High-brightness betatron emission from the interaction of a sub picosecond laser pulse with pre-ionized low-density polymer foam for ICF research.

Direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in plasmas of near-critical density (NCD) is a very advancing platform for high-energy PW-class lasers of moderate relativistic intensity supporting Inertial Confinement Fusion research. Experiments conducted at the PHELIX sub-PW Nd:glass laser demonstrated application-promising characteristics of DLA-based radiation and particle sources, such as ultra-high number, high directionality and high conversion efficiency. In this context, the bright synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation of DLA electrons, which arises from the interaction of a sub-ps PHELIX laser pulse with an intensity of 1019 W/cm2 with pre-ionized low-density polymer foam, was studied. The experimental results show that the betatron radiation produced by DLA electrons in NCD plasma is well directed with a half-angle of 100-200 mrad, yielding (3.4 ± 0.4)·1010 photons/keV/sr at 10 keV photon energy. The experimental photon fluence and the brilliance agree well with the particle-in-cell simulations. These results pave the way for innovative applications of the DLA regime using low-density pre-ionized foams in high energy density research.

Mutual Effect of Components of Protective Films Applied on Copper and Brass from Octadecylamine and 1,2,3-Benzotriazole Vapors.

It has been shown by a set of corrosion, electrochemical and physical methods that a chamber corrosion inhibitor that consists of a mixture of octadecylamine (ODA) and benzotriazole (BTA) efficiently protects copper and brass from atmospheric corrosion and can be used for the temporary protection of metal items. The optimum temperatures of treatment with the ODA + BTA mixed inhibitor is 120 °C for brass and 100 °C for copper. One-hour treatment in ODA + BTA vapors at these temperatures results in the formation of nanosized adsorption films on the surface of these metals. These films stabilize the passive state and provide efficient temporary protection of metal items. The ODA + BTA inhibitor is superior to its components in terms of protective aftereffect. Our analysis of the mutual effect of BTA and ODA indicated that they show an antagonism of protective action on copper, but there is also a synergistic enhancement in the case of brass. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies demonstrate that the inhibitors in question mainly act by using a blocking mechanism on copper and brass. Chamber treatment of the metals studied in vapors of the ODA + BTA mixture resulted in a noticeable hydrophobization of the copper surface and an insignificant effect on the brass surface. Chamber treatment of copper samples with artificially created polymodal roughness made it possible to obtain a superhydrophobic surface.

FORC-Diagram Analysis for a Step-like Magnetization Reversal in Nanopatterned Stripe Array.

The fabrication approach of a magnonic crystal with a step-like hysteresis behavior based on a uniform non-monotonous iron layer made by shadow deposition on a preconfigured substrate is reported. The origin of the step-like hysteresis loop behavior is studied with local and integral magnetometry methods, including First-Order Reversal Curves (FORC) diagram analysis, accompanied with magnetic microstructure dynamics measurements. The results are validated with macroscopic magnetic properties and micromagnetic simulations using the intrinsic switching field distribution model. The proposed fabrication method can be used to produce magnonic structures with the controllable hysteresis plateau region's field position and width that can be used to control the magnonic crystal's band structure by changing of an external magnetic field.

Mutual Effects of Components of Protective Films Applied on Steel in Octadecylamine and 1,2,3-Benzotriazole Vapors.

In this work, we used a combination of corrosion, electrochemical, and physical methods to determine the properties of nanoscale films obtained by treatment with octadecylamine (ODA), benzotriazole (BTA) vapors, and their mixtures at elevated temperatures. The mixture of ODA + BTA surpasses its components in protective aftereffect, but an analysis of their mutual effects shows that there is antagonism between them. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy data indicate that the protection of steel by a mixture of ODA + BTA and its components is characterized by a mixed blocking activation mechanism. The processing of steel in hot vapors of the ODA + BTA mixture leads to hydrophobization of the surface and super-hydrophobization if a polymodal surface is created on the steel before processing in vapors.

Development of a Model of Crack Propagation in Multilayer Hard Coatings under Conditions of Stochastic Force Impact.

The article deals with the problems of cracking in the structure of multilayered coatings under the conditions of stochastic loading process. A mathematical model has been proposed in order to predict the crack propagation velocity in the coating while taking the influence of interlayer interfaces into account. A technique for calculating the probability density distribution of the coating fracture (failure rate) has been developed. The probability of a change in the crack growth direction is compared with the experimental data that were obtained as a result of the studies focused on the pattern of cracking in the Zr,Nb-(Zr,Nb)N-(Zr,Nb,Al)N and Ti-TiN-(Ti,Cr,Al)N coatings under the conditions of the real stochastic loading of cutting tools during the turning. The influence of the crystalline structure of the coating on the cracking pattern has been studied. The investigation has found the significant effect of the crystalline structure of the coating layers on the cracking pattern.

Influence of Dietary Factors on Helicobacter pylori and CagA Seroprevalence in Bulgaria.

The aim of this study was to assess the association between some dietary factors and prevalence of H. pylori infection or strain virulence in 294 adult asymptomatic blood donors. Methods. Seroprevalence was evaluated using ELISA. Logistic regression was used. Results. Anti-H. pylori IgG prevalence was 72.4%, and CagA IgG seroprevalence was 49.3%. In the multivariate analyses, the frequent (>5 days per week) honey consumption was associated with both reduced H. pylori seroprevalence OR, 0.68 with 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.473-0.967 and reduced CagA IgG seroprevalence OR, 0.65 with 95% CI, 0.486-0859. Frequent (>5 days per week) yoghurt consumption also was associated with lower H. pylori virulence of the strains (CagA IgG OR, 0.56 with 95% CI, 0.341-0.921). Smoking and consumption of the other dietary factors resulted in no significant differences in the prevalence of H. pylori IgG and CagA IgG within the subject groups. Conclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report revealing reverse associations between honey or yoghurt consumption and CagA IgG prevalence as well as between frequent honey consumption and lower prevalence of the H. pylori infection. Regular honey and yoghurt consumption can be of value as a supplement in the control of H. pylori therapy.

Compensation of birefringence in active elements with a novel Faraday mirror operating at high average power.

A decrease in the depolarization ratio by more than one order of magnitude by use of a recently proposed Faraday mirror (FM) in comparison with the traditional FM has been demonstrated experimentally. At a high average laser power, the possibility of an increase in the accuracy of compensation of depolarization in the active element by means of a lambda/4 plate with both the traditional and the novel FM is shown.