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At least 829 records · Page 46
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Filamentation of magnetosonic wave and generation of magnetic turbulence in laser plasma interaction

This paper presents a theoretical model for the magnetic turbulence in laser plasma interaction due to the nonlinear coupling of magnetosonic wave with ion acoustic wave in overdense plasma. For this study, dynamical equations of magnetosonic waves and the ion acoustic waves have been developed in the presence of ponderomotive force due to the pump magnetosonic wave. Slowly converging and diverging behavior has been studied semi-analytically, this results in the formation of filaments of the magnetosonic wave. Numerical simulation has also been carried out to study nonlinear stage. From the results, it has been found that the localized structures become quite complex in nature. Further, power spectrum has been studied. Results show that the spectral index follows (∼k{sup −2.0}) scaling at smaller scale. Relevance of the present investigation has been shown with the experimental observation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Computation studies into architecture and energy transfer properties of photosynthetic units from filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs

We have used different computational methods to study structural architecture, and light-harvesting and energy transfer properties of the photosynthetic unit of filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs. Due to the huge number of atoms in the photosynthetic unit, a combination of atomistic and coarse methods was used for electronic structure calculations. The calculations reveal that the light energy absorbed by the peripheral chlorosome antenna complex transfers efficiently via the baseplate and the core B808–866 antenna complexes to the reaction center complex, in general agreement with the present understanding of this complex system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Two-color interferometer for the study of laser filamentation triggered electric discharges in air

We present a space and time resolved interferometric plasma diagnostic for use on plasmas where neutral-bound electron contribution to the refractive index cannot be neglected. By recording simultaneously the plasma optical index at 532 and 1064 nm, we are able to extract independently the neutral and free electron density profiles. We report a phase resolution of 30 mrad, corresponding to a maximum resolution on the order of 4×10{sup 22} m{sup −3} for the electron density, and of 10{sup 24} m{sup −3} for the neutral density. The interferometer is demonstrated on centimeter-scale sparks triggered by laser filamentation in air with typical currents of a few tens of A.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Computational studies for plasma filamentation by magnetic field in atmospheric microwave discharge

Plasma filamentation is induced by an external magnetic field in an atmospheric discharge using intense microwaves. A discrete structure is obtained at low ambient pressure if a strong magnetic field of more than 1 T is applied, due to the suppression of electron diffusion, whereas a diffusive pattern is generated with no external field. Applying a magnetic field can slow the discharge front propagation due to magnetic confinement of the electron transport. If the resonance conditions are satisfied for electron cyclotron resonance and its higher harmonics, the propagation speed increases because the heated electrons easily ionize neutral particles. The streamer velocity and the pattern of the microwave plasma are positively controlled by adjusting two parameters—the electron diffusion coefficient and the ionization frequency—through the resonance process and magnetic confinement, and hot, dense filamentary plasma can be concentrated in a compact volume to reduce energy loss in a plasma device like a microwave rocket.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Plasma filamentation and shock wave enhancement in microwave rockets by combining low-frequency microwaves with external magnetic field

A filamentary plasma is reproduced based on a fully kinetic model of electron and ion transports coupled with electromagnetic wave propagation. The discharge plasma transits from discrete to diffusive patterns at a 110-GHz breakdown, with decrease in the ambient pressure, because of the rapid electron diffusion that occurs during an increase in the propagation speed of the ionization front. A discrete plasma is obtained at low pressures when a low-frequency microwave is irradiated because the ionization process becomes more dominant than the electron diffusion, when the electrons are effectively heated by the low-frequency microwave. The propagation speed of the plasma increases with decrease in the incident microwave frequency because of the higher ionization frequency and faster plasma diffusion resulting from the increase in the energy-absorption rate. An external magnetic field is applied to the breakdown volume, which induces plasma filamentation at lower pressures because the electron diffusion is suppressed by the magnetic field. The thrust performance of a microwave rocket is improved by the magnetic fields corresponding to the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) and its higher-harmonic heating, because slower propagation of the ionization front and larger energy-absorption rates are obtained at lower pressures. It would be advantageous if the fundamental mode of ECR heating is coupled with a lower frequency microwave instead of combining the higher-harmonic ECR heating with the higher frequency microwave. This can improve the thrust performance with smaller magnetic fields even if the propagation speed increases because of the decrease in the incident microwave frequency.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Plasma expansion and relativistic filamentation in intense laser-irradiated cone targets

