Universität Stuttgart

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Open Access
Fusionsforschung : eine Einführung
(2020) Köhn-Seemann, Alf
In diesem Vortrag wird ein Überblick und eine Einleitung in das Gebiet der Fusionsforschung gegeben.
Open Access
PFG-NMR studies of ATP diffusion in PEG-DA hydrogels and aqueous solutions of PEG-DA polymers
(2018) Majer, Günter; Southan, Alexander
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the major carrier of chemical energy in cells. The diffusion of ATP in hydrogels, which have a structural resemblance to the natural extracellular matrix, is therefore of great importance to understand many biological processes. In continuation of our recent studies of ATP diffusion in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) hydrogels by pulsed field gradient nuclear magnetic resonance (PFG-NMR), we present precise diffusion measurements of ATP in aqueous solutions of PEG-DA polymers, which are not cross-linked to a three-dimensional network. The dependence of the ATP diffusion on the polymer volume fraction in the hydrogels, φ, was found to be consistent with the predictions of a modified obstruction model or the free volume theory in combination with the sieving behavior of the polymer chains. The present measurements of ATP diffusion in aqueous solutions of the polymers revealed that the diffusion coefficient is determined by φ only, regardless of whether the polymers are cross-linked or not. These results seem to be inconsistent with the free volume model, according to which voids are formed by a statistical redistribution of surrounding molecules, which is expected to occur more frequently in the case of not cross-linked polymers. The present results indicate that ATP diffusion takes place only in the aqueous regions of the systems, with the volume fraction of the polymers, including a solvating water layer, being blocked for the ATP molecules. The solvating water layer increases the effective volume of the polymers by 66%. This modified obstruction model is most appropriate to correctly describe the ATP diffusion in PEG-DA hydrogels.
Open Access
Simulation of Electron Bernstein Waves in FLiPS with various numerical methods
(2021) Rumiantsev, Kirill; Hirth, Thomas (Prof. Dr.)
The plasma generation and heating by microwaves is an important research topic in the field of controlled nuclear fusion. All modern fusion plasma devices such as Wendelstein 7-X use microwave heating. The microwave plasma-heating primarily occurs at the resonances, where the microwaves are efficiently absorbed. The heating scenario must be designed such that the microwaves can reach the resonance. When the plasma exceeds the cutoff density, the microwaves will be reflected, and the resonance becomes inaccessible. However, it is possible to perform heating by Electron Bernstein Waves (EBWs), since these electrostatic waves propagate even in overdense plasmas, unlike the electromagnetic plasma waves. EBWs cannot propagate in the vacuum and must be created through a coupling process. Both O- and X-mode can couple to EBWs. The thesis investigates the coupling of the O- and X-mode to EBWs as well as the EBW propagation with various numerical methods. The application of only one numerical method is not sufficient as the coupling involves very different wavelength scales. The optimal coupling scheme for the expected plasma parameters was determined using a Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) code. Since EBWs are not included in the code, a Boundary-Value Problem (BVP) code was developed. Using the BVP code, the effect of the collisions on EBWs was studied. The field amplification at the upper-hybrid resonance (UHR), where EBWs couple to the electromagnetic waves, and the effect of the magnetic field on EBWs could be directly visualized. The propagation of the EBW was investigated using the novel ray-tracing code RiP. The ray-tracing simulations provided a clear picture of the essential features of the wave propagation. For the O- and X-mode coupling, the importance of the axial plasma inhomogeneity was shown. For the first time, the method of the Wigner function was applied to calculate the intensity distribution of EBWs. Both, ray-tracing and the Wigner function simulations showed that the inhomogeneous magnetic can cause focusing of EBWs. The focusing effect can have practical applications e.g. for controlled local heating of the plasma. Additionally, the focusing effect can cause a parametric decay due to the field enhancement in the focal regions. In this thesis, the simulations were focused on excitation and propagation of EBWs in the geometry of the linear plasma device FLiPS located at the University of Stuttgart. Measurements were carried out to study the predicted focusing of the EBWs in the FLiPS plasma with monopole antennas. The measurements provided the density profile used in the simulations. The expected amplification of the signal at the UHR was not detected, indicating either the complete collisional absorption of the X-mode at the upper-hybrid resonance, or the turbulent plasma density oscillations that reduce the coupling efficiency to EBWs. These effects can be studied further using the developed tools since they provide a complete toolbox to study the full coupling process to EBWs in an actual experimental geometry.
