Electronic structure and optical properties of the Ag3SbS3 crystal: experimental and DFT studies.

A high-quality Ag3SbS3 single crystal was grown by the Bridgman-Stockbarger method and its crystalline structure and homogeneity were investigated. The fundamental absorption edge of Ag3SbS3 was studied. The value of the band gap of the studied compound was obtained at the level of 1.91 eV at T = 300 K. The structural, electronic, and optical properties of the Ag3SbS3 crystal were considered within the framework of first-principles calculations using density functional theory (DFT). The structure of the crystal lattice was optimized and its closeness to the experimental one is shown. The band-energy structure of the crystal was calculated revealing that the crystal has a band gap of indirect type with Eg = 0.88 eV for GGA (0.35 eV for LDA). The origin of the energy bands in the crystal was clarified and the nature of the fundamental absorption edge was analyzed using the calculated density of electronic states. The dielectric function (real part ε1(ω) and imaginary part ε2(ω)) and absorption coefficient α(ω) were calculated for two independent directions in the crystal and compared with experimental data. The character and anisotropy of optical functions are analyzed. The high value of the absorption coefficient of the Ag3SbS3 crystal is shown, which makes it a promising material for use as an absorbing layer in photovoltaics.

ER22/23EK AND TTH111I POLYMORPHISMS IN THE GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR GENE IN PATIENTS WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA WITH REGARD TO THE AGE OF ONSET.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency of the ER22/23EK and Tth111I polymorphisms in the glucocorticoid receptor gene (GR) in patients with early-onset and late-onset asthma (BA) and to assess the risk of its phenotype's development. We examined 553 BA patients and 95 apparently healthy individuals. The patients were divided into 2 groups depending on the age of BA onset: Group I included 282 patients with late-onset asthma, and group II included 271 patients with early-onset asthma. The ER22/23EK (rs 6189/6190) and Tth111I (rs10052957) polymorphisms in the GR gene were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Statistical analysis of obtained results was performed using SPSS-17 program. The analysis of frequency of genotypes and alleles for the ER22/23EK polymorphism in the GR gene with regard to the age of BA onset demonstrated a significant difference between patients with early-onset and late-onset asthma (p = 0.035). A significant difference was revealed in the distribution of alleles and genotypes for the Tth111I polymorphism in the GR gene between patients with early-onset BA and late-onset BA (p = 0.006). No correlation was found between the ER22/23EK polymorphism in the GR gene and late-onset BA in all genetic models; also, there was a reduction in the risk of early-onset BA observed in the dominant and additive models. No association was demonstrated between the Tth111I polymorphism in the GR gene and late-onset asthma, while a statistically significant correlation was shown with the risk of early-onset asthma in the dominant and super-dominant models. We established a significant difference in the distribution of alleles and genotypes for the ER22/23EK and Tth111I polymorphisms in the GR gene with regard to onset age; also, we found no association between these polymorphic variants and the development of late-onset asthma, but revealed a protective role of the ER22/23EK polymorphism in the GR gene in the dominant and additive inheritance models and of Tth111I polymorphism in the GR gene - in the dominant and super-dominant models.

Inference of temperature and density profiles via forward modeling of an x-ray imaging crystal spectrometer within the Minerva Bayesian analysis framework.

At the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, the X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer provides line integrated measurements of ion and electron temperatures, plasma flows, as well as impurity densities from a spectroscopic analysis of tracer impurity radiation. In order to infer the actual profiles from line integrated data, a forward modeling approach has been developed within the Minerva Bayesian analysis framework. In this framework, the inversion is realized on the basis of a complete forward model of the diagnostic, including error propagation and utilizing Gaussian processes for generation and inference of arbitrary shaped plasma parameter profiles. For modeling of line integrated data as measured by the detector, the installation geometry of the spectrometer, imaging properties of the crystal, and Gaussian detection noise are considered. The inversion of line integrated data is achieved using the maximum posterior method for plasma parameter profile inference and a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling of the posterior distribution for calculating uncertainties of the inference process. The inversion method shows a correct and reliable inference of temperature and impurity density profiles from synthesized data within the estimated uncertainties along the whole plasma radius. The application to measured data yields a good match of derived electron temperature profiles to data of the Thomson scattering diagnostic for central electron temperatures between 2 and 5 keV using argon impurities.

Plasma impurities observed by a pulse height analysis diagnostic during the divertor campaign of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator.

