• Energy Research

Poly-crystalline tungsten (W) samples were simultaneously irradiated with Helium (He) and Deuterium (D) ions using the triple-ion implantation device. He effect on D retention and transportation was studied using different combination of ion energies and He/D flux ratios in the simultaneous implantation. The experimental results show that D trapping at dislocation loops is significantly reduced in the case of 3 keV He+–3 keV D2+at He/D flux ratios over 0.6. D trapping by stronger trapping sites such as vacancies and vacancy clusters showed less dependence on the flux ratio. On the contrary, the D retention increases at each He/D flux ratio in the case of 3 keV He+–1 keV D2+compared to only D2+ implantation even the He/D flux ratio reaches a value of 1.0. TEM observations confirmed that dense dislocation loops are formed rather than He bubbles, which is responsible for the enhanced D retention in W. Keywords: Simultaneous implantation, D retention, Helium, Flux ratio, Transportation, Thermal desorption spectroscopy

Tritium (T) distributions on tungsten (W)-coated plasma-facing tiles used in the third ITER-like wall campaign (2015–2016) of the Joint European Torus (JET) were examined by means of an imaging plate technique and β-ray induced x-ray spectrometry, and they were compared with the distributions after the second (2013–2014) campaign. Strong enrichment of T in beryllium (Be) deposition layers was observed after the second campaign. In contrast, T distributions after the third campaign was more uniform though Be deposition layers were visually recognized. The one of the possible explanations is enhanced desorption of T from Be deposition layers due to higher tile temperatures caused by higher energy input in the third campaign.

Abstract This paper presents the development of a simultaneous measurement method for fast neutron energy spectra and tritium production rates within mixed radiation fields using a single crystal chemical vapour deposition diamond detector combined with a lithium fluoride (LiF) foil. The method involves the separation of pulses with rectangular shapes and the determination of the depth position within the single crystal diamond (SCD) struck by fast neutrons or nuclear reaction products including recoil tritons from the LiF foil based on pulse width, extracting pulse events occurred at the specific bulk region and the surface region of the SCD. Subsequently, unfolding techniques were employed to analyse the energy deposition spectrum of pulses at the specific bulk region which are induced only by fast neutrons, allowing the deduction of the fast neutron energy spectrum. To evaluate the tritium production rate, the energy deposition spectrum of pulses from events occurring at the SCD surface facing the LiF foil was analysed. By estimating the energy deposition spectrum solely induced by fast neutrons striking the SCD surface and subtracting it from the energy deposition spectrum of events at the SCD surface, the contribution of energetic ions, such as recoil tritons generated by the 6Li(n,α)3H reaction in the LiF foil, was determined. The fast neutron flux and tritium production rate obtained through this study were consistent with particle transport calculations, demonstrating the successful development of a method suitable for performance testing of fusion reactor blankets.

Quantitative tritium inventory in dust particles from campaigns in the JET tokamak with the carbon wall (2007–2009) and the ITER-like wall (ILW 2011–2012) were determined by the liquid scintillation counter and the full combustion method. A feature of this full combustion method is that dust particles were covered by a tin (Sn) which reached 2100 K during combustion under oxygen flow. The specific tritium inventory for samples from JET with carbon and with metal walls was measured and found to be similar. However, the total tritium inventory in dust particles from the ILW experiment was significantly smaller in comparison to the carbon wall due to the lower amount of dust particles generated in the presence of metal walls. Comunidad Europea de la Energía Atómica. EURATOM. 2014-2018 - 633053