Showing papers on "Charged particle published in 2016"

Observation of Long-Range Elliptic Azimuthal Anisotropies in s =13 and 2.76 TeV pp Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

Abstract: ATLAS has measured two-particle correlations as a function of relative azimuthal-angle, $\Delta \phi$, and pseudorapidity, $\Delta \eta$, in $\sqrt{s}$=13 and 2.76 TeV $pp$ collisions at the LHC using charged particles measured in the pseudorapidity interval $|\eta|$<2.5. The correlation functions evaluated in different intervals of measured charged-particle multiplicity show a multiplicity-dependent enhancement at $\Delta \phi \sim 0$ that extends over a wide range of $\Delta\eta$, which has been referred to as the "ridge". Per-trigger-particle yields, $Y(\Delta \phi)$, are measured over 2<$|\Delta\eta|$<5. For both collision energies, the $Y(\Delta \phi)$ distribution in all multiplicity intervals is found to be consistent with a linear combination of the per-trigger-particle yields measured in collisions with less than 20 reconstructed tracks, and a constant combinatoric contribution modulated by $\cos{(2\Delta \phi)}$. The fitted Fourier coefficient, $v_{2,2}$, exhibits factorization, suggesting that the ridge results from per-event $\cos{(2\phi)}$ modulation of the single-particle distribution with Fourier coefficients $v_2$. The $v_2$ values are presented as a function of multiplicity and transverse momentum. They are found to be approximately constant as a function of multiplicity and to have a $p_{\mathrm{T}}$ dependence similar to that measured in $p$+Pb and Pb+Pb collisions. The $v_2$ values in the 13 and 2.76 TeV data are consistent within uncertainties. These results suggest that the ridge in $pp$ collisions arises from the same or similar underlying physics as observed in $p$+Pb collisions, and that the dynamics responsible for the ridge has no strong $\sqrt{s}$ dependence.

Production of light nuclei and anti-nuclei in pp and Pb-Pb collisions at energies available at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Abstract: The production of (anti-)deuteron and (anti-)He3 nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN=2.76 TeV has been studied using the ALICE detector at the LHC. The spectra exhibit a significant hardening with increasing centrality. Combined blast-wave fits of several particles support the interpretation that this behavior is caused by an increase of radial flow. The integrated particle yields are discussed in the context of coalescence and thermal-statistical model expectations. The particle ratios, He3/d and He3/p, in Pb-Pb collisions are found to be in agreement with a common chemical freeze-out temperature of Tchem≈156 MeV. These ratios do not vary with centrality which is in agreement with the thermal-statistical model. In a coalescence approach, it excludes models in which nucleus production is proportional to the particle multiplicity and favors those in which it is proportional to the particle density instead. In addition, the observation of 31 anti-tritons in Pb-Pb collisions is reported. For comparison, the deuteron spectrum in pp collisions at s=7 TeV is also presented. While the p/π ratio is similar in pp and Pb-Pb collisions, the d/p ratio in pp collisions is found to be lower by a factor of 2.2 than in Pb-Pb collisions.

Results of the ASY-EOS experiment at GSI: The symmetry energy at suprasaturation density

Abstract: Directed and elliptic flows of neutrons and light charged particles were measured for the reaction 197Au+197Au at 400 MeV/nucleon incident energy within the ASY-EOS experimental campaign at the GSI laboratory. The detection system consisted of the Large Area Neutron Detector LAND, combined with parts of the CHIMERA multidetector, of the ALADIN Time-of-flight Wall, and of the Washington-University Microball detector. The latter three arrays were used for the event characterization and reaction-plane reconstruction. In addition, an array of triple telescopes, KRATTA, was used for complementary measurements of the isotopic composition and flows of light charged particles. From the comparison of the elliptic flow ratio of neutrons with respect to charged particles with UrQMD predictions, a value \gamma = 0.72 \pm 0.19 is obtained for the power-law coefficient describing the density dependence of the potential part in the parametrization of the symmetry energy. It represents a new and more stringent constraint for the regime of supra-saturation density and confirms, with a considerably smaller uncertainty, the moderately soft to linear density dependence deduced from the earlier FOPI-LAND data. The densities probed are shown to reach beyond twice saturation.

