Abstract Book Final

Abstract book
st
41 IOP Plasma Physics
Conference
1417 April 2014

Grand Connaught Rooms, London, UK
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Contents
Oral programme 2-5
Poster programme. 6-8
Oral abstracts 9-28
Monday. 9-13
Tuesday. 14-18
Wednesday18-24
Thursday 24-28
Poster abstracts.29-47
41st IOP Plasma Physics Conference
Programme
Monday 14 April
10:00
Registration and refreshments
11:20
Culham Thesis Prize Winner

Cylindrical liner Z-Pinch experiments for fusion research and high energy-density physics
G Burdiak, Imperial College London, UK
12:00
Resistivity gradient guiding of fast electrons and heating of the guiding elements
H Schmitz, Central Laser Facility, UK
12:20
How can we calculate the tearing mode stability parameter Delta'?

J Connor, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
12:40
Lunch
13:40
Invited: Magnetic reconnection in space plasmas

J Eastwood, Imperial College London, UK
14:20
Production of petawatt laser pulses of picosecond duration via Brillouin amplification of

nanosecond laser beams
R Trines, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK
14:40
Diagnosing tokamak plasmas using x-ray imaging crystal spectroscopy

M Reinke, University of York, UK
15:00
Refreshments
15:30
Invited: Diagnostics and modeling of cold plasmas with high hydrogen content; applications to
molecular astrophysics
I Tanarro, CSIC, Spain
16:10
Shockwave acceleration of ions from the interaction of CO 2 lasers with overdense gas jets
N Dover, Imperial College London, UK
16:30
A relaxation model of merging magnetic flux ropes in the MAST spherical tokamak
K McClements, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
16:50
Pseudospark-sourced plasma electron beam and its application in a 0.2 THZ backward wave
oscillator
D Bowes, University of Strathclyde, UK
17:10
End of sessions
18:30
Evening poster session and drinks reception
Tuesday 15 April
09:30
Laser-driven generation of neutral electron-positron plasmas: an astrophysical lab?

G Sarri, Queen's University of Belfast, UK
10:10
Obtaining global solutions from local gyrokinetic codes: ITG modes in tokamaks with profile and
flow shear effects
P Abdoul, University of York, UK
10:30
Temperature equilibration in warm dense matter

N Hartley, University of Oxford, UK
10:50
Refreshments
11:20
Invited: The zero-turbulence in manifold in fusion plasmas

E Highcock, University of Oxford, UK
12:00
Attosecond electron bunches and attosecond light pulses from relativistic laser wakefields in
underdense plasma
Z-M Sheng, University of Strathclyde, UK
12:20
Spectroscopic characterisation of a novel RF excited plasma cathode

C Ribton, TWI, UK
12:40
Lunch
13:40
Invited: MAST - overview of achievements and prospects for the upgrade

B Lloyd, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
14:20
Time-resolved measurements of fast electron-sourced sheath dynamics

J Green, STFC, UK
14:40
Realizing a laser-driven electron source applicable for radiobiological tumor irradiation

M Nicolai, Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Germany
15:00
End of sessions and refreshments
15:30
Free time
18:00
Malcolm Haines Memorial Concert (South Kensington)
19:00
Star power on earth outreach event (Grand Connaught Rooms)
Wednesday 16 April
09:30
Invited: Advancing our understanding of energy transport at the edge of tokamak plasma fusion
reactors
B Lipschultz, University of York, UK
10:10
The generation of a convergent fast-electron beam from laser-solid interactions

R Scott, STFC, UK
10:30
Stability of evaporating charged liquid drops as a method for precisely charging microparticles
E Bennet, University of Glasgow, UK
10:50
Refreshments
11:20
Invited: Plasma techniques for precision measurements with antihydrogen

W Bertsche, The University of Manchester, UK
12:00
The power dependence of the edge pedestal in JET and MAST

J Simpson, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
12:20
IoP Plasma Physics Group AGM
12:40
Lunch
13:40
Laser wakefield accelerators as x-ray sources for high-resolution tomographic imaging

J Cole, Imperial College London, UK
14:00
Comparison of H2 and He carbon cleaning mechanisms in extreme ultraviolet induced and surface
wave discharge plasmas
A Dolgov, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), The Netherlands
14:20
Filamentary plasma eruptions in tokamaks

S I A Henneberg, University of York, UK
14:40
Carbon nanotubes as a route to enhanced ultraintense interactions

M Zepf, Queen's University Belfast, UK
15:00
Refreshments
15:30
Invited: Electron acceleration and ionization fronts induced by high frequency plasma turbulence
B Eliasson, University of Strathclyde, UK
16:10
The theory and simulation of large-angle Coulomb collisions

A Turrell, Imperial College London, UK
16:30
The isolation of intense attosecond pulses using the polarisation gating technique
S Cousens, Queen's University Belfast, UK
16:50
Strong shock generation by fast electron energy deposition

T Fox, University of York, UK
17:10
End of sessions
19:00
Drinks reception and conference dinner at Hotel Russell
Thursday 17 April
09:30
Ultrafast evolution of proton tracks in SiO2: picosecond ion pumped dynamics in matter
B Dromey, Queens University Belfast, UK
09:50
Differential pressure enhancement of self-sustaining thermionic hollow cathode plasma in low

pressure deposition systems
D Child, University of the West of Scotland, UK
10:10
Tokamak dust behavior under misty plasma effect

N Somboonkittichai, Imperial College London, UK
10:30
Investigation of collective electron dynamics in relativistically transparent laser-foil interactions

R J Gray, University of Strathclyde, UK
10:50
Refreshments
11:20
Invited: The evolution and application of gas-plasma systems

D Diver, University of Glasgow, UK
12:00
Two-pulse ionization injection into quasi-linear plasma wakefields

N Bourgeois, University of Oxford, UK
12:20
Investigations into the radiobiological effects of laser-driven ion beams

F Hanton, Queen's University of Belfast, UK
12:40
Lunch
13:40
Development and characterization of a fast neutral beam source for damage-free etching
D Marinov, The Open University, UK
14:00
Novel analysis of ECE imaging data using Bayesian probabilistic noise-correction

C Bowman, University of York, UK
14:20
Invited: Dynamic compression - a route to planetary core conditions in the laboratory

A Higginbotham, University of Oxford, UK
15:00
End of conference and refreshments
Poster programme
P.01 GPU octree-enhanced PIC code for helicon plasma thrusters
A Madonna, University of Padova, Italy
P.02 Electron-exchange and screening effects on the bremsstrahlung process in quantum plasmas
Y-D Jung, Hanyang University, South Korea
P.03 Attosecond dense electron bunch produced by ponderomotive acceleration
J Yu, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China
P.04 A study of the ion front of a plasma expanding into a vacuum
J Allen, University of Oxford, UK
P.05 Dynamics of 3D filaments in the scrape off layer: A comparison with models of reduced dimensionality
L Easy, University of York, UK
P.06 Fast electron dynamics with the TARANIS laser
D Riley, Queens University Belfast, UK
P.07 Landau damping rate of the transverse magnetic mode surface wave
M-J Lee, Hanyang University, South Korea
P.08 Polymerization at atmospheric pressure using plasma jets
J Bradley, University of Liverpool, UK
P.09 Toroidal drift modes: implications for transport and a model for small ELMs in tokamaks
A Bokshi, University of York, UK
P.10 Antihydrogen trapping assisted by sympathetically cooled positrons
N Madsen, Swansea University, UK
P.11 Antihydrogen trapping and spectroscopy: From cold plasmas to atomic physics
N Madsen, Swansea University, UK
P.12 Vulcan target area west long pulse beamline improvements
M Notley, STFC, UK
P.13 Mini gliding arc plasma reactor for bio-medical application
J Diatczyk, Lublin University of Technology, Poland
P.14 Atmospheric pressure plasma jet reactor for non-heat resistant surface treatment
J Pawat, Lublin University of Technology, Poland
P.15 Inverted fireballs as a useful tool for surface modification
P Knoll, University of Graz, Austria
P.16 Compressional Alfvn and ion-ion hybrid eigenmodes in MAST hydrogen-deuterium plasmas
H Oliver, Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK / University of Bristol, UK
P.17 Using high-power laser systems in the field of nuclear laboratory astrophysics
A Matafonov, TSNIImash, Russia
P.18 Electron and x-ray beams from a laser wakefield accelerator with a tailored density profile
J Wood, Imperial College London, UK
P.19 Numerical simulations and experimental reproduction of magnetospheric cyclotron emissions
K Ronald, University of Strathclyde, UK
P.20 Generation of superponderomotive electrons via axial electric field in DLA
A Robinson, Central Laser Facility, UK
P.21 Relativistic guiding of q gaussian laser beam and its effect on higher harmonic generation in plasma channel
produced by two prepulse technique
A Singh, National Institute of Technology, India
P.22 High energy ion generation by the high intensity laser irradiation of ultra thin CH foils
G Hicks, Imperial College London, UK
P.23 Formation dynamics of ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet radiation induced H2 plasma
A Dolgov, Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), The Netherlands
P.24 Simulations of edge turbulence and flows in tokamak X-point geometry using BOUT++
B Dudson, University of York, UK
P.25 Dissipation models for large eddy simulation of drift-wave turbulence
J Leddy, University of York, UK
P.26 Inception of surface streamers in mixtures of SF6 with nitrogen
A Chvyreva, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
P.27 Neutral and ion kinetics in glow discharges of H2 / O2 mixtures - diagnostics and modelling
M Jimnez-Redondo, CSIC, Spain
P.28 X-point modelling in linear geometries using BOUT++
B Shanahan, University of York, UK
P.29 Large scale synthesis of few layer graphene in a novel atmospheric pressure microwave plasma reactor
K Juda, University of Cambridge, UK
P.30 Spectral changes to an LWFA driver
K Poder, Imperial College London, UK
P.31 On the formation of phase space holes and clumps
M Lilley, Imperial College London, UK
P.32 Near-infrared divertor spectroscopy measurements on the MAST and JET tokamaks
B Lomanowski, Durham University, UK
P.33 Planar geometry inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device
D Knapp, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
P.34 Experimental generation of bright gamma-ray beams via non-linear thompson scattering
D Corvan, Queen's University Belfast, UK
P.35 Ion cyclotron emission and the nonlinear physics of the magnetoacoustic cyclotron instability of fusion-born
ions
L Carbajal, University of Warwick, UK
P.36 Investigating the anomalous Doppler effect for suprathermal electrons in tokamak plasma using selfconsistent kinetic simulations
W N Lai, University of Warwick, UK
P.37 Ion acceleration beyond 100MeV/amu in the relativistic transparent regime
D Jung, Queen's University Belfast, UK
P.38 X-ray Thomson Scattering measurements of density gradients
P Kozlowski, University of Oxford, UK
P.39 Zero-dimensional models for energy confinement transitions due to changing heating rate in fusion plasmas
H Zhu, University of Warwick, UK
P.40 Experimental demonstration of azimuthal asymmetry in collective electron dynamics in relativistically
transparent laser-foil interactions
R Gray, University of Strathclyde, UK
P.41 Sensitivity of mass ablation rate and shock timing to variations in opacity in indirect drive, inertial confinement
fusion on the National Ignition Facility
K McGlinchey, Imperial College London, UK
P.42 Influence of the electrostatic field on the efficiency of laser energy conversion to intense synchrotron radiation
R Capdessus, University of Strathclyde, UK
P.43 Computation of a generalised Coulomb log parameter for hot dense matter
D Swatton, AWE, UK
Oral abstracts
Monday 14 April
M 11:20
Cylindrical liner Z-pinch experiments for fusion research and high energy-density physics
G Burdiak1, S Lebedev1, F Suzuki-Vidal1, G Swadling1, S Bland1, L Suttle1, M Bennet1, J Hare1, N Niasse1, M
Weinwurm1, A Harvey-Thompson2, G Hall3, R Williams4, J Skidmore4, K Blesener5, L Atoyan5, A Cahill5, C Hoyt5, W
Potter5, P Schrafel5 and B Kusse5
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2Sandia National Laboratories, USA, 3Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,
USA, 4Atomic Weapons Establishment, UK, 5Cornell University, USA
Cylindrical geometry is the natural configuration for z-pinch implosions. Today, liner z-pinches are used in fusion
experiments and are also an interesting platform for basic HEDP research.
A novel fusion scheme called MagLIF (Magnetised Liner Inertial Fusion) is being explored at SNL. This scheme
involves the compression of DT fuel in cylindrical geometry. The fuel is preheated and magnetised before being
compressed within a cylindrical liner that is imploded by the 20MA Z facility. In this talk we first present an overview
of MagLIF and the experimental progress made by SNL to date, primarily involving magneto-Rayleigh-Taylor
instability studies in imploding liners.
On smaller machines we can perform studies that are relevant to aspects of MagLIF. For example, it is possible to do
tests of equation-of-state and resistivity models for code validation, and to study the seeding of instabilities. On the
1.4MA MAGPIE facility at Imperial College London we have performed gas-filled cylindrical liner experiments. On
application of the MAGPIE current pulse to the liner, several converging shock waves are consecutively launched
from the liners inner wall into the gas-fill. We will describe how the shocks are used as a diagnostic tool for
understanding the response of liners themselves to a pulsed current.
The shocks are also very interesting in their own right. They are strong enough (u_s > 20km/s) for radiation
transport to influence the shock structure; we see evidence for radiative preheating of upstream material and
radiative cooling downstream. In addition to presenting our findings on the dynamics and structure of the shocks,
preliminary results from the first experiments with an applied axial magnetic field will be discussed.
M 12:00
Resistivity gradient guiding of fast electrons and heating of the guiding elements
H Schmitz1 and A Robinson2
1
Central Laser Facility, UK, 2STFC, UK
The exploitation of resistivity gradients, particularly those engineered by constructing targets of different materials,
for fast electron guiding is increasingly perceived as a viable and robust route for control of fast electron
propagation in fast ignition ICF. It may also become useful as a tool for HEDP experiments.
Either attempt to exploit guiding via resistivity gradients will require a more detailed understanding of guiding and
the accompanying heating of guiding structures. Here [1] we present a recent study of guiding along a simple wire
structure [2] which reveals that typical choices of materials and laser parameters may have to substantially altered
in order to optimize guiding and heating.
[1]
[2]
Robinson, Schmitz, and Pasley, Phys.Plasmas (2013)

