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Quantitative Atomic-Site Analysis of Functional Dopants/Point Defects in Crystalline Materials by Electron-Channeling-Enhanced Microanalysis
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Observation of Shell Structure, Electronic Screening, and Energetic Limiting in Sparks.
A Bataller1, S Putterman1, S Pree1
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|September 3, 2016
Summary
Researchers discovered that spark discharges in xenon form hollow shells, not solid channels. This finding, observed on the nanosecond scale, reveals key insights into dense plasma physics.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- High-Energy Density Physics
Background:
- Spark discharges are crucial in various applications.
- Understanding their formation dynamics at high pressures is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the formation of micron-sized spark discharges in high-pressure xenon.
- Characterize the energy distribution and physical structure of these sparks on nanosecond timescales.
Main Methods:
- Analyzing shock wave expansion dynamics to determine energy per length.
- Measuring spark channel surface temperature.
- Utilizing nanosecond time-resolved diagnostics.
Main Results:
- Spark energy per length scales linearly with spark radius.
- Spark channel surface temperature remains constant.
- Spark channels are energetically hollow shells approximately 20 μm thick.
- Energy per nucleus is ~15 eV, independent of size and density.
- Collective screening processes explain high electron density and opacity.
Conclusions:
- Spark channels in high-pressure xenon form hollow shells.
- Nanosecond spark measurements offer insights into strongly correlated plasmas.
- Collective screening is a key mechanism in dense plasmas.
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