Method of improving the accuracy of measurement of a plane angle by interference goniometers

A method is proposed for certifying the base of interference goniometers and determining the nonlinearity of their readings. It is shown that the error of certification of the base of the instrument is no greater than 0.06 μm. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 5, pp. 17–19, May, 1998.     

High Beta Experiments in the GDT Axisymmetric Magnetic Mirror

This paper reports recent results from the Gas Dynamic Trap magnetic mirror device. Achieving plasma betas up to 60% provides a basis for extrapolating this concept to a fusion relevant 14 MeV neutron source for testing and validating materials applicable to fusion systems.     

Use of recycled materials in pig-iron production at a non-integrated metallurgical plant

Slags of the required basicity are obtained in blast furnaces at the Lipetsk Metallurgical Plant by adding raw fluxes (limestone and dolomite) to the charge in amounts of 200–300 kg/ton pig iron. Decomposition of the carbonates of calcium and magnesium in these fluxes requires a considerable amount of heat and increases coke consumption in the smelting operation by 45–65 kg/ton pig. To replace the limestone in the charge, the plant uses crushed rock obtained from converter slag. The rock is delivered by the Novolipetsk Metallurgical Combine and is of the 40–70 mm fraction. Most of the economic benefit from using converter slag stems from the replacement of a raw flux (limestone) by lime present in the slag in free form and in the form of compounds-mainly calcium silicates. An equally important factor that affects the cost-effectiveness of using converter slag in the blast-furnace charge is the slag’s 20% iron content. A substantial percentage of the iron in the slag is in the form of FeO and metallic inclusions. __________ Translated from Metallurg, No. 4, pp. 38–42, April, 2007.     

Note: Multi-point measurement of |B| in the gas-dynamic trap with a spectral motional Stark effect diagnostic

An upgraded spectral motional Stark effect diagnostic has been installed on the gas-dynamic trap (GDT) experiment to enable spatially resolved measurement of |B|. A new low-noise charge-coupled device detector, combined with enhancements of the diagnostic neutral beam, allows single-shot profile measurements. Previously only single-point motional Stark effect measurements were possible, and detector noise severely limited measurement precision, requiring multi-shot averaging. The plasma pressure profile in GDT is derived from the measured diamagnetic modification of |B| and used to examine the conditions of stable plasma confinement at high plasma pressure.