The paper reports on the optimization process of the soft X-ray pulse height analyzer installed on the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator. It is a 3-channel system that records X-ray spectra in the range from 0.6 to 19.6 keV. X-ray spectra, with a temporal and spatial resolution of 100 ms and 2.5 cm (depending on selected slit sizes), respectively, are line integrated along a line-of-sight that crosses near to the plasma center. In the second W7-X operation phase with a carbon test divertor unit, light impurities, e.g., carbon and oxygen, were observed as well as mid- to high-Z elements, e.g., sulfur, chlorine, chromium, manganese, iron, and nickel. In addition, X-ray lines from several tracer elements have been observed after the laser blow-off injection of different impurities, e.g., silicon, titanium, and iron, and during discharges with prefill or a gas puff of neon or argon. These measurements were achieved by optimizing light absorber-foil selection, which defines the detected energy range, and remotely controlled pinhole size, which defines photon flux. The identification of X-ray lines was confirmed by other spectroscopic diagnostics, e.g., by the High-Efficiency XUV Overview Spectrometer, HEXOS, and high-resolution X-ray imaging spectrometer, HR-XIS.

Prospects of X-ray imaging spectrometers for impurity transport: Recent results from the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X (invited).

This paper reports on the design and the performance of the recently upgraded X-ray imaging spectrometer systems, X-ray imaging crystal spectrometer and high resolution X-ray imaging spectrometer, installed at the optimized stellarator Wendelstein 7-X. High resolution spectra of highly ionized, He-like Si, Ar, Ti, and Fe as well as H-like Ar have been observed. A cross comparison of ion and electron temperature profiles derived from a spectral fit and tomographic inversion of Ar and Fe spectra shows a reasonable match with both the spectrometers. The also measured impurity density profiles of Ar and Fe have peaked densities at radial positions that are in qualitative agreement with the expectations from the He-like impurity fractional abundances, given the measured temperature profiles. Repeated measurements of impurity decay times have been demonstrated with an accuracy of 1 ms via injection of non-recycling Ti, Fe, and Mo impurities using a laser blow-off system.

Design, capabilities, and first results of the new laser blow-off system on Wendelstein 7-X.

We present a detailed overview and first results of the new laser blow-off system on the stellarator Wendelstein 7-X. The system allows impurity transport studies by the repetitive and controlled injection of different tracer ions into the plasma edge. A Nd:YAG laser is used to ablate a thin metal film, coated on a glass plate, with a repetition rate of up to 20 Hz. A remote-controlled adjustable optical system allows the variation of the laser spot diameter and enables the spot positioning to non-ablated areas on the target between laser pulses. During first experiments, clear spectral lines from higher ionization stages of the tracer ions have been observed in the X-ray to the extreme ultraviolet spectral range. The temporal behavior of the measured emission allows the estimate of transport properties, e.g., impurity transport times in the order of 100 ms. Although the strong injection of impurities is well detectable, the global plasma parameters are barely changed.

Influence of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium and Zeeman effects on magnetic equilibrium reconstruction using spectral motional Stark effect diagnostic.

The Motional Stark Effect (MSE) diagnostic is a well established technique to infer the local internal magnetic field in fusion plasmas. In this paper, the existing forward model which describes the MSE data is extended by the Zeeman effect, fine-structure, and relativistic corrections in the interpretation of the MSE spectra for different experimental conditions at the tokamak ASDEX Upgrade. The contribution of the non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (non-LTE) populations among the magnetic sub-levels and the Zeeman effect on the derived plasma parameters is different. The obtained pitch angle is changed by 3°…4° and by 0.5°…1° including the non-LTE and the Zeeman effects into the standard statistical MSE model. The total correction is about 4°. Moreover, the variation of the magnetic field strength is significantly changed by 2.2% due to the Zeeman effect only. While the data on the derived pitch angle still could not be tested against the other diagnostics, the results from an equilibrium reconstruction solver confirm the obtained values for magnetic field strength.

Review of the 9th NLTE code comparison workshop.

We review the 9th NLTE code comparison workshop, which was held in the Jussieu campus, Paris, from November 30th to December 4th, 2015. This time, the workshop was mainly focused on a systematic investigation of iron NLTE steady-state kinetics and emissivity, over a broad range of temperature and density. Through these comparisons, topics such as modeling of the dielectronic processes, density effects or the effect of an external radiation field were addressed. The K-shell spectroscopy of iron plasmas was also addressed, notably through the interpretation of tokamak and laser experimental spectra.

Alignment and absolute wavelength calibration of imaging Bragg spectrometers.