Indirect dark matter signatures in the cosmic dark ages. II. Ionization, heating, and photon production from arbitrary energy injections

Abstract: Any injection of electromagnetically interacting particles during the cosmic dark ages will lead to increased ionization, heating, production of Lyman-$\ensuremath{\alpha}$ photons and distortions to the energy spectrum of the cosmic microwave background, with potentially observable consequences. In this paper we describe numerical results for the low-energy electrons and photons produced by the cooling of particles injected at energies from keV to multi-TeV scales, at arbitrary injection redshifts (but focusing on the post-recombination epoch). We use these data, combined with existing calculations modeling the cooling of these low-energy particles, to estimate the resulting contributions to ionization, excitation and heating of the gas, and production of low-energy photons below the threshold for excitation and ionization. We compute corrected deposition-efficiency curves for annihilating dark matter, and demonstrate how to compute equivalent curves for arbitrary energy-injection histories. These calculations provide the necessary inputs for the limits on dark matter annihilation presented in the accompanying paper I, but also have potential applications in the context of dark matter decay or deexcitation, decay of other metastable species, or similar energy injections from new physics. We make our full results publicly available at http://nebel.rc.fas.harvard.edu/epsilon, to facilitate further independent studies. In particular, we provide the full low-energy electron and photon spectra, to allow matching onto more detailed codes that describe the cooling of such particles at low energies.

Anisotropic Flow of Charged Particles in Pb-Pb Collisions at √sNN=5.02 TeV

Abstract: We report the first results of elliptic (v2), triangular (v3), and quadrangular (v4) flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of √sNN=5.02 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurements are performed in the central pseudorapidity region |η|<0.8 and for the transverse momentum range 0.2

Radiation pressure acceleration of protons to 93 MeV with circularly polarized petawatt laser pulses

Abstract: The radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) of charged particles has been a challenging task in laser-driven proton/ion acceleration due to its stringent requirements in laser and target conditions. The realization of radiation-pressure-driven proton acceleration requires irradiating ultrathin targets with an ultrahigh contrast and ultraintense laser pulses. We report the generation of 93-MeV proton beams achieved by applying 800-nm 30-fs circularly polarized laser pulses with an intensity of 6.1×1020 W/cm2 to 15-nm-thick polymer targets. The radiation pressure acceleration was confirmed from the obtained optimal target thickness, quadratic energy scaling, polarization dependence, and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We expect this clear demonstration of RPA to facilitate the realization of laser-driven proton/ion sources delivering energetic and short-pulse particle beams for novel applications.

Efficient production of high-energy nonthermal particles during magnetic reconnection in a magnetically dominated ion–electron plasma

Abstract: Magnetic reconnection is a leading mechanism for dissipating magnetic energy and accelerating nonthermal particles in Poynting-flux dominated flows. In this letter, we investigate nonthermal particle acceleration during magnetic reconnection in a magnetically-dominated ion-electron plasma using fully kinetic simulations. For an ion-electron plasma with the total magnetization $\sigma_0=B^2/(4\pi n(m_i+m_e)c^2)$, the magnetization for each species is $\sigma_i \sim \sigma_0$ and $\sigma_e \sim (m_i/m_e) \sigma_0$, respectively. We have studied the magnetically dominated regime by varying $\sigma_{e} = 10^3 - 10^5$ with initial ion and electron temperatures $T_i = T_e = 5 - 20 m_ec^2$ and mass ratio $m_i/m_e = 1 - 1836$. The results demonstrate that reconnection quickly establishes power-law energy distributions for both electrons and ions within several ($2-3$) light-crossing times. For the cases with periodic boundary conditions, the power-law index is $1

Acceleration of the charged particles due to chaotic scattering in the combined black hole gravitational field and asymptotically uniform magnetic field

