Experiments on the DIII-D device in the negative triangularity (NT) regime of tokamak operation demonstrate core conditions that offer advantageous stability properties. Long duration, stationary discharges in this scenario maintain performance metrics that scale to viable reactor gain. Deleterious global modes of toroidal mode number n=1 are infrequent in these plasmas, which operate free of core instability cycles that can kick off global instabilities. These plasmas operate free of edge instability cycles that would damage reactor components, as do all strongly shaped NT plasmas. Reproducible access to high-power stationary states was developed at two values of q95, the edge magnetic winding number or “safety factor”. Core MHD instabilities manifest in one form of internal ideal mode, the quasi-interchange mode (QI), found to be consistent with modeling of the profiles and parameter space in which NT operates. The GATO and DCON ideal MHD codes are used to characterize the limits to normalized pressure in NT, finding global kink modes with strong poloidal harmonic m=1,2 components at normalized plasma pressure βN=3-3.5. Limits to β_N are predicted to be mostly insensitive to plasma boundary shape in NT and similar at both q95 values obtained in experiments. Average triangularity is shown to affect ideal limits, when modified at the outer midplane. A similar result is obtained with the RDCON resistive MHD code, which is used to characterize the stability to resistive “tearing modes”. Experimental NT equilibria and equilibria across shape scans were investigated. Only outer midplane modifications affected tearing calculations. Ideal kink modeling and experimental observations of sporadic QI mode provide an explanation for current diffusion not predicted by neoclassical theory. This effect is found in experiments at q95=3, analyzed with the ONETWO transport code’s facility to evolve magnetic flux over a discharge consistently with measured profiles and reconstructed magnetic flux surfaces. This result is compared with GATO calculations and ONETWO flux diffusion analysis of a conventional shape, ITER baseline demonstration discharge that is shown to have an intrinsically 3D core. Radiation from accumulated plasma impurities seems to alter the core q profile. This makes unstable a QI mode that spurs formation of a helical core, sustained by anomalous magnetic flux diffusion. NT experiments at q95=4 are limited in energy confinement by poor fast ion confinement, as a result of nondisruptive core 3/2 tearing modes. Analysis with ONETWO shows agreement with neoclassical flux diffusion predictions in these cases, corresponding to a removal of core instabilities and elevation of minimum safety factor values qmin to unity. This understanding of the core MHD, performance, and operational limits of NT scenarios in DIII-D advances the development of negative triangularity scenarios and informs the core phenomena observed in experiments spanning the regime.

In some high-field laser-plasma experiments, it is advantageous to accompany the main high-energy (~1 J) laser with a second high-energy pulse (~0.1 J) which has been frequency-shifted by ~10-20%. Such a pulse-pair would have a low walk-off velocity while remaining spectrally distinct for use in two-color pump-probe experiments. Moreover, by shifting the second pulse by ~plasma frequency, it is theoretically possible to exercise some amount of control over a variety of laser-plasma instabilities, including forward Raman scattering, electromagnetic cascading, and relativistic self-focusing. Alternatively, the two pulses may be counter-propagated so that the collide in the plasma and create a slowly-propagating beatwave which can be used to inject electrons into a laser wakefield accelerator. The design, characeterization, and performance of a hybrid chirped-pulse Raman amplifier (CPRA)/Ti-Sapphire amplifier are reported and discussed. This hybrid system allows for the generation of a high-energy (>200 mJ), broadband (15-20 nm bandwidth FWHM), short duration (>100 fs duration) laser sideband. When amplified and compressed, the Raman beam's power exceeds 1 TW. This sideband is combined with the primary laser system to create a bi-color terawatt laser system which is capable of performing two-color high-field experiments. This two-color capability can be added to any commercial terawatt laser system without compromising the energy, duration or beam quality of the primary system. Preliminary two-color laser-plasma experiments are also discussed. / text

The Sun ionizes a small fraction of Earth's atmosphere above roughly 60 km, producing the plasma that constitutes the ionosphere. Radio signals passing through the ionosphere scatter off of plasma density structures created by the Farley-Buneman instability (FBI). While numerous studies have characterized the FBI's intrinsic nature, its evolution within the broader context of the surrounding plasma remains enigmatic. This dissertation answers two fundamental questions about the FBI: How does it interact with density gradients? How does its non-linear evolution depend on the background plasma? The fourth chapter examines the combined development of the FBI and the gradient drift instability (GDI) using a 2-D simulation of the equatorial ionosphere. A half-kilometer wave perturbs a plasma layer perpendicular to the ambient magnetic field, causing the perturbed layer to develop GDI waves along the gradient aligned with the ambient electric field, as well as FBI waves in a region where the total electric field exceeds a certain threshold. Early radar observations suggested that these two instabilities were distinct phenomena; the reported results illustrate their coupled nature. The fifth chapter presents 2-D simulations in which a one-kilometer plasma wave develops an electric field large enough to trigger meter-scale waves. Such large-scale waves arise via the GDI within the daytime ionospheric gradient around 100-110 km. Typical ionospheric radars only observe meter-scale irregularities but observations show meter-scale waves tracing out larger structures. Simulated meter-scale FBI in the troughs and crests of kilometer-scale GDI matches radar observations of the daytime equatorial ionosphere, answers a question about electric-field saturation raised by rocket observations in the 1980s, and predicts an anomalous cross-field conductivity important to magnetosphere-ionosphere (M-I) coupling. The sixth chapter of this dissertation presents 3-D simulations of the FBI at a range of altitudes and driving electric fields appropriate to the auroral ionosphere, where it plays a role in M-I coupling. Research has thoroughly established the linear theory of FBI but rigorous analysis of radar measurements requires an understanding of the turbulent stage. These simulations explain the change in instability flow direction with altitude, with regard to the direction of background plasma flow.

