Two mathematical methods are utilized (one a form of adiabatic approximation, and the other closely related to the Zener method from collision theory) in order to calculate the probability of three-photon ionization when strong counter propagating pulses are tuned very near a two-photon resonant state. In this case the inverted populations predicted by Grischkowsky and Loy for smooth laser pulses lead to larger ionization probabilities than would be obtained for a square pulse of equal peak power and energy per pulse. The line shape of the ionization probability is also quite unusual in this problem. A sharp onset in the ionization probability occurs as the lasers are tuned through the exact unperturbed two-photon resonance. Under proper conditions, the change can be from a very small value to one near unity. It occurs in a very small frequency range determined by the larger of the residual Doppler effect and the reciprocal duration of the pulse. Thus, the line shape retains a Doppler-free aspect even at power levels such that power broadening would dwarf even the full Doppler effect in the case of a square pulse of equal energy and peak power. The same mathematical methods have been used to calculate line …

A comprehensive theoretical study has been carried out on the flow behavior of both single and multiple phase non-Newtonian fluids in porous media. This work is divided into three parts: development of numerical and analytical solutions; theoretical studies of transient flow of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media; and applications of well test analysis and displacement efficiency evaluation to field problems. A fully implicit, integral finite difference model has been developed for simulation of non-Newtonian and Newtonian fluid flow through porous media. Several commonly-used rheological models of power-law and Bingham plastic non-Newtonian fluids have been incorporated in the simulator. A Buckley-Leverett type analytical solution for one-dimensional, immiscible displacement involving non-Newtonian fluids in porous media has been developed. An integral method is also presented for the study of transient flow of Bingham fluids in porous media. In addition, two well test analysis methods have been developed for analyzing pressure transient tests of power-law and Bingham fluids, respectively. Applications are included to demonstrate this new technology. The physical mechanisms involved in immiscible displacement with non-Newtonian fluids in porous media have been studied using the Buckley-Leverett type analytical solution. In another study, an idealized fracture model has been used to obtain some insights into …

A preliminary measurement of the t{bar t} production cross section at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV is presented. The {mu}-plus-jets final state is analyzed in a data sample of 94 pb{sup -1} and a total of 14 events are selected with a background expectation of 11.7 {+-} 1.9 events. The measurement yields: {sigma}{sub p{bar p} {yields} t{bar t} + X} = 2.4{sub -3.5}{sup +4.2}(stat.){sub -2.6}{sup +2.5}(syst.) {+-} 0.3(lumi.) pb. The analysis, being part of a larger effort to re-observe the top quark in Tevatron Run II data and to measure the production cross section, is combined with results from all available analyses channels. The combined result yields: {sigma}{sub p{bar p}} {yields} t{bar t} + X = 8.1{sub -2.0}{sup +2.2}(stat.){sub -1.4}{sup +1.6}(syst.) {+-} 0.8(lumi.) pb.

A measurement of the inclusive Z/{gamma}* {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -} cross section for M{sub {mu}{mu}} > 40 GeV at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV is presented. The measurement is performed using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 147.7 pb{sup -1}, collected with the D0 detector at the Tevatron, Fermilab, between September 2002 and October 2003. A total of 14352 di-muon events are selected and a final result of {sigma}(Z/{gamma}*) = 327.8 {+-} 3.4(stat.) {+-} 8.4(syst.) {+-} 21.3(lumi.) pb is obtained. Correcting the number of di-muon events by a factor of 0.885 {+-} 0.015 for the contribution from pure {gamma}* exchange and Z/{gamma}* interference, the inclusive Z {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -} cross section is found to be: {sigma}(Z) = 290.1 {+-} 3.0(stat.) {+-} 7.4(syst.) {+-} 18.9(lumi.) pb. Finally, comparisons of W and Z boson p{sub T} distributions as measured with D0 during Run I of the Tevatron are compared to HERWIG and MC{at}NLO predictions. Relevant parameters in the simulations are tuned to obtain the best possible fit to the data. An excellent agreement is found for both HERWIG and MC{at}NLO.