Abstract: To test the role of large-scale magnetic fields in accretion processes, we study the dynamics of the charged test particles in the vicinity of a black hole immersed into an asymptotically uniform magnetic field. Using the Hamiltonian formalism of the charged particle dynamics, we examine chaotic scattering in the effective potential related to the black hole gravitational field combined with the uniform magnetic field. Energy interchange between the translational and oscillatory modes of the charged particle dynamics provides a mechanism for charged particle acceleration along the magnetic field lines. This energy transmutation is an attribute of the chaotic charged particle dynamics in the combined gravitational and magnetic fields only, the black hole rotation is not necessary for such charged particle acceleration. The chaotic scatter can cause a transition to the motion along the magnetic field lines with small radius of the Larmor motion or vanishing Larmor radius, when the speed of the particle translational motion is largest and it can be ultra-relativistic. We discuss the consequences of the model of ionization of test particles forming a neutral accretion disc, or heavy ions following off-equatorial circular orbits, and we explore the fate of heavy charged test particles after ionization where no kick of heavy ions is assumed and only the switch-on effect of the magnetic field is relevant. We demonstrate that acceleration and escape of the ionized particles can be efficient along the Kerr black hole symmetry axis parallel to the magnetic field lines. We show that a strong acceleration of the ionized particles to ultra-relativistic velocities is preferred in the direction close to the magnetic field lines. Therefore, the process of ionization of Keplerian discs around the Kerr black holes can serve as a model of relativistic jets.

Measurement of Long-Range Near-Side Two-Particle Angular Correlations in pp Collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract: Results on two-particle angular correlations for charged particles produced in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV are presented. The data were taken with the CMS detector at the LHC and correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 270 nb^(−1). The correlations are studied over a broad range of pseudorapidity (|η| 2.0), near-side (Δϕ≈0) structure emerges in the two-particle Δη–Δϕ correlation functions. The magnitude of the correlation exhibits a pronounced maximum in the range 1.0

Centrality dependence of the nuclear modification factor of charged pions, kaons, and protons in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76 TeV

Abstract: Transverse momentum (pT) spectra of pions, kaons, and protons up to pT=20GeV/c have been measured in Pb-Pb collisions at √sNN=2.76TeV using the ALICE detector for six different centrality classes covering 0%–80%. The proton-to-pion and the kaon-to-pion ratios both show a distinct peak at pT≈3GeV/c in central Pb-Pb collisions that decreases for more peripheral collisions. For pT>10GeV/c, the nuclear modification factor is found to be the same for all three particle species in each centrality interval within systematic uncertainties of 10%–20%. This suggests there is no direct interplay between the energy loss in the medium and the particle species composition in the hard core of the quenched jet. For pT<10GeV/c, the data provide important constraints for models aimed at describing the transition from soft to hard physics.

Interaction of Radiation with Matter

Abstract: Section I Introduction Radiation Transport Codes Basic Knowledge of Radiation Definitions of Radiation Electron Volt Special Theory of Relativity Electromagnetic Wave and Photon Interaction Cross Sections Quantities and Units of Radiation Atoms Atomic Nature of Matter Rutherford's Atomic Model Bohr's Quantum Theory Quantum Mechanics Atomic Structure Atomic Nucleus Constituents of Nucleus Binding Energy of Nucleus Nuclear Models Nuclear Reaction Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fusion Radioactivity Types of Radioactivity Formulas of Radioactive Decay X-Rays Generation of X-Rays Continuous X-Rays Characteristic X-Rays Auger Electrons Synchrotron Radiation Diffraction by Crystal Interaction of Photons with Matter Types of Interaction Attenuation Coefficients Half-Value Layer of X-Rays Mass Energy Absorption Coefficients Interaction of Electrons with Matter Energy Loss of Charged Particles Collision Stopping Power Radiative Stopping Power Ranges Multiple Scattering Cerenkov Radiation Interaction of Heavy Charged Particles with Matter Collision Stopping Powers Nuclear Stopping Powers Ranges Straggling of Energy Loss and Range delta-Ray, Restricted Stopping Power, and LET delta-Ray Restricted Stopping Power LET Introduction to Monte Carlo Simulation Monte Carlo Method Sampling of Reaction Point Condensed History Technique Slowing Down of Electrons Conversion of Angles Intersection at Boundary Section II Cross Sections for Interactions of Photons with Matter Coherent Scattering Photoelectric Effect Incoherent Scattering Pair Creation Soft X-Rays Cross Sections for Interactions of Electrons with Water Ionization Excitation Elastic Scattering Stopping Powers Cross Sections for Interactions of Low-Energy Protons ( 1 MeVu-1) in Water Ionization Excitation Elastic Scattering Model Calculations Using Track Structure Data of Electrons Ranges and W Values Depth-Dose Distributions Electron Slowing down Spectra Model Calculations Using Track Structure Data of Ions KURBUC Code System for Heavy Particles Ranges and W Values Depth-Dose Distributions Radial Dose Distributions Restricted Stopping Powers Section III Inelastic Scattering of Charged Particles in Condensed Media: A Dielectric Theory Perspective Introduction Formal Scattering Theory: The Problem Born Approximation Bethe Approximation Electron Gas Theory Optical Data Models Section IV Questions and Problems A Summary and References appear at the end of each chapter.