We report that compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) cone targets have been shown to produce increased MeV photons on the NIF-ARC by 10× over flat targets. Multiple x-ray frames can potentially be generated by firing the NIF-ARC's beamlets into distinct cone targets at few nanosecond relative delays. This requires that the cone targets with delayed beams are not degraded by their proximity to previous targets. One concern is that the spatial wings of a beam fired into one target can fall on neighboring targets, producing a preformed plasma that may interfere with laser light reaching the tip of the cone. In this work, 3D hydra simulations of realistic targets and beam parameters show that hundreds of micrometer scale length preplasmas are produced in cones within 1 mm of the laser spot. 2D particle-in-cell simulations of the intense main pulse in this preplasma indicate a density threshold for the onset of relativistic filamentation in our conditions. Applying our modeling approach to a NIF-ARC shot with an intentional 15 J prepulse yields good agreement with experimental results.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Light bullets and supercontinuum spectrum during femtosecond pulse filamentation under conditions of anomalous group-velocity dispersion in fused silicalicati

We report the results of theoretical and experimental research on spectrum transformation and spatiotemporal distribution of the femtosecond laser radiation intensity during filamentation in fused silica. The formation of light bullets with a high power density is first observed in a femtosecond laser pulse in the anomalous group velocity dispersion regime at a wavelength of 1800 nm. The minimum duration of the light bullet is about two oscillation cycles of the light field. (extreme light fields and their applications)

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Filamentation of an annular laser beam with a vortex phase dislocation in fused silica

The filamentation of a femtosecond laser pulse in fused silica has been numerically investigated for the case of an annular beam with a phase singularity at a wavelength of 800 nm. The spatiotemporal propagation dynamics of the pulse and the transformation of its frequency-angular spectra are analysed. It is shown that a tubular structure with a radius of 3−4 μm, peak intensity of about 2.4×10{sup 13} W cm{sup −2}, and maximum plasma density on the order of 10{sup 20} cm{sup −3} is formed in the nonlinear focus; the length of this structure significantly exceeds the waist length in the linear case. The results of the analysis are compared with the data obtained for an annular beam free of phase dislocations and for a Gaussian beam. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Effect of group velocity dispersion on femtosecond filamentation of Bessel – Gaussian beams

Laser colouration technique is employed to investigate the structures of colour centres induced in an isotropic LiF crystal by Bessel – Gaussian and Gaussian beams in the single-pulse filamentation regime. Femtosecond laser pulses at radiation wavelengths corresponding to zero (1250 nm) and anomalous (1900 nm) group velocity dispersions were focused into the sample using an axicon or a spherical lens. As shown experimentally and numerically, with increase in radiation energy the length of the structure of colour centres (or the plasma channel length) increases in the domain of zero group velocity dispersion but remains invariable under conditions of anomalous dispersion, when there emerge light bullets. The path length of the light bullets amounts to about 200 μm and does not depend on the pulse energy and the way of focusing, which confirms their robustness. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Mechanisms of leiomodin 2-mediated regulation of actin filament in muscle cells