Robinson and Sherlock, Phys.Plasmas (2007)
M 12:20
How can we calculate thetearing mode stability parameter Delta'?
J Connor, S Cowley, C Ham, J Hastie, T Hender and Y Liu
Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
The stability of tearing modes, including neoclassical tearing modes, is important for ITER. However a realistic
description requires a fully kinetic treatment of the tearing mode resonant layer, although a simple MHD description
of the remainder of the plasma is quite adequate. It is therefore sensible, and computationally essential in practice
for a hot tokamak like ITER, to separate the problem into two parts, using asymptotic matching of the resonant layer
solution to the simpler external MHD solution (which is characterised by the tearing parameter Delta) to determine
a tearing mode growth rate (or island width). In this paper we address the calculation of Delta in full toroidal
geometry, given there is a lack of entirely adequate codes for this purpose. In principle, Delta can be deduced from
toroidal resistive MHD codes, by using the known resistive MHD relation between the calculated growth rate and
Delta . However, in the presence of pressure gradients and favourable average curvature, the mode is normally
stabilised and the method fails. We will describe techniques for circumventing this problem involving the use of
axisymmetric pressure perturbations localised around the resonant surface or by introducing anisotropic thermal
transport into the model. Two approaches are possible, one a deduction from calculated growth rates, the other
involving the construction of appropriate basis functions. Our findings are also relevant to the penetration of
resonant magnetic perturbations, proposed for ELM control.
M 13:40
Invited: Magnetic reconnection in space plasmas
J Eastwood
Imperial College London, UK
In this talk I will review recent progress in our understanding of magnetic reconnection in collisionless space
plasmas. Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important processes at work in space plasma environments,
controlling energy storage, transport and release. In particular, reconnection is crucial to the physics of the solar
wind - magnetosphere interaction. Observations from multi-satellite missions such as Cluster and THEMIS mean that
solar system plasmas can be used as laboratories for research into collisionless reconnection, allowing regions of
parameter space that cannot be accessed in the laboratory to be explored.
Some specific recent advances in our understanding of magnetic reconnection made using in situ observation of
solar system plasmas will be presented. Several different results will be discussed including: the structure of the
diffusion region; energy partition in magnetic reconnection outflows; the conditions controlling the onset of
reconnection (the so-called beta-shear relationship); the interaction of reconnection jets with the pre-existing
ambient plasma and formation of dipolarization fronts; and the formation of flux ropes and other structure which
has implications for particle acceleration. We will conclude by introducing the upcoming NASA Magnetospheric
Multi-Scale (MMS) mission, a $1bn space mission which is dedicated to studying reconnection.
10
M 14:20
Production of petawatt laser pulses of picosecond duration via Brillouin amplification of nanosecond laser beams
R Trines1, P Alves2, K Humphrey3, R Bingham1, F Fiuza4, L Silva2, D Speirs3, A Cairns5 and P Norreys6
1
STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK, 2Instituto Superior Tecnico, Portugal, 3University of Strathclyde,
UK, 4Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA, 5University of St Andrews, UK, 6University of Oxford, UK
The demonstration of fast-ignition (FI) inertial confinement fusion (ICF) requires the delivery of 40 kJ - 100 kJ of
laser energy to the hot spot within 16 ps, preferrably at near-infrared wave lengths (351 nm). However, high-energy
picosecond petawatt beams at 351 nm are extremely difficult to generate using conventional solid-state laser
systems. Previous studies have shown that Raman amplification in plasma is a potential route for the production of
petawatt pulses of picosecond duration at 351 nm [Trines et al., PRL, 2011]. In this paper we show, through
analytic theory and particle-in-cell simulations, that similar results can also be obtained through Brillouin
amplification of a short seed laser beam off a long pump beam at moderate intensity. The optimal parameter
regime to attain the highest compression, highest efficiency and lowest level of damaging instabilities will be
identified. Scaling laws governing the optimal parameter space for pump beam, seed beam and plasma will be
derived using a self-similar model for Brillouin scattering, and verified via simulations. A comparison with Raman
scattering will be made, to determine which scheme is most suitable for a range of laser-plasma configurations.
M 14:40
Diagnosing tokamak plasmas using x-ray imaging crystal spectroscopy
M Reinke1, J Rice2, A Rosen3, L Delgado-Aparicio4, N Howard2, A Hubbard2 and J Hughes2
1
University of York, UK, 2MIT, USA, 3Tufts University, USA, 4Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, USA
In high-temperature magnetically confined plasmas, x-ray line radiation from partially-ionized trace elements is
regularly observed, where Doppler shift and broadening allow for measurements of plasma velocity and
temperature, respectively. Conventional single chord spectrometers integrate these data through the plasma
volume, averaging over a wide spatial region. This has recently been overcome by using advanced 2D x-ray
detectors to image x-rays reflected from a spherically-bent crystal satisfying the Bragg condition. Such an
instrument simultaneously achieves high throughput, wide spatial coverage and sufficient spectral resolution to
apply Doppler tomography techniques to determine radial profiles of impurity density, flow and
temperature. Examples are shown from a spectrometer deployed on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak, where emission
from 3.3-4.0 is used to enable a range of particle, momentum and heat transport research. Trace, < 0.1%, argon
is seeded non-perturbingly into discharges, and K-shell emission from He-like and H-like charges states are used to
study changes in toroidal flow patterns observed across confinement regimes in plasmas with no external
momentum input. Time evolving measurements of line emission from calcium and molybdenum, introduced by
laser ablation, allow for heavy element particle transport to be investigated. With resolving powers of order 10,000,
the spectrometer is able to isolate contributions from dielectronic recombination, and validation of atomic physics
models for He-like argon is presented. Advantages and disadvantages of x-ray imaging crystal spectroscopy are
discussed, including difficulties with calibration and extending measurements to high, Te 10 keV, electron
temperatures.
11
M 15:30
Invited: Diagnostics and modeling of cold plasmas with high hydrogen content; applications to molecular
astrophysics
I Tanarro1, M Cueto1, M Jimnez-Redondo1, V J Herrero1, J L Domnech1 and J Cernicharo2
1
CSIC, Spain, 2INTA-CSIC, Spain
Cold plasmas of molecular precursors produced in low pressure glow discharges involve intricate mechanisms of
great interest in many scientific and technological fields, such as thin film growth, surface conditioning and so on. In
particular, hydrogen containing cold plasmas are currently used in microelectronic devices production, can simulate
the border conditions of plasmas generated in fusion reactors, and are efficient sources of very reactive radicals and
ions, whose study contributes to clarify the appearance of complex compounds in different regions of interstellar
molecular clouds or in Jovian planet ionospheres.
In this work, low pressure glow discharges of mixtures of hydrogen with simple molecules and atoms are
experimentally diagnosed, and the main mechanisms controlling their behavior are elucidated by kinetic modeling.
According to theoretical predictions supported by experimental data, the formation of new molecular species takes
place mainly at the reactor surfaces and competes with the fast wall recycling of the precursors, which are
previously dissociated by electron impact. On the other hand, the ion distributions result mainly from the balance
between electron impact ionizations, which depend markedly on electron energies, and ion-molecule reactions in
gas phase, for which the proton affinity of the different neutral species plays a key role.
The first detection of the deuterated ammonium ion (NH3D+) in the interstellar medium, and the refined
spectroscopic characterization of ArH+, the first noble gas molecule found in space, exemplify the successful
interaction between plasma spectroscopy and astronomical observations.
M 16:10
Shockwave acceleration of ions from the interaction of CO 2 lasers with overdense gas jets
N Dover1, O Tresca2, N Cook3, C Maharjan3, M Polyanskiy2, P Shkolnikov3, I Pogorelsky2 and Z Najmudin1
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA, 3Stony Brook University, USA
Recent progress in the generation of pure proton and helium beams from the interaction of an intense CO2 laser
pulse with near-critical overdense plasmas at the Accelerator Test Facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory will be
presented. An energetic prepulse has been introduced to generate hydrodynamic blast waves in a gas jet target,
providing a density profile ideally suited to collisionless shock acceleration when irradiated by a single intense
1016 W/cm2 main pulse. This all-optical density tailoring scheme has been used to accelerate >1 MeV helium ions
as well as multi-MeV quasi-monoenergetic proton beams. Transverse optical probing allows investigation of plasma
dynamics inside the overdense plasma, and demonstrates shock generation just after the laser-plasma interaction
and its subsequent evolution. Hydrodynamic and PIC simulations support the experimental findings that the
prepulse-generated density profile is crucial for the generation of ion beams and provide further elucidation on both
the ion acceleration mechanism as well as the shock dynamics.
M 16:30
A relaxation model of merging magnetic flux ropes in the MAST spherical tokamak
K McClements1,2, P Browning2, A Stanier2 and S Lukin3
1
Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK, 2The University of Manchester, UK, 3Naval Research Laboratory, USA
Merging-compression start-up in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) provides an opportunity to investigate
the merging of twisted magnetic flux ropes through magnetic reconnection, and their self-organisation into a single
12
flux rope, in a plasma with low beta and high Lundquist number. The merging of two (or more) flux ropes into a
single flux rope occurs in other laboratory reconnection experiments, and is also believed to occur in the solar
corona. An analytical model of the self-organisation process, based on the assumption of helicity-conserving
relaxation of a force-free field to a minimum energy state [1], will be presented. Key results emerging from the
analysis include the scaling of the final plasma current and total energy released with the initial currents in the flux
ropes and the toroidal magnetic field. These results will be compared with 2D Hall MHD numerical simulations of
merging flux ropes, and with experimental MAST data. The relevance of the model to solar plasmas will also be
discussed.
This work was funded by STFC, the US DoE Experimental Plasma Research program, the RCUK Energy Programme
under grant EP/I501045, and the European Communities under the Contract of Association between EURATOM and
CCFE. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.
[1]
J. B. Taylor, Phys. Rev. Lett 33 (1974) 1139
M 16:50
Pseudospark-sourced plasma electron beam and its application in a 0.2 THZ backward wave oscillator
H Yin, D Bowes, W He, L Zhang, C Donaldson, G Liu, D Speirs, K Ronald, A Phelps and A Cross
University of Strathclyde, UK
The pseudospark discharge is a form of low-pressure gas discharge, capable of a high-quality electron beam during
the later phases of the discharge process, which possesses high current density and brightness as well as the ability
to self-focus via ion channel focusing. Also the structure of a pseudospark discharge chamber is flexible and
modular, which makes it an excellent electron beam source of desired energy level for millimetre-wave generation
[1-4].
Beam experiments with a 4-gap, 42 kV pseudospark discharge have shown an electron beam current of 4 A with
diameter of less than 1mm. Based on the beam parameters, a backward wave oscillator (BWO) was designed and
simulated to output a low-terahertz pulse of 20 W in power with a frequency sweep from 186 GHz to 200 GHz. In the
experiment, the output radiation was measured over the frequency range 186 - 202 GHz using a mixer technique,
which is consistent with the 2D particle-in-cell numerical simulations. Future work to increase the millimetre-wave
power generated from a pseudospark-sourced electron beam will be presented.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
Yin, H., etc., "Single-Gap Pseudospark Discharge Experiments", J. Appl. Phys.,90 (7), pp. 3212-3218
(2001)
H. Yin, etc., "Millimeter wave generation from a pseudospark-sourced electron beam", Phys. Plasmas, 16,
063105 (2009)
A.W. Cross, etc., "Pseudospark-sourced electron beam for millimetre wave and terahertz generation", New
Developments in Nonlinear Plasma Physics, 1188, pp.380-390 (2009)
D. Bowes, etc., "Visualization of a Pseudospark-Sourced Electron Beam", Images in Plasma Science, 7th
Triennial Special Issue of the IEEE Trans. on Plasma Sci., (August 2014) (to be published)
13
Tuesday 15 April
Tu 09:30
Laser-driven generation of neutral electron-positron plasmas: an astrophysical lab?
G Sarri
Queen's University of Belfast, UK
Electron- positron pair plasmas are created in the extreme atmospheres of black-holes and pulsars, and ejected in
the form of ultra-relativistic winds or jets. These energetic outflows are unique natural laboratories, that are used to
probe the distant high-energy Universe, and test the fundamental laws of physics at its limits.
Our current understanding of this exotic state of matter has thus far been inferred exclusively from theoretical
modelling of observational data, and numerical simulations. However, detailed experimental studies of the
dynamics of these plasmas are still lacking, owing primarily to the experimental difficulties associated with
producing such neutral plasmas in the laboratory.
We present here the first laboratory generation of high density electron-positron beams that present overall charge
neutrality. Their low divergence ( 10 -20 mrad), high average Lorentz factor ( 15), and high density ( 10^15
cm^-3) are ideal for their application in the laboratory study of their astrophysical counterparts. The collisionless
skin depth in the beam is found to be lower than the beam transverse size, clear indication that collective (i.e.
plasma-like) behaviour in the beam is likely to occur.
After presenting the technical aspects of the laser-driven generation of these plasmas in the laboratory, possible
experiments to study key aspects of their dynamics will be discussed, in relation to fundamental astrophysical
phenomena.
Tu 10:10
Obtaining global solutions from local gyrokinetic codes: ITG modes in tokamaks with profile and flow shear effects
P Abdoul1, H Wilson1, C Roach3 and D Dickinson3
1
University of York, UK, 3Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
In this work we employ solutions from the local gyrokinetic code, GS2, combined with analytical theory [1], to
reconstruct the global mode structures for linear electrostatic ITG modes in tokamaks. The so-called s- equilibrium
model, with circular magnetic flux surfaces and high aspect ratio, is used. We assume a quadratic linear drive profile
and solved GS2 across the radial domain, x, and a full ballooning angle - p . This provides the local complex
mode frequency, 0(x, p) = 0(x, p) + i0(x, p), depending on x, due to the profile variation, and periodic in p. The
real frequency, 0(x, p), and linear growth rate, 0(x, p), are stationary at the same radial position. This leads to a
strongly growing mode that peaks at the outboard mid plane, with p chosen to maximise the local growth rate, max =
max (0(x, p)). These results are consistent with the reduced fluid model of ITG modes [2]. Furthermore, radially
varying q-profile shifts the mode away from the outboard mid plane, tilts the mode structure and reduces its growth
rate. However, for a critical value of flow shear, compensating the profile variation effect, the strongly growing mode
is again captured. The profile variation introduces asymmetry to the growth rate spectrum with respect to the sign of
flow shear, which is in agreement with global gyrokinetic calculations presented in reference [3].
[1]
[2]
[3]
14
J.B. Taylor, et al. Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 38 (1996) 243-250

