L. Marot

ELM simulation experiments on Pilot-PSI using simultaneous high flux plasma and transient heat/particle source

A new experimental setup has been developed for edge localized mode (ELM) simulation experiments with relevant steady-state plasma conditions and transient heat/particle source. The setup is based on the Pilot-PSI linear plasma device and allows the superimposition of a transient heat/particle pulse to the steady-state heat flux plasma. Energy densities as high as 1?MJ?m?2 have been reached for a pulse duration of about 1.5?ms, and for a variety of gases (H, He, Ar). In this contribution, we report on the first experiments investigating the effect of the combined steady-state/pulsed plasma on polycrystalline tungsten targets. Under such conditions the threshold for tungsten release and surface roughening is found to be much lower than in previously reported experiments. This suggests that the combination of the high flux plasma and transient heat/particle source leads to strong synergistic effects.

Nanostructuring of molybdenum and tungsten surfaces by low-energy helium ions

The formation of metallic nanostructures by exposure of molybdenum and tungsten surfaces to high fluxes of low energy helium ions is studied as a function of the ion energy, plasma exposure time, and surface temperature. Helium plasma exposure leads to the formation of nanoscopic filaments on the surface of both metals. The size of the helium-induced nanostructure increases with increasing surface temperature while the thickness of the modified layer increases with time. In addition, the growth rate of the nanostructured layer also depends on the surface temperature. The size of the nanostructure appears linked with the size of the near-surface voids induced by the low energy ions. The results presented here thus demonstrate that surface processing by low-energy helium ions provides an efficient route for the formation of porous metallic nanostructures.

Suppression of electronic friction on Nb films in the superconducting state

Investigations on the origins of friction are still scarce and controversial. In particular, the contributions of electronic and phononic excitations are poorly known. A direct way to distinguish between them is to work across the superconducting phase transition. Here, non-contact friction on a Nb film is studied across the critical temperature TC using a highly sensitive cantilever oscillating in the pendulum geometry in ultrahigh vacuum. The friction coefficient Γ is reduced by a factor of three when the sample enters the superconducting state. The temperature decay of Γ is found to be in good agreement with the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory, meaning that friction has an electronic nature in the metallic state, whereas phononic friction dominates in the superconducting state. This is supported by the dependence of friction on the probe-sample distance d and on the bias voltage V. Γ is found to be proportional to d-1 and V2 in the metallic state, whereas Γ∼d-4 and Γ∼V4 in the superconducting state. Therefore, phononic friction becomes the main dissipation channel below the critical temperature.

Quantum Hall Effect in Graphene with Superconducting Electrodes

We have realized an integer quantum Hall system with superconducting contacts by connecting graphene to niobium electrodes. Below their upper critical field of 4 T, an integer quantum Hall effect coexists with superconductivity in the leads but with a plateau conductance that is larger than in the normal state. We ascribe this enhanced quantum Hall plateau conductance to Andreev processes at the graphene-superconductor interface leading to the formation of so-called Andreev edge-states. The enhancement depends strongly on the filling-factor and is less pronounced on the first plateau due to the special nature of the zero energy Landau level in monolayer graphene.

Rhodium coated mirrors deposited by magnetron sputtering for fusion applications

Metallic mirrors will be essential components of all optical spectroscopy and imaging systems for ITER plasma diagnostics. Any change in the mirror performance, in particular, its reflectivity, due to erosion of the surface by charge exchange neutrals or deposition of impurities will influence the quality and reliability of the detected signals. Due to its high reflectivity in the visible wavelength range and its low sputtering yield, rhodium appears as an attractive material for first mirrors in ITER. However, the very high price of the raw material calls for using it in the form of a film deposited onto metallic substrates. The development of a reliable technique for the preparation of high reflectivity rhodium films is therefore of the highest importance. Rhodium layers with thicknesses of up to 2 microm were produced on different substrates of interest (Mo, stainless steel, Cu) by magnetron sputtering. Produced films exhibit a low roughness and crystallite size of about 10 nm with a dense columnar structure. No impurities were detected on the surface after deposition. Scratch tests demonstrate that adhesion properties increase with substrate hardness. Detailed optical characterizations of Rh-coated mirrors as well as results of erosion tests performed both under laboratory conditions and in the TEXTOR tokamak are presented in this paper.

