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At least 1,369 records · Page 76
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2015

Multispecies density peaking in gyrokinetic turbulence simulations of low collisionality Alcator C-Mod plasmas

Peaked density profiles in low-collisionality AUG and JET H-mode plasmas are probably caused by a turbulently driven particle pinch, and Alcator C-Mod experiments confirmed that collisionality is a critical parameter. Density peaking in reactors could produce a number of important effects, some beneficial, such as enhanced fusion power and transport of fuel ions from the edge to the core, while others are undesirable, such as lower beta limits, reduced radiation from the plasma edge, and consequently higher divertor heat loads. Fundamental understanding of the pinch will enable planning to optimize these impacts. We show that density peaking is predicted by nonlinear gyrokinetic turbulence simulations based on measured profile data from low collisionality H-mode plasma in Alcator C-Mod. Multiple ion species are included to determine whether hydrogenic density peaking has an isotope dependence or is influenced by typical levels of low-Z impurities, and whether impurity density peaking depends on the species. We find that the deuterium density profile is slightly more peaked than that of hydrogen, and that experimentally relevant levels of boron have no appreciable effect on hydrogenic density peaking. The ratio of density at r/a = 0.44 to that at r/a = 0.74 is 1.2 for the majority D and minority H ions (and for electrons), and increases with impurity Z: 1.1 for helium, 1.15 for boron, 1.3 for neon, 1.4 for argon, and 1.5 for molybdenum. The ion temperature profile is varied to match better the predicted heat flux with the experimental transport analysis, but the resulting factor of two change in heat transport has only a weak effect on the predicted density peaking.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Galvanomagnetic properties and electronic structure of iron-doped PbTe

We synthesize an iron-doped PbTe single-crystal ingot and investigate the phase composition and distribution of the iron impurity along the ingot as well as galvanomagnetic properties in weak magnetic fields (4.2 K ≤ T ≤ 300 K, B ≤ 0.07 T) of Pb{sub 1−y}Fe{sub y}Te alloys. We find microscopic inclusions enriched with iron and regions with a chemical composition close to FeTe in the heavily doped samples, while the iron impurity content in the main phase rises only slightly along the length of the ingot reaching the impurity solubility limit at approximately 0.6 mol. %. Samples from the initial and the middle parts of the ingot are characterized by p-type metal conductivity. An increase of the iron impurity content leads to a decrease in the free hole concentration and to a stabilization of galvanomagnetic parameters due to the pinning of the Fermi level by the iron resonant impurity level E{sub Fe} lying under the bottom of the valence band (E{sub v} − E{sub Fe} ≈ 16 meV). In the samples from the end of the ingot, a p-n inversion of the conductivity type and an increase of the free electron concentration along the ingot are revealed despite the impurity solubility limit being reached. The kinetics of changes of charge carrier concentration and of the Fermi energy along the ingot is analyzed in the framework of the six-band Dimmock dispersion relation. A model is proposed for the electronic structure rearrangement of Pb{sub 1−y}Fe{sub y}Te with doping, which may also be used for PbTe doped with other transition metals.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Low-temperature luminescence and thermally stimulated luminescence of BeO: Mg single crystals

Luminescence and thermally stimulated luminescence (TL) of BeO: Mg crystals are studied at T = 6–380 K. The TL glow curves and the spectra of luminescence (1.2–6.5 eV), luminescence excitation, and reflection (3.7–20 eV) are obtained. It is found that the introduction of an isovalent magnesium impurity into BeO leads to the appearance of three new broad luminescence bands at 6.2–6.3, 4.3–4.4, and 1.9–2.6 eV. The first two are attributed to the radiative annihilation of a relaxed near-impurity (Mg) exciton, the excited state of which is formed as a result of energy transfer by free excitons. The impurity VUV and UV bands are compared with those for the intrinsic luminescence of BeO caused by the radiative annihilation of self-trapped excitons (STE) of two kinds: the band at 6.2–6.3 eV of BeO: Mg is compared with the band at 6.7 eV (STE{sub 1}) of BeO, and the band at 4.3–4.4 eV is compared with the band at 4.9 eV (STE{sup 2}) of BeO. In the visible region, the luminescence spectrum is due to a superposition of intracenter transitions in an impurity complex including a magnesium ion. The manifestation of X-ray-induced luminescence bands at T = 6 K in BeO: Mg indicates their excitation during band-to-band transitions and in recombination processes. The energy characteristics of the impurity states in BeO: Mg are determined; the effect of the isovalent impurity on the fluctuation rearrangement of the BeO: Mg structure in the thermal transformation region of STE{sub 1} → STE{sub 2} is revealed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Decisive role of magnetism in the interaction of chromium and nickel solute atoms with 1/2$\langle$111$\rangle$-screw dislocation core in body-centered cubic iron

