Plasma-Wall Interaction Facilities in Korea

Abstract

Although the research of plasma-material interaction (PMI) is rather immature comparing the recent success of Korean fusion program, there are several facilities and programs of PMI research in Korea. DiPS (Divertor Plasma Simulator)-2 is a linear device with a four-inch-LaB6 cathode at the Center for Edge Plasma Science (cEps), concentrating on the development of various diagnostics for divertor and scrape-off plasmas, and for PMI research such as tungsten and graphite related phenomena. This is modified from DiPS-1, which were for the simulations of divertor, space and processing plasmas using LaB6 and helicon plasma sources. MP2 (Multi-Purpose Plasma) is a linear device with an eight-inch-LaB6 cathode for PMI in National Fusion Research Institute (NFRI), and will be merged with molten salt (FLiNaK) experiment by using an Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma source. High power plasma torch facilities have been developed at the High-Enthalpy Plasma Research Center in ChonBuk National University, aiming for the development of new materials of the aerospace-, nano-, and automobile-industries, yet recently they have interest in fusion materials. Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation & Deposition (PIIID) facility has been utilized for the research of processing materials in Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and is to be used for fusion material researches with high energy ions (~70 keV). Electron beam irradiation has been tried for the research of graphite and tungsten at DanKook university. These facilities are to be utilized for the application to KSTAR, ITER and/or Korean DEMO fusion devices. Dust as the by-product of PMI in fusion device is to be characterized and removed in TReD (Transport & Removal experiment of Dust) device in Hanyang University. Plasma sources, diagnostics, and surface analyses of these programs will be explained with design philosophies and basic parameters of plasmas.