D. Dickinson, et al. Physics of Plasmas 21, 010702 (2014)
P. Hill, et al. Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 54 (2012) 065011
Tu 10:30
Temperature equilibration in warm dense matter
N Hartley1, H Doyle1, T White1, P Mabey1, L Peters1, G Gregori1, D Hochhaus2, D Khaghani2, P Neumayer2, P Davis3, T
Doeppner3, T Ma3, A Pak3, S LePape3, S Glenzer4, P Belancourt5, P Drake5, C Kuranz5, D Gericke6, J Vorberger6 and D
Lamb7
1
University of Oxford, UK, 2GSI, Germany, 3LLNL, 4 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA, 5University of
Michigan, USA, 6University of Warwick, USA, 7University of Chicago, USA
Within the field of High Energy Density Physics, determining the rate of electron-ion equilibration is, for many
materials, an ongoing problem. The time taken for a system with highly unequal ion and electron species
temperatures to relax to a thermodynamic equilibrium can, on the timescales of experiments, be significant and
therefore must be accounted for if the results obtained are to be related to stable systems. More importantly, the
equilibration rates affect the transport properties of compact astrophysical objects (planetary cores and the crust of
old stars) and thus have an impact in the determination of their equation of state.
Previous work on graphite showed timescales on the order of 100ps much longer than what was predicted or
expected so we are now attempting to replicate results on other materials and with different degrees of heating for
comparison. Our latest experiment looked at tantalum, where the timescales were found to be much shorter, and in
fact agree with theoretical models of the behaviour which determine the coupling rate from the electron density of
states.
Tu 11:20
Invited: The zero-turbulence in manifold in fusion plasmas
E Highcock
University of Oxford, UK
In the core of a magnetic fusion plasma, the temperature gradient that can be achieved remains close to the critical
threshold for exciting the linear microinstabilities which lead to turbulent heat loss (a fact that has been exploited by
simplified models of turbulent transport). However, in situations with a strong flow gradient and weak magnetic
shear, subcritical turbulence can exist in the absence of linear instabilities. This means that the threshold must be
calculated non-linearly. In this work, the properties of turbulence in this high-flow-shear low-magnetic-shear regime
are calculated. It is shown that the turbulence in this regime is entirely subcritical: linear fluctuations only grow
transiently before decaying, but high levels of nonlinear turbulence can be sustained. It is shown that the
temperature gradient threshold for nonlinear sustained turbulence (the zero turbulence manifold) is strongly
affected by the strength of the flow gradient and by the angle the flow makes with the magnetic field; a careful
adjustment of these parameters can lead to a doubling of the critical temperature gradient. It is shown that optimal
achievable temperature gradient remains close to the maximum critical temperature gradient, but that a careful
adjustment of heat and momentum input is required to achieve this optimal gradient: counter-intuitive behaviour
can be observed where an increase in the heat flux can lead to a decrease in the temperature gradient. Finally,
theoretical predictions of the shape of the zero turbulence manifold are tested and confirmed by comparison with
the MAST tokamak.
15
Tu 12:00
Attosecond electron bunches and attosecond light pulses from relativistic laser wakefields in underdense plasma
Z-M Sheng1, F-Y Li2, M Chen2, J Mu2, Y Liu2, L-L Yu2, J Meyer-ter-Vehn3, W Mori4 and J Zhang2
1
University of Strathclyde, UK, 2Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, 3Max-Planck-Institut fuer Quantenoptik,
Germany, 4University of California, USA
A highly nonlinear laser wakefield in underdense plasma produces high density peaks which typically have
extremely narrow width down to tens of nanometers, moving at its phase velocity. But these density peaks usually
cannot be trapped and accelerated as a whole. By introducing an up-ramp density transition, quasi-1D wave
breaking can occur sharply at the up-ramp-plateau transition. This leads to the injection of a whole density peak at
well defined space and time and the generation of a dense attosecond electron sheet (AES) with a sharp energy
peak and large charge up to nC.
It is found that such an AES can be used for the generation of attosecond light pulses. First of all, it can serve as
relativistic electron mirrors for coherent Thomson scattering with enhanced scattering efficiency and spectral upshift
for a counter-propagating probe pulse. These are confirmed by multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It is
further shown that the AES can produce attosecond bursts of coherent synchrotron-like radiation when it propagates
in the laser wakefield. While it is accelerated longitudinally, it also shrinks radially due to the transverse electric
field, thereby producing an intense, radially polarized, half-cycle attosecond pulse. The attosecond pulse first
focuses to peak intensity 10 times larger than the driving laser pulse and then emerges as a conical beam.
Tu 12:20
Spectroscopic characterisation of a novel RF excited plasma cathode
S del Pozo1,2, C Ribton2 and D Smith1
1
Brunel University, UK, 2TWI, UK
Thermionic cathode electron beam (EB) guns are widely used for materials processing equipment, e.g. welding and
melting. However, cathode life is limited due to material evaporation and erosion. The plasma cathode EB gun
design provides a solution to the main maintenance problems of thermionic guns. Additionally, the pulsing speed of
the beam has been proven to be over 10 times faster than with conventional guns, which is very beneficial for
materials processing applications.
This work presents a new radio frequency (RF) excited plasma cathode electron beam gun design and spectroscopy
measurements of an argon plasma cathode. The EB gun was operated at -60 kV accelerating voltage and 84 MHz
resonant frequency, and empirical results demonstrated that it was capable of producing beams of up to 3.2 kW
power. The gun consists of a plasma chamber used as a hollow cathode or electron source, an RF plasma
generation unit and a particle-accelerating unit for extracting the electrons from the plasma chamber and
accelerating them to form a beam.
The plasma cathode design is currently limited to low beam current applications, e.g. EB additive manufacturing.
Thus, to increase current, a separate experimental set up was developed for carrying out emission spectroscopy
measurements of the plasma. Different gases were evaluated and compared against key parameters such as gas
flow and pressure in order to gain a deeper understanding of the plasma parameters and how they relate to the
beam current.
16
Tu 13:40
Invited: MAST - overview of achievements and prospects for the upgrade
B Lloyd
Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
The Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) was designed to study high temperature, low aspect ratio, highly
elongated plasmas. It is equipped with a comprehensive array of sophisticated, high resolution, diagnostics
developed in collaboration with international and UK university partners. It benefits from high power neutral beam
injection and a microwave system in the electron cyclotron frequency range. Other notable facilities include a
cryogenic pellet injector and internal coils for controlling edge localized modes (ELMs). Over the last decade
important advances have been made in pursuit of the MAST mission which is to explore the long term potential of
the spherical tokamak (ST) as a fusion component test facility (CTF) and/or ST power plant, to advance key
tokamak physics for optimal exploitation of ITER and design optimization of DEMO, and to provide unique insight
into underlying tokamak physics. Highlights include ground-breaking studies of performance limiting instabilities
and their control; improved understanding of transport, turbulence and fast ion physics; detailed characterisation
and mitigation of divertor heat loads; development of plasma heating and current drive schemes for optimization of
plasma performance and for non-inductive plasma start-up and sustainment as required in future devices.
Experiments are underpinned by detailed theory and modelling. MAST is presently being upgraded and will resume
operation in 2015. A key feature will be new closed cryo-pumped divertors with flexible configuration including
super-X for wide-ranging exhaust physics studies. The upgraded device will have increased pulse length and toroidal
field and will benefit from off-axis neutral beam current drive.
Tu 14:20
Time-resolved measurements of fast electron-sourced sheath dynamics
J Green1, C Murphy2, R Gray3, D MacLellan3, P McKenna3, R Dance4, C Ridgers4, D Rusby1 and L Wilson1
1
STFC, UK, 2University of Edinburgh, UK, 3University of Strathclyde, UK, 4University of York, UK
Here we present unique fast electron generation and transport results from a recent experimental campaign on the
Astra Gemini laser facility. Using complementary diagnostics a unique picture is presented of the evolution of
electron sheath dynamics, and thus electron transport, in the interaction of an ultra-intense, short pulse (40 fs)
laser with a solid target.
Targets were irradiated at up to 1021 Wcm-2, with a chirped optical probe used to spatially and temporally resolve
the rear surface target reflectivity. Clear snapshots of rapid ionisation and fast electron transport at the target rear
surface were observed for a range of target and laser parameters. As well as providing a valuable insight into fast
electron transport at the rear surface the role of fast electron refluxing inside thin targets was also investigated
through the use of thin foils and novel targetry. These studies aim to see how the very earliest stages of the fast
electron dynamics directly affect both the sheath evolution and ion acceleration at the rear surface.
17
Tu 14:40
Realizing a laser-driven electron source applicable for radiobiological tumor irradiation
M Nicolai1, A Svert1, M Reuter1, M Schnell1, J Polz1, O Jckel1, L Karsch2, M Schrer2, M Oppelt2, J Pawelke2 and M
C Kaluza1
1
Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Germany, 2National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology,
Germany
Laser-accelerated electron pulses have been used to irradiate human tumors grown on mice's ears during
radiobiological experiments [1]. These experiments have been carried out with the JETI laser system at the Institute
of Optics and Quantum Electronics in Jena, Germany.
To treat a total of more than 50 mice, a stable and reliable operation of the laser-electron accelerator with a dose
rate exceeding 1 Gy/min was necessary. To achieve this, a sufficient number of electrons at energies in excess of 5
MeV had to be generated. The irradiation time for a single mouse was a few minutes. Furthermore, these particlepulses' parameters needed to remain achievable for a time period of several weeks. Due to the online detection of
the radiation dose, the unavoidable shot-to-shot fluctuations, currently still typical for laser-based particle
accelerators, could be compensated. The results demonstrate that particle pulses generated with laser-based
accelerators have the potential to be a future alternative for conventional particle accelerators used for the
irradiation of tumors.
[1]
M. Nicolai et al., Appl. Phys. B, DOI10.1007/s00340-013-5747-0 (2013)
Wednesday 16 April
W 09:30
Invited: Advancing our understanding of energy transport at the edge of tokamak plasma fusion reactors
B Lipschultz
University of York, UK
Research in magnetically-confined plasmas for fusion energy has demonstrated reductions in cross-magnetic-field
transport to low levels such that fusion-grade plasmas can be achieved. The low cross-field transport means that the
energy and particles that leak from the hot confined plasma flow along the magnetic field through a very thin halo
plasma layer to heat-load bearing surfaces (divertor) - empirical scalings predict a layer thickness of order
millimetres. The resulting power flow along the magnetic field is predicted to be of order 3-10GW/m2 in proposed
fusion reactors. The careful design of the divertor surface and magnetic field geometries, together with use of
radiation through a process called detachment, has led to reductions in surface heat loads that are still factors of
3-5 away from what is needed in terms of technological limits for reactors ( 10MW/m2). The detachment process
includes a thermal condensation instability, akin to what occurs in extraterrestial plasmas. The radiation and
location of the detachment region are not yet well-controlled; It is often the case that the cold ( 1eV) radiating
region expands from near the divertor surface to the hot confined core, leading to cooling of hot core plasma
through several processes. The focus of this presentation is to review current understanding and present future
avenues of research that include the use of new magnetic geometries such as Super-X in the CCFE Mega-AmpSpherical-Torus (MAST) tokamak to reduce the parallel heat flux further AND control the detachment region
properties and location.
18
W 10:10
The generation of a convergent fast-electron beam from laser-solid interactions
R Scott
STFC, UK
Fast-electron beams generated by laser-solid interactions have the potential to initiate a thermonuclear burn wave
in pre-compressed Deuterium-Tritium (DT) fuel, as proposed in the fast-ignition inertial fusion (FI) scheme. However
the fast-electron beam which is generated by simply shooting a relativistically-intense laser at a target has been
shown to have an extremely large divergence. Consequently the fast-electron beam energy density drops rapidly
with increasing distance from the laser-plasma interaction, greatly reducing the efficiency of the FI scheme. In this
work we present a simple, novel geometry for the laser-plasma interaction, this causes the generation of a
convergent fast-electron beam. As this beam focuses within the target, the ability to effectively transport energy to
the compressed DT fuel is increased. Sub-scale particle-in-cell simulations are used to demonstrate the potential
efficacy of this scheme and to perform an analysis of the overall laser-to-hotspot coupling efficiency.
W 10:30
Stability of evaporating charged liquid drops as a method for precisely charging microparticles
E Bennet1, D Diver1, H Potts1, C Mahony2, P Maguire2, D Mariotti2 and D Rutherford2
1
University of Glasgow, UK, 2University of Ulster, UK
The evolutionary processes governing the dynamics and stability of charged macroscopic water droplets in a
discharge plasma are a central component of an innovative collaborative project on bacteria detection. Aerosolised
bacteria samples will be injected into a discharge plasma to acquire significant electrical charge. The fluid stability
under evaporative stress is a key aspect that is core to the research.
Initially stable charged aerosols subject to evaporation (i.e. a continually changing radius) may encounter the
Rayleigh limit governing the maximum charge QR as a function of radius, arising from the electrostatic and surface
tension forces. We postulate that even if the droplet charge is initially much less than the Rayleigh limit, the stability
will become an issue as the droplet evaporates as normal either while in the plasma or if it moves from the
discharge region into neutral gas. The emission mechanism is strongly linked to the final charge on the cell. This
charge, which remains once the droplet of liquid has entirely evaporated, will be less than but approximately equal
to the Rayleigh limit for a droplet of liquid the size of the bacterium.
We present a theoretical and numerical model describing the charging and evaporative processes of water droplets
in plasma. Results from the ongoing experimental programme confirm the transport of non-pathogenic E. coli
bacteria in aerosols through the plasma by collecting and culturing the plasma processed E. coli/aerosol flux.
W 11:20
Invited: Plasma techniques for precision measurements with antihydrogen
W Bertsche
The University of Manchester, UK
The ALPHA collaboration at CERN has demonstrated trapping of antihydrogen atoms[1], and with this unique
material made the first direct measurements of properties of a charge-neutral antimatter atomic system[2]. These
measurements are significant milestones on the way toward precision comparison of matter and antimatter. Plasma
techniques such as autoresonant excitation and rotating wall compression are used to control the antimatter
ingredient plasmas and form the low-temperature atoms required for trapping (T < 0.5 K). Recently, a nondestructive magnetometer based on electron-cyclotron resonance and monitoring electrostatic plasma modes of a
19
confined electron plasma was developed to provide in-situ measurements of the magnetic field [3]. This technique
was critical in the determination of the magnetic field experienced by anti-atoms during spectroscopic interrogation,
achieving a field measurement with an accuracy of approximately 1 part in 3.4 * 10 4 of the magnetic trap
minimum. While this is only modestly accurate, it allowed us to perform the first experimental measurements of the
magnetic moment of the antihydrogen atom. We are continuing to improve and extend these techniques to achieve
the higher precision measurements required of the next generation of antihydrogen experiments.
[1]
[2]
[3]
G.B Andersen, et al. Nature. 468, 673676 (2010)

C. Amole, et al. Nature 483, 439443 (2012)
C Amole, et al. New J. Phys. 16 013037 (2014)
W 12:00
The power dependence of the edge pedestal in JET and MAST
J Simpson1, S Saarelma1, I Chapman1, C Challis1, L Frassinetti2, R Scannell1, Mast Team1 and JET-EFDA
Collaborators3
Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK, 2KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, 3JET-EFDA, UK
Optimising plasma confinement is crucial for ITER and future fusion power plants. Confinement in High confinement
mode (H-mode) is determined by the core pressure and the height of the pedestal. The pedestal is a plasma edge
region which contains a steep pressure gradient. Here we present analysis for MAST and JET, both of which
performed power scans to investigate the dependence of the plasma pedestal on the plasma beta.
By timing transitions from low confinement mode to H-mode in MAST we were able to increase the core pressure
systematically (hence the plasma beta) which in turn moved the time at which the first Edge-localised mode (ELM)
occurred. Increasing the core plasma beta allowed higher pedestal pressures to be attained before the first ELM and
hence better confinement. By scanning the core pressure in the stability analysis we showed that PeelingBallooning modes (thought to be manifested as ELMs) are stabilised at higher core beta, which in turn allowed a
higher pedestal pressure.
Similarly, power scans were performed with varying plasma triangularity in JET. We found that improved core
pressure pro_les allowed for higher stable pedestal pressures. Our analysis confirmed that this increase in pedestal
pressure is due to Peeling-Ballooning modes being stabilised by enhanced core pressure at higher power. This
facilitates the establishment of higher pedestal pressure, with triangularity enhancing this effect.
In both experiments, the increase of pedestal height allows steeper core pressure gradients to be achieved,
increasing global performance and hence fusion yield.
* See the Appendix of F. Romanelli et al., Proceedings of the 24th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference 2012,
San Diego, US and add the main a_liation as: JET-EFDA, Culham Science Centre, Abingdon, OX14 3DB,
UK together with the affliation of the authors. " on 21st February 2014 at 13:57:34 by Duarte Borba
W 13:40
Laser wakefield accelerators as x-ray sources for high-resolution tomographic imaging
J Cole1, N Lopes1, K Poder1, J Wood1, J Bryant1, S Alatabi1, D Symes2, R Abel1, S Mangles1 and Z Najmudin1
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2Central Laser Facility, UK
Laser wakefield acceleration has proven itself to be a promising technique for the production of high-energy
electrons on a compact scale, with recent developments in the field pushing peak electron energies to several GeV.
The acceleration of these micron-scale, high charge electron bunches stimulates the radiation of ultra-short pulses
20
of high energy spatially coherent x-rays, with peak brightnesses comparable to third-generation synchrotron light
sources.
A recent experiment on the Astra Gemini laser system at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory was devoted to
investigating the suitability of this x-ray source for the imaging of medically relevant samples. 200 TW laser pulses
were focussed into a low density helium gas cell, resulting in the consistent production of near-GeV electron
bunches. The resulting x-ray beams exhibited a broad synchrotron-like spectrum with critical energies in the 10-30
keV range.
Using these beams a variety of phase objects and medical samples were imaged, achieving a spatial resolution
below 3 microns at the highest magnifications and good phase-contrast of soft tissue samples. A sample of human
femoral bone was then tomographically imaged over several hundred successive shots, placing strict demands on
the consistency and stability required of the laser wakefield accelerator. Nevertheless it was subsequently possible
to fully reconstruct the detailed three dimensional interior structure of the sample and explore it virtually.
W 14:00
Comparison of H2 and He carbon cleaning mechanisms in extreme ultraviolet induced and surface wave discharge
plasmas
A Dolgov1, D Lopaev2, C J Lee3, F Bijkerk3 and V Krivtsun4
1
Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), The Netherlands, 2Moscow State University,
Russia, 3Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, The Netherlands, 4Institute for Spectroscopy RAS, Russia
Cleaning of contamination of optical surfaces by amorphous carbon (a-C) is highly relevant for extreme ultraviolet
(EUV) lithography. We have studied the mechanisms for a-C removal from a Si surface. By comparing a-C removal in
a surface wave discharge (SWD) plasma and an EUV-induced plasma, the cleaning mechanisms for hydrogen and
helium gas environments were determined. The C-atom removal per incident ion was estimated for different sample
bias voltages and ion fluxes. It was found that H2 plasmas generally had higher cleaning rates than He plasmas: up
to seven times higher for more negatively biased samples in EUV induced plasma. Moreover, for H 2, EUV induced
plasma was found to be 2-3 times more efficient at removing carbon than the SWD plasma. It was observed carbon
removal during exposure to He is due to physical sputtering by He+ ions. In H2, on the other hand, the increase in
carbon removal rates is due to chemical sputtering. This is a new C cleaning mechanism for EUV-induced plasma,
which we call EUV-reactive ion sputtering.
W 14:20
Filamentary plasma eruptions in tokamaks
S I A Henneberg1, S C Cowley2,3 and H R Wilson1
1
York Plasma Institute, University of York, UK, 2Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK, 3Imperial College London, UK
The early stage precursor as well as the crash of explosive, filamentary eruptions in magnetised plasmas, such as
Edge-Localised Modes (ELMs) in tokamaks, are investigated by modelling the ballooning mode envelope equation
which can be derived from non-linear ideal MHD [1]. This equation describes the growth of a plasma filament
amplitude; however it is not generally analytically tractable. Wilson and Cowley [3] derived this equation for
tokamak-like geometry, and provided numerical solutions for the two-dimensional, non-linear, differential equation,
which can involve fractional temporal-derivatives, but is often second-order in time and space. We have extended
those simulations with two distinct studies. In the first, a small viscosity was added to analyse its effect on the
evolution of the filament towards eruption. We are particularly interested in the behaviour of the filament widths as
the finite time singularity is approached and find that the viscosity has a significant influence. Although most largescale simulations of explosive MHD events analyse equilibria that have a strong linear drive (for computational
21
reasons), physical systems tend to evolve slowly through marginal stability. We are able to explore this more
realistic situation with our model. Building on this, we have developed a new semi-heuristic predictive model for the
energy ejected in the eruptions. This could form the basis for a first-principle ELM model for tokamaks and, indeed,
eruption events in other plasma systems.
[1]
[2]
S.C. Cowley, et al, Phys. Plasmas 3, 1848 (1996)

