Quantitative determination of plasma induced material damage in plasma facing metallic alloys — electron beam simulation experiments

Abstract

Electron beam simulation experiments allow a systematic quantitative determination of thermal shock loading of plasma facing components during plasma wall interaction. Cronifer 1810 (1.4311) as a typical alloy (Fe-base) used for the first wall of today's tokamaks is tested in single shot electron beam experiments with respect to its thermal shock behaviour. Automatic quantitative image analysis is applied for the determination of the amounts of removed material, melted material (size of melt crater), and crack length in the samples. The results are presented primarily in three-dimensional diagrams to allow an empirical quantification of the relation: energy deposition time ( = pulse length)-deposited power density ( = beam power density)-resp. type of material damage.