Leiomodin (Lmod) is a class of potent tandem-G-actin–binding nucleators in muscle cells. Lmod mutations, deletion, or instability are linked to lethal nemaline myopathy. However, the lack of high-resolution structures of Lmod nucleators in action severely hampered our understanding of their essential cellular functions. Here we report the crystal structure of the actin–Lmod2 162–495 nucleus. The structure contains two actin subunits connected by one Lmod2 162–495 molecule in a non–filament-like conformation. Complementary functional studies suggest that the binding of Lmod2 stimulates ATP hydrolysis and accelerates actin nucleation and polymerization. The high level of conservation among Lmod proteins in sequence and functions suggests that the mechanistic insights of human Lmod2 uncovered here may aid in a molecular understanding of other Lmod proteins. Furthermore, our structural and mechanistic studies unraveled a previously unrecognized level of regulation in mammalian signal transduction mediated by certain tandem-G-actin–binding nucleators.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

DNA affinity purification sequencing and transcriptional profiling reveal new aspects of nitrogen regulation in a filamentous fungus

Significance Microorganisms have evolved transcriptional networks to prioritize utilization of available nutrient sources. For filamentous fungi, such as Neurospora crassa , this entails distinguishing between a variety of organic and inorganic nitrogen sources. Here, we transcriptionally profiled the response of N. crassa to a variety of nitrogen sources and used DNA affinity purification sequencing to characterize the role of regulatory genes and their direct downstream targets. We identified a transcription factor responsible for regulating genes involved in amino acid and mannose metabolism. By comparing the genes regulated by transcription factors that regulate specific nitrogen utilization pathways and transcription factors that regulate utilization of all nitrogen sources that require metabolic processing before utilization, we revealed aspects of the nitrogen regulatory network.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Functional role of myosin-binding protein H in thick filaments of developing vertebrate fast-twitch skeletal muscle

Myosin-binding protein H (MyBP-H) is a component of the vertebrate skeletal muscle sarcomere with sequence and domain homology to myosin-binding protein C (MyBP-C). Whereas skeletal muscle isoforms of MyBP-C (fMyBP-C, sMyBP-C) modulate muscle contractility via interactions with actin thin filaments and myosin motors within the muscle sarcomere “C-zone,” MyBP-H has no known function. This is in part due to MyBP-H having limited expression in adult fast-twitch muscle and no known involvement in muscle disease. Quantitative proteomics reported here reveal that MyBP-H is highly expressed in prenatal rat fast-twitch muscles and larval zebrafish, suggesting a conserved role in muscle development and prompting studies to define its function. We take advantage of the genetic control of the zebrafish model and a combination of structural, functional, and biophysical techniques to interrogate the role of MyBP-H. Transgenic, FLAG-tagged MyBP-H or fMyBP-C both localize to the C-zones in larval myofibers, whereas genetic depletion of endogenous MyBP-H or fMyBP-C leads to increased accumulation of the other, suggesting competition for C-zone binding sites. Does MyBP-H modulate contractility in the C-zone? Globular domains critical to MyBP-C’s modulatory functions are absent from MyBP-H, suggesting that MyBP-H may be functionally silent. However, our results suggest an active role. In vitro motility experiments indicate MyBP-H shares MyBP-C’s capacity as a molecular “brake.” These results provide new insights and raise questions about the role of the C-zone during muscle development.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

INDUCED MAXIMUM MAGNETIC FIELD IN COSMIC OUTFLOW SYSTEM BY A RELATIVISTIC CURRENT FILAMENTATION INSTABILITY: EXACT ANALYTICAL MODEL

We present an analytical study of current filamentation instability (CFI) in a fully relativistic cold plasma system, including arbitrary currents. For our purposes, we employ the cold fluid equations, together with Maxwell's equations as well as the plasma shell concept and boost frame method, to obtain an exact solution of the instability growth rate. A simple relation is found for the maximum growth rate of the CFI (for any arbitrary current system), which remarkably is used to calculate the large magnitude of an induced magnetic field in astrophysical environments such as active galactic nuclei (AGNs), microquasars, supernova remnants (SNRs), and stellar winds. We find that the magnetic field is amplified in the SNR up to the level required to justify the recent discovery of the year-scale variability in the X-ray emission of SNRs. Also, the maximum magnetic field of two and three orders higher (or two orders lower) than that of the SNR has been derived for microquasars and AGNs (or stellar winds), respectively. Moreover, making use of the exact analytical solution of the CFI, it is shown that the maximum magnetic field up to around 10{sup 8} G can be detected from a classical cold counterstreaming system after a saturation time.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Variation of effective filament diameter, irreversibility field, anisotropy, and pinning efficiency in Bi-2212 round wires