H.R. Wilson and S.C. Cowley, Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 175006 (2004)
W 14:40
Carbon Nanotubes as a route to enhanced ultraintense interactions
M Zepf
Queen's University Belfast, UK
Relativistic non-linearities have long been known to be an essential tool to enhancing ultra-intense laser
interactions and are of critical importance to shaping and guiding pulses for laser based electron accelerators.
To date, enhancing pulses in the ultra-intense regime has not been possible, since the strong focusing gradients
with fast focusing optics require much stronger non-linearities and occur over much shorter lengths. We investigate
near-critical carbon nanotube targets as a rout to achieving the requsite strength of non-linear interaction to
enhance and shape - both temporally and spatially - pulses focused with f/2 optics. We apply this to a proof of
principle experiment in ion acceleration.
W 15:30
Invited: Electron acceleration and ionization fronts induced by high frequency plasma turbulence
B Eliasson1, G Milikh2, K Papadopoulos2, X Shao2, E Mishin3 and K Ronald1
1
University of Strathclyde, UK, 2University of Maryland, USA, 3Airforce Research Laboratory, USA
There are recent observations of artificial plasmas created during ionospheric modification experiments, in which
intense radio waves are injected into the overhead ionosphere by ground-based transmitters. The plasma is formed
just below the reflection point of the ordinary wave mode, where Langmuir and upper hybrid turbulence take place.
When the plasma builds up, the radio wave is reflected at a lower altitude, and an ionization front is formed, rapidly
descending to an altitude a few kilometres below the initial critical layer. The ionization of the neutral gas is
attributed to collisions with energetic electrons accelerated by the plasma wave turbulence. Numerical full-scale
modeling of the Langmuir turbulence, electron acceleration and transport, and ionization processes are consistent
with the observations. By a similarity principle, the experiment can be scaled down from the large-scale ionosphere
to a metre-scale laboratory plasma, where microwaves are used instead of radio waves to induce the plasma
turbulence. Such laboratory experiments under controlled conditions are now planned at Strathclyde, and may lead
to new methods for electron acceleration and plasma generation in the laboratory.
W 16:10
The theory and simulation of large-angle Coulomb collisions
A Turrell, M Sherlock and S Rose
Large-angle Coulomb collisions affect the most fundamental rates of energy and momentum exchange, and their
effects cannot be ignored in many plasmas of current research interest, including in inertial confinement fusion
(ICF). Their inclusion is a long-standing problem which dates back to the earliest work on plasmas.
22
It is well known that the relative importance of large-angle collisions to small-angle collisions is O(1/ln) [1]. They
become important in the 2<ln<5 regime, which includes laser-plasma interactions at solid density, degenerate
plasmas, ICF, and stellar cores. In this regime, large-angle collisions are relatively infrequent but have noticeable
effects because they transfer large amounts of energy per collision. This affects all properties that depend on ln, or
on the shape of distributions. Consequently, they affect the rate of fusion reactions. Many papers have predicted
effects due to large-angle collisions [2][3], and there is experimental evidence they cause distortions of ion
distributions [4].
We present a theory that self-consistently includes large-angle collisions, and apply it to hotspot evolution in ICF.
Even with simple 0D hotspots, large-angle collisions must be included in order to determine yield. Furthermore, they
significantly increase the rate of temperature equilibration between electrons and ions.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
B. Trubnikov, Reviews of Plasma Physics, vol 1. Consultants Bureau, 1965

K. Brueckner, H. Brysk, and R. Janda. Journal of Plasma Physics, 11:403-409, 1974
D. Ryutov. Physica Scripta, 45(2):153, 1992
A. Korotkov, A. Gondhalekar, and R. Akers. Physics of Plasmas, 7(3):957-962, 2000
W 16:30
The isolation of intense attosecond pulses using the polarisation gating technique
S Cousens1, M Yeung2, B Dromey1, J Bin3, W Ma3, C Kreuzer3, P Foster4, J Schreiber3, J Meyer-ter-Vehn3 and M Zepf1
1
Queen's University Belfast, UK, 2Helmholtz Institute Jena, Germany, 3Max Planck Institut fr Quantenoptik,
Germany, 4Central Laser Facility, STFC, UK
The interaction of an intense laser pulse with initially solid targets can produce beams of extreme-ultraviolet and Xray radiation of sub-femtosecond pulse duration through a variety of high harmonic generation (HHG) mechanisms
and interaction geometries. It has recently been shown that such high intensity interactions with thin, sub-laser
wavelength foils can generate up to keV photon energies in transmission via coherent synchrotron emission (CSE)
from high density electron bunches formed by the laser at the front surface of the target.
Here, we present results from a recent HHG experiment in a normal incidence in transmission (NIIT) geometry, which
used the Astra Gemini laser at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. By varying the ellipticity of the incident laser
pulse, we demonstrate that the efficiencies of the harmonic generation mechanisms are dramatically reduced as
the pulse becomes more circular. The results of particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations are consistent with this
observation, and suggest that electron nanobunch formation is caused by rapid oscillations of the plasma surface,
driven by the incident laser pulse. For circularly polarised pulses however, these rapid oscillations no longer occur,
and the formation of electron nanobunches, and thus the CSE mechanism, is inhibited. This reduction of harmonic
efficiency with laser ellipticity has exciting implications for the possibility of isolating attosecond pulses. By
constructing laser pulses that rapidly switch between circular and linear polarisations, it is possible to confine the
HHG mechanisms to a short temporal window, and possibly achieve the production of an isolated attosecond pulse.
Here, we also present the results of PIC code simulations, where we apply two distinct polarisation gating schemes
to laser-plasma interactions in a NIIT geometry.
W 16:50
Strong shock generation by fast electron energy deposition
T Fox1, A Robinson2 and J Pasley1
1
University of York, UK, 2STFC, UK
There is growing evidence that fast electrons may play a beneficial role in the formation of the ignitor shock in shock
ignition owing to the high areal density of the fuel at the time of the ignitor pulse. We extend previous studies which
23
have focused on monoenergetic electron sources to populations with extended energy distributions (Fox et al., Phys.
Plasmas 20, 122707 (2013)). We show that strong shocks can be produced with peak pressures of a few hundred
Mbar to over 1 Gbar using fast electron intensities of 1-10 PW/cm2 in a uniform deuterium-tritium plasma at 10
g/cm3. This is in good agreement with analytic scalings, however, the length required for shock formation increases
with fast electron temperature. As this shock formation distance becomes comparable to the target size, the shock
is not able to fully develop. We go on to consider the effects of pre-plasma on fast electron energy deposition and
subsequent shock wave formation in terms of the kinetic energy density contained within the shock wave and the
time taken for this to reach its maximum value.
Thursday 17 April
Th 09:30
Ultrafast evolution of proton tracks in SiO2: picosecond ion pumped dynamics in matter
B Dromey
Queens University Belfast, UK
Observing the direct action of ions on ultrafast timescales is fundamental to accurately determining the formation of
radiation damage nanotracks in matter, and by extension understanding macroscopically absorbed dose. Here we
study the temporal evolution of radiation damage in SiO2 from the passage of picosecond (ps) pulses of swift laserdriven protons. On the nanoscale this results in a localised dielectric to metal-like SiO2 phase transition along fine
structure nanofilaments of proton induced electron-hole plasma. We show, for certain conditions, how the observed
damage is the cumulative representation of the evolution of a single nanotrack that is characterised by the ion
pump rise-time and a material recovery time of. This is confirmed by combined Monte Carlo/Two-Temperature
modelling, and ab-initio calculations. Our results provide new perspectives for the study of nanodosimetry, namely
ultrafast material phase transitions arising from ion-excited free carrier dynamics.
Th 09:50
Differential pressure enhancement of self-sustaining thermionic hollow cathode plasma in low pressure deposition
systems
D Child1, D Gibson2 and F Placido1
1
University of the West of Scotland, UK, 2Thin Film Solutions, UK
A thermionic LaB6 hollow cathode operating in self-sustaining mode down to a deposition pressure of 0.01Pa (1E-4
mbar) is made possible by utilising a differential pressure effect.
By varying the gas flows within the differential effect the electron energy distribution function, and hence ion energy
can be varied to suit the condensate requirements for densification of growing films. We show how this is related to
ion generation location within the orifice and to charge exchange mechanisms. The spread of the low voltage
electron beam (LVEB), and hence the uniformity of substrate densification can be controlled by varying the
differential pressure orifice drilling pattern. Utilising thermionic emission from the inside and outside surfaces of the
thermionic cathode tube results in a neutral plasma without additional electron injection. The translational ion
current density between 25eV and 40eV is comparable to or higher than the thermalized ion current density in the
5ev region giving a reduced thermal input to the substrate. In addition the masking effect of the orifices reduces
particulate contamination in the film from hollow cathode or chamber wall sputtering.
24
Th 10:10
Tokamak dust behavior under misty plasma effect
N Somboonkittichai and M Coppins
The beryllium wall and tungsten divertors of ITER will be drastically eroded by a fusion plasma, then greatly produce
metallic dust. In the present dust experiments, collected dust are studied for their characteristics. It is noticeable
that the shape of the recovered metallic dust can be nearly perfectly spherical [1,2], suggesting the existence of
droplets in tokamaks. Plasmas containing droplets have been called misty plasmas [3]. Molten droplets can
travel in tokamaks with some period of time, and then be solidified in the cool region or after the shot termination.
Evaporation or sublimation mainly destroys dust and droplets. In contrast to carbon dust, which never become
liquid, metallic droplets can undergo electrostatic breakup [4,5], an electrostatically disintegration initiated by too
large charges on a droplet. The disintegration is in the form of mass and charge ejections. Subsequently, without
charge replenishment, the droplet will reach a new stability. However, the charge replenishment by plasma allows
the complete disintegration, anticipated to be faster than evaporation. Therefore, to accurately model metallic dust
in tokamaks, electrostatic breakup should be considered, because it should influence dust lifetime and impurity
deposition. DTOKS [6] will include this misty plasma effect to improve the metallic dust simulation, and thus
confirm whether or not it influences the behavior of metallic dust.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
J. Winter, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 40, 1201 (1998)