Thesis. 1975. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. / Vita. / Includes bibliographies. / Ph.D.

The work in this thesis focuses primarily on equilibrium and stability properties of collisionless current sheet models, in particular of the force-free Harris sheet model. A detailed investigation is carried out into the properties of the distribution function found by Harrison and Neukirch (Physical Review Letters 102, 135003, 2009) for the force-free Harris sheet, which is so far the only known nonlinear force-free Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium. Exact conditions on the parameters of the distribution function are found, which show when it can be single or multi-peaked in two of the velocity space directions. This is important because it may have implications for the stability of the equilibrium. One major aim of this thesis is to find new force-free equilibrium distribution functions. By using a new method which is different from that of Harrison and Neukirch, it is possible to find a complete family of distribution functions for the force-free Harris sheet, which includes the Harrison and Neukirch distribution function (Physical Review Letters 102, 135003, 2009). Each member of this family has a different dependence on the particle energy, although the dependence on the canonical momenta remains the same. Three detailed analytical examples are presented. Other possibilities for finding further collisionless force-free equilibrium distribution functions have been explored, but were unsuccessful. The first linear stability analysis of the Harrison and Neukirch equilibrium distribution function is then carried out, concentrating on macroscopic instabilities, and considering two-dimensional perturbations only. The analysis is based on the technique of integration over unperturbed orbits. Similarly to the Harris sheet case (Nuovo Cimento, 23:115, 1962), this is only possible by using approximations to the exact orbits, which are unknown. Furthermore, the approximations for the Harris sheet case cannot be used for the force-free Harris sheet, and so new techniques have to be developed in order to make analytical progress. Full analytical expressions for the perturbed current density are derived but, for the sake of simplicity, only the long wavelength limit is investigated. The dependence of the stability on various equilibrium parameters is investigated.

In this thesis a model for saturated tearing mode islands is developed. The equations for the mode amplitudes are essentially those of R B White et al,after a pertubation expansion has been made. It is well known that these equations are not then analytic at the mode rational surface. In our model this problem is overcome when a suitable choice of the axisymmetric current density perturbation is added to the unperturbed equilibrium current density profile. The modelled axisymmetric current density perturbation flattens the unperturbed profile locally at the rational surface and is sufficient to induce an island. No modelling in the interior of the island is necessary. The axisymmetric perturbation has a free variable which adjusts the amount of local flattening. However, when the boundary conditions are taken into account, this free parameter is determined, and the problem becomes an eigenvalue problem. The boundary condition thus determines the amount of local flattening at the rational surface. The saturated island widths are determined using D.' (W) criterion. The model allows for non axsymmetric plasma surface in a simple way, requiring careful choice of D (W). The different criteria are compared to establish the validity of the use of such criteria for perturbed boundaries. In the cylindrical approximation, one or two modes may be included in the model. In the case of two modes, non-linear coupling via the current density profile is introduced. Toroidal coupling between modes can also be simply introduced. Two modes that are toroidally coupled are considered, but mode-mode coupling is ignored. The emphasis falls in large part on the boundary conditions. Various boundary conditions can be considered because distortion of the plasma surface can be fixed by wall effects, plasma rotation, external DC coil currents, plasma rotation with external coil currents, etc. Of particular interest is the case of toroidally coupled modes, coupled in turn to these external conditions as this is the first study of such a nature. Results flowing from the study include among others that: for the special case of circular boundaries the model agrees reasonably with the results of R B White et al. No significant difference was found between the D. I (W) criterion of P H Rutherford, which is valid for circular boundaries, and that of A H Reiman, which is also valid for perturbed boundaries, when the boundary is perturbed significantly. Toroidally coupled islands do not increase in size if the boundary condition of that particular mode is not changed. If a coil current of particular helicity is switched on, it will only affect the mode of that particular helicity. Toroidally induced sideband islands have approximately the same width as natural tearing islands when the size of the natural island is large. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1992.