Multi-species Measurements of the Firehose and Mirror Instability Thresholds in the Solar Wind

Abstract: The firehose and mirror instabilities are thought to arise in a variety of space and astrophysical plasmas, constraining the pressure anisotropies and drifts between particle species. The plasma stability depends on all species simultaneously, meaning that a combined analysis is required. Here, we present the first such analysis in the solar wind, using the long-wavelength stability parameters to combine the anisotropies and drifts of all major species (core and beam protons, alphas, and electrons). At the threshold, the firehose parameter was found to be dominated by protons (67%), but also to have significant contributions from electrons (18%) and alphas (15%). Drifts were also found to be important, contributing 57% in the presence of a proton beam. A similar situation was found for the mirror, with contributions of 61%, 28%, and 11% for protons, electrons, and alphas, respectively. The parallel electric field contribution, however, was found to be small at 9%. Overall, the long-wavelength thresholds constrain the data well (<1% unstable), and the implications of this are discussed.

Mechanisms behind surface modification of polypropylene film using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet

Abstract: Plasma treatments are common for increasing the surface energy of plastics, such as polypropylene (PP), to create improved adhesive properties Despite the significant differences in plasma sources and plasma properties used, similar effects on the plastic film can be achieved, suggesting a common dominant plasma constituent and underpinning mechanism However, many details of this process are still unknown Here we present a study into the mechanisms underpinning surface energy increase of PP using atmospheric-pressure plasmas For this we use the effluent of an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ) since, unlike most plasma sources used for these treatments, there is no direct contact between the plasma and the PP surface; the APPJ provides a neutral, radical-rich environment without charged particles and electric fields impinging on the PP surface The APPJ is a RF-driven plasma operating in helium gas with small admixtures of O2 (0–1%), where the effluent propagates through open air towards the PP surface Despite the lack of charged particles and electric fields on the PP surface, measurements of contact angle show a decrease from 939° to 701° in 14 s and to 35° in 120 s, corresponding to a rapid increase in surface energy from 364 mN m−1 to 665 mN m−1 in the short time of 14 s These treatment effects are very similar to what is found in other devices, highlighting the importance of neutral radicals produced by the plasma Furthermore, we find an optimum percentage of oxygen of 05% within the helium input gas, and a decrease of the treatment effect with distance between the APPJ and the PP surface These observed effects are linked to two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TALIF) measurements of atomic oxygen density within the APPJ effluent which show similar trends, implying the importance of this radical in the surface treatment of PP Analysis of the surface reveals a two stage mechanism for the production of polar bonds on the surface of the polymer: a fast reaction producing carboxylic acid, or a similar ketone, followed by a slower reaction that includes nitrogen from the atmosphere on the surface, producing amides from the ketones

Electromagnetic fields with electric and chiral magnetic conductivities in heavy ion collisions

Abstract: We derive analytic formula for electric and magnetic fields produced by a moving charged particle in a conducting medium with the electric conductivity $\sigma$ and the chiral magnetic conductivity $\sigma_{\chi}$. We use the Green function method and assume that $\sigma_{\chi}$ is much smaller than $\sigma$. The compact algebraic expressions for electric and magnetic fields without any integrals are obtained. They recover the Lienard-Wiechert formula at vanishing conductivities. Exact numerical solutions are also found for any values of $\sigma$ and $\sigma_{\chi}$ and are compared to analytic results. Both numerical and analytic results agree very well for the scale of high energy heavy ion collisions. The space-time profiles of electromagnetic fields in non-central Au+Au collisions have been calculated based on these analytic formula as well as exact numerical solutions.

Measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity inside jets from √s=8 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

Abstract: The number of charged particles inside jets is a widely used discriminant for identifying the quark or gluon nature of the initiating parton and is sensitive to both the perturbative and non-pertur ...

Effects of Charged Particles on Human Tumor Cells

Abstract: The use of charged particle therapy in cancer treatment is growing rapidly, in large part because the exquisite dose localization of charged particles allows for higher radiation doses to be given to tumor tissue while normal tissues are exposed to lower doses and decreased volumes of normal tissues are irradiated. In addition, charged particles heavier than protons have substantial potential clinical advantages because of their additional biological effects, including greater cell killing effectiveness, decreased radiation resistance of hypoxic cells in tumors, and reduced cell cycle dependence of radiation response. These biological advantages depend on many factors, such as endpoint, cell or tissue type, dose, dose rate or fractionation, charged particle type and energy, and oxygen concentration. This review summarizes the unique biological advantages of charged particle therapy and highlights recent research and areas of particular research needs, such as quantification of relative biological effectiveness (RBE) for various tumor types and radiation qualities, role of genetic background of tumor cells in determining response to charged particles, sensitivity of cancer stem-like cells to charged particles, role of charged particles in tumors with hypoxic fractions, and importance of fractionation, including use of hypofractionation, with charged particles.

Search for metastable heavy charged particles with large ionization energy loss in pp collisions at √s=13 TeV using the ATLAS experiment

Abstract: This paper presents a search for massive charged long-lived particles produced in pp collisions at root s = 13 TeV at the LHC using the ATLAS experiment. The data set used corresponds to an integra ...

Differential kinetic dynamics and heating of ions in the turbulent solar wind

Abstract: The solar wind plasma is a fully ionized and turbulent gas ejected by the outer layers of the solar corona at very high speed, mainly composed by protons and electrons, with a small percentage of h ...

Role of electrostatic interactions in the adsorption kinetics of nanoparticles at fluid–fluid interfaces

Abstract: The adsorption of particles to the fluid–fluid interface is a key factor for the stabilization of fluid–fluid interfaces such as those found in emulsions, foams and bijels. However, for the formation of stable particle–laden interfaces, the particles must migrate to the interface from the bulk. Recent studies show that the adsorption of particles to the interface formed during emulsification is influenced by the surface charge of the particles. To further investigate this phenomenon, we study the effect of the surface charge of the particle on the adsorption kinetics of particles to the oil–water interface. By suspending a drop of aqueous dispersion of charge stabilized nanoparticles in decane, the adsorption dynamics of particles to the decane–water interface is studied using the dynamic surface tension measurements. When the particles are highly charged (low salt), a negligible change in the interface tension is observed indicating that almost no particles are adsorbed. These results show that the charged particles experience an energy barrier when they approach the interface. But when the particle surface charge is screened by the addition of monovalent salt, a significant reduction in surface tension is observed indicating the migration and adsorption of particles to the decane–water interface. We estimate the effective diffusivity of particles to the interface by analyzing the initial decay in the measured surface tension by considering particle laden drops containing different amounts of salt using the modified Ward and Tordai theory. This effective diffusivity is used to calculate the energy barrier for the adsorption of particles to the interface. The energy barrier from the analysis of dynamic surface tension data agrees well with the concept of image charge repulsion which inhibits the adsorption of highly charged particles to the interface. By considering various types of relevant interactions, we derive an analytical expression that qualitatively captures the effect of the surface charge on the equilibrium surface coverage of particles at the drop surface.

Charged-particle distributions at low transverse momentum in √s = 13 TeV pp interactions measured with the ATLAS detector at the LHC

Abstract: Measurements of distributions of charged particles produced in proton-proton collisions with a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV are presented. The data were recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC ...

