Solid state experiments at very high pressures and strain rates are possible on high power laser facilities, albeit over brief intervals of time and spatial small scales. A new shockless drive has been developed on the Omega laser. VISAR measurements establish the high strain rates, 10{sup 7}-10{sup 8} s{sup -1}. Solid-state strength is inferred using the Rayleigh-Taylor instability as a ''diagnostic''. Temperature and compression in polycrystalline samples can be deduced from EXAFS measurements. Lattice response can be inferred from time-resolved x-ray diffraction. Deformation mechanisms can be identified by examining recovered samples. We will briefly review this new area of laser-based materials science research, then present a path forward for carrying these solid-state experiments to much higher pressures, P >> 1 Mbar, on the NIF laser facility.

We apply recent analytic solutions to the radiation diffusion equation to problems of interest for ICF hohlraums. The solutions provide quantitative values for absorbed energy which are of use for generating a desired radiation temperature vs. time within the hohlraum. Comparison of supersonic and subsonic solutions (heat front velocity faster or slower, respectively, than the speed of sound in the x-ray heated material) suggests that there may be some advantage in using high Z metallic foams as hohlraum wall material to reduce hydrodynamic losses, and hence, net absorbed energy by the walls. Analytic and numerical calculations suggest that the loss per unit area might be reduced {approx} 20% through use of foam hohlraum walls. Reduced hydrodynamic motion of the wall material may also reduce symmetry swings, as found for heavy ion targets.

Positronium (Ps) is simulated using Path Integral Monte Carlo (PIMC). This method can reproduce the results of previous simple theories in which a single quantum particle is used to represent Ps within an idealized pore. In addition, the calculations treat the e{sup -} and e{sup +} of Ps exactly and realistically model interactions with solid atoms, thereby correcting and extending the simpler theory. They study the pick-off lifetime of o-Ps and the internal contact density, {kappa}, which controls the self-annihilation behavior, for Ps in model voids (spherical pores), defects in a solid (argon), and microporous solids (zeolites).

We present a new x-ray detection technique based on optical measurement of the effects of x-ray absorption and electron hole pair creation in a direct band-gap semiconductor. The electron-hole pairs create a frequency dependent shift in optical refractive index and absorption. This is sensed by simultaneously directing an optical carrier beam through the same volume of semiconducting medium that has experienced an xray induced modulation in the electron-hole population. If the operating wavelength of the optical carrier beam is chosen to be close to the semiconductor band-edge, the optical carrier will be modulated significantly in phase and amplitude. This approach should be simultaneously capable of very high sensitivity and excellent temporal response, even in the difficult high-energy xray regime. At xray photon energies near 10 keV and higher, we believe that sub-picosecond temporal responses are possible with near single xray photon sensitivity. The approach also allows for the convenient and EMI robust transport of high-bandwidth information via fiber optics. Furthermore, the technology can be scaled to imaging applications. The basic physics of the detector, implementation considerations, and preliminary experimental data are presented and discussed.

An experimental campaign to study hohlraum-driven ignition-like double-shell target performance using the Omega laser facility has begun. These targets are intended to incorporate as many ignition-like properties of the proposed National Ignition Facility (NIF) double-shell ignition design [1,2] as possible, given the energy constraints of the Omega laser. In particular, this latest generation of Omega double-shells is nominally predicted to produce over 99% of the (clean) DD neutron yield from the compressional or stagnation phase of the implosion as required in the NIF ignition design. By contrast, previous double-shell experience on Omega [3] was restricted to cases where a significant fraction of the observed neutron yield was produced during the earlier shock convergence phase where the effects of mix are deemed negligibly small. These new targets are specifically designed to have optimized fall-line behavior for mitigating the effects of pusher-fuel mix after deceleration onset and, thereby, providing maximum neutron yield from the stagnation phase. Experimental results from this recent Omega ignition-like double-shell implosion campaign show favorable agreement with two-dimensional integrated hohlraum simulation studies when enhanced (gold) hohlraum M-band (2-5 keV) radiation is included at a level consistent with observations.

We employed the two detector coincident Doppler Broadening Technique (coPAS) to investigate Ag, Au and Ag/Au alloy quantum dots of varying sizes which were deposited in thin layers on glass slides. The Ag quantum dots range from 2 to 3 nm in diameter, while the Ag/Au alloy quantum dots exhibit Ag cores of 2 nm and 3 nm and Au shells of varying thickness. We investigate the possibility of positron confinement in the Ag core due to positron affinity differences between Ag and Au. We describe the results and their significance to resolving the issue of whether positrons annihilate within the quantum dot itself or whether surface and positron escape effects play an important role.