Resistance to swelling under irradiation and a low rate of corrosion in high temperature environments make Fe-Cr and Fe-Cr-Ni alloys promising structural materials for energy technologies. In this paper we report the results obtained using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) techniques: plane wave basis set solutions for pseudo-potentials and multiple scattering solutions for all electron potentials. We have found a very strong role of magnetism in the stability of screw dislocation cores in pure Fe and their interaction with Cr and Ni magnetic impurities. In particular, the screw dislocation quadrupole in Fe is stabilized only in the presence of ferromagnetism. In addition, Ni atoms, who's magnetic moment is oriented along the magnetization direction of the Fe matrix, prefer to occupy in core positions whereas Cr atoms, which couple anti-ferromagnetically with the Fe matrix, prefer out of the dislocation core positions. In effect, Ni impurities are attracted to, while Cr impurities are repelled by the dislocation core. Moreover, we demonstrate that this contrasting behavior can be explained only by the nature of magnetic coupling of the impurities to the Fe matrix. In addition, Cr interaction with the dislocation core mirrors that of Ni if the Cr magnetic moment is constrained to be along the direction of Fe matrix magnetization. In addition, we have shown that the magnetic contribution can affect the impurity-impurity interaction at distances up to a few Burgers vectors. In particular, the distance between Cr atoms in Fe matrix should be at least 3–4 lattice parameters in order to eliminate finite size effects.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Effect of Li metal addition on corrosion control of Hastelloy N and stainless steel 316H in molten LiF-NaF-KF

Molten fluoride salts are used in various energy harvesting applications such as solar collectors and molten salt nuclear reactors (MSRs). Thermodynamically driven selective dissolution of alloying elements due to impurities present within the fluoride salts have been identified to be the main corrosion mechanism for structural alloys in molten fluoride salts. Impurities in these salts, during salt preparation as well as during operation, can be difficult to control. One way to prevent the selective dissolution of active alloying elements is to make the molten salt reducing by either purifying it to remove impurities or to add some reactive metal that will react with the impurities and make the salt reducing. Here this study is focused on the corrosion behaviour of Hastelloy N and 316H stainless steel in molten LiF-NaF-KF eutectic mixture (FLiNaK) at 700°C and how this behaviour changes with the addition of Li metal as a reducing impurity. Our results indicate that the active metal addition like Li can be very effective in controlling the redox behaviour of salt, which in-turn can mitigate corrosion. Even the addition of small quantities of Li metal can mitigate the selective dissolution of active alloying elements for the tested structural materials in FLiNaK. Our results also suggest that the presence of excess amounts of Li, above the minimum concentration required to react with the impurities in FLiNaK, does not have any detrimental effect in terms of formation of new intermetallic phases at the surface of the selected alloys under tested conditions.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Trace Uranium Partitioning in a Multiphase Nano-FeOOH System

The characterization of trace elements in nanomaterials using extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy constitutes a first step toward understanding how impurities or dopants affect the properties of the host phase. However, limitations to EXAFS interpretation complicate the analysis of trace concentrations of impurities that are distributed across multiple phases in a heterogeneous system. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD)-informed EXAFS analysis was employed to investigate the immobilization of trace uranium associated with nanophase iron (oxyhydr)oxides, a model system for the geochemical sequestration of radiotoxic contaminants. The reductive transformation of ferrihydrite (Fe(OH)3) to nano-particulate iron oxyhydroxide minerals in the presence of uranyl (UO2)2+(aq) resulted in the preferential incorporation of U into goethite (a-FeOOH) over lepidocrocite (g-FeOOH), even though reaction conditions favored the formation of excess lepidocrocite. This unexpected result is supported by atomically resolved transmission electron microscopy. Using this model system, we demonstrate how AIMD-informed EXAFS analysis lifts the strict statistical limitations of traditional shell-by-shell EXAFS modeling, enabling the detailed analysis of the local bonding environment, charge compensation mechanisms, and oxidation states of polyvalent impurities in complex multi-phase nano-systems.

