Magnetized plasma implosion in a snail target driven by a moderate-intensity laser pulse.

Optical generation of compact magnetized plasma structures is studied in the moderate intensity domain. A sub-ns laser beam irradiated snail-shaped targets with the intensity of about 1016 W/cm2. With a neat optical diagnostics, a sub-megagauss magnetized plasmoid is traced inside the target. On the observed hydrodynamic time scale, the hot plasma formation achieves a theta-pinch-like density and magnetic field distribution, which implodes into the target interior. This simple and elegant plasma magnetization scheme in the moderate-intensity domain is of particular interest for fundamental astrophysical-related studies and for development of future technologies.

Experimental demonstration of an electromagnetic pulse mitigation concept for a laser driven proton source.

The targets that are used to produce high-energy protons with ultra-high intensity lasers generate a strong electromagnetic pulse (EMP). To mitigate that undesired side effect, we developed and tested a concept called the "birdhouse." It consists in confining the EMP field in a finite volume and in dissipating the trapped electromagnetic energy with an electric resistor. A prototype was tested at a 10 TW 50 fs laser facility. The recorded average EMP mitigation ratio is about 20 for frequencies from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. The EMP mitigation ratio attains the level of 50 in the frequency range of 1-2 GHz where microwave emission is maximal. We measured the intensity of proton emission in two directions: along the laser propagation direction and along the edge of the proton beam. We observed that the "birdhouse" induces a two-fold increase of the intensity in the center of the proton beam and a two-fold reduction of the intensity on its edge. We did not observe any modification of the proton beam normalized spectrum.

Resonant third harmonic generation of KrF laser in Ar gas.

Investigations of emission of harmonics from argon gas jet irradiated by 700 fs, 5 mJ pulses from a KrF laser are presented. Harmonics conversion was optimized by varying the experimental geometry and the nozzle size. For the collection of the harmonic radiation silicon and solar-blind diamond semiconductor detectors equipped with charge preamplifiers were applied. The possibility of using a single-crystal CVD diamond detector for separate measurement of the 3rd harmonic in the presence of a strong pumping radiation was explored. Our experiments show that the earlier suggested 0.7% conversion efficiency can really be obtained, but only in the case when phase matching is optimized with an elongated gas target length corresponding to the length of coherence.

Monoenergetic proton emission from nuclear reaction induced by high intensity laser-generated plasma.

A 10(16) W∕cm(2) Asterix laser pulse intensity, 1315 nm at the fundamental frequency, 300 ps pulse duration, was employed at PALS laboratory of Prague, to irradiate thick and thin primary CD(2) targets placed inside a high vacuum chamber. The laser irradiation produces non-equilibrium plasma with deutons and carbon ions emission with energy of up to about 4 MeV per charge state, as measured by time-of-flight (TOF) techniques by using ion collectors and silicon carbide detectors. Accelerated deutons may induce high D-D cross section for fusion processes generating 3 MeV protons and 2.5 MeV neutrons, as measured by TOF analyses. In order to increase the mono-energetic proton yield, secondary CD(2) targets can be employed to be irradiated by the plasma-accelerated deutons. Experiments demonstrated that high intensity laser pulses can be employed to promote nuclear reactions from which characteristic ion streams may be developed. Results open new scenario for applications of laser-generated plasma to the fields of ion sources and ion accelerators.

Laser produced streams of Ge ions accelerated and optimized in the electric fields for implantation into SiO2 substrates.

Ge crystals were prepared by means of laser-induced ion implantation technique. A Nd:YAG pulsed laser (repetition rate: 10 Hz; pulse duration: 3.5 ns; pulse energy: ∼0.5 J) was used both as an ion source and to carry out the ablation processes. The optimization of the laser-generated ion beam parameters in a broad energy and current density range has been obtained controlling the electrostatic field parameters. Numerical simulations of the focusing system, performed adopting an OPERA 3D code, and an investigation of the ion characteristics, using the ion time-of-flight method, have allowed to optimize the preparation parameters. The structural properties of the samples were investigated by means of x-ray photoelectron, micro-Raman spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Experimental results show that, by appropriately varying the ion implantation parameters and by a post-preparation annealing treatment, it is possible to achieve the development of a micrometer-sized crystalline Ge phase and∕or an amorphous one.

New methods for high current fast ion beam production by laser-driven acceleration.

