Masashi Shimada

Comparison of deuterium retention for ion-irradiated and neutron-irradiated tungsten

The behavior of D retention for Fe2+-irradiated tungsten with a damage of 0.025–3 dpa was compared with that for neutron-irradiated tungsten with 0.025 dpa. The D2 thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) spectra for Fe2+-irradiated tungsten consisted of two desorption stages at 450 and 550 K, while that for neutron-irradiated tungsten was composed of three stages and an addition desorption stage was found at 750 K. The desorption rate of the major desorption stage at 550 K increased as the displacement damage increased due to Fe2+ irradiation increasing. In addition, the first desorption stage at 450 K was found only for damaged samples. Therefore, the second stage would be based on intrinsic defects or vacancy produced by Fe2+ irradiation, and the first stage should be the accumulation of D in mono-vacancy and the activation energy would be relatively reduced, where the dislocation loop and vacancy is produced. The third one was found only for neutron irradiation, showing the D trapping by a void or vacancy cluster, and the diffusion effect is also contributed to by the high full-width at half-maximum of the TDS spectrum. Therefore, it can be said that the D2 TDS spectra for Fe2+-irradiated tungsten cannot represent that for the neutron-irradiated one, indicating that the deuterium trapping and desorption mechanism for neutron-irradiated tungsten is different from that for the ion-irradiated one.

Deuterium trapping at defects created with neutron and ion irradiations in tungsten

The effects of neutron and ion irradiations on deuterium (D) retention in tungsten (W) were investigated. Specimens of pure W were irradiated with neutrons to 0.3 dpa at around 323 K and then exposed to high-flux D plasma at 473 and 773 K. The concentration of D significantly increased by neutron irradiation and reached 0.8 at% at 473 K and 0.4 at% at 773 K. Annealing tests for the specimens irradiated with 20 MeV W ions showed that the defects which play a dominant role in the trapping at high temperature were stable at least up to 973 K, while the density decreased at temperatures equal to or above 1123 K. These observations of the thermal stability of traps and the activation energy for D detrapping examined in a previous study (≈1.8 eV) indicated that the defects which contribute predominantly to trapping at 773 K were small voids. The higher concentration of trapped D at 473 K was explained by additional contributions of weaker traps. The release of trapped D was clearly enhanced by the exposure to atomic hydrogen at 473 K, though higher temperatures are more effective for using this effect for tritium removal in fusion reactors.

The deuterium depth profile in neutron-irradiated tungsten exposed to plasma

The effect of radiation damage has been mainly simulated using high-energy ion bombardment. The ions, however, are limited in range to only a few microns into the surface. Hence, some uncertainty remains about the increase of trapping at radiation damage produced by 14 MeV fusion neutrons, which penetrate much farther into the bulk material. With the Japan-US joint research project: Tritium, Irradiations, and Thermofluids for America and Nippon (TITAN), the tungsten samples (99.99 % pure from A.L.M.T., 6mm in diameter, 0.2mm in thickness) were irradiated to high flux neutrons at 50 C and to 0.025 dpa in the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Subsequently, the neutron-irradiated tungsten samples were exposed to a high-flux deuterium plasma (ion flux: 1021-1022 m-2s-1, ion fluence: 1025-1026 m-2) in the Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). First results of deuterium retention in neutron-irradiated tungsten exposed in TPE have been reported previously. This paper presents the latest results in our on-going work of deuterium depth profiling in neutron-irradiated tungsten via nuclear reaction analysis. The experimental data is compared with the result from non neutron-irradiated tungsten, and is analyzed with the Tritium Migration Analysis Program (TMAP) to elucidate the hydrogen isotope behavior such as retention and depth distribution in neutron-irradiated and non neutron-irradiated tungsten.

Objectives and design of the JT-60 superconducting tokamak

A fully superconducting tokamak named JT-60SC is designed for the modification programme of JT-60 to enhance economical and environmental attractiveness in tokamak fusion reactors. JT-60SC aims at realizing high-β steady-state operation in the use of low radio-activation ferritic steel in a low ν* and ρ* regime relevant to the reactor plasmas. Objectives, research issues, plasma control schemes and a conceptual design for JT-60SC are presented.

Chapter 9: ITER contributions for Demo plasma development

The chapter summarizes the physics issues of the demonstration toroidal fusion power plant (Demo) that can be addressed by ITER operation. These include burning plasma specific issues, i.e. energetic particle behaviour and plasma self-heating effects, and a broader class of power-plant scale physics issues that cannot be fully resolved in present experiments. A critical issue for Demo is whether MHD and energetic particle modes driven by fast particles will become unstable and affect plasma performance. Self-heating effects are expected to be especially important for control of steady-state plasmas with internal transport barriers (ITBs) and high bootstrap current fractions. Experimental data from ITER will improve strongly the physics basis of projections to Demo of major plasma parameters such as the energy confinement time, beta and density limits, edge pedestal temperature and density, and thermal loads on in-vessel components caused by ELMs and disruptions. ITER will also serve as a test bed for fusion technology studies, such as power plant plasma diagnostics, heating and current drive systems, plasma facing components, divertor and blanket modules. Finally, ITER is expected to provide benefits for the understanding of burning plasma behaviour in other magnetic confinement schemes.