An overview of the comprehensive First Mirror Test in JET with ITER-like wall

The First Mirror Test in Joint European Torus (JET) with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor-like wall was performed with polycrystalline molybdenum mirrors. Two major types of exp ...

Pure hydrogen low-temperature plasma exposure of HOPG and graphene: Graphane formation?

Summary Single- and multilayer graphene and highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were exposed to a pure hydrogen low-temperature plasma (LTP). Characterizations include various experimental techniques such as photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and scanning probe microscopy. Our photoemission measurement shows that hydrogen LTP exposed HOPG has a diamond-like valence-band structure, which suggests double-sided hydrogenation. With the scanning tunneling microscopy technique, various atomic-scale charge-density patterns were observed, which may be associated with different C–H conformers. Hydrogen-LTP-exposed graphene on SiO2 has a Raman spectrum in which the D peak to G peak ratio is over 4, associated with hydrogenation on both sides. A very low defect density was observed in the scanning probe microscopy measurements, which enables a reverse transformation to graphene. Hydrogen-LTP-exposed HOPG possesses a high thermal stability, and therefore, this transformation requires annealing at over 1000 °C.

Interactions of diamond surfaces with fusion relevant plasmas

The outstanding thermal properties of diamond and its low reactivity towards hydrogen may make it an attractive plasma-facing material for fusion and calls for a proper evaluation of its behaviour under exposure to fusion-relevant plasma conditions. Micro and nanocrystalline diamond layers, deposited on Mo and Si substrates by hot filament chemical vapour deposition (CVD), have been exposed both in tokamaks and in linear plasma devices to measure the erosion rate of diamond and study the modification of the surface properties induced by particle bombardment. Experiments in Pilot-PSI and PISCES-B have shown that the sputtering yield of diamond (both physical and chemical) was a factor of 2 lower than that of graphite. Exposure to detached plasma conditions in the DIII-D tokamak have evidenced a strong resistance of diamond against erosion under those conditions.

High temperature plasma based ionic implantation of titanium alloys and silicon

Abstract Plasma based ionic implantation (PBII) of refractory materials is an alternative technique to conventional beam line implantation which appears to be very promising in the field of aeronautics, biomaterials and semiconductor electronics. In order to monitor sample temperature independently of the plasma discharge and of the pulsed high voltage conditions, we have developed a new thermally assisted PBII set-up. The thermally assisted plasma immersion implantation reactor (TAPIIR) which enables plasma implantation in the 0.5–60 keV range at controlled temperature between 200 and 1000 °C. Thermochemical treatments like nitriding of titanium and silicon were studied with a separated control of implantation and diffusion parameters. This paper describes implantations made in TAPIIR at elevated temperatures (500–900 °C) on titanium. The new results are presented and discussed by considering transport mechanisms during implantation at high temperature.

The effect of low temperature deuterium plasma on molybdenum reflectivity

Metallic first mirrors (FMs) are foreseen to play a crucial role for all optical diagnostics in ITER. It is highly important for the FMs to maintain a good reflectivity both in erosion and deposition zones in the harsh ITER environment. Molybdenum mirrors, which are important candidates for the FMs, exhibit a reflectivity spectrum different from that of bulk molybdenum after exposure to low temperature (4–5 eV) deuterium plasma. This difference is mainly due to the presence of deuterium and deuterium-induced defects in the metal. The results presented show that these reflectivity changes are similar for single and nanocrystalline molybdenum mirrors. Moreover, exposure of magnetron sputtered nanocrystalline molybdenum films to deuterium plasma revealed that after a certain deviation of the spectrum has been reached, the reflectivity remains constant upon further exposure. Exposures were carried out in a range of fluences corresponding to up to 18 ITER discharges in equatorial ports and 38 discharges in the upper ports in the first wall positions. Constant conditions of −200 V bias and 150 °C temperature were maintained on the samples. Further exposures performed in a tokamak result in reflectivity changes that are comparable to those obtained with deuterium plasma exposure. No mechanical damage, such as blistering and increase in roughness, is observed on the coated molybdenum films upon any of the mentioned exposures. The complex permittivity of the exposed molybdenum is determined from ellipsometry measurements and corroborated with core and valence level photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and surface resistivity measurements.