Double-well trap for charged microparticles

We propose a double-well linear Paul trap for particle’s spatial selection according to the charge-to-mass ratio. To perform spatial selection we implemented an experimental setup that permits to detect particles’ positions in the double-well trap from three different view-points: top, front left, and front right. The setup gives an opportunity to monitor the particles’ axial density distribution in real-time. We have shown a strong correlation between axial position of separated localization areas and the DC voltages applied to the rod and end-cap electrodes. We have experimentally determined the critical localization parameters where double-well mode acquires for all the trapped charged microparticles. According to the experimental data and a numerical simulation a upper value of charge-to-mass ratio of the trapped microparticles was estimated.

Nonlinear Interaction of Elliptical q-Gaussian Laser Beams with Plasmas with Axial Density Ramp: Effect of Ponderomotive Force

Theoretical investigation on optical self action effects of intense q-Gaussian laser beams interaction with collisionless plasmas with axial density ramp have been investigated in detail. Emphasis are put on investigating the dynamics of beam width and axial phase of the laser beam. Effect of the ellipticity of the cross section of the laser beam also has been incorporated. Using variational theory based on Lagrangian formulation nonlinear partial differential equation (P.D.E) governing the evolution of beam amplitude has been reduced to a set of coupled ordinary differential equations for the beam widths of the laser beam along the transverse directions. The evolution equation for the axial phase of the laser beam has been obtained by the Fourier transform of the amplitude structure of the laser beam from coordinate space to (kx; ky) space. The differential equations so obtained have been solved numerically to envision the effect of laser-plasma parameters on the propagation dynamics of the laser beam.

The Importance of Tidal and Lateral Asymmetries in Stratification to Residual Circulation in Partially Mixed Estuaries*

Measurements collected in the York River estuary, Virginia, demonstrate the important impact that tidal and lateral asymmetries in turbulent mixing have on the tidally averaged residual circulation. A reduction in turbulent mixing during the ebb phase of the tide caused by tidal straining of the axial density gradient results in increased vertical velocity shear throughout the water column during the ebb tide. In the absence of significant lateral differences in turbulent mixing, the enhanced ebb-directed transport caused by tidal straining is balanced by a reduction in the net seaward-directed barotropic pressure gradient, resulting in laterally uniform two-layer residual flow. However, the channel–shoal morphology of many drowned river valley estuaries often leads to lateral gradients in turbulent mixing. Tidal straining may then lead to tidal asymmetries in turbulent mixing near the deeper channel while the neighboring shoals remain relatively well mixed. As a result, the largest lateral asymmetries in turbulent mixing occur at the end of the ebb tide when the channel is significantly more stratified than the shoals. The reduced friction at the end of ebb delays the onset of the flood tide, increasing the duration of ebb in the channel. Conversely, over the shoal regions where stratification is more inhibited by tidal mixing, there is greater friction and the transition from ebb to flood occurs more rapidly. The resulting residual circulation is seaward over the channel and landward over the shoal. The shoal–channel segregation of this barotropically induced estuarine residual flow is opposite to that typically associated with baroclinic estuarine circulation over channel–shoal bathymetry.