ab initio molecular dynamics↗
DOE OSTI2020

Reducing dielectric loss and enhancing electrical insulation for multilayer polymer films by nanoconfined ion transport under high poling electric fields

High temperature polar polymers have demonstrated potential for good thermal stability and high dielectric constant at the same time. However, polarization of contaminated impurity ions in polar polymers, even at the ppm level, can significantly increase the dielectric loss at high temperature and low frequencies. One effective strategy to mitigate this problem is to multilayer them with a high temperature nonpolar dielectric polymer to confine impurity ion transport at the nanometer scale. In this study, confined ion transport in high temperature polycarbonate (HTPC)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) multilayer films under high AC electric fields was studied using a direct analytical simulation method. Different from the ion transport under low fields, the ion diffusion model failed to describe the ion transport under high electric fields. An exponential ion distribution profile, which was observed for the DC poling situation, was employed to implement the direct analytical simulation. Confined impurity ion transport under high AC fields was quantitatively understood. As the AC field increased, the mobile ion concentration decreased whereas the diffusion coefficient increased. The decrease of mobile ion concentration was explained by the blockage of impurity ions by the HTPC layers. This knowledge helped in the determination of optimal conditions to polarize impurity ions from the PVDF layers into the HTPC layers. After cooling below the glass transition temperature of HTPC, polarized impurity ions were locked inside the HTPC layers. As a result, increased discharge efficiency and enhanced electrical insulation (i.e., increased dielectric breakdown strength) were achieved for the polarized multilayer films.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Two distinctive regimes in the charge transport of a magnetic topological ultra thin film

Abstract The effect of the magnetic impurities on the charge transport in a magnetic topological ultra-thin film (MTF) is analytically investigated by applying the semi-classical Boltzmann framework through a modified relaxation-time approximation. Our results for the relaxation time of electrons as well as the charge conductivity of the system exhibit two distinct regimes of transport. We show that the generated charge current in a MTF is always dissipative and anisotropic when both conduction bands are involved in the charge transport. The magnetic impurities induce a chirality selection rule for the transitions of electrons which can be altered by changing the orientation of the magnetic impurities. On the other hand, when a single conduction band participates in the charge transport, the resistivity is isotropic and can be entirely suppressed due to the corresponding chirality selection rule. Our findings propose a method to determine an onset thickness at which a crossover from a three-dimensional magnetic topological insulator to a (two-dimensional) MTF occurs.

Sabzalipour, Amir (ORCID:0000000195830880)↗
DOE OSTI2019

ERO modeling and analysis of tungsten erosion and migration from a toroidally symmetric source in the DIII-D divertor

A toroidally symmetric tungsten ring inserted in the lower outer divertor of DIII-D was exposed to 25 repeated, attached L-mode shots in reverse- B t configuration. Radial profiles of the W gross erosion flux inferred in situ from spectroscopic measurements of the WI line (400.9 nm) during these experiments are well reproduced by ERO-D3D simulations of carbon and tungsten impurity erosion, transport and redeposition in the outer divertor region. Tungsten gross erosion is mainly induced by physical sputtering of tungsten by carbon impurities. The outward radial transport of carbon impurities in the outer divertor is shown to be mainly governed by E × B drifts in the sheath region. In addition, the erosion and redeposition of carbon on tungsten, induced by the implantation of carbon into tungsten modeled with the homogeneous mixed material model, increases the effective flux of carbon impurities onto the tungsten ring (carbon recycling on tungsten). The dynamics of carbon implantation in tungsten is shown to be consistent with the plasma shot duration in DIII-D. Moreover, it is shown that the localized deposition of tungsten measured experimentally in the outboard region away from the tungsten ring is caused by the long-range radial transport of tungsten impurities in the outer divertor region induced by the interplay between poloidal and radial E × B drifts. Such experimental measurements might provide direct quantitative estimations of tungsten net erosion. In conclusion, the modeling and analysis of carbon and tungsten erosion and redeposition presented in this paper demonstrates that various physical mechanisms and their synergistic effects need to be taken into account to accurately describe erosion, transport and redeposition of impurities in tokamak divertors.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2024

