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Impact of erosion and deposition processes on wall materials in tokamaks

Time: Thu 2022-04-07 14.00

Location: F3, Lindstedtsvägen 26 & 28, Stockholm

Video link: for online defense

Language: English

Subject area: Electrical Engineering

Doctoral student: Sunwoo Moon , Fusionsplasmafysik

Opponent: Dr. Wolff Max,

Supervisor: Marek Rubel, Fusionsplasmafysik; Per Petersson, Fusionsplasmafysik

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QC 20220314

Abstract

Understanding of material migration and control of fuel retention are essential for the safe operation of a reactor-class fusion machine. Work presented in the thesis focuses on erosion-deposition processes which are decisive for the formation and properties of co-deposited fuel-containing layers on plasma-facing and diagnostic components, and for the dust formation. The thesis is based on experiments carried out in plasma devices such as JET-ILW, KSTAR, EXTRAP-T2R, TOMAS and, in materials research laboratories where comprehensive analyses of the plasma-exposed materials were performed by a large number of complementary ion, electron and optical methods. The major objectives were to determine: (a) plasma impact on test mirrors; (b) properties of metal dust generated under operation with metal walls in JET with the ITER-Like Wall; (c) material transport to areas shadowed from the direct plasma line-of-sight; (d) neutral particle fluxes in wall conditioning discharges. All these topics are inter-related and, they are in line with the ITER needs in areas of diagnostic development, mitigation of fuel inventory and detailed knowledge of dust particles generated in the tokamak with metal walls. The novelty in research is demonstrated by several elements. Plasma impact on diagnostic mirrors was determined by exposure of test mirrors in JET two types of holders including the ITER-like assembly resembling a diagnostic duct in a reactor. Dust studies allowed for the determination of particles’ properties (size, weight) and, for the classification of various detected objects. The impact of tile shaping and intentional misalignment on fuel retention was revealed in a dedicated experiment in KSTAR. A neutral particle analyser was first tested at EXTRAP-T2R and then installed at the TOMAS facility. Particle fluxes were characterized in wall conditioning discharges heated by electron- and ion cyclotron systems.

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