An overview of the last experimental campaigns on laser-driven ion acceleration performed at the PALS facility in Prague is given. Both the 2 TW, sub-nanosecond iodine laser system and the 20 TW, femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser, recently installed at PALS, are used along our experiments performed in the intensity range 10(16)-10(19) W∕cm(2). The main goal of our studies was to generate high energy, high current ion streams at relatively low laser intensities. The discussed experimental investigations show promising results in terms of maximum ion energy and current density, which make the laser-accelerated ion beams a candidate for new-generation ion sources to be employed in medicine, nuclear physics, matter physics, and industry.

Proton emission from thin hydrogenated targets irradiated by laser pulses at 10(16) W∕cm2.

The iodine laser at PALS Laboratory in Prague, operating at 1315 nm fundamental harmonics and at 300 ps FWHM pulse length, is employed to irradiate thin hydrogenated targets placed in vacuum at intensities on the order of 10(16) W∕cm(2). The laser-generated plasma is investigated in terms of proton and ion emission in the forward and backward directions. The time-of-flight technique, using ion collectors and semiconductor detectors, is used to measure the ion currents and the corresponding velocities and energies. Thomson parabola spectrometer is employed to separate the contribution of the ion emission from single laser shots. A particular attention is given to the proton production in terms of the maximum energy, emission yield, and angular distribution as a function of the laser energy, focal position, target thickness, and composition. Metallic and polymeric targets allow to generate protons with large energy range and different yield, depending on the laser, target composition, and target geometry properties.

Testing of thermal properties of compost from municipal waste with a view to using it as a renewable, low temperature heat source.

To determine how much heat may be recovered from a composting process, first it is necessary to know the heat production during the high temperature phase and characteristic values of the thermal conductivity coefficient for compost. The composting process was monitored in laboratory experiments. During the high temperature phase an average 1136kJ/kg of heat was released (but generally it was around 900kJ/kg). An average of 37.4% of that heat resulted from total bio-oxidation of organic compounds, assumed to be carbohydrates. The values of conductivity coefficient were from 0.150 to 0.309W/mK and depended on the temperature, humidity, density and age of compost.

Osmolarity effects on observed insect cell size after baculovirus infection are avoided using growth medium for sample dilution.

Rates of cell size increase are an important measure of success during the baculovirus infection process. Batch and fed batch cultures sustain large fluctuations in osmolarity that can affect the measured cell volume if this parameter is not considered during the sizing protocol. Where osmolarity differences between the sizing diluent and the culture broth exist, biased measurements of size are obtained as a result of the cell osmometer response. Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells are highly sensitive to volume change when subjected to a change in osmolarity. Use of the modified protocol with culture supernatants for sample dilution prior to sizing removed the observed error during measurement.

Partner support, psychological treatment, and nicotine gum in smoking treatment: an incremental study.

Smokers (N = 99) were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: nicotine gum (NG), nicotine gum plus psychological treatment (NG-PT), and nicotine gum plus psychological treatment and partner support (NG-PT-PS). Data were collected at Weeks 0, 4, 12, 26, and 52 from study start. Contrary to expectations, NG-PT-PS and NG-PT failed to increase abstinence rates. Subjects who were closer to their support partners had significantly lower abstinence rates with NG-PT-PS than with the other conditions, although not significantly at Weeks 26 and 52. Treatments without partner participation (NG-PT and NG) were significantly more effective for subjects who had an extremely close support partner outside the treatment setting than for those who did not at all weeks. The role of social support in smoking treatment is discussed.

Partner interaction and smoking cessation: a pilot study.

This was an exploratory study of precessation interaction between 21 smokers and their partners enrolled in a partner support smoking treatment program. The aim was to identify the partner interactions and proposed quitting strategies that were associated with cessation. Significant results (p less than .05) and trends (p less than .10) were reported. Both smoker and partner interactions predicted cessation. Failure to quit was predicted by smokers' negative behavior (prosmoking statements, interrupting the partner, and criticism/rejection of help) and by partners' suggestion to disengage from the quitting process. Partner's suggestion to disengage may be a reaction to the smokers' negative behavior because it was positively correlated with it. Successful quitters and their partners proposed more self-help strategies than did nonquitters and their partners. Nonquitters proposed more cooperative strategies than did successful quitters. Thus, suggesting strategies that encourage autonomy and self-mastery, rather than dependence on another person, may lead to more positive outcomes.