Global diffusion of cosmic rays in random magnetic fields

Abstract: The propagation of charged particles, including cosmic rays, in a partially ordered magnetic field is characterized by a diffusion tensor whose componentsdepend on the particle’s Larmor radius RL and the degree of order in the magnetic field. Most studies of the particle diffusion presuppose a scale separation between the mean and random magnetic fields (e.g., there being a pronounced minimum in the magnetic power spectrum at intermediate scales). Scale separation is often a good approximation in laboratory plasmas, but not in most astrophysical environments such as the interstellar medium (ISM). Modern simulations of the ISM have numerical resolution of order 1pc, so the Larmor radius of the cosmic rays that dominate in energy density is at least 10 6 times smaller than the resolved scales. Large-scale simulations of cosmic ray propagationin the ISM thus rely on oversimplifiedformsof the diffusiontensor. We take the first steps towards a more realistic description of cosmic ray diffusion for such simulations, obtaining direct estimates of the diffusion tensor from test particle simulations in random magnetic fields (with the Larmor radius scale being fully resolved), for a range of particle energies corresponding to 10 2 . RL/lc . 10 3 , where lc is the magnetic correlation length. We obtain explicit expressions for the cosmic ray diffusion tensor for RL/lc ≪ 1, that might be used in a sub-grid model of cosmic ray diffusion. The diffusion coefficients obtained are closely connected with existing transport theories that include the random walk of magnetic lines.

Correlations between jets and charged particles in PbPb and pp collisions at root s(NN)=2.76 TeV

Abstract: The quark-gluon plasma is studied via medium-induced changes to correlations between jets and charged particles in PbPb collisions compared to pp reference data. This analysis uses data sets from PbPb and pp collisions with integrated luminosities of 166 mu b(-1) and 5.3 pb(-1), respectively, collected at root s(NN) = 2.76 TeV. The angular distributions of charged particles are studied as a function of relative pseudorapidity (Delta eta) and relative azimuthal angle (Delta phi) with respect to reconstructed jet directions. Charged particles are correlated with all jets with transverse momentum (p(T)) above 120 GeV, and with the leading and subleading jets (the highest and second-highest in p(T), respectively) in a selection of back-to-back dijet events. Modifications in PbPb data relative to pp reference data are characterized as a function of PbPb collision centrality and charged particle p(T). A centrality-dependent excess of low-p(T) particles is present for all jets studied, and is most pronounced in the most central events. This excess of low-p(T) particles follows a Gaussian-like distribution around the jet axis, and extends to large relative angles of Delta eta approximate to 1 and Delta phi approximate to 1.

Diffusiophoresis of charged particles and diffusioosmosis of electrolyte solutions

Abstract: A review is presented on the theoretical basics and recent developments about the diffusiophoresis of charged particles and diffusioosmosis of electrolyte solutions driven by imposed electrolyte concentration gradients with particular emphasis on the principal analytical formulas and their physical interpretations. For diffusiophoresis, migrations of particles with thin polarized electric double layers but arbitrary zeta potentials and with arbitrary double layers but relatively low surface potentials are both discussed in detail, covering not only diffusiophoresis of single particles but also their motions near solid boundaries or other particles. For diffusioosmosis, fluid flows along single plane walls, in micro/nano-channels, and in porous media are considered, in which the solid walls may have arbitrary zeta potentials or surface charge densities, and both the effect of the lateral distribution of the diffuse ions and the relaxation effect in the double layers on the tangential electric field induced by the prescribed electrolyte concentration gradient are included.

Time-resolved absolute measurements by electro-optic effect of giant electromagnetic pulses due to laser-plasma interaction in nanosecond regime.