Impact of gas injection location and divertor surface material on ITER fusion power operation phase divertor performance assessed with SOLPS-ITER *

Abstract The ITER divertor design and performance assessment, primarily based on the SOLPS-4.3 burning plasma database (Pitts R. et al 2019 Nucl. Mater. Energy 20 100696), assumes the use of beryllium (Be) as the divertor surface material and the injection of gas from the main chamber top. However, the current ITER baseline favors gas injection from the more toroidally symmetric sub-divertor region. This paper evaluates the implications of these assumptions for divertor performance in the ITER fusion power operation phase. The impact of the divertor surface material and the gas injection location on the main ions mirrors the hydrogen only low power phase scenario shown in Park J.-S. et al (2020 Nucl. Fusion 61 016021). However, during burning plasma operation, extrinsic impurity seeding will be required. In the case of neon (Ne), studied here, impurity retention is influenced by both the divertor surface material and the fueling location. Neon leakage increases due to more energetic reflection from tungsten than beryllium, but equivalent divertor performance can be achieved by adjusting the neon seeding rate. While the impurity seeding location does not affect the distributions of impurity or radiation, the fueling location does. Top fueling provides local ionization sources mainly in the mid-SOL under detached conditions, enhancing divergences of the flux there (source-driven flow), bringing stagnation points close to the fueling location, and equilibrating flows towards both targets. In contrast, the global flow pattern (in the absence of fluid drifts) in the case of sub-divertor fueling is biased towards the inner target. Impurity flows, driven by force balance, largely mirror those of the main ion flow, including the stagnation point. The case with top fueling enhances Ne retention and corresponding radiation in the outer divertor, effectively reducing the total and peak target heat fluxes by 20%–40%, compared to the case with divertor fueling. Meanwhile, the case with outer target fueling also achieves similar reductions by enhancing plasma-neutral interactions. These results suggest the possibility that the selection of the fueling location and throughput can be used as an actuator to control impurity divertor retention and divertor radiation asymmetry.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Integrated modeling of RF-induced tungsten erosion at ICRH antenna structures in the WEST tokamak *

This paper introduces STRIPE (Simulated Transport of RF Impurity Production and Emission), an advanced modeling framework developed to analyze material erosion and the global transport of eroded impurities originating from radio-frequency (RF) antenna structures in magnetic confinement fusion devices. STRIPE integrates multiple physics modules: SolEdge3x for scrape-off-layer plasma profiles, COMSOL for 3D RF rectified sheath potentials, RustBCA for erosion yields and surface interactions, and global impurity transport for 3D ion energy-angle distributions and impurity transport. The framework is applied to an ion cyclotron RF-heated L-mode discharge (#57877) in the WEST tokamak, where it predicts a thirty-fold increase in gross tungsten erosion at antenna limiters during the transition from ohmic to ICRH operation. Additionally, under ICRH conditions, a tenfold enhancement in erosion is observed when comparing RF sheath effects to purely thermal sheath conditions. High-charge-state oxygen ions ($\mathrm{O}$ 6+ and above) are identified as the dominant contributors to tungsten sputtering. To validate the model, a synthetic diagnostic tool based on inverse photon efficiency (S/XB coefficients) from the ColRadPy collisional-radiative model enables direct comparison with spectroscopic measurements. Model predictions using a plasma composition of 1% oxygen and 99% deuterium show good agreement with observed W − I (400.9 nm) emission for discharge #57877, supporting the accuracy of the STRIPE framework. This study focuses specifically on gross erosion calculations to demonstrate STRIPE’s capabilities. Future extensions of this work will incorporate net erosion, re-deposition, self-sputtering effects, and whole-device modeling of sputtered tungsten impurity transport. STRIPE is also being applied to other RF-heated linear and toroidal devices, offering valuable insights for antenna design, impurity control, and performance optimization in next-generation fusion reactors.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Impact of iron-site defects on superconductivity in LiFeAs

