M
mdpi.com
article
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/10/6240
Fusion experiments are indeed extremely hostile environments for plasma facing materials (PFM) and plasma-facing components (PFC), both in terms of neutron, thermal loads and mechanical stresses that the components have to face during either steady operation or off-normal events. Hawryluk, R.J. An Empirical Approach to Tokamak Transport, Physics of Plasmas Close to Thermonuclear Conditions; Coppi, B., Leotta, G.G., Pfirsch, D., Pozzoli, R., Sindoni, E., Eds.; CEC: Brussels, Belgium, 1980; Volume 1, pp. McCracken, G.M.; Lipschultz, B.; LaBombard, B.; Goetz, J.A.; Granetz, R.S.; Jablonski, D.; Lisgo, S.; Ohkawa, H.; Stangeby, P.C. Impurity screening in Ohmic and high confinement (H-mode) plasmas in the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. [Google Scholar+plasmas+in+the+Alcator+C-Mod+tokamak&author=McCracken,+G.M.&author=Lipschultz,+B.&author=LaBombard,+B.&author=Goetz,+J.A.&author=Granetz,+R.S.&author=Jablonski,+D.&author=Lisgo,+S.&author=Ohkawa,+H.&author=Stangeby,+P.C.&publication_year=1997&journal=Phys.+Plasmas&volume=4&pages=1681%E2%80%931689&doi=10.1063/1.872365)] [CrossRef]. [Google Scholar&author=Huysmans,+G.T.A.&author=Pamela,+S.&author=Van+Der+Plas,+E.&author=Ramet,+P.&publication_year=2009&journal=Plasma+Phys.+Control.+Fusion&volume=51&pages=124012&doi=10.1088/0741-3335/51/12/124012)] [CrossRef]. Bolt, H.; Barabash, V.; Krauss, W.; Linke, J.; Neu, R.; Suzuki, S.; Yoshida, N.; Team, A.U. Materials for the plasma-facing components of fusion reactors. Park, J.Y.; Yang, S.J.; Gil Jin, Y.; Park, C.R.; Kim, G.-H.; Han, H.N. Effect of annealing with pressure on tungsten film properties fabricated by atmospheric plasma spray.
K
knowablemagazine.org
article
https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/physical-world/2023/the-challeng…
The ultimate goal is to get the plasma past the temperature of “ignition,” which is when fusion reactions will start to generate enough internal energy to make up for that radiating away of energy — and power a city or two besides. A fusion power plant could use one of several different reactor types, but it will turn fusion energy into electricity the same way that fossil-fuel power plants or nuclear-fission reactors do: Heat from the energy source will boil water to make steam, the steam will flow through a steam turbine, and the turbine will turn an electric generator to send power into the grid. But ITER was also designed as a research machine with a lot more instrumentation and versatility than a working power reactor would ever need — which is why two of today’s best-funded fusion startups are racing to develop tokamak reactors that would be a lot smaller, simpler and cheaper.
I
iaea.org
article
http://www.iaea.org/bulletin/closing-fusions-materials-and-technology-gaps
“The energy of the fusion-generated neutrons poses serious challenges to the fusion power plant’s first wall and vacuum vessel, which means considerations need to be given to radiation damage, biological shielding, remote handling, and safety,” explained Ian Chapman, CEO of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The IAEA is helping to address issues associated with fusion materials development and research by coordinating the drafting of guidelines for reference material testing techniques, and by bridging knowledge gaps in designing facilities for testing fusion reactor materials and components. “Technologies like the dual-beam ion facility installed in 2019 at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Croatia with IAEA support can simulate the conditions that a material would be exposed to in a fusion reactor. Designing and building future fusion reactors will depend on the technical, technological and material results of ITER and other well-established multinational coordinated research and development activities, but the distance between us and a fusion-powered future continues to narrow every day.