In the present and the next generation of fusion devices, imaging Bragg spectrometers are key diagnostics to measure plasma parameters in the hot core, especially ion temperature and plasma rotation. The latter quantities are routinely obtained using the Doppler-width and -shift of the emitted spectral lines, respectively. Line shift measurements require absolute accuracies Δλ/λ of about 10 ppm, where λ-is the observed wavelength. For ITER and the present fusion devices, spectral lines of He-and H-like argon, iron, and krypton as well as Ne-like tungsten are foreseen for the measurements. For these lines, Kα lines can be found, some in higher order, which fit into the narrow energy window of the spectrometers. For arbitrary wavelength settings, Kα lines are also used to measure the miscut of the spherical crystals; afterwards the spectrometers can be set according to the geometrical imaging properties using coordinate measurement machines. For the spectrometers measuring Lyα lines of H-like ions, fluorescence targets can provide in situ localized calibration lines on the spectra. The fluorescence targets are used best in transmission and are excited by the thermal x-ray radiation of the plasma. An analytic theory of fluorescence is worked out.

[MEDICAL AND SOCIAL INSPECTION AS A PART OF THE REHABILITATION OF CHILDREN WITH JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS].

Provided evaluation of the medical and social inspection of the dcotrors-consultative commission of Vinnytsya regional childrens hospital in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Patients with JRA that got position of the child-invalid are given individual program of the rehabilitation that includes medical, professional, sport and physical, social adaptation that gives ability control recommendations for both--physicians and parents.

A non-statistical atomic model for beam emission and motional Stark effect diagnostics in fusion plasmas.

In this work we analyze magnetic sublevel populations in a neutral beam penetrating a fusion plasma. The collisional-radiative model NOMAD was extended to include magnetic parabolic sublevels with principal quantum numbers n ≤ 10. The collisional parameters were calculated with the advanced atomic-orbital close coupling method and the Glauber approximation. The ionization by the induced electric field was also included in the model. The results of our calculations show significant deviations of the sublevel populations and, accordingly, line intensities of the σ and π components, from the statistical approximation. It is shown, for instance, that for a number of experimental conditions the total intensity of σ components is not equal to the total intensity of π components, which has a strong effect on determination of magnetic field and pitch angle in fusion devices. The results are presented for a wide range of plasma and beam parameters. The most significant deviations are observed for strong magnetic fields and high beam energies typical for the ITER plasma, where component intensity ratios may deviate by more than 20% from the statistical values.

A high etendue spectrometer suitable for core charge eXchange recombination spectroscopy on ITER.

A feasibility study for the use of core charge exchange recombination spectroscopy on ITER has shown that accurate measurements on the helium ash require a spectrometer with a high etendue of 1mm(2)sr to comply with the measurement requirements [S. Tugarinov et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 74, 2075 (2003)]. To this purpose such an instrument has been developed consisting of three separate wavelength channels (to measure simultaneously He/Be, C/Ne, and H/D/T together with the Doppler shifted direct emission of the diagnostic neutral beam, the beam emission (BES) signal), combining high dispersion (0.02 nm/pixel), sufficient resolution (0.2 nm), high efficiency (55%), and extended wavelength range (14 nm) at high etendue. The combined measurement of the BES along the same sightline within a third wavelength range provides the possibility for in situ calibration of the charge eXchange recombination spectroscopy signals. In addition, the option is included to use the same instrument for measurements of the fast fluctuations of the beam emission intensity up to 2 MHz, with the aim to study MHD activity.

Method to obtain absolute impurity density profiles combining charge exchange and beam emission spectroscopy without absolute intensity calibration.

Investigation of impurity transport properties in tokamak plasmas is essential and a diagnostic that can provide information on the impurity content is required. Combining charge exchange recombination spectroscopy (CXRS) and beam emission spectroscopy (BES), absolute radial profiles of impurity densities can be obtained from the CXRS and BES intensities, electron density and CXRS and BES emission rates, without requiring any absolute calibration of the spectra. The technique is demonstrated here with absolute impurity density radial profiles obtained in TEXTOR plasmas, using a high efficiency charge exchange spectrometer with high etendue, that measures the CXRS and BES spectra along the same lines-of-sight, offering an additional advantage for the determination of absolute impurity densities.

La2Pb(SiS4)2.

Crystals of La(2)Pb(SiS(4))(2), dilanthanum(III) lead(II) bis[tetrasulfidosilicate(IV)], were obtained from the La-Pb-Si-S system and structurally characterized using X-ray single-crystal diffraction. The La and Pb atoms are coordinated in bicapped trigonal prisms of S atoms, with the Si atoms in tetrahedra. An occupational disorder of the La and Pb centres was refined for one position in the structure. The bicapped trigonal prisms and tetrahedra share edges. A gap located 2.629 (1) A from the sulfide anions was found around the coordination polyhedra, which makes La(2)Pb(SiS(4))(2) a prospective material in crystal engineering. The Si and one S atom lie on a threefold axis.