I study dusty plasma produced by electrostatically confining melamine formaldehyde microparticles in a radio-frequency glow discharge plasma. Dusty plasma is a mixture of particles of solid matter (dust), electrons, ions, and neutral gas atoms. The dust particles have a very high charge and a mass compared to the electrons and ions in the ambient plasma. As a consequence, a dusty plasma exhibits collective phenomena such as dust acoustic waves, crystallization, and melting. The discrete nature of dust particles gives rise to compressibility. In this thesis I report findings of four tasks that were performed to investigate dust acoustic waves, compressibility, and melting. First, the nonlinear phenomenon of synchronization was characterized experimentally for the dust acoustic wave propagating in a dust cloud with many layers. I find four synchronized states, with frequencies that are multiples of 1, 2, 3, and 1/2 of the driving frequency. Comparing to phenomena that are typical of the van der Pol paradigm, I find that synchronization of the dust acoustic wave exhibits the signature of the suppression mechanism but not that of the phaselocking mechanism. Additionally, I find that the synchronization of the dust acoustic wave exhibits three characteristics that differ from the van der Pol paradigm: a threshold amplitude that can be seen in the Arnold tongue diagram, a branching of the 1:1 harmonic tongue at its lower extremity, and a nonharmonic state. Second, to assess which physical processes are important for a dust acoustic instability, I derived dispersion relations that encompass more physical processes than commonly done. I investigated how various physical processes affect a dust acoustic wave by solving these dispersion relations using parameters from a typical dust acoustic wave experiment. I find that the growth rate diminishes for large ion currents. I also find that the compressibility, a measure of the coupling between the dust particles, have a strong effect on the wave propagation. Comparing the kinetic vs. hydrodynamic descriptions for ions, I find that under typical laboratory conditions the inverse Landau damping and the ion-neutral collisions contribute about equally to the dust acoustic instability. Third, I performed dust acoustic wave experiments to resolve a previously unremarked discrepancy in the literature regarding the sign of the compressibility of a strongly-coupled dust component in a dusty plasma. According to theories compressibility is negative, whereas experiments suggest that it is positive. I find that the compressibility is positive. This conclusion was reached after allowing for a wide range of experimental uncertainties and model dependent systematic errors. Finally, the polygon construction method of Glaser and Clark was used to characterize crystallization and melting in a single-layer dusty plasma. Using particle positions measured in a previous dusty plasma experiment, I identified geometrical defects, which are polygons with four or more sides. These geometrical defects are found to proliferate during melting. I also identify a possibility of latent heat involvement in melting and crystallization processes of a dusty plasma.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1980. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Alan Charles Janos. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Physics, 1980.

The work presented in this thesis involves experimental and theoretical studies related to plasma properties in high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS), and more specifically plasma transport. HiPIMS is an ionized PVD method based on conventional direct current magnetron sputtering (dcMS). In dcMS very little of the sputtered material is ionized since the plasma power density is not high enough. This is not the case for HiPIMS, where a substantial part is ionized, and thus presents many new opportunities for thin film growth. Understanding the dynamics of the charged species in the HiPIMS discharge is therefore of essential value when producing high-quality thin film coatings. In the first part of the work a new type of anomalous electron transport was found. Investigations of the transport resulted in the discovery that this phenomenon could quantitatively be described as being related and mediated by highly nonlinear waves, likely due to the modified two-stream instability (MTSI), resulting in electric field oscillations in the MHz-range (the so-called lower hybrid frequency). Measurements in the plasma confirmed these oscillations as well as trends predicted by the theory of these types of waves. The degree of anomalous transport in the plasma could also be determined by measuring the current density ratio between the azimuthal current density (of which the Hall current density is one contribution) and the discharge current density, Jφ / JD. The results provided important insights into understanding the mechanism behind the anomalous transport. It was furthermore found that the current ratio Jφ / JD is inversely proportional to the transverse resistivity, eta_perpendicular , which governs how well momentum is transferred from the electrons to the ions in the plasma. By looking at the forces involved in the charged particle transport it was expected that the azimuthally rotating electrons would exert a volume force on the ions tangentially outwards from the circular race track region. The effect of having an anomalous transport would therefore be a large fraction of highly energetic ions being transported sideways and lost to the walls. In a series of experiments, deposition rates as well as incoming ion energy distributions were measured directly at the side of the magnetron. It was found that a substantial fraction of sputtered material is transported radially away from the cathode and lost to the walls in HiPIMS as well as dcMS, but more so for HiPIMS giving one possible explanation to why the deposition rate for substrates placed in front of the target is lower for HiPIMS compared to dcMS. Furthermore, the recorded, incoming ion energy distributions confirmed theoretical estimations on this type of transport regarding energy and direction.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(エネルギー科学) / 甲第20727号 / エネ博第355号 / 新制||エネ||70(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院エネルギー科学研究科エネルギー基礎科学専攻 / (主査)教授 岸本 泰明, 教授 中村 祐司, 教授 田中 仁 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Energy Science / Kyoto University / DFAM