N. Endstrasser et al, Phys. Scr. T145, 014021 (2011)
M. Coppins, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 065003 (2010)
Lord Rayleigh, Phil. Mag. 14, 184 (1882)
D. Duft et al, Nature 421, 128 (2003)
M. Bacharis et al, Phys. Plasmas 17, 042505 (2010)
Th 10:30
Investigation of collective electron dynamics in relativistically transparent laser-foil interactions
R J Gray
University of Strathclyde, UK
The interaction of an intense laser pulse with a solid target produces high energy electrons at the target-vacuum
boundary. For sufficiently high laser intensities and thin foil targets, the target electrons become highly relativistic
and rapidly expand into vacuum, lowering the peak electron density. The relativistic increase in the electron mass
increases the critical density of the plasma. The combination of these two factors can result in the target electron
density decreasing below the relativistically-corrected critical density at a given point in the laser pulse, thereby
enabling the remainder of the laser pulse to propagate through the target and in the process interact with the bulk
target electrons.
We report on measurements of the collective dynamics of ponderomotively-driven electrons in the relativistically
induced transparency regime. The 2D profile of the beam of accelerated electrons is shown to change from an
ellipse aligned along the laser polarization direction in the case of limited transparency, to a double-lobe structure
aligned perpendicular to it, when a significant fraction of the laser pulse co-propagates with the electrons. The
temporally resolved dynamics of the interaction are investigated via PIC simulations.
The implications of the onset of relativistic induced transparency, and the resulting collective electron dynamics, for
laser-driven ion acceleration are also explored.
25
Th 11:20
Invited: The evolution and application of gas-plasma systems
D Diver
University of Glasgow, UK
Low temperature plasmas involve significant non-equilibrium interaction with neutral gas, including ionization and
plasma chemistry. This talk will present recent work on interacting gas-plasma systems done at Glasgow, ranging
over a variety of critical timescales:(i) breakdown simulations showing sub-nanosecond initiation and early
evolution of ionization fronts and metastable production, (ii) fluid-scale evolution of ionization waves in mhd-neutral
gas flow simulations (ii) relevant experimental work with our own plasma source in which an external dielectric
barrier discharge electrode system produces a potent gaseous biocide wholly inside sealed packages, without
compromising the integrity of the sealed container (iii) longer-term diffusion of plasma-generated ozone into
discrete water droplets to destroy water-borne bacteria.
Th 12:00
Two-pulse Ionization Injection into quasi-linear plasma wakefields
N Bourgeois1,2, J Cowley1, C Thornton1, G Cheung1, A Dyson1, S Hooker1, C Palmer3, J-P Schwinkendorf3, S
Wunderlich3, B Schmidt3, J Osterhoff3, N Booth4, D Symes4, S Hawkes4, C Gregory4, Y Tang4, V Marshall4, B Parry4, O
Chekholv4, C Hooker4 and P Rajeev4
1
University of Oxford, UK, 2John Adams Institute, UK, 3Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Germany, 4STFC, UK
To produce high quality electron beam from laser wakefield accelerators requires control of injection and trapping of
electrons by the plasma wakefield. Several techniques for controlling injection have been proposed and
demonstrated, but none has been shown to control injection into linear or quasi-linear wake-fields.
We describe a scheme in which electrons ionized from a dopant by an injection laser pulse are trapped into the
quasi-linear wakefield driven by a collinear drive pulse. The Rayleigh range of the injection pulse is chosen to be
short, ensuring that the injection is localized; this can be achieved by using a small laser spot size or simultaneous
space time focusing. This approach offers several advantages: electrons are injected close to the axis, with low
transverse momentum and emittance; localized injection results in low relative energy spread; and the charge of the
injected bunch may be controlled by varying the spot size of the injection pulse, or by adjusting the density of the
dopant species.
We analyze this scheme using 1D fluid, and 2D particle-in-cell simulations and use these to demonstrate controlled
generation of electron beams with low transverse emittance and relative energy spreads of a few percent. We also
present experimental results obtained at the ASTRA Gemini laser system of the Central Laser Facility.
Th 12:20
Investigations into the radiobiological effects of laser-driven ion beams
F Hanton1, D Doria1, P Chaudary1, L Romagnani2, D Gwynne1, C Scullion1, T Marshall1, F Currell1, P McKenna3, G
Schettino4, K M Prise1, M Borghesi1
1
Queen's University of Belfast, UK, 2LULI - Ecole Polytechnique, France, 3University of Strathclyde, UK, 4National
Physical Laboratory, UK
Hadron therapy of cancer offers huge potential benefits for patients and industries; however its limiting factor
resides with the large cost of the current treatment facilities. The idea of future facilities based on laser driven ion
26
accelerators has been proposed as a way of reducing complexity and cost of these infrastructures. Significant effort
is ongoing to demonstrate the ion beam parameters required to make this a realistic proposition. One of the
peculiarities of laser-driven ion beams is their ultrashort duration, as ions are emitted in bursts of picosecond
duration at the sources resulting in dose deposition rates exceeding 109 Gy/s. the radiobiological effects of these
ultra-high dose rates are virtually unknown and need to be carefully assessed prior to any medical use.
Employing the ASTRA-GEMINI laser system at the Rutherford Appletoin Laboratory, we investigated the
radiobiological effect of employing proton and Carbon ion beams of multi-MeV/nucleon energies and particle
densities of 1011-1012 /Mev/Sr for protons and 109 /MeV/Sr for carbon ions. In a single shot we were able to obtain
clinically relevant doses leading to an investigation into DNA damage formation and associated repair kinetics in
normal Human fibroblast cells (AG01522) exposed to laser-driven ions, using the 53BP1 immunofluorescence
technique. The results of this experiment will be discussed, as well as the experimental arrangement which enabled
the measurements.
Th 13:40
Development and characterization of a fast neutral beam source for damage-free etching
D Marinov1, Z el Otell1, M Bowden2 and N J Braithwaite1
1
The Open University, UK, 2University of Liverpool, UK
Etching with energetic neutral beams is a promising technology for the next generation low damage sub-10 nm
device fabrication. In this study a fast neutral beam has been produced by accelerating, extracting and neutralizing
positive and negative ions from different phases of a pulsed discharge. A cylindrical, inductively coupled plasma
was excited between two planar disk-electrodes in mixtures of SF6 and O2 at about 20 mTorr. The extraction
electrode was a 10 mm thick carbon plate (or a 0.8 mm steel plate) with an array of 1 mm holes, held at ground
potential. Ions grazing the sides of the extraction holes incidence have a high probability (70-95%) of
neutralization. The other electrode was pulse-biased to extract negative or positive ions during the afterglow phase.
Time-resolved Langmuir and hairpin probe measurements showed that a high density plasma with the typical
electron density in the range 1017-1018 m-3 is produced during the discharge active phase. In the afterglow
phase, within a few tens of microseconds, attachment processes lead to the formation of an ion-ion plasma with an
ion density close to that of the plasma in active regime. The total flux and velocity distribution of extracted ions was
measured using a retarding field analyser with a s time resolution. Extraction of mono-energetic positive and
negative ion beams with energies in the range 10 300 eV was demonstrated. It was shown that the beam
energy can be precisely controlled by the bias waveform tailoring and by positioning of the extraction electrodes
with respect to the high density plasma core.
We acknowledge support from the EU under Grant Agreement No. 318804 (SNM).
Th 14:00
Novel analysis of ECE imaging data using Bayesian probabilistic noise-correction
C Bowman and K Gibson
Our ability to resolve small changes in electron temperature from ECE radiometry data, particularly over small timescales, is limited by random fluctuations in the detected power arising from the thermal nature of the incident
radiation. Consequently, accurate measurement of small electron temperature fluctuations requires detailed data
analysis, and this has driven the development of novel procedures for noise removal.
A new technique designed to correct for the effects of random noise in regularly-sampled data is presented. This
technique is based on the use of Bayesian probability theory to adjust the value of the discrete Fourier transform
27
coefficients of the data such that the noise is minimised after an inverse-transform. Results of test cases are
presented which demonstrate how effectively this correction method reduces the presence of noise in measured
data. Finally, application of the noise-correction technique will be demonstrated using ECE radiometry data from the
KSTAR tokamak.
Th 14:20
Invited: Dynamic compression - a route to planetary core conditions in the laboratory
A Higginbotham
University of Oxford, UK
The use of dynamic compression via laser ablation is opening up new regimes of study in high pressure physics. In
particular, it is currently the only technique able to access TPa pressures in solid material, and thus to allow study of
conditions relevant to plenatary interiors.
In this talk we will discuss recent advances in the field of laser compression, and in particular, in-situ x-ray
diffraction measurements of evolving structure and miscrostructure in materials undergoing high strain-rate
compression. We will discuss the exciting opportunities afforded by new facilities such as LCLS and the NIF, and
discuss how we may be able to take advantage of their unique properties to further our understanding of the
fundametal physics of material response.
28
Poster abstracts
P.01 GPU octree-enhanced PIC code for helicon plasma thrusters
A Madonna1, M Manente2, D Melazzi1, F J Bosi1 and D Pavarin1
1
University of Padova, Italy, 2HIT09 S.r.l, Italy,
Helicon sources have been proposed for generating plasma for space propulsion, leading to the development of
Helicon Plasma Thrusters (HPT), where plasma generated in the source are exhausted and guided by means of
divergent magnetic field lines generated by a magnetic nozzle. Key parameters in the design and optimization of
such space thrusters are the thrust efficiency and the thruster life, which are determined to a large extent by
charged particle fluxes at the exhaust section and by the dielectric wall erosion from plasma-materials interactions,
respectively.
The exiting plasma and the interaction between the plasma and the dielectric material are simulated with a threedimensional Particle-In-Cell code (F3MPIC) embodying an unstructured mesh comprised of tetrahedra, capable of
both handling arbitrary shaped geometries and estimating charged particle fluxes. Most notably, the code is
parallelized using graphic processing units (GPUs); however, such parallelization developed in a tetrahedral-based
unstructured mesh can lead to un-coalesced memory access, poor workload balance, and divergent execution. In
order to overcome these issues, an octree data structure has been implemented for the adaptive partitioning of the
simulation domain and enhancing the computation performance. Thanks to this approach dense plasmas can be
simulated.
The speed-up achieved by the GPU-parallelized version against sequential version of the code will be presented for
common helicon plasma parameters.
P.02 Electron-exchange and screening effects on the bremsstrahlung process in quantum plasmas
Y-D Jung
Hanyang University, South Korea
The electron-exchange and screening effects on the electron-ion bremsstrahlung process are investigated in
quantum plasmas. The impact-parameter method with the effective intercation potential is employed to obtain the
electron-ion bremsstrahlung cross section as a function of the impact parameter, electron-exchange parameter,
Fermi energy, plasmon energy, photon energy, and projectile energy. The result shows that the influence of
electron-exchange enhances the bremsstrahlung spectrum in quantum plasmas. It is also found that the electronexchange effect broadens the photon emission domain in the electron-ion bremsstrahlung process. In addition, it is
found that the bremsstahlung cross section increases with increasing Fermi energy and, however, decreases with an
increase of the plasmon energy.
P.03 Attosecond dense electron bunch produced by ponderomotive acceleration
J Yu1, N P Dover2 and Z Najmudin2
1
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, China, 2Imperial College London, UK
Particle acceleration based on laser-plasma interaction is of highest interest as the potential applications in the
fields of photon sources, high energy physics and attosecond science. In the past twenty years, attosecond dense
electron bunch (ADEB) driven by ultra-short intensity laser pulse have been intense investigated. We report a novel
ponderomotive acceleration regime for driving ADEB by the interaction between ultra-short intensity circularly
29
polarized laser pulse and sub-dense plasma. When the intensity of laser pulse is high enough, electrons are
accelerated to laser group velocity in an ultra-short time and co-move with laser pulse. As the result of the
accumulation of electrons in the frond of laser pulse, a high dense hundreds MeV electron pulse is formed in the
front of the laser pulse. It is found that the density of the electron pulse can be enhanced near 300 times in 150fs
and the electron bunch duration is less than 300 attosecond. The electron bunch highest density can reach more
than 100 nc. Effects of the Parameters as plasma density, laser pulse intensity and duration have been considered
in the work.
P.04 A study of the ion front of a plasma expanding into a vacuum
J Allen1 and M Perego2
1
University of Oxford, UK, 2Florida State University, UK
Calculations are reported on the expansion of a plasma into a vacuum, using a model of cold ions and Boltzmann
electrons. The initial distribution of the ions at the edge of the plasma greatly affects the subsequent expansion. An
initial abrupt drop of ion density leads to an expansion in which the abrupt drop is maintained. A finite slope,
however, leads to the formation of a peak of ion density at the ion front. The subsequent behaviour may lead to
wave breaking and the formation of multi-valued ion velocity distributions.
P.05 Dynamics of 3D filaments in the scrape off layer: A comparison with models of reduced dimensionality
L Easy1, F Militello2, J Omotani2, P Tamain3, B Dudson1, E Havlvkov2, V Naulin4, A H Nielsen4 and J Madsen4
1
University of York, UK, 2Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK, 3CEA, France, 4DTU, Denmark
The scrape off layer (SOL) of magnetic confinement devices is an inherently turbulent region. Both in L- and Hmode, anomalous transport of particles and energy perpendicular to the magnetic field is dominated by the
propagation of coherent field aligned filamentary structures. Understanding their dynamics is essential for
successful operation of future fusion experiments, as they determine, among other relevant SOL features, SOL
widths and particle and heat fluxes to the first wall.
We present the first results from a newly developed non-linear 3D reduced fluid code for filament and turbulence
studies, implemented using the BOUT++ framework. The parallel dynamics of isolated filaments in the absence of
curvature were successfully reproduced against analytical results for both steady state and transients. The latter
were further benchmarked with the existing 1D and 3D codes, SOLF1D and TOKAM-3X, as detailed theoretical
solutions are not available. The BOUT++ simulation included electron inertia, and allowed for a differential response
of the parallel ion and electron velocities, which can lead to large parallel currents (closed by polarisation
currents). Such currents were transiently observed if the filament was sufficiently shaped in the perpendicular
direction.
Next, the role of curvature was investigated, and a comparison was made against a simple 2D electrostatic
interchange model. In particular, the perpendicular motion of a filament will be influenced by the parallel losses, as
they reduce the density gradients that drive the interchange effect. The simulations presented elucidate the selfconsistent 3D parallel loss mechanism and its interaction with the perpendicular dynamics.
30
P.06 Fast electron dynamics with the TARANIS laser

D Riley, M Makita, G Nersisyan, K McKeever, T Dzelzainis, S White, B Kettle, M Zepf, C Lewis, D Doria and B Dromey
Queens University Belfast, UK
In this poster we will present the results of work of fast electron dynamics carried out with the TARANIS laser facility
at Queens University Belfast. We have studied the propagation of fast electrons through laser irradiated Ti foils by
monitoring the emission of hard X-rays and K-alpha radiation from bare foils and foils backed by a thick epoxy layer.
Key observations include strong refluxing of electrons and divergence of the electron beam in the foil with evidence
of magnetic field collimation. Our diagnostics have allowed us to estimate the fast electron temperature and fraction
of laser energy converted to fast electrons. We have observed clear differences between the fast electron
temperatures observed with bare and epoxy backed targets which may be due to the effects of refluxing. In further
experiments we have studied the angular dependence of hard x-ray emission from targets with an without epoxy
backing. The results show clear anisotropy in emission when refluxing of electrons is switched off.
P.07 Landau damping rate of the transverse magnetic mode surface wave
M-J Lee and H J Lee
Hanyang University, South Korea
The kinetic surface wave dispersion relation is evaluated to determine the frequencies of the normal modes and the
corresponding Landau damping rate for transverse magnetic mode surface wave. The transverse magnetic mode
surface wave is known as surface polariton in solid state physics and a wave of partly electromagnetic and partly
electrostatic nature. It is interesting that the structure of normal mode frequency is similar to that of ion-acoustic
surface wave frequency. The Landau damping rates are calculated for the limiting cases of pe>>ckx and
pe<<ckx where pe is the electron plasma frequency, c is the speed of light and kx is the wave number.
P.08 Polymerization at atmospheric pressure using plasma jets
J Bradley, F Moix and K McKay
University of Liverpool, UK
Using molecular beam mass spectrometry the ion-molecular chemistry in the outflow of an atmospheric pressure
plasma jet has been studied with the plasma source operating in a number of different helium-monomer gas
mixtures. For both heptylamine and acrylic acid polymerization results already show the formation of heavy
oligomers in the plasma. Thin films will be deposited onto glass substrates using the plasma jets over a variation of
mixture ratios, flow rates, applied voltages and substrate-jet distances from the starting monomers. XPS and TOF
SIMS analysis will be carried out on plasma treated surfaces, allowing us to examine the relationship between the
degree of functional retention and the amount of heavy ion formation in the jet prior to deposition.
P.09 Toroidal drift modes: implications for transport and a model for small ELMs in tokamaks
A Bokshi, D Dickinson and H Wilson
York Plasma Institute, University of York, UK
Toroidal drift instabilities, such as the ion-temperature gradient (ITG) mode, are likely drivers of turbulent transport
in tokamaks. Depending on the radial-drive profile, two distinct linear ITG modes can emerge: for a quadratic profile
the violent Isolated Mode (IM) exists on the outboard-midplane, whereas in the presence of a linear profile the
more benign General Mode (GM) sits at the top/bottom of the plasma. Since the IM only exists under special
31
conditions (needs a peaked instability-drive), it is reasonable to suggest that the less-violent GM may often be more
relevant to transport in tokamaks.
A new global code has been developed to explore the time-evolution of these modes as equilibrium parameters are
varied. The code has been benchmarked, and we are now moving towards addressing two questions relevant to
tokamak transport. First, how long does it take for either mode to evolve out of an initial arbitrary condition and is
the linear physics expected to remain dominant during that time? Second, if profiles evolve from those which
support the GM through the special situation when the IM exists, how fast do the mode structure and growth-rate
respond?
Exploring the dynamics of transition between General and Isolated Modes could provide a new theory for small
plasma eruptions, called ELMs (edge localised modes). Small ELMs are desirable for ITER, but in the absence of
any robust theoretical model, there is considerable uncertainty that ITER can access them. This work may guide the
development of small ELM regimes for ITER.
P.10 Antihydrogen trapping assisted by sympathetically cooled positrons
N Madsen1, F Robicheaux2 and S Jonsell3
1
Swansea University, UK, 2University of Purdue, USA, 3Stockholm University, Sweden
Antihydrogen formed by carefully merging cold plasmas of positrons and antiprotons has recently been trapped in
magnetic traps. The efficiency of trapping is strongly influenced by the temperature of the nascent antihydrogen,
which, to be trapped, much have a kinetic energy less than the trap depth of ~0.5 K kB. In the conditions in the
ALPHA experiment the antihydrogen temperature seems dominated by the temperature of the positron plasma used
for the synthesis. Cold positrons are therefore of paramount interest in these experiments. We investigate an
alternative route to make ultra-cold positrons for enhanced antihydrogen trapping. We propose to sympathetically
cool the positrons by merging them with laser-cooled positive ions. We investigate the effectiveness of such cooling
in conditions similar to those in ALPHA, and discuss how the antihydrogen trapping may be influenced by the
presence of positive ions. We argue that this is a viable alternative to methods such as evaporative and adiabatic
cooling, and may overcome limitations faced by these.
P.11 Antihydrogen trapping and spectroscopy: From cold plasmas to atomic physics
N Madsen
Swansea University, UK
Detailed comparisons of anti-hydrogen with hydrogen promise to be a fruitful test bed of fundamental symmetries
such as the CPT Theorem for quantum field theory or studies of gravitational influence on antimatter. With a string of
recent successes, starting with the first trapped antihydrogen and recently resulting in the first measurement of a
quantum transition in antihydrogen, the ALPHA collaboration is well on its way to perform such precision
comparisons.
We will discuss the key innovative steps that has made these results possible and in particular focus on the detailed
work on positron and antiproton preparation to achieve antihydrogen cold enough to trap as well as the unique
features of the ALPHA apparatus that has allowed the first quantum transitions in antihydrogen to be measured with
only a single trapped antihydrogen atom per experiment. We will also look at how ALPHA plans to step from here
towards more precise comparisons of matter and antimatter and what we could possibly learn from such
comparisons.
32
P.12 Vulcan target area west long pulse beamline improvements

