Plasma Science and the Environment

by Manheimer, Wallace; Sugiyama, Linda E.; Stix, Thomas Howard

• ISBN13: 9781563963773
• ISBN10: 1563963779
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-10-01
• Publisher: Amer Inst of Physics

Summary

Plasma Science and the Environment describes important advances on environmental issues made by researchers in plasma physics and its associated fields of fluids, gaseous chemistry, lasers, microwaves, and electron beams. Written by some of the world's foremost plasma science experts, the articles here range from the global perspective of climate and atmospheric change to new developments in energy efficiency and conservation to key applications in waste treatment and reduction. Clearly written, up to date, and extensively referenced, Plasma Science and the Environment introduces nonspecialists to a fascinating field of scientific endeavor. Readers will gain a broader understanding of some of the most crucial problems facing the modern world, and will see how specialists in a particular area of physics are working to solve them.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
List of Contributors	xv
Introduction	xvii
Linda E. Sugiyama
Global and Large-Scale Environmental Processes and Modifications	xvii
Energy Use and Conservation	xxi
Waste Treatment: Prevention and Remediation	xxii
Acknowledgments	xxv
References	xxv
Part I. Global and Large-Scale Environmental Processes and Modifications
A Brief Introduction to Global Change	3	(12)
Herbert Gursky
Introduction	3	(1)
Scientific Complexity	4	(1)
Global Warming	5	(4)
Ozone Depletion	9	(3)
The Institutional Response	12	(1)
Summary	12	(3)
References	13	(2)
Global Change and Possible Effects on the Earth's Plasma Environment	15	(26)
Raymond G. Roble
Introduction	15	(1)
Changes in Global Mean Atmosphere Structure	16	(9)
Changes in Ionospheric Structure	25	(6)
Global Electric Circuit	31	(1)
Component Electrical Processes and Possible Effects from Global Change	32	(3)
Electrical Conductivity	32	(2)
Thunderstorm Frequency and Global Change	34	(1)
Conclusions	35	(6)
References	37	(4)
Ionospheric Modification and Environmental Research in the Auroral Region	41	(36)
Alfred Y. Wong
Michael McCarrick
Ralph F. Wuerker
Joel Villasenor
Bin Song
Helio Zwi
Glenn Rosenthal
Tuto Nakamura
Jacqueline Pau
Tetsuo Fukuchi
Davis D. Sentman
Roger Smith
Joseph Kan
Lung-Chih Tsai
F. Tom Berkey
Introduction	41	(3)
Principle of Localized Interactions of Propagating EM Waves with Ionospheric Plasma	44	(2)
Conversion from EM to ES Waves	45	(1)
Characteristics of Ionospheric Plasmas	46	(5)
Comparison between Equatorial and Auroral Ionospheric Conditions	50	(1)
Experimental Methods	51	(7)
Description of Facility and Antenna Array	51	(3)
Diagnostics	54	(1)
Space-Borne Diagnostics Complement the Ground-Based Diagnostics	55	(3)
Method of Enhancing Wave Excitation by Coupling to Free-Energy Sources	58	(1)
Conditions for Coupling to the Polar Ionosphere	58	(6)
Selective Removal of Ions by Ion-Cyclotron Acceleration in the Polar Region	64	(13)
Growth of EM Ion-Cyclotron Waves Driven by Field-Aligned Current	73	(1)
Consideration of Power Requirements	73	(1)
Acknowledgments	74	(1)
References	74	(3)
Gyrotrons and Free-Electron Lasers for Atmospheric Sensing	77	(40)
Wallace Manheimer
Introduction	77	(1)
Gyrotrons, Free-Electron Lasers, and Atmospheric Propagation	78	(14)
Gyrotron Devices at Around 94 GHz	78	(11)
Infared Free-Electron Lasers	89	(3)
Cloud Radar Studies With High-Power Gyrotrons	92	(7)
Millimeter-Wave Cloud Radars	93	(1)
Radar Scatter from Clouds	93	(2)
Analysis of Radar Returns from Clouds	95	(2)
High-Power Millimeter-Wave Atmospheric Probes	97	(2)
Remote Sensing of Atmospheric Turbulence	99	(3)
Remote Sensing of Trace Impurities in the Upper Atmosphere	102	(10)
Trace-Element Determination by Radiometry	103	(4)
Trace-Element Detection by Coherent Absorption Measurements	107	(4)
Atmospheric Modification With High-Power Millimeter Waves	111	(1)
Atmospheric Sensing with Free-Electron Lasers	112	(2)
Conclusion	114	(3)
Acknowledgments	115	(1)
References	115	(2)
Removing Chlorofluorocarbons from the Atmosphere with Lasers: A Second Look	117	(32)
Thomas H. Stix
Introduction	117	(1)
Greenhouse Warming	118	(1)
Ozone Depletion	119	(4)
Trends in Ultraviolet Dose	123	(1)
Destruction of CFC's by Electron Attachment	124	(1)
Injection of Hydrocarbons into the Antarctic Stratosphere	125	(1)
Laser Processing	125	(1)
Ultimate Efficiency	126	(1)
Electrical Power Costs for Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation	127	(1)