Abstract In recent years Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O x (Bi-2212) received increasing attention due to its round wire multifilamentary architecture, a unique feature in high- T c superconductor. In fact, round wires are preferable for magnet designs, including solenoids for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or research purpose and accelerator magnets. However, due to the narrow over-pressure heat treatment conditions necessary to obtain high J c and to the peculiar microstructure of Bi-2212 wires, a full understanding of the correlations between the different properties has not yet been developed. In this paper we investigate the effect of a vital part of Bi-2212 optimization, the maximum heat-treatment temperature T max in the range of 885 °C–896 °C, on the variations of J c , effective filament diameter d eff , anisotropy γ , INTER- and intra-grain irreversibility fields and pinning energies U 0 , all critical parameters in unravelling the complex mix of vortex pinning and connectivity that ultimately determines the critical current density. We found that d eff of the higher J c wires heat-treated at lower temperature is much smaller than for the lower J c wires. Moreover, a systematic increase of the irreversibility field and a decrease of the intrinsic Bi-2212 anisotropy underpins the higher J c . The analysis of the pinning energies reveals that there is little sample-to-sample variation in the INTER-grain pinning, whereas in all samples the intra-grain pinning has an enhancement below ∼40–45 K becoming more and more evident with increasing J c . These results suggest that the overall J c performance are not only related to the wire microstructure and connectivity, which obviously affect the INTER-grain properties, but they are also intimately related to the intrinsic and intra-grain properties such as γ and U 0 .

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Toroidal modeling of 3D perturbations generated by current filaments in scrape-off layer in tokamak with biased divertor targets

The divertor biasing technique offers a promising alternative to control the edge localized mode (ELM) as well as the divertor heat load in tokamaks, as compared to the resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) generated by magnetic coils. The linear resistive MHD code MARS-F (Liu et al 2000 Phys. Plasmas 7 3681) is employed to study the plasma response to the n = 2 (n is the toroidal mode number) field perturbation in HL-2A, produced by the divertor biasing current filaments flowing in the scrape-off layer region. The response field due to biasing currents is compared with the RMP field utilized for ELM control in HL-2A. The strength of the radial resonant field perturbation, produced by the biasing currents of 100 A level, is found to be comparable with RMP generated by several kA of ELM control coil currents for the reference plasma. The plasma normal displacement near the X-point and the associated neoclassical toroidal viscosity torque are also computed to be similar between these two techniques. The modeling results thus strongly suggest that the biasing technique can be applied to control ELMs. Moreover, the biasing currents produce field perturbations, including the plasma response, that are localized more near the plasma edge (compared to the RMP counterpart), thus reducing the chance of mode locking associated with core perturbations. Particle orbit tracing also reveals that the biasing current produced magnetic perturbation tends to widen the heat deposition region and induce the strike point splitting of the ion saturation flow on the outer divertor surface, consistent with experimental observations in HL-2A. These toroidal modeling results confirm the possibility of ELM control and plasma exhaust solution by the divertor biasing technique.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Velocity structure functions in multiphase turbulence: interpreting kinematics of Hα filaments in cool-core clusters