M Notley, S Buck, D Carroll, M Harman, S Harrison, R Heathcote, S Spurdle and R Clarke
STFC, UK
Vulcan High Power Laser Facility, based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK delivers experimental beam time
in two main laboratories (target areas) for use by the UK research community and their international collaborators.
One of these target areas fields 8 beamlines. Historically these have delivered two short pulse beamlines 1-20ps,
up to 300J at 1053nm and 6 long pulse beamlines 100ps 8ns with up to 1kJ total energy at 1053nm.
Recently the target area has been upgraded to enable high energy (up to 500J at 1053nm per beam), long pulse
delivery directed along the two traditionally short pulse beamlines. This has been achieved by new infrastructure
that by-passes a short pulse compressor facility already used in this target area. New infrastructure for the existing
bank of six long pulse beams has also been installed to improve the set-up and flexibility of delivery for
experimental set-ups.
Delivery of 8 long pulses into this target area with pulse shaping capability provides a facility that enables a large
range of plasma physics experiments to be conducted (examples being shock physics, laboratory astrophysics,
nuclear interactions, x-ray scattering, ICF studies).
This presentation will report on the installation and commissioning processes involved.
P.13 Mini gliding arc plasma reactor for bio-medical application
J Diatczyk and J Pawat
Lublin University of Technology, Poland
Compact, portable, gliding arc (GA) plasma device which will be further applied for decontamination of heat nonresistant surfaces and industrial materials like PET containers, trays, pipes, conveyers, lifts, Laundromats, medical
devices, etc. was developed. Bio-medical applications require non-thermal and non-equilibrium plasma at
atmospheric pressure.
Glide arc (GA) reactor consisted of 2 wire or flat electrodes of variable shape, thickness and length. Copper, silver
and stainless steel were selected for the electrode materials. Inter-electrode distance can be changed and it
depends on processing gas and parameters of power supply system. We use high voltage (15kV) impulse (16kHz)
power supply system. Depending on the gas flow rate and gas type achieved temperatures ranged from 40 to
150oC. Pure air, oxygen, helium, nitrogen, argon and their mixtures were used. The lowest ignition voltage had been
reached in argon and helium.
Power consumption of the gliding arc discharge plasma rector and its stable operation depends on many factors
[2], among which the most important are: power supply system configuration, processing gas flow rate and its
chemical composition. Discharge ignition and sustaining requests properly designed power supply system.
[1]
[2]
H.D. Stryczewska, J. Diatczyk, J. Pawat, Temperature Distribution in the Gliding Arc Discharge Chamber,
Journal of Advanced Oxidation Technologies, Vol. 14, No. 2, pp. 276-281, 2011
J. Diatczyk, G. Komarzyniec, H.D. Stryczewska, Power Consumption of Gliding Arc Discharge Plasma
Reactor, International Journal of Plasma Environment Science & Technology (IJPEST), Vol. 5 No. pp. 1216, 2011
33
P.14 Atmospheric pressure plasma jet reactor for non-heat resistant surface treatment
J Pawat and J Diatczyk
Lublin University of Technology, Poland
RF-powered Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ) with changeable electrodes was developed [1-4]. Device can
be applied for decontamination and treatment of non-heat resistant surfaces including biological samples as
homogeneous plasma of low temperature can be generated in relatively large volume as an effect of glow
discharges.
The most homogenous plasma was generated in gas mixtures containing argon and helium, at gas flow rates
exceeding 7.5 l/min. From RF generator point of view, the most stable operation, which resulted in the lowest ratio
of reflected power was achieved at frequency range 12-15 MHz (depending on the feed gas type). In dependence
on the gas flow rate and the type of substrate gas, discharge plasma sizing from 10 to 20 mm in diameter and 5-15
mm in length was produced.
It was possible to decrease working temperature compromising substrate gas ratio, applied power, frequency and
gas flow-rate. The best results were obtained in air at high velocity and applied RF power of 80W. Achieved ozone
concentrations were low and ranged 0,82 g/m3.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
H. Stryczewska, T. Jakubowski, S. Kalisiak, T. Giewski, J.Pawat, JAOTs, 16(1), pp. 52-62, 2013
H. Stryczewska, J. Diatczyk, J. Pawat, JAOTs, 14(2), pp. 276-281, 2011
J. Pawat, EPJAP, 61(2), pp. 24323, 2013
J. Pawat, H. Stryczewska, J. Diatczyk, T. Giewski, R. Samo, EPJAP, 61(2), pp. 24322, 2013
P.15 Inverted fireballs as a useful tool for surface modification

P Knoll, H Gruenwald, J Reynvaan and M Mayer
University of Graz, Austria
Recently, inverted fireballs have been discovered as a phenomenon which occurs in hollow anodes in DC-plasmas.
Electrons can be accelerated into a cage formed by the anode given the anode is made of a metal grid with high
transparency for the electrons and the grid spacing is less than twice the Debye-length. These accelerated electrons
ionize the neutral gas molecules which results in an intense plasma observable by a bright glow.
In this contribution we present measurements of the basic plasma parameters inside and outside of the inverted
fireball in He-plasmas at a pressure of around 0,1hPa. The plasma parameters have been obtained from a
simulation of the complete IU-trace of a Langmuir-probe and derived values are compared with optical emissions
spectroscopy. A significant increase in electron- and ion-concentration inside the fireball is observed. A
comprehensive spatial profile of the plasma potential, electron temperature and electron density has been worked
out.
If a substrate is brought into the inverted fireball and biased with different voltages, the surface of the substrate can
be modified in several ways. Negative substrate voltages with respect to the plasma potential accelerate positive
charged ions which results in a sputtering like effect on the substrate surface. In contrast, positive voltages
decelerate the ions velocities towards the substrate. Hence, inverted fireballs offer the possibility to control ion
velocities and allow more sophisticated surface treatments ranging from sputtering to deposition of thin films,
especially in reactive plasmas.
34
P.16 Compressional Alfvn and ion-ion hybrid eigenmodes in MAST hydrogen-deuterium plasmas
H Oliver1,2, S Sharapov2, M Cecconello3, J Harrison2, M Lilley4, I Wodniak3 and The MAST Team2
1
University of Bristol, UK, 2Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK, 3Uppsala University, Sweden, 4Imperial College
London, UK
Compressional Alfvn eigenmodes (CAEs) driven unstable by super-Alfvnic energetic deuterium beam ions are
observed in the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST) over a wide range of frequencies in deuterium plasmas. In
plasmas with two ion species of unequal charge/mass ratio (for example, in deuterium-tritium (DT) plasmas of
future tokamak reactors) CAEs transform into ion-ion hybrid modes at frequencies between the two ion cyclotron
frequencies. We use hydrogen ions in addition to deuterium ions to produce Alfvnic instabilities similar to those
likely to be present in burning DT tokamak plasmas.
We present the effects observed on the excitation of eigenmodes in the ion cyclotron range as a result of varying
relative ion concentrations. Eigenmodes were detected using the OMAHA coil array. Neutron fluxes and H/D line
emission spectroscopy have been used to calculate relative ion concentrations. It was found that in general the
presence of hydrogen causes CAEs to be suppressed between the ion cyclotron frequencies. The potential
favourable consequences of this finding for future spherical tokamaks will be discussed. Short-lived modes unlike
previously-observed CAEs are also detected at high frequencies close to the hydrogen cyclotron frequency. Theory
assessing radial reflection points of the CAEs and ion-ion hybrid modes is used to find radial mode numbers for the
quantised radial wavelength.
This work was part-funded by the RCUK Energy Programme under grant EP/I501045 and the European
Communities under the Contract of Association between EURATOM and CCFE. The views and opinions expressed
herein do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission.
P.17 Using high-power laser systems in the field of nuclear laboratory astrophysics
A Matafonov1, V Belyaev1, V Bolshakov1, R Yakhin1, A Savel'ev-Trofimov2, Si Shulyapov2, I Cymbalov2 and A Kedrov1
1
TSNIImash, Russia, 2M.V.Lomonosov MSU, Russia
This paper represents the results of research on the tools and techniques for the measurement of the cross sections
astrophysically important nuclear processes in the parameters of the interacting particles. Methods introduced are
inaccessible to nuclear laboratory physics. The main idea of the proposed approach is a new type of laboratory
source of nuclear radiation use. The method is based on laser- plasma acceleration of charged particles and
gamma-ray generation in laser- plasma interaction, and further streams of particles and photons transformation to
the neutron fluxes and other nuclear radiation.
The use of laser plasma has several advantages over traditional methods for nuclear astrophysics. First, the
substance is the same in stars and in the plasma. Therefore both processes will have the same physical basis.
Second, plasma sources are much smaller and cheaper compared with traditional accelerators. Third, plasma
sources allow to receive short (in time) and very intense fluxes of radiation (electrons, ions, gamma rays), while the
level of radioactive contamination is much lower (due to the small volume of the emitting region and the emission
time). Moreover, one can modify the parameters of the generated plasma radiation (energy spectrum, the
composition of the radiation, etc.), adjusting a triggering laser radiation (intensity, duration, contrast) or by
changing the target, which gives, within certain limits, a universal tool for different types of tasks.
35
P.18 Electron and x-ray beams from a laser wakefield accelerator with a tailored density profile
J Wood1, M Bloom1, J Cole1, S Mangles1, K Poder1, S Kneip1, M Streeter1, Z Najmudin1, N Lopes1,2, D Symes3 and N
Booth3
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2IST, Portugal, 3STFC, UK
A study of x-ray beams generated by a laser wakefield accelerator with a controlled density profile has been
undertaken. At high laser intensities a short laser pulse incident on an underdense plasma drives a near-spherical
bubble in its wake. The strong longitudinal electric field inside this bubble accelerates electrons to the GeV level,
while the presence of strong transverse focussing forces wiggles the electron bunch, generating betatron x-rays.
In the experiment described, a three-compartment gas cell with a variable interaction length (5-40mm) allowed for
the creation of a range of plasma density profiles. The wake was driven by the ASTRA-Gemini laser pulse (15J,
40fs). A plasma density profile with a downramp as a injection mechanism produced high charge, tunable energy
(500-900MeV) electron beams with much better reproducibility than self-injection. Varying the shape of this profile
also provided control over the x-ray energies and significantly altered the x-ray brightness. At long interaction
lengths the electron bunches had high emittance, a feature that was well correlated with x-ray brightness.
P.19 Numerical simulations and experimental reproduction of magnetospheric cyclotron emissions
K Ronald1, D Speirs1, K Gillespie1, M King1, K Matheson1, S McConville1, A Phelps1, C Whyte1, C Robertson1, A
Cross1, R Bingham2, M Koepke3, A Cairns4, I Vorgul4 and B Kellett2
1
University of Strathclyde, UK, 2Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, UK, 3West Virginia University, USA, 4University of St
Andrews, UK
Cyclotron coupling between electrons and waves is thought to occur in both polar and equatorial regions of the
Earths magnetosphere. An experiment has investigated cyclotron emissions from an electron beam moving into a
waveguide with an increasing beam-aligned magnetic field, scaled so that the electron cyclotron frequency is
comparable to microwave frequencies [1]. Conservation of the first adiabatic invariant produces an electron
distribution with a high, quantified, degree of velocity spread, as may be expected in the natural environment. These
experiments are supported by theoretical analysis and numerical simulation [2,3]. The measurements and
simulations indicate wave production efficiencies may be achieved which are consistent with the magnetospheric
observations and with theoretical predictions. Waves are preferentially generated polarised and propagating nearly
perpendicularly to the bias magnetic field. The effectiveness of the wave generation mechanism is shown to be
significantly mitigated by the addition of a quasi-neutral background plasma. The project also considered the
generation of signals in radiation modes where the wavevector has a significant component parallel to the bias
magnetic field. Strong wave emission continued to be observed close to (but slightly downshifted from) the
cyclotron frequency, and still favoured configurations where the E-field was perpendicular to the bias magnetic field.
Results from the experimental measurements of these regimes of cyclotron instabilities shall be presented.
[1]
[2]
[3]
McConville S.L. et al 2008, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion, 50, art.074010

Gillespie K.M., et al, 2008, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion, 50, art.124038
Speirs D.C. et al, 2008, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion, 50, art.074011
P.20 Generation of superponderomotive electrons via axial electric field in DLA