From the history of the Commission, it began with a large number of members. It was found that it was difficult to gain agreement by correspondence between such a large group. A smaller group was elected to operate by correspondence and make decisions. It operated successfully for a half century in this manner. With funding available, the Commission membership grew larger but they.discussed all matters face to face at Commission meetings. Subcommittees were appointed to pursue specialized topics and members reported and discussed their subcommittee results directly to the Commission at the face to face meetings. With the change in the bylaws, future face to face meetings will no longer be an option for the members of the Commission and its subcommittees, unless all members provide their own funds or those of their host institutions. The funding and membership restrictions are all serious topics, which require a thorough discussion.

Understanding magnetic structures and properties of patterned and ordinary magnetic films at nanometer length-scale is the area of immense technological and fundamental scientific importance. The key feature to such success is the ability to achieve visual quantitative information on domain configurations with a maximum ''magnetic'' resolution. Several methods have been developed to meet these demands (Kerr and Faraday effects, differential phase contrast microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, SEMPA etc.). In particular, the modern off-axis electron holography allows retrieval of the electron-wave phase shifts down to 2{pi}/N (with typical N = 10-20, approaching in the limit N {approx} 100) in TEM equipped with field emission gun, which is already successfully employed for studies of magnetic materials at nanometer scale. However, it remains technically demanding, sensitive to noise and needs highly coherent electron sources. As possible alternative we developed a new method of Lorentz phase microscopy [1,2] based on the Fourier solution [3] of magnetic transport-of-intensity (MTIE) equation. This approach has certain advantages, since it is less sensitive to noise and does not need high coherence of the source required by the holography. In addition, it can be realized in any TEM without basic hardware changes. Our approach considers the electron-wave refraction in …

Use of the National Ignition Facility to also output frequency-doubled (.53{micro}m) laser light would allow significantly more energy to be delivered to targets as well as significantly greater bandwidth for beam smoothing. This green light option could provide access to new ICF target designs and a wider range of plasma conditions for other applications. The wavelength scaling of the interaction physics is a key issue in assessing this green light option. Wavelength scaling theory based on the collisionless plasma approximation is explored, and some limitations associated with plasma collisionality are examined. Important features of the wavelength scaling are tested using the current data base, which is growing. It appears that, with modest restrictions, .53{micro}m light couples with targets as well as .35{micro}m light does. A more quantitative understanding of the beneficial effects of SSD on the interaction physics is needed for both .53{micro}m and .35{micro}m light.

It has recently been demonstrated that femtosecond-laser generated proton beams may be focused. These protons, following expansion of the Debye sheath, emit off the inner concave surface of hemispherical shell targets irradiated at their outer convex pole. The sheath normal expansion produces a rapidly converging proton beam. Such focused proton beams provide a new and powerful means to achieve isochoric heating to high temperatures. They are potentially important for measuring the equation of state of materials at high energy density and may provide an alternative route to fast ignition. We present the first results of proton focusing and heating experiments performed at the Petawatt power level at the Gekko XII Laser Facility at ILE Osaka Japan. Solid density Aluminum slabs are placed in the proton focal region at various lengths. The degree of proton focusing is measured via XUV imaging of Planckian emission of the heated zone. Simultaneous with the XUV measurement a streaked optical imaging technique, HISAK, gave temporal optical emission images of the focal region. Results indicate excellent coupling between the laser-proton conversion and subsequent heating.

A new thermal neutron imaging system has been constructed, based on a 20-cm x 17-cm He-3 position-sensitive detector with spatial resolution better than 1 mm. New compact custom-designed position-decoding electronics are employed, as well as high-precision cadmium masks with Modified Uniformly Redundant Array patterns. Fast Fourier Transform algorithms are incorporated into the deconvolution software to provide rapid conversion of shadowgrams into real images. The system demonstrates the principles for locating sources of thermal neutrons by a stand-off technique, as well as visualizing the shapes of nearby sources. The data acquisition time could potentially be reduced two orders of magnitude by building larger detectors.

