Modern Diagnostics for Investigation of Lithium Element Behavior in Tokamaks

Abstract

The introduction of lithium as a material for production of in-vessel plasma-facing elements of the tokamak necessitates the development of the corresponding diagnostic instruments. A series of diagnostic devices have been developed and fabricated for tokamaks T-10 and T-11 M which make it possible to investigate the processes of lithium transport in the tokamak plasma scrape-off layer (SOL), real-time dynamics of lithium deposition at various temperatures of a collecting surface by means of the microbalance technique, adsorption/desorption process of hydrogen isotopes on the lithium surface, and influence of an electric field on lithium trapping. Scanning of plasma parameters is provided by Langmuir probes. Such devices can be used to extract the lithium deposited on the inner walls of the tokamak vacuum chamber without opening it. For these purposes, a lock chamber and bellows-free vacuum input allowing movement and rotation is provided. It is planned to perform the study of the tokamak plasma interaction with in-vessel lithium-based elements by means of infrared (IR) thermometry. It is planned to try out this technique on the Т-11М tokamak using a special device based on a IR camera.