In conventional s -wave superconductors, only magnetic impurities exhibit impurity bound states, whereas for an s ± order parameter they can occur for both magnetic and nonmagnetic impurities. Impurity bound states in superconductors can thus provide important insight into the order parameter. We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of native and engineered iron-site defects in LiFeAs. A detailed comparison of tunneling spectra measured on impurities with spin-fluctuation theory reveals a continuous evolution from negligible impurity-bound-state features for weaker scattering potential to clearly detectable states for somewhat stronger scattering potentials. Furthermore, all bound states for these intermediate strength potentials are pinned at or close to the gap edge of the smaller gap, a phenomenon that we explain and ascribe to multiorbital physics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2020

Uncovering Non-Fermi-Liquid Behavior in Hund Metals: Conformal Field Theory Analysis of an SU(2)×SU(3) Spin-Orbital Kondo Model

Hund metals have attracted attention in recent years due to their unconventional superconductivity, which supposedly originates from non-Fermi-liquid (NFL) properties of the normal state. When studying Hund metals using dynamical mean-field theory, one arrives at a self-consistent “Hund impurity problem” involving a multiorbital quantum impurity with nonzero Hund coupling interacting with a metallic bath. If its spin and orbital degrees of freedom are screened at different energy scales, T sp < T orb , the intermediate energy window is governed by a novel NFL fixed point, whose nature had not yet been clarified. We resolve this problem by providing an analytical solution of a paradigmatic example of a Hund impurity problem, involving two spin and three orbital degrees of freedom. To this end, we combine a state-of-the-art implementation of the numerical renormalization group, capable of exploiting non-Abelian symmetries, with a generalization of Affleck and Ludwig’s conformal field theory (CFT) approach for multichannel Kondo models. We characterize the NFL fixed point of Hund metals in detail for a Kondo model with an impurity forming an SU ( 2 ) × SU ( 3 ) spin-orbital multiplet, tuned such that the NFL energy window is very wide. The impurity’s spin and orbital susceptibilities then exhibit striking power-law behavior, which we explain using CFT arguments. We find excellent agreement between CFT predictions and numerical renormalization group results. Our main physical conclusion is that the regime of spin-orbital separation, where orbital degrees of freedom have been screened but spin degrees of freedom have not, features anomalously strong local spin fluctuations: the impurity susceptibility increases as χ sp imp ~ ω – γ , with γ > 1 .

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2015

Theory of the electronic structure of substitutional semiconductor alloys: Analytical approaches

Methods of predicting the electronic structure of disordered semiconductor alloys involving mainly isoelectronic substitution are reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on analytical methods of studying currently available models of alloys. An approximate equation for the localization threshold of electronic states in the Lifshitz model is considered, and the inaccuracy of this equation is estimated. The contributions of the perturbation potential of an individual impurity and of crystal-lattice distortions in the vicinity of the impurity center are analyzed on the basis of the Faddeev equations. The contributions of intrinsic impurity potentials and volume effects to the formation of the electronic structure of semiconductor alloys are esti- mated. Methods of calculating matrix elements of the perturbation potentials of isoelectronic impurities in alloys with consideration for deformation effects are considered. The procedure of calculating the compositional dependence of the band gap of multicomponent alloys is described. A comparative analysis of various methods for predicting the formation of electronic states bound at individual isoelectronic impurities in semiconductors is conducted. The theory of the energy spectrum of charged impurities in isoelectronic alloys is presented.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Analysis of Low RRR SRF Cavities

Recent findings in the superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) community have shown that introducing certain impurities into high-purity niobium can improve quality factors and accelerating gradients. Success has been found in nitrogen-doping, diffusion of the native oxide into the niobium surface, and thin films of alternate superconductors atop a niobium bulk cavity. We question why some impurities improve RF performance while others hinder it. The purpose of this study is to characterize the impurity profile of niobium with a low residual resistance ratio (RRR) and correlate these impurities with the RF performance of low RRR cavities so that the mechanism of recent impurity-based improvements can be better understood and improved upon. Additionally, we performed surface treatments, low temperature baking and nitrogen-doping, on low RRR cavities to evaluate how the intentional addition of more impurities to the RF layer affects performance. We have found that low RRR cavities experience low temperature-dependent BCS resistance behavior more prominently than their high RRR counterparts. The results of this study have the potential to unlock a new understanding on SRF materials.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Summary of 2020 edge-plasma modeling for FNSFand plans for 2021