A beam splitter to create two separated parallel beams is a critical unit of a pencil beam interferometer, for example the long trace profiler (LTP). The operating principle of the beam splitter can be based upon either amplitude-splitting (AS) or wavefront-splitting (WS). For precision measurements with the LTP, an equal optical path system with two parallel beams is desired. Frequency drift of the light source in a non-equal optical path system will cause the interference fringes to drift. An equal optical path prism beam splitter with an amplitude-splitting (AS-EBS) beam splitter and a phase shift beam splitter with a wavefront-splitting (WS-PSBS) are introduced. These beam splitters are well suited to the stability requirement for a pencil beam interferometer due to the characteristics of monolithic structure and equal optical path. Several techniques to produce WS-PSBS by hand are presented. In addition, the WS-PSBS using double thin plates, made from microscope cover plates, has great advantages of economy, convenience, availability and ease of adjustment over other beam splitting methods. Comparison of stability measurements made with the AS-EBS, WS-PSBS, and other beam splitters is presented.

We developed a reduced description of kinetic effects that is included in a fluid model of stimulated Brillouin backscattering (SBS) in low Z plasmas (e.g. He, Be). Following hybrid-PIC simulations, the modified ion distribution function is parametrized by the width {delta} of the plateau created by trapping around the phase velocity of the SBS-driven acoustic wave. An evolution equation is derived for {delta}, which affects SBS through a frequency shift and a reduced Landau damping. This model recovers the linear Landau damping value for small waves and the time-asymptotic nonlinear frequency shift calculated by Morales and O'Neil. Finally we compare our reduced model with Bzohar simulations of a Be plasma representative of experiments that have shown evidence of ion trapping.

We report two investigations conducted by using photoconductivity decay lifetime measurement. The first is crystalline silicon (c-Si) surface passivation using quinhydrone/methanol (QM) for bulk minority-carrier lifetime measurement. QM shows great promise as a substitute for iodine-based solutions because of its superior stability and minimized surface-recombination velocity in silicon. The second is interface passivation in an amorphous silicon (a-Si)/c-Si heterojunction structure as a parallel effort to develop and optimize heterojunction c-Si solar cells by hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD). A thin buffer layer inserted between the a-Si and the c-Si substrate has been found to be much more effective than a directly deposited a-Si/c-Si interface in reducing the interface recombination velocity.

Imperfections in PAMS mandrels critically govern the quality of final ICF targets. Imperfections in the mandrels can have a wide range of origins. Here, they present observations of 3 types of imperfections, and data to support the proposal that hydrodynamic factors during the curing of the mandrel are potential causes of these imperfections.

The thickness of a semiconductor wafer can critically influence mechanical and/or electronic yield of the device(s) fabricated on it. For most microelectronic (surface) devices, the thickness of a wafer is important primarily for mechanical reasons--to provide control and stability of devices by minimizing stresses resulting from various device-fabrication processes. However, for minority-carrier devices, such as solar cells, the entire thickness of the wafer participates in the optical and electronic performance of the device. In either case, control of wafer thickness through careful measurement is a fundamental requirement in the commercial fabrication of electronic devices.

We report on a solid-source method to introduce dopants or controlled impurities directly into the melt zone during float-zone growth of single- or multicrystalline ingots. Unlike the Czochralski (CZ) growth situation, float-zoning allows control over the levels of some impurities (O, C) that cannot be avoided in CZ growth or ingot casting. But aside from impurity studies, the method turns out to be very practical for routine p-type doping in semicontinuous growth processes such as float-zoning, electromagnetic casting, or melt-replenished ribbon growth. Equations governing dopant incorporation, dopant withdrawal, and N co-doping are presented and experimentally verified. Doping uniformity and doping initiation and withdrawal time constants are also reported. The method uses nontoxic source materials and is flexible with quick turnaround times for changing doping levels. Boron p-type doping with nitrogen co-doping is particularly attractive for silicon lattice strengthening against process-induced dislocation motion and also allows greater freedom from incorporation of Si self-interstitial cluster or A and B swirl-type defects and"D"-type microdefects than nitrogen-free p-type material.

Spatially Resolved X-Ray Diffraction (SRXRD) has been used to identify a previously unobserved low temperature ferrite ({delta})/austenite({gamma}) phase transformation in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of 2205 Duplex Stainless Steel (DSS) welds. In this ''ferrite dip'' transformation, the ferrite transforms to austenite during heating to peak temperatures on the order of 750 C, and re-transforms to ferrite during cooling, resulting in a ferrite volume fraction equivalent to that in the base metal. Time Resolved X-Ray Diffraction (TRXRD) and laser dilatometry measurements during Gleeble{reg_sign} thermal simulations are performed in order to verify the existence of this low temperature phase transformation. Thermodynamic and kinetic models for phase transformations, including both local-equilibrium and para-equilibrium diffusion controlled growth, show that diffusion of substitutional alloying elements does not provide a reasonable explanation for the experimental observations. On the other hand, the diffusion of interstitial alloying elements may be rapid enough to explain this behavior. Based on both the experimental and modeling results, two mechanisms for the ''ferrite dip'' transformation, including the formation and decomposition of secondary austenite and an athermal martensitic-type transformation of ferrite to austenite, are considered.

