Formation of dust particles under the influence of intense thermal loads

Abstract

Intense thermal loads in fusion devices which occur during ELMs (edge localized modes), plasma disruptions and VDEs (vertical displacement events), will result in macroscopic erosion associated with the formation of cracks, droplets, evaporation, and melting, or sublimation. A fraction of dust particles will sublimate in the boundary plasma; others may be deposited in gaps and shadowed areas of the divertor region. Tritium uptake in these particles will be a critical issue in future thermonuclear fusion devices. Evaporation and the formation of tungsten droplets induced by boiling of tungsten may result in a severe contamination of the boundary plasma. In order to simulate the effect of dust formation under transient heat fluxes, heat load tests have been performed in the electron beam test facility JUDITH on tungsten and carbon based materials.