. Kosarev has derived an absolute limit for resolution enhancement using arguments based on a well known theorem of Shannon. Most calculations of superresolution factors in the literature, however, are based on the assumption of Gaussian, translationally invariant response functions and therefore not directly applicable to neutron spectrometers which typically have response functions not satisfying these requirements. In this work, we develop a procedure that allows us to overcome these difficulties and we derive estimates of superresolution for liquid scintillator spectrometers of a type commonly used for neutron measurements. Theoretical superresolution factors are compared to experimental results.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2011

Non-perturbative analysis of the Gribov-Zwanziger action

In the non-perturbative regime the usual gauge fixing is not sufficient due to the Gribov problem. To deal with it one can restrict the integration in the path integral to the first Gribov region by using the Gribov-Zwanziger action. In its local form it features additional auxiliary fields which mix with the gluon at the two-point level. We present an explicit infrared analysis of this action. We show that from the two possible scaling solutions obtained previously only one remains: It coincides exactly with the results from the Faddeev-Popov action, i.e., the ghost propagator is infrared enhanced and the gluon propagator infrared suppressed and the corresponding power law behavior is described by only one parameter {kappa} = 0.5953.... This corroborates the argument by Zwanziger that for functional equations it suffices to take into account the appropriate boundary conditions and no explicit restriction in the path integral measure is required.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

CP Symmetry, Lee-Yang zeros and Phase Transitions

We analyze the analytic properties of {theta}-vacuum in QCD and its connection with spontaneous symmetry breaking of CP symmetry. A loss of analyticity in the {theta}-vacuum energy density can only be due to the accumulation of Lee-Yang zeros at some real values of {theta}. In the case of first order transitions these singularities are always associated to and cusp singularities and never to or cusps, which in the case {theta} = 0 are incompatible with the Vafa-Witten diamagnetic inequality This fact provides a key missing link in the Vafa-Witten proof of parity symmetry conservation in vector-like gauge theories like QCD. The argument is very similar to that used in the derivation of Bank-Casher formula for chiral symmetry breaking. However, the and behavior does not exclude the existence of a first phase transition at {theta} = {pi}, where a and cusp singularity is not forbidden by any inequality; in this case the topological charge condensate is proportional to the density of Lee-Yang zeros at {theta} = {pi}. Moreover, Lee-Yang zeros could give rise to a second order phase transition at {theta} = 0, which might be very relevant for the interpretation of the anomalous behavior of the topological susceptibility in the CP{sup 1} sigma model.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Scaling, decoupling and transversality of the gluon propagator

In this note we discuss a couple of technical issues relevant to solving the Dyson-Schwinger equation for the gluon propagator in Landau gauge Yang-Mills theory. In the deep infrared functional methods extract a one-parameter family of solutions generically showing a massive behavior referred to as 'decoupling' but also including the so-called 'scaling' solution with a conformal infrared behavior as a limiting case. We emphasize that the latter cannot be ruled out by technical arguments related to the removal of quadratic divergencies and transversality.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

QCD relics in the present-day Universe?

A possibility is suggested for the formation in the Universe of domains occupied by coherent-like states of strongly correlated quark-antiquark pairs. Only domains of the radius larger than 5 fm had a chance to survive over the entire history of the Universe, while the requirement of stability against the gravitational collapse restricts the maximum domain's radius to 14 km. Within the Generalised Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, an exponential suppression with the domain's volume is found for the overlap between the macroscopic ground-state wavefunction of the quark-antiquark pairs and the QCD vacuum. This finding supports, at the microscopic level, the above arguments in favour of the stability of the domains.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

'Who Thinks Abstractly?': Quantum Theory and the Architecture of Physical Concepts

Beginning with its introduction by W. Heisenberg, quantum mechanics was often seen as an overly abstract theory, mathematically and physically, vis-a-vis classical physics or relativity. This perception was amplified by the fact that, while the quantum-mechanical formalism provided effective predictive algorithms for the probabilistic predictions concerning quantum experiments, it appeared unable to describe, even by way idealization, quantum processes themselves in space and time, in the way classical mechanics or relativity did. The aim of the present paper is to reconsider the nature of mathematical and physical abstraction in modern physics by offering an analysis of the concept of ''physical fact'' and of the concept of 'physical concept', in part by following G. W. F. Hegel's and G. Deleuze's arguments concerning the nature of conceptual thinking. In classical physics, relativity, and quantum physics alike, I argue, physical concepts are defined by the following main features - 1) their multi-component multiplicity; 2) their essential relations to problems; 3) and the interactions between physical, mathematical, and philosophical components within each concept. It is the particular character of these interactions in quantum mechanics, as defined by its essentially predictive (rather than descriptive) nature, that distinguishes it from classical physics and relativity.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Large acoustic solitons and double layers in plasmas with two positive ion species