This year, following the study of liquid-wall options, our edge-plasma modeling has returned to analyzing issues associated with a solid tungsten-wall, Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF)-size device, primarily using the 2D UEDGE plasma/neutral transport code. The focus is to predict plasma/neutral heat and particle fluxes to various wall components and determine the concentration of injected and wall-sputtered impurities that reach the core plasma region. Our models have been advanced in a number of areas compared to the initial modeling done in the 2017 timeframe: this year we include each individual charge-state of impurity ions instead of assuming a fixed concentration of impurities relative to the deuterium-tritium (DT) fuel plasma, including the interaction between inner and outer divertor legs. Here edge fueling of the impurity and pumping in the private-flux region is incorporated. Increasingly detailed atomic-physics rate files for impurity radiation have been compared, as well as the role of molecules. The impact of spatial variation of the turbulence-driven radial plasma transport is considered to contribute to the understanding of the heat-flux-limit effects of choosing a double-null or single-null divertor configuration. Detailed plasma/neutral wall fluxes, densities, and temperatures have been provided to the ERO group for their more detailed studies of wall sputtering and near-surface impurity transport.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Solvent Influence on the Magnetization and Phase of Fe-Ni Alloy Nanoparticles Generated by Laser Ablation in Liquids

The synthesis of bimetallic iron-nickel nanoparticles with control over the synthesized phases, particle size, surface chemistry, and oxidation level remains a challenge that limits the application of these nanoparticles. Pulsed laser ablation in liquid allows the properties tuning of the generated nanoparticles by changing the ablation solvent. Organic solvents such as acetone can minimize nanoparticle oxidation. Yet, economical laboratory and technical grade solvents that allow cost-effective production of FeNi nanoparticles contain water impurities, which are a potential source of oxidation. Here, we investigated the influence of water impurities in acetone on the properties of FeNi nanoparticles generated by pulsed laser ablation in liquids. To remove water impurities and produce “dried acetone”, cost-effective and reusable molecular sieves (3 Å) are employed. The results show that the Fe50Ni50 nanoparticles’ properties are influenced by the water content of the solvent. The metastable HCP FeNi phase is found in NPs prepared in acetone, while only the FCC phase is observed in NPs formed in water. Mössbauer spectroscopy revealed that the FeNi nanoparticles oxidation in dried acetone is reduced by 8% compared to acetone. The high-field magnetization of Fe50Ni50 nanoparticles in water is the highest, 68 Am2/kg, followed by the nanoparticles obtained after ablation in acetone without water impurities, 59 Am2/kg, and acetone, 52 Am2/kg. The core-shell structures formed in these three liquids are also distinctive, demonstrating that a core-shell structure with an outer oxide layer is formed in water, while carbon external layers are obtained in acetone without water impurity. The results confirm that the size, structure, phase, and oxidation of FeNi nanoparticles produced by pulsed laser ablation in liquids can be modified by changing the solvent or just reducing the water impurities in the organic solvent.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1982

Electromigration process for the purification of molten silicon during crystal growth

A process for the purification of molten materials during crystal growth by electromigration of impurities to localized dirty zones. In the Czochralski crystal growing process, the impurities are electromigrated away from the crystallization interface by applying a direct electrical current to the molten silicon for electromigrating the charged impurities away from the crystal growth interface. The edge-defined film-fed crystal growth process, a direct electrical current is applied between the two faces which are used in forming the molten silicon into a ribbon. The impurities, migrated to one side only of the crystal ribbon, may be removed or left in place. If left in place, they will not adversely affect the ribbon when used in solar collectors. The migration of the impurity to one side only of the silicon ribbon is especially suitable for use with asymmetric dies which preferentially crystallize uncharged impurities along one side or face of the ribbon.

Shlichta, P. J.↗