This dissertation presents a preliminary measurement of the B{sup {+-}} lifetime through the full reconstruction of its decay chain, and the identification of top quark production in the electron plus jets channel using the displaced vertex b-tagging method. Its main contribution is the development, implementation and optimization of the Kalman filter algorithm for vertex reconstruction, and of the displaced vertex technique for tagging jets arising from b quark fragmentation, both of which have now become part of the standard D0 reconstruction package. These two algorithms fully exploit the new state-of-the-art tracking detectors, recently installed as part of the Run 2 D0 upgrade project. The analysis is based on data collected during Run 2a at the Fermilab Tevatron p{bar p} Hadron Collider up to April 2003, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 60 pb{sup -1}. The measured B meson lifetime of {tau} = 1.57 {+-} 0.18 ps is in agreement with the current world average, with a competitive level of precision expected when the full data sample becomes available.

Using the data collected with the D0 detector at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV with integrated luminosities of about 180 pb{sup -1}, we have measured the ratio of inclusive cross sections for p{bar p} {yields} Z + b-jet to p{bar p} {yields} Z + jet production. The inclusive Z + b-jet reaction is an important background to searches for the Higgs boson in associated ZH production at the Fermilab Tevatron collider and is sensitive to the b quark content of the proton. This thesis describes our measurement which is performed using the dimuon decay channel of the Z boson, i.e. Z {yields} {mu}{sup +}{mu}{sup -}. The ratio in the dimuon channel is measured to be 1.86 {+-} 0.44(stat){sub -0.28}{sup +0.24}(syst)% for hadronic jets with transverse momenta p{sub T} > 20 GeV/c and pseudorapidities |{eta}| < 2.5, consistent with next-to-leading order predictions of the standard model. This measurement is also combined with the result of the same ratio using the dielectron decay of the Z boson, and the combined measurement of the ratio of cross-sections yields 2.11 {+-} 0.41(stat){sub -0.25}{sup +0.22}(syst)%. In addition to our measurement, we also study optimization procedures for the search of Z({mu} {bar {mu}})+b{bar b} signal at D0. …

The direct observation of the top quark was first achieved at the Tevatron proton anti-proton collider at Fermilab. This discovery completed the third generation quark sector where the top quark is expected to accompany the bottom quark in the weak isospin doublet. This dissertation discusses the experimental verification of the production cross section as predicted by the Standard Model. A measurement of the t{bar t} production cross section using 107.9 pb{sup -1} of p{bar p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.96 TeV collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab between March of 2003 and June of 2003 is presented. The measurement focuses on the t{bar t} production in the ''lepton plus jets'' final state in which one of the W bosons from the t{bar t} decay subsequently decays leptonically to an electron or a muon, and the other decays hadronically. The B-tagging technique which utilizes the precision silicon detector tracking is used to enhance the signal for t{bar t} events relative to the background through identification of the bottom quark from its measurable lifetime. The t{bar t} production cross section is measured to be {sigma}{sub t{bar t}} = 4.5 {+-} 1.4(stat) {+-} 0.8(sys) pb.

We have demonstrated that a bulk absorber coupled to a TES can serve as a good gamma-ray spectrometer. Our measured energy resolution of 70 eV at 60 keV is among the best measurements in this field. We have also shown excellent agreement between the noise predictions and measured noise. Despite this good result, we noted that our detector design has shortcomings with a low count rate and vulnerabilities with the linearity of energy response. We addressed these issues by implementation of an active negative feedback bias. We demonstrated the effects of active bias such as additional pulse shortening, reduction of TES change in temperature during a pulse, and linearization of energy response at low energy. Linearization at higher energy is possible with optimized heat capacities and thermal conductivities of the microcalorimeter. However, the current fabrication process has low control and repeatability over the thermal properties. Thus, optimization of the detector performance is difficult until the fabrication process is improved. Currently, several efforts are underway to better control the fabrication of our gamma-ray spectrometers. We are developing a full-wafer process to produce TES films. We are investigating the thermal conductivity and surface roughness of thicker SiN membranes. We are exploring alternative …