Large nonlinear acoustic waves are discussed in a plasma made up of cold supersonic and adiabatic subsonic positive ions, in the presence of hot isothermal electrons, with the help of Sagdeev pseudopotential theory. In this model, no solitons are found at the acoustic speed, and no compositional parameter ranges exist where solutions of opposite polarities can coexist. All nonlinear modes are thus super-acoustic, but polarity changes are possible. The upper limits on admissible structure velocities come from different physical arguments, in a strict order when the fractional cool ion density is increased: infinite cold ion compression, warm ion sonic point, positive double layers, negative double layers, and finally, positive double layers again. However, not all ranges exist for all mass and temperature ratios. Whereas the cold and warm ion sonic point limitations are always present over a wide range of mass and temperature ratios, and thus positive polarity solutions can easily be obtained, double layers have a more restricted existence range, specially if polarity changes are sought.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

A Very High Momentum Particle Identification Detector for the ALICE experiment

The main purpose of the ALICE experiment at CERN is to identify and study the quark-gluon plasma (QGP) in heavy ion collisions at the LHC. Among others, hadrochemistry allows for a detailed insight into the characteristics of the high temperature and density system created in these events. It is therefore important to be able to identify charged particles on a track by track basis. Moreover, results from high energy nucleus-nucleus collisions obtained by other experiments (e.g. at RHIC) indicate that it is imperative to extend the detection capability of ALICE to higher momenta. To meet these challenges, we propose the construction of the Very High Momentum Particle Identification Detector (VHMPID), which aims to identify charged pions, kaons, protons and antiprotons in the momentum range of 10 GeV/c<p{sub T}<30 GeV/c. In this contribution we will review the relevant physics arguments in proton-proton and heavy ion collisions as well as the detector proposal based on a RICH (Ring Imaging Cherenkov) detector with a C{sub 4}F{sub 10} radiator and a MWPC based CsI photon counter. In addition, we will present the advances in the development of an alternative multi-THGEM based CsI photon detector.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

The no-binding regime of the Pauli-Fierz model

The Pauli-Fierz model H({alpha}) in nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics is considered. The external potential V is sufficiently shallow and the dipole approximation is assumed. It is proven that there exist constants 0 < {alpha}{sub -} < {alpha}{sub +} such that H({alpha}) has no ground state for |{alpha}| < {alpha}{sub -}, which complements an earlier result stating that there is a ground state for |{alpha}| > {alpha}{sub +}. We develop a suitable extension of the Birman-Schwinger argument. Moreover, for any given {delta} > 0 examples of potentials V are provided such that {alpha}{sub +}-{alpha}{sub -} < {delta}.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Response to 'Comment on 'Controllable local modification of fractured Nb-doped SrTiO{sub 3} surfaces' [Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 256102 (2011)'.

In their comment, Chen et al. try to argue that the experimentally observed controllable voltage-induced surface modification, which was attributed to a local electric field-induced atom transfer from the surface to the tip, is rather caused by either an oxidation process and/or a resistance change. In this response, we will show that we can rule out these two effects in our experiment. The statements by Chen et al. are based on two arguments: (1) the tip modification after transferring an adatom should alter the dI/dV contrast, which was not seen in our experiments and (2) the vacuum conditions in our experiment are similar to earlier reports on resistance switching. First, Chen et al. discuss that the adsorption on the tip should alter the topographic contrast, as many papers have reported. In fact, in our experiments we frequently observed tip modifications at high bias voltage. These typically result in slight changes in scanning tunneling spectroscopy data [see, for example, the spectra in Fig. 3(b) in Ref. 4 and Fig. 2(d) of Ref. 5] but only weakly affected the topographic contrast. Second, Chen et al. claim that oxidation is another possible mechanism to explain our experimental observations. To support this claim, they compare our results to an earlier publication showing resistance switching. In fact, the resistance switching mechanism is related to oxygen vacancy migration or local surface oxidation. The mechanism of oxygen vacancy migration requires a 'forming' process with a threshold current in the order of microampere or even milliampere. In our experimental setup, however, we used tunneling currents in the order of 50 pA. Even during surface modification, which was performed at open feedback loop conditions with voltage pulse of up to 3 or -5 V, the maximum transient current did not exceed a few nanoampere. Therefore, we can safely exclude oxygen vacancy migration as a potential mechanism for the observed surface modification. As a second potential mechanism Chen et al. mention a local surface oxidation process. However, the total pressure at high-vacuum conditions used in experiments, where resistance switching was observed (10{sup -7} torr in Ref. 3) is three order magnitude higher than in our experiment performed under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions (below 10{sup -10} torr). Furthermore, mass spectra measured with a residual gas analyzer show that the main residue gas in our UHV system is hydrogen ({approx} 90%). Water, oxygen, and other oxygen-related gases are negligible with a partial pressure in the order of 10{sup -12} torr range or lower. Therefore, we can also exclude that local oxidation with reactants from the residual gas causes the observed modifications. In addition, in our experiment, the refilling of the modified areas at negative bias could not be observed with fresh tip, even for bias voltages as high as -10 V. In short, the mechanism for the modification on the UHV in situ fractured Nb:SrTiO{sub 3} (Nb-doped Strontium titanate) surfaces with scanning tunneling microscope (STM) tip is different from the mechanisms such as local surface oxidation or filament formation, used to explain the largecurrent induced resistance switching works.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2011