Open Access
Simulation of microwave beams with PROFUSION
(2019) Plaum, Burkhard
Open Access
Wetting, de-icing and anti-icing behavior of microstructured and plasma-coated polyurethane films
(2019) Grimmer, Philipp E. S.; Hirth, Thomas (Prof. Dr. rer. nat.)
Ice build-up on surfaces, for example on wings of airplanes or on rotor blades of wind turbines, impairs the functionality of transportation vehicles or technical systems and reduces their safety. Therefore, functional anti-ice surfaces are being researched and developed, which shall enable an easy removal or reduce the amount of ice on the surfaces at risk. The starting hypothesis for this work is that superhydrophobic polyurethane (PU) films with microstructure base diameters of 35 µm or more reduce the wetting by water, show a low ice adhesion for easy removal of ice and reduce or delay icing. Superhydrophobic PU films for passive anti- and de-icing were created by hot embossing and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The hot embossing process as well as the plasma coating and etching processes were analyzed for the dependence of the surface characteristics on different process parameters. The functionalized PU films were characterized for their surface topography, surface chemistry, stability against erosion, wettability, ice adhesion and icing behavior. For comparison, the ice adhesion and icing behavior were examined on relevant technical materials (aluminum, titanium, copper, glass, epoxy resin of carbon fiber reinforced polymer and other fluoropolymers) and on some commercial anti-ice coatings. The PU films were chemically analyzed by IR spectroscopy. As the first process step for functionalization, microstructures of cylindrical, elliptical or linear shape were imprinted in PU films by a hot embossing technique with different ns-pulsed laser-drilled stamps and characterized by several microscopy methods. The microstructures had heights of 15 µm to 140 µm, diameters or widths of 35 µm to 300 µm and distances (pitch values) of 50 µm to 500 µm. The embossing process was analyzed and optimized in terms of the process parameters temperature, pressure, time, PU film release temperature and reproducibility of the microstructures. In a second functionalization step (PECVD) the microstructured surfaces were coated with thin, hydrophobic plasma polymers using different fluorocarbon precursors (CHF3, C3F6 and C4F8) or hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). Different process parameters for plasma coating and etching (Ar or O2 plasmas) were used in order to create various nanoscale roughness values. Electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), spectroscopic ellipsometry and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used for analysis of the chemical composition, the thickness and the nanoroughness of the plasma polymers. The functionalizations, especially the plasma coatings, were completely worn off by a UV/water weathering test (1000 h, X1a CAM 180 Test, SAE J-2527), but showed sufficient stability against sand erosion (DIN 52348), in a long-term outdoor test for 13.5 months and against fivefold repeated pull-off of ice. The silicone-like plasma coatings were more stable than the fluorocarbon plasma coatings. The wetting behavior of water was determined by static, advancing and receding contact angle measurements. Static contact angle measurements with diiodomethane (DIM) were made for determination of the surface free energies of the relevant surfaces. Advancing contact angles of over 150° and very low contact angle hysteresis values below 10° were reached on some of the cylindrically and elliptically structured PU samples with microstructure base diameters in the range of 35 µm to 50 µm. The measured water advancing contact angles did not reach the theoretical values of the Cassie-Baxter state. Starting from a mixed wetting state near Cassie-Baxter in case of the superhydrophobic PU surfaces, they approached the Wenzel state with an increasing pitch/diameter (P/d) factor. Fluorescence laser scanning microscopy images were taken of some microstructured, uncoated or plasma coated samples during the wetting by a water drop containing a fluorescent dye. These images show the Wenzel state or a mixed wetting state by visualization of the interface between the water droplet and the surface. A new icing test chamber and a test setup were developed for characterization of the ice adhesion and the icing behavior. The tensile ice adhesion was measured at -20 °C by pull-off of ice cylinders (highly purified water, (<0.056 µS/cm, diameter of 4 mm, similar to the diameter of large raindrops) and compared to the theoretical values and the wetting behavior. The technical material surfaces measured for comparison showed a high ice adhesion, which led to cohesive fractures especially on the