Analytic calculations of the magnetic fields available to magnetic diagnostics are performed for tokamaks with circular and elliptical cross sections. The explicit dependence of the magnetic fields on the poloidal beta and internal inductances is sought. For tokamaks with circular cross sections, Shafranov`s results are reproduced and extended. To first order in the inverse aspect ratio expansion of the magnetic fields, only a specific combination of beta poloidal and internal inductance is found to be measurable. To second order in the expansion, the measurements of beta poloidal and the internal inductance are demonstrated to be separable but excessively sensitive to experimental error. For tokamaks with elliptical cross sections, magnetic measurements are found to determine beta poloidal and the internal inductance separately. A second harmonic component of the zeroth order field in combination with the dc harmonic of the zeroth order field specifies the internal inductance. The internal inductance in hand, measurement of the first order, first harmonic component of the magnetic field then determined beta poloidal. The degeneracy implicit in Shafranov`s result (i.e. that only a combination of beta poloidal and internal inductance is measurable for a circular plasma cross section) reasserts itself as the elliptic results are collapsed to …

This dissertation work includes a series of experimental measurements in a search for better understanding of high temperature (10{sup 4}-10{sup 6}K) and high density plasmas (10{sup 22}-10{sup 24}cm{sup {minus}3}) produced by irradiating a transparent solid target with high intensity (10{sup 13} - 10{sup 15}W/cm{sup 2}) and subpicosecond (10{sup {minus}12}-10{sup {minus}13}s) laser pulses. Experimentally, pump and probe schemes with both frontside (vacuum-plasma side) and backside (plasma-bulk material side) probes are used to excite and interrogate or probe the plasma evolution, thereby providing useful insights into the plasma formation mechanisms. A series of different experiments has been carried out so as to characterize plasma parameters and the importance of various nonlinear processes. Experimental evidence shows that electron thermal conduction is supersonic in a time scale of the first picosecond after laser irradiation, so fast that it was often left unresolved in the past. The experimental results from frontside probing demonstrate that upon irradiation with a strong (pump) laser pulse, a thin high temperature ({approximately}40eV) super-critical density ({approximately}10{sup 23}/cm{sup 3}) plasma layer is quickly formed at the target surface which in turn becomes strongly reflective and prevents further transmission of the remainder of the laser pulse. In the bulk region behind the surface, …

Despite the apparent simplicity of controlled fusion, there are many phenomena which have prevented its achievement. One phenomenon is laser-plasma instabilities. An investigation of one such instability, stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), is reported here. SBS is a parametric process whereby an electromagnetic wave (the parent wave) decays into another electromagnetic wave and an ion acoustic wave (the daughter waves). SBS impedes controlled fusion since it can scatter much or all of the incident laser light, resulting in poor drive symmetry and inefficient laser-plasma coupling. It is widely believed that SBS becomes convectively unstable--that is, it grows as it traverses the plasma. Though it has yet to be definitively tested, convective theory is often invoked to explain experimental observations, even when one or more of the theory`s assumptions are violated. In contrast, the experiments reported here not only obeyed the assumptions of the theory, but were also conducted in plasmas with peak densities well below quarter-critical density. This prevented other competing or coexisting phenomena from occurring, thereby providing clearly interpretable results. These are the first SBS experiments that were designed to be both a clear test of linear convective theory and pertinent to controlled fusion research. A crucial part of this …

