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Doerner, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Doerner, R..

Deuterium and helium ion irradiation of nanograined tungsten and tungsten–titanium alloys

Tungsten (W), a primary candidate for the plasma-facing components of nuclear fusion reactors (e.g. the divertor region in ITER) is susceptible to cracks, blisters, bubbles, and other morphological changes when irradiated with energetic particles. This work investigated two new materials, nanograined W and a nanograined W–Ti alloy, for potential use as plasma-facing materials. Their retention properties and morphological changes after exposure to deuterium (D) and helium (He) plasma at 50 eV and surface temperatures of 500 and 1000 K were analyzed. Nanograined W was found to have smaller blisters and be less prone to fuzz formation than commonly-utilized micro-grain polycrystalline W. Additionally, the nanograined W–Ti alloy exhibited a lower concentration of blisters on its surface than pure W, including nanograined W.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Developing and validating advanced divertor solutions on DIII-D for next-step fusion devices

A major challenge facing the design and operation of next-step high-power steady-state fusion devices is to develop a viable divertor solution with order-of-magnitude increases in power handling capability relative to present experience, while having acceptable divertor target plate erosion and being compatible with maintaining good core plasma confinement. A new initiative has been launched on DIII-D to develop the scientific basis for design, installation, and operation of an advanced divertor to evaluate boundary plasma solutions applicable to next step fusion experiments beyond ITER. Developing the scientific basis for fusion reactor divertor solutions must necessarily follow three lines of research, which we plan to pursue in DIII-D: (1) Advance scientific understanding and predictive capability through development and comparison between state-of-the art computational models and enhanced measurements using targeted parametric scans; (2) Develop and validate key divertor design concepts and codes through innovative variations in physical structure and magnetic geometry; (3) Assess candidate materials, determining the implications for core plasma operation and control, and develop mitigation techniques for any deleterious effects, incorporating development of plasma-material interaction models. These efforts will lead to design, installation, and evaluation of an advanced divertor for DIII-D to enable highly dissipative divertor operation at core density (n e/n GW), neutral fueling and impurity influx most compatible with high performance plasma scenarios and reactor relevant plasma facing components (PFCs). In conclusion, this paper highlights the current progress and near-term strategies of boundary/PMI research on DIII-D.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Simultaneous imaging/reflectivity measurements to assess diagnostic mirror cleaning

Practical methods to clean ITER's diagnostic mirrors and restore reflectivity will be critical to ITER's plasma operations. We describe a technique to assess the efficacy of mirror cleaning techniques and detect any damage to the mirror surface. The method combines microscopic imaging and reflectivity measurements in the red, green, and blue spectral regions and at selected wavelengths. The method has been applied to laser cleaning of single crystal molybdenum mirrors coated with either carbon or beryllium films 150-420 nm thick. It is suitable for hazardous materials such as beryllium as the mirrors remain sealed in a vacuum chamber.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Dynamic Models for Plasma-Wall Interactions

In theory and modeling of plasma-wall interactions, very different spatial and temporal scales need to be re- solved. Hierarchy of material models (e.g. macroscopic transport, Kinetic Monte Carlo, Molecular Dynamics, and quantum models) used in fusion applications is reviewed and a way of their integration is highlighted. Physics background, theory and applications of macroscopic transport models, which are the main focus of the paper, are thoroughly discussed. The results on self-consistent macroscopic modeling of major physics phe- nomena, e.g. hydrogen recycling, retention, chemistry, chemical sputtering, and radiation enhanced sublimation for fusion related materials are presented. An example of coupled plasma and material transport simulations is given. The results on Molecular Dynamics modeling of deuterium irradiation of carbon leading to formation of supersaturated surfaces and chemical sputtering are presented.

Pigarov, A. Yu.↗

Dynamic modification of the fragmentation of autoionizing states of O{sub 2}{sup +}

The dynamic process of fragmentation of excited states of the molecular oxygen cation is investigated in a two-part study. First, using monochromatic 41.6 eV radiation and cold-target recoil-ion momentum spectroscopy detection of O{sup +} + O{sup +} ion pairs and associated electrons, we establish that this channel is populated only by an indirect process enabled by autoionization of excited oxygen atoms and identify the final active potential curves. Second, we probe the dynamics of this process using an attosecond pulse train of 35-42 eV EUV followed by an intense IR laser pulse. The results are compared with a model calculation.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