Erik Wallin

Extended particle-in-cell schemes for physics in ultrastrong laser fields: Review and developments

We review common extensions of particle-in-cell (PIC) schemes which account for strong field phenomena in laser-plasma interactions. After describing the physical processes of interest and their numerical implementation, we provide solutions for several associated methodological and algorithmic problems. We propose a modified event generator that precisely models the entire spectrum of incoherent particle emission without any low-energy cutoff, and which imposes close to the weakest possible demands on the numerical time step. Based on this, we also develop an adaptive event generator that subdivides the time step for locally resolving QED events, allowing for efficient simulation of cascades. Further, we present a unified technical interface for including the processes of interest in different PIC implementations. Two PIC codes which support this interface, PICADOR and ELMIS, are also briefly reviewed.

Heat pumps in industrial processes—An optimization methodology

The optimal integration of heat pumps in industrial processes has not yet been fully understood. In this paper an optimization methodology and a method which uses the composite curves as a guideline to the correct choice of heat pump type are outlined. The selection is done by matching the shape of the composite curves against the specific characteristics of several heat pump types. Furthermore, a methodology for the optimization of the most important parameters in a heat pump system is presented. In the optimization methodology the annual cost is minimized by varying heat source and heat sink temperatures, the heat pump size and the stream or streams to be utilized as heat source and heat sink. To reveal the potential for electrically driven compression heat pumps two different examples were studied with the methodology. The first example had close composite curves and was thought to be a poor heat pump candidate. The second one had open composite curves and was thought to be a promising example. The results showed that for both examples, heat pump installations were advantageous under good economic conditions for the heat pump, i.e. low electricity price, high fuel price and low investment costs. Also reasonable payback periods were achieved. With more unfavourable conditions the payback period increased, and in extreme cases a heat pump was no longer a better alternative than pure heat exchange. This decline in potential for heat pumping was much less in the example with open composite curves than in the example with closed ones. However, the conclusion to be drawn is that there exists today a potential for heat pumps in industrial processes.

Integration of heat pumps in industrial processes

In spite of several technical and economic advantages, the number of heat pumps in industry is still very low compared to those for house heating. There are several reasons for this; one of the important ones being a lack of knowledge of how to find good, economic applications with the aid of process-integration principles. With the aid of these principles, the appropriate design in terms of heat pump type, size and heat source and sink temperatures can be identified. In doing that, the characteristics of both the industrial process and the heat pump must be taken into account. For the process the pinch temperature, the shape of the composite curves and the number of heat exchangers in the system are the most important factors. For the heat pump, the possible COPs that can be achieved and the ratio of heat to heat sink/heat from heat source are the most important factors, in addition to investment costs, energy prices etc. Methods for optimization of the main parameters in a grassroot design and for finding the most appropriate designs in a retrofit situation have been developed. With the aid of such methods, the potential for heat pumping in industry can be shown to be higher than earlier anticipated. Studies in real plants have verified this.

Three-wave interaction and Manley-Rowe relations in quantum hydrodynamics

The theory for nonlinear three-wave interaction in magnetized plasmas is reconsidered using quantum hydrodynamics. The general coupling coefficients are calculated for the generalized Bohm de Brogl ...

Effects of high energy photon emissions in laser generated ultra-relativistic plasmas: Real-time synchrotron simulations

We model the emission of high energy photons due to relativistic charged particle motion in intense laser-plasma interactions. This is done within a particle-in-cell code, for which high frequency radiation normally cannot be resolved due to finite time steps and grid size. A simple expression for the synchrotron radiation spectra is used together with a Monte-Carlo method for the emittance. We extend previous work by allowing for arbitrary fields, considering the particles to be in instantaneous circular motion due to an effective magnetic field. Furthermore, we implement noise reduction techniques and present validity estimates of the method. Finally, we perform a rigorous comparison to the mechanism of radiation reaction, and find the emitted energy to be in excellent agreement with the losses calculated using radiation reaction.

Narrowing of the emission angle in high-intensity Compton scattering

We consider the emission spectrum of high-energy electrons in an intense laser field. At high intensities (a(0) similar to 200) we find that the QED theory predicts a narrower angular spread of emissions than the classical theory. This is due to the classical theory overestimating the energy loss of the particles, resulting in them becoming more susceptible to reflection in the laser pulse.

Scalar Wigner theory for polarized light in nonlinear Kerr media

A scalar Wigner distribution function for describing polarized light is proposed in analogy with the treatment of spin variables in quantum kinetic theory. The formalism is applied to the propagation of circularly polarized light in nonlinear Kerr media, and an extended phase-space evolution equation is derived along with invariant quantities. The formalism is additionally used to analyze the modulational instability

Ultra-intense laser pulses in near-critical underdense plasmas - Radiation reaction and energy partitioning

Although, for current laser pulse energies, the weakly nonlinear regime of laser wakefield acceleration is known to be the optimal for reaching the highest possible electron energies, the capabilities of upcoming large laser systems will provide the possibility of running highly nonlinear regimes of laser pulse propagation in underdense or near-critical plasmas. Using an extended particle-in-cell (PIC) model that takes into account all the relevant physics, we show that such regimes can be implemented with external guiding for a relatively long distance of propagation and allow for the stable transformation of laser energy into other types of energy, including the kinetic energy of a large number of high energy electrons and their incoherent emission of photons. This is despite the fact that the high intensity of the laser pulse triggers a number of new mechanisms of energy depletion, which we investigate systematically.

Radiation emission from braided electrons in interacting wakefields

The radiation emission from electrons wiggling in a laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) process, being initially considered as a parasitic effect for the electron energy gain, can eventually serve as a novel X-ray source, which could be used for diagnostic purposes. Although several schemes for enhancing the X-ray emission in LWFA has been recently proposed and analyzed, finding an efficient way to use and control this radiation emission remains an important problem. Based on analytical estimates and 3D particle-in-cell simulations, we here propose and examine a new method utilizing two colliding LWFA patterns with an angle in between their propagation directions. Varying the angle of collision, the distance of acceleration before the collision and other parameters provide an unprecedented control over the emission parameters. Moreover, we reveal here that for a collision angle of 5°, the two wakefields merge into a single LWFA cavity, inducing strong and stable collective oscillations between the two tra...

High-energy gamma-ray beams from nonlinear Thomson and Compton scattering in the ultra-intense regime

We consider the Thomson and Compton scattering of high-energy electrons in an intense laser pulse. Our simulations show that energy losses due to radiation reaction cause the emitted radiation to be spread over a broader angular range than the case without these losses included. We explain this in terms of the effect of these energy losses on the particle dynamics. Finally, at ultra-high intensities, i.e. fields with a dimensionless parameter a0~200, the energy of the emission spectrum is significantly reduced by radiation reaction and also the classical and QED results begin to differ. This is found to be due to the classical theory overestimating the energy loss of the electrons. Such findings are relevant to radiation source development involving the next generation of high-intensity laser facilities.