In a collaborative effort by SSRL, AET Associates, and Varian Associates, a high-brightness microwave electron gun using a thermionic cathode has been designed, built, tested, and installed for use with the SSRL 150 MeV linear accelerator. This thesis discusses the physics behind the design and operation of the gun and associated systems, presenting predictions and experimental tests of the gun`s performance. The microwave gun concept is of increasing interest due to its promise of providing higher-current, lower-emittance electron beams than possible from conventional, DC gun technology. In a DC guns, accelerating gradients are less than 8 MV/m, while those in a microwave gun can exceed 100 MV/m, providing much more rapid initial acceleration, thereby reducing the deleterious effects of space-charge. Microwave guns produce higher momentum beams than DC guns, thus lessening space-charge effects during subsequent beam transport. Typical DC guns produce kinetic energies of 80--400 KeV, compared to 2--3 MeV for the SSRL microwave gun. ``State-of-the-art`` microwave gun designs employ laser-driven photocathodes, providing excellent performance but with greater complexity and monetary costs. A thermionic microwave gun with a magnetic bunching system is comparable in cost and complexity to a conventional system, but provides performance that is orders of magnitude better. …

The ultrafast dynamics of vibrationally hot ground state azulene molecules have been time resolved by picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in a variety of solvents including hexane, chloromethanes, methanol, CClF{sub 3}, Xe and Kr. A high pressure optical cell was used to liquify gases for use as solvents and change their density and temperature, independently, over the entire liquid density range. Experimental results indicate the vibrational cooling rate is strongly solvent dependent, with cooling rates of approximately 20 psec in molecular solvents and approximately 150 psec in atomic solvents. Comparison of the rates in Xe and Kr at constant density demonstrates the strong effect of solvent mass on energy transfer. The effect of solvent temperature on vibrational cooling is minimal, as is the effect of solvent density. This latter result is quite surprising in light of earlier experiments on simpler molecular systems, such as I{sub 2} in Xe. This anomalous density effect is examined in light of Isolated Binary Collision (IBC) theory and bulk thermal transport models. Both theories accurately model all experimental results obtained with the exception of the density effort. Possible explanations for the breakdown of the IBC theory in this case are offered along with methods to improve …

The Z + {gamma} cross-section x branching ratio in the electron channel has been measured using the inclusive Z data sample from the CDF 1988--1989 collider run, for which the total integrated luminosity was 4.05 {plus_minus} 0.28 pb{sup {minus}1}. Two Z{gamma} candidates are observed from central photon events with {Delta}R/{sub {gamma}} > 0.7 and E{sub t}{sup {gamma}} > 5.0 GeV. From these events the {sigma} * BR(Z + {gamma}) is measured and compared with SM predictions: {sigma} * BR(Z + {gamma}){sub e} = 6.8{sub {minus}5.7}{sup +5.7}(stat + syst)pb {sigma} * BR(Z + {gamma})SM = 4.7{sub {minus}4.7}{sup +0.7}(stat + syst)pb. From this ZZ{sub {gamma}} cross section measurement limits on the Z{sub {gamma}{gamma}} and couplings for three different choices of compositeness scale {Lambda}{sub Z} are obtained. The experimental sensitivity to the h{sub 30}{sup Z,{gamma}}/h{sub 10}{sup Z,{gamma}} couplings is in the range of {Lambda}{sub Z} {approximately} 450--500 GeV and for the h{sub 40}{sup Z{gamma}}/h{sub 20}{sup Z,{gamma}} couplings {Lambda}{sub Z} {approximately} 300 GeV.

A search for anomalous WW and WZ production in p{anti p} collisions at {radical}s = 1.8 TeV using the D0 detector at Fermilab is presented. With a data sample of p{anti p} {r_arrow} e{nu}jjX events corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 76.5 {+-} 4.1pb{sup {minus}1}. 399 candidate events were identified, from which 387.1 {+-} 39.8 events were estimated to be background. No deviations from the Standard Model were seen, which predicts 16.2 {+-} 2.7 events. The 95% CL limit on the cross section {sigma}(p{anti p} {r_arrow} W{sup +}W{sup {minus}}X) was calculated to be 93.8 pb. Limits on the CP-conserving anomalous WW{sub {gamma}} and WWZ coupling parameters were obtained from a binned likelihood fit to the transverse momentum spectrum of the W boson. Assuming that the WW{sub {gamma}} and WWZ coupling parameters are equal, the 95% CL limits on the CP-conserving couplings are {minus}0.56 < {Delta}{kappa} < 0.75 (with {lambda} = 0) and {minus}0.42 < {lambda} < 0.44 (with {Delta}{kappa} = 0), for a form factor scale {Lambda}{sub FF} = 1.5 TeV. Limits on other assumptions are also reported. These results were combined with the previous D0 WW, WZ {r_arrow} e{nu}jj published results (13.7 {+-} 0.7 pb{sup {minus}1}), and the limits …