Theory and simulations of the scaling of magnetic reconnection with symmetric shear flow

The scaling of magnetic reconnection in the presence of an oppositely directed sub-Alfvenic shear flow parallel to the reconnecting magnetic field is studied using analytical scaling arguments and two-dimensional two-fluid numerical simulations of collisionless (Hall) reconnection. Previous studies noted that the reconnection rate falls and the current sheet tilts with increasing flow speed, but no quantitative theory was presented. This study presents a physical model of the effect of shear flow on reconnection, resulting in expressions for the scaling of properties such as the reconnection rate, outflow speed, and thickness and length of the dissipation region, which are verified numerically. Differences between Hall and Sweet-Parker reconnection are pointed out. The tilting of the current sheet is explained physically and a quantitative prediction is presented and verified.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Dust-acoustic solitary modes in plasmas with isothermal and nonthermal ions: Polarity switches and coexistence domains

Large dust-acoustic waves are investigated in a multispecies plasma model consisting of cold negative dust in the presence of cooler Boltzmann and hotter nonthermal Cairns positive ions, in a Sagdeev pseudopotential formalism. Use of the pseudopotential at the acoustic speed itself yields in a systematic way compositional parameter values where negative/positive solitons interchange polarities and also where both polarities coexist. The latter requires that solitons at the acoustic speed exist, with finite amplitudes, compared to superacoustic solitons of the opposite polarity. The coexistence region starts when the pseudopotential at the acoustic speed has a negative root at the limit of infinite dust compression and ends when a positive double root is encountered. Outside the coexistence domain, only negative or positive superacoustic solitons can exist. Thus, the discussion and numerical evaluations are guided by precise physical and analytic arguments rather than mere numerical experimentation. Graphs of relevant Sagdeev pseudopotentials illustrate the link with the analytical constraints.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2011

Facets of contextual realism in quantum mechanics

In recent times, there is an upsurge of interest in demonstrating the quantum contextuality. In this proceedings, we explore the two different forms of arguments that have been used for showing the contextual character of quantum mechanics. First line of study concerns the violations of the noncontextual realist models by quantum mechanics, where second line of study that is qualitatively distinct from the earlier one, demonstrates the contextuality within the formalism of quantum mechanics.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Spin-path entanglement in single-neutron interferometer experiments

There are two powerful arguments against the possibility of extending quantum mechanics (QM) into a more fundamental theory yielding a deterministic description of nature. One is the experimental violation of Bell inequalities, which discards local hidden-variable theories as a possible extension to QM. The other is the Kochen-Specker (KS) theorem, which stresses the incompatibility of QM with a larger class of hidden-variable theories, known as noncontextual hidden-variable theories. We performed experiments with neutron interferometer, which exploits spin-path entanglements in single neutrons. A Bell-like state is generated to demonstrate a violation of the Bell-like inequality and phenomena in accordance with KS theorem: both experiments study quantum contextuality and show clear evidence of the incompatibility of noncontextual hidden variable theories with QM. The value S = 2.202{+-}0.007 Neither-Less-Than-Nor-Equal-To 2 is obtained in the new measurement of the Bell-like inequality, which shows a larger violation than the previous measurement. For the study of KS theorem, the obtained violation 2.291{+-}0.008 Neither-Less-Than-Nor-Equal-To 1 clearly shows that quantum mechanical predictions cannot be reproduced by noncontextual hidden variable theories.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

Radiative Corrections in Yang-Mills thermodynamics

We provide arguments why the loop expansion of the pressure in the effective theory for the deconfining phase of SU(2) Yang-Mills thermodynamics is likely to terminate at a finite order despite the fact that the effective gauge coupling is large (e{>=}{radical}(8){pi}). Each order l of the expansion measures the lth power of the fraction of a typical residual action of the quantum fluctuation in one loop S{sub l} and h. Here S{sub l} rapidly decreases with l. This is demonstrated by a computation of irreducible 2-loop and 3-loop diagrams which correct the pressure of free quasiparticles radiatively. In fact, at the three-loop level, one diagram vanishes identically. By benchmarking with known 2-loop results we show that the Monte-Carlo method used to compute on the 3-loop level is reliable.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