Recent results pertaining to nuclear structure from neutron-induced reactions on {sup 90}Zr, {sup 193}Ir, {sup 196}Pt and {sup 238}U are presented. The data were taken using the GEANIE spectrometer comprised of 26 high-purity Ge detectors with 20 BGO escape-suppression shields. The broad-spectrum pulsed neutron source of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's WNR facility provided neutrons in the energy range from 0.6 to 200 MeV. The time-of-flight technique was used to determine the incident neutron energies. Results from shell model calculations for {sup 90}Zr and from IBM-2 calculations for {sup 196}Pt are generally in good agreement with the observed spectrum of excited states.

We have recently developed a spectrum imaging system for cathodoluminescence (CLsi) at NREL, which has been successfully applied to different semiconductors. The advanced multi-channel detection required for CLsi consists of an ultrafast spectrum acquisition triggered by the electron beam during scanning. Spectra are acquired either with a Roper Scientific silicon EEV-1340400 cryogenic CCD or an InGaAs 5121 cryogenic PDA, depending on the range of spectral emission. Acquisition times by pixel are typically of 10 to 20 ms (180 seconds for a 100100 pixel image). The output of spectrum imaging measurements is thus represented by a series of emission spectra. CCDIMAG, the software developed for CLsi, processes this spectrum series to reconstruct monochromatic images or extract the spectrum from any area on the image. This system is operated on the JEOL-5800 scanning electron microscope (SEM). CLsi measurements can be performed at temperatures between 15 K and 300 K. A low-vibration ARS Displex DE-202 closed-circuit cryostat provides cryogenic operation. The interface for vibration isolation has been developed to be compatible with SEM observation.

Single-junction thin-film silicon solar cells require large grain sizes to ensure adequate photovoltaic performance. Using 2D silicon solar cell simulations on the quantitative effects of grain-boundary recombination on device performance, we have found that the acceptable value of effective grain boundary recombination velocity is almost inversely proportional to grain size. For example, in a polycrystalline silicon thin film with an intragrain bulk minority-carrier lifetime of 1 s, a recombination velocity of 104 cm/s is adequate if the grain is 20 m across, whereas a very low recombination velocity of 103 cm/s must be accomplished to achieve reasonable performance for a 2-m grain. For this reason, large grain size on the order of hundreds of m is currently a prerequisite for efficient solar cells, although a more effective grain-boundary passivation technique may be developed in the future.

An extensive study of the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in helium-hydrogen plasmas has been performed using a gas jet at the Janus Laser Facility. We observe three regions of reflectivity by varying the probe intensity from 10{sup 14} to 10{sup 16}: saturated region, linear region, and near SBS threshold region. In the linear regime, adding small amounts of H to a He plasma reduces the SBS reflectivity by a factor of 4.

We present, as a different perspective on optimization, an expert system for optimization of optical systems that can be used in conjunction with damped least squared methods to find minima for specific design forms. Expert system optimization differs from global optimization in that it preserves the basic structure of the optical system and limits its search for a minima to a relatively small portion of the design space. In general, the high density of local minima obscures the general trend of the merit function in the region of interest for systems with a large number of variables and constraints. Surprisingly, there may be a potential decrease of an order a magnitude in the merit function for a region of solution space. While global optimization is well-suited to identifying design forms of interest, expert system optimization can be used for in-depth optimization of such forms. An expert system based upon such techniques was used to obtain the winning entry for the 2002 IODC lens design problem. The expert system used is discussed along with other design examples.

We describe experiments investigating the simultaneous backscattering from 351 nm (3w) and 527 nm (2w) interaction beams in a long scalelength laser-produced plasma for intensities {le} 1 x 10{sup 15} W/cm{sup 2}. Measurements show comparable scattering fractions for both color probe beams. Time resolved spectra of stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering (SRS and SBS) indicate the effects of laser intensity and smoothing as well as plasma composition and parameters on the scattering levels.