ABSTRACT The central regions of cool-core galaxy clusters harbour multiphase gas, with gas temperatures ranging from $10$ to $10^7\, \mathrm{K}$. Feedback from active galactic nuclei jets prevents the gas from undergoing a catastrophic cooling flow. However, the exact mechanism of this feedback energy input is unknown, mainly due to the lack of velocity measurements of the hot-phase gas. However, recent observations have measured the velocity structure functions (VSFs) of the cooler molecular (${\sim} 10\, \mathrm{K}$) and Hα filaments (${\sim} 10^4\, \mathrm{K}$) and used them to indirectly estimate the motions of the hot phase. In the first part of this study, we conduct high-resolution (3843–15363 resolution elements) simulations of homogeneous isotropic subsonic turbulence, without radiative cooling. We analyse the second-order velocity structure functions (VSF2) in these simulations and study the effects of varying spatial resolution, the introduction of magnetic fields, and the effect of projection along the line of sight (LOS) on it. In the second part of the study, we analyse high-resolution (7683 resolution elements) idealized simulations of multiphase turbulence in the intracluster medium from the companion study Mohapatra et al. We compare the VSF2 for both the hot ($T\sim 10^7\, \mathrm{K}$) and cold ($T\sim 10^4\, \mathrm{K}$) phases and find that their amplitude depends on the density contrast between the phases. They have similar scaling with separation, but introducing magnetic fields steepens the VSF2 of only the cold phase. We also find that projection along the LOS steepens the VSF2 for the hot phase and mostly flattens it for the cold phase.

Mohapatra, Rajsekhar (ORCID:0000000216007552)↗
DOE OSTI2023

An idealized model for collapse of a molecular core within a filament

Here, we present an analytic treatment of the self-similar collapse of a uniform density ellipsoid to linear order in the deviations from sphericity. First we obtain a self-consistent closed-form solution for the evolution of an isolated ellipsoid and then impose the effects of an external forcing. This model describes the evolution under gravity of a pre-stellar core of molecular gas embedded in a much larger and lower-density filament. We compare with numerical solutions for the collapse without the limitation of small deviations. These show how the external perturbing force producing the initial deviation from sphericity is eventually surpassed by the anisotropic forces generated by the collapsing ellipsoid itself. This model should be useful in interpreting the way in which environment shapes the evolution of pre-stellar cores.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Kallotenue papyrolyticum gen. nov., sp. nov., a cellulolytic and filamentous thermophile that represents a novel lineage (Kallotenuales ord. nov., Kallotenuaceae fam. nov.) within the class Chloroflexia

Several closely-related, thermophilic, and cellulolytic bacterial strains, designated JKG1T, JKG2, JKG3, JKG4, and JKG5, were isolated from a cellulolytic enrichment (corn stover) incubated in the water column of Great Boiling Spring, NV. Strain JKG1T had cells of a diameter of 0.7 - 0.9 μm and length of ~2.0 μm that formed non-branched multicellular filaments reaching >300 μm. Spores were not formed and dense liquid cultures were red. The temperature range for growth was 45-65 °C, with an optimum of 55 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.6-9.0, with an optimum of 7.5. JKG1T grew as an aerobic heterotroph, utilizing glucose, sucrose, xylose, arabinose, cellobiose, carboxymethylcellulose, filter paper, microcrystalline cellulose, xylan, starch, casamino acids, tryptone, peptone, yeast extract, acetate, citrate, lactate, pyruvate, and glycerol as sole carbon sources, and was not observed to photosynthesize. The cells stained Gram-negative. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the new isolates in the class Chloroflexia, but distant from other cultivated members, with the highest sequence identity of 82.5% to Roseiflexus castenholzii. The major quinone was menaquinone-9; no ubiquinones were detected. The major cellular fatty acids (>5%) were C18:0, anteiso-C17:0, iso-C18:0, and iso-C17:0. C16:0, iso-C16:0, and C17:0. The peptidoglycan amino acids were alanine, ornithine, glutamic acid, serine, and asparagine. Whole-cell sugars included mannose, rhamnose, glucose, galactose, ribose, arabinose, and xylose. Morphological, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic results suggest that JKG1T is representative of a new lineage within the class Chloroflexia, which we propose to designate Kallotenue papyrolyticum gen. nov., sp. nov., Kallotenuaceae fam. nov., Kallotenuales ord. nov.

Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory↗