This thesis presents a measurement of the partial decay width of the Z{sup 0} to e{sup +}e{sup {minus}} using data recorded by the SLD at the SLAC Linear Collider during the 1992 run. Based on 354 nb{sup {minus}1} of data, the decay width, {Gamma}{sub ee} is measured to be 82.4 {+-} 3.6/3.7 {+-} 0.8 MeV where the first error is statistical and the second is systematic. By combining this measurement of {Gamma}{sub ee} with the SLD measurement of A{sub LR}, the magnitude of the effective vector and axial-vector coupling constants of the electron, {anti g}{sub v}{sup e} and {anti g}{sub a}{sup e}, are determined to be 0.024 {+-} 0.011 and 0.498 {+-} 0.011 respectively.

Calculations of radiation flux and dose distributions for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) of brain tumors are typically performed using sophisticated three-dimensional analytical models based on either a homogeneous approximation or a simplified few-region approximation to the actual highly-heterogeneous geometry of the irradiation volume. Such models should be validated by comparison with calculations using detailed models in which all significant macroscopic tissue heterogeneities and geometric structures are explicitly represented as faithfully as possible. This work describes a validation exercise for BNCT of canine brain tumors. Geometric measurements of the canine anatomical structures of interest for this work were performed by dissecting and examining two essentially identical Labrador Retriever heads. Chemical analyses of various tissue samples taken during the dissections were conducted to obtain measurements of elemental compositions for tissues of interest. The resulting geometry and tissue composition data were then used to construct a detailed heterogeneous calculational model of the Labrador Retriever head. Calculations of three-dimensional radiation flux distributions pertinent to BNCT were performed for the model using the TORT discrete-ordinates radiation transport code. The calculations were repeated for a corresponding volume-weighted homogeneous tissue model. Comparison of the results showed that the peak neutron and photon flux magnitudes were quite …

Solid-deuterium-initiated Z-pinch experiments are numerically simulated using a two-dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic model, which includes many important experimental details, such as ``cold-start`` initial conditions, thermal conduction, radiative energy loss, actual discharge current vs. time, and grids of sufficient size and resolution to allow realistic development of the plasma. The alternating-direction-implicit numerical technique used meets the substantial demands presented by such a computational task. Simulations of fiber-initiated experiments show that when the fiber becomes fully ionized rapidly developing m=0 instabilities, which originated in the coronal plasma generated from the ablating fiber, drive intense non-uniform heating and rapid expansion of the plasma column. The possibility that inclusion of additional physical effects would improve stability is explored. Finite-Larmor-radius-ordered Hall and diamagnetic pressure terms in the magnetic field evolution equation, corresponding energy equation terms, and separate ion and electron energy equations are included; these do not change the basic results. Model diagnostics, such as shadowgrams and interferograms, generated from simulation results, are in good agreement with experiment. Two alternative experimental approaches are explored: high-current magnetic implosion of hollow cylindrical deuterium shells, and ``plasma-on-wire`` (POW) implosion of low-density plasma onto a central deuterium fiber. By minimizing instability problems, these techniques may allow attainment of higher temperatures …

