X-ray free electron laser observation of ultrafast lattice behaviour under femtosecond laser-driven shock compression in iron.

Over the past century, understanding the nature of shock compression of condensed matter has been a major topic. About 20 years ago, a femtosecond laser emerged as a new shock-driver. Unlike conventional shock waves, a femtosecond laser-driven shock wave creates unique microstructures in materials. Therefore, the properties of this shock wave may be different from those of conventional shock waves. However, the lattice behaviour under femtosecond laser-driven shock compression has never been elucidated. Here we report the ultrafast lattice behaviour in iron shocked by direct irradiation of a femtosecond laser pulse, diagnosed using X-ray free electron laser diffraction. We found that the initial compression state caused by the femtosecond laser-driven shock wave is the same as that caused by conventional shock waves. We also found, for the first time experimentally, the temporal deviation of peaks of stress and strain waves predicted theoretically. Furthermore, the existence of a plastic wave peak between the stress and strain wave peaks is a new finding that has not been predicted even theoretically. Our findings will open up new avenues for designing novel materials that combine strength and toughness in a trade-off relationship.

Splashing of tungsten-based anode during arc discharge.

A unique mechanism of splashing from a tungsten-based anode was identified during arc discharge. Splashing occurred by breakoff of a liquid metal column, which elongates after a local concavity formed on the molten anode surface. Blue-violet luminescence, emitted by cerium ions originating from additives in the tungsten-based anode, was captured before the concavity formation. The surface temperature exceeded the boiling point of the additives at the time of splashing. The measured droplet speeds suggested that an electromagnetic force contributes the high-speed ejections. Energy dispersive spectrometry mapping also exhibited a remnant of the additives on the longitudinal cross-section of the anode after arc discharge. Based on these experimental facts, the mechanism of anode splashing in arc discharge was deduced as follows: bubble formation of additives at temperatures above their boiling point, bubble bursting at the surface, micro-plasma jet generation, liquid-column elongation and breakoff under an electromagnetic force, and consequent high-speed droplet ejection.

Identification of the Dominant Factor for Droplet Ejection from a Tungsten Electrode during AC Tungsten Inert Gas Welding by Visualisation of Electrode Phenomena.

Droplet ejections from a molten tungsten electrode during alternating current tungsten inert gas (AC TIG) welding were observed successfully by a high-speed video captured at 75,000 fps. The welding conditions and timings that were likely to occur were investigated. The electrode surface temperature was also measured. A crater was formed on the surface of the electrode, and a droplet ejection occurred following the separation of the tip of the ridge growing from the centre of the crater. A series of droplet ejections occurred on a time scale of approximately 0.4 ms. Our results showed that the high temperature of the electrode surface was the common factor for droplet ejections. The dominant force for droplet ejection was discussed by estimating the balance of forces acting on the molten electrode surface. The pressure due to surface tension was the largest pressure at any time during the AC cycle, which decreased in the second half of the EP period. Our findings suggest that the surface tension was the dominant force for changing the electrode shape and that droplet ejections occurred when the surface tension decreased due to the increase in the electrode surface temperature.

Computational Study of Quenching Effects on Growth Processes and Size Distributions of Silicon Nanoparticles at a Thermal Plasma Tail.

In this paper, quenching effects on silicon nanoparticle growth processes and size distributions at a typical range of cooling rates in a thermal plasma tail are investigated computationally. We used a nodal-type model that expresses a size distribution evolving temporally with simultaneous homogeneous nucleation, heterogeneous condensation, interparticle coagulation, and melting point depression. The numerically obtained size distributions exhibit similar size ranges and tendencies to those of experiment results obtained with and without quenching. In a highly supersaturated state, 40-50% of the vapor atoms are converted rapidly to nanoparticles. After most vapor atoms are consumed, the nanoparticles grow by coagulation, which occurs much more slowly than condensation. At higher cooling rates, one obtains greater total number density, smaller size, and smaller standard deviation. Quenching in thermal plasma fabrication is effectual, but it presents limitations for controlling nanoparticle characteristics.

Numerical Analysis of the Correlation between Arc Plasma Fluctuation and Nanoparticle Growth-Transport under Atmospheric Pressure.

A time-dependent two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric simulation was conducted for arc plasma with dynamically fluctuating fluid generating iron nanoparticles in a direct-current discharge condition. The nonequilibrium process of simultaneous growth and transport of nanoparticles is simulated using a simple model with a low computational cost. To ascertain fluid dynamic instability and steep gradients in plasma temperature and particle distributions, a highly accurate method is adopted for computation. The core region of the arc plasma is almost stationary, whereas the fringe fluctuates because of fluid dynamic instability between the arc plasma and the shielding gas. In the downstream region, the vapor molecules decrease by condensation. The nanoparticles decrease by coagulation. These results suggest that both of the simultaneous processes make important contributions to particle growth. The fluctuation of nanoparticle number density in a distant region exhibits stronger correlation with the temperature fluctuation at the plasma fringe. The correlation analysis results suggest that the distribution of growing nanoparticles distant from the arc plasma can be controlled via control of temperature fluctuation at the arc plasma fringe.

Effect of Saturation Pressure Difference on Metal-Silicide Nanopowder Formation in Thermal Plasma Fabrication.

A computational investigation using a unique model and a solution algorithm was conducted, changing only the saturation pressure of one material artificially during nanopowder formation in thermal plasma fabrication, to highlight the effects of the saturation pressure difference between a metal and silicon. The model can not only express any profile of particle size-composition distribution for a metal-silicide nanopowder even with widely ranging sizes from sub-nanometers to a few hundred nanometers, but it can also simulate the entire growth process involving binary homogeneous nucleation, binary heterogeneous co-condensation, and coagulation among nanoparticles with different compositions. Greater differences in saturation pressures cause a greater time lag for co-condensation of two material vapors during the collective growth of the metal-silicide nanopowder. The greater time lag for co-condensation results in a wider range of composition of the mature nanopowder.