Long-term erosion and re-deposition of carbon in the divertor region of JT-60U

Abstract

Erosion and redeposition profiles of carbon tiles used in the W-shaped divertor of JT-60U with all carbon plasma facing wall are studied. The inner divertor is mostly covered by carbon redeposited layers, while the outer divertor mostly eroded. In the dome region, the erosion dominates on the inner dome-wing, while redeposited on the outer dome-wing. The redeposited layers on the outer dome-wing show very clear columnar structures indicating local carbon transport form the outer divertor to the outer dome-wing. The weight gain by the redeposition extrapolated to the whole divertor area is 0.55 kg. Since the extrapolated total erosion is about 0.33 kg, the remaining 0.22 kg must be originated from the main chamber erosion. Significant amount of the redeposition is caused locally by multiple processes of erosion, ionization and prompt redeposition toward inboard direction owing to gyration along magnetic filed line. This inboard transport is one of the reasons for small redeposition on the plasma shadowed area of the W shaped divertor of JT-60U with pumping slots placed at the bottoms side.