The Los Alamos High Density Z Pinch-II (HDZP-II) facility is used to study the dynamics of z-pinch plasmas generated from solid fibers of deuterated polyethylene CD{sub 2} with a range in radii of 3--60 {mu}m. HDZP-II is a pulsed-power generator that delivers a current that rises to 700 kA in 100 ns through an inductive load. A multiframe circular schlieren records the evolution of the shape and size of the plasma on seven images taken at 10-ns intervals. These circular-schlieren images show very strong m=0 instability at the onset of current and a rapid radial expansion of the plasma. No higher-order instabilities are observed. An interferometer is used to infer the electron density and electron line density, giving a measure of the fraction of plasma contained within the outline of the circular-schlieren image at one time during the multiframe sequence. A three-channel x-ray crystal-reflection spectrometer provides the time-resolved, spatially-averaged electron temperature. The magnitude of the x-ray emission at these energies also gives qualitative information about the electron temperature and density at late times. A lower bound on the ion temperature is inferred from the particle pressure needed to balance the magnetic field pressure. The ion temperature rose above that of …

The neutron flux across the nuclear reactor core is of interest to reactor designers and others. The diffusion equation, an integro-differential equation in space and energy, is commonly used to determine the flux level. However, the solution of a simplified version of this equation when automated is very time consuming. Since the flux level changes with time, in general, this calculation must be made repeatedly. Therefore solution techniques that speed the calculation while maintaining accuracy are desirable. One factor that contributes to the solution time is the spatial flux shape approximation used. It is common practice to use the same order flux shape approximation in each energy group even though this method may not be the most efficient. The one-dimensional, two-energy group diffusion equation was solved, for the node average flux and core k-effective, using two sets of spatial shape approximations for each of three reactor types. A fourth-order approximation in both energy groups forms the first set of approximations used. The second set used combines a second-order approximation with a fourth-order approximation in energy group two. Comparison of the results from the two approximation sets show that the use of a different order spatial flux shape approximation results in …

The Heavy Ion Fusion group at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory has constructed the One Ampere Cesium Injector as a proof of principle source to supply an induction linac with a high charge density and high brightness ion beam. This is studied here. An electron beam probe was developed as the major diagnostic tool for characterizing ion beam space charge. Electron beam probe data inversion is accomplished with the EBEAM code and a parametrically adjusted model radial charge distribution. The longitudinal charge distribution was not derived, although it is possible to do so. The radial charge distribution that is derived reveals an unexpected halo of trapped electrons surrounding the ion beam. A charge fluid theory of the effect of finite electron temperature on the focusing of neutralized ion beams (Nucl. Fus. 21, 529 (1981)) is applied to the problem of the Cesium beam final focus at the end of the injector. It is shown that the theory's predictions and assumptions are consistent with the experimental data, and that it accounts for the observed ion beam radius of approx. 5 cm, and the electron halo, including the determination of an electron Debye length of approx. 10 cm.

Report discussing a study aiming to find which electronic state of the C2 molecule is the groud state.

Catalytic reactions of solvent refined coal (SRC) were studied using mixed metal oxide and low melting Lewis acid catalysts in extracting solvent media. From characterization of the benzene- and cyclohexane-soluble products, ZnCl/sub 2/ and SnCl/sub 2/ were determined to be the most effective at hydrogenating and solubilizing SRC while assisting in heteroatom removal. ZnCl/sub 2/ and SnCl/sub 2/ were also found to be more effective at producing oil-like products rather than alphaltene-like products. Further enhancement of the solubilization of SRC could be achieved by the addition of isopropanol to the Lewis acid-substrate-solvent reaction mixture. Dry HCl was also investigated for its effect on the solubilization of SRC. Characterization of the solubilized products and residues was performed by elemental analysis, /sup 1/H-NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. Investigations were performed to determine what effect reaction temperature, hydrogen pressure, and catalyst loading had on the yield of soluble products as well as the chemical analyses of the products. The results showed that the conversion of SRC to soluble products increases monotonically with hydrogen pressure and catalyst loading. The effect of temperature is not as straightforward.

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