Abstract: We describe the first electro-optical absolute measurements of electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) generated by laser-plasma interaction in nanosecond regime. Laser intensities are inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) relevant and wavelength is 1054 nm. These are the first direct EMP amplitude measurements with the detector rather close and in direct view of the plasma. A maximum field of 261 kV/m was measured, two orders of magnitude higher than previous measurements by conductive probes on nanosecond regime lasers with much higher energy. The analysis of measurements and of particle-in-cell simulations indicates that signals match the emission of charged particles detected in the same experiment and suggests that anisotropic particle emission from target, X-ray photoionization and charge implantation on surfaces directly exposed to plasma, could be important EMP contributions. Significant information achieved on EMP features and sources is crucial for future plants of laser-plasma acceleration and inertial-confinement-fusion and for the use as effective plasma diagnostics. It also opens to remarkable applications of laser-plasma interaction as intense source of RF-microwaves for studies on materials and devices, EMP-radiation-hardening and electromagnetic compatibility. The demonstrated extreme effectivity of electric-fields detection in laser-plasma context by electro-optic effect, leads to great potential for characterization of laser-plasma interaction and generated Terahertz radiation.

Phase Separation of Binary Charged Particle Systems with Small Size Disparities using a Dusty Plasma.

Abstract: The phase separation in binary mixtures of charged particles has been investigated in a dusty plasma under microgravity on parabolic flights. A method based on the use of fluorescent dust particles was developed that allows us to distinguish between particles of slightly different size. A clear trend towards phase separation even for smallest size (charge) disparities is observed. The diffusion flux is directly measured from the experiment and uphill diffusion coefficients have been determined.

Charged particle transport in magnetic fields in EGSnrc.

Abstract: Purpose: To accurately and efficiently implement charged particle transport in a magnetic field in EGSnrc and validate the code for the use in phantom and ion chamber simulations. Methods: The effect of the magnetic field on the particle motion and position is determined using one- and three-point numerical integrations of the Lorentz force on the charged particle and is added to the condensed history calculation performed by the EGSnrc PRESTA-II algorithm. The code is tested with a Fano test adapted for the presence of magnetic fields. The code is compatible with all EGSnrc based applications, including egs++. Ion chamber calculations are compared to experimental measurements and the effect of the code on the efficiency and timing is determined. Results: Agreement with the Fano test’s theoretical value is obtained at the 0.1% level for large step-sizes and in magnetic fields as strong as 5 T. The NE2571 dose calculations achieve agreement with the experiment within 0.5% up to 1 T beyond which deviations up to 1.2% are observed. Uniform air gaps of 0.5 and 1 mm and a misalignment of the incoming photon beam with the magnetic field are found to produce variations in the normalized dose on the order of 1%. These findings necessitate a clear definition of all experimental conditions to allow for accurate Monte Carlo simulations. It is found that ion chamber simulation times are increased by only 38%, and a 10 × 10 × 6 cm3 water phantom with (3 mm)3 voxels experiences a 48% increase in simulation time as compared to the default EGSnrc with no magnetic field. Conclusions: The incorporation of the effect of the magnetic fields in EGSnrc provides the capability to calculate high accuracy ion chamber and phantom doses for the use in MRI-radiation systems. Further, the effect of apparently insignificant experimental details is found to be accentuated by the presence of the magnetic field.

Coherent cyclotron motion beyond Kohn/'s theorem

Abstract: Kohn’s theorem states that the electron cyclotron resonance is unaffected by many-body interactions in a static magnetic field. Yet, intense terahertz pulses do introduce Coulomb effects between electrons—holding promise for quantum control of electrons. In solids, the high density of charged particles makes many-body interactions a pervasive principle governing optics and electronics1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12. However, Walter Kohn found in 1961 that the cyclotron resonance of Landau-quantized electrons is independent of the seemingly inescapable Coulomb interaction between electrons2. Although this surprising theorem has been exploited in sophisticated quantum phenomena13,14,15, such as ultrastrong light–matter coupling16, superradiance17 and coherent control18, the complete absence of nonlinearities excludes many intriguing possibilities, such as quantum-logic protocols19. Here, we use intense terahertz pulses to drive the cyclotron response of a two-dimensional electron gas beyond the protective limits of Kohn’s theorem. Anharmonic Landau ladder climbing and distinct terahertz four- and six-wave mixing signatures occur, which our theory links to dynamic Coulomb effects between electrons and the positively charged ion background. This new context for Kohn’s theorem unveils previously inaccessible internal degrees of freedom of Landau electrons, opening up new realms of ultrafast quantum control for electrons.