metal surfaces, whereas some of the commercial anti-ice coatings showed lower ice adhesion values. The flat, plasma coated PU surfaces showed adhesive fractures with a reduced ice adhesion compared to the technical material surfaces and uncoated PU and revealed a good correlation of the ice adhesion with the wetting behavior of water (work of adhesion). On the other hand, the microstructured PU surfaces showed a greatly increased ice adhesion in comparison to the flat PU and technical material surfaces which was enhanced even further by the plasma coatings and did not correlate with the wetting behavior. The reason for this is the wetting transition from the Cassie-Baxter to the Wenzel state during the cooling or freezing process, leading to an increased ice-surface contact area and mechanical interlocking of the ice with the micro- and nanostructures. The freezing of water drops was examined in thermodynamic equilibrium (static experiment) and under quasi-steady conditions (dynamic experiment). In the static experiment, 15 µl water drops (corresponding to medium to large raindrops) at room temperature were dispensed onto a cold surface at a constant temperature of -20 °C. The freezing delay times, the crystallization times and the total freezing times were measured and compared to calculated expected values. On the flat samples, the freezing delay times could be extended by the plasma treatments. On the microstructured samples, the freezing (nucleation) could sometimes be delayed even further, but not always reproducible because of an unstable Cassie-Baxter state. In the dynamic experiment, 25 µl water drops (corresponding to large raindrops) were cooled down in quasi-steady conditions with the surface and the surrounding atmosphere by a constant, low cooling rate of 1 K/min while the water drop temperature was measured by an IR camera for determination of the surface-specific nucleation temperature and crystallization time. A lower nucleation temperature could be measured on the flat, plasma coated PU surfaces compared to uncoated PU and the hydrophilic glass and metal surfaces. The superhydrophobic PU surfaces did not show a further reduction of the nucleation temperature because of an unstable Cassie-Baxter state. The resulting measured nucleation temperatures were compared to the expected values calculated with an enhanced nucleation theory including a quasi-liquid interfacial layer of the ice nucleus and a Poisson process. Overall, it is shown that hot embossing and PECVD are useful processes for creating superhydrophobic PU surfaces with regard to a roll-to-roll process. The flat, plasma coated PU films show a reduced ice adhesion and lowered nucleation temperature compared to the relevant technical material surfaces. The microstructured, plasma coated PU films are far more water repellent than the flat, plasma coated PU surfaces or the other technical materials. However, the microstructures with base diameters of 35 µm or more and the nanoroughness of the plasma coatings cannot stabilize the Cassie-Baxter state of a freezing water drop enough for a low ice adhesion or a significant decrease of the nucleation temperature. These superhydrophobic PU films are therefore not more icephobic than the flat, plasma coated PU films. In the outlook, the reduction of the geometrical parameters of the microstructures (diameter D, distance P) and nanostructures (curvature radius R) of the surface functionalizations for lower ice adhesion values and nucleation temperatures is proposed.
Open Access
Charakterisierung der 2. Harmonischen EBW-Heizung
(2013) Höfel, Udo
Elektron-Bernstein-Wellen (EBW) können dazu benutzt werden ein überdichtes Plasma effektiv zu heizen, da für für ihr Eindringen ins Plasma kein oberes Limit in der Elektronendichte existiert, sie allerdings sehr gut an der Elektronzyklotronresonanz (ECR) absorbiert werden. Dies gilt nicht nur für die direkte Absorption an der ECR, sondern auch an deren Harmonischen. Die EBW muss dazu allerdings durch Modenkonversionsprozesse aus einer von außen eingestrahlten Mikrowelle erzeugt werden, da sie im Vakuum nicht ausbreitungsfähig ist. Im Stellarator TJ-K der Universität Stuttgart konnten erstmals Plasmen durch EBW-Heizung an der zweiten Harmonischen stabil erzeugt und somit gezielt untersucht werden. Hierzu wird eine Mikrowelle mit einer Frequenz von 8 GHz und einer Leistung von 2,7 kW in ein Plasma mit einer Magnetfeldstärke von ungefähr 220 mT eingestrahlt. Umfangreiche Studien der Plasmaparameter, wie zum Beispiel der Elektronentemperatur und der Plasmadichte mithilfe von Langmuir-Sonden deuten auf eine gesteigerte Heizeffizienz im Vergleich mit bisherigen Operationsbereichen in TJ-K hin.
Open Access
Diagnostik und Modellierung eines Mikrowellen-Plasmabrenners bei Atmosphärendruck
(2017) Gaiser, Sandra; Hirth, Thomas (Prof. Dr.)
