Diagnosing the evolution of laser-generated high energy density (HED) systems is fundamental to develop a correct understanding of the behavior of matter under extreme conditions. Talbot-Lau interferometry constitutes a promising tool, since it permits simultaneous single-shot X-ray radiography and phase-contrast imaging of dense plasmas. We present the results of an experiment at OMEGA EP that aims to probe the ablation front of a laser-irradiated foil using a Talbot-Lau X-ray interferometer. A polystyrene (CH) foil was irradiated by a laser of 133 J, 1 ns and probed with 8 keV laser-produced backlighter radiation from Cu foils driven by a short-pulse laser (153 J, 11 ps). The ablation front interferograms were processed in combination with a set of reference images obtained ex situ using phase-stepping. We managed to obtain attenuation and phase-shift images of a laser-irradiated foil for electron densities above 10(22 )cm(-3). These results showcase the capabilities of Talbot-Lau X-ray diagnostic methods to diagnose HED laser-generated plasmas through high-resolution imaging.

The evolution of plasma parameters over confinement timescales is a key consideration for any confinement concept, especially the relatively short-lived Field Reversed Configuration (FRC). While it is challenging to model dynamic systems far from equilibrium, it is often possible to model the evolution and decay of FRCs through a progression of quasi-equilibrium states using simple analytic and phenomenological models. This approach can elucidate historically observed trends in decaying FRCs and be used to predict plasma parameters throughout slowly-varying dynamic processes, such as adiabatic expansion/compression. Limitations of this method are also discussed and several example cases are presented.

During the service life of plasma-facing components, they are exposed to cyclic stationary and transient thermal loads. The former causes thermal fatigue and potentially detachment between the plasma-facing material tungsten and the structural Cu-based materials (divertor) and steel (first wall). The latter causes surface roughening, cracking, or even melting, which could drastically increase the erosion rate. Employing thin flexible W wires (Ww) with a diameter of a few hundred µm can reduce mechanical stresses, and we demonstrated their crack resilience against transient loads within first proof of principle studies. Here, status and future paths towards the large-scale production of such Ww assemblies, including techniques for realizing feasible joints with Cu, steel, or W, are presented. Using wire-based laser metal deposition, we were able to create a homogeneous and shallow infiltration of about 200 µm of the Ww assembly with steel. A high-heat-flux test on such a µ-brush (10 × 10 × 5 mm3 Ww on a ~0.5 mm thick steel layer) using 5 MW/m2 for 2000 cycles was performed without loss of any wire. Microstructural examination after and infrared analysis during the test showed no significant signs of degradation of the joint.

of waste and recyclable material. The smart bins also provide a method for ensuring the most efficient pick up times for waste facilities. This is done with the use of trash bin sensors, thus, overtime saving money and reducing CO2 emissions. Some countries are also finding ways on a larger scale to reduce waste and encourage environmentally friendly practices. Facilities are reducing waste output through waste recycling, and they are using the waste-to-energy techniques to supply cities with the majority of needed energy. The adoption and encouragement of technological advances in waste reduction and energy restoration can lead to a diminished need for hazardous waste treatment plants, and have a significant impact on preserving our resources, protecting the environment, and simultaneously reducing costs over time.

than graphene quantum dot (GQD) modified ZnO NRs based detector and 35 times higher than pristine ZnO NRs detector. NGQD modified detectors also showed higher responsivity (∼158 A/W), detectivity (8.7 × 10{sup 12} Hz{sup 1/2}/W) at 340 nm wavelength. The response and recovery times of the detector is very fast compared to GQD modified and pristine ZnO nanorod based detectors. Our UV detector also demonstrated higher photocurrent even at lower intensity range of incident light.

The adaptation of colloidal quantum dots loaded within a polymer for use in nondestructive testing can be used as an optical strain gauge due to the nanomaterial's strain sensing properties. In this paper, we utilized InP/ZnS colloidal quantum dots loaded within a polymer matrix applied onto the surface of a dog-bone foil precoated with an epoxy. By employing an empirical formula and a calibration factor, there is a propinquity between both the calculated optical strain and mechanical stress-strain reference data. Fluctuations are observed, which may be due to both additional strain responses not seen by the mechanical data and quantum dot blinking. These results and methods show the applied use of this novel optical nondestructive testing technique for a variety of structures, especially for structures that operate in harsh environments.

This study measures the voltage at which flashover occurs in compressed air for a variety of dielectric materials and lengths in a uniform field for DC voltages up to 100 kV. Statistical time lag is recorded and characterized, displaying a roughly exponential dependence on breakdown voltage. Of the materials tested, acrylic is observed to be the most resistant to flashover. These data are intended to facilitate the design of compressed-air insulated high voltage systems as an alternative to SF6 insulated systems.

A colloidal quantum dot loaded polymer coated onto the surface of a sample pre-coated with epoxy was found to linearly change photoluminescence intensity around a 611.5 nm peak while under tensile strain. This peak was the epoxy's photoluminescence emission wavelength while the wavelengths around it were attributed to the colloidal quantum dot loaded polymer. From the spectra emitted from both the epoxy and the colloidal quantum dot loaded polymer, an empirical relation was made to calculate the changes in photoluminescence intensity between them. A calibration was then devised to create an optical stress-strain curve. The relationship found between both the optical and mechanical stress-strain curves indicated that this measurement technique followed the sample towards failure in the plastic region better than when only measuring from a colloidal quantum dot loaded polymer peak. For the first time, the results demonstrated here show that an epoxy's photoluminescence emission peak utilized in tandem with colloidal quantum dot loaded polymer can be used for strain sensing. Potential applications that could benefit from this finding would be: quality control, strain gauge for systems, and materials science.

We argue that it is essential for the fusion energy program to identify an imagination-capturing critical mission by developing a unique product which could command the marketplace. We lay out the logic that this product is a fusion rocket engine, to enable a rapid response capable of deflecting an incoming comet, to prevent its impact on the planet Earth, in defense of our population, infrastructure, and civilization. As a side benefit, deep space solar system exploration, with greater speed and orders-of-magnitude greater payload mass would also be possible.

A novel homodyne interferometer and analysis method are described which use orthogonal polarization components to measure large rapid changes in interferometric phase, in quadrature, in the presence of strong time-dependent attenuation of the scene beam. This approach overcomes the major sources of error associated with homodyne interferometry (sensitivity nulls, ambiguity in the direction of phase change when passing through a sensitivity null, and intolerance to beam power variations) while maintaining its intrinsic simplicity and speed, enabling extremely high-bandwidth, high-dynamic range measurements limited only by available detector technology. Using this technique, electron density in a magnetized plasma shock was measured with unprecedented bandwidth and resolution, revealing short-timescale features not previously observed.

Using the free-free continuum self-emission spectrum at photon energies above 15 keV is one of the most promising concepts for assessing the electron temperature in ICF experiments. However, these photons are due to suprathermal electrons whose mean-free-path is much larger than thermal, making their distribution deviate from Maxwellian in a finite-size hot-spot. The first study of the free-free X-ray emission from an ICF implosion is conducted with the kinetic modifications to the electron distribution accounted for. These modifications are found to result in qualitatively new features in the hard X-ray spectral continuum. Inference of the electron temperature as if the emitting electrons are Maxwellian is shown to give a lower value than the actual one.