Tritium plasma experiment: Parameters and potentials for fusion plasma-wall interaction studies

The tritium plasma experiment (TPE) is a unique facility devoted to experiments on the behavior of deuterium/tritium in toxic (e.g., beryllium) and radioactive materials for fusion plasma-wall interaction studies. A Langmuir probe was added to the system to characterize the plasma conditions in TPE. With this new diagnostic, we found the achievable electron temperature ranged from 5.0 to 10.0 eV, the electron density varied from 5.0 × 10(16) to 2.5 × 10(18) m(-3), and the ion flux density varied between 5.0 × 10(20) to 2.5 × 10(22) m(-2) s(-1) along the centerline of the plasma. A comparison of these plasma parameters with the conditions expected for the plasma facing components (PFCs) in ITER shows that TPE is capable of achieving most (∼800 m(2) of 850 m(2) total PFCs area) of the expected ion flux density and electron density conditions.

Carbon atom and cluster sputtering under low-energy noble gas plasma bombardment

Exit-angle resolved carbon atom and cluster (C2 and C3) sputtering yields are measured during different noble gas (Xe, Kr, Ar, Ne, and He) ion bombardments from a plasma, for low incident energies (75–225 eV). A quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) is used to detect the fraction of sputtered neutrals that is ionized in the plasma and to obtain the angular distribution by changing the angle between the target normal and the QMS aperture. A one-dimensional Monte Carlo code is used to simulate the interaction of the plasma and the sputtered particles in the region between the sample and the QMS. The effective elastic scattering cross sections of C, C2, and C3 with the different bombarding gas neutrals are obtained by varying the distance between the sample and the QMS and by performing a best fit of the simulation results to the experimental results. The total sputtering yield (C+C2+C3) for each bombarding gas is obtained from weight-loss measurements and the sputtering yield for C, C2, and C3 is then calculat...

A multi-technique analysis of deuterium trapping and near-surface precipitate growth in plasma-exposed tungsten

In this work, we examine how deuterium becomes trapped in plasma-exposed tungsten and forms near-surface platelet-shaped precipitates. How these bubbles nucleate and grow, as well as the amount of deuterium trapped within, is crucial for interpreting the experimental database. Here, we use a combined experimental/theoretical approach to provide further insight into the underlying physics. With the Tritium Plasma Experiment, we exposed a series of ITER-grade tungsten samples to high flux D plasmas (up to 1.5 × 1022 m−2 s−1) at temperatures ranging between 103 and 554 °C. Retention of deuterium trapped in the bulk, assessed through thermal desorption spectrometry, reached a maximum at 230 °C and diminished rapidly thereafter for T > 300 °C. Post-mortem examination of the surfaces revealed non-uniform growth of bubbles ranging in diameter between 1 and 10 μm over the surface with a clear correlation with grain boundaries. Electron back-scattering diffraction maps over a large area of the surface confirmed th...

Development of positron annihilation spectroscopy for characterizing neutron irradiated tungsten

Tungsten samples (6 mm diameter and 0.2 mm thick) were irradiated to 0.025 and 0.3 dpa with neutrons in the High Flux Isotope Reactor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the US/Japan Tritium, Irradiation and Thermofluids for America and Nippon (TITAN) collaboration. Samples were then exposed to deuterium plasma in Idaho National Laboratorys Tritium Plasma Experiment at 100, 200 and 500 °C to a total fluence of 1 × 1026 m−2. Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) and Doppler broadening positron annihilation spectroscopy (DB-PAS) were performed at various stages to characterize radiation damage and retention. We present the first results of neutron irradiated tungsten characterized by DB-PAS in order to study defect concentration. Two positron sources, 22Na and 68Ge, probe ~58 μm and through the entire 200 μm thick samples, respectively. DB-PAS results reveal clear differences between the various irradiated samples. These results, and a correlation between DB-PAS and NRA data, are presented.

Materials-related issues in the safety and licensing of nuclear fusion facilities

Fusion power holds the promise of electricity production with a high degree of safety and low environmental impact. Favourable characteristics of fusion as an energy source provide the potential for this very good safety and environmental performance. But to fully realize the potential, attention must be paid in the design of a demonstration fusion power plant (DEMO) or a commercial power plant to minimize the radiological hazards. These hazards arise principally from the inventory of tritium and from materials that become activated by neutrons from the plasma. The confinement of these radioactive substances, and prevention of radiation exposure, are the primary goals of the safety approach for fusion, in order to minimize the potential for harm to personnel, the public, and the environment. The safety functions that are implemented in the design to achieve these goals are dependent on the performance of a range of materials. Degradation of the properties of materials can lead to challenges to key safety functions such as confinement. In this paper the principal types of material that have some role in safety are recalled. These either represent a potential source of hazard or contribute to the amelioration of hazards; in each case the related issues are reviewed. The resolution of these issues lead, in some instances, to requirements on materials specifications or to limits on their performance.