A Robinson1 and A Arefiev2
1
Central Laser Facility, UK, 2Institute of Fusion Studies, USA
The generation of highly energetic electrons in the pre-plasma region near to solid target is an important part of
understanding ultra-intense laser-solid interactions. Here we are interested in the generation of the most energetic
36
electrons and we present [1] a mechanism that will allow electrons to reach energies in excess of a02mec2/2 which
is the limit for a free electron interacting with a strong EM plane wave in vacuum. The mechanism is essentially a
modification of direct laser acceleration involving a longitudinal or axial electric field that can be self-consistently
generation in the laser-plasma interaction. It is markedly different from the wakefield process.
[1]
Robinson, Arefiev, and Neely, Phys.Rev.Lett., 111, 065002 (2013)
P.21 Relativistic guiding of q gaussian laser beam and its effect on higher harmonic generation in plasma channel
produced by two prepulse technique
A Singh and N Gupta
National Institute of Technology, India
This paper presents theoretical investigation of relativistic guiding of q-Gaussian laser beam and its effect on higher
harmonic generation in a plasma channel produced by two prepulse technique. Tunnel ionization of air is carried out
with the help of first prepulse and second prepulse creates a plasma channel. Third pulse is passed through this
induced plasma channel and its dynamics is studied under the combined effect of density non uniformity of plasma
channel and relativistic non linearity. Comprehensive study has been carried out to investigate the combined effect
of first two prepulses over the guided pulse. Moment theory has been used to derive differential equations for spot
size of laser pulses. The deferential equations so obtained have been solved numerically by Runge Kutta fourth
order method. The effect of intensities of prepulses on the guiding of third pulse as well as on higher harmonic
generation has been investigated. Also the effect of plasma density, frequency of laser beams, and deviation of
intensity distribution of guided pulse from Gaussian distribution on its guiding and higher harmonic generation has
been investigated. The results are interesting and will be helpful to understand the physics of laser plasma
interaction.
P.22 High energy ion generation by the high intensity laser irradiation of ultra thin CH foils
G Hicks1, H Ahmed2, N Dover1, J Fernandez-Tobias3, R Heathcote3, S Kar2, C Kreuzer4, D MacLellan5, I Musgrave3, H
Nakamura1, M Notley3, W Shaikh3, M Streeter1, M Borghesi2, P McKenna5, D Neely3, J Schreiber4, M Zepf2 and Z
Najmudin1
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2Queen's University Belfast, UK, 3STFC, UK, 4Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitt,
Germany, 5University of Strathclyde, UK
In high intensity laser solid interactions, it has been supposed that going to ultra thin foils will allow access to novel
regimes of acceleration such as radiation pressure, hole boring and relativistic transparency. We present data from
an experiment on the Vulcan Petawatt laser at the Central Laser Facility, UK. We used a 220J, 1ps laser pulse
focussed to a 9.5m spot at 0 incidence to accelerate ions from ultra-thin CH foils.
The use of ultra thin foils necessitates the use of a high contrat laser pulse. The improved OPCPA front end of Vulcan
PetaWatt produced a contrast ratio at 1ns before the pulse of 1.2x10-10, allowing us to obtain energetic protons
from CH foils down to 25nm thickness, without the use of a plasma mirror. This meant that Proton energies > 50
MeV could be generated, which is by far the highest energy protons from ultra-thin foils.
Structures characteristic of the radiation pressure acceleration regime, such as a filamented central beam, and an
outer ring structure, were produced. Further information about the interaction could be determined from
backscattered spectra and transverse shadowgraphy and interferometry.
The experimental observations are supported by 2D particle-in-cell simulations and an analytical model.
37
P.23 Formation dynamics of ultraviolet and extreme ultraviolet radiation induced H 2 plasma
A Dolgov1, A Abrikosov2, A Zotovich3, D Lopaev3, C J Lee1 and F Bijkerk1
1
Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), The Netherlands, 2Intitute for Spectroscopy RAS,
Russia, 3Moscow State University, Russia
A comparative study of the dynamics of ultraviolet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) induced H2 plasma was
performed. It was shown that for low H2 pressures and bias voltages, the dynamics of the two plasmas are
significantly different. In the case of UV radiation, the plasma above the photocathode appears after the UV pulse
due to an electron avalanche, after which, a discharge structure beings to form. In contrast, for EUV-induced
plasma, a spatial discharge structure is formed immediately during the radiation pulse due to intensive gas
ionization. This difference explains why EUV-induced plasmas are much denser at low pressures (< 10 Pa) and bias
voltages (< 50V). However, at pressures above 30 Pa, EUV and UV induced plasmas show similar volt-ampere
characteristics. This means that, in certain cases, plasma-chemistry in presence of EUV-induced plasma can be
predicted from UV induced plasma experiments.
P.24 Simulations of edge turbulence and flows in tokamak X-point geometry using BOUT++
B Dudson1, L Easy1, J Leddy1, F Militello2, J Omotani2, B Shanahan1 and N Walkden1
1
University of York, UK, 2EURATOM/Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
Studies of magnertised plasma instabilities and turbulence in the edge region of tokamaks often employ driftreduced fluid models, which remove the fast magnetosonic wave analytically, and are typically combined with flute
reduction and small beta orderings. Many drift-reduced models can be found in the literature, and here we review
their conservation properties; discuss tradeoffs between numerical stability, dissipation and conservation
properties; choice of boundary conditions; and implement three using the BOUT++ framework: An isothermal model
used for blob simulations, the Hazeltine 4-field model, and a new model based on the cold-ion limit of the Simakov
and Catto equations in conservation form. By performing simulations of turbulence in linear and toroidal geometry,
we discuss modes of numerical instability, demonstrate that analytically equivalent modes can have different
numerical properties, and that the new model conserves mass, charge, and energy in global electromagnetic
simulations.
A common feature of drift-reduced models is the use of a vorticity equation which requires the solution of an elliptic
equation at each timestep to calculate the plasma potential. In field-aligned coordinates, flute reduction is widely
used to simplify this computationally expensive operation, but here it is shown that in X-point geometry this can
lead to unphysical solutions. We present a novel method to solve the potential efficiently in three dimensions which
avoids these limitations and enables simulation of global n=0 modes in X-point geometry with field-aligned
coordinates.
Acknowledgements: This work was funded by EPSRC grant EP/K006940/1 using HECToR computing resources
through the Plasma HEC consortium grant EP/L000237/1
P.25 Dissipation models for large eddy simulation of drift-wave turbulence
J Leddy1, B Dudson1 and M Romanelli2
1
York Plasma Institute, University of York, UK, 3Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
Turbulence is the source of anomalous transport in tokamaks, which leads to decreased energy confinement. With
no analytic solution to the fluid equations, it is essential to simulate turbulence in an effort to understand and
predict its behaviour and effect on transport. A fundamental property of turbulence is the large range of length
scales over which structures form and energy is injected and dissipated. This diversity introduces a problem for
38
computational efficiency of modelling turbulence as it requires fine resolution over relatively large domains. Large
eddy simulation (LES) is a method devised to reduce these computational costs by resolving only the large-scale
structures while using a dissipation model to simulate the small-scale, unresolved turbulent dissipation.
Simulations of drift-wave turbulence using the Hasegawa-Wakatani system are conducted with four LES dissipation
models: additional standard viscosity, the Smagorinsky model, hyperviscosity, and the CENTORI model. Only the
latter is specifically derived for plasmas, while the others are designed for more general fluid cases. Analysis of
these models at varied resolutions characterises their behaviours, both desirable and undesirable, including their
effects on particle flux, energy conservation, and effective dissipation. Accuracy of these models is also
investigated through comparison with high-resolution simulations containing no artificial dissipation.
The examination of these models is then extended to a more complex physical system, the Hazeltine four-field
model, which includes finite larmor radius effects, plasma compressibility, and the adiabatic electron
limit. Analysing the Hasegawa-Wakatani and 4-field systems leads to a robust characterisation of the universality of
these LES models for plasma drift-wave turbulence simulations.
P.26 Inception of surface streamers in mixtures of SF6 with nitrogen
A Chvyreva and A J M Pemen
Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
This work represents investigations on streamer discharges in mixtures of SF6 with nitrogen under different
experimental conditions. All experiments were performed in a specially designed vessel that allowed setting up and
maintaining the parameters of gaseous environment. Discharges under investigation were streamers, propagating
along the surface of an epoxy-resin dielectric. They originate on the gas insulator interface without any contact
with electrodes, and are nowadays the major cause of failure of various high voltage technologies.
The voltage of discharge inception was determined for different amounts of SF6. It was shown, that the inception
voltage increases rapidly starting at very small admixtures of SF6 (~5%), and continues to increase at a lower rate
with the further increase of SF6 percentage. The voltage of streamer inception also increases with the increase of gas
pressure (for constant concentration of SF6). The velocity of discharge propagation was estimated from the analysis
of time-resolved discharge current measurements. The total duration of the discharge decreases almost by a factor
of 10 (from tens to several nanoseconds for pure nitrogen and 5% SF6 admixture respectively). For high contents of
SF6 the majority of the discharges were originating as leaders, skipping the streamer phase.
The main conclusion of the present study is that discharge behavior changes significantly already with a small
admixture of SF6 to Nitrogen, which gives the possibilities for organizing gas mixtures possessing the positive
features of highly electronegative gas, while at the same time significantly decreasing its dangerous influence on the
atmosphere.
P.27 Neutral and ion kinetics in glow discharges of H2 / O2 mixtures - diagnostics and modelling
M Jimnez-Redondo1, E Carrasco2, V J Herrero1 and I Tanarro1
1
CSIC, Spain, 2Lehrstuhl fr Physikalische Chemie II, Universitt Erlangen-Nrnberg, Germany
Low pressure plasmas in electrical discharges with H2 and O2 are of interest in a variety of fields. In astrochemistry,
the formation of H2O and H3O+ is of great relevance as they can be detected in interstellar environments. In fusion
research, discharge cleaning is used to eliminate the residual molecules in a vacuum vessel, of which oxygen and
water are major components.
In this work, we present a study of the chemistry of neutral and ionic species in H2/O2 plasmas based on the
experimental diagnostics and kinetic modelling of hollow cathode discharges at different pressures and mixture
39
proportions. Neutral and ion distributions are measured by mass spectrometry, and Langmuir probes provide charge
densities and electron temperatures. As expected, apart from the precursors, H2O is detected in considerable
amounts. Concerning the charged species, pure hydrogen and oxygen ions are detected together with mixed ones.
With increasing pressure, the ion distributions are dominated by H3O+ for mixtures with H2 concentrations higher
than 30%, in contrast, the protonated species O2H+ is hardly formed.
A zero order kinetic model is used to explain the experimental results. H2O is produced via plasma-surface
interactions in a multistep process. The ion distributions are determined in each case by a balance between the
relative weights of electron impact processes and proton transfer chemistry. The relevance of negative ions in the
plasma chemistry is also studied.
P.28 X-point modelling in linear geometries using BOUT++
B Shanahan and B Dudson
X-point configurations in tokamak geometries are critical in determining edge and scrape off layer (SOL) dynamics,
and hence particle and heat flux onto plasma facing components [1]. Alternative configurations such as the
Snowflake [2] have been proposed which aim to reduce fluxes to material surfaces, but their performance depends
on cross-field transport in the region of the null point which is currently poorly understood. There is therefore a need
for theoretical and experimental studies of turbulence in X-point magnetic configurations.
In conventional 3D turbulence simulations of tokamaks, a field-aligned coordinate system is used, which introduces
numerical instabilities at the null point due to zero volume elements. As a result, X-point dynamics are often
extrapolated based on nearby flux surfaces, which could exclude relevant physics. Here we introduce a novel
method for simulating X-point geometries, and present results of 3D drift-wave turbulence and flows in X-point
configurations using a cold ion fluid model [3,4] implemented into BOUT++ [5]. These are used to explore the
feasibility of experimentally studying X-point configurations on linear plasma devices by introducing external
longitudinal coils. The dynamics of tokamak X-point regions which could be effectively modelled, and the
parameters required of such a linear device to replicate this environment are discussed.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
B LaBombard et al., Phys. Plasmas,12.5 (2005): 056111-056111

D D Ryutov et al. PPCF 54 124050 (2012)
J R Angus, M V Umansky, and S I Krasheninnikov Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 215002 (2012)
N R Walkden, B D Dudson, G Fishpool PPCF 55 105005 (2013)
B D Dudson et al., Comp. Phys. Comm. 180 (2009), pp. 1467-1480
P.29 Large scale synthesis of few layer graphene in a novel atmospheric pressure microwave plasma reactor
K Juda1, A Clayton2 and K Koziol1
1
University of Cambridge, UK, 2GasPlas AS, Norway
A novel, 6 kW atmospheric pressure microwave plasma reactor, developed by GasPlas AS, enables continuous and
efficient cracking of hydrocarbons in catalyst-free, non-oxidising conditions. Controlled operating parameters of
non-equilibrium, nano-dusty hydrocarbon system, allow few layer graphene to be synthesized, together with
hydrogen and gaseous hydrocarbons as by-products. Hydrocarbon cracking efficiency can reach 96%. The process
allows for large rate graphene synthesis.
In this work we report the synthesis of free standing graphene flakes. Particles size and thickness, as determined by
transmission electron microscopy, varied considerably depending on plasma operating parameters. Good
crystallinity and purity of samples was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and X-ray
40
photoelectron spectroscopy. Elemental analysis indicated on high carbon content ( 99%) of synthesized solid
material. The particles size distribution was determined by means of dynamic laser light scattering. The gaseous
product evolved during plasma processing was qualified and quantified by gas chromatography.
It is believed that plasma route of free-standing graphene flakes synthesis is competitive to existing top-down and
bottom-up technologies. It allows for continuous and large scale deposition of carbon nanomaterial without a
necessity of its post-processing. Moreover, atmospheric pressure conditions and no use of noble gases make the
process commercially attractive.
P.30 Spectral changes to an LWFA driver
K Poder1, M Streeter1, N Lopes1, J Cole1, S Mangles1, C Palmer2, D Symes3, J Wood1 and Z Najmudin1
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2DESY, Germany, 3STFC, UK
We report on the measurements of spectral modifications to an ultra-intense driver of laser-wakefield acceleration.