Mikrowellen-Plasmaprozesse bei Atmosphärendruck bieten eine Vielzahl von Anwendungsmöglichkeiten. Dazu gehören das Plasmaspritzen zur Beschichtung, die Behandlung von Oberflächen für die Reinigung oder Aktivierung sowie der Abbau schädlicher Abgase. Für die Entwicklung und Optimierung dieser Verfahren sind sowohl experimentelle Untersuchungen als auch eine theoretische Betrachtung von Bedeutung. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich deshalb neben der Diagnostik vor allem mit der Modellierung und numerischen Simulation eines bei Atmosphärendruck betriebenen Mikrowellen-Plasmabrenners. Dazu wird die Simulationssoftware Comsol Multiphysics verwendet. Das Ziel ist es, mittels einzelner Modelle die unterschiedlichen physikalischen Vorgänge zu beschreiben und das Brennersystem zu optimieren. Die Simulationen werden schließlich schrittweise miteinander verknüpft, um so ein möglichst selbstkonsistentes Modell der Plasmaquelle zu erhalten. Die Simulationsergebnisse werden zudem mit experimentellen Daten verglichen. Zunächst werden die Verteilung des Mikrowellenfeldes im Plasmabrenner sowie die Resonanzfrequenzen der Resonatoranordnung berechnet, was die Grundlage für eine zuverlässige Zündung und den Betrieb des Plasmas bildet. Anschließend wird ein Modell der kalten Gasströmung erstellt. In dieses wird schließlich eine Wärmequelle implementiert, um den Einfluss des heißen Plasmas auf die Strömung zu untersuchen. Die Gasströmung soll dahingehend optimiert werden, dass sie das Plasma einschließt, um so eine Beschädigung des Gas führenden Quarzrohres zu vermeiden. In einer weiteren Simulation wird das Plasma mit Hilfe des Drude-Modells beschrieben. Hierbei werden dem Plasma eine Permittivität und eine Leitfähigkeit zugewiesen. Eine Erweiterung erfolgt durch das Fluid-Modell, das Bilanzgleichungen für die Elektronendichte sowie Reaktionsmechanismen für ein Argon-Plasma enthält. Die Simulationsergebnisse werden durch den Vergleich mit experimentellen Ergebnissen verifiziert. Dazu wird zum einen die räumliche Lage des Plasmas mit Hilfe von Kameraaufnahmen qualitativ untersucht. Zum anderen stehen Messwerte aus der optischen Emissionsspektroskopie zur Verfügung.
Open Access
Electron cyclotron emission investigations at the stellarator TJ-K
(2020) Sichardt, Gabriel; Hirth, Thomas (Prof. Dr.)
Microwave diagnostics are widely used in fusion-oriented plasma research. Especially, electron cyclotron emission (ECE) measurements are routinely employed for reliable investigations of radial temperature profiles. Furthermore, an ECE diagnostic can be used to measure electron densities or detect superthermal electrons. Due to its non-invasive character, it is well suited for application to extreme conditions like in fusion plasmas since neither the plasma is perturbed nor the diagnostic harmed. Despite decades of development, ECE diagnostics are still subject of current research and development. Especially the correct interpretation of measurements at plasmas with low densities and temperatures, which are in contrast to fusion plasmas optically thin, is challenging. The stellarator experiment TJ-K in Stuttgart is operated with such thin plasmas allowing for the use of Langmuir probes for temperature measurements and thus as a benchmark for a new ECE diagnostic system. This work is about the development, optimization, construction and application of an ECE diagnostic for TJ-K. Modeling, simulation and experiment are combined to understand the processes at the specific experiment and to adapt the setup to these conditions. The first part of this thesis describes the development and test of the diagnostic. To this end, the transport and propagation of electron cyclotron radiation is simulated in the three-dimensionally modeled plasma of TJ-K. From the results, an optimization approach is derived: with a suitably positioned and optimally curved mirror for defined reflections, a tunable resonator system is built that improves the localization of the measurements significantly. After identification of the measurement signals as ECE opposed to thermal bremsstrahlung, the measurement system is calibrated with the hot-cold method. Although only about 0.2 % of the black body intensity is emitted from the optically thin plasma the temperatures obtained from the ECE diagnostic could be verified by Langmuir probe measurements. In the second part, numerical investigations of electron trajectories in the 3D magnetic field of TJ-K are employed to study their dependence on the kinetic particle energy. The trajectories form drift orbits which depend on the speed and orientation of the electron compared to the magnetic field. To what extent electrons on larger drift orbits collide with the vessel wall and thus contribute to toroidal net currents is investigated using simulations with different velocity distributions. It becomes apparent that especially electron populations additional to the thermal distribution at higher energies like for instance 1 keV, superthermal electrons, can result in large toroidal net currents. Already thermal electrons with typical energies of 10 eV provide numerically toroidal net currents that are comparable to the experimentally observed currents. The installed ECE diagnostic allows for temporally resolved measurements of local radiation temperatures for correlation with toroidal net currents.
Open Access
Dynamics and structure analysis of coherent turbulent structures at the boundary of toroidally confined plasmas
(2013) Fuchert, Golo; Stroth, Ulrich (Prof. Dr.)
