Void growth characteristics in laser fusion reactor first walls

Abstract

The damaging effects of microexplosion products on void behavior in unprotected stainless steel laser fusion first walls are analyzed using the Dynamic Rate Theory. The preliminary results from this work indicate that in the zones where the temperature excursions are the highest, gas bubbles will be the predominant defect and the dislocation loops and voids will be annealed out. As one moves farther into the first wall, the growth or shrinkage of voids depends on the ambient temperature and the magnitude of the displacement rate.