The measurements performed on the Astra-Gemini laser reveal the spectral signatures imparted on the driver of the
wakefield, making it possible to distinguish the self-guided filament driving the wake via redshift of the pulse. This
spatially resolved diagnostic allows us to diagnose photon acceleration and deceleration within the driver pulse.
These measurements provide us with further information about the evolution of the laser as it propagates through
the plasma, allowing for further understanding and optimisation of laser-wakefield accelerators.
P.31 On the formation of phase space holes and clumps
M Lilley1 and R Nyqvist2
1
Imperial College London, UK, 2Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden
A basic aspect of burning deuterium-tritium plasmas, e.g. in tokamaks, is that fusion generated alpha particles must
remain confined long enough to transfer their energy to the background plasma, thereby maintaining the required
temperature of around 10-20 keV. One important concern is that their non-thermal distribution allows them to
resonantly destabilise bulk plasma waves, which may subsequently redistribute the fast particles and potentially
eject them from the machine.
Bursting instabilities are often associated with significant losses of fast particles due to the formation of long living
structures in the fast particle distribution, so called holes and clumps, which convectively transport the particles
outwards. Despite all previous modelling efforts, two fundamental questions have so far remained unanswered,
namely why and how the holes and clumps form. We present an understanding of this here for the first time.
The underlying physics is that holes and clumps develop from negative energy waves, which grow rather than damp
as a result of dissipation. Their existence relies on the presence of a nearly unmodulated plateau in the fast particle
distribution, whose interface with the surroundings is sharp enough to alter the dielectric response of the fast
particles as to support waves near the plateau edge. Such plateau states may arise, e.g., as a result of phase
mixing and subsequent dissipative decay of an initially unstable bulk plasma wave, as in experiments. In general
though an initial seed instability is not a requirement, it is only essential that the system has the ability to generate
a plateau.
41
P.32 Near-infrared divertor spectroscopy measurements on the MAST and JET tokamaks
B Lomanowski1, R M Sharples1, J R Harrison2 and A G Meigs2
1
Durham University, UK, 2EURATOM/Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
Plasma spectroscopy in the near-infrared (NIR, 800-2000 nm) region offers advantages over measurements in the
ultraviolet and visible (UV-VIS) due to an increased tolerance to the degradation of optical components in a burning
plasma environment. However, generally weaker and fewer atomic emission lines and higher signal contamination
from thermal radiation of plasma facing components can complicate NIR measurements.
To elucidate the diagnostic feasibility of NIR plasma spectroscopy for divertor characetrization, impurity monitoring
and detachment studies, a spectral survey has been carried out on MAST and JET over a range of plasma
conditions. On MAST, two survey spectrometers (350-1700 nm) viewing the inner leg of the lower divertor were
used. On JET, an NIR survey spectrometer (900-1700 nm) was added to the mirror-linked divertor spectroscopy
system viewing the tungsten tiles of the JET ITER-like wall divertor. A filterscope system was commissioned for
measuring the deuterium Paschen alpha (n=4-3) line at 1874.6 nm.
Results from the MAST survey show prominent impurity lines (CI-1069.6 nm from carbon wall influx, HeI-1083.2
nm, HeII and BI-1166.3 nm from vessel conditioning), low-lying Paschen series lines (n=5-3, 6-3) due to recycling
influx and high-n Paschen recombination lines. Line intensities in the NIR are compared with their counterparts in
the UV-VIS region. Early results from the JET-ILW survey show strong BeI and BeII lines due to impurtiy migration
from Be-clad wall tiles. Strong ArI and NI extrinsic impurity lines are expected in seeded plasmas based on emission
estimates. A significant thermal background spectrum is also observed during outer strike point sweeps.
P.33 Planar geometry inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device
D Knapp
Medical University of South Carolina, USA
In the classic gridded inertial electrostatic confinement (IEC) fusion reactor, ion bombardment of the grid leads to
heating, thermionic electron emission, significant power loss, and ultimately melting of the grid. Gridless IEC devices
have sought to overcome these limitations. At IEC2011, Klein reported a gridless device (the Multiple Ambipolar
Beam Line Experiment; "MARBLE") [1] in which ions are circulated as a linear beam in an electrostatic analog of
an optical resonator. To overcome limits of stored ions due to space charge effects at the turning regions, the device
employed multiple overlapping traps. The work reported here seeks to further increase the turning region space in a
gridless trap by employing a planar ion beam space geometry. Ion trapping in a planar IEC device was examined by
simulating trajectories of trapped 2H+ions with SIMION 8.1 software. Simulations were carried out using multiple
potentials as in the MARBLE device and for a single potential trap as a planar analog of the anharmonic ion trap
[2], with better trapping observed for the latter. Scattering by background gas, simulated using a hard sphere
collision model, suggested the device will require operation at low pressure with a separate ion source.
[1]
[2]
42
A. Klein, 13th U.S.-Japan Workshop on Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion, Sydney, 2011
A. V. Ermakov and B. J. Hinch, Review of Scientific Instruments 81, 013107, 2010
P.34 Experimental generation of bright gamma-ray beams via non-linear thompson scattering
D Corvan1, G Sarri1, M Zepf1, K Krushelnick2, S Mangles3, Z Najmudin3 and C Keitel4
1
Queen's University Belfast, UK, 2University of Michigan, USA, 3Imperial College London, UK, 4Max-Planck-Institut fur
Kernphysik, Germany
In recent years there has been a strive to develop compact, cheaper, and tuneable sources of gamma rays. These
sources would be of practical benefit in the development of new cancer treatments and non-invasive scanning
techniques for homeland security, as well as providing insight into fundamental physics. Non-linear Thompson
Scattering (NLTS) between a relativistic electron beam and a relativistically intense laser pulse can produce such
sources of high energy photons. Via the laser wakefield mechanism, laser facilities are now capable of producing
beams of relativistic electrons and as the achievable intensities of lasers increases, the opportunity to investigate
NLTS in a compact environment presents itself. Using the Astra-Gemini laser facility in the Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory in Oxford UK, it is shown that by using novel approaches to beam synchronisation, overlap, and gamma
ray detection, a competitive source of high energy gamma ray beams can be produced. Due to their ultra-short
duration ( 40fs), these high-energy (up to 18 MeV per photon), high flux ( 106 107 photons per MeV), and small
divergence ( few mrad) gamma-ray beams present ultra-high brilliance (1019-1020photons s-1mm-2mrad2
(0.1%BW)-1) putting them at the forefront of advanced light sources worldwide. Besides the clear practical interest,
our experiment also shows a clear scalability to higher intensities, a regime in which fundamental features of Nonlinear Quantum Electrodynamics can be studied in detail in the laboratory.
P.35 Ion cyclotron emission and the nonlinear physics of the magnetoacoustic cyclotron instability of fusion-born
ions
L Carbajal1, R O Dendy1,2, S C Chapman1 and J W S Cook1
1
University of Warwick, UK, 2Euratom/Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
Ion cyclotron emission (ICE) was the first collective radiative instability, driven by fusion products, observed on JET
and TFTR (Dendy et al., Nucl. Fusion35, 1733 (1995)). Suprathermal emission, strongly peaked at sequential ion
cyclotron harmonics at the outer mid-plane edge, was detected. The emission mechanism is the magnetoacoustic
cyclotron instability (MCI), driven by centrally born fusion products whose drift orbits make large radial excursions.
ICE is a potential diagnostic for alpha-particles in ITER. It is used in DIII-D as a diagnostic for lost fast ions and was
recently studied in ASDEX-U. The hybrid description of plasma treats ions as particles and electrons as a fluid. Here
we report fresh insights into the MCI through hybrid simulations. Our results corroborate predictions by linear
analytical theory and PIC simulations (Cook et al. Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 55, 065003 (2013)), and extend
into the nonlinear stage of the MCI, capturing additional features of ICE in JET (L Carbajal et al., Phys. Plasmas 21,
012106 (2014)).
LC acknowledges CONACyT for support. This work was part-funded by the RCUK Energy Programme and by the
European Union's Horizon 2020 programme.
P.36 Investigating the anomalous Doppler effect for suprathermal electrons in tokamak plasma using selfconsistent kinetic simulations
W N Lai1, S C Chapman1 and R O Dendy1,2
1
University of Warwick, UK, 2Euratom/Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK
A key limiting mechanism of suprathermal electrons is the anomalous Doppler (AD) effect, which gives rise to
observed relaxation oscillations in directional hard X-ray signals emitted by the energetic electron population, as
seen recently in the HT-7 tokamak [S. Sajjad et al., Phys. Plasmas 17 042504 (2010)]. This reflects the underlying
43
physics of the effect which involves a shift of energy from parallel to perpendicular particle motion, accompanied by
the excitation of waves at frequency and wavenumber (,k) satisfying the anomalous Doppler resonance condition
k.v = , where is the cyclotron frequency and v is particle velocity. This is known to apply at both the
classical single-particle level [R.O. Dendy, Phys. Fluids 30 2438 (1987)] and the collective level [R.O. Dendy et al.,
Phys. Fluids 29 4040 (1986)] of mathematical description. The X-ray signal oscillations are believed to arise where
the energetic electron tail distribution cyclically relaxes through the isotropising AD effect, and is then reconstituted
by the current drive processes. Here we present a fully nonlinear kinetic treatment of the AD effect for the electron
population under tokamak plasma conditions. By means of a well diagnosed particle-in-cell code [J.W.S. Cook et
al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 255003 (2010)], we explore the temporal evolution of the velocity distribution and the
line of sight synchrotron radiation during the AD. This is an essential step towards exploiting the potential of the AD
effect as a spontaneous in situ diagnostic of tokamak plasma conditions. It also contributes to the diagnostic for
beam-plasma experiments in this area.
This work was part-funded by the RCUK Energy Programme under grant EP/I501045.
P.37 Ion acceleration beyond 100MeV/amu in the relativistic transparent regime
D Jung1, L Yin2, B Albright2, D Gautier2, S Letzring2, S Palaniyappan2, B Dromey1, J Fernandez2 and B Hegelich3
1
Queen's University Belfast, UK, 2Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA, 3University of Texas, USA
Here, we present detailed experimental data and PIC studies for laser-driven ion acceleration in the relativistic
transparent regime where the Break-Out Afterburner (BOA) is operative. We discuss thickness and target
dependency, conversion efficiency and control of spectral shape and for the first time we also present a scaling law
for ion acceleration during relativistic transparent laser matter interaction and compare with results published for
TNSA and RPA.
Experimentally, we measured protons and carbon C6+ ions accelerated via the BOA mechanism with energies
exceeding 160MeV and 1GeV (80MeV/amu) at the high energy tail of exponentially decaying energy spectra. For
carbon C6+, a conversion efficiency of laser light into ions of up to 7% has been observed. When circular
polarization is used, interaction dynamics can be changed so that a soliton-like density spike develops during the
relativistic transparent interaction, changing the exponentially decaying spectrum into a narrow-spread quasimonoenergetic carbon ion distribution with a peak energy of 40MeV.
For development of future laser systems and progress towards advanced applications, we present a scaling law
derived from experimental data and verified with PIC simulations. The scaling for protons and heavier ions, such as
carbon C6+, shows a linear dependency of the maximum energies with the normalized laser amplitude a0 and a
weaker, non-linear dependence with the laser pulse duration. Based on this scaling, energies suitable for advanced
applications are already achievable with available laser systems. The comparison with scaling laws for TNSA and
RPA also shows that for currently available laser technology, BOA is a competitive acceleration mechanisms for
achieving highest ion energies beyond 100MeV/amu.
P.38 X-ray Thomson Scattering measurements of density gradients
P Kozlowski1, S Regan2, B Crowley3 and G Gregori1
1
University of Oxford, UK, 2University of Rochester, USA, 3Atomic Weapons Establishment, UK
Thomson Scattering (TS) has become a ubiquitous tool for ascertaining the density, temperature, and ionization of
high density and temperature plasmas. The standard method for obtaining these state variables is to fit an expected
Thomson Scattering simulation to experimental data. Yet, steep spatial and/or temporal inhomogeneities may
cause higher order effects which are often ignored in standard Thomson Scattering simulations. Our cryogenic,
deuterium X-Ray Thomson Scattering (XRTS) experiments at OMEGA show an anomalous increase in the ratio of
44
inelastic upshift relative to downshift. To account for this, we implement a correction which adds the derivatives of
the real part of the dielectric susceptibility to the standard, imaginary part used in the form factor; the derivative
with respect to space generates an asymmetry in the relation between up/downshifts. This implementation can be
used to simulate and measure local density gradients (as well as temporal inhomogeneities) in a plasma in addition
to the standard state variables measured in TS.
P.39 Zero-dimensional models for energy confinement transitions due to changing heating rate in fusion plasmas
H Zhu1, S Chapman1, R Dendy2 and K Itoh3
1
University of Warwick, 2Euratom/Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, UK, 3National Institute for Fusion Science, Japan
It is demonstrated that substantial changes in external heating flux can influence energy confinement transitions for
fusion plasmas in zero-dimensional models. Here we represent analysis of the model of[1,2], which embodies
energy of meso-scale structure zonal flows (ZFs), micro-turbulence level and temperature gradient. An extension to
this model[3], which we also discuss here, includes another meso-scale structure geodesic acoustic modes
(GAMS). Both these models include a driving term q(t), which represents external heat flux. We examine the effects,
in these models, of time dependence in q which include a step and oscillation in the heating rate. These are
intended to mimic the condition for heating-induced triggering of different confinement regimes in real fusion
plasmas. A period-doubling route to chaos is also identified in the oscillating heating rate scenario in model[3]. This
leads to a consequence that a single value of the amplitude of the oscillation can give one or many values of the
micro-turbulence level.
This work was part-funded by KAKENHI(21224014, 23244113) from JSPS and the EPSRC and the RCUK Energy
Programme under Grant No. EP/I501045 and the European Communities under the contract of Association
between EURATOM and CCFE. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the
European Commission.
[1]
[2]
[3]
E. J. Kim and P. H. Diamond, Phys. Rev. Lett. 90 (2003) 185006

M. A. Malkov and P. H. Diamond, Phys. Plasmas 16 (2009) 012504
H. Zhu, S. C. Chapman and R. O. Dendy, Phys. Plasmas 20 (2013) 042302
P.40 Experimental demonstration of azimuthal asymmetry in collective electron dynamics in relativistically

transparent laser-foil interactions
R Gray1, D A MacLellan1, B Gonzalez-Izquierdo1, H W Powell1, D Carroll2, C D Murphy3, L C Stockhausen4, D R
Rusby2, G G Scott1, R Wilson1, N Booth2, D R Symes2, S J Hawkes2, R Torres4, M Borghesi5, D Neely2 and P
McKenna1
1
University of Strathclyde, UK, 2STFC, UK, 3University of Edinburgh, UK, 4CLPU Salamanca, Spain, 5Queens
University Belfast, UK
The interaction of an intense laser pulse with a solid target produces high energy electrons at the target-vacuum
boundary. For sufficiently high laser intensities the electrons become highly relativistic and rapidly expand into
vacuum. The combination of these two factors can result in the target electron density being less than the
relativistically corrected critical density, therefore enabling the laser to propagate into the target and resulting in an
interaction with the bulk target electrons. In this regime we report on the measurement of an asymmetry in the
collective dynamics of ponderomotively-driven electrons. The 2D profile of the beam of accelerated electrons is
shown to change from an ellipse aligned along the laser polarization direction in the case of limited transparency, to
a double-lobe structure aligned perpendicular to it, when a significant fraction of the laser pulse co-propagates with
the electrons. The temporally resolved dynamics of the interaction are investigated via PIC simulations. The
45
implications for laser-driven ion acceleration with the onset of relativistic induced transparency and the resulting
electron dynamics are also investigated.
P.41 Sensitivity of mass ablation rate and shock timing to variations in opacity in indirect drive, inertial confinement
fusion on the National Ignition Facility
K McGlinchey, N Niasse and J Chittenden
We report on simulations of the ablation phase of inertial confinement fusion experiments on the National Ignition
Facility and the Omega laser, using a new 3D radiation hydrodynamics code, Chimera, developed at Imperial
College. Single group and multi-group diffusive radiation transport is included utilising opacity data generated by a
non-LTE atomic and radiation physics model [N. Niasse et. al. in preparation]. High convergence, cryogenic layered
fusion targets using the low foot radiation pulse are modelled in 1D spherical geometry. Comparisons of simulated
shock trajectories with radiographic convergent ablator data are presented as well as comparisons to VISAR data
from keyhole targets. Results from modelling of a different set of experiments designed to provide a direct
measurement of indirect drive mass ablation rates [R. Olson et. al. Phys. Plasmas 18, p32706 (2011)] are used to
examine the sensitivity of simulated shock propagation velocity and mass ablation rate to the magnitude of the
opacity used in the model.
P.42 Influence of the electrostatic field on the efficiency of laser energy conversion to intense synchrotron radiation
R Capdessus1, E d'Humieres2, V Tikhonchuk2 and P McKenna1
1
University of Strathclyde, UK, 2CELIA, France
High power laser facilities are now able to achieve peak laser intensities beyond 1021 W/cm2. Synchrotron radiation,
produced by ultra-relativistic electrons, can consume a significant fraction of the laser energy in the interaction of an
ultra-intense pulse with an overdense plasma. In addition, the electrostatic field generated can reach the same
magnitude as the laser field. It follows that collective effects, driven by the electrostatic field, influence the
synchrotron radiation. The electrostatic field strongly depends on the target thickness and the response time of ions,
which in turn depends on the ion mass and effective charge.
We investigate the influence of collective effects using a relativistic particle-in-cell code which includes the radiation
reaction force, for the case of laser pulse parameters which will be produced by the ELI laser facilities. Several target
thicknesses and ion species are considered. We show that the laser energy conversion to synchrotron radiation
increases with target thickness and ion mass. We can expect to obtain radiation going up to a few-GeV energies with
at peak laser intensity of 1023 W/cm2.
P.43 Computation of a generalised Coulomb log parameter for hot dense matter
D Swatton1 and S Rose2
1
AWE, UK, 2Imperial College London, UK
The standard Landau-Spitzer model describing transport coefficients and relaxation rates uses a bare Coulomb
potential with ad hoc cut-offs as an approximation. The Debye-Hckel model provides a better approximation,
modifying the potential via self-consistent screening, for low density, high temperature plasmas. Alternative
potentials may be more appropriate when the density is sufficient to suggest that bound electrons may have a
significant effect on the scattering process. We consider a generalised form of the Coulomb logarithm, evaluated for
different potentials, and compare with the conventional Coulomb log. We discuss conditions under which each
46
potential is appropriate and infer a value for the error associated with using the standard model in each of these
regimes.
47
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1417 April 2014

FORTHCOMING INSTITUTE CONFERENCES

41st IOP Plasma Physics Conference

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How can we calculate the tearing mode stability parameter Delta'?

Invited: Magnetic reconnection in space plasmas

Production of petawatt laser pulses of picosecond duration via Brillouin amplification of

Diagnosing tokamak plasmas using x-ray imaging crystal spectroscopy

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Time-resolved measurements of fast electron-sourced sheath dynamics

Realizing a laser-driven electron source applicable for radiobiological tumor irradiation

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The generation of a convergent fast-electron beam from laser-solid interactions

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The power dependence of the edge pedestal in JET and MAST

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Filamentary plasma eruptions in tokamaks

Carbon nanotubes as a route to enhanced ultraintense interactions

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Differential pressure enhancement of self-sustaining thermionic hollow cathode plasma in low

Tokamak dust behavior under misty plasma effect

Investigation of collective electron dynamics in relativistically transparent laser-foil interactions

Invited: The evolution and application of gas-plasma systems

Two-pulse ionization injection into quasi-linear plasma wakefields

Investigations into the radiobiological effects of laser-driven ion beams

Novel analysis of ECE imaging data using Bayesian probabilistic noise-correction

Invited: Dynamic compression - a route to planetary core conditions in the laboratory

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J. B. Taylor, Phys. Rev. Lett 33 (1974) 1139

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J.B. Taylor, et al. Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 38 (1996) 243-250

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