On the Numerical Determination of the Density and Energy Spatial Distributions relevant for in-Plasma β-Decay Emission Estimation

Abstract

Aim of the PANDORA (Plasmas for Astrophysics, Nuclear Decays Observation and Radiation for Archeometry) project is the in-plasma measurements of decay rates of beta radionuclides as a function of the ionization stage. In this view, a precise calculation of plasma electrons density and energy is mandatory, being responsible for ions’ creations and their spatial distribution following plasma neutrality. This paper describes the results of the INFN simulation tools applied for the first time to the PANDORA plasma, including electromagnetic calculations and electrons’ dynamics within the so-called self-consistent loop. The distribution of the various electrons’ population will be shown, with special attention to the warm component on which depends the obtained ions’ charge state distribution. The strict relation of the results with the evaluation of the in-plasma nuclear decays will be also explained.

Metallic Neutral Vapours Diffusion in Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Sources: Fluid Dynamics and Particle Tracing Simulations

“…To provide deeper insights on the ECR plasma dynamics effects to the atom-to-ion conversion, a Monte Carlo (MC) routine was developed in MATLAB, based on the data retrieved from self-consistent (SC) plasma simulations of electron dynamics in the PANDORA plasma trap [11,8,12]. Plasma trap parameters for the SC simulations are in Table 1, and further details can be found in [8].…”

“…To provide deeper insights on the ECR plasma dynamics effects to the atom-to-ion conversion, a Monte Carlo (MC) routine was developed in MATLAB, based on the data retrieved from self-consistent (SC) plasma simulations of electron dynamics in the PANDORA plasma trap [11,8,12]. Plasma trap parameters for the SC simulations are in Table 1, and further details can be found in [8]. SC simulations provided 3D electron density and energy density maps, later used to compute dominant collisional processes reaction rates in the metal atom dynamics: electron-impact ionization (EI) and charge-exchange (CEX).…”

Laboratory magnetoplasmas as an ideal experimental environment for nuclear astrophysics β-decay studies

“…The profile of K α emission intensity can be considered as: I K α ∝ n Ar n e < σ K α ν >, where σ K α is the K α fluorescence cross section, the term n Ar n e < σ K α ν > is the total reaction rate. An estimation of σ K α [12] and of the density and energy spatial distributions by simulations [13,18] was given and the analysis for getting n e and T e is ongoing. In PANDORA two CCD pin-hole cameras will be used simultaneously (along the axial and radial lines) to estimate the plasma volume and thermodynamic conditions in each voxel, i.e.…”

A new approach to β-decays studies impacting nuclear physics and astrophysics: The PANDORA setup

“…Taking into account the HPGe array detection efficiency, to reach a 3-sigma confidence level the experimental run should last from about one day up to about three months depending on the physics case investigated and the lifetime variation observed [13]. Numerical simulations [26,27] are now ongoing to estimate the expected density and temperature distribution in PANDORA, and then to perform a kind of "virtual experiment" addressing and supporting the data taking that will start at the end of 2024.…”