Yongjian Tang

Efficient generation and transportation of energetic electrons in a carbon nanotube array target

Laser-driven energetic electron propagation in a carbon nanotube-array target is investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Energetic electrons are efficiently generated when the array is irradiated by a short intense laser pulse. Confined and guided transportation of energetic electrons in the array is achieved by exploiting strong transient electromagnetic fields created at the wall surfaces of nanotubes. The underlying mechanisms are discussed in detail. Our investigation shows that the laser energy can be transferred more effectively to the target electrons in the array than that of in the flat foil due to the hole structures in the array.

In situ organic coating of metal nanoparticles

A physical approach has been developed to in situ coat metal nanoparticles with a nanolayer of organic hydrocarbon film. Copper nanoparticles produced by the flow-levitation method were in situ coated with hydrocarbon films via a dielectric barrier discharge. The hydrocarbon-coated Cu nanoparticles have been analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and infrared absorption to determine the size distribution and dispersion of nanoparticles as well as the chemical components and thickness of the coatings.

In situ encapsulation of copper nanoparticles by the dielectric barrier discharge

An experimental investigation is reported on in situ encapsulating copper nanoparticles with a nanolayer of hydrocarbon coating. Copper nanoparticles produced by the flow-levitation method are in situ encapsulated by the dielectric barrier discharge, which generates carbon and hydrogen plasmas for forming a polymerized nanolayer of hydrocarbon at the surface of Cu nanoparticles. The structural, chemical components and optical properties of the encapsulated Cu nanoparticles are characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectra, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectra, and UV-visible absorption.

Preparation and characterization of planar deuterium cryotargets

Using a planar-cryotarget system with the cooling power provided by a Gifford-McMahon cryocooler, the deuterium vapor is condensed to form liquid in a cylinder target cell. The liquefaction processes of deuterium are examined by the Mach-Zehnder interference and infrared spectra. The infrared-absorption spectra of deuterium show a strong absorption peak around 3040 nm at 19 K. The thickness distribution of the condensed deuterium in the target cell is determined from Mach-Zehnder interference images by developing a new mathematical treatment method in combination with the digital-image processing technique.

The collimation of intense relativistic electron beams generated by ultra-intense femtosecond laser in nanometer-scale solid fiber array

A scheme to collimate the ultra-intense laser generated MeV electrons by nanometer-scale solid fiber array is proposed. Unlike previous resistivity-structured target schemes, not the magnetic field but the electric field due to the anisotropic resistivity acts to collimate the divergent fast electrons. This concept is well supported by analytical estimation and numerical calculation. The measurements of collimated MeV electron beams at rear of carbon nanotube arrays irradiated by intense femtosecond laser show the viability of this scheme. These results indicate that potential applications include radiography, fast electron beam focusing, and perhaps the electron collimation for fast ignition of inertial confined fusion.