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Gas-driven permeation (GDP) and plasma-driven permeation (PDP) of hydrogen gas through GaInSn/Fe are systematically investigated in this work. The permeation parameters of hydrogen through GaInSn/Fe, including diffusivity, Sieverts’ constant, permeability, and surface recombination coefficient are obtained. The permeation flux of hydrogen through GaInSn/Fe shows great dependence on external conditions such as temperature, hydrogen pressure, and thickness of liquid GaInSn. Furthermore, the hydrogen permeation behavior through GaInSn/Fe is well consistent with the multi-layer permeation theory. In PDP and GDP experiments, hydrogen through GaInSn/Fe satisfies the diffusion-limited regime. In addition, the permeation flux of PDP is greater than that of GDP. The increase of hydrogen plasma density hardly causes the hydrogen PDP flux to change within the test scope of this work, which is due to the dissolution saturation. These findings provide guidance for a comprehensive and systematic understanding of hydrogen isotope recycling, permeation, and retention in plasma-facing components under actual conditions.

Astrocytes have a regulatory function on the central nervous system (CNS), especially in the temperature-sensitive hippocampal region. In order to explore the thermosensitive dynamic mechanism of astrocytes in the CNS, we establish a neuron–astrocyte minimum system to analyze the synchronization change characteristics based on the Hodgkin–Huxley model, in which a pyramidal cell and an interneuron are connected by an astrocyte. The temperature range is set as 0 °C–40 °C to juggle between theoretical calculation and the reality of a brain environment. It is shown that the synchronization of thermosensitive neurons exhibits nonlinear behavior with changes in astrocyte parameters. At a temperature range of 0 °C–18 °C, the effects of the astrocyte can provide a tremendous influence on neurons in synchronization. We find the existence of a value for inositol triphosphate (IP3) production rate and feedback intensities of astrocytes to neurons, which can ensure the weak synchronization of two neurons. In addition, it is revealed that the regulation of astrocytes to pyramidal cells is more sensitive than that to interneurons. Finally, it is shown that the synchronization and phase transition of neurons depend on the change in Ca2+ concentration at the temperature of weak synchronization. The results in this paper provide some enlightenment on the mechanism of cognitive dysfunction and neurological disorders with astrocytes.

The energy levels, transition energies, transition probabilities, weighted oscillator strengths, and line strengths of Li-like ions (Z = 7–11) in dense plasmas are investigated in this work. The relativistic effects and electron correlation effects are described by the MCDHF method. The ion sphere model is applied to include the dense plasma screening effect. The ground configuration 1s22s and the excited 1s22p, 1s23l (l = 0–2) are considered. The configuration sets are enlarged until n = 7 where the calculated energy levels have converged. The critical free electron densities of 1s23d states are estimated. Except for 1s23s–1s23p transitions, the transition energies for Δ n = 0 increase, and for Δ n ≠ 0 decrease with increasing free electron densities. For 1s23s–1s23p transitions, the spectra show blue-shift at lower free electron densities and red-shift at higher free electron densities, and the energy level crossing phenomens are observed at higher free electron densities.

Using first-principles calculations in the generalized gradient approximation plus on-site Coulomb interaction (GGA+U) scheme, the effects of internal structural parameters x and U on the electronic structure of YbB6 are investigated. The results show that the band gap of YbB6 increases with x increasing, and does not change with U. It not only illustrates the influence of internal structural parameter x on band gap, but also explains the discrepancy between the previous experimental result and the theoretical prediction. In addition, the electronic structure and density of states reveal that there exist the interactions between B atoms in different cages, and that a small band gap can form around the Fermi level (E F). The present work plays a leading role in ascertaining the relation between crystal structure and electronic property for the further analysis of its topological properties.

We present a detailed investigation of the transition properties for He-like Al embedded in hot and dense plasma environments. The correlation effect between the bound electrons is treated with the configuration interaction method. Plasma screening on the nucleus is described using the self-consistent-field ion sphere model. Transition energies, transition probabilities and weighted oscillator strengths decrease quickly with the increase of free electron densities, but increase slightly with the electron temperature, and approach those of the uniform electron density ion sphere model at a given average free electron density. The results reported in this work are useful for plasma diagnostics.

The atomic structure and transition properties of H-like Al embedded in hot and dense plasmas are investigated using modified GRASP2K code. The plasma screening effect on the nucleus is described using the self-consistent field ion sphere model. The effective nuclear potential decreases much more quickly with increasing average free electron density, but increases slightly with increasing electron temperature. The variations of the transition energies, transition probabilities, and oscillator strengths with the free electron density and electron temperature are the same as that of the effective nuclear potential. The results reported in this work agree well with other available theoretical results and are useful for plasma diagnostics.

The structural, elastic, and electronic properties of a series of lanthanide hexaborides (LnB6) have been investigated by performing ab initio calculations based on the density functional theory using the Vienna ab initio simulation package. The calculated lattice and elastic constants of LnB6 are in good agreement with the available experimental data and other theoretical results. The polycrystalline Young's modulus, shear modulus, the ratio of bulk to shear modulus B/G, Poisson's ratios, Zener anisotropy factors, as well as the Debye temperature are calculated, and all of the properties display some regularity with increasing atomic number of lanthanide atoms, whereas anomalies are observed for EuB6 and YbB6. In addition, detailed electronic structure calculations are carried out to shed light on the peculiar elastic properties of LnB6. The total density of states demonstrates the existence of a pseudogap and indicates lower structure stability of EuB6 and YbB6 compared with others.

The traditional fabrication technique of quantum-dot-array diffraction grating (QDADG) is a hybrid lithography method that includes electron-beam lithography and x-ray lithography. In this work, 1000 line/mm free-standing QDADG has successfully been fabricated by focused ion beams (FIBs) for the first time. The diffraction patterns of the grating are measured in the 250–450 nm wavelength range from the xenon lamp source. In consequence, the QDADG in this experiment can be used to disperse light without high-order diffraction. The present inspiriting result demonstrates the prospect of FIB fabrication for high energy QDADG in the soft x-ray region.