Die sichere und finanzierbare Deckung des steigenden Energiebedarfs ist eine der größten Herausforderungen unseres Jahrhunderts. Kernfusionskraftwerke nach dem Prinzip des magnetischen Einschlusses können möglicherweise einen entscheidenden Beitrag leisten. Derzeit verhindern Energieverluste des Fusionsplasmas durch Turbulenz einen effizienten Betrieb und erhöhen die Erosion der Innenwand des Fusionsreaktors. Nahe der Wand, in der sogenannten Abschälschicht, wird der Transport dominiert von Blobs oder Filamenten: lokalisierte Strukturen erhöhten Drucks, die Energie und Teilchen in Richtung der Wand transportieren. Der Transport hängt unter anderem ab von der Größe, Geschwindigkeit und Entstehungsrate der Blobs. Für einfache Geometrien des einschließenden Magnetfelds sagt ein analytisches Modell die Größe und Geschwindigkeit der Blobs voraus, nicht aber die Entstehungsrate. Experimentelle Beobachtungen deuten auf eine Beteiligung der Randschichtturbulenz in der Nähe der letzten geschlossenen Flussfläche (dem Beginn der Abschälschicht) bei der Blobentstehung hin, was sich in der Entstehungsrate widerspiegeln sollte. Diese Arbeit beantwortet vorrangig zwei Fragen: Beschreiben die einfachen Modelle die Blobeigenschaften auch in Magnetfeldgeometrien tatsächlicher Fusionsexperimente und welchen Einfluss hat die Randschichtturbulenz auf diese Eigenschaften? Mit einer Hochgeschwindigkeitskamera wurden Größe, Geschwindigkeit und Entstehungsrate der Blobs im Stellarator TJ-K und dem Tokamak ASDEX Upgrade untersucht. Während eine grundsätzliche Übereinstimmung mit den Vorhersagen besteht, konnte zum ersten Mal gezeigt werden, dass die Randschichtturbulenz die untersuchten Eigenschaften beeinflusst. Die Messungen beinhalten den ersten systematischen Vergleich der Strukturgrößen inner- und außerhalb der letzten geschlossenen Flussfläche. Darüber hinaus wird mit Sondenmessungen die dreidimensionale Struktur der Blobs in einem Stellarator vermessen und gezeigt, dass die Blobs mehr als 50 % des lokalen und mehr als 20 % des totalen Transports in der Abschälschicht ausmachen. Messungen eines Stroms entlang der Filamente bestätigen, dass das analytischen Modell die relevanten physikalischen Prozesse behinhaltet. In ASDEX Upgrade werden Blobeigenschaften bestimmt und in zwei Einschlussregimen, der sogenannten L- und H-Mode, verglichen. Wie schon in TJ-K zeigt sich eine weitgehende Übereinstimmung mit den analytischen Vorhersagen. Größenmessungen deuten einen Einfluss der hohen Ionentemperatur auf die Blobdynamik hin. Außerdem wird eine überraschend geringe Variation der Blobeigenschaften zwischen L- und H-Mode beobachtet.
Open Access
Microwave heating of plasmas with the new 14 GHz system at the stellarator TJ-K
(2013) Loiten, Michael
The aim of this thesis has been to investigate the plasmas generated by the newly installed 14 GHz microwave heating system at TJ-K in the equilibrium state. The new heating system has been installed in order to operate TJ-K at a wider range of controllable parameters. Several diagnostics have been used to investigate the plasma: An interferometer was used to obtain the line averaged density. A radially movable device with three Langmuir probes was used to obtain the radial profiles of the electron density and the electron temperature. An optical diode was used to obtain the radiation mainly in the visible range, whereas a bolometer with eight channels was used in order to obtain the poloidal radiation profiles. In addition, the neutral gas pressure, the magnetic field (based on the current running through the coils), and the injected and reflected microwave power was measured. Magnetic and pressure scans in the new regime have been performed, meaning that the scanned parameter has been varied on a shot to shot basis, whereas the other parameters have been kept constant. In addition to increase the parameter space, the magnetic field has been varied in order to vary the power deposition in the plasmas. The pressure has been varied in order to approach regimes where neoclassical effects become important. When lowering the collisionality, collisional regimes where neoclassical effects dominates can be reached. Lower collisional regimes were found for low pressures in hydrogen. However, operation at these collisional regimes is not readily available as it was found that the plasmas become increasingly unstable when closing in on these regimes. With this heating system one can operate at higher magnetic fields, and thus increase the confinement of the plasma. It has been found that plasmas in this regime have higher densities than the previously installed heating systems. This makes the new heating system a good candidate in studying over-dense plasmas.

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