Systems Analysis	128	(1)
Dissociation of CFC's by Ultraviolet Photons	129	(3)
Dissociation of CFC's by Infrared Plus Ultraviolet Radiation	132	(4)
Infrared Excitation of Molecular Vibration-Chirping the Laser	136	(6)
CFC 11: An Exception?	142	(1)
Collisional Relaxation	142	(1)
Suppression of Stimulated Rotational Raman Scattering	143	(2)
Conclusions	145	(4)
Acknowledgments	145	(1)
References	146	(3)
Convection Towers for Generating Electric Power and Reducing Air Pollution	149	(16)
Melvin L. Prueitt
Background	149	(1)
The Problem	149	(1)
The Solution	150	(3)
Research at LASL	153	(3)
Experimental Work	156	(1)
Scavenging of Particulate Matter	157	(1)
Scavenging of Gases	158	(1)
Tower Effluents	159	(1)
Electric Power Production	160	(1)
Summary	160	(5)
References	160	(5)
Part II. Energy Use and Conservation
Recent Improvements in New Product Energy Efficiency	165	(14)
Arthur H. Rosenfeld
Lynn Price
Introduction	165	(1)
Automobiles	166	(2)
Refrigerators	168	(1)
Lighting	168	(3)
Electronic Ballasts for Fluorescent Lamps	170	(1)
Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL's)	170	(1)
Windows	171	(5)
Windows from a Physics Perspective	171	(2)
Low-Emissivity (Low-E) Windows	173	(1)
Economics of Low-E Windows	173	(1)
Spectrally Selective Windows-Plasma Frequency	174	(2)
Advanced Windows and ``Superwindows''	176	(1)
Conclusion	176	(3)
Acknowledgments	177	(1)
References	177	(2)
Energy Conservation and Environmental Aspects of Lighting Plasmas	179	(30)
Gerald L. Rogoff
Introduction	179	(3)
Lamp Measures	182	(3)
Lumen Output	183	(1)
Efficacy	184	(1)
Color-Rendering Index	184	(1)
Color Temperature	184	(1)
Low-Pressure Discharge Lamp Plasmas	185	(13)
The Fluorescent Lamp	185	(9)
The Low-Pressure Sodium Lamp	194	(1)
Changes and Trends	195	(3)
High-Intensity-Discharge (HID) Lamps	198	(2)
Environmental Effects	200	(4)
Mercury Content	201	(2)
Mercury Disposal	203	(1)
The Future	204	(5)
Acknowledgments	205	(1)
References	205	(4)
Part III. Waste-Treatment: Prevention and Remediation
Hot and Cold Plasma Processing of Waste	209	(22)
Daniel R. Cohn
Introduction	209	(1)
High-Temperature Plasma Processing	210	(7)
General Features	210	(2)
Metal-Electrode-Plasma Furnace Applications	212	(2)
Graphite-Electrode Arc-Plasma Furnace Applications	214	(1)
Process Diagnostics	215	(2)
Future Directions	217	(1)
Low-Temperature, Nonequilibrium Processing	217	(10)
General Approach	217	(2)
Discharge Plasmas	219	(3)
Electron-Beam-Generated Plasmas	222	(5)
Future Directions	227	(1)
Conclusions	227	(4)
Acknowledgments	228	(1)
References	228	(3)
Electron Scrubbing of Flue Gases to Remove Unwanted By-Products	231	(30)
Ralph D. Genuario
Electron-Beam Dry Scrubbing Process Description and History	231	(6)
Background	231	(2)
EBDS Process Description	233	(2)
EBDS History	235	(2)
E-SCRUB Requirements	237	(8)
SOx and NOx Removal Requirements	237	(2)
EBDS Cost Estimates and Technology Comparisons	239	(5)
HPTA Technology Versus Conventional Electron-Beam Guns	244	(1)
HPTA Technology Development	245	(11)
DOD Technology Overview	245	(1)
HPTA Technology Overview	245	(3)
Power-Conditioning Subsystem Description	248	(4)
Electron-Beam Gun Design	252	(4)
e-SCRUB Project Description	256	(5)
References	258	(3)
Processing of Hazardous Chemicals Using Silent-Electrical-Discharge Plasmas	261	(38)
Louis A. Rosocha
Introduction	261	(2)
Electrical Considerations	263	(8)
Discharge Mechanisms	263	(4)
Electrical Properties of Silent Discharges	267	(4)
Plasma Chemistry Considerations	271	(11)
Radical Production	274	(5)
Radical Utilization	279	(3)
Process Chemistry	282	(2)
Representative Experimental Results And Applications	284	(7)
Equipment	284	(1)
Results	285	(3)
Applications	288	(3)
Removal-Scaling Relationships and Figures of Merit	291	(3)
Removal-Scaling Relationships	291	(2)
Figure of Merit	293	(1)
Conclusions	294	(5)
Appendix	295	(1)
Acknowledgments	295	(1)
References	296	(3)
Accelerator-Based Systems for Plutonium Destruction and Nuclear-Waste Transmutation	299	(22)
Edward D. Arthur
Introduction	299	(1)
Overview of ABC and ATW System Components	300	(1)
Impacts of Material-Destruction Systems	301	(4)
Choice of Transmutation-System Parameters	305	(2)
Safety and Control	305	(1)
Neutron Economy	306	(1)
Fuel Cleanup	306	(1)
Components of ABC and ATW Systems	307	(5)
Value Provided by the Accelerator	312	(4)
Safety and Control	312	(2)
Excess Neutrons for Transmutation of Long-Lived Fission Products	314	(1)
Ease of Fuel-Cleanup Frequency	315	(1)
Technology Status and Development	316	(3)
Conclusions	319	(2)
References	320	(1)
Index	321