Charge exchange spectroscopy as a fast ion diagnostic on TEXTOR.

An upgraded charge exchange spectroscopy diagnostic has been taken into operation at the TEXTOR tokamak. The angles of the viewing lines with the toroidal magnetic field are close to the pitch angles at birth of fast ions injected by one of the neutral beam injectors. Using another neutral beam for active spectroscopy, injected counter the direction in which fast ions injected by the first beam are circulating, we can simultaneously measure a fast ion tail on the blue wing of the D(alpha) spectrum while the beam emission spectrum is Doppler shifted to the red wing. An analysis combining the two parts of the spectrum offers possibilities to improve the accuracy of the absolute (fast) ion density profiles. Fast beam modulation or passive viewing lines cannot be used for background subtraction on this diagnostic setup and therefore the background has to be modeled and fitted to the data together with a spectral model for the slowing down feature. The analysis of the fast ion D(alpha) spectrum obtained with the new diagnostic is discussed.

Validation of the ITER CXRS design by tests on TEXTOR.

The charge exchange recombination spectroscopy system (CXRS) for ITER is designed to measure the core helium concentration, and in addition, profiles of ion temperature and rotation. This highly demanding task, due to the huge background radiation (bremsstrahlung) and the high attenuation of the dedicated diagnostic neutral beam, requires high throughput spectrometers with high resolution. On TEXTOR, a CXRS system has been developed with the aim to test the physics implications of these specifications. (i) A relevant spectrometer has been tested. (ii) A method to determine the helium concentrations from the CXRS intensity, using the beam emission has been evaluated. A 20% discrepancy in beam emission was revealed. (iii) The determination of the magnetic pitch angle by the ratio of Balmer lines showed qualitatively the right behavior, although the accuracy was limited by the polarization sensitivity of the first mirror. (iv) The simulation code developed for the prediction of the CXRS spectra was quantitatively confronted with experimental data.

Review of atomic data needs for active charge-exchange spectroscopy on ITER.

The quantitative exploitation of active beam spectra is largely based on an advanced atomic modeling. Under the ITER operating conditions the penetration depth of a diagnostic beam into the plasma core crucially affects the intensities of spectral lines and hence the uncertainties of derived plasma parameters. A critical review of atomic data and an assessment of its error margins are, therefore, urgently needed. The aim of the present work is to verify the existing beam-stopping and beam-emission data for hydrogen beam in fusion plasmas. The agreement between the ADAS database and the present calculations is found to be within 5% for the beam-stopping data in a H-plasma. The calculation of beam attenuation in the presence of He-ash (4%) and Be ions (2%) demonstrates the agreement between the present data and the ADAS database within 10%. Finally, the maximum deviation of 15% is found only for beam-emission data at the electron density of 1x10(12)-2x10(12) cm(-3), which is significantly below the ITER density of 10(14) cm(-3).

Toroidal plasma rotation induced by the dynamic ergodic divertor in the TEXTOR tokamak.

The first results of the Dynamic Ergodic Divertor in TEXTOR, when operating in the m/n=3/1 mode configuration, are presented. The deeply penetrating external magnetic field perturbation of this configuration increases the toroidal plasma rotation. Staying below the excitation threshold for the m/n=2/1 tearing mode, this toroidal rotation is always in the direction of the plasma current, even if the toroidal projection of the rotating magnetic field perturbation is in the opposite direction. The observed toroidal rotation direction is consistent with a radial electric field, generated by an enhanced electron transport in the ergodic layers near the resonances of the perturbation. This is an effect different from theoretical predictions, which assume a direct coupling between rotating perturbation and plasma to be the dominant effect of momentum transfer.

New benchmarks from tokamak experiments for theoretical calculations of the dielectronic satellite spectra of heliumlike ions.

Dielectronic satellite spectra of heliumlike argon, recorded with a high-resolution x-ray crystal spectrometer at the National Spherical Torus Experiment, were found to be inconsistent with existing predictions resulting in unacceptable values for the power balance and suggesting the unlikely existence of non-Maxwellian electron energy distributions. These problems were resolved with calculations from a new atomic code. It is now possible to perform reliable electron-temperature measurements and to eliminate the uncertainties associated with determinations of non-Maxwellian distributions.