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October 21, 2009
Plasma experts improve detection method for wall erosion in fusion reactor
Researchers from FOM-Rijnhuizen have refined the calibration of the standard procedure to measure wall erosion in future fusion reactors. Ph.D. student Jeroen Westerhout discovered that the calibration technique yields much more signal at relatively low plasma temperatures (around 10,000 °C) than predicted by theory. The research results in a better calibration of the wall erosion, an important factor in the success of energy producing fusion experiments like ITER. They published their results in the journal Applied Physics Letters.
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Figure 1. Pilot-PSI plasma
The linear plasma experiment Pilot-PSI produces plasma with densities and temperatures that are comparable with those experienced by the ITER divertor.
The linear plasma experiment Pilot-PSI produces plasma with densities and temperatures that are comparable with those experienced by the ITER divertor.
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Figure 2. Eroded targets
Erosion of carbon targets after increaslingly longer exposure to the plasma in Pilot-PSI
Erosion of carbon targets after increaslingly longer exposure to the plasma in Pilot-PSI
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Figure 3. Gasinjection
Hydrogen plasma streaming out of the Pilot-PSI plasma source (left). From below, methane is injected - a method used, for instance, to calibrate the detection technique for material wall erosion.
Hydrogen plasma streaming out of the Pilot-PSI plasma source (left). From below, methane is injected - a method used, for instance, to calibrate the detection technique for material wall erosion.
Scientists look at the specific colors of light that are emitted by hydrocarbons to keep track of the deterioration of the wall. In comparable experiments, Jeroen Westerhout has measured up to one thousand times more light than expected from theory. He has explained this by taking into account the light that is emitted as a result of the chemical erosion reactions.
Read the APL-letter online:
http://link.aip.org/link/?APPLAB/95/151501/1
Contact
Drs. Gieljan de Vries, telephone (030) 609 69 02.
