| 1. |
- Garcia Carrasco, Alvaro, 1989-
(author)
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Impact of material migration on plasma-facing components in tokamaks
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Plasma-wall interaction plays an essential role in the performance and safety of a fusion reactor. This thesis focuses on the impact of material migration on plasma-facing components. It is based on experiments performed in tokamaks: JET, TEXTOR and ASDEX Upgrade. The objectives of the experiments were to assess fuel and impurity removal under ion cyclotron wall conditioning (ICWC) and plasma impact on diagnostic mirrors.In wall conditioning studies, tracer techniques based on the injection of rare isotopes (15N, 18O) were used to determine conclusively the impact of the respective gases. For the first time, probe surfaces and wall components exposed to ICWC were examined by surface analysis methods. Discharges in hydrogen were the most efficient to erode carbon co-deposits, resulting in a reduction of the initial deuterium content by a factor of two. It was also found that impurities desorbed under ICWC are partly re-deposited on the wall.Plasma impact on diagnostic mirrors was determined by surface analysis of test mirrors exposed at JET. Reflectivity of mirrors from the divertor region was severely decreased due to deposits of beryllium, deuterium, carbon and other impurities. This result points out the need to develop mirror maintenance procedures. Neutron damage on mirrors was simulated by ion irradiation in an ion implanter. It was shown that damage levels similar to those expected in the first wall of a fusion reactor do not produce a significant change in reflectivity.
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| 2. |
- Garcia Carrasco, Alvaro, 1989-
(author)
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Investigation of probe surfaces after ion cyclotron wall conditioning in ASDEX Upgrade
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- For the first time, material analysis techniques have been applied to study the effect of ion cyclotron wall conditioning (ICWC) on probe surfaces in a metal-wall machine. ICWC is a technique envisaged to contribute to the removal of fuel and impurities from the first wall of ITER. The objective of this work was to assess impurity migration under the ICWC operation. Tungsten probes were exposed in ASDEX Upgrade to discharges in helium. After wall conditioning, the probes were covered with a co-deposited layer containing D, B, C, N, O and relatively high amount of He on virgin W substrates. The concentration ratio He/C+B was 0.7. The formation of the co-deposited layer indicates that a fraction of the impurities desorbed from the wall under ICWC operation are transported by plasma and deposited away from their original location.
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| 3. |
- García Carrasco, Álvaro, 1989-
(author)
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Plasma-Facing Components in Tokamaks : Studies of Wall Conditioning Processes and Plasma Impact on Diagnostic Mirrors
- 2014
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Licentiate thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Understanding of material migration and its impact on the formation of co-deposited mixed material layers on plasma-facing components is essential for the development of fusion reactors. This thesis focuses on this topic. It is based on experiments performed at JET and TEXTOR tokamaks. The major objectives were to determine: (i) fuel and impurity removal from plasma-facing components by ICWC in different gas mixtures, (ii) fuel and impurity transport connected to ICWC operation, (iii) plasma impact on diagnostic mirrors. All these issues are in line with the ITER needs: mitigation of co-deposition and fuel inventory, and the performance of first mirrors in long-term operation. The novelty in research is demonstrated by several elements. In wall conditioning studies, tracer techniques based on injection of rare isotopes (N-15, O-18) were used to determine conclusively the impact of respective gases. Also, a new approach to ICWC was developed by combining global gas balance studies based on mass spectrometry and the use of multiple surface probes exposed to discharges and then studied ex-situ with accelerator-based techniques. Impact of plasma on diagnostic mirrors was determined after exposure to the entire first experimental campaign in JET-ILW.
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| 4. |
- Garcia Carrasco, Alvaro, 1989-
(author)
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Plasma impact on diagnostic mirrors in JET
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- All optical diagnostics in ITER will rely on metallic mirrors acting as plasma-facing components. This contribution provides a comprehensive account on plasma impact on diagnostic mirrors in JET with the ITER-Like Wall. Specimens from the First Mirror Test and the lithium-beam diagnostic have been studied by spectrophotometry, ion beam analysis and electron microscopy. Test mirrors made of molybdenum were retrieved from the main chamber and the divertor after exposure to the 2013-2014 experimental campaign. In the main chamber, only mirrors located at the entrance of the carrier lost reflectivity (Be deposition from the eroded limiters), while those located deeper in the carrier were only slightly affected. The performance of mirrors in the JET divertor was strongly degraded by deposition of beryllium, tungsten and other species. Mirrors from the lithium-beam diagnostic have been studied for the first time. Gold coatings were severely damaged by intense arcing. As a consequence, material mixing of the gold layer with the stainless steel substrate occurred. Total reflectivity dropped from over 90% to less than 